A. E. Ginn, one of the pioneers of Grant Township, was born at Newport, Ky., within 600 yards of the United States garrison, on October 19, 1820. He is the son of John and Abigail (Brackin) Ginn, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Kentucky. The father died in 1828, and the mother about 1867, in Illinois. A. E., being left an orphan, was reared on a farm by a Virginian named Ellis until his twentieth year, when he was set free, as he now laughingly says, with another negro. In 1840 he immigrated to Marion County, Ind., and the same year voted against Gen. Harrison. He also wagered a suit of clothes on the election and lost. He has never since made a bet. He engaged in farming and dealing in tobacco nine miles north of Indianapolis until 1855. He then immigrated to De Kalb County, Mo., and purchased eighty acres of land in Grant Township. He purchased the farm where he now resides, comprising 160 acres, in 1865. In 1846 he was united in marriage with Nancy Ellis, of Indiana, the granddaughter of the man who reared him. She was born in Boone County, Ky., within six miles of Newport, on October 26, 1832, the daughter of Nelson R. Ellis. They have had nine children, as follows: Laura (deceased), Neoma, John, Alonzo (deceased), George, James, Albert (deceased), Hiram (deceased), and Martha (deceased). Mr. Ginn has been a member of the Christian Church since 1839. His wife and three children are also members of that church. He was the first volunteer from De Kalb County as a Home Guard in the Federal army, and was on duty during the entire war.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), p. 560.