Joseph Sedam, a farmer of White River Township, was born in Switzerland County, Ind., January 12, 1845, and is the son of John and Isabelle Sedam, whose history is found elsewhere in this volume. Joseph was raised on a farm. He attended the country schools, and received a fair education. He has followed farming as an occupation, and began in life with no capital other than willing hands, and for four years before his marriage worked on a farm by the month. He is a hard working and industrious man. March 3, 1867, he was united in marriage with Nancy Jane Markey, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Sells) Markey, who were early settlers of Johnson County. The above marriage has been blessed by the following children: Mary Elizabeth, Annie Belle, Lillie Jane, Samuel Albert, Harvey Grafton, Jessie Pearl, Ollie Blanche, William Edgar. Mr. Sedam, has lived in Johnson County nearly all of the time since he was married. He now owns a farm of sixty-eight acres, which he settled on when it was a forest. He cleared the land, and now has a nice and well-improved farm which enables him to live an independent life. He and wife are members of the Methodist Church. During the war he served three months and because of sickness was discharged. In politics, he is a democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Seymour and Blair.