CAPTAIN JOSIAH STANDLEY.-In the annals of Sullivan county we find no name more worthy of recording in a work of this character than that of Captain Josiah Standley, who has the distinction not only of being a pioneer settler and a hero of two wars, but of being descended from a Revolutionary soldier, of being the son of a soldier of the war of 1812, and of representing two honored pioneer families of Indiana. He is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred November 18, 1827, in Washington county, near Pekin, making him one of the oldest native-born citizens of this state. His father, Joseph Standley, was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, a son of Thomas Standley. Thomas Standley was born, it is thought, in England, and on coming to this country lived for a number of years in North Carolina, from there coming to Washington county, Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life.


Reared and married in his native state, Joseph Standley kept pace with the moving tide of emigration, and in his early life journeyed by teams to Ohio, where he lived a few years. Then, still pushing his way westward, he came across the country to Indiana, locating at first in Martin county. He subsequently lived for a time in Washington county, from there going to Putnam county, and afterward settling near Bowling Green, Clay county, being one of the earlier pioneers of that locality. Subsequently taking up his residence in Sullivan county, he pre-empted a tract of government land in. section nine, Cass township, and lived on it without securing a title to it until his death. He was a man of patriotic spirit, and served for a year in the war of 1812. He married Mary Barham, who was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, a daughter of Hartwell Barham. Mr. Barham was born and bred in England, from there coming to America in colonial days, and taking an active part in the great struggle for independence, serving in the Revolutionary army for seven years. He spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge with Washington, and he handed down to his descendants the pass word there used, it being "Suffer Liberty or Death." Returning to Guilford county, North Carolina, after the war, he subsequently spent the remainder of his life in that place. Mrs. Joseph Standley survived her husband a number of years. Of the children born to her twelve grew to years of maturity.


About eight years old when his parents moved to Clay county, Josiah Standley spent all of his early life on the frontier, his parents moving from time to time to a newer country, taking advantage of every opening made. Inheriting in a marked degree the patriotism that characterized his ancestors, he enlisted at the breaking out of the Mexican war in Company H, Fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, went with his command to Mexico, and there fought until peace was declared. He then marched with his comrades from the interior to Vera Cruz, and from there sailing by way of the gulf and rivers to Madison, Indiana, where he was honorably discharged from service. Returning home, Mr. Standley received a land warrant for his services, and with that secured the land that his father had previously pre-empted. There he was afterwards engaged in farming until the tocsin of war again rung through the land. Then, in 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Forty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was appointed second lieutenant of his company, and went with his command to Missouri, where he took part in the battle of New Madrid. Early in 1862 he was taken ill, and on March 29 of that year resigned and returned home to recuperate. Recovering his health, he enlisted during the same year in Company I, Ninety-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was made second lieutenant of that company. He was afterwards promoted to first lieutenant, and later received his commission as captain of his company. While in service Captain Standley participated in more than forty different engagements, including those at Jackson, Mississippi, where he was wounded; at Vicksburg, Kenesaw Mountain, Dalton, Resaca and the siege and capture of Atlanta, where for a time he commanded a regiment. The Captain was with his command on the memorable march to the sea, thence through South Carolina to North Carolina. There, at Lynch Creek, while in command of a mounted squad in detached duty, he was captured and taken to Andersonville. His experience there, however, was brief, as he was transferred to Libby prison, and there confined until the close of the war, when he joined his regiment at Alexandria, Virginia, where he was honorably discharged. Returning home, Captain Standley was for several years actively engaged in farming, and at one time had title to over four hundred acres of land. Much of this he has since deeded to his children, although he has now one hundred and twenty-five acres in his possession.


Captain Standley has been three times married. He married first, at the age of twenty-two years, Margaret Hinkle, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Samuel Hinkle. Her grandfather, Nathan Hinkle, came from Germany, his native land, to America in colonial times, and fought with the colonists in their struggle for liberty, serving as a soldier in the Continental army for seven years. Subsequently coming to Indiana, he was a pioneer settler of Sullivan county, and at his death his body was laid to rest in Hymera, where his friends have erected a monument to his memory. Mrs. Margaret Standley died about two years after her marriage, and a year later Captain Standley married her sister, Mahala Hinkle, also deceased. In 1905 Captain Standley married Mrs. Nancy J. Ooley. By his first marriage he had one son, Hartwell Barham Standley, M. D., a successful physician and surgeon of California. By his second marriage he had the following children: Elihu E., James H., William H., Josiah S., Emma, Nettie, Asenath R., and Fannie. Fraternally the Captain was made a Mason at Sullivan, Indiana, when young, and he was formerly a member of Fletcher Freeman Post. G. A. R., located at Cass, Indiana.