Francis Stone Lindley was born on November 2, 1794, in Morris, Pennsylvania, his father, Abraham, was 30 and his mother, Martha Stone Lindley, was 29. Francis was a private and fought in the War of 1812 in the 2nd Regiment (Zumalts) Ohio Militia. He had two sons and two daughters with Frances "Fanny" Nighswonger. Francis was a Tanner by trade in Switzerland County Indiana. In 1814 he purchased two five acre out lots from Switzerland County that were reserved for the site of a tannery upon them. He continued in the tannery trade until about 1860. Fanny died in 1827 of consumption. He married Rhoda Barber in 1828. After Rhoda's death in 1830 he remarried a third time to Rebeca McKittrick in 1833 and they had two sons together. Rebecca passed away in 1839 after giving birth to their second son. Francis remarried a fourth time in 1841 to Martha Glanton and they had one son together. Francis was a charter member of Switzerland Lodge No. 122, A.F.& A.M. in Vevay. Chartered 30 May 1851. He died on May 25, 1874 and is buried in Vevay, Indiana, having lived a long life of 79 years.