David Justus, an old and honored citizen of Greenwood, was born in Guilford County, N. C., January 24, 1810, the son of Garrison L. and Tasitis (Purdue) Justice, both of whom were natives of Granville County, N. C. His mother died when he was nine years old, and some three or four years later his father came westward to Jennings County, Ind. Our subject remained in Guilford County, and was employed as a farm hand. In 1830 he joined his father in Jennings County, this state. November 13, 1830, he married Minerva, daughter of Edward Wilson. For a period of nearly twenty years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Justus resided in Jennings County, and during the first fifteen years of this time he was engaged at farming. In about 1846, he became employed as section hand on the Madison & Indianapolis R. R. In the fall of 1850, he removed his family to Pleasant Township, this county, with the intention of resuming agricultural pursuits. He had hardly settled in this county, when he was waited upon by the superintendent of the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad, who urged him to take charge of the road between Greenwood and Franklin as section foreman. He accepted this position, and during the ten years which followed he gave his whole attention to railroading. His labors finally extended to various parts of the road, and he frequently had in his charge as many as fifty men. Some idea of the appreciation of his services may be had from the fact that his wages were increased from 75 cents per day without board, to $3.25 per day with board. In 1859 he retired from the road and resumed the management of his farm near Greenwood, and has given his attention to its management ever since. It contains 153 acres, of which 130 acres are in cultivation. It is splendidly improved, and is situated on the pike just one mile and a half east of Greenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Justus passed their golden wedding anniversary November 13, 1880, and they were permitted to remain together until December 24, 1883, when the hand of death removed Mrs. Justus from earth. Since her death Mr. Justus has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Peas, of Indianapolis, and with his sons, Sylvester and Marquis L. Justus, of Greenwood. He and wife had a family of twelve children: William L., Rebecca, Sarah A., Alanson L., Sylvester, Elizabeth, Catharine, Daniel, Melissa J., Marquis L., David and Edward W., of whom Elizabeth, Daniel and Melissa J., are deceased. In politics, Mr. Justus is a republican. His first presidential vote was cast for Jackson. He is now in the seventy-ninth year of his age.