JOSEPH HANAWALT was born in Mifflin County, Penn., October 10, 1823, and is the eldest of twelve children (three now living) born to Henry and Mary (Rothrock) Hanawalt, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. The father first visited this county in 1833, and again in 1838, when he entered 240 acres of land; in the fall of 1846, he moved permanently upon a farm north of Burnettsville; he died in June, 1863, aged sixty-seven years; his widow survives him at the age of eighty-three years. Joseph Hanawalt was reared a farmer, but also learned the plasterer's trade; in the fall of 1845, ,he came to this county and taught, school for three months, then returned to Pennsylvania and was married, August 18, 1846, to Miss Catharine Gressmire, born in Mifflin County, Penn., June 21, 1823, and daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Gressmire, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German extraction. To this union were born three children, of whom only one is living- William H. Soon after his marriage, Mr. H. came overland to this county and taught school a term, worked at his trade, etc., until 1849, when he became a resident of Monticello, where he remained seven years, and then moved to the home farm, where he lived until 1862, when he purchased eighty-five acres on Section 6, Jackson Township; in 1866, he moved to Battle Ground, Tippecanoe County, remained two years, returned to his farm, and in 1870 again moved to Monticello, made several exchanges of property, and finally, in 1879, he and son purchased their present home of 160 acres. Mr. and Mrs. H. have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1849.

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