Having been orphaned in 1861, and apparently having a step-mother whod idn't want to raise him, John, at age 12, moved in with his father'syo ungest sister, Aunt Martha Carter.
He attended Westfield College from 1871-1873. He then taught schoolin t he winters and farmed in the summers.
He was listed as a farmer, PO Oakland, IL, in 1879
