Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 721-722

Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1888

WILLIAM HALLIDAY, an honored and respected citizen of Sheffield Township, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, September 21, 1827, but was reared from infancy in Tippecanoe County, his father, William Halliday, Sr., being one of the early pioneers of the county. Here amid the wild surroundings of pioneer life his boyhood was spent at farm work and in attending the rude log cabin subscription schools of his neighborhood.

He has been twice married, the maiden name of his first wife being Lucinda Lake, her father James Lake, being one of Tippecanoe County's pioneers. Mrs. Halliday died December 21, 1852, leaving at her death three children - Albert, now in Boone County, Indiana; Almeda, now Mrs. Wolfinglton, on Boone County, and Mary, now Mrs. Timmons, of Clay County, Nebraska. Mr. Halliday was a second time married, November 11, 1854, to Esther Ann Smith, a daughter of William Smith, who was also a pioneer of this county. Four children were born to this union, of whom but two are living--Lucretia, wife of Anderson Campbell, and Perry, both living in Lauramie Township. The deceased children were named, Mary Etta and William S.

Mr. Halliday still lives on the same farm where he grew to manhood, and where many happy years of his life have been spent. His farm consists of eighty acres under a fine state of cultivation, and well improved, his land being underlaid with 500 rods of tile. His house is comfortable and conveniently arranged, and his barn and out-buildings are corresponding good. He is a man plain in manners and speech, firm in his convictions of right and wrong, fair and honorable in all business transactions, and has gained the confidence and esteem of the entire community. He is a member of the United Brethren church.

The parents of our subject, William and Catherine (McCalip) Halliday, were born, reared and married in the State of North Carolina. Some years after their marriage they removed to Fayette County, Ohio, the family and household goods being conveyed the entire distance by pack animals. In 1828 they removed from La Fayette (should be Fayette Co., OH?) to Tippecanoe County by team and wagon, and settled in Sheffield Township on the land now occupied by the subject of this sketch. The father had made two trips to the county previous to his settlement here. He died on the old homestead in Sheffield Township in 1841, aged about fifty-five years. His widow survived him many years, dying at the homestead in her eighty-seventh year. They were the parents of eleven children, named as follows: Nancy, Hannah, Rachel, Sarah, John, Samuel, James and Daniel (twins), Simeon and Lena (twins), and William.