A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 1045-1047
James D. Hostetter, the popular county superintendent of schools of Hendricks County, and a native of Indiana, springs from a sturdy German colonial Pennsylvania family. Urick Hostetter, a Lutheran, with his family, consisting of wife and seven sons, came from Germany and settled in Lancaster County, Pa. Thomas Hostetter, great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Germany and came with his father to America and settled in Rockbridge County, Va., was a pioneer and passed all his remaining days here. David Hostetter, grandfather of our subject, was born in Rockbridge County, Va. He was a teamster in early days and hauled goods across the Alleghany Mountains. He married, in Virginia, a Miss Hicks, and they were the parents of six children: Jane, Sarilda, Martha, Beniah, David and Sherman. Mr. Hostetter moved to southern Ohio and finally, in 1832, moved to Montgomery County, Ind., where he was a pioneer and entered 160 acres of land, which he cleared, and on which he resided until his death, in January, 1865, aged eighty-four years, at first a member of the Lutheran Church and in after years of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was a well-to-do farmer and soldier in the War of 1812. Sherman Hostetter, father of our subject, was born in Rockbridge County, Va., September 20, 1809. He received a limited common education and went to Ohio when a boy, with his father to Montgomery County, Ind., in 1832. He became a farmer and married a Miss Harrison, and they had one child, Mary L. This wife died and he married Mary A., daughter of Abraham and Jennie (Randal) Byrd. Abraham Byrd was of English descent and a settler of Montgomery County, in 1828. The Randals were of Scotch descent. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter settled on land in Montgomery County, Ind., and in 1859 moved to Jackson Township, Boone County, Ind. He was a substantial farmer, owning 320 acres of land, and died in 1869, aged fifty-nine years. He and wife were members of the Methodist Church. He was one of the original Republicans of Montgomery County, and had two sons in the Civil War, William H. and John B. William H. served three years in the Twenty-seventh Indiana and was in many battles; John B. was in the Eleventh Indiana and served during the latter part of the war, enlisting for twelve months. Mr. Hostetter was a prominent man, and served in the legislature about 1844, from Montgomery County, and from Boone County one term during the war. He was a well known man and highly respected. By his second wife he was the father of ten children, all of whom lived to maturity: William H., John B., Malissa R., Phronisa C., Abraham S., James D., Lewis W., Emma M., Allen H. and Edgar C.
James D. Hostetter, our subject, was born June 3, 1852, in Montgomery County, Ind., on his father's farm, received a good education and attended the Valparaiso Normal School, became a teacher, and taught in Boone County two years—in 1874 and 1875, and then in Montgomery County in 1877 to 1889. Most of this time he was principal of graded schools at Mace and New Ross, Ind., and was generally successful and an efficient teacher, and won the respect of the people. As a teacher he was a strict disciplinarian, and by his methods greatly improved the standing of his schools, in advance of all the old methods of teaching. He came to Hendricks County in 1889, as principal of the North Salem schools and held this position two years, and advanced the schools of that town materially. He then became principal of the graded schools of New Winchester in 1892, and remained one year, and in 1892 went to Coatesville and was principal of public schools there. In 1893 he was elected county superintendent of schools of Hendricks County, a position which he holds to the general satisfaction of the teachers and people. The enrollment has increased, the general average attendance is bettered, and more teachers are required; two new schoolhouses have been erected and the school buildings at Pittsboro and Danville have been enlarged with new rooms. The township institutes have increased in attendance and general interest, and the work is much improved. High school work has been added to the schools of Pittsboro, Plainfield and North Salem, new methods have been introduced and the interests of the teachers increased. The teachers are all supplied with works on the subject of pedagogy. Prof. Hostetter is now a resident of Danville. He married, May 26, 1879, at Jamestown, Boone County, Ind., Olive, daughter of Lorenzo and Sarah A. (Morris) Mitchel, and Prof. Hostetter and wife have three children: Morris B., Harlan Q. and Merle. Fraternally, he is a member of North Salem lodge, F. & A.M., also a K. of P. of Coatesville lodge, and has been commander, master of work, and representative to the grand lodge. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter are both members of the Christian Church. Mr. Hostetter has had years of experience as an educator, and is an efficient instructor, a man of excellent executive ability, and stands high for his sterling integrity of character.