A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 978-981
John H. Halfaker, of Middle Township, Hendricks County, Ind., is one of its leading farmers and prominent citizens. His grandfather, Henry Halfaker, was a native of Strausburg, Germany, who came to Maryland, and later moved to Virginia and engaged in farming. The last twenty years of his life were spent in Johnson County, Ind., in which county he entered a farm, and died September 2, 1850. Jocob Halfaker, father of our subject, was born in Washington County, Va., August 12, 1800. He married Ruth Campbell, the daughter of John and Ruth (Perkins) Campbell, of Scotch descent. Mr. Campbell was the first white man who settled in Johnson County, Ind., and Edinburg was founded on his farm. The father and mother, when married, entered their farm of 176 acres from the government, and lived there the remainder of their lives. Our subject's mother was the first white child who had a home in that county. The father and mother were both members of the Christian Church, and in politics he was first an old-line Whig, but later a stanch Republican, under whose auspices he was a township trustee. Both lived to a ripe old age.
John H. Halfaker, our subject, was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., October 26, 1835. He attended the old log school-house and Edinburg Academy, and was qualified to teach, but preferred farming. He married Louisana VanDever, daughter of James and Sarah E. (Tucker) VanDever, of whom mentin is made on page 509 of this volume. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Halfaker were named as follows: Ida M., died March, 1863; Hilda R., the wife of C.O. Palmer; Logan S., Bessie A., Mary S., Riley T., Margaret, Jane, Ruth, Harriet and James V. Our subject lived fifty years in Clark Township, Johnson County, but for nine years has resided on his present farm of 169 acres. He has a good farm residence and as good a new barn as can be found in the township. He is a progressive and modern farmer and is quite successful also in stock-raising. Mr. Halfaker is a strong Republican and was elected township assessor of Clark Township, Johnson County, in a Democratic township. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, in which he formerly held the office of deacon twenty years, and also held all the offices in the Sunday School. He is likewise a dormant Mason. October 13, 1862, Mr. Halfaker enlisted in Company F, fifth Indiana Cavalry, and was immediately appointed quartermaster-sergeant for the regiment, which office he continuously filled until discharged. However, the details of the office were performed by others, and, while never commissioned, he superintended the gathering of the forage for the horses, going as far as fifteen miles when necessary. The regiment was engaged in fighting, scouting and skirmishing most of the time in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, making the collection of the forage doubly dangerous. In rebuilding the great railroad bridge above Knoxville, he was appointed superintendent of eighteen teams, and the timber was collected under his supervision. He was often waylaid, day and night, by bushwhackers, and had many thrilling and dangerous experiences.