An American Family History

Sarah (Sally) Simpson Lofland Thurston was born about 1811 in Ohio. Her parents were probably Allen Simpson and Nancy Vincent.

She married William Lofland on August 9, 1836 in Montgomery County, Indiana.

William was born about 1809 in Delaware.

Sarah and William's children included:
John S. Lofland (1837),
Heavelo (David) Lofland (1840),
Alfred D. Lofland (1841), and
Nancy V. Lofland (1844).

William died in 1841 in Montgomery County, Indiana.

In 1845, John Simpson became the guardian of the Lofland children and Allen Simpson was the surety. Samuel Fuller and David Long were the administrators of William's estate.

After William, died she married Henry Thurston who was born about 1800 in Virginia.

She died December 31, 1879.

from Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana by Lewis Publishing Company

John S. Lofland, a prominent and enterprising agriculturist of Randolph Township, where he resides on section 25, is a native of Indiana, born in Montgomery County, October 16, 1837, a son of William D. Lofland, an old pioneer of Montgomery County, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1844.

John S., our subject, was reared in his native county, receiving his education in the common schools of his neighborhood and at Sugar Grove Institute. He has always followed the vocation of a farmer, with the exception of one year, when he was engaged in teaching school.

He settled on the farm which he has since occupied, in April, 1862, where he has 195 acres of choice land, well improved and under good cultivation, the entire surroundings showing the owner to be a thorough, practical farmer. In connection with his general farming he devotes some attention to stockraising.

Mr. Lofland was united in marriage, October 17, 1860, to Miss Nancy A. McMillin, a daughter of John K. McMillin, who is now living in Washington Territory. Of the six children born to this union, four are living—William A., Mattie V., John S. and Anna L. One daughter, Jessie E., died in 1887, at the age of eighteen years.

Mr. Lofland is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge of that organization at Romney. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Romney.

Alfred D. Lofland, a brother of our subject, was a soldier during the war of the Rebellion, serving three years as a member of Company E, Seventy-second Indiana Infantry. He now lives at Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Alfred D. Lofland, farmer and stock raiser, Crawfordsville, was born in this township August 12, 1841. His father, William Lofland, emigrated from Delaware to Montgomery county as early as 1834, and after his arrival married Sally Simpson.

Her father, Allen Simpson, had located on the farm now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch, having bought it several years before from a Mr. Croy.

Mr. Loflaud's father was a tanner and worked at his trade. His tanyard was on this place. He died when our subject was only three years of age, and left three other children, John, Hevellow, and Nancy. The two last are dead. The mother's second marriage was with Henry Thurston. She died December 31, 1879, and was sixth-eight years old at her death.

Mr. Lofland was enrolled August 16, 1862, in Co. E, 72d Ind. Vols. At Louisville his regiment was brigaded with' the 17th Indiana, and the 98th and the 123d Illinois regiments. For its distinguished service this command became celebrated as Wilders brigade of mounted infantry. He served under Rosecrans in his advance from Murfreesboro, fighting at Hoover's Gap, and participated in a brilliant affair, by his brigade alone, in gaining the rear of Bragg's army, and assaulting Deckerd Station by night, causing the enemy to fall back the next day. He was engaged at Chickamauga, and was in pursuit of Wheeler's cavalry twenty-one days after that battle. In the following winter three hundred of his regiment were detailed, under the command of Maj. Carr, and went with the expedition under Gen. Sooy Smith to cooperate with Gen. Sherman in the Meridian campaign. He was present throughout the prolonged disaster which befel Gen. Smith's command, and fought in the sharp engagement at Okolona. He was in constant service during the Atlanta campaign, and after that terminated returned to Rome, Georgia, where the horses of the brigade were turned over to Gen. Kilpatrick, when the men went back to Louisville to be remounted. When this had been accomplished they joined Gen. Wilson's column, which took Selma, Alabama, by assault, destroyed an immense amount of property, and supplemented the bold achievement with the taking of Columbus and Macon, Georgia, when the close of the war put an end to further operations. He was mustered out at Indianapolis July 6, 1865.

Mr. Lofland was married October 5, 1870, to Miss Catherine Hamilton. Their only child, William, born October 7, 1871, died of diphtheria January 12, 1881. Mr. Lofland belongs to the Methodist church. He is an OddFellow, and owns 115 acres of choice land. In politics a republican. In 1876 he traveled in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas.