David E. John was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, on May 16, 1875, being the son of David and Mary E. (Edgar) John, natives also of Greene county. When our subject was two years old, the family went to Washington county, where his mother died on January 17, 1894. The father, who is still living there, aged eighty-six, is a prominent and wealthy farmer of that section. The parents, as also our subject and his wife, are all members of the German Baptist Brethren. David E. attended school in his native place and on December 25, 1896, he married Miss Alice C., daughter of Silas and Nannie (Rodabaugh) Johnson. In March, 1897, they came to the reservation country with his father-in-law, the party consisting of thirteen. This was simply for a trip but when they arrived here the country was so favorabe and pleasing that Mr. John secured the relinquishment of the farm where he now resides and he at once went to improving. He has a good six-room house, large barn and outbuildings, with many other good improvements. Mr. John has fenced his entire farm with hog tight fencing and is intending to raise hogs extensively. He is blessed with a goodly holding of property and is one of the substantial men of the section. Two children have been born to them, Volley Clifford, born July 6, 1897, and died at the age of fifteen months; David Bernard, born August 8, 1902.

This biography gives David's surname as John, but the headstone of David and his wife shows the name to be Johns.