Thomas W.
Henley
Thomas W. Henley, who has been a
resident of Ripley Township for the past fifty-seven years, is a native of
Randolph County, N. C., born December 21, 1818. He was the son of Elias
and Jane (Hubbard) Henley, both of whom were natives of Guildford
County, N. C., of English descent. Elias' father was the son of John
Henley, and Elias' mother was the daughter of John Hubbard.
Thomas W. was but six years old when his mother died, and when he was twelve
years old he accompanied his father and stepmother to Ripley Township, this
county, in which his youth was spent assisting to clear and cultivate a farm,
and in which he has ever since resided. He continued with his father upon
the farm until he became of age, after which he was chiefly employed upon a farm
by the month until 1848, in which year his father died. After this event
he returned home and took charge of the old home place, of which he became sole
owner about 1853, and which he still continues to won. He was married
December 20, 1854, to Miss Hannah C. Williams, who is a native of
Belmont County, Ohio, born June 23, 1832, being the daughter of Jason
and Abigail (Holloway) Williams, the former [Jason] of whom was a native of
Pennsylvania, of Welsh and English descent, and the latter [Abigail] was a
native of Belmont County, Ohio, of English descent. Abigail's father was
the son of Joseph and Mary (Cooper) Williams, natives of
Pennsylvania. Abigail's mother was the daughter of Joseph and
Eleanor (Pickering) Holloway, who were natives of Virginia. Ever since
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Henley have resided in Ripley Township. They
have occupied their present home since the fall of 1865. The life
occupation of Mr. Henley has been farming, and in this connection he has been
very successful. He owns in all, 433 acres of land, of which 393 lie in
Rush County, and forty in Shelby County, this State. His home farm
contains a handsome brick residence, and it lies but a half mile southwest of
Carthage. Mrs. and Mrs. Henley are the parents of seven children, as
follows: Rollin Edgar, Abbie J., Mary E., William
J., John B., Annie W. and Thomas B., all of whom are
living, except John, who died in childhood. Mrs. and Mrs. Henley and all
their children are members of the Friends' Church. In politics, Mrs.
Henley is a Republican. He is one of the substantial and well-to-do
farmers of the county, and he and Mrs. Henley are deservedly esteemed by all who
know them.
History of Rush County, Indiana, Brant & Fuller, page 578.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming
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