J. A. Hood, one of the leading citizens of Richland Township, is a farmer and resides on section 29. He was born in North Carolina, June 22, 1842, son of A. W. and Nancy C. (Tuttle) Hood. In 1852 the family removed to Indiana, locating in Rush County, where our subject was reared. His youth was passed in assisting at farm work and in attending the common schools. During the great Rebellion, he enlisted August 24, 1861, in Company D, Fifty-first Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, and Stone River. In April, 1863, Colonel Streight organized a battalion out of a portion of the Fifty-first Indiana, Eightieth Illinois, Third Ohio and Seventy-third Indiana, for a raid down the Cumberland and up the Tennessee into the enemy’s country. They were taken prisoners at Rome, Georgia, thence to Libby, thence to Belle Island, where they remained about four months, and were then exchanged and granted thirty days furlough. After his return he took part in the battle of Missionary Ridge, and was with General Sherman as far as Jonesborough, where he joined General Thomas’ command, and was in the engagement at Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. He was honorably discharged December 16, 1864, and returned to Indiana. July 27, 1865 he was married to Miss Amanda M. Sears, of Rush County, and daughter of Alexander and Mary (Goble) Sears, and in 1870 settled in Carroll County and bought his present farm, which was then in the wild state. He now owns 240 acres of well improved land, a fine residence and good farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Hood have had eight children, three of whom are living—Gurney T., Nettie M. and Guy W.; the deceased are—Carrie, Charles, Stella, Walter and a babe unnamed. Mr. Hood is a member of Glidden Post, No. 291, G.A.R., also a member of the Presbyterian church. He has served creditably as a member of the school board.

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