JOHN WILLIAM LINDLEY, a representative of the legal fraternity at Sullivan, is a native of Crawford county, Illinois, born December 19, 1867, a son of Samuel and Harriet (Hollenbeck) Lindley. The father was also a native of Crawford county, Illinois, born in April, 1833, and is still living in that county, on a farm. The mother was born in Clarke county, Illinois, September, 1842, and still survives. The grandfather, William A. Lindley, was a native of North Carolina, and came to Illinois a single man, settling in Crawford county, about 1800, where he resided until about fifty-six years of age. He was a farmer, of English descent, and reared a family of seven children. Grandfather Hollenbeck came from Dutch ancestry of New York.
Samuel Lindley, the father, always kept the farm on which he was born and reared and the title has never been changed. Politically, he is a Democrat of uncompromising terms. Among the local positions he has held may be mentioned that of supervisor. Both he and his wife are exemplary members of the Baptist church. Originally, the Lindley family were of the Quaker religious faith. The children born to Samuel and Harriet (Hollenbeck) Lindley are: Emma, wife of E. H. Boyd; Charles E., a resident of Crawford county; Mollie, deceased; John William, of this sketch; Ollie J. (twin sister of John W.), now wife of Charles H. Voorheis, of Crawford county; Ola, wife of J. H. Neff, residing in Sullivan county; Samuel E., of Sullivan, a dentist.
John William Lindley was reared midst the scenes and labors incident to farm life and attended the common schools, after which he attended the Southern Illinois Normal University, graduating with the class of 1892. He then taught school one year in the city schools of Robinson, Illinois, and read law in the same city, at the same time, with Bradbury & McHatton. He remained with this firm for two years and passed the examination before the appellate court, August 3, 1894, and was admitted to the bar at Robinson. December 19, 1894, he began practice in Sullivan, Indiana, in partnership with John C. Briggs, with whom he remained until August 1, 1899, since which he has practiced independently. He has been connected with nearly every criminal case tried within Sullivan county in the last four or five years, thus proving his ability as a rising attorney. He was prosecuting attorney for the Fourteenth judicial district for 1903-04.
Mr. Lindley is a member of the Sullivan County Bar Association. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party and in his fraternal relations is connected with the Knights of Pythias, Elks and Modern Woodmen of America.
He was happily married, in September, 1901, to Zona Lacey, who was born in Sullivan, Indiana, September, 1877. She received her education in the county of her birth. Her parents are Edward P. and Margaret Lacey, both of whom still reside in Sullivan, her father being a teacher in the public schools. Two children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lindley: Price, born in 1903, and Lois M., born in 1904. The parents are members of the Baptist church.