John K. Deal came to Carroll county in the spring of 1867, and engaged in teaching the school at Carrollton. In the fall of that year, he was elected county superintendent of schools, and served in that capacity, very satisfactorily, two years. He was one of the first who moved to Carroll when the town first started. When the county records were removed from Carrollton to Carroll, 1868, he changed his location with the change of county seat, as superintendent of schools. While holding that office he conducted the first teachers' institute ever held in Carroll county. In the fall of 1868 he was elected clerk of the courts, and served four years. He then engaged in a general law, banking and real estate business, in the firm name of Griffith & Deal. After the fire in 1879, he sold out his banking interest, but continued in the real estate business. Mr. Deal was elected State Senator, in the fall of 1886, by the Republican party, and his popularity is evidenced by the fact that he ran 500 votes ahead of his ticket in Carroll county (in which office he continued to serve at the writing of this sketch, in 1911).

John K. Deal was born in the town of Groveland, Livingston county, New York, in 1843. His father, George Deal, removed with his family to Allen county, Indiana, settling on a farm, where he passed the remainder of his days. John K. Deal served about two years in the army during the great Rebellion, enlisting in July, 1862, as a member of Company C, Eighty-eighth Indiana infantry, and making an honorable record as a soldier. Soon after the close of his service he entered Fort Wayne College, and attended and taught school for several years.

Mr. Deal was married in Medina county, Ohio, Miss Julia Gilley, a sister of William Gilley, of Carroll. They have two children: Lauren K. and Winniefred, both born in Carroll.