THOMAS T. ANNIS, farmer and ex-county commissioner, Lawrenceburgh City, is a native of this county, born in 1836.
His parents, Thomas and Rhoda (Fairbanks) Annis, were natives of the Genesee Valley, N.Y., and Green River Valley Mass. His grandfather, Annis was a soldier in the revolution and died in the locality of his birth-- the valley of the Genesee. His grandfather Fairbanks was a native of Massachusetts. amd married there. but subsequently moved to the Gennesee. in 1822 the two families immigrated to this county, the country having been inspected two years previous by Thomas Annis and two brothers-in-law, Sheldon and Lucious Fairbanks.
Their tour was made by wagons over the mountains to Pittsburgh where they constructed their own flat boats, and from which point they floated down the Ohio to Lawrenceburgh. On their way they fell in company with the Buell family which afterward became quite prominent in this locality.
Thomas Annis remained with his family about one year. He had learned the carpenter's trade in the East under the old seven year apprenticeship rule and this trade he followed the fortunes of for about twenty five years.
His first purchase of land was made in 1824, when he obtained eighty acres which he paid for by ship carpentering in Cincinnati, Ohio. He subsequently added to this tract, till he owned about 255 acres, besides some town property in Lawrenceburgh and Aurora and some western land.
He reared a family of four children who grew to maturity: David, Thomas T., Clarissa(wife of Ferris Blasdel), and Cordelia wife of E. Butterfield.
He was an industrious and energetic citizen and did much work in his line, erecting hay presses, houses, barns, mills, etc. He built the frame work of the old mill between Elm and Short Streets; Lawrenceburgh, the site of which is now marked only by the stone foundation.
His death occurred in 1874 his widow survived till January, 1881. Thomas T. Annis, the subject proper of this notice, grew to maturity on his father's farm, and was there chiefly employed till he was thirty one years of age.
In 1870 he married Mary Heustis, a daughter of Elias Heustis, who is elsewhere mentioned in this work. After his marriage he resided on the homestead one year, when he purchased the Buell farm in this township. Here he resided till 1882, engaged in agricultural pursuits, then moved to Lawrenceburgh wiich is now his place of abode.
He was elected to the office of commissioner in the fall of 1882, which he is still holding, his term of service not having expired yet.
He, with his brother, owns several tracts of land in Iowa, Kansas and Dakota, and his good management of his business affairs generally has not been without reward.
footnotes:
Source of this article "HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA"-1885
SUBMITTED BY: John Minneman