My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN FLINN, deceased; born in Miami Co., April 2, 1822; was a son of John and Agnes (Priest) Flinn, he being born in Virginia, and she in Kentucky. The father, John, with his mother, was captured in Virginia by the Indians, and kept in captivity for fourteen years, during which Mrs. Flinn died; John, gaining the confidence of the Indians, was granted many privileges to go and come as he pleased, and finally was permitted to visit his friends in Virginia, which he did, and then returned to the Indians; becoming dissatisfied with them, he went back to Virginia, soon after came West, and became interpreter for Johnson, the Indian Agent, during the war of 1812. It is supposed that he became a settler of Miami Co. prior to 1807, which would make him one of the early pioneers. Here he married Agnes Priest, by whom he had a large family of children, of whom Benjamin was the seventh child. He lived with his father, mostly, till his marriage, which occurred Nov. 20, 1845, with Catharine, daughter of John and Rebecca Smith; he was born in Maryland, and she in Virginia. By this union they had six children, of whom five are living, viz., Agnes, Rebecca Jane, Charlotte, Franklin and Mary. After their marriage, they located upon the farm where his widow, Mrs. Flinn, now resides. He died March 13, 1879. Since his death, the son, Franklin, and son-in-law, Mr. Pence, are taking charge of the home farm, consisting of 158 acres of fine land, with good buildings and improvements; also another farm of 89 acres. Mr. Flinn was an industrious, enterprising man; a kind husband and father, a good neighbor, and one who had the confidence of the people, as indicated by the offices he held, being School Director for several years, Township Trustee for two years and filling other offices. He was an active member of the Christian Church for some twenty-five or thirty years, and his wife for twenty-two years.