Rawlins.Joseph.1796.Boyle.BIOS JOSEPH RAWLINS, the oldest settler now living in Lawrence County, Indiana, is a native of the town of Danville, Boyle County, KY., born April 21, 1796, one of the five children born to CHARLES and ARISTICIA (GREGORY) RAWLINS, early settlers of Kentucky. In the fall of 1812 he settled in what is now Lawrence County, Indiana, and has made that his home ever since. His father dying when he was four years old, he was left to the care of an uncle, with whom he came to Indiana. He served as a Ranger in 1814, from which service he saved money enough to buy eighty acres of land. In December, 1817, he married Miss SALLIE MCMANIS, and began farming, taking his produce to New Orleans by flat-boat. In 1826 Mr. Rawlins began doing a general mercantile business at Bedford, which had only then been made the county seat, and which was named at the request of Mr. Rawlins, from Bedford County, Tennessee, from whence his uncle had brought him. He built a flouring-mill, also. Mr. and Mrs. Rawlins raised a family of ten children: JAMES, SARAH J. (DENSON), MIRANDA, BENJAMIN F., MARY (HICKMAN), HOMER, JOSEPH, SUSAN (MITCHELL), EMELINE (FARMER), and NETTIE (VORIS). August 5, 1855 Mrs. Rawlins died, and about the same time he abandoned the mercantile trade entirely. He was the first Assessor of the county. He was elected County Commissioner, but resigned that office. He has generally been a Republican, although not strictly so, as he has always voted for the men and principles, not party. "HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, ORANGE & WASHINGTON COUNTIES INDIANA" GOODSPEED BROS. 1884. Submitted by: Diana Flynn Date: Sun, 29 Jun 1997