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 Lindley family had its origins in England. The immigrant James Lindley was the son of James Lindlay and wife Alice ______. He was born in Ballingclash, Ireland. His father was born in Cheshire, now Chestershire, England in 1641, the son of John Lindley and wife Anne _____. James the grandson of John, married Elinor Parke, daughter of Robert and Marjory Parke in 1705 at Kilconnor in Carlow County, Ireland.
In 1713 he with his wife and family migrated to America. He bought land in Chester County, Pennsylvania, from William Penn's son and became a prosperous citizen. His oldest son, Thomas Lindley, was born in Ireland on February 25, 1706, coming to Chester County with his parents when a small boy.
On October 21, 1731, at New garden Meeting in Chester County Thomas married Ruth Hadley, daughter of Simon and Ruth Kiernan Hadley, who had settled in New Castle Co., Delaware, and was commissioned a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions -- a position which he held from July 25, 1726 until his death in 1756. His will is on file in New Castle County, Delaware.
Thomas Lindley and wife lived in Chester County, Pa., until 1753, when they moved to Cane Creek, Orange County, North Carolina. They now had a family of nine children and two others were born in North Carolina.
William Lindley, son of Thomas and Ruth, was born December 27, 1742, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. On November 5, 1766, at London Grove, Chester County he was married to Mary Morton, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Morton. They were the parents of five children, all born in Orange County. Our interest settles around Thomas Lindley born November 24, 1769.
William died September 29, 1784, and is buried at Spring Meeting. His will is on file at Hillsboro, North Carolina.
Thomas Lindley, son of William and Mary Lindley was married at New Garden Meeting, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, to Jane Hoopes, daughter of Francis and Mary Pratt Hoopes, on April 15, 1796. They made their home in Orange County, N.C. for several years but as the tide of immigration swept westward they joined the cavalcade about 1811. From Quaker Genealogy of North Carolina, we learn that " Jane with husband and children transferred to White Water M M in Indiana." Thomas entered land in southern Indiana in Orange, Washington, and probably in Lawrence Counties.
About 1816 Thomas Lindley made another move -- this time to Crawford County in Illinois, and established his home south-west from what is now the village of West York. He erected a dwelling house and nearby a Meeting House. Upon his death in 1825 he left the homestead to his wife, Jane. She later sold it to her son John H. with whom she made her home. In his will probated in 1825, Thomas mentioned his sons Abraham, William, John H. and Morton, and daughters Mary Durham, Deborrah and Hannah. Two other sons are buried near their parents' graves in the Lindley Cemetery, but they preceded their father in death as they are not mentioned in his will. He gave the Meeting House and Cemetery to the Friends Preparative Meeting. Many pioneer Friends are buried in this old Cemetery. In recent years it became little used and was neglected until in 1938, some of the descendants of the pioneers formed a Cemetery Association. Through the efforts of Judge Ray Wesner a Certificate of Incorporation was received from the State, as the LINDLEY CEMETERY ASSOCIATION. The Pleasant Grove Monthly Meeting, successor to the Union Preparative Meeting, delivered to the Association a Quit Claim deed to the cemetery. The deed was received May 10, 1939 and was duly recorded. In accordance with the State Law a Board of Trustees was elected with A.S. Johnson (Shake) as president and Edna Bagshaw, sec'y-treasurer.
John H. Lindley, son of Thomas and Jane married and made his home on his father's homestead which he bought from his mother, Jane Hoopes Lindley
William Lindley never married, but made his home with his brother, John H. and family. He was with his brother, Abraham, in river navigation for years making trips from Terre Haute to New Orleans with cargoes of farm products. Abraham married Maria Curtis of York, Ill. They settled in Lawrence County, Arkansas, where he died in 1865. His followed in 1872.
Deborah Lindley was married to Thomas Cox, a native of Wayne County, North Carolina, in January 1828. They established a home on a farm northwest from Hutsonville, where they brought up a large family of children who will always be remembered for their genuine Christian characters. One son, John L. Cox, entered the ministry in the Baptist Church at an early age, and was an active minister for Forty-four years. His son, Earnest also became a minister and passed away one Sunday morning after a service in which he had proclaimed the Gospel. His widow, Myrtle Seaney Cox resides in Crawford County.
Thomas Cox died in 1868 and "Aunt Debby" in 1878. Both are buried in the Musgrave Cemetery north-west from Hutsonville. Eight of their children lived to be grown: Zilpah Jane who married Samuel Lacey who made a home in Clark County; Eliza who became the wife of Henry Voorheis; Morton married Emily Voorheis. Their sons were, Tuttle, Kitchell, Thomas and Arthur; and their daughters Katie, Alice and Lura. They all resided in Crawford County. The above mentioned John L. Cox had besides Earnest, the minister, daughters Eunice, Alma, Flossie, Pearl and Gladys and another son Morton.
Mariah Cox, daughter of Thomas and Deborah, married Richard Stiles. Their children were Florence, Alice and Emma.
Mary Cox, daughter of Thomas and Deborah married in 1835 Lafayette Rains. Some of their children were John C. Rains, who married Melissa Evans and were the parents of Chauncy and Noble Rains; Martha married Allen Green. They were the parents of Oscar and Herschel Green, who has been a member of the Illinois Legislature for several years. He is a candidate for the office of State Senator from his District, in the fall election, 1956.
Mary Augusta Rains married Charles Edward Lindley. They were the parents of Edith Lindley, Mary Bishop, Mabel King and Lyman Lindley.
Emily Rains married Clint Newlin. Their only child, Laura, is an artist of mean ability.
Hannah Lindley, daughter of Thomas and Jane Hoopes Lindley, married Owen Lindley, son of Samuel and Nancy Henderson Lindley, a distant relative residing in Indiana. Their children who made homes in Crawford County were Mary Ann, Nancy Jane, Abraham, Pratt and Martha; Mary Ann married Marion Sackrider, Nancy Jane married Simpson Rains, and is the grandmother of Mrs. Rose Kopra of Robinson; Pratt Lindley married Sarah Evans and had a large family most of whom, if not all are deceased. Martha married Cy Henderson.
John H. Lindley married (1) Harriett Musgrave, who died within the years. He married (2) Mary Jane Lacy, daughter of Evan and Abagail Prevo Lacy. Their family consisted of Morton, Harriett, Cyrus, Alfred, Thomas, Caroline, John, Abagail and Dollie.
Morton Lindley married Rhoda Ann Bailiff, daughter of Rev. Thomas Bailiff. The children of Morton and Rhoda Ann were Essie, Charles, Della and Lelia. Essie married Ed Mount; Charles B. married (1) Eva Buckner and they operated a restaurant in West York for several years. Upon the death of Eva, Charles married (2) Eva Spivey, who survives him. Charles was an all round mechanic -- a very useful citizen. He did painting and paper hanging, wired the town for electricity, installed electric appliances, installed electric pumps and bathroom fixtures. He passed away in his sleep about a year ago at the age of 85 years.
Della married Charles Butler. Most of their married life was spent in Indiana where their children grew up. Della lives alone in Griffith, Indiana.
Lelia Lindley, youngest child of Rhoda Ann and Morton married Henry Evans. One son, Clifford Evans grew to manhood, married and lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Lelia has spent her life in West York doing services for the public. While her health permitted she operated a private nursing home.
Cyrus Lindley son of John and Mary Jane married Amanda Bishop, daughter of Ezekiel Bishop. The couple lived most of their married life in the Bishop homestead located just east from "Quaker Lane". In fact Amanda was born in this house, brought up her family in it and she and Cyrus, two sons, and three grandsons have been buried from it. She was a woman with high ideals for her family and gave the best advantages to them in culture and education. Cyrus and Amanda were the parents of Leslie, Irma, Olla, Oma, and the twins, Russell and Randall. Leslie married Gertrude Layton and lived for a few years in Crawford County. Their children grew up mainly at Homer, Illinois, where he employment. Three of their sons Ralph, Kenneth and Russell met death while in the armed services. Ralph and Kenneth are buried at Hutsonville. Russell was killed at Okinawa and is buried in the National Cemetery there. Richard was killed in a traffic accident in Portland, Oregon. He is buried at Hutsonville.
Irma was a local piano teacher for years, driving over the north half of the county, giving the children their chance for a musical education that they otherwise would not have had. She married Bernia Slagle in Portland, Oregon and had two daughters, Lillian and Louise, who are both married and live at Portland. Irma and Bernie are both deceased.
Olla was a photographer and worked in studios in Robinson and Marshall. Following the death of her mother, she and Randall took over the farm and operated it as a dairy farm for many years. Randall died suddenly in 1952. Russell preceded him in death several years, having met death by drowning in Lake Walton.
Oma married Martin Ryan and lived on an alfalfa ranch near Enid, Oklahoma where Ryan died. Oma held her children together on the dairy ranch and sent them through High School. In recent years Oma and three daughters, Mary Helen, Elizabeth and Dorothy did office work for the Government and lived in Arlington. Dorothy married and lives in the East. Mary Helen and Elizabeth have been transferred to Oklahoma. Oma still works in Washington, D.C.
Alfred Lindley, son of John H. and Mary Jane went to California when young. He married and made his home in Oakland. He engaged in the timber business for years. He never returned to Illinois.
Thomas Lindley, son of John H. and Mary Jane, married Alice Bennett in West York. He was a telegraph operator. He moved to Texas and had tow children, Mollie and Murray. Mollie married Freeman Neal and had two boys Lindley and Devaney. Freeman is deceased and Mollie lives with her son Lindley and family at La Crescenta in California.
Several years after the death of Alice, Thomas married (2) Dorothy Thompson. They have a daughter, Mauryn who is married and lives on Pittsburgh. Thomas is deceased and Dorothy makes her home with Mauryn and family.
Caroline married John Adney and lived at Darlington and Colfax, Indiana where her family of two boys and two girls was brought up. Both parents are deceased.
Abagail Lindley married C.C. Lewis. They had a family of a boy and three girls. Elsie, the oldest married Willard Miller and lives in West York. Mollie and Ollie were twins. Harry and Ollie are both deceased. Mollie married Rev. Elmer Cissne and lives at Boonville, Indiana. Rev. Cissne is deceased. Elsie and Willard have a son, Lewis at home.
John Lindley married Rosa Dix and lived in West York. They had no family. Both are deceased.
Dollie Lindley married Charles Bell, son of Wiley and Sarah Bell.
Abram Pratt Lindley (Feb. 2nd, 1839 -- Mar. 26th, 1895), son of Owen and Hannah Lindley, was married Jan. 8th, 1862 to Sarah Ellen Evans (Feb. 20th, 1845 -- May 12th, 1916), daughter of Thomas J. and Lucy Ann Reynolds Evans.
They spent their entire married life on their farm northwest of Hutsonville, one mile north of the Quaker Church, and were the parents of thirteen children:
- Clement Allen
- (2-18-1864, 2-10-1933)
- Charles Owen
- (10-26-1865, 12-11-1866)
- Vinnie Alice
- (10-20-1867, 9-28-1903)
- Thomas Edwin
- (2-18-1869, 7-24-1935)
- William Elwood
- (11-7-1870, 6-16-1884)
- Albert Oscar
- (9-19-1872)
- Henry Ermine
- (4-17-1874, 11-16-1917)
- Arthur Chambers
- (6-4-1876, 10-4-1922)
- Minnie Violet
- (11-19-1878, 12-8-1942)
- Laura Ellen
- (12-27-1880)
- Clara Melissa
- (5-3-1883, 2-22-1946)
- Grover Cleveland
- (5-10-1885, 12-4-1942)
- Harlin Chester
- (1-2-1888)
Abram Pratt Lindley received his name from an ancestor, six generations back, Abraham Pratt, who was the first of the name in Pennsylvania, where he died in 1709.
Charles Edgar Lindley -- born Nov. 2nd, 1863 near Annapolis, Ill. was the son of Samuel & Harriet Hollenbeck Lindley and grandson of William & Mary Prevo Lindley and John & Isabelle Houts Hollenbeck. Other children of Samuel & Harriet Lindley were:
Emma, married to Ellison H. Boyd, parents of two sons, Edward & Charles
Mary Isabelle who died in infancy
Viola Louise, married to Dr. James H. Neff, parents of Frankie, James & John
Samuel Elmer, married Bessie Leech, parents of Eleanor & Agnes, deceased in infancy
Charles Edgar Lindley received his education in the Ball District school and State Normal at Carbondale, Ill., taught for a few years, then on Oct. 26th, 1887 he was married to Mary Augusta Rains, daughter of Lafayette & Mary Cox Rains and granddaughter of Thomas & Deborah Lindley Cox and Ambrose and Charlotte Cox Rains.
Mary Augusta Rains was born Nov. 5th, 1866 at the Rains homestead (on Quaker Lane, now known as the Annapolis Road) now owned and occupied by a grandson, William E. Heber & family. She had one brother & two sisters; John C. Rains, married Melissa Evans, parents of two sons, Noble & Chauncey; Martha, married Allen Green, parents of four children, Arthur, Oscar, Audrey & Herschel, Arthur & Audrey deceased in early childhood; Emily, married to Clinton Newlin, parents of one daughter, Laura. Also five children of Lafayette & Mary Rains died at a very early age.
Mr. & Mrs. Lindley moved into their new home three miles northwest of Hutsonville immediately after their marriage and spent the remainder of their lives here, where he farmed extensively.
They celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary in 1947.
Mr. Lindley died June 25th, 1948 and Mrs. Lindley Dec. 22nd, 1952. They were active members of the Hutsonville Country Baptist Church and Wabash Chapt. 798, O.E.S. Also he was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Hutsonville.
They were parents of six children: Blanche, who died at the age of 17 months, Edith, Lyman, Lafayette, Mabel, Mary & Samuel Ernest.
Edith married William L. Heber of Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1917 & one son, William Edward, was born to them on Apr. 7th, 1919, in Kern Co., California. William E. was married to Alberta Taylor Dec. 23rd, 1941, and they are the parents of one daughter, Linda Coanne. William L. Heber died Oct. 12th, 1921. Edith Heber was married to George R. Allison of Robinson in 1930 & they were the parents of one son, George Lindley Allison, born Dec. 6th, 1932 & was married to Jetta Lea York, Mar. 7th, 1954. George R. Allison died July 11th, 1937. Edith Allison was married to Dr. Harlen C. Lindley in 1950.
Lyman L. Lindley married Lois Irene Pearce in 1920 & three children were born to them: Charles Edgar, Nov. 2nd, 1921, married Jane Craig in 1946 and are the parents of two sons, Craig Charles & Todd Phillip; Lois Maxine married Charles F. Morehead in 1943 and parents of two sons, Charles Alan & Stephen Lindley; Mary Arlene married Maurice Plunkett in 1944 and one daughter, Beverly Kay was born to them. Mr. Plunkett died in 1946 and Mary Arlene married Floyd Correll in 1947.
Mabel Lindley married Allen King in 1932, one daughter, Kathleen Ann, who died in infancy, was born to them.
Mary Lindley was married to Hal E. Bishop in 1929.
Samuel Ernest Lindley married Floy Dry and they were the parents of one daughter, Beverly Ann, who married William Burge in 1949. They have three children: William Roderick, Nan Louise & Weldon Lindley. In 1936 Ernest Lindley married Meyrle Dix and they reside at the homestead where his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Edgar Lindley, lived.
Ambrose and Charlotte Cox Rains -- Mary Augusta Rains was born Nov. 5th 1866 at the Rains homestead (on Quaker Lane, now known as the Annapolis Road) now owned and occupied by a grandson, William E. Heber and family. She had one brother and two sisters, John C. Rains, married Melissa Evans parents of two sons, Noble and Chauncey; Martha, married Allen Green, parents of four children, Arthur, Oscar, Audrey and Herschel. Arthur and Audrey deceased is early childhood.
Emily married Clinton Newlin, parents of one daughter, Laura.
Also, five children of Lafayette and Mary Rains died at a very early age.
Mr. and Mrs. Lindley moved into their new home three miles northwest of Hutsonville immediately after their marriage and spent the remainder of their lives here, where he farmed extensively.
They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 1947.
Mr. Lindley died June 25th 1948 and Mrs. Lindley Dec. 22nd 1952. They were active members of the Hutsonville Country Baptist Church and Wabash Chapt. 798, O.E.S. Also he was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Hutsonville.
They were the parents of six children. Blanche, who died at the age of 17 months, Edith, Lyman, Lafayette, Mabel, Mary and Samuel Ernest.
Edith married William L. Heber of Pittsburgh, Pa. Ni 1917, and one son, William Edward, was born to them on Apr. 7th 1919 in Kern Co., California.
William E. was married to Alberta Taylor Dec. 23rd 1941 and they are the parents of one daughter, Linda Coanne.
William L. Heber died Oct. 12, 1921. Edith Heber was married to George R. Allison of Robinson in 1930 and they were the parents of one son, George Lindley Allison, born Dec. 6th 1942 and was married to Jetta Lea York, Mr. 7th, 1954. George R. Allison died July 11th, 1937. Edith Allison was married to Dr. Harlen C. Lindley in 1950.
Lyman L. Lindley married Lois Irene Pearce in 1920 and three children were born to them -- Charles Edgar, Nov. 2nd 1921 married Jane Craig in 1946 and are the parents of two sons, Craig Charles and Todd Phillip.
Lois Maxine married Charles F. Morehead in 1943 and parents of two sons, Charles Alan and Stephen Lindley.
Mary Arlene married Maurice Plunkett in 1944 and one daughter, Beverly Kay was born to them. Mr. Plunkett died in 1946 and Mary Arlene married Floyd Correll in 1947.
Mabel Lindley married Allen King in 1932, one daughter, Kathleen Ann, who died in infancy, was born to them. Mary Lindley was married to Hal E. Bishop in 1929.
Samuel Ernest Lindley married Floy Dry and they were the parents of one daughter, Beverly Ann, who married William Burge in 1949. They have three children, William Roderick, Nan Louise and Weldon Lindley. Ernest Lindley married Myrtle Dix and they reside at the homestead where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Edgar Lindley, lived.