The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Union Township, page 731
John Shockley, deceased, was a native of Montgomery County, Ky., born Jan. 17, 1820. He was reared in his native State and when a young man his parents settled in Rush County, Ind. March 16, 1840, he was married in Rush County to Miss Barbara Hilligoss. To them were born ten children, of whom only four are now living--William M., Jacob, Sarah and Indiana. The names of the deceased are--Anne, Joseph H., Francis M., Thomas J., James, and one who died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. Shockley settled in Union Township, on the farm where his widow still resides, in 1855. His tragic death which occurred in July, 1878, is still fresh in the minds of our citizens. His death was caused by an explosion, while he was engaged in threshing grain in Eel River Township, this county. Mrs. Shockley is the owner of forty acres of land. She is a member of the Christian church.