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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