Josiah C. Binford - History of Rush County, Indiana
From History of Rush County, Indiana, Brant & Fuller, 1888, Reprinted 1966 by Eastern Indiana Publishing Co., Knightstown, Ind, pages 557-558:
Josiah C. Binford, of Ripley Township, was born in Prince George County, Va., June 17, 1826 being the son or Benjamin and Mary (Cook) Binford, both of whom were natives of Virginia, of English descent.His father was the son of Aquilla Binford, and was born February 20, 1797, and his mother was the daughter of Josiah and Mary Cook.When our subject was about six years old, his father died, after which he continued with his widowed mother until the time of her death, which occurred when he was fifteen years of age.For a while before and one year following that event he made his home with his uncle Joel Cook, in Isle of Wight County, Va.He then came westward to Jefferson County, Ohio, where for about one year he attended school at Mt. Pleasant.After this he was employed as a farm hand in that vicinity for four years.He then returned to Virginia, to visit his relatives, and at the expiration of a few weeks he returned to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he was employed upon a farm for another period of four years.The winter of 1852-3, he spent in Wabash County, this State.In the spring of 1853, he came to Rush County, and he has resided in Ripley Township ever since.For about two years he was engaged as a farm hand.February 21, 1855, he was married to Miss Mary Ann Hill, who is a native of Ripley Township, born February 6, 1836, being the daughter of John and Dinah (Cox) Hill, both of whom were natives of North Carolina.Her father was the son of Benjamin and Mary (Jessup) Hill, and her mother was the daughter of Joseph and Dinah (Rich) Cox.Ever since their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Binford have resided in Ripley Township, and they have occupied their present home since the fall of 1856.The life occupation of Mr. Binford has been farming, and in this connection his efforts have been liberally rewarded.He owns in all 295½ acres of land, of which 247 acres lie in Ripley Township, and 48½ in Hancock County.A good part of his land is in cultivation, and his home farm is fitted up with a good residence and other substantial improvements that make it a desirable location.Mr. and Mrs. Binford are the parents of nine children, as follows:Joseph J., Adaline, Morris, Emma J., Marcia, Charles F., Irvin H., Walter, and David M., all of whom are living.The son, Irvin H., is now a student at Earlham College, which institution, Morris, Emma, and Marcia have also attended.Mr. and Mrs. Binford, and all their children are members of the Friends’ Church.In politics, Mr. Binford is a Republican.