JOHN B. PRITCHARD. The present superintendent of police at Anderson has recently completed a record of twenty years with the police force, in which he began as a patrolman, and by efficiency and faithful service has been promoted and under several different city administrations has held his present place. He belongs to one of the old families of Madison County, the Pritchards having been identified with this County for upwards of seventy years.
John B. Pritchard was born in Madison, Kansas, December 17, 1863, a son of Nelson T. and Magdalene (Nelson) Pritchard. His father belonged to an old North Carolina family, in which state he was born. In 1846 the family came to Madison County, Indiana, and were among the early farmers of this section. The father took up farming and was engaged in agriculture and stock raising for many years. He afterwards moved out to Kansas where he remained a few years, and finally located permanently in Madison County, Indiana, where he still resides.
John B. Pritchard was reared in his home County, and as a boy had the advantages of the district schools. While he was in Kansas he attended a select school. In 1888 at the age of twenty-five he returned. to Anderson, and after following different occupations became connected with the police force in 1893. He was afterwards promoted to captain, and from captain was finally made superintendent of the city police. His service has been unusually satisfactory, and the best evidence of this is the fact that he has served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, and has maintained the force at a high state of discipline, and has always cooperated with the agencies of law and order, so that Anderson is regarded as one of the best policed cities in the state.
Mr. Pritchard married Miss Armintha Smith, of Kansas, daughter of William Smith, a prominent citizen of that state. Their union has been blessed by the birth of five children, namely Hilton M., Essie May, Gladys, John N., and George W. Essie May is the wife of A. Clemmons of Anderson. Mr. Pritchard is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and the Loyal Order of Moose. His home in Anderson is at 1214 West Fifth Street. By his long residence in Madison County, and his position on the police force he has secured an extensive acquaintance not only in this County but in many of the adjoining counties of the state.