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Below is a family biography included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published by Standard Publishing Company in 1913.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Captain John Corbin. On February 13, 1911, there passed to life eternal one of Posey county’s most notable citizens, Capt. John Corbin, who, during his lifetime, and held a position among the most honored business men of the community, and, as one of its most successful men of affairs. A distinct force of character and individuality appeared throughout the life of Captain Corbin. He was a man of strong personal conviction, sound and clear judgment, with a capacity for liberal views, and a natural spirit of benevolence. His patriotism, like his other characteristics, had an intensity that belonged to his nature. He was a native son of Posey county, and came of both Colonial and Revolutionary descent. His first ancestor in America was Henry Corbin, of Warwickshire, England, who settled in Westmoreland county, Virginia, in 1650. Captain Corbin was born at Farmersville, Posey county, Indiana, March 20, 1840, a son of John and Margaret (Gibson) Corbin. His parents came to Posey county in 1836, and settled in New Harmony. Two years later they removed to Yankee settlement, now Farmersville, but in 1844 returned to New Harmony. Captain Corbin spent his early boyhood in Posey county, attending the schools of New Harmony. In 1854 he and a brother and sister drove overland to California, where their father had preceded them four years. They remained in the Sacramento Valley until 1858, when he returned to Posey county via the Isthmus route and New York. In 1859 young Corbin entered Asbury University, Greencastle, Ind. Here he pursued his studies in the style of the average student until the thunder of the guns at Fort Sumter announced that the great conflict was on. Immediately he abandoned his college career, and gave his services to the cause of his flag, with the same indomitable courage that characterized his life. On April 19, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Sixteenth Indiana infantry. His company was known as the “Asbury Guards.” He served in this company until May 14, 1862, when he was discharged by reason of expiration of term of enlistment; August 10, 1862, he reenlisted in Company A. Ninety-first Indiana infantry, and was mustered in as first lieutenant. On June 1, 1864, Captain Corbin was promoted to captain. This regiment was mustered out in June, 1865, and Captain Corbin was transferred to Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana infantry. When the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth was mustered out, September 5, 1866, Captain Corbin was retained by telegraphic orders from the war department and appointed a member of the military commission to try Maj. John H. Gee, Confederate keeper of Salisbury military prison. During his military career he held many positions of great trust and responsibility. He was commander of military musters at Raleigh, N. C., and on various occasions served as regimental quartermaster. He was post commissary at Cumberland Gap and served as inspector general of the district of the Clinch; he was inspector of the Second brigade, Third division Twenty-third army corps. He also served on the staff of General Couch, and was acting assistant general on the staff of General Schofield, and aide-de-camp on the staff of General McLean. He acted as judge advocate on several court martials. He was mustered out September 5, 1866, after having refused to accept a commission in the regular army, which was offered him by the war department. His army life was filled with incidents of active service. He participated in the battles of Perryville, the campaign against Morgan, battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, the siege of Atlanta, operations against Hood, at Franklin and Nashville, and participated in the campaign through the Carolinas. At the close of the war he returned to New Harmony, where he read law for a year. In 1867 he engaged in the milling business, and founded the Corbin Milling Company. This venture was a notable success, and stands today as the chief industry of New Harmony. He was the president of this corporation to the time of his death; also was engaged in various other business enterprises. He was one of the principal stockholders and a director in the New Harmony Banking Company. Politically Captain Corbin was a staunch Republican, and a local leader of his party, but never sought political preferment. He served several years on the school board, and took a deep interest in educational matters, and was a member of the Workingmen’s Institute. He was public-spirited, and gave cheerfully to every worthy enterprise. He was a member of the committee that built the soldiers’ and sailors’ monument at Mt. Vernon, and was the author of the inscription which appears on that monument. These lines are typical of Captain Corbin’s deep seated conviction of what constitutes citizenship, and are as follows: “A patriotism which readily responds to its country’s call; a deep reverence for its laws; a decent respect for the rights of others; a sincere love of justice, truth and country are the best safeguards of a Nation’s peace.” Captain Corbin was united in marriage, January 13, 1869, to Miss Mary Truscott, a native of Cornwall, England. To Captain and Mrs. Corbin were born five children: Laura Lee, born January 13, 1870, a graduate of St. Mary’s School, Knoxville, Ill., married H. W. Monical, of Brooklyn, Ind., June 9, 1897; John, born December 9, 1871, graduated at the University of Michigan; Marcia, born February 25, 1874, educated at Mt. Mary’s School, Knoxville, Ill., married Harry Cuyler Ford, New Harmony, October 7, 1903, and three children have been born to them: Richard Corbin, born September 23, 1904, John Birkbeck, born December 4, 1906, and William Michaux, born November 3, 1909; Helen Margaret, born March 31, 1882, married Robert Heinl, of Terre Haute, Ind., September 3, 1912. Mrs. Heinl is a musician of unusual talent. She studied under such noted instructors as Prof. Albino Gorno, Edward MacDowell, Carreno and Harold Bauer, and was a student at Madam Fredin’s School, Cincinnati, and the Packer Institute at Brooklyn, N. Y., also Barnard College, New York. The youngest child born to Captain and Mrs. Corbin is Courtland Gibson, born January 9, 1886, who resides in New Harmony. At college Captain Corbin was a Beta Theta Pi. The Corbin family residence is one of deep historic interest. It is one of the finest modern residences to be found in the county, a part of it stands on the original foundation, built by George Rapp in 1819, and later occupied by William Maclure. The original house was burned in 1844, and rebuilt by the Maclure estate in 1847, afterwards owned by David Dale Owen and heirs, from whom it was purchased by Captain Corbin in 1901, who partially remodeled and rebuilt it. Thomas Say, the naturalist, at one time lived there, and in the rear of the Corbin home is a marble monument, erected by Alexander Maclure to the memory of this genius of his time. Here, too, is a mound, underneath the green sward of which rests the mortal dust of Alexander, Ann and Margaret Maclure, and Thomas Say. Surely, this spot possesses a rare combination, as it seems to whisper in deep historic accents, the story of past ages, and at the same time presents to the beholder a magnificent place with every modern convenience and luxury.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published in 1913 by Standard Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Posey County, Indiana History and Genealogy

View additional Posey County, Indiana family biographies here: Posey County, Indiana Biographies

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