farmer, York Township, born in Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1818, is a son of Andrew and Nancy (Chambers) Givens, natives of Pennsylvania and Ireland, the latter brought to this country by her parents. His parents moved to Pennsylvania, and there his father was engaged in farming and rough carpentering, building barns, post-fences, etc. In 1820 the family left Pittsburgh and came via river to Vevay, and afterward purchased forty acres of land, where his son, Andrew, now lives, residing there till his death. He reared ten children, two only now living. Andrew, our subject, grew to maturity with his parents and has ever since resided in this township. He bought out the old homestead, and to this he has added till he now owns 164 acres. He married, in 1839, Ann Ellis, a native of this county, and daughter of Eliphalet Ellis, who came to this State from Ohio. By this union their living children are William, George, Oliver, Jane, Nancy and Ann, all married but Oliver. Two (twins) died in babyhood. Mr. Givens began life in very humble circumstances, but by hard labor and good management has succeeded in gaining a fair competency. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years, and is also a member of the I.O.O.F. Mrs. Givens is also a member of the church. Mrs. Givens died in 1860, and about four years later Mr. Givens married to Catharine (Keith) Boyd, by whom he had one son, Oliver.
Source: History of Switzerland County, Indiana 1885. Chicago, Illinois: Weakley, Harraman & Co., 1885
Transcribed by: Sheila Kell