A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 1051-1052
Enos C. Hornaday, prominent as a farmer, stock-trader and township trustee, of Middle Township, Hendricks County, Ind., is of Irish descent. His grandfather, Lewis Hornaday, was a native of Guilford County, N.C., and one of the first families of that county. He owned a large plantation and many slaves, which he finally freed, on account of his dislike to and disbelief in the institution. He and his wife were leading members of the Friends' Church, and he was an old-line Whig in politics. Simon Hornaday, son of above and father of our subject, was born in Guilford County, N.C., in 1808, and received a good education for his day. He left home when a young man, locating in Warren County, Ohio, where he married Eliza Syntmyers, of German descent. Their children were born in the following order: Balaam (deceased), Edwin M., Enos C., Edom H. and Elizabeth. After marriage the father and mother soon came to Hendricks County, Ind., the year being 1834. The father entered forty acres of land, but finally made a well-improved farm of 120 acres. He was an old-line Whig, and later a stanch Republican, and was elected county commissioner two terms. He was a prominent man in the Presbyterian Church, of which his mother was a member. They were honest, industrious people, who well merited the esteem and confidence of all who knew them. She died in October, 1847, and the father married Martha Polk. The children of this union were born in the following order: Elvira (Purce), Samantha (Rawlings) and Eva. The father died March 1, 1880.
Enos C. Hornaday was born in Liberty Township, Hendricks County, October 20, 1839. He entered Wabash College, intending to complete the course, and then take a course in a medical college, when the war broke out and his patriotic spirit was fired, and he responded to his country's call and enlisted in April, 1861, in Company I, Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry—the first regiment that barracked at Indianapolis. He participated in the campaigns in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Virginia, Florida and Pennsylvania, taking part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Port Gibson, Champion Hill (where he was dangerously and severely wounded in the leg), and was next in the noted siege of Vicksburg, where he was on active duty all the time. Then he marched to Jackson, Miss., where he was wounded in the breast by a spent ball. On this account he was permitted to return home on a furlough. He rejoined his regiment at New Orleans and was skirmishing in the Bayou Teche country some weeks. Shortly after his return he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant on account of meritorious and gallant service. He then returned home on veteran's furlough by way of New York, and once more joined his regiment at New Orleans, where he embarked on a vessel and was transported to the Shenandoah Valley, where he engaged in some severe skirmishes. He was honorably discharged on the 27th of August, 1864, with the rank of second lieutenant. Mr. Hornaday married Viola C. Dillon, daughter of Marcus and Sereptia (McCaan) Dillon, which union was graced with the following children: Porter, Erie, Ruth, Maud (deceased), and Edgar. Mark Dillon, father of Mrs. Hornaday, was a son of Abel Dillon, who was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and lived and died in Fleming County, Ky., where Mark was born. Mark Dillon came to Hendricks County, Ind., at an early date, and then went to Illinois. Subsequently he returned to Middle Township, Hendricks County, Ind., and engaged in farming. He has now retired and resides with Mrs. Hornaday. He has been twice married; his first wife was Sereptia McCaan, who bore him five children, viz.: Emily, John, Minerva, Arulia and Viola; his second wife was Mary Fox, deceased. Our subject has been a stanch Republican all his life and has filled the office of treasurer of the county of Hendricks, and is now filling his second term of township trustee of Middle Township. He is a member of the G.A.R., post No. 451, of Pittsboro, having passed all the chairs, and was a member of the F. & A.M. lodge, when the charter was surrendered at Pittsboro. He was formerly an elder, and now he and wife are members of the Christian Church, rendered substantial aid financially and sociably to that body. Capt. Hornaday owns eighty-six acres and rents eighty-five acres of land, and also has a nice village residence, where the family live in comfort and are honored by a large circle of sincere friends.