JOHN L. GIVENS. A resident of Madison County for sixty-five years, Mr. Givens represents the progressive rural citizenship of Stony Creek Township, where he has a fine farm of sixty-two acres, with excellent improvements and a comfortable home for himself and family.
John L. Givens was born in Green Township, Madison County, November 30, 1848, a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Shawl) Givens. Andrew Givens, the father was born in the state of Michigan, came to Indiana and was married in Madison County, his wife being a native of this state. He continued to reside in Madison County until his death in 1854. He and his wife were the parents of three children, the other two being N. D. Givens, of Indianapolis; and Julius Givens, who is connected with the street railway system in St. Louis.
Mr. John L. Givens was reared in Green Township until he reached his majority, and as a boy attended the district school near his home. Green Township, while he was growing up, still presented almost an expanse of wilderness, and the residents were still engaged in the hard labor of clearing and grubbing and planting the first crops in the hard won fields. That was the training ground for his early life. He was married in Green Township to Amanda Heshberger, and their happy married life continued until 1909 when Mrs. Givens died. She was reared in Green and Stony Creek Townships and received her education in the public schools. The four sons born to their marriage are all living in 1913, namely: Horace, who is married and a resident of Stony Creek Township; Elmer, who graduated from the common schools and is married and lives in Hamilton County; Willard, who graduated from the Lapel high school and in 1913 from the University of Indiana, and is now a principal of a graded school in Noblesville, this state; Asa, who finished the course in the common schools, and at the present time is in Indianapolis. Mr. Givens and family are members of the Progressive Dunkard Church. In politics he has always been a regular supporter of the Republican party up to the campaign of 1912 in which he voted the Progressive ticket.