ON FEBRUARY 6, 1907, JOHN HENRY TODD, AND FLORA ETTA REYNOLDS TODD, my grandparents, and parents of six children, all sons, were married in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana, by Elder James H. Oliphant , a well-known minister of the Primitive Baptists, also known as, "Hardshell Baptists." John's age: 22 years, 10 months, and 24 days. Flora's age: 18 years, 5 months, and 17 days. John Henry and Flora were kind people who resided on a farm, where they had goats, each of which they dearly loved as much as any household pet. They also had rabbits, chickens, flowers, corn, and other crops. Also, they repaired furniture and Grampa John Henry was a Watkins salesman. One year, there was a write-up in a Watkins magazine, by the name of, "The Co-Operator," complete with a borrowed wedding anniversary photo of John & Flora, praising John as being one of the top Watkins salesmen. For those who don't know about Watkins, which still exists, now, in 2011, please Google it.

John Henry Todd was born near Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana on March 13, 1884, a son of John Starns Todd and his second of two wives, Mariah Jane Hawkins Todd. John Henry died in Logansport, Cass County, Indiana on September 2, 1958. These are the correct dates, which have often been incorrectly recorded on other historical sites. Two other brothers were also born on March 13, all three of different years. Diana Marie Quinn Wildermuth, one of John & Flora's great grand daughters, was also born on a March 13th birthdate.

Flora Etta Reynolds Todd was born on August 20, 1888, near Anoka, Cass County, Indiana, a daughter of Edward L. Reynolds and Olive Mary Merrritt Reynolds. Flora had contracted both tuberculosis and cancer, which first started in her right femur (thigh bone) and spread throughout her body. Although my father, Frank Todd, said that Gramma Flora was cured of t.b., "the cancer got her." She died at the Irene Byron Sanitarium in Fort Wayne, Allen, County, Indiana on February 10, 1960. Both John Henry and Flora are buried in Paint Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, four miles east of the little town of Camden, Carroll County, Indiana, next to their beloved son, another John Starns Todd., a tailgunner, shot down over Kemper, Holland, in World War II.  Both John Henry Todd's father...and John Henry Todd's son, share the same name of, "John Starns Todd." Also in Paint Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery are John Henry's brother, Noah Preston Todd, also born on a March 13th birthdate, and Noah's wife, Julia Todd, known to most as, "Julie,"

John Henry's parents, John Starns Todd and Mariah Jane Hawkins Todd, are buried with other even older Todds, in Gilgal Cemetery, in Lawrence County, Indiana, which is in southern Indiana.

Flora's parents, Edward L. Reynolds (listed in her Family Bible as, "EDWIN L. Reynolds) and Olive Mary Merritt Reynolds, are buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Logansport, Cass County, Indiana.

Trivia: My parents, Francis Leverett (an old family name) Todd and Evaleen Rosemary Murphy Todd, were married on the 38th wedding anniversary of John Henry & Flora. Frank & Rosemary were married on February 6, 1945 (a military wedding) in Saint Mary's Cathedral, 1207 Columbia Street, in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

Lots more historical info, including photos, available upon request.

May they all Rest in Peace.

Angela (Angie) Frances Todd


P.S. Three of John & Flora's sons, Harvey Allen Todd, Senior, Francis (Frank) Todd, and John Starns Todd, had nameplates on the old "Cass County Roll of Honor," next to the City Building (City Hall) in downtown Logansport, Cass County, Indiana. This memorial structure has been dismantled, to make way for a new memorial.

Submission date is Monday, February 7, 2011.