Joseph L. Banta

    Joseph L. Banta, a prominent citizen of Jay County, and one of the early settlers of Greene Township, was born in Preble County, Ohio, October 17, 1830, a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Brown) Banta, who were natives of Ohio and North Carolina respectively. His mother died in 1849 and his father in the year 1853. Of their children, two sons, William and Michael and a daughter live in Iowa; one daughter, Sarah, resides in Preble County, Ohio; Martha A. is deceased.

   Joseph L., our subject, is the fourth child in his father’s family. He was united in marriage, April 3, 1851 to Miss Jane Gard, a native of Preble County, Ohio, born December 27, 1833, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Sutton) Gard. Their children are – Ardilla, wife of L. M. Evelizor, died in February, 1875; William R., residing in Penn Township; Mary Elizabeth, wife of William P. Hiatt and Eli, who is living at home with his parents.

   Soon after his marriage, Mr. Banta moved to Bartholomew County, Indiana, but returned to Preble County with his family in 1857. Two years later he located in Darke County, Ohio. He remained in Darke County until coming to Jay County in 1863, and in April of that year settled on section 22, Greene Township, when he commenced to open a farm in the woods, residing on the same farm until 1870.
During the War of the Rebellion, Mr. Banta went out as a recruit to the thirty-Fourth Indiana Infantry, and served on year, joining his regiment at New Orleans. He was discharged at Brownsville, Texas, in the fall of 1865.

   In politics he is a staunch Democrat. He has served his township as trustee. In 1870, he was elected treasurer of Jay County and was re-elected to the same office, serving in that capacity four years, and during this time he resided in Portland.

   In 1874, he bought a farm on section 15, Greene Township, which he occupied until the spring of 1887, when he sold his farm on section 15, and purchased his present farm on section 22, Greene Township.
Mr. Banta is classed among the public spirited men of Greene Township, and in every enterprise which is for the advancement of his township or county he takes an active interest.

Biographical and Historical Record of Jay County, Indiana  Lewis Publishing Co, 1887
Transcribed by Jim Cox