John Secrist, a retired business man of Marion, Indiana, was for more than half a century the leading carpenter and contractor in this vicinity, where he is venerated and highly esteemed. He was born August 8, 1811, in Rockingham county, Virginia, where his father, Henry Secrist, was also born. His grandfather, Malachi Secrist, came from Germany when a young man and took part in the Revolutionary war. He belonged to the "flying squadron" under Washington at Valley Forge and was body guard to that noted general. After his release from martial life, that is when peace had been declared, he took up his vocation of shoemaking and worked at it until his incrasing (sic) age compelled him to forego labor of that kind. He died at the age of ninety-three years.

        Henry Secrist was brought up a farmer and followed that occupation all his life, locating in Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, soon after he was married. He remained there only long enough to raise one crop and in 1821 went on to Logan county, where he purchased land near what is now West Liberty. This was covered with dense timber, which he cut away, getting the ground in condition for cultivation. He took part in the war of 1812 and was quite active in politics, advocating the policy of the Whigs. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and had reached the age of eighty-seven e'er he crossed the dark waters which separate us from the unseen shore. He was joined in wedlock with Miss Dorothy Coon, a native of Virginia and daughter of Michael Coon. She was a strict Presbyterian and died in Ohio.

        John Secrist was one of twelve children and grew to adult years on his father's farm. He began to learn the trade of a carpenter at the age of seventeen and worked at it in Logan county until some time in 1843. He was a practical mechanic who thoroughly understood his craft and had erected some good buildings in Champaign county, Ohio. In 1843 he came to Marion and made a bid on the court house here. He also put up a saw-mill and shortly after a flour-mill, which was known as the "Secrist mill" and is still standing, the property of Senator Charles, his son-in-law. Mr. Secrist operated this mill until about 1888, when he sold it and retired from active participation in business. He has been very successful in his business, but his philanthropic spirit has cost him many dollars, as he has signed as security for friends who, through misfortune or otherwise, have left him to pay the debt, sometimes making sad inroads on his savings.

        While residing in Ohio he was married to Miss Miranda Burgess, a native of that state who died in Marion, Ind., leaving him two daughters, Elizabeth, wife of John M. Ammons, of Marion; and Elma, wife of Senator James Charles, whose biography will be found on another page of this work. His second wife was Rebecca Spence, widow of Alexander Ruley and a daughter of Dr. LaFayette Spence. He was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and went to Clarksville, Ohio, where he read medicine, obtaining a good knowledge of that science, and in 1837 he located in Alexandria, this state.

        Dr. LaFayette Spence was the first doctor to locate there and he received calls from miles away, obliging him to ride great distances through the forests and many times he has been lost in their depths. He practiced there ten years and then moved to Jonesboro, where he built up a good practice and also conducted a drug store which received a flattering patronage. He was very prosperous and among other enterprises in which he was engaged was the building of a large hotel in Jonesboro. The first structure he erected in this state was a log cabin which was his home during his first years in Indiana. He was an active Republican and a member of the Presbyterian church. His death occurred in the very prime of his life, when he was in the zenith of his prosperity in his fifty-fourth year. He married Miss Sarah Avey, who was a native of Ohio. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and November 29, 1900, at the age of seventy years, she quietly sank into the dreamless sleep, since when Mr. Secrist has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Ammon.

        Mr. Secrist is a straight-out Republican and for nine years served as commissioner of Grant county. During his younger years he was on the school board and made a most acceptable officer. Mr. Secrist is also a member of the Methodist church, in which organization he is trustee. He was the architect of the present church edifice and, as trustee had charge of the construction. He is standing now at the threshold of a new world, where