JAMES W. CALVERT, one of the thoroughgoing agriculturists of Gill township, Sullivan county, Indiana, was born on Shaker Prairie, Knox county, Indiana, December 21, 1855. He is the son of Robert and Sarah (Snapp) Calvert. The father was a native of Kentucky and the mother of Indiana. The latter's parents were natives of Virginia. Robert Calvert, the father, was an early settler of Knox county, coming with his parents, both of whom died there. He continued to live in Knox county and served from there in the Mexican war from 1846 to 1848, receiving a gunshot wound which caused his death in 1856, when his son of this notice was but one year old. The widow, later married and died in the autumn of 1860. The children of Robert and Sarah (Snapp) Calvert were as follows: Mary, wife of Peter Price, of Carlisle; John, deceased; Ellen, widow Blann, of Oaktown, Knox county; James W. of this notice.
Left fatherless when but a babe of about a year old, James W. Calvert has never known the aid, and watch-care of a father's love and manly strength, to guide him through the uncertain shoals of boyhood and youth. His educational opportunities were limited. He attended the schools of his district and Carlisle a few terms.
He made his home with an uncle in Carlisle, Indiana, until thirteen years of age, when he hired out to work for a farmer at twenty dollars the first year, and was defrauded out of this amount, including five dollars given him by his uncle as a present. However, the same unscrupulous man's father, out of shame and sympathy, bought young Calvert a suit of clothes. After this sad beginning, he found employment with another farmer at fifteen dollars a month and continued working there until twenty-seven years of age, when he purchased a team and the necessary implements and commenced farming in Knox county, remaining there about ten years. He kept "bachelor's hall" about three years, really a hard way in which to farm, but at all times he was cool and self-possessed. His next experience was in the purchase of a small farm in Gill township, which he soon sold and bought twenty-two acres. Two years later, he bought forty acres in Haddon township, to which he added, in 1907, forty acres more, making altogether a farm of 102 acres at the present time. On this fine place, he carries on general and stock farming, paying especial attention to swine and horses. In his political views, he is in accord with those of the Democratic party while in church faith, he adheres to that of the Christian denomination. At one time, he was connected with the Odd Fellows order, but at this date has no lodge affiliations.
Mr. Calvert was happily united in marriage, February 12, 1885, to Miss Amanda O'Haver, daughter of Henry and Mary S. (Jewell) O'Haver, early settlers in Knox county, but who later removed to Sullivan county and the father still lives in Gill township, the mother having died several years ago. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Calvert: Arthur, deceased, and Urban B., unmarried, and employed in a wholesale meat house of Chicago.