from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)----pages 214-216
The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article is well and favorably known throughout Hendricks County and particularly in the vicinity of Danville. This is not because he can claim great wealth nor because of remarkable accomplishments in mercantile life, though he has been a successful business man; but because of the fact that he is genial in manner, warm hearted, charitable and kindly to man and beast. In addition to these qualities he is a recognized authority upon the care and breeding of horses; and his proverbial kindness to the animals in his charge has shown marked results. These animals are docile and well trained, and could they speak, they would probably say, "We do our best for him because he is so kind." And this quality in him has appealed to his fellow men.
Wesley Brady is a true product of Hendricks County, having made it his home since the day of his birth, in the year 1858. His parents, George W. Brady and Delilah (Selch) Brady, were among the early inhabitants of the county, and his maternal grandparents were among the first to brave the terrors of the unbroken forest.
His father, George W., was born in Morgan County, Indiana, near Mooresville, in the year 1839, but during his childhood his parents, Merrill Brady and wife, emigrated to Hendricks County. Here, near Cartersburg, they took up their abode, and the remaining days of their lives were spent upon this homestead, he cultivating the soil and toiling diligently to acquire sustenance for the family. Mr. Brady was particularly successful as a breeder of and dealer in livestock, and the love which he bore for domestic animals, particularly the horse, was inculcated into the mind and heart of his son.
His wife, Delilah Selch, was a native of Hendricks County also, her parents being one of the early families to brave the terrors of the long, tedious journey by wagon from Kentucky, through the forest country infested by wild animals. Near the present site of Cartersburg in Hendricks County, they selected their abode and entered from the government eighty acres of land. This tract was later doubled in size, and the arduous labor of clearing away the grand old forest trees, which today are so highly prized, was gladly endured as they saw the cabin raised which was to be their home. During the time of building, one of the workers shot a deer at the hour for noon day rest, and at night the howling of wolves trying to get their sheep disturbed their slumbers. Here they lived the life of the pioneer, the father and sons hewing the huge trees to clear space for the garden and grain, and the mother and daughters spinning and weaving, and later, knitting and sewing by hand the products of the wheel and loom. Baking and broiling were accomplished by the open fireplace, and their table was replete with game.
Hence, we see that the subject of our sketch is truly a son of Hendricks County. His childhood and youth were spent on the farm of his father, and he was busily engaged in all the activities of the place. At the age of twenty-four years, his marriage to Kate Riggen was solemnized. She, also, is a native of Hendricks County, having been born and reared near Cartersburg. His parents took the long journey from North Carolina by wagon in the early days of this county, and purchased the tract of land which has been their homestead throughout their days.
Soon after they were united in marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Brady established their home on a farm in the vicinity of their former homes, and here he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture until the year 1909, supplementing this work, however, with the purchase and sale of horses. In this year he brought his family to Danville and entered the livery business with John W. Ader, under the firm name of Ader and Brady. In this vocation he has been at liberty to exercise all his talents in the care and training of horses, for which he is eminently fitted by heredity, experience and environment, for the love of this work is inherited from several generations of ancestors. He is now the possessor of "Guy Princeton", a horse that has sired more speed and high class road horses than any other stallion in Hendricks County. Many of his offspring have sold for sums ranging from fifteen hundred and twenty-five hundred dollars. His pedigree runs back three generations to Hambletonian Ten.
But dearly as Mr. Brady loves his horses, his home and family are of paramount importance in his life. His one daughter, Lela, is now the wife of Raymond Miles, and resides near Clayton. Though a man of few words, he is proverbially a good neighbor and staunch friend; and his many kind acts have won for him a more desirable reputation than could the possession of large wealth. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, among whom he has many devoted friends.