Source: North Manchester Journal, August 3, 1893, Obituary:

Alfred Hornaday, one of the earliest settlers and best known residents of this section of country died at his home in the south-east part of the township on last Saturday evening at the advanced age of eighty-one years.

Deceased was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, December 13, 1812. While yet a lad his parents came to Rush county, Indiana, where he received such education as was possible to obtain at subscription schools three months in a year. He began life for himself as a hired man, working at chopping and clearing land, and working as a farm hand at the ridiculously low wages then paid for labor. As soon as he had accumulated sufficient money with which to enter a quarter section of land he came to Wabash county, perhaps in 1839, and selected the 160 acres which has been his home place up to his death. The U.S. land office for the sale of the land he had chosen was at Fort Wayne, to which place he directed his course as best he could through the unbroken forest. After paying the regular price, $1.25 per acre for his land, he returned to Rush county and in 1840 was married to Martha Luna, who died in April, 1858, leaving three children, two of whom we understand have since died. In 1841 he moved to his land, situated near the south line of Chester township, and began the clearing up of the fine farm from which, through industry and economy, he had accumulated a large fortune. For years he had been a member of the Disciple church. Rev. White, of Lafontaine, preached his funeral, Monday, at the church near his home to a large congregation of his friends and neighbors. His death resulted from a paralytic shock, on Saturday, preceded by a year's bad health, during which time he had been confined to the house. Another of the hardy pioneers in the settlement of this county has gone on to another world.