Joseph Thomas Bloxham, son of Ephraim and Clarissa Catherine (Fred) Bloxham, was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, February 11, 1836. When he was thirteen years old his parents removed to Granger county, Ohio, and there Joseph T. attended school until seventeen years old, at which age he took upon himself the obligations of self-support. He worked at farm labor principally, and in 1858 came to Grant county, Indiana, first locating in Green township. As success crowned his labors he began to look around for a permanent home and this he found in Sims township, where he purchased the nucleus to the splendid farm upon which the family now lives. This is a valuable property, in a high state of cultivation, while the farm buildings are models of neatness and convenience, wholly the result of his own and his family's unaided efforts.

        In the spring of 1862 Mr. Bloxham responded to the call of his country and volunteered his services in the suppression of the great Rebellion. He enlisted as a member of Company H, One Hundred and First Indiana Infantry, and was assigned to duty in the west and participated in many of the historic battles of that invincible army, and performed his whole duty as a brave and gallant soldier. His record of battles and skirmishes is a long one and includes every engagement in which his company participated during three years of active service at the front.

        While in front of Atlanta Mr. Bloxham was prostrated with disease, induced by the long, wearisome marches and hardships incident to that world-renowed campaign. For a period of eight weeks he received treatment in the field hospital, after which he returned to duty with his comrades. After final capitulation at Appomattox he received his honorable discharge from the service. This was at Louisville, Kentucky, and final muster-out at Indianapolis. Mr. Bloxham returned to Grant county and resumed his farming interests, gladly substituting the peaceful vocations of civil life for those of more thrilling interest in the military service.

        He was one of that noble army whose later lives belied the statements of the fluent pessimist of war-times, who glibly stated that the "war would create a horde of vandals, cut-throats and highwaymen who would have no regard for human rights, property or lives." But the prophecy proved untrue, as is well known, and two millions of the bravest and truest soldiers that ever shouldered a musket or drew a sword became equally as honored in the civil walks of life as in the conflict of arms.

        Mr. Bloxham wedded Miss Lovina, daughter of Peter and Mary (Brooks) Knote, by whom he has a family of seven children, viz.: Mary Clarissa, who was born May 23, 1860, and died May 11, 1881; Marion F., born October 7, 1861, married Eva Kilgore; George W., born November 13, 1866, married Rose Simmons; Angeline S. was born February 27, 1870, and is now Mrs. John Marshall (see sketch of the Marshall family); Suranda B., who was born February 16, 1872, is married to Jesse Collins; Malinda Jane was born April 28, 1875, and is now the wife of Charles Ebert; Raleigh A. was born November 26, 1876, and wedded Miss Ruth Marshall.

        The Bloxham family is traceable to English ancestors, and was established in America in Colonial days. William, James and Thomas Bloxham, brothers, came from Devonshire, England, the two first named settling near Washington, District of Columbia, and Thomas, the paternal grandfather of Joseph T., settled in Hampshire county, (now) West Virginia. His son Ephraim, the father of Joseph T., married in Loudoun county, Virginia, and has a family of seven children, who lived to years of maturity. Of these the subject of this review is the eldest living; his elder sister, Nancy Jane, died in childhood; Louise Ann is now Mrs. William Howell; Sarah is the wife of George Foster; John and Peter are deceased. Thomas Bloxham, grandfather of Joseph T., had five children, named as follows: Ephraim, William, Elam, Mahala, Rebecca Ann and Eliza.

        The subject of this review is a man of modest, unpretentious manners, who, though assuming nothing beyond the sphere of a plain, hardworking farmer, wields a strong influence in the social and business affairs of his township. He has never sought political honors nor taken an active part in politics. In his political and religious life he is tolerant, according to others the same privilege which he claims for himself, absolute independence in thought and action.