Submitted by Meredith Thompson (Scotlass94@aol.com) Biographies of Middle Township from "Atlas of Hendricks Co Indiana" (1878: J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago) ASHBY, L.B., P.O. Rainstown; Farmer, Middle Tp., Sec. 26; born in Shelby Co., Ky., March 4, 1845, settled here in 1859; father's name is Silas, born in Kentucky in 1818, died in 1850; mother's name Margaret E. Watson, born in Kentucky, Feb. 0, 1820. Married Jan. 2, 1870, to Mary F. Rankin, born in Oldham Co., Ky., Oct. 10, 1852; three children, Wm. Thomas, born Dec. 22, 1870; Mattie J., May 9, 1874; Samuel R., Feb. 23, 1878. BRAY, THOMAS S., P.O. Brownsburg; Farmer, Sec. 29; was born in Madison Co., Ky., May 23, 1818; his parents, Richard and Mary Shelton-Bray, the former a native of Ohio, born April 22, 1790, died June 18, 1855, the latter a native of Kentucky, born June 2, 1797, died April 18, 1868; removed to Morgan Co., Ind., in 1824. Mr. Bray came to Washington Tp., in this county, in 1832. His wife, Elizabeth Roberts, to whom he was married March 21, 1842, was born in Rockcastle Co., Ky., May 7, 1825; they have nine children, as follows--Francis M., born July 23, 1843; Eliz. J., March 23, 1846; Wm. J., Oct. 1, 1848; Mrs. Mary F. Herron, Feb. 2, 1852; Richard H., Dec. 16, 1854; Chas. W., Dec. 27, 1857; James W., May 20, 1861; Julia Ann, March 10, 1864, and Thomas H., June 22, 1869. BRILL, JAMES H., P.O. Pittsboro; Physician and Surgeon; son of John H. (born in 1819), and Sarah A. Million-Brill, born in May, 1823, died in April, 1870; was born Dec. 13, 1843, all being natives of Frederick Co., Va. He removed with his parents to Liberty Tp., this county, in 1852. Was married Oct. 10, 1872, to Alice A. Alexander, who was born in this county Jan. 5, 1854; one child, Ada, born May 13, 1874. Dr. Brill graduated at the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati, March, 1872, and has been practicing in Pittsboro for six years. BRUMFIELD, J.T., P.O. Pittsboro, of the firm of Brumfield & Co., Merchant and Custom Millers, was born in Putnam Co., Ind., Sept. 2, 1850. His father, Wm. E. Brumfield, native of Boyle Co., Ky., born Nov. 19, 1820; his mother, Mary J. Green, was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Nov. 28, 1823. He settled, with his parents, at Brownsburg, Lincoln Tp., in 1852. On March 7, 1877, he married Nancy J. McLeod, who was born in Hendricks Co. Jan. 18, 1853. They have one child--Grace A., born Dec. 22, 1877. DODD, MARION, P.O. Rainstown; Farmer, Middle Tp., Sec. 35; born in Ladoga, Montgomery Co., Ind., July 26, 1835; settled here in 1875; son of Woodson P. Dodd (born in Franklin Co., Va., 1808); emigrated to Parke Co., Ind., in 1828 (died Dec. 23, 1876), and Sarah Stultz (born in Stokes Co., N.C., in 1817). Married Nov. 20, 1856, to Minerva Riggle; born in Putnam Co, Ind., Sept. 4, 1834; have three children--Wm. R., born May 30, 1858; Sarah E., Oct. 7, 1868, and Mary Jane, July 5, 1874. EDWARDS, CHARLES W., P.O. Pittsboro; was born March 27, 1853, in Nicholas Co., Ky. His father, Benj. E. Edwards, born in Bourbon Co., Ky., July 11, 1807, died Jan. 6, 1868; his mother, Martha Berry-Edwards, born in Nicholas Co., Ky., May 17, 1817, died in Hendricks Co., Ind., Dec. 27, 1872. He, with his mother, settled in this county in 1870, on Sec. 81, Middle Tp. Mr. Edwards has held the office of Justice of the Peace for two years. FEELY, DANIEL, P.O. Pittsboro; Stave Manufacturer; was born in Niagara Co., N.Y., Nov. 8, 1843, and settled in this county at Pittsboro in 1872. His parents, Morton and Mary Cox-Feely, were natives of Ireland, the former born in 1815, the latter in 1824. Mr. Feely was married to Rhoda M. Long, native of Boone Co., Ind., born Dec. 25, 1841. Mr. Feely is extensively engaged in the manufacture of barrel staves of all kinds, employing twenty-five hands, and does a business of $50,000 annually. FISHER, ADAM, P.O. Pittsboro; settled on Sec. 11 in the year 1869; was born in Union Co., Ind. Territory, Jan. 22, 1814; son of James Fisher, a native of Tenn. (died in 1869), and Catherine Eli, of Virginia, who died about the year 1826. Was united in marriage in April, 1844, to Sarah Jane Foster, who was born in Butler Co., Ohio, in 1823, and died Feb. 14, 1862. Five children have been born to them, the first three--Joshua J., Margaret A. and Samantha dying in infancy; Jasper, born April 3, 1850, and Oscar, Sept. 3, 1858, still survive. GENTRY, WILLIAM, P.O. Pittsboro; Farmer, Sec. 14; born in Kentucky, March 9, 1815; settled here with his parents in 1830; father's name is Richard, a native of Kentucky, as was also his mother, Jane Kindred, who died Sept. 3, 1868. HALE, JAMES R., P.O. Rainstown; Tile Manufacturer and Farmer; Residence Middle Tp.; Sec. 35; born in Hendricks Co., Oct. 15, 1846; son of Stephen Hale, born in Ky., 1808; died July, 1857, and Sarah Holtsclaw born in Ky., 1807. The parents settled here in 1834. Was married Dec. 8, 1864, to Susan McClintich; born in Hendricks Co., Aug. 11, 1842. Children--Nellie, born Oct. 24, 1865; died Feb. 19, 1875; Mollie, born March 18, 1867; died Feb. 15, 1875; George Wm., born Aug. 31, 1869; Ettie Alice, born June 3, 1876; died July 14, 1876. HALE, STEPHEN J., P.O. Pittsboro; Farmer on Sec. 36, where he was born May 29, 1855. His father, Wm. Hale, was born in Pulaski Co., Ky., 1832; died in Aug., 1857; his mother was Violeta A. Thompson, a native of Hendricks Co., Ind., Oct. 5, 1831. Was united in marriage to Mary a. Talbot (born in this county May 14, 1859), Dec. 23, 1875. Edna G., their daughter was born Nov. 22, 1877. HILL, D.F., P.O. Pittsboro; Attorney and R.R. Agent; son of Samuel Hill, born in Chatham Co., N.C., Feb. 22, 1806, and Rebecca Hornaday-Hill, born in Orange Co., N.C., 1808, died Dec. 16, 1862; was born in Hendricks Co., Ind., Jan. 22, 1841. His parents settled in this county in 1833, on Sec. 12, Middle Tp. He was married to Sarah Jane McGray, native of Nicholas Co., Ky., in 1868; one child--Harry E., born Nov. 8, 1869. HILL, SAMUEL, P.O. Pittsboro; Farmer, Sec. 12; was born in Guilford Co., N.C., Feb. 22, 1806. His parents, Joseph and Nancy Clark-Hill, were both natives of North Carolina. Mr. Hill settled in this county on Sec. 12, Middle Tp., in 1833. On April 6, 1826, he was married to Rebecca Hornaday, a native of Orange Co., N.C. who was born Oct., 1808, and died Dec. 16, 1862. Married again Oct. 31, 1867, to Mrs. Catherine Clark (Hamilton), who was born in 1814. The record of his seven children is as follows: O.W., born Nov. 15, 1828; Mrs. Samira Ann Parker, born Feb. 14, 1832; died Dec. 17, 1862; Wm. W., born Jan. 24, 1834; died July 9, 1857; John C., born Nov. 7, 1836; Daniel F., born Jan. 22, 1839; Mrs. Mary J. Hadley, born Aug. 13, 1852; Mrs. Eliza H. Johnson, born Aug. 10, 1846. HUGHES, JACOB, P.O. Danville; Farmer, Sec. 24; son of William (a native of Virginia) and Susannah Beckner Hughes; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., March 7, 1800; he removed with his parents, to this county in 1837, settling on Sec. 24, Middle Tp. In 1821, he married Elizabeth Hunter, a native of the same county as himself, who was born in 1803, and died Jan. 27, 1867; six children, viz.: Mrs. Minerva Ann Green, Mrs. Amanda Gatson, F. M., Martha, William A., and Mrs. Mary Day. HUGHES, PARMELIA A., MRS., whose residence is on Sec. 24; P.O. Danville; was born in Harrison Co., Ky., Aug. 18 1815; settled in Liberty Tp., with her parents, 1836; daughter of George Herrin, who was born in Harrison Co., Ky., Dec. 25, 1790, and Elizabeth Riley, born in Scott Co., Ky., Dec. 22, 1792, died Aug. 5, 1875. Was married Nov. 14, 1837, to Alex Whitemaster, born in 1814, and died in 1845; married again in 1852, to Henry Hughes, who died Nov. 27, 1865; has had seven children--Franklin and Eliza Whitemaster, Mrs. Polina J. Ritter, Mrs. Ann Eliza Morrison, Thomas J. Hughes, Mrs. Mary Bray and Charles H. Hughes. KENNEDY, MARY A., MRS., P.O. Pittsboro; res. Sec. 29; was born in this township Aug. 17, 1851. Married Feb. 24, 1866, to Jesse R. Kennedy, who died May 8, 1876, aged 31 years; has had five children--Rosetta, born June 10, 1868; William, April 1, 1870; Sarah Ann, Sept. 22, 1873; George, Feb. 15, 1872, died Jan. 11, 1873, and Jesse, born April 29, 1876. Her father, Wm. Patterson, came from New Jersey, and her mother, Amelia, from Johnson Co., Ind. LIPE, JONAS, Farmer Sec. 36; P.O. Pittsboro; was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 16, 1806; when about two years of age, his parents moved to Rowan Co., N.C., he himself settling in Center Tp., this county, on Sec. 22, in 1831; son of Jonas Lipe, born in Pennsylvania in 1756, and Christina Hoover, born in Cabarrus Co., N.C., in 1766. Was married Aug. 31, 1826, to Mary Downs, who was born in Iredell Co., N.C., in 1799, died Aug. 21, 1873; March 27, 1874, he married Georgiana Lewis; born in Putnam Co., Ind., Dec. 23, 1855. Has been the father of eleven children--Nancy Jane (Mrs. Triggs), John Elijah ( died in 1837), Julia C. (Mrs. McPheters), Mrs. Mary Ann Nelson, Mrs. Loviela Thompson, Mrs. Rachel Duzan, Jonas C. and Jurusha Jane. LONG, JOHN A., P.O. Pittsboro; res. Sec. 11; was born April 16, 1830, in Woodford Co., Ky.; his parents settling in Guilford Tp., this county, the same year. His father Zachariah, was born in Virginia in 1798, died Feb. 20, 1874; Eliza Hayden, his mother, is a native of Kentucky, born in 1814. Married to Nancy Gentry Dec. 18, 1854; their children have been ten in number--Rhod Ann, Mrs. Rebecca Bodenhamer, Mrs. D.A. Bodenhamer, William (who died in March, 1864), Martin, Thomas, Ella, Wilmer, Louis and Francis. PARKER, JAMES M., P.O. Pittsboro; Farmer, who is now retired from active duty, was born in Mason Co., Ky., Sept. 7 1809, settling in this county in 1836, son of Jacob Parker, a native of Md., but who died in Fleming Co., Ky., in 1849, and Jemima Campbell, born in Culpepper Co., Va., died in 1855. Married Jan. 16, 1836, to maria Thomas, who was born in Va. April 11, 1811. Has been the father of five children--three of whom survive; Jacob S., born Dec. 7, 1836, died July 27, 1839; Mrs. Sarah F. Leachman, born Dec. 9, 1839; Perry T., April 29, 1842, died April 12, 1843; Ambrose B., born Mar. 16, 1844, and Luther W., Mar. 1, 1849. PARKER, MARTHA, MRS., P.O. Pittsboro; res. Sec. 30; settled here in 1833 with her parents, all being natives of Orange Co., N.C. Her father, Joseph Wells, was born Jan. 21, 1797; her mother Ruth Hornaday, born Feb. 13, 1801, died July 4, 1874; Martha was born March 22, 1828. Was married Jan. 5, 1854, to William G. Parker, a native of Ky., born April 30, 1827, and who died Jan. 8, 1877; nine children were the result of this marriage, as follows: an infant who died Nov. 16, 1854; Mrs. Mary E. Lewis, born July 14, 1853; Henry L., born Nov. 29, 1855; Oliver W., born Feb. 23, 1859; Sarah Jane, born April 5, 1861; an infant son born Jan. 7, 1858, died Jan. 25, same year; Robert E., born June 18, 1863; William M., born Nov. 23, 1866; Ruth A., born March 18, 1870, died Dec. 5, 1872. PARKER, NANCY, MRS., P.O. Pittsboro; Farming, Sec. 17; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Nov. 25, 1809; her parents, George Glass, (born in Ireland, March 3, 1758, died Feb. 16, 1835, and Nancy Mecumson, native of Maryland, died Aug. 9, 1831); setlted in Kentucky in 1793. On April 6, 1826, she was married to John L. Parker, a native of Mason Co., Ky., who was born July 26, 1803, and died Oct. 1, 1875; they removed to this county in 1835, and settled on Sec. 17, Middle Tp. The record of their family of thirteen children is as follows: Wm. G., born April 30 1827, died Jan. 8, 1877; John C., born May 17, 1828; Mrs. Zelinda J. Smith, born May 20, 1830; Matilda, born Jan. 30, 1832, died Feb. 2, 1834; Ann Eliza, born Jan. 30, 1834, died Dec. 3, 1837; Henry R., born Feb. 10, 1836; Robert P., born Jan. 9, 1838; Mrs. Sarah E. Hill, born Feb. 16, 1840; Eveline V., born May 1, 1842, died Feb.18, 1853; Mrs. Mary Webb, born July 10, 1844, died April 3, 1867; Charles W., born Dec. 1, 1846; Elllis, born Feb. 10, 1849 and Mrs. Julia O. Worrell, born July 16, 1851. PIERSON, AUSTIN, P.O. Pittsboro; Farmer, Sec. 2; son of Wm. & Nancy Simmons Pierson; both natives of Virginia, the former died in 1863, the latter March, 1856; was born in Shelby Co., Ky., June 12, 1826. He came with his parents to this county in 1834, who settled on Sec. 6, Centre Tp. On March 6, 1851, he married Mary Jane Smith, native of Clark Co., Ky., born Sept. 10, 1830. They have had twelve children, viz.: Wm. Henry, born Feb. 9, 1852, died May 10, 1875; John H., born June 13, 1853, died Dec. 10, 1865; James M., born Feb. 12, 1855; Nancy E., born Oct. 10, 1856; Merun, born March 1, 1858; Oliver Hl, born Nov. 19, 1859, died May 13, 1860; Geo. B., born July 22, 1864; Joseph M., born June 22, 1864; Robert, born Jan. 1, 1866; Sarah J., born Aug. 18, 1869; Marretta, born April 20, 1871; and Ann E., born Jan. 9, 1873. POLAND, SAMUEL, P.O. Pittsboro; Farmer, Sec. 35; was born in Marion Co., Ind., Nov. 15, 1828. His parents, William and Mary Swadley-Poland, were natives of Virginia; the former died in 1865; the latter in 1852. Mr. Poland settled in Sec. 35, in Middle Tp., of this County, in 1856. He was married Dec. 14, 1852 to Mary Brown, who died Feb. 20, 1863. Married again Dec. 6, 1863, to Eliza Ayers, who was born in Preble Co., Ohio, March 28, 1832. He has five children--Martin, Henry and Peter by his first wife and Darius E. and John H., by his last wife. REYNOLDS, JAMES H., P.O. Rainstown; Farmer, Sec. 26; was born in Wayne Co., Ind., Sept. 13, 1836; son of Joseph Reynolds, born in Monmouth Co., N.J. April 1, 1792, died Sept. 12, 1867 (served in the war of 1812), and Nancy Chapman, born in same county as the father, Dec. 14, 1792 and died Aug 7, 1874. Settled in this township 1845. Was married Aug. 21, 1864 to Sarah M. Dickinson, a native of Boone Co., Ind., Jan. 4, 1848. Six children--Mary A., born July 27, 1865; Joseph P., born April 2, 1867; Isaac A., born Nov. 11, 1869; George W., born May 4, 1871; Oscar A., born Oct. 7, 1874; Everetta R., born Aug. 12, 1877. The grandsire of J. H., John Reynolds, was born in Monmouth Co. from Scotch and Irish parentage, about the year 1760, and was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. ROBERTS, THOMAS J., P.O. Brownsburg; Farmer, Sec. 20; was born in this county Sept. 27, 1852. His father, Thomas S., was born Nov. 10, 1793, in Rockcastle Co., Ky., and died Feb. 22, 1877. Mother, Mary Ann Jelf, born Oct. 13, 1813 in Kentucky, and died Oct. 28, 1872. They settled in Sec. 20, Middle Tp., this county in 1834. Thomas S. Roberts' children were as follows, viz: Mrs. Anna Schenck, born Oct. 1, 1817; Elizabeth, born April 14, 1820; Lucy, born Feb. 17, 1822; John M., born June 27, 1824; William, born Nov. 27, 1826, died April 3, 1875; Mrs. Susannah Mead, born April 15, 1828; Mrs. Patsy Engart, born Nov. 16, 1831; died Aug. 4, 1874; Mrs. Sarah F. Shirley, born Sept. 8, 1833; Mrs. Mary J. Runyon, born May 11, 1848; Mrs. Rhoda P. Campbell, born March 13, 1850; Mrs. Hannah P. Watts, born March 13, 1850; Thomas J., born Sept. 27, 1852; Rebecca E., born Aug. 16, 1855. STEWART, JAS. P., P.O. Pittsboro; Farmer, Sec. 25; was born Feb. 18, 1849 in Davidson Co., N.C. His father, Chas. Stewart, was born in Belfast, Ireland, 1819; died 1850. Phebe Pierce, the mother, was born in North Carolina, 1825, and settled on Sec. 4, Washington Tp., in this county, in 1853. Was married Sept. 20, 1876, to Flora Rains, by whom one child has been born--Myrtle I., born July 17, 1877. Merideth Pierce, father of Phebe Pierce, was a native of Virginia, about 1780; his parentage was Scotch and irish and he was a leading Pastor in the Regular Baptist Church of his day, serving also as a veteran of 1812. SYMMONDS, WM., P.O. Pittsboro; Farmer, Sec. 5; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Sept. 17, 1825. His father, John H. Symmonds, was born at Reading, Penn., in 1782, and died in 1870. His mother, Margaret Hoffman, was a native of Botetourt Co., Va.; his parents settled in Marion Co., Ind., in September, 1828; he settled in Lincoln Tp., this county, in 1861. He married Margaret K. Coffman Sept. 16, 1856; she was born in Granger Co., Tenn, Sept, 1836; their children, four in number, are Charlotte, born Aug. 8, 1857, died Nov. 21, 1874; Barton C., March 5, 1859; John M., July 26, 1861, and Viola M., Dec. 29, 1872. Mrs. Symmonds' parents, Barton and Mary White Coffman, were natives of Tennessee, the former born in 1805, the latter in 1811. WALTER, WM. E., Farmer; P.O. Rainstown; residence, Middle Tp., Sec. 26; born in Fauquier Co., Va., Oct. 8, 1809; settled here in Hendricks Co. with his parents in 1844; son of Wm. S. Walter, born in Maryland, died 1866, and Lucy Thompson, born in Virginia, died in 1874. Was married Sept. 21, 1837, to Caroline Reynolds, born in New Jersey Sept. 21, 1817, and died Jan. 25, 1857. United again in matrimony in June, 1858, to Isabella Hedger, a native of Ireland; has been the father of eleven children--Elizabeth S. (now Mrs. Waters), born July 18, 1858; John W., April 7, 1841, died Aug. 16, 1851; Nancy Rachel, Dec. 6, 1842, died May 10, 1844; Lucy Jane, (Mrs. Anderson), July 24, 1843; Wm. H., Dec. 31, 1844; Alex, Sept. 24, 1846 (dead); Joseph G., Jan. 29, 1848; Martha C., (now Mrs. Thompson), Nov. 28, 1849; George D., Feb. 13, 1852; Samuel T., Dec. 21, 1853, and Benj. F., Dec. 4, 1854. WILLIAMS, WM., P.O. Pittsboro; Farmer, Sec. 11; was born Feb. 14, 1809, in Clark Co., Ky.; he came to Center Township, in this county, in 1837. On Feb. 1, 1831, he married Margaret Bradley, who was born March 16, 1812, in Fayette Co., Ky.; they have had six children--Saul W., born Nov. 22, 1831; James T., Feb. 27, 1834; Mrs. Sarah M. Clark, July 29, 1837; John Dennis, Sept. 25, 1835; Francis M., March 15, 1839, died March 24, 1840, and Mrs. Martha Ann Fughlmaster, Aug. 4, 1842, married Jan. 10, 1861, husband died June 21, 1866. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Meredith Thompson (© 2000 Meredith Thompson)