Thomas Jefferson Lindley
Thomas Jefferson Lindley (Westfield, IN Oct 7 1843 - Noblesville, IN Sep 20 1915) is locally known mostly due to his family homesite north of Westfield at the south west corner of US31 and SR32. In recent years it was remodeled do be an events place as "Lindley Farmstead at Chatham Hills".
Especially due to his work in the legistlature he knew a lot of famous people from around Indiana and the Nation. James Whitcomb Riley had the same birthday and supposedly celebrated it with Lindley in Westfield at times. There is correspondence with him and President Benjamin Harrison and with Vice President Schuyler Colfax
His father Aaron Lindley settled in this area and built the first brick home of Washington Township. The family was known to be involved in the Anti-Slavery Movement and were Quakers. Lots of research is still needed to find out more details about this family and even from the records we have in our collection
BELOW: Pictures from our collection and elsewhere - click on the picture to view more information about it in our Museum Software Online Website
Thomas Jefferson Lindley
Thomas Jefferson Lindley
Thomas Jefferson Lindley
Legislative and State Manual of Indiana, 1903, page 195
T.J. Lindley gravesite in Summit Lawn Cemetery (from Find a Grave)
Thomas Jefferson Lindley - from Wikipedia
Wikipedia entry - copied July 25 2023
Thomas Jefferson Lindley (October 7, 1843 – September 20, 1915) was a 19th-century Hoosier.
Biography
Thomas Jefferson Lindley was born on a farm near Westfield, Indiana on October 7, 1843.[1] His family were early settlers in a part of America newly opened up for settlement, because of the creation of the North West Territory. A large portion of the early citizens of Westfield, arrived to the frontier, having left South Carolina with hopes of avoiding the practice of slavery.[1] His family were Quakers and strongly opposed to slavery, which led his father Aaron Lindley to become a leader in the anti-slavery movement. The Underground Railroad had supporters in the Westfield community, the Lindley family helped slaves escape to freedom in Canada. The younger Lindley laid aside his Quaker tradition in order to join the Civil War. He signed up for three campaigns and served with honor. He enrolled in Boxley, Indiana on October 25, 1861, aged 18 years old. He served in Regiment 57 Company H.[1] He was discharged ranked as Sergeant on August 3, 1863.[2][3][clarification needed]
After the war Lindley returned to the country life of farming. His first experience with public service began when he became the sheriff of Hamilton County, Indiana, at the age of 26. He married Harriet J. Blair on November 28, 1867, and they had two sons and two daughters. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Masons, and the Knights of Pythias.[1]
A Republican, he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives for two terms, serving from 1878 to 1892, and to the State Senate in 1900.[1] He nominated Charles Warren Fairbanks for re-election to the US Senate. Fairbanks went on to become the Vice President during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. After public service Lindley always returned to his beloved country life on the farm and homestead.
While serving in state government he became friends with the famous Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley. The two men discovered they shared the same birth day. Also, both men were named after famous Americans, Riley after an Indiana governor, Lindley after a founding father and president. Riley shared some birthday celebrations with the Lindley family, at their Westfield residence.
His father built the first brick home in Washington Township, at the Lindley homestead on Lindley Hill. The bricks were made and fired on the property in a "one-time-use" kiln used in the brick making process of the era. The homestead remains today in the family, *1 it can be seen along U.S. 31.
Thomas Jefferson Lindley died in Noblesville, Indiana on September 20, 1915.[4]
*1 Note by WWHS: The property is not owned by the family anymore. It was sold to Chatham Hills LLP Developer before 2018.