Andrew Hensley
One of the widely known citizens of Shelby county is the subject of this sketch, Andrew Hensley, better known as “Squire” Hensley. He was born in Marion county, this state, on February 21, 1843, but when three weeks old the family removed to Union township, Shelby county, and this has been his home for the most part since.
Our subject's father, Andrew Hensley, Sr., was born in Virginia, and came with his parents to Shelby county, Indiana, in pioneer days. Grandfather Hensley later went to Greenup, Illinois, and never returned to Indiana. He and his father were members of the Continental army during the Revolutionary war, and both saw much active service.
Isabel Glidewell (Hensley), Mr. Hensley's mother, was born in South Carolina, December 14, 1798, and when six years of age emigrated with her parents to Virginia. Later the family removed to Ohio, settling in the Miami Valley, from whence they later advanced to Union county. While in Union county Isabel was married to her first husband, Thomas Creek; three children were born to this couple, viz: Mary Ann, David and William. Her husband died there, and later the widow emigrated to Shelby county, Indiana, settling in Union township, where she later married Andrew Hensley, Sr. This union was graced with the following children: Thomas born August 21, 1833; James, born February 1, 1837, died in Kansas, March 27, 1908. Our subject was the next child in the order of birth. The fourth was Eliza Jane, born July 26, 1840, followed by Isabel, who died when young. Mrs. Hensley attained the age of eighty-seven years, and she was a courageous as well as a frugal mistress to the household. Their pioneer experiences were such as were common to the days when wild animals ranged about the cabin at night, and the Indians were still familiar sights in the land. The present homestead is on the old Whetzel trail that ran from Connersville to St. Louis, and was only a blazed trail at the time when this family arrived.
Andrew Hensley had but limited opportunity for education and when fourteen years of age started out to make his own way in the world. His father had died a few months before Andrew's birth, and this made it necessary for the children to lend a helping hand for the care of the family, as soon as they were able.
On March 22, 1868, Mr. Hensley was joined in marriage to Dorothy Wicker, daughter of Samuel and Naomi (Phares) Wicker. She was born in Union township, this county, on May 8, 1840, and has become the mother of the following children: Rosetta, wife of P. J. Theobald; Nora J., wife of C. C. Cherry; Franklin, husband of Florence McDaniel; Perlie J., married M. T. Moore; Samuel A. married Minnie O. Theobald, and Minnie May, wife of Franklin Hankins.
In 1862 Mr. Hensley enlisted in Company A, of the Forty-first Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, and saw three years of hard, active service, during eighteen months of which he was orderly sergeant. He was in the department of the Cumberland under General Sherman, engaged in such conflicts as the ones at Chickamauga and Resaca, and obtained the reputation of being a hard fighter.
Since the war he has engaged in farming, and has a well improved farm of eight acres. He is a Republican in politics, and for twenty-eight years he has filled the office of Justice of the Peace. He is a member of the Christian Church.
Chadwicks' History of Shelby County, Indiana, 1909, pages 640 & 641
Submitted by Barb Huff for Susan Gayle
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