The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Clay Township, pages 558-559
Cyrus L. Stanley, attorney at law, Coatesville, Ind., is a son of Samuel Stanley, one of the pioneers of 1831. Samuel Stanley was a native of North Carolina, and was there married to Anna Bowman. They were members of the Society of Friends, with strong anti-slavery principles, and not wishing to rear their children under the influence of that institution, in the fall of 1830 they left North Carolina, and with a one-horse team came to Indiana, being six weeks in making the journey. Their family at that time consisted of five children, the eldest fourteen, and the youngest two years of age. They located near Richmond, Wayne County, where, April 6, 1831, Cyrus L. was born. The same season they moved to Hendricks County and settled on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 23, Clay Township. The land was heavily timbered with no improvements. Mr. Stanley erected a log cabin fourteen feet square, and began clearing his land, which he made his home till his death in October, 1850. His wife survived him but one week. He was an upright, honest man, of quiet disposition, but decided in his convictions. He was in politics a Whig, strongly opposed to slavery, and was as conscientious in his political as in his religious views. He had a family of eight children, all of whom are living except Barkley, who died in October, 1849. The surviving children are Harvey, of Douglas County, Kas.; Rebecca, of Dallas County, Iowa; Sarah, of Warren County, Iowa; William, of Parke County, Ind.; Cyrus L.; Levi, of Warren County, Iowa, and Anna Jane, of Huron, Dak. The second son, Barkley, learned the carriage-makers trade, and settled in Springville. He took a prominent part in politics; was a strong anti-slavery man, a member of the Free-Soil Party, and a delegate to the convention that nominated Martin Van Buren in 1848. He died in October, 1849, leaving a wife and one child, the former since deceased. Harvey and Barkley were prominent in the early settlement of the county. Harvey was well educated and taught school a number of years. After reaching maturity he cleared a farm of his own, but in 1871 removed to Kansas. Cyrus L. Stanley has been a resident of Clay Township since his infancy. He has always given some attention to agriculture, and owns a fine farm. He was also for some time engaged in the mercantile business, and since 1870 has devoted considerable time to the practice of law. He was originally in politics, a Whig, but since its organization, has been a Republican. In 1860 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and was re-elected in 1864, but resigned before the expiration of his term, and in 1868 was again elected to the same office. He has also served as Commissioner of Hendricks County. Mr. Stanley has been twice married. In 1850 he married Lucy Elrod, who died in 1853, leaving one daughter--Mary Elma. In 1857 he married Sarah Jane Braun, a native of Ohio. They have three children--Eva Ettie, Ena Ethel, and Oscar O.