My grgr-grandfather was Henry Stites, born in Clark county, Indiana around 1825. He was married to Avarilla Hoy. They had 4 children: Harriet (1851-1905) was my gr grandmother, Charles W (1856 - c1893), John Thomas (1858 - ?), and Henrietta (1863 - ?). Henry (fisherman) and Avarilla died before 1870, leaving orphaned children who were raised by aunts and uncles.
I believe that Henry was the youngest son of Nathaniel Stites. Born in Cape May, NJ around 1790, Nathaniel Stites and his wife (Sarah Steelman) migrated with their young family to Clark county, IN around 1816-1818. He can be seen in the Clark county censuses of 1820, 1830, and 1840, but both he and his wife were dead before the 1850 census.
The known/suspected children of Nathaniel Stites were : William, Thomas, John, Henry, and Phoebe. There was a fourth son whom I suspect was named Charles because Henry appears to have named his sons after their uncles.
I have hit a brick wall in trying to find Nathaniel Stites' CMNJ parentage. He is in the Cape May tax surveys between 1805 - 1810, married Sarah Steelman in Cape May in 1811, bought land in Cape May during the early 1810's that was apparently all sold in 1816. Many of the records of Cape May show Nathaniel in the company of Zebulon Stites who may have been an older brother (also unknown parentage). Records also show him (and Zebulon) repeatedly in company with children and grandchildren of Isaiah Stites whom I suspect were also relatives. Nathaniel may have been an illegitimate child but he went by Stites and most of his financial dealings were with Stites. Any information would be appreciated.