Hervey D. Vories, superintendent of public schools of Johnson County, Ind., was born in Hensley Township, that county, on August 27, 1855 and is the son of Hervey and Alazannah (Carter) Vories. Hervey, the father, was born in Kentucky in January, 1822, and immigrated to Johnson County, Ind., in about 1830, with his father, John Vories. He has followed farming as a life vocation, and is at present a citizen of Hensley Township. Alazannah, the mother, was born in Virginia in 1816, and with an uncle came to Johnson County during the thirties. To the parents eight children were born, five of whom survive. The early life of the subject of this sketch was spent on the farm. He attended the district schools, not a great deal, however, until after he was seventeen years of age. Then, attending school for about seven months, he began teaching, and in the summer of 1875, entered the Valparaiso, Ind., College, where he remained for nearly five years, graduating August 19, 1880. He was soon afterward appointed superintendent of the Oscoda (Mich.) public schools, where he remained for three years, and then removed to Trafalgar, Johnson Co., Ind., where he taught for two terms, and a summer normal. In 1880 he taught a normal in Franklin, the first one ever held in Johnson County, and altogether has taught seven normals in Johnson and Brown counties. He was appointed superintendent of public instruction of Johnson County, in June, 1885, and the following August removed to Franklin. He was re-appointed in June, 1887. Mr. Vories was united in marriage with Emma M. Ragsdale, in December, 1881. Mrs. Vories is the daughter of Rev. John W. Ragsdale, of Morgantown, Ind., and was born in Brown County, Ind., in 1855. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vories are members of the Baptist Church.

Transcribed by Cheryl Zufall Parker

Banta, D.D. History of Johnson County, Indiana. Chicago, IL: Brant & Fuller, 1888, page 668