Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.
The Headley family of English origin being "de Haddeleigh". Records show that Leonard Headley settled in New Jersey, whither he came with Sir George Carteret in 1665, having received a grant of 120 acres of land near Elizabethtown. He was a weaver by trade; he died in 1683. His son, Thomas Headley was the representation of the second generation in America. His son, Samuel Headley, about four miles of Elizabethtown and six miles of Newark, N.J. at a place he called Headly town. His second son Robert in the representative of the branch of Headleys we are following born in 1720 and of the fourth generation. Robert removed with his family from New Jersey to Wyoming Valley, Pa. He was very friendly with the Indians. Just before the massacre of Wyoming Valley in July 1778 an Indian whom Robert had befriended came and warned him to leave. Robert said to the Indian "you would not hurt me would you", to which the Indian replied, "In time of War Indian knows no friend". So Robert loaded what goods he could on one wagon and at 4 o'clock of the afternoon of July 2, 1778, started back to New Jersey with his wife four sons and one daughter.
Early in the spring of 1779 he located on 600 acres of land at Milton, N.J. He died in 1806. His oldest son Joseph Headley represents the fifth generation. He was born in New Jersey in 1758 and fought in the Revolutionary War. He was an all around athlete, excelling over the neighborhood youths in the popular sports of the times including rowing, wrestling and foot racing.
At one time he was captured by Indians, who being closely pressured, proceeded to tomahawk their prisoners. They lined them all up and began at one end to tomahawk them. When they came to Joseph his strong right arm shot out, the Indian fell and fleet footed Joseph bounded away. He led his pursuers toward the river and getting fatigued by the time he reached it, he crawled under a large drift of logs, hiding under one of the largest. The Indian came up and searched the drift striking their spears down through and almost grazing him but they did not find him and he finally reached his father's home in safety.
In 1816 he removed with his family to Jersey, Ohio, from Zanesville, Ohio where he had gone in 1809. Here he lived until his death in 1842. He was a Universalist in his religious belief. He had eleven children of which the youngest son Charles Headley represents the sixth generation. Charles was born in New Jersey in 1802, married Elizabeth Smith and lived near Jersey, Ohio until his wife's death when with his children he moved to Illinois in 1853 where he died in 1875.
He had eight children of which the third son Chalon Headley represents the seventh generation. Chalon was born near Jersey, Ohio in Sept. 4, 1839, married to Mary Jane Stifle Sept. 6, 1860. After his marriage he located on a forty acre farm about six miles northeast of Oblong. By hard work and economy he added to this farm until he had more than three hundred acres. In 1908 the first oil well was drilled on this farm and several paying wells were found. His wife died July 6, 1913. His family consisted of eight children of which grew to manhood and womanhood.