HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

ADAM DOWNARD, a retired farmer of Danville, is a native of Ohio and was born in Fayette Co., July 25, 1819. When about three years of age he was brought to Indiana by his parents, James and Elizabeth (Curry) Downard, who located on a farm in Guilford Township, on which the Reform School building at Plainfield is now situated, and where he lived till he was twenty-two years of age. In 1843 he settled on a farm in Center Township, where he farmed till 1850, when he removed to Marion Township. In 1860 he returned to Center Township, where he lived on a farm two miles west of Danville till 1869, when he gave up agricultural pursuits and became a resident of Danville. Aug. 5, 1842, he was married to Miss Mildred Bereman, of Center Township, Hendricks County. They have had five children---Jesse James, who died Oct. 5,1867, aged twenty-four yrs.; Mary Elizabeth, who died March 10, 1846, aged five months; William P., who died May 7, 1869, aged nearly twenty-two yrs; Thomas Allen, who died in April 1854, aged nearly twenty four yrs; and Oliver, who died Feb. 19, 1884, aged over twenty-five yrs. Mr. Downard and wife have been members of the Christian church since 1842, and he has held the office of Trustee eight years. Mrs. Downard was born in Mercer Co., Ky., Feb.16, 1823. Her parents, Thomas and Nancy (Emmerson) Bereman, both dying before she was twelve years of age, she in 1835 came to Hendricks County to live with her brother, Jesse Bereman, with whom she remained until her marriage.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

JAMES A. DOWNARD, senior member of the law firm of Downard & Parker, at Danville, was born in New Winchester, Hendricks County, Ind., Nov.15, 1855, a son of Davis M. and Cassandra (Morgan) Downard. He was reared on a farm in Marion Township, where he obtained his primary education in the district schools. He afterward attended Butler University at Irvington, Marion Co., Ind., one year, and during 1876-'77 he took a course in Bryan & Stratton's Commercial College, at Indianapolis, from which he graduated in November 1877. He then immediately entered the office of Cofer & Taylor as a law student, where he studied till June 1878, when he was admitted to the bar at Danville. He remained in the same office till August 1880, when he began the practice of law with Thad. S. Adams, the firm name being Adams & Downard. He retired from the firm in December 1881, and became associated with Marshall Todd in the law and abstract business. In April 1884, Mr. Todd was succeeded by James O. Parker, the firm name now being Downard & Parker. May 22, 1884, he was married to Miss Maud L., daughter of the late William H. Donaldson, of Danville. In 1881 he was elected Clerk of Danville, holding the office by re-election for three years. He is a Master Mason and member of Western Star Lodge, No. 26, A.F.&A.M., of which he has served one term as Junior Warden. In 1882 he was elected Secretary of the Hendricks County Republican Central Committee, and was re-elected in 1884.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

ROBERT R. DOWNARD, son of James and Elizabeth Downard, was born March 11, 1822, in Morgan County, Ind. He lived at home till his marriage, which occurred March 16, 1848, to Catherine King, who was born in Kentucky, July 20, 1823. When she was nine years of age her parents, William and Elizabeth King, settled in Washington Township, where her father died. Her mother died in Illinios. Mr. and Mrs. Downard have had six children---Louesa, the eldest, who died at the age of fifteen months; William A. and Albert B., residents of Greenwood County, Kan.; Henry F. and Jennie May, at home; and Fanny L., who died at the age of eleven years. Mr. Downard bought the lace where he resides in 1867. His home farm contains 252 acres of land, located in sections 6 and 31. In 1874 he rented his farm and went to Greenwood County, Kan., where he bought two farms, one of 225 acres and one of 162 acres. He still owns these farms which are now occupied by his two eldest sons. Mr. Downard returned to this county in 1882. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Old School Presbyterian Church. His father, James Downard, was a native of Pennsylvania. He spent his youth in Ohio, and from there went to Kentucky, where he was married. His wife was a native of Kentucky. After his marriage he lived in Ohio eleven years, and in February 1823, he emigrated to this county, and located in Guilford Township. He was an energetic businessman, and was possessed of considerable means. He entered 900 acres of Government land in different of the country, a part of the town site of Danville covering one of his land entries. He donated twenty acres of land for county buildings on which the courthouse now stands. Mr. Downard was in early days County Judge. His first home was in Guilford Township, and is now owned and occupied by the State Reform School. He reared a large family to maturity---Mrs. Cynthia Russell, died in Clinton County; Mary Ann, married Rev. Andrew Prather, and died in Texas; Mrs. Jane Burks, residing in Illinois; Mrs. Sarah Little, died in this county; Adam of Danville; Robert R., our subject; David M., of Marion Township; Jonathan, died in California; William, died in Missouri; and Thompson, in Clinton County Ind. James Downard and his wife are both deceased.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

ABRAM EASTES was born in Shelby County, Ky., July 11, 1819, son of Joel and Lucy (Sanders) Eastes. He was reared on the home farm, remaining with his parents till he grew to manhood. He began farming for himself in Shelby County in 1842, remaining there till March 1852, when he sold his farm and came to Hendricks County, Ind., purchasing his present farm in Center Township. In 1839 he was married to Miss Louisie Cook, of Shelby County, Ky. They have six children living---Lou Ella, wife of James F. O'Hair, of Putnam County, Ind.; John William, farming in Lucas County, Iowa; Mary Ann, wife of Isaac Carson, of Dayton, Wash. Ter.; Walter, a farmer of Hendricks County; Jesse, traveling salesman for the wholesale house of Penfield & Son, Willoughby, Ohio; and Charlie, at home. Five children are deceased---James Pleasant, died Aug. 21, 1857, aged over 12 years; Henry Jefferson, died Dec. 6, 1864, aged nearly eighteen years; George Thomas, died Jan. 16, 1882, aged thirty-three; Joel Franklin, died March 14, 1885, aged over three years; and Ira Urban, died July 17, 1871, aged over two years. Mrs. Eastes was born May 24, 1821, in Shelby County, Ky., a daughter of John and Mary (Radford) Crook. She lived with her parents till her marriage, and was educated in the common schools. Although a member of no church, she was reared a Baptist, and still adheres to the doctrined taught by her parents.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

WILLIAM THOMPSON EDDINGFIELD, teacher, was born Nov. 9, 1850, at Pisgah, Butler Co., Ohio. His parents, John J. and Sarah Eddingfield, were of English and German descent, and were married near Bethany, Butler Co., Ohio, in 1843. To them were born seven children, of whom five survive---G.W.E., a successful physician at Mace, Montgomery County, Ind.; Oscar, farming on the old homestead near New Ross, Ind., with whom the mother makes her home, the father having died in the fall of 1875; James C., a successful teacher, and our subject. The latter spent his early life on a farm near New Ross, Montgomery Co., Ind., to which his father removed in the fall of 1858. His educational advantages were limited to a few months in the year in the country schools, he having to assist his father to improve their farm, but he made the best use of his time, and at the age of nineteen was enabled to take charge of the school in his neighborhood, where he met with a good degree of success. The following year he taught at Center, two miles north, and the next year he returned to Greenwood, where he taught one year, giving good satisfaction. The next year he taught at Hunt's School, and the three years following at Maple Grove, two miles north of Ladoga, with marked success. In the meantime he spent one summer in the National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio, and one spring and summer at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind. In September 1877, he entered the Central Normal College, then located at Ladoga, and resolved to take the scientific course. Before the close of the year, the school was removed to Danville, Ind., and the principalship of the commercial department placed in his hands, which through his efficient management increased in numbers and interest, and was soon one of the leading departments of the school. Having graduated with honors, he began the classic course in the fall of 1878, completing the course during the year, and during this time he taught three classes daily. Mr. Eddingfield is just closing his seventh year in the Central Normal College, and is now looking forward to a year's recreation in the West, when he hopes to return and resume his work in the school to which he is so much attached. He was married at the Grand Hotel, Indianapolis, by Elder U.C. Brewer, pastor of the Central Christian Church of that city, May 1, 1879, to Miss Bien Travers, sister of Prof. M.T. Travers, then teacher of penmanship in the college. Three bright children---Stella Bea, Ina Dea, and Frank Travers, have blessed their marriage. Stella is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Eddingfield are active workers in the Christian Church, of which they are members.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

JOHN W. ESTEP, a retired merchant and farmer of Danville, was born near Richmond, Wayne Co., Ind., Oct. 17, 1815. His parents were John and Jemimah (Wright) Estep, his father a native of Maryland, and his mother of Pennsylvania. They came to Indiana in 1812, and lived in Wayne County until their death. Our subject's educational advantages were very limited. He helped his mother prepare flax for weaving, and assisted his father on a farm till his eighteenth year, after which he was allowed to keep whatever he earned. At the age of twenty he began teaching in the in the public schools of Washington Township, Wayne County, which he followed a part of three years. By the time he had reached his twenty-first year he had accumulated enough money to purchase 200 acres of Government land in Whitely county, Ind. He was married Feb. 6, 1840, to Rachel Falls, of Wayne County, a native of Virginia, by whom he had five children, all of whom are deceased except one son, Isaac Newton, a farmer of Center Township, near Danville. In 1853 Mr. Estep sold his farms in Wayne and Whitely counties, for which he received $4,000, and purchased a farm of 180 acres in Floyd Township, Putnam Co., Ind., for $3,800, where he engaged in buying and selling hogs till 1859, when selling part of his property, he having accumulated about 600 acres of land, he came to Hendricks County. Here he settled on a farm adjoining Danville, having purchased a half section of land in that vicinity. In 1861 he was one of the prime movers in founding the Danville Academy, and was the first man to subscribe toward building it. The Academy is now known as the Central Normal College of Danville. He lived on his farm, carrying on farming and dealing in everything in which there was any money, until 1877, when he retired from business and is now living in one of the most pleasant residences in Danville. He has accumulated about $90,000, much of which he has given to his children and to charitable, church and educational purposes. His wife died June 4, 1884, being a member of the Society of Friends. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having connected himself therewith in June 1832. He was also of Methodist parentage. His present wife, nee N.J. Hurdle, was also of Methodist parentage and is a member of the same church.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

CLARK E. FARABEE, M.D., was born near Salem, Washington Co., Ind., Dec. 16, 1847, a son of Benjamin C. and Susan (Haghey) Farabee. He was reared on a farm until nineteen years of age, when, in order to raise money with which to educate himself, he began workng on the New Albany & Chicago Railroad, working and attending school alternately for two years. In the fall of 1869 he entered Asbury University at Greencastle, Ind. (now DePauw University), which he attended, teaching part of the time to defray expenses, until 1873. The same fall he came to Hendricks County and taught school there till 1878. Jan. 1, 1876, he resolved to prepare himself for the practice of medicine, and in connection with teaching he studied under Dr. W.J. Hoadly, of Danville. In the spring of 1878 he entered the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, Ky., taking a summer course of lectures. In the fall of 1879 he entered the Medical College of Indiana at Indianapolis, from which he graduated Feb. 27, 1880. He began the practice of medicine at Danville in April 1880, and has secured a good patronage. He was married March 21, 1876, to Miss Cora P., daughter of Aaron and Margaret (McKindley) Hart. They have three children---Bernice, Nellie and Archibald. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends at Danville. Our subject is physician for Hendricks County poor, and a member of the State and county medical societies. He is also connected with the Tri-State Medical Society, and is Secretary and Treasurer for the Hendricks County Medical Society.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

CHARLES FOLEY was born in Indianapolis, Jan. 3, 1835, on the lot where the Journal building now stands. He is a son of Moses and Mary Ann Foley, the latter being a sister of the late Hugh O'Neal, who was at one time a most eminent attorney of Indianapolis. In 1843 his father sold the lot on which the building stands to the Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church, and moved to a farm near Crown Hill Cemetery, where he grew to manhood and where his father died in 1870. Mr. Foley spent the four years immediately before the Rebellion surveying in the State of Missouri. He read law in the office of the late Judge Newcomb & Tarkington, of Indianapolis, and in May 1863, he commenced the practice of law in Danville, where he has been continuously engaged ever since, except during 100-days service in the army of the United States in the summer of 1864. He is engaged in the general practice of law. He was married Jan. 31, 1867, to Eliza Ann Leach, of Pittsboro, Hendricks County. One child has been born to them, named Bruce Foley after the family of George Bruce, near Indianapolis. He was born Oct. 2, 1876. Mr. Foley is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is not a member of any church. He has never sought political favors.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

DR. ALLEN FURNAS was born in Clinton County, Ohio, March 27, 1821, the eldest of eight children of Isaac and Esly Furnas, natives of South Carolina, early settlers of Ohio, and in 1826 moved to Marion County, Ind., where they spent the last years of their lives. His education was obtained under adverse circumstances, having very little opportunity to attend school. After the work on the farm was done for the day he spent his evenings in studying by the light of a hickory bark or by scooping out a turnip and filling the cavity with lard, and putting a wick in it. His father was a physician and he therefore had access to some medical books, and after reaching manhood he went to Cincinnati and studied with Dr. Curtice, subsequently attending a course of lectures at the Physio-Medical College. In 1845 he began his practice in Marion County, and in 1847 moved to Hendricks County and located at Danville. In 1851 he moved to the farm where he has since lived, three miles southwest of Danville, and for five years continued his practice in connection with his farming pursuits. Since then he has given his exclusive attention to the work of his farm, making a specialty of fruit culture. He also pays considerable attention to the raising of sugar cane, and is President of the Northern Indiana Cane-Growers' Association, and Vice-President of the National Association. He was President of the Indiana State Horticultural Association two years. He is an able and frequent contributor to the State and National agricultural journals. His farm contains 160 acres, and is now carried on by his son-in-law. He was married in 1847 to Zeruiah A. Hodson, a native of North Carolina. They have but one child, a daughter---Laura H., wife of William E. Mendenhall. In 1868 Dr. Furnas was elected to represent his county in the State Legislature, and was twice re-elected, serving six years. One term he was the nominee of both the Republican and Democratic parties. He is a birthright member of the Society of Friends.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

JAMES GORRELL, a farmer of Center Township, is a native of Kentucky, born in Bourbon County in 1816, a son of James and Rebecca (Caywood) Gorrell, the father a native of Ireland, and the mother a native of Maryland, of Scotch discent. In 1833 he came with his mother and sister to Indiana and settled on a tract of uncultivated land in Center Township, this county, three miles east of Danville, on which he still lives, it being now a fine farm. His mother lived with him till her death in 1849. Nov.1, 1838, he was married to Miss Amanda Hamilton, of Center Township. They have had eleven children, of whom eight are living---John, of Madison County, Iowa; Marilda Ann, wife of John Monday, living near Danville; Daniel H., of Iowa; James M., of Center Township; Amanda Martilla, wife of Joseph Hashbarger, of this township; William O., of this township; Mary Frances, wife of John Hayes, of Center Township, and Charlie, at home. Martha, wife of Robert Ramsey, is deceased, and two children died in infancy. Mr. Gorrell came to Hendricks County before much clearing had been done in Center Township and at that time Danville was but a small hamlet. At the age of seventeen he began to support himself and also his mother. He has been successful through life, and at present owns 236 acres of land that he has accumulated by his own perservering industry and economy.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

MARTIN GREGG, a retired farmer of Danville, Ind., was born in Grayson County, Va., Feb. 14, 1811. He is the fourth of six sons of John and Elizabeth (Dickenson) Gregg. His father having died when he was only four years old, he went with his mother to Patrick County, Va., where he lived until his eighteenth year. He then came to Indiana alone and lived in Centerville, Wayne County, until 1843 when he came to Hendricks County and purchased a farm near Danville, which is now the county poor farm. He sold his farm in 1863 and retired from the business. In 1864 he was elected one of the commissioners of Hendricks County, which position he held by re-election for fourteen years, and during his term of service the court-house, county jail and county poor house were built and he was chosen by the board to superintend the work. Jan. 24, 1839, he married Mary J. Wortman, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Medaris) Wortman, of Wayne County, Ind. She was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Feb. 3, 1816, and when eleven years of age she came to Centerville Ind., where she lived till her marriage. They have three children living---Martha, wife of Henry Curtis, of Danville; Mary, wife of S.R. Holt, of Indianapolis, and Emma, still at home. Those deceased are---Sallie, wife of E.D. Nichols, died Feb.30, 1880, aged thirty-six years, and Henry, aged thirteen, died Feb. 18, 1862. Mr. Gregg is politically a Republican, but was originally a Whig. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

JAMES T. HADLEY was born in North Carolina, July 16, 1796, a son of Simon and Elizabeth Hadley, grandson of Joshua, great-grandson of Joshua and great-great-grandson of Simon Hadley, who was born in Ireland, of English Parentage, and settled in the Penn colony in the latter part of the seventeenth century. Thus the Hadleys trace their descent through 200 years of American ancestry. Simon Hadley brought considerable wealth to the new colony and as habitually as he wore his clothes carried money with him. He was found dead in his stable and was supposed to have been murdered by his servant for his money. He was a man of note and influence. The Hadleys have been noted for their thrift, both in this and the old country. The most of them have been farmers and all have owned the land they worked. Until the last generation or two all have been Friends and none were military men untl the late civil war, when several bore arms in defense of the union. About 1730 Joshua Hadley, Sr., moved to North Carolina and settled on Leaf River, and from him the families in this county trace their origin. Our subject, James T. Hadley, lived in his native State till manhood, and there married Elizabeth Richardson, a native of the same State, of English Descent. He was an enterprising and, for a farmer, an active businessman. His anti-slavery convictions and ambition to live in a country where an active progressive man would have a better opportunity to develop his powers, led him to leave his native State and move to a newly settled part of the country, and in 1825 he located in Center Township, this county, bringing with him a family of eight children. He was an energetic and ingenious mechanic and found ample use for his knowledge of tools in the new country. He manufactured wagons, worked at the blacksmith's forge, built a saw-mill at Greencastle which he ran two years, built on contract the depot, turntable and other buildings for the railroad company at Greencastle, and in many other ways displayed the variety of his mechanical powers. In early life he was a Quaker and although not identified with them in his later life, their teachings undoubtedly influenced him to the end of his days. His family consisted of eleven children, eight born in North Carolina and three in Hendricks County---Mrs. Martha Nichols, of Danville; Jehu, of Franklin Township; Mrs. Julia Ann Vannice, of Marion Township; Mrs. Nancy Matlock, of Danville; Mrs. Sinia Hadley, of this county; Edom R., of Marion Township; Edmund R., Orran E. and John Oliver, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Tender and Mrs. Jane Homan, of Danville. Mrs. Hadley died Aug. 8, 1863, in the seventy-fourth year of her age. Feb.28, 1871, while crossing the railroad with his team, he was struck by a locomotive and instantly killed. Thus closed a long and useful life, and of all the pioneers none are more favorably of better remembered.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

NICHOLAS T. HADLEY, of the banking firm of Hadley, Homan & Co., is a native of Chatham, N.C., where he was born Oct. 5, 1824. His parents Simon T. and Mary (Hadley) Hadley came to Hendricks County, Ind. when he was about two years old, first settling in Center Township two and a half miles southwest of Danville. When he was eight years old his parents located in Danville where he lived with them until manhood, he being educated in the schools of that place and in Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Ind. In 1846 he was appointed Deputy in the County Clerk's office, where he served till 1855, when, being elected County Treasurer, he held that office until the fall of 1857. He then resumed the position of Deputy County Clerk, which he held till 1868, and being previously elected County Clerk, he assumed the duties of that office, holding that position four years. In January 1872, while County clerk, he was elected Cashier of the First National Bank of Danville and served as such one year, when he helped to found the Danville Banking Company of which he as a Cashier until it was succeeded by the banking house of Hadley, Homan & Co. He was married Aug. 31, 1852, to Mary J., daughter of Aaron Homan, of Danville. They have two children---Otis C., clerking in the bank of Hadley, Homan & Co.; and Frank O., of Kansas City, Mo.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek

STANLEY A. HALL, farmer, resides on section1 of Center Township, where he setled in the fall of 1876. His farm contains 262 acres and is one of the most beautiful homes and most valuable farms in the township. It was entered from the government by Daniel Hamilton, but bought by Mr. Hall of Jesse S. Jackson. Mr. Hall was born in Canfield, now Mahoning Co., Ohio, in 1836. He came to Hendricks County, Ind., in 1859 and in 1862 enlisted in the Fourth Indiana Cavalry and served in the defense of the Union three years. He was Commissary Sergeant of his regiment two years and the last year was First Lieutenant. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and he participated in the Atlanta campaign and other important events of the war. He was married in 1864 to Emma B. Archer of Carrollton, Ky., with whom he became acquanted when in the army. They have four children---Charles S., Edward F., Herschel S. and Stella G. Mr. Hall's parents, Salmon and Maria (Austin) Hall were natives of Connecticut and moved to Ohio when young people, and settled in Mahoning County, and were married in the year 1827. In 1849 they moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa. In 1852 they returned to Wells County, Ind., where they remained a few years, and then moved to Danville, Ind. In the year 1862 they removed to Groveland, Putnam Co., Ind., where they lived until their death, the mother dying in the year 1882 at the age of seventy-five, the father dying in the year 1885 at the age of eighty-two years. Their family consisted of nine children, namely: Cornelia, the eldest child died, aged three years; Edward, the youngest son, died, aged twelve years; Elizabeth, wife of John Dooly, died in Danville, Ind., aged forty-seven years. Those now living are Mrs. Sarah Blatchley, Mrs. Ella C. Dooly, Stanley A. Hall, Francis H. Hall, Sheldon W. Hall and Chester F. Hall.

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS CO. INDIANA 1885 - CENTER TWP.
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Turek