From records of Mayme and Annis Bales, submitted to LDS Church for microfilming, 1994/5. Larry Anderson
Information provided June 12, 1961 by Alice Lake Ketron, Rt. 3, Box 313, Greenville Rd, Winchester, IN, Randolph Co.1895 or 1914 History of Randolph Co., IN, Washington Twp.
CURTIS E. BALES, who owns and operates 155 acres of land in Washington Twp., Randolph Co., IN, was born in this Township and County, April 6, 1835. Upon the home farm he was reared, and has never worked any place other than on the old homestead, with the exception of three months. Having arrived at mature years, he was married Oct. 3, 1857, to Mary Thornburg, a daughter of Edward and Nancy (Matthews) Thornburg. Agter marraige, Curtis E. Bales located on his father's (Pleasant) farm of eighty acres, and moved into an old frame house built by Jesse Promfield. There they lived for seven years, and in the fall of 1865, moved to the farm of eighty acres just across the road which he and his brother owned. After the death of his parents, Pleasant and Mary (Abshire) Bales, in 1864 and 1865, he bought the interest of the other heirs in the old homestead, and since that time has added eighty acres, making in all 155 acres. This is a rich and valuable tract and the many improvements upon the place indicate the thrift and enterprise of the owner. To Curtis E. and Mary have been born six children. Namely:
Henry S. Bales; Nancy A. Bales, wife of John Knight; Phebe J. Bales; Melinda Bales; Mary E. Bales, deceased.
The wife and mother, Mary (Thornburg) Bales, died April 1, 1881, and was buried in the New Light Cemetery. mary was a member of that Church.
After two years, Curtis E. Bales married Sarah A. Mills, a daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (York) Mills, natives of North Carolina. Their marriage was celebrated on Dec 29, 1882, and has been blessed with one son. The family is one widely known and ranks highly in social circles. Curtis E. Bales is a Republican. Son's name is James G. Bales.