The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Franklin Township, pages 599-600
Melville F. McHaffie, section 29, Mill Creek Township, Putnam County, Ind., is so prominently identified with the material and social interests of Hendricks County that its history could not be considered complete without mention of him. He was born in Knox County, Tenn., Dec. 27, 1826, a son of Andrew E. and Nancy (Woods) McHaffie. His mother died when he was three years of age leaving three children--Nancy E. widow of William P. Roberts; Melville F. and Thurza Jane, who died aged twelve years. In October, 1832 his father settled in Franklin Township, Hendricks County, three-fourths of a mile from Stilesville, living a short time in a tent. He bought 640 acres of Government land, coming to this county with some money compared to the majority of the early settlers. He improved his farm rapidly and soon had a good home. He married a second time, in August, 1838, in Blount County, Tenn., Nancy D. Kilburn. One child was born to them, Mary Angeline, now a resident of Stilesville. Andrew McHaffie was one of the prominent, enterprising citizens of Hendricks County, noted for his honorable dealings and benevolence. He died Oct. 17, 1863, aged sixty-five years and six months. His widow died in Arkansas in 1881. His father, John McHaffie, served nearly six years in the war of the Revolution, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis, and for his gallantry won a Captain's commission. He died in Tennessee, about thirty years after the close of the war, aged fifty-two years. He had moved to that state in 1801. His widow survived him many years and died at the residence of A.E. McHaffie, in Franklin Township. Melville F. McHaffie remained with his father till twenty-four years of age. He was married Aug. 15, 1850, to Mary Ann Thomas, a native of West Philadelphia, born July 16, 1830, daughter of Jonathan Thomas, who moved to Ohio, and died in Preble County. The mother subsequently married Theodore Long, and with him moved to Mill Creek Township, Putnam County, Ind., where they both died March 4, 1851. Mr. McHaffie moved to a cabin on section29, near their present residence. He at that time owned no land, his cabin being on his father's land. He has been very successful in all his business operations, and is now one of the largest landowners of Indiana. His home farm contains 1,000 acres, situated on sections 28 and 29, Mill Creek Township, and sections 20 and 21, Franklin Township, Hendricks County. His residence was built in 1872, at a cost of $10,000. He also owns nearly all of section 27, 160 acres of section 22 and eighty acres of section 8, Franklin Township. In 1858 he bought 1,153 acres of land, part of it improved, in Bates County, Mo. The latter he has sold at a profit of $10,000. Mr. and Mrs. McHaffie have had ten children, six of whom are still living--Florence Alice, wife of Charles W. Bridges, of Indianapolis; George W., of Franklin Township; Inez B., wife of Dr. G.N. Masters, of Stilesville; Oscar S., Melville E. and Mary E., at home. Clarine Virginia married Thomas S. Boggess, of Macon, Miss., and died after fourteen months of married life. Andrew E. died aged seventeen years; Clarence V., aged two years, and Marcus, aged three and a half years. In politics Mr. McHaffie is a Democrat.