JOHN THOMAS WHITMIRE, numbered among the progressive farmers of Haddon township, whose pretty farm home is situated two and a half miles east from the thriving village of Paxton, Sullivan county, Indiana, is a native of Missouri, born in Randolph county, that state, September 3, 1851. He is the son of David Marion and Caroline (Snider) Whitmire, both of whom were natives of the historic county of Jessamine, Kentucky. The father was born June 8, 1826, and died in Randolph county, [Missouri, in 1865, and the mother, born August 27, 1825, died early in the nineties in the same county. David M. Whitmire was of Pennsylvania Dutch descent, and his wife of Dutch descent with some Irish blood in her veins. John Whitmire, the grandfather, and his family, went to Missouri when David M. was a small boy. The maternal grandfather, John Snider, and his family, settled in Haddon township, Sullivan county, Indiana, locating one mile to the north of Carlisle, where he and his wife resided until their death.
As has often been the ease in human experience, the meeting and final companionship of Mr. Whitmire's father and mother was destined by unforeseen acts, which have not infrequently determined the future of men and women. The mother, Caroline Snider, went to Missouri from Carlisle, Indiana, to visit a married sister in Randolph county, and while there chanced to meet Mr. Whitmire, to whom she was subsequently united in marriage. They at once commenced farming in that county and ever after remained in that locality. David M. Whitmire, the father, served in the Civil war in the army. Politically he was a supporter of the Democratic party, while both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their children were as follows: One who died infancy, John T., of this memoir; Charles W., born December 30, 1853, deceased; George W., born April 13, 1856, resides on the old homestead in Missouri; Mary B., born February 21, 1858, wife of William Wainwright, residing in Missouri; William T., born April 5, 1860, also living in Missouri; Eliza, born September 6, 1862, now wife of Frederick Robb, of Randolph county, Missouri; Montgomery, born May 27. 1865, deceased.
John Thomas Whitmire was reared on a farm and had the advantages of the Missouri district schools. He remained at home until February 26, 1874, on which day he went to Paxton, Indiana, and began farming as a hired hand. Three years later, however, believing that he was capable of conducting a farm for himself, he began to do so. About 1886 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres of valuable farming land, located two and a half miles from Paxton, in an easterly direction. Here he has been highly successful in the cultivation of the land which has brought him good returns, and placed himself and family in independent circumstances. Politically Mr. Whitmire affiliates with the Democratic party.
He was united in marriage November 2, 1876, to Sarah Ann Wilson, born in Haddon township, September 25, 1855, a daughter of Martin and Mary P. (Lamb) Wilson. Her father came to Sullivan county from Ohio in 1820, and her mother was native to Kentucky; both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmire have one daughter: Gertrude, born November 8, 1878, unmarried, and living at home. She attended the district schools of her native township and the high schools of Sullivan, graduating in music at the Conservatory of the DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, both in vocal and instrumental music. She is now giving instructions in music in her home neighborhood. Mr. Whitmire and family have had the pleasure of spending the past two winters in California's delightful climate, amid the flowers and sunshine of the coast state. In their church connections the parents and daughter are acceptable members of the Methodist Episcopal church.