John H. Featherngill, one of the prominent and substantial citizens of Franklin, Ind., was born in Oldham County, Ky., on March 27, 1822, and was reared on the farm, securing a fair education in the common schools. He began life for himself in 1843, as a farmer in Nineveh Township, Johnson County, Ind., at which he continued until about fifteen years ago, when he had to leave the farm on account of ill health, and removed to Franklin. For a number of years he was engaged in pork packing in Franklin and Indianapolis. He was married December 17, 1843, to Martha A. Brannigan, who was born in Kentucky in 1826, and was the daughter of John Brannigan. She died in 1846, leaving two children: James R., born October 1, 1844, died December 20, 1861; and Lucy F., born October 13, 1846, and died in 1872. The parents of our subject were Joseph and Mary (Forsyth) Featherngill, both of whom are natives of Virginia, the former of English, and the latter of Irish, descent. The former was born in 1794, and died in 1863; and the mother born in 1799, and died in 1835. From Virginia the parents went to Kentucky, and in 1829 came to Johnson County Ind., and were among the early settlers of Nineveh Township. To them were born eight children, five of whom survive.