Clay County, Indiana - The whole text, 1909 (part 16 of 21)

William J. Hall. - Prominent among the enterprising and prosper¬ ous agriculturists of Harrison township is William J. Hall, who for the past twenty-five years has here been actively employed in the pleasant, peaceful and independent occupation of a farmer. He is a man of excel¬ lent business capacity, thorough, skilful and systematic in his work, his well-appointed and well-kept farm evincing in a high degree his thrift and ability as a manager. A son of Clayborn Hall, he was born in 1859, in Sullivan, Sangamon county, Illinois.

A native of Jefferson county, Kentucky, Clayborn Hall was there bred and married. Migrating to Illinois in 1857, he resided in Sangamon county till i860, when he returned to his Kentucky home. Two years later he again went to Illinois, purchased land in Clark county, and was there employed in cultivating the soil until 1869. Selling out in that year he came to Indiana, locating in Vigo county. Buying a farm in Linton township, he was there employed in his favorite pursuit until his death. During his active life he bought and sold several farms, many of which he improved to a considerable extent, and as he always sold at an ad¬ vanced price he accumulated a competency in that manner. He married Rosanna Bates, who was born in Kentucky and died in Vigo county. Of the children born of their union, seven grew to years of maturity, namely : Mary; Hugh; Charles T. ; William J., the special subject of this sketch; Dora ; John ; and Cora.

During the days of his boyhood and youth William J. Hall attended school quite regularly, and when twelve years old spent his vacations as clerk in a general store. On leaving school he continued as a clerk for a number of seasons, becoming familiar with the details of mercantile pursuits. Subsequently embarking in business on his own account, he operated a general store at Riley, Vigo county, Indiana, for two years. After his marriage he located in Harrison township, and has since been actively engaged in general farming in the Eel River valley.

Mr. Hall married, in 1883, Anna K. Connely. She was born in Bates county, Missouri, a daughter of William A. and Elizabeth (Leavitt) Con¬ nely. A brief sketch of her parents may be found on another page of this biographical work. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have two children, namely : Rex, in Purdue University pursuing the agricultural course, and Helen, who finished at the common school, spent one term at Stanley Hall, Minne¬ apolis, Minnesota, and was also a student in the Brazil Business Univer¬ sity. Politically Mr. Hall is identified with the Republican party, and is a true and stanch supporter of its principles.

William Connely, who was an extensive landholder in Harrison township, and for many years one of its most prominent and influential citizens. A son of Gilmore Connely, he was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, of substantial Scotch-Irish ancestry.

A native of Kentucky, Gilmore Connely lived there during his early life. Subsequently coming with his family to Indiana, he located in Putnam county at an early period of its settlement. Purchasing a tract of timbered land near Putnamville, he cleared and improved a home¬ stead, and from that time until his death, at a good old age, he was prosperously engaged in farming, stock raising and in real estate dealings.

Very young when his parents came to this state, William Connely took advantage of every offered opportunity for acquiring an education, and later in life became a very successful business man and a most wise and safe counsellor. Removing after his marriage to Missouri, he set¬ tled in Bates county, where he purchased a large tract of land, on which he began improvements. He was strongly opposed to slavery, and the exponents of that cause made it so very unpleasant for him that he sold out and returned to Vigo county. A few years later he came to Harrison township, purchased large tracts of land in the Eel River valley, and was a resident of Clay county until his death, which occurred in October, 1896, on his estate.

Mr. Connely married Elizabeth Leavitt, who was born in Riley township, Vigo county, a daughter of William Humphrey and Ann (Halstead) Leavitt. She preceded him to the better world, dying in 1875, leaving three children, Rhoda, Anna Kate, and Frances. Anna K. is the wife of William J. Hall, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Connely always took an active and intelligent interest in everything pertaining to the public welfare, and in the state legislature rendered excellent service two or more terms, representing Vigo county in 1877 and Clay county in 1886.

William Wallace McGregor. - A man of culture, keen intelli¬ gence and high mental attainments, William Wallace McGregor, now living retired from active pursuits in Harrison township, was for many years actively identified with the legal profession, being engaged in the practice of law at Clay City. A son of Samuel McGregor, he was born May 17, 1835, in Harrison county, Ohio, of honored Scotch ancestry. His grandfather McGregor, a native of the Scotch Highlands, emigrated to America in colonial days, fought as a soldier in the Revolution, after¬ wards lived for a short time in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and then settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he, as far as known, spent the remainder of his years.

Samuel McGregor was born August 21, 1787, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was there reared and married. Subsequently removing to Ohio, he bought land in Jefferson township, and in addition to man¬ aging his farm was engaged in mercantile business in the town of Jeffer¬ son. Selling his holdings in that vicinity in 1837, he moved to Tuscara¬ was county, and in Warren township, near New Cumberland, bought land and for two years was engaged in farming. He then located with his family in the village of New Cumberland, where a few months later his wife died. He then went to visit a daughter living at Hollidays Cove, West Virginia, but being in ill health did not enter into any business. He subsequently returned to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and died in 1852, aged sixty-five years, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Scott, near Zoar. He married Margaret Curry, who was born in Washington county, Penn¬ sylvania, a daughter of Robert Curry, a native of Scotland. She died March 15, 1842, in New Cumberland, Ohio, leaving four children, Mar¬ garet, Jane, John and William Wallace. Margaret married James H. Turner, of Jefferson county, Ohio. Jane married Robert Scott, of New Cumberland, Ohio. John was graduated from the Cincinnati and Phila¬ delphia Medical Colleges, and after practising his profession in different places in Clay county located in Brazil, where he continued as a successful physician until his death.

Laying a substantial foundation for his future education in the district schools of Harrison county, Ohio, William W. McGregor after¬ wards attended the village academy at Hagerstown, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen years began his active career as a teacher in the school at Stone Creek, three miles from New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county. He afterwards taught at Cross Creek village, Washington county, Penn¬ sylvania, and at Mount Hope, West Virginia, and for awhile was an instructor in a private school near Lexington, Kentucky. Going to Iowa in 1858, Mr. McGregor taught first in Moscow, Muscatine county, and then in Crawfordsville, Washington county, after which he went to Steele county, Minnesota, and for awhile was employed in the schools at Bracketts Station. Coming from there to Clay county, Indiana, he here began his pedagogical career in Cass township, subsequently teaching in Jackson, Van Buren and Harrison townships. During the time that he was employed as a teacher, Mr. McGregor devoted his leisure minutes to the study of law, and about 1874 was admitted to the bar at Brazil. He immediately opened an office in Middlebury, and when Clay City was incorporated located there and continued in the active practice of his profession in that place until 1965, by his ability, skill and knowledge building up an excellent patronage. During the past three years he has lived retired on the farm which he had previously bought.

Mr. McGregor married, February 16, 1872, Mary M. Storm. She was born in Mill Creek township, Coshocton county, Ohio, August 12, 1855. Her father, John Storm, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, a son of George and Barbara (Miller) Storm. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McGregor, namely : Deborah Jane, wife of Joseph C. Boston ; Inez ; Donald C., who died at the age of nineteen years, in 1900; Gertrude Grace, whose death occurred in 1903, when she was in the nineteenth year of her age; and Anna Belle, who died at the age of four years. Formerly a Democrat in his political affiliations, Mr. McGregor is now a Socialist. Religiously Mrs. McGregor is a member of the United Brethren church.

Mrs. Margaret (Burkhart) Cooprider,. widow of the late Francis Marion Cooprider, is a woman highly respected throughout the com¬ munity in which she resides for her sterling traits of mind and char¬ acter, her home in Harrison township being the one in which she and her husband spent so many happy years. A daughter of Philip Burkhart, she was born June 5, 1845, in Coshocton county, Ohio.

Venable Burkhart, Mrs. Cooprider's grandfather, moved from his native state, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, becoming an early settler of Coshoc¬ ton county. Entering government land, he there cleared and improved a homestead, which he managed successfully until his death, both he and his wife dying on the home farm. They were the parents of ten children, namely: Catherine, Elizabeth, Mary, Christina, Lydia, Sarah, Abigail, Priscilla, Benjamin and Philip.

Born in Pennsylvania in 1813, Philip Burkhart was a small child when his parents movecj to Ohio. He was there reared to rural pursuits, from his youth up being familiar with the various branches of agricul¬ ture. Coming to Indiana with his family in 1850, he located in Clay county, this place seeming to meet his requirements. He entered forty acres of land in Harrison township from the government, and in addition purchased forty acres of adjoining land. He built a log cabin of the true pioneer style, with a puncheon floor, and having cleared a space nut in his first crop. He continued his operations, cleared a large part of the land, and was here engaged in farming until his death, in 1858. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Rigle, died two years before he did. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Mary M., Elizabeth, Jacob, Emmanuel, Abigail, Venable, Margaret, George and Rhoda. Mary married George Boerstler. Elizabeth married David Royer, of whom a short sketch may be found elsewhere in this work. Jacob and Emmanuel were soldiers in the Civil war, and both died in service. Abigail is the wife of John Harshman. Venable married Mary Mishler. George married Ellen Niece. Rhoda is the wife of William Steiner.

Margaret Burkhart was but five years old when she came with her parents to Harrison township, and there she was reared and educated. After the death of her parents she returned to her early Ohio home, where for quite awhile she spent her time with relatives and friends. On April 10, 1884, she married the late Francis Marion Cooprider, and has since resided on the farm she now occupies. Mr. Cooprider was a life-long resident of Harrison township, and by his first marriage had three children, Caswell H., James and Lethie. In the sketch of the oldest son, Caswell H., which appears elsewhere in this volume, may be found further mention of the Cooprider family.

Martin Luther Fritz. - Conspicuous among the leading agricul¬ turists of Harrison township is Martin Luther Fritz, who for many years has been an important factor in advancing the highest interests of the community in which he resides. Patriotic and public-spirited, he served his country in her time of need, serving bravely in camp or field, and since that time, as a law-abiding citizen, has been equally as faithful in the performance of his duties. A native of Owen county, Indiana, he was born May 1, 1844, in Jefferson township, a son of Peter Fritz. His grandfather and great-grandfather on the paternal side were both named Martin Luther Fritz. Martin L. Fritz, the first, was born in either Alsace or Lorraine, France, and as a soldier came with Lafayette to America and fought in the Revolutionary war. Subsequently remaining in this country, he settled in Pennsylvania, and was there a resident during his life.

Martin L. Fritz, the second, was born and reared in Pennsylvania. Inheriting the patriotism of his father, he enlisted in the war of 1812, and under that brilliant commander, Oliver H. Perry, took part in the famous naval engagement on Lake Erie, his services therein being sub¬ sequently recognized by a grant of eighty acres of land given by the government to his youngest son. In the later years of his life, about 1840, he came to Indiana, and thereafter lived in Owen county until his death. His wife, Sarah Huffman, was born in Pennsylvania, of Irish parents, it is thought. She died quite suddenly while on the trip to this state. Their children, eight in number, were ail born in Pennsylvania.

Peter Fritz remained in the Keystone state until 1840, when he came with the family, in 1840, to Indiana, making the journey as far as New Albany by way of the Ohio river, bringing on tneir raft in addition to their teams and household effects a large load of lumber. Disposing of the lumber after landing, the family then came with teams to Owen county. Peter Fritz there entered forty acres of government land, and bought another tract of equal size, all of it being covered with its original growth of timber. Making an opening in the forest, he built the log cabin in which he and his family lived several years. He subsequently followed his trade of a stone mason until compelled by ill health to give it up. He died while yet in manhood's prime, in November, 1846. Peter Fritz married Margaret R. Reed, who was born in Pennsylvania, which was also the native state of her father, Henry Reed, coming from Scotch-German stock. Henry Reed, with his wife and children, came to Indiana with the Fritz family, locating near the present site of Coal City, Owen county, where he improved a farm from the eighty acres of land he took up from the government. Selling out in 1848, he removed to Crawford county, Illinois, purchased land, and was there employed in farming the remainder of his life. Mrs. Margaret R. (Reed) Fritz survived her first husband, and was afterwards three times mar¬ ried. Her children, five in number, were all by her first marriage, namely : Sarah Jane; Elizabeth Ann; Mary Maria; Martin Luther, the special subject of this sketch ; and Peter Melville.

Left fatherless when but eighteen months old, Martin Luther Fritz was brought up and educated in his native county, and while yet a very small lad became of great assistance to his mother, at the age of five years going on horseback to Littlejohn's mill, eight miles away, or to Clark's mill, ten miles distant, following the narrow bridle-path through woods from which the wild beasts had not yet fled. In 1861, animated by the spirit of his brave ancestors, Mr. Fritz enlisted in Company A, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was mustered into service in September, 1861, and although he was on detailed duty a part of the time took an active part in several engagements of importance, among them being those at Fort Bank Head, at Island No. 10, where he was under fire night and day for thirteen days, at the siege of Corinth, and at the Battle of Iuka. At the latter engagement Mr. Fritz was wounded, and for twenty hours- laid on the battlefield, surrounded by the dead and dying. He was then taken first to the field hospital, from there being transferred to Iuka, where he remained three weeks. He then started for Jackson, but was halted near Corinth, detained until after the battle then in progress had been fought, and then continued his journey to Jackson, where he remained two weeks. Taken then to the hospital at Paducah, Kentucky, he was there until February 15, 1863, when, on account of physical disability, he was honorably discharged from the service. In addition to being wounded in each leg, Mr. Fritz had a small part of one ear removed by a ball, and in the blouse which he wore there were eleven bullet holes, while his trousers had seven, and his hat five, several of these bullet holes having been made while he was lying, wounded, on the field.

buying and selling hogs, cattle and horses, carrying on a lively trade for a few years. Leaving Owen county in 1871, he purchased forty acres of land in Harrison township, it being covered with timber, a few acres of it being deadened. At the same time he bought a ten-acre tract, and on that built a log cabin, later replacing it bv a substantial house of hewed logs, and still later building the commodious structure which he now occupies. When Mr. Fritz settled in the Eel River valley it was in its primeval condition, the forest unbroken, with neither drainage nor levees. Every breath of air was filled with malaria germs, and the mosquitoes floated about almost clouding the atmosphere. Since that day the valley has been cleared and drained, the sanitary conditions improved to the utmost, and the value of the country roundabout increased ten fold.

On November 14, 1863, Mr. Fritz married Mary E. Padgitt, who was born in Jefferson township, Owen county, June 1, 1844. Her father, Owen Padgitt, was born in Greene county, where his father, John Padgitt, a pioneer, owned several hundred acres of land, included in which was the present site of Washington township. John Padgitt was one of the earliest merchants of Greene county, for some time having a grocery at Fair Play on the White river, where he also operated the ferry. He spent his last years, however, in Owen county. Owen Padgitt took up land in Owen county when a young man, improved a fine homestead, and was there employed in farming until his death. He married Elizabeth Deyar, daughter of Thomas and Mary Deyar, pioneers of Owen county, and she died in early womanhood, her daughter, Mary E., being then a small child. Left without her own mother when so young, Mary was brought up by her step-mother, her father marrying again, and by her was well trained in the domestic arts and sciences.

Mr. and Mrs. Fritz have reared four children, namely: John W., Melville R., Lulia M. and Julia May. John married Elizabeth Rvnes, and they have three children, Edith, Ogle and Oscar. Melville married Dora Cooprider, by whom he has three children, Vernie, Laura and Jennings. Lulia is the wife of Miles F. Brush. Julia May, who married Caswell H. Cooprider, died August 3, 1905, leaving one son, Cecil.

Howard Miller, the agent at Ashboro for the Evansville & Indian¬ apolis Railroad Company, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, Jan¬ uary 13, 1835, a son of Samuel and Maria Ann (Huff) Miller, also of that county. His grandparents were Thomas Miller, of Pennsylvania, and George and Elizabeth Huff, of Virginia.

The early educational training of Howard Miller was received in the common schools of Muskingum county, Ohio, which was supple¬ mented by attendance at the normal school at Zanesville, that state. He then taught school in Ohio until going to Illinois in i860, where he both taught and attended school, and from there went to Martin county, Indiana, and taught school and served as a deputy recorder for three years. In October, 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventyeighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company F, and was transferred to the Twenty-third Army Corps and took part in the battles of Murfreesboro and Kingston, North Carolina. He was never wounded during his Civil war service, and was discharged in July, 1865. Returning then to his parents' home in Muskingum county, Ohio, Mr. Miller with his brother and brother-in-law bought a saw mill and conducted it for two years, when they moved the mill to Lawrence county, Indiana, and a few months later to Owen county, this state. From 1872 until 1874 they conducted a sawmill in Putnam county, Indiana, and Mr. Miller then bought an interest in a Hour mill at Cloverdale, this state, which he sold after twelve months. From that time until 1880 he was employed at various occu¬ pations, moving thence to Cataract, Indiana, and from there to Bowling Green, this state, where he worked for a short time in a mill. In 1881 he was occupied in sawing lumber near Clay City, after which he operated sawmills in various parts of this vicinity until 1887, and then moving to Saline City he embarked in the timber business. In January, 1892, Mr. Miller was made the agent at Ashboro for the E. & I. Railroad Company, his present position.

He married on the 10th of October, 1867, Mary C. Taylor, who was born near Cambridge, Ohio, the daughter of John and Jane (Duke) Taylor, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and a grand¬ daughter of Samuel Taylor, of Ireland, and James and Jane (Mount) Duke, who were born in Pennsylvania. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Miller are Lenora, now Mrs. John Zenor, of Bowling Green, Indiana; Cora Alice, who became the wife of Carl Carpenter and died on the 29th of October, 1904; W. Ray, of Brazil, Indiana; Horace Glenn, who was employed as clerk for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Company in Terre Haute, and died in November, 1905 ; and Rome, who resides at home, and is a carpenter and builder. Mr. Miller is a Republican politi¬ cally and a member of the Presbyterian church.

John Fernsel, who is farming in Sugar Ridge township, Clay county, was born in Baden, Germany, May 1, 1834, and his parents, who were farming people, spent their entire lives in that country. He, how¬ ever, came to this country in 1851, locating in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he resumed the shoe maker's trade which he had learned in Ger¬ many, and he spent one year there. During the following eighteen months he was in Seneca county, Ohio, from there went to Crawford county and two years later went to Terre Haute and worked at his trade there for eight months. From Terre Haute he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was employed in making shoes from buffalo hides at the Brown Shoe Company. During fouf years of his stay in that city he was also a street car conductor, but on account of trouble with his eyes he resigned that position and coming to Sugar Ridge township, Clay county, Indiana, he worked at his trade and farmed, buying in the fall of 1870 forty acres of land in section 8. He has since added forty acres more to his original purchase, and has made this one of the best improved farms in the township, having followed general farming exclusively since 1870.

Mr. Fernsel married first, in August, 1857, in St. Louis, Sallie Emstead, who was born in Mt. Zeller, New Y'ork, and came with her grandfather, a Mr. Neil, to Illinois in an early day. She died in St. Louis in 1864, after becoming the mother of two daughters, - Julia, who died in infancy, and Sallie, who died at the age of ten years. In Jan¬ uary, 1866, Mr. Fernsel wedded Louisa Shuler, who was born in Ger¬ many, and came from Wurtemberg, that country, to Clay county, Indiana, with her parents when two years old. She died in October of 1893, leaving the following children : Clara Ida, the wife of Samuel Tribble, of Ashboro, Indiana ; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Harney Smith and died in 1902; Martin, also of Ashboro; and Queen, the wife of

Elijah Robinson, of Sugar Ridge township. In September, 1899, Mr. Fernsel wedded Airs. Armilda (Downs) Payne, who was born in Bullit county, Kentucky, and was there married to William Payne, who died August 16, 1896, leaving one daughter, Rhoda, who became the wife of A. M. Short and died on the 1st of January, 1907. Mr. Fernsel has been a Republican since the organization of the party, and has served as the assessor of Clay county, as the trustee of his township for one term and was elected a member of the township board in 1902.

Reuben Van Cole. - A well-known and highly respected member of the agricultural community of Harrison township, Reuben Van Cole is widely and favorably recognized throughout this part of Clay county as an honest, upright man, and a worthy representative of those cour¬ ageous pioneers who settled in this part of the state when it was in its primeval wildness. A native of Indiana, he was born January 7, 1845, in Marion township, Owen county, a son of William Simpson Cole and grandson of W'illiam Cole, one of Clay county's original settlers.

William Cole spent his earlier years in North Carolina, afterwards spending a few years in Tennessee, and from that state coming, in 1818, to Indiana, crossing the country with teams and bringing with him his family and all of his earthly possessions. He located in Clay county, which was then one vast wilderness through which the dusky savage and the wild beasts of the forest roamed at will. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, including the west half of the southwest quarter of section ten, and the east half of the southeast quarter of section nine, of what is now Harrison township. Erecting a log house, he labored earnestly and courageously to clear a farm, and with his wife, who before marriage was Nancy Luther, lived here until his death. A native of Tennessee, William Simpson Cole was but three years old when he was brought by his parents to Clay county. He was reared among pioneer scenes, and assisted his father in his pioneer labors. At the time of his marriage he located in Owen county, on a tract of one hundred and twenty acres given him by his father, and in the log cabin then standing upon the place all of his children were born. He set manfully to work to clear a homestead, on which he lived until 1848, when he traded with his brother for one hundred and twenty acres located in Harrison town¬ ship, it being a part of the original land taken up from the government by his father in 1818. He continued in his chosen occupation, and in the hewed log house which stood upon the farm resided until his death. March 9, 1890. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Oliver, was born in North Carolina, and when a child came with her parents to what is now Harrison township, this county. She died a few years before her husband, leaving four children, James, John Wesley, Reuben Van and Nancy Ann, all of whom grew to years of maturity and married.

In the pioneer log schoolhouse, with its puncheon floor, slab benches, and no desks, Reuben V. Cole obtained the rudiments of his education, while at home he was well drilled in agricultural arts. Leaving the parental roof-tree when twenty-four years old, he bought eighty acres of land in section nine, Harrison township, and lived there about two years. Then, succeeding his father in the ownership of the old homestead which his grandfather had entered from the government, and which had never passed from the family, he assumed its possession and has since lived here. Mr. Cole has made various and excellent improvements upon the place, including the erection of a new set of frame buildings, and in its care and management has been uniformly successful.

Mr. Cole has been four times married. He married first, November 4, 1869, Allie Ruanna Comer. She was born in Owen county, a daughter of William and Nancy (Luther) Comer, and died in 1874, leaving one child, Nancy E. In 1881 Mr. Cole married for his second wife Mrs. Catherine Ward, who was born in Owen county, Indiana, a daughter of Solomon Landers and widow of Wells Ward. She died two years later, leaving one child, William A. Mr. Cole married third Nancy E. Staley, who was born in Clay county, a daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth Staley. Thirteen years later she died, leaving six children, Clara, Matilda, Laura Belle, William M., Mary and Reuben Yr. Mr. Cole married fourth Mrs. Rosetta Kerns, a native of Harrison township, a daughter of Martin and Lydia (Harden) Rines and the widow of Joseph Kerns, by whom she has six children living, John, Perry, Henry, Harry, Clyde and Cecil. By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cole have four children, namely : Myrtle, Martha, Tina and Jesse Lewis. In politics Mr. Cole is independent, voting with the courage of his convictions, regardless of party affiliations. Religiously Mrs. Cole belongs to the United Brethren church.

Emanuel Miller, the enterprising and reliable undertaker and liveryman whose place of business is Brazil, Indiana, was born in Posey township, Clay county, Indiana, August 4, 1861, son of John N. and Almyra (Carbin) Miller. The father was born in Pennsylvania and died in Posey township, Clay county, Indiana, December 13, 1888, aged seventv-one years. The mother was born in Clay county and died in 1877, when she was forty-five years old. They were united in marriage in Clay county and were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are now living, the subject being the eldest child. The father had been twice married - first to Hannah Carpenter, who was born in Pennsylvania and died in Clay county, Indiana. By the first marriage there were eight children born, five of whom still survive. It was in the early forties that John N. Miller, the father, emigrated to Indiana by teams and settled in Posev township, Clay county. At first he purchased three hundred and sixty acres, paying the government price of two and one-half dollars an acre. He was a pioneer in this section of the state, and provided himself and family with a pole house, which later he displaced by a fine hewed log structure common to those early days in all new countries and which indeed were warm and comfortable. But as times changed he built him a two-story frame farm house, which was finally burned to the ground, after which he built one of the first brick houses in his township. This home and two hundred acres of the homestead are now owned by Emanuel Miller. Here he spent the remainder of his life. He was a very energetic and honorable man, and at one time possessed thirteen hundred acres, of which he finally gave each child eighty acres. He never sought or seldom held public office but was an ardent supporter of Democratic principles.

Emanuel Miller remained on the old homestead until 1898 and farmed. At this date he went to Brazil and there engaged in the livery business and bought and sold horses and mules. In 1905 he engaged in the undertaking business in connection with his livery, having for a partner Mr. Lawson. He is still engaged in the above named combined business, in which he is highly successful. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat but independent on local issues. He is connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Brazil lodge No. 762, and also belongs to Brazil lodge No. 30, Knights of Pythias.

On August 6, 1891, he was married to Miss Mary Adams, who was born in Perry township, Clay county, Indiana, April 30, 1871, a daughter of Joseph T. Adams, a prominent farmer residing in Perry township. The children of this marriage are: Harley, Nicholas, Catherine, Austin, Emanuel.

Isaac Markley. - A practical and thriving agriculturist of Harrison township, Isaac Markley is actively employed in the prosecution of the free and independent calling upon which the wealth and prosperity of our nation so largely depends. He is a man of enterprise and foresight, possessing a good understanding of the best ways of so conducting his affairs as to secure the best returns. He was born upon the farm where he now resides August 18, 1867, a son of the late William Markley. His grandfather, Daniel Markley, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, was a pioneer settler of Medina county, that state, and on the homestead that he there improved he and his wife, Margaret (Buzzard) Markley, spent their remaining days.

William Markley was born February 10, 1830, in Medina county, Ohio, and was there bred and educated. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed successfully for a number of years, establishing a good business. In 1864, his health failing, he decided to try a change of place and occupation, and with that object in view came to Clay county, Indiana, in search of a favorable location. On section seventeen, Harrison township, he bought eighty acres of land, on which a half acre of cleared land and a set of log buildings were the only improvements. He began the clearing of a farm, but did not live to see it completed, his death occurring June 12, 1870. He married, April 25, 1857, Mary Overholt, who was born September 1, 1833, in Plumstead, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, of which her father, Abraham Overholt, Jr., and her grandfather, Abraham Overholt, Sr., were life-long residents. Abraham Overholt, Sr., a German by descent and a sturdy farmer, married Mar¬ garet Wismer, also a life-long resident of Bucks county. Abraham Overholt, Jr., was a natural mechanic, and, although never learning a trade, did much work of that kind in addition to farming, living on his homestead until his death at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He married Magdaline Gross, a daughter of Isaac and Magdaline (Gaymon) Gross, and she survived him, passing away in the ninety-eighth year of her age. Mrs. Markley survived her husband, and in January, 1877, became the wife of Rev. Daniel Royer, a Mennonite preacher, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, a son of Samuel and Katie Royer. He died in 1891. By her marriage with Mr. Markley she had seven chil¬ dren, namely: Lanah, Rebecca, Jacob H., Joseph, Susannah, Isaac and Elizabeth, and by her second marriage had one child. She is a member of the Mennonite church, and a generous contributor towards its support.

Born in the log house that stood upon the homestead when his parents assumed its possession, Isaac Markley was early trained to habits of industry and thrift, assisting on the farm when school was not in session. Succeeding to the ownership of the home estate, he has continued his farming operations since his youthful days, and by his skill, combined with systematic and thorough methods, has met with good success.

Air. Markley married, December 17, 1893, Cora J. Gelvin, who was born at Ilenham, Ripley county, Indiana. Her father, William Gelvin, a soldier in the Civil war, was a farmer by occupation and married Mary Hyatt, a daughter of Lawrence Hvatt, of Ripley county. Of their union seven children were born, as follows: Ida, Joseph, Frank, Hiram, Cora, Bertha and Edna. Air. and Mrs. Alarkley have two children, Alary W. and Bernice Al. Politically Air. Alarkley is a straightforward Repub¬ lican, and in agricultural circles is quite prominent, being at the present time secretary of the Clay County Farmers' Institute. Both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church.

Davis C. Witty, who is prominently identified with the farming interests of Sugar Ridge township, was born in Posey township of Clay county January 19, 1845, a son of Baldwin H. and Elizabeth (Walker) Witty, who were born in Barren county, Kentucky, and both his paternal and maternal grandfathers, Ezekiel Witty and Richard, were also born in that commonwealth. Baldwin H. Witty came to Bowling Green, Indiana, in 1832, where he raised a crop of corn which he distilled into whiskey and also fed to his stock, and he was married there and after¬ ward moved to Posey township and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres from Elijah Wright, another of the early pioneers of Clay county as well as one of the pioneer teachers. The land was located in section 36, and only forty acres had been cleared, and that farm was his home during the remainder of his life. Davis C. was the fifth born of his twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, and only four sons are now living, one in Oklahoma and two on the old home place.

Davis C. Witty remained with his parents on the farm until his mar¬ riage, and he then lived on a portion of the Gibbons farm, which his wife inherited, for three years, when he sold the farm and bought one hundred acres in section 7, Sugar Ridge township, thirty-five acres of which had been cleared and the remainder covered with timber. He has since cleared this tract, and in 1896 built his present home, a portion of which had been used as a school house. In addition to this valuable property he also owns forty acres of the old home farm in Perry town¬ ship, all of which is improved, and his main crops are corn, hay and wheat.

On the 21st of February, 1877, Air. Witty was married to Rachael Gibbons, who was born in Jackson township, a daughter of John and Rhoda (Antrim) Gibbons, who were born in Virginia but were early settlers of Clay county. Airs. Witty died on the 9th of August, 1897, and lies buried in Ashboro cemetery. She became the mother of the following children: William, who died August 19, 1897; Charles AI., who is employed on the rural free delivery at Center Point ; Walter D., of Ashboro ; Harry H., at home ; Daisy, who died on the 9th of August, 1897, and was buried in the grave with her mother; and Harrison AlcKinlev, at home.

Hon. William Henry Guirl. - A man of strong force of character and possessing excellent business and executive ability, Hon. William Henry Guirl, of Clay City, holds a position of importance in financial, industrial and social circles, and as a fine representative of the most valued and highly esteemed citizens of Clay county is well worthy of more than passing notice in a work of this kind. A son of the late Charles A. Guirl, he was born October 31, 1859, in Jennings county, Indiana, of substantial French ancestry, being the descendant of one of three brothers, spelling their names "Guilley," who emigrated from France to this country in colonial days and fought with the colonists in the Revolutionary war. One of these brothers afterwards served in one of the subsequent Indian wars, and it is supposed was killed in one of the skirmishes. Another settled in Virginia, and the third brother, from whom Mr. Guirl is descended, located at Fremont, Pennsylvania, where he spent his remaining years.

The great-grandfather of Mr. Guirl on the paternal side was a farmer by occupation, and as far as known spent his entire life in Penn¬ sylvania. His widow survived him many years, and spent her last days in Jennings county, Indiana, with her only child, Isaac Guirl, dying at his home at the advanced age of ninety-three years.

Isaac Guirl, the grandfather of William H., was born March 10, 1813, near Fremont, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and there when a young man learned the trade of a blacksmith. Removing to Columbiana county, Ohio, about 1835, he settled about midway between Alliance and Mount Union, buying a tract of land containing forty acres. A log house with a frame addition, a stable, and a small piece of cleared land constituted the only improvements that had been made on the place. He there farmed and followed his trade for nearly twenty years, living there until 1854, when, with his wife and four children, he came to Jennings county, this state. Locating in Bigger township, he purchased eighty acres of land, through which the Little Graham creek ran. Sixty acres of land had been cleared, and a hewed log house, with a stone chimney, a detached kitchen and a round log barn had been erected. Continuing his labors as a farmer and a blacksmith, he lived there until 1862, when he sold out, and for seven years resided in Benville, the same county, where he purchased forty acres of land. Disposing of that property in 1869, he purchased a home in Fishersburg, Madison county, and there lived retired until his death, October 25, 1879.

Isaac Guirl married Jane Reddick, who was born in Fremont, West¬ moreland county, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1813. She was of English ancestry, her grandfather Reddick having been born and bred in Eng¬ land. Coming to America prior to the Revolution, he assisted the colonists in their struggle for liberty, and afterwards settled in West¬ moreland county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. Jane Reddick's father, the great-grandfather of William H. Guirl, was a noted sportsman in his youth, and on one of his expeditions went with a party of hunters down the Ohio river on a raft, landing at what is now the populous city of Cincinnati, but which at that time contained but one building, a blockhouse used as a fort. While making their way back through Ohio, the party came across but one white settlement, that being a trading post at the present site of the city of Chillicothe. He was a resident of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, the greater part of his life, although he spent his last days in Ohio, dying, when upwards of eighty years old, at the home of his daughter in 1848. Mrs. Isaac Guirl survived her husband several years, passing away April 25, 1888. She bore him five children, namely: William R., born March 16, 1835, died in infancy; Charles A., father of William H. ; William M., born October 16, 1838, enlisted, August 10, 1861, in the Thirty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and died while in service the following December at Otterville, Missouri; James A., born July 6, 1841, died December 20, 1868. at Benville, Indiana, and Abner J., born November 20, 1846. James A. was a finely educated man and a talented artist.

Charles A. Guirl was born near Fremont, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1836, and at the age of sixteen years began life for himself as a fireman on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad, on which he was subsequently an engineer. After three years of railroading he joined the family in Jennings county, Indiana, and from that time until his death was engaged in the lumber business in this state, carrving it on in Jennings, Hancock and Hamilton counties. He died in March, 1870, in Fortville, Hancock county, his death being a loss to the community. In November, 1858, he married Mary Millhouse, who was born near Clarksburg, West Virginia, of early English ancestry, and died in Indiana in 1884. Both she and her husband were members of the Missionary Baptist church of Graham, Jennings county. They reared six children, namely: William H., the subject of this sketch; Ellet A.; Isaac; Benjamin M. ; James; and' Mary.

Completing his early education at the university of Lebanon, Ohio, William Henry Guirl began at the age of seventeen to teach school, a vocation in which he met with excellent success. On attaining his ma¬ jority, however, his business ability asserted itself, and he gave up his professional work to engage in the lumber business with his uncle Abner. In 1883, in partnership with G. H. Palmer, Mr. Guirl started in the lumber business at Sheridan, Hamilton county, on an extensive scale, having a mill in that place and another at Kirklin. Going from there to Mooresville in 1889, Mr- Guirl became associated in business with Henry C. Long as proprietor of a flour mill, and in addition to managing the mill built elevator A and embarked in the grain business. Locating in Clay City in 1892 Mr. Guirl, in company with his brother, Benjamin M., opened a lumber yard and stave factory, and under the firm name of Guirl Brothers carried on a substantial business for a number of years. In 1906 he sold out his interest to his brother, and turned his attention to other matters. He had in the meantime acquired several thousand acres of land, becoming one of the largest landholders of this part of the state.

On December 21, 1882, Mr. Guirl married Ernestine Palmer, who was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, a daughter of Osmer Palmer. Her grandfather, George Palmer, was born in Pennsylvania, where his father, a native of Switzerland, settled on coming to this country. A pioneer settler of Switzerland county, Indiana, George Palmer cleared and improved a farm in Posey township, where he lived until his death in 1901, at the venerable age of ninety-four years. He married Phebe Jones, who survived him but three days, passing away at the age of eighty-seven years. Her father, a native of one of the eastern states, became a pioneer settler of Lexington, Kentucky, where he was for many years a large landholder. He was killed by the Indians, and his widow came with her children to Indiana to live. Osmer Palmer was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, and there reared to agricultural pursuits. When ready to begin the battle of life on his own account he purchased land in Jennings county, improved it, and was there engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death, February 8, 1878, at the com- paratively early age of forty-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Frances Davis, was born in Hamilton county, Kentucky, a daughter of Henderson and Margaret (Mason) Davis. They reared five children, namely: Frances; George; Florence; Ernestine, now Mrs. Guirl ; and Osmer Kilburn. Mr. and Mrs. Guirl are the parents of five children, namely: Florence, Charles James, Harry Warrington, Doris and Helen.

Public-spirited and enterprising, Mr. Guirl takes an intelligent interest in the growth and development of the part of Clay county in which he resides, and no man is more willing to contribute of his time and means to further its advancement. There were no graveled roads in the vicinity of Clay City when he came here, and much of the best land was useless for want of drainage. Joining hands with the more pro¬ gressive element of the city, he has liberally supported all measures cal¬ culated to benefit the public, and to-day good gravel roads extend from the city in all directions, large ditches costing thousands of dollars have been dug, and miles of tile have been laid, thus increasing the value of the land in this vicinity ten fold. While a member of the state legisla¬ ture in 1905 Mr. Guirl labored effectively, winning the praise of his con¬ stituents for the able manner in which he championed the temperance cause. He introduced into the house a bill of which the "Moore Bill," now operative, is almost a duplicate. The Moore bill passed the senate, and was sent to the house before his had been acted upon, so he advo¬ cated the other bill, allowing his own to be side-tracked. Politically he has always been a Republican, and a stanch advocate of the principles of that' party. Both Mr. and Mrs. Guirl are consistent and valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Clay City, Indiana.

Reuben Jacob Schiele was born in Medina county, Ohio, June 27, 1857, and was reared to the life of a farmer and has always followed that occupation, being now one of Clay county's most successful agriculturists and stock raisers. He owns and occupies his father's old homestead in Harrison township, and has placed his name high on the roll of the leading business men of this community.

He is a son of Michael and Mary Magdaline (Miller) Schiele, born respectively in Wittenberg, Germany, November 2, 1831, and in the state of Pennsylvania in 1838, she being of German parentage. They were married in Medina county, Ohio, in 1856, and their union was blessed by the birth of six children, - Reuben J., David F., Henry (deceased), Catherine (who died young) and twins, Rosana Sarah and Mary Eliza¬ beth, the former of whom died in infancy and the latter is the wife of James Hixon. In 1851 Michael Schiele, the father, emigrated from his native land to the United States, spending the first year in this country in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : during the following eight years was a resident of Medina county, Ohio, from there moving to Owen county, Indiana, and one year later to Harrison township, Clay county, where he in time purchased a part of the fine large farm which he later improved. He worked at shoe making until he became the owner of this land, and subsequently became one of Clay county's most successful agriculturists. Mr. Schiele's first wife, Mary Magdaline, died on the 28th of July, 1866, and in 1867 he married Elizabeth Krible, they becoming the parents of eight children : William A., Sylvester, Dora S., Susan C., Lovina J., Nathan D., Andrew D. and Charles O. Michael Schiele died September 12, 1897, and his last wife yet survives him.

On the 8th of June, 1880, in Clay county, Reuben J. Schiele was married to Lanah Markley, a daughter of William and Mary (Overholt) Markley, the father, a farmer and blacksmith, born in Medina county, Ohio, January 10, 1830, and the mother was born in Pennsylvania Sep¬ tember 1, 1832, both born of German parentage. Four children have been born to Air. and Mrs. Schiele, namely : Ida Ellen, born September 19, 1881, married Jesse G. Liechty March 31, 1904, and they have two children, Etalka M., born October 23, 1905, and Emerson Lamont, born May 6, 1907; Eda May, born February 27, 1883, married William Leo King July 27, 1902; Oliver Leo, bom October 24, 1885; and William Jacob, born June 22, 18 88, all born in Clay county. Airs. Schiele, the mother, was born in Medina county, Ohio, February 26, 1858. Air. Schiele has been a life-long Republican, and is now one of the county's most prominent reform and temperance workers. Both he and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the United Brethren church.

Robert AI. Bryant. - During many years Robert M. Bryant was closely associated with the business and social interests of Clay county, and in that time he endeared himself to many friends and his memory is cherished by those who knew him. He was born in Dresden, Ohio, August 17, 1838, the younger of the two sons of Henry and Mary (Wood) Bryant, natives respectively of Virginia and of Ohio. The son Robert was but seventeen years of age when he began learning the mill¬ wright's trade in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he remained about five years, and afterward he followed his trade in Indiana, Missouri and Kentucky for over twenty years. Coming then to Sugar Ridge township in Clay county he took up his abode on the farm owned by his wife and remained there until his death on the 26th of October, 1896.

He had married, September 25, 1873, Anna E. Wilson, who was born near Terre Haute in Vigo county, Indiana, a daughter of Ralph and Catherine (Bazier) Wilson. The father was born in Dayton, Ohio, and the mother in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and they were married in Terre Haute, Indiana. The father for many years was closely associated with the history of this section of the state, and was twice elected a member of the state legislature. He was a personal friend of Daniel W. Voorhees, whom Air. Wilson had named "Tall Sycamore of the Wabash." In the family of Air. and Mrs. Wilson were ten children, of whom the daughter Anna was the eighth born, and she and her brother Harry, of Sugar Ride towmship, are the only surviving members of this once large family. She inherited one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 1, Sugar Ridge towmship, a portion of wrhich she rents and she farms the remainder. The children born to Air. and Airs. Bryant are: Alary E., who was born July 1, 1874, and is now the wife of Stephen A. Gantz, an electrician in Clay City; and Ruth H., born September 10, 1892, is at home with her mother. Air. Bryant voted with the Democratic party and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Terre Haute Lodge No. 157, and of the Methodist Episcopal church of Lawrenceville, Illinois.

Scott C. Cromwell. - This honorable farmer and citizen of Clay City, who has spent his life of more than sixty years in his native county of Clay, comes of the historic English family which gave to the world the great character who has had such a lasting influence on the progress of popular rights, Oliver Cromwell. His grandfather bore the honored name himself, was a Kentuckian, a brave soldier of the war of 1812, and later a wealthy citizen of Clay county. His remains are buried in the Snoddy graveyard. The father of Scott C. Cromwell was Thomas I. Cromwell, who was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 16th of September, 1804, and died in Clay county, Indiana, on the 17th of Octo¬ ber, 1889, his death occurring near Bowling Green. As he came to Indiana with his parents in 1825, shortly after he had reached his ^ majority, he spent more than sixty years as a strong assistant in the agri¬ cultural, commercial and industrial development of this section, for during his long and honorable career he was farmer, merchant and mine operator. He served in the Mexican war as a member of Company C, Second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and during the war of the Rebellion he served his country in Company B, 133rd Infantry, from the same county. As our subject was also a member of that organization m the Civil war, the American genealogy of the Cromwell family presents the patriotic record of grandfather, father and son serving in their country's defense in three of its wars.

Scott C. Cromwell was born in Bowling Green, Clay county, Indiana, on the 9th of May, 1848, was educated in the common schools of his home community, and spent the greater portion of his life on the farm until he was sixteen years of age. He then volunteered as a soldier of Company B, One Hundred and thirty-third Indiana Infantry, and served in the ranks until the close of hostilities. He returned to his father's farm, was married two years after the close of the war, and since that time has been a progressive agriculturist and citizen, busily and success¬ fully engaged in the honorable furtherance of his own interests and those dependent upon him. On August 18, 1867, Mr. Cromwell was united in marriage with Miss Mary Susan Hadden, the ceremony occurring at Staunton, Clay county. His wife was born in that county January 23, 1848, being a daughter of Thomas J. and Eliza (Downing) Hadden, the former being of English, and the latter of German and Irish descent. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Scott C. Cromwell. Their first child died an unnamed infant. Lizzie was born July n, 1872, and married John A. Zurcher, whose parents were natives of Germany. The following seven children have been born to this union: Samuel, Joseph Scott, Thomas Oliver, Bonnie Marie, Hallie May, Clarence Chester and Blanche. The third child of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Cromwell was Thomas I., born March 18, 1875, and died August 5, 1897. Oliver Dennis Cromwell, the fourth, was born August 9, 1877, and on August 27, 1900, wedded Miss Nora Lankford, the children born to them being: Floyd, December 17, 1901, and Don, in October, 1903. Mrs. Oliver Cromwell died Feb¬ ruary 16, 1906. The fifth and youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Scott C. Cromwell is Harry Herschel, born on the 29th of September, 1892.

Isaac McIntosh, vice president and secretary of the Superior Block Coal Company of Brazil, is thus closely associated with the development of the natural resources of this country, in which connection he estab¬ lished a paying business and one which contributes to the general pros¬ perity by affording employment to a number of workmen. Mr. McIntosh is of Canadian birth, the place of his nativity being the city of Ottawa, while his natal day was May 16, 1849. H is parents were Alexander and

Margaret (McGee) McIntosh. The father was born at Muthill, Scot¬ land, and died in Ottawa at the age of sixty-five years, while his wife passed away at the age of fifty-six years. His life was devoted to con¬ tracting and building and he was thus closely associated with the sub¬ stantial and material improvement of Ottawa. His family numbered eight children but only two are now living, the brother of our subject being William C. McIntosh, whose home is in New Haven, Connecticut.

In taking up the personal history of Isaac McIntosh, we present to our readers the record of one now widely and favorably known in Brazil. His education was acquired in the public schools of Ottawa, Canada, and in 1877 he went to British Columbia, where he had supervision of the mercantile interests of his brother James until 1879. In that year he crossed the border into the United States, thinking to find better business opportunities in a country where competition is greater but where advance¬ ment is more quickly secured. Locating in Chicago, he became interested with his brother Alexander in the commission business on the Chicago Board of Trade. In 1880 he engaged with the Union Iron & Steel Com¬ pany of Chicago, which he represented in business connections until the fall of 1882, when he established a grocery store in the metropolis by the lake. The following year he came to Brazil and here entered the employ of the Watson Coal & Mining Company but in 1884 returned to Chicago and was with his brother Alexander, who was a contractor and builder. He again became a resident of Brazil in June, 1885, and was with the Gartsherrie Coal & Mining Company until 1891, when he engaged in business with G. C. Benton, of Chicago, with whom he continued until 1898. In 1903, in association with his two daughters, Mr. McIntosh engaged in the coal business, under the firm style of I. S. & R. McIntosh, but in 1904 they sold out to the Superior Block Coal Company, of which Mr. McIntosh is now the vice president and secretary. He is thus closely associated with the natural resources of the country and is active in the executive management of what is one of the important industrial interests.

On the 19th of May, 1869, Mr. McIntosh was married to Miss Sarah Morrison, who was born in Glengarry, Canada, March 17, 1852, and died on the 7th of April, 1887. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Donald Morrison, both of whom were natives of Canada but are now deceased. Her father was a well known lumber merchant of that country. Unto him and his wife were born six children, of whom four are yet living: John. Lewis, Daniel and Malcom.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh have been born seven children, of whom five still survive: Alexander, Lida, Isaac, Sarah and Rebecca. The eldest daughter, Lida, is now the wife of Gustave A. Stievenart.

Starting in life without any especially fortunate family or pecuniary advantages to assist him, Mr. McIntosh has made steady progress toward the goal of prosperity. He has made good use of his opportunities, closely watching indications pointing to success and in all of his under¬ takings he has followed methods which will bear close investigation and scrutiny.

William Roberts, who at his death left many friends in Brazil, was a native of Fulton county, New York, born in 1851. His life record covered a span of fifty years and was ended in death on the 10th of June, 1901. His parents were Michael and Mary Roberts, both natives of

Ireland, in which country they were reared, educated and married. They came to the United States soon after their marriage and established their home in Fulton county, New York. There Mr. Roberts spent his days as a farmer and by his agricultural pursuits provided for the support of his family. His religious faith was that of the Roman Catholic church. He had six children, of whom three are now living, John, Martin and Margaret.

William Roberts spent his boyhood days with his parents in the Empire state, pursued his education in the public schools and was early trained to realize the value and importance of industry and enterprise as factors in the business world. He took up his abode in Brazil in 1875 and later he engaged in the liquor business, in which he continued up to the time of his death, covering a period of more than a quarter of a century.

In 1877 ^r- Roberts was married to Miss Catherine E. Farley, who was born in Durham county, England, June 5, 1863, a daughter of Daniel and Julia (Dalton) Farley, who were natives of the Emerald isle. Her father died in Clay county, Indiana, but her mother is still living in this state. They were married in England and unto them were born twelve children, of whom ten are yet living: Catherine E., Margaret, Ann. Rosa, Julia, James, John, Lawrence, Daniel and Elizabeth. One child died in infancy. The father came to the United States in 1878, accom¬ panied by his family, and established his home in Philadelphia, where he resided for a number of years. He then removed to Indiana, settling at Carbon, where he engaged in the liquor business. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church and gave his political allegiance to the Democracy.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were born four children, but only one is now living, Mary, who is attending "St. Mary of the Woods" near Terre Haute, Indiana, where she is studying music and art. Mr. Roberts belonged to Zenith Lodge, No. 169, of the Knights and Ladies of Security. He was also a communicant of the Roman Catholic church and his political views were in accord with the principles of the Democracy. A man of many friends, he was kind hearted and considerate of others, was generous and liberal to the poor but never ostentatiously bestowed his charity. There are many who have reason to bless him for his kindly assistance in their hour of need, and his good qualities won for him many friends.

Joseph Henry Diel has made his home in Clay county throughout his entire life, born within its borders in Jackson township July 3, 1855, and in December of 1907 he moved to his present place near Brazil, where he is engaged in carpentering and building. He has been identified with the work of many of the public buildings of that city, and is a skillful and reliable artist in his line.

Elias Diel, for many years a farmer in Clay county, was the father of Joseph H. Diel, and was born in Ohio, of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, and was reared in Pennsylvania. In an early day in the history of this state he came to Indiana and located in Jackson township, where for a number of years he was engaged in shoemaking in connection with his farming, and during the latter part of his life he was a carpenter in Brazil. He owned at one time eighty acres of land, the most of which he cleared, and he placed many substantial and valuable improvements on his land.

He was a life-long supporter of Democratic principles, and a member of the Chosen Friends and of the Presbyterian church. In his early life Mr. Diel wedded Rachael Ann Whetzel, who was born in Indiana, and they had seven children, three sons and four daughters, all of whom were born in Clay county.

Joseph H. Diel, the first born of the seven children, attended the district schools of Jackson township and the graded schools of Brazil during his boyhood, and in that city, on the 4th of May, 1876, he married Annie Crank, a daughter of William Sylvester Crank, who was an engi¬ neer in Morgan county, Indiana. Mrs. Diel was born and reared in that county, but when sixteen years of age she came with her father to Clay county, where -he worked at his trade in Brazil for some time. He served as a soldier in the Civil war. Two children, a son and a daughter, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Diel, Dora May and Joseph Henry, both of whom were born in Brazil. Mr. Diel's politics are Democratic, and he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and since 1888 of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 308, of Brazil, Indiana. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

David Isaac Zook, M. D. - In the annals of Clay county no name shone with brighter lustre among its medical fraternity than that of David Isaac Zook, M. D., late of Clay City. Talented and cultured, devoted to the demands of his profession, his thorough knowledge of medicine and his skill in surgery won for him the confidence of the people and gained for him a large and lucrative practice. A son of David Zook, he was born November 27, 1847, m Hensley township, Johnson county, Indiana. His grandfather Zook was a pioneer settler of Johnson county and spent his last years in Trafalgar.

David Zook was born, it is thought, in Kentucky, and came from there to Indiana with his parents. Embarking as a young man in agricultural pursuits, he bought land in Hensley township, and was there employed in general farming during the remainder of his life. He married Eda Admire, and they became the parents of eight children, namely : Alfred ; Millie; Jacob, who became a physician; James; Sally; Laura; David, the subject of this sketch ; and Marion.

Having completed his studies in the public schools, David I. Zook read medicine first with Dr. Robinson, of Morgan, Indiana, and later with his uncle, Dr. Admire, of Trafalgar, this state. Graduating from the Louisville Medical College, with the degree of M. D., in 1874, Dr. Zook located in Tipton county, Indiana, and for three years was engaged in practising medicine in Tetersburg and Tipton. Going to Indianapolis in 1877, he entered the Indiana Medical College, from which he was grad¬ uated with a surgeon's degree in 1879. Locating immediately in Clay City, Dr. Zook was here actively engaged in the practice of his profession until his death, April 27, 1890. As a physician and surgeon he was very popular throughout the community, his professional knowledge and skill being widely appreciated and winning him a lucrative patronage.

On June 1 1, 1873, Dr. Zook married Emma Minner. She was born in Kinesee, Saxony, September 10, 1846, a daughter of Ernest Minner, who was a native of Saxony. Her grandfather, a tanner by trade, was a life-long resident of that country. Learning the shoemaker's trade, Ernest Minner resided in his native land until after his marriage. In 1848, accompanied by his wife and child, he emigrated to the United

States, and for about five years after his arrival resided in Brooklyn, New York. Coming then to Indiana, he settled in Franklin, Johnson county, where he followed his trade for a few years. Locating then in Morgan county, this state, he bought land, and was engaged in tilling the soil until his death, in the seventy-second year of his age. He married Fredericka Yohn, who was born in Saxony and died in Indiana about four years after he did. She reared six children, namely: Emma, now Mrs. Zook; Louisa; William; George; Clara; and Albert. Two children blessed the union of Dr. and Mrs. Zook, namely: Elnora May and Eda Grace. Elnora May, wife of John Ellis, has one child, Ernest. Eda Grace, wife of James R. Allen, of whom a brief sketch may be found on another page of this work, has one child, Joan Caroline.

Jacob Baumunk, for many years one of the well known business men of Clay county, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, Feb¬ ruary 29, 1840, a son of Michael and Rachel (Storms) Baumunk, who were born in Germany. They were married in their native land, and five children were born to them there, while four were added to the family after they came to the United States. On arriving in this country the father established the home in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a shoe shop until 1853. In that year he came to Poland, Clay county, Indiana, and purchased eighty acres of partially improved land, which he later placed under an excellent state of cultivation and also added to the boundaries of his farm until it contained one hundred and forty acres. He spent the remainder of his life on this farm.

Jacob Baumunk, their first child born in the United States, spent his boyhood days in his parents" home, learning the shoe maker's trade, while later he conducted a shop of his own and manufactured boots and shoes in Poland for twenty years. From there he went to Brazil and followed the same occupation for a short time, later for fourteen months was the proprietor of the Clay Hotel there, and during two years served as the sheriff of Clay county. It was at the close of this period that he bought several hundred acres of land in Sugar Ridge township, section 6, and moved to his new farm home, living for a time in a little frame shanty of five rooms which stood upon the place, but this was superseded by the present large, two-storv frame dwelling of eight rooms in 1897. Mr. Baumunk has sold several hundred acres of his estate, but yet retains two hundred and- fifty acres on which he is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising.

On the 29th of April, 1868, he was married to Catherine Holenburg, who was born in Owen county, Indiana, December 28, 1849, a daughter of Frederick and Minnie (Overhelm) Holenburg, natives of Hanover, Germany. The children of this union are: Laura, the wife of W. H. Evans, of Saskatchewan, Canada; Noah E., also of that place; Orlando and Minnie, of Terre Haute; Ross H. and Nellie, twins, the latter the wife of G. F. Lever, of Sugar Ridge township ; Oscar J., at home ; John W., who is teaching school; and Lydia and Ruth, at home. Mr. Baumunk is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

John Field, Eso. - A man of keen perceptions, strict integrity and sterling worth, John Field, Esq., of Lewis township, enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens to a high degree. Public-spirited and capable, he has never shirked the responsibilities of office, and has filled the various positions to which he has been elected with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. A native of Lewis township, he was born October 8, 1852, a son of Aquilla Field.

Mr. Field received his early education in the common schools and since attaining manhood has been variously employed. He has rendered appreciated service as deputy county coroner and as deputy county prose¬ cutor, and at the present time is justice of the peace. In this capacity he has won an enviable reputation as a wise and impartial dispenser of justice, his decisions being almost invariably accepted as honest and just.

On March 20, 1884, Mr. Field married Amanda Bledsoe, who was born in Greene county, Indiana, a daughter of William and Mary A. (Neal) Bledsoe, and granddaughter of Rev. John Neal, a pioneer preacher of Indiana. Seven children have been born of the Union of Mr. and Mrs. Field, namely : Celestia, Henry, Evard, Herman, Maria, Lillian and Lola.

Oscar T. Dunagan, who is a teacher and practicing attorney of Sugar Ridge township, Clay county, Indiana, residing at Center Point, was born in Parke county, Indiana, October 6, 1852, and was educated in the public schools of Clav county, in Ladoga Seminary, Indiana, in the Terre Haute Commercial College, the Michigan University and the Indiana State Normal School. He is a son of Solomon and Eliza (Sevbold) Dunagan. The father was a native of Morgan county and the mother of Parke county, Indiana. The father died in 1854 in Parke county, and in 1857 Mrs. Dunagan married Charles W. Moss and they moved to Sugar Ridge township, Clay county, where they owned a farm containing about two thousand acres, divided between timber and farm lands. Mrs. Moss died in 1904, aged seventy-one years, leaving one daughter, Mrs. Mattie Webster, of Terre Haute, a sister of the subject; also a half brother and five half sisters.

Mr. Dunagan remained at home with his parents until his marriage in 1878, when he was united to Susan Ambrose, of Center Point, a daughter of Lewis F. and Elizabeth (Phillip) Ambrose, natives of West¬ moreland county, Pennsylvania, where she was born. He began teaching school in 1868, when sixteen years of age, and still follows this profession a part of his time. He has taught in the Center Point schools, in town¬ ship schools, and was superintendent of schools in Martin county, Indiana. He has also taught in Warrior, Alabama, Mt. Lebanori University, Louisiana ; has been superintendent of the Pima Indian Boarding School in Arizona, and was principal of the Aurora, Illinois, Normal School. During the past five years he has held the position of principal of the Perry township and Sugar Ridge township high schools. In 1874-75 he took a course in law at the Michigan University, and was admitted to the bar in Indiana in 1875. During his vacations from school he has prac¬ ticed law, but has made teaching his specialty. He has performed con¬ siderable special work in township and county institutes in Indiana, and has also worked with county superintendents and teachers in county normals for five sessions. A judge of the circuit court, a number of the members of the bar and a large number of teachers in Clay county are numbered among the pupils of Mr. Dunagan, aside from many good business men of the county. Politically he is an ardent supporter of the Republican party.

Mr. and Mrs. Dunagan are the parents of the following children: Lois L., now a milliner ; V erna L., a music teacher ; and Carlos, a student in the high school of Brazil.

Thomas Henderson. - The veterans of the Civil war are fast passing away. One by one they respond to the last roll call, but while memory remains to the American people the record of the boys in blue who fought for the Union will be cherished. Mr. Henderson is numbered among the veterans, and in days of peace has been equally loyal to the interests of his county, state and nation. He has especially proved his devotion to the general welfare through his fidelity and promptness in the execution of his duties as an officeholder. At the present time he is serving as township trustee. He makes his home in Brazil and has been a resident of Clay county since January, 1854.

A native of Ohio, Air. Henderson was born in Holmes county, Sep¬ tember 20. 1831, his parents being Edward and Mary (Brooks) Hender¬ son. Her father was born in Ireland and came to the United States in early life. Fie cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Holmes county, Ohio, where he followed the occupation of farming and aided in the devel¬ opment of that section of the country. He died when sixty-three years of age, while his wife survived to the advanced age of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of two sons, the elder being Stewart Henderson, now a resident of Iowa.

Thomas Henderson spent the first twenty-two years of his life in the state of his nativity, and when a lad of about six years began his education as a public-school student. He worked upon the home farm in his youth and afterward learned the wagon maker's trade. In 1854 he removed from Ohio to Indiana, settling in Clay county in the month of January, where he resumed work at his trade, which he continuously followed until 1888. In that year he was called by popular suffrage to the office of city treasurer and so capably did he discharge his duties that he was continued in the position by re-election for ten consecutive years. Fie then retired from the office as he had entered it - with the confidence and good will of all concerned - his official honor and integrity being ever above reproach. In 1904 he was elected township trustee, which position he is filling at the present time, and he had previously served in that capacity, his first election occurring in 1882.

At the time of the Civil war Mr. Henderson, responding to the country's call, enlisted in Company G, Twenty-eighth Regiment of Illi¬ nois Volunteers, at Danville, Illinois, March 15, 1865. He was mustered in at Camp Butler, Springfield, and from there went to Span¬ ish Fort and afterward to Fort Blakeley. Later the troops returned to Spanish Fort and proceeded across the bay to Mobile and afterward to Whistler, but after a short time again returned to camp near Mobile and on July 1 were placed aboard steamers for Texas. They received their discharge at Brownsville, Texas, March 15, 1866, and then returned to Camp Butler at Springfield, Illinois, arriving there on the 1st of April, 1866, and they remained there until the 6th of April following. Mr. Henderson was appointed second lieutenant but this commission never reached him and later he was commissioned first lieutenant. He is now a member of Canby Post, No. 2, G. A. R., and thus maintains pleasant relations with old army comrades.

When the war was over he gladly returned to his family, then living in Clay county. He had been married on the 28th of April, 1856, to Miss Nancy L. Stunkard, who was born in this county, and is a daughter of Robert and Lavina Stunkard. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and her mother of the state of New York. Mr. Stunkard arrived in Indiana in 1837 and is therefore numbered among the pioneer farmers of Clay county. He aided in reclaiming wild land and in laying broad and deep the foundation for the present development and progress of this part of the state. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic party in his early manhood but later he became a stalwart Republican.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have been born eight children, Alma E., Stewart I., Mary E., Lola, Robert, Annie, William T. and Harley H. All are living with the exception of Stewart I., who died at the age of twenty-two years. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in its work and liberal in its support. Mr. Henderson gives his political allegiance to. the Republican party and has long been recognized as one of its prominent workers and stalwart advo¬ cates in Brazil. He is widely known in Clay county and the good quali¬ ties which he has displayed in citizenship, in official relations and in his business connections have gained for him the unqualified regard of those with whom he has been associated. He has lived to see the county develop into one of the progressive districts of this great state and in the work of upbuilding has borne his part, lending his influence to all that tends to promote public improvement in material, intellectual, social or moral lines. Brazil has had no better city treasurer than was Thomas Henderson, or one more worthy the trust which was reposed in him.

Samuel T. Butt. - A prosperous farmer and an active citizen of Sugar Ridge township, with a comfortable homestead located near Cen¬ ter Point, Samuel T. Butt is a native of Clay county, born on the 17th of May, 1863, and received his education while working on the old fam¬ ily farm in Jackson township. He is a son of William and Nancy (Hicks) Butt, his father being a native of Lexington, Kentucky, and his mother of Clay county, Indiana. The former was born in 1824, and when he was about six years old his father (the paternal grandfather) moved from Kentucky to Putnam county, Indiana, and later to Clay county, where he spent the last years of his life. William Butt lived with his parents in Putnam county until he was sixteen years of age, when (in 1840) he came to Jackson township and entered eighty acres of gov¬ ernment land. In 1845, having just attained his majority, he married and built a log house on his farm, which he had recently purchased and now' commenced to clear and cultivate in earnest. He continued to buy other agricultural properties in Clay county until he finally owned more than one thousand acres of such real estate, being then the largest land owner in Jackson township. He died on the 27th of June, 1903, the father of five sons and three daughters, and as he had given to each of his children forty acres of land at the time of marriage, his estate was eventually reduced to seven hundred and twenty acres. His widow, who still survives, wras born August 10, 1829.

The parents of Mrs. William Butt wrere Uri H. and Clara (Purnell) Hicks, of Randolph county, North Carolina. They were married in that state, and were very early - settlers in Orange county, Indiana. After residing there for a few years they removed to Cass township, Clay county, where they lived for a few years before coming to Jackson town¬ ship, Clay county. Mr. Hicks entered a tract of government land cov¬ ered with timber, which was then considered far preferable for agri¬ cultural purposes. It also proved a favorite spot for wolves, and the gray prowlers of the timber had many a fierce conflict with members of the Hicks family, in which the brutes were materially decreased. Deer were also abundant at the time. Game and wild beasts gradually disap¬ peared with the clearing away of the forest, and a large portion of the timber had been removed from the Hicks estate prior to the death of the parents. Of their family of thirteen children, Mrs. Butt was the fifth in age, and she had six brothers and six sisters - she making the "baker's dozen." It was a hearty, typical pioneer family of Indiana, and four of the daughters and two of the sons are still alive.

Samuel T. Butt is the sixth in a family of eight children, and he lived with his parents on the Jackson township farm until February 21, 1883, when he married Sarah N., daughter of George N. and Martha (Adams) Moss, of Ashboro, Sugar Ridge township, Clay county. She died December 18, 1890, leaving one daughter, Minda N., wife of Will¬ iam J. Yenor, of Jasonville, Indiana. In August, 1893, Mr. Butt married as his second wife Lydia A., daughter of William H. and Nancy (Goddord) Fisher, of Hendrix county, Indiana, and the children of this union are Harvey W., Lillian, Charles S. and Edward T. Butt.

In 1883, at the time of his first marriage, Mr. Butt removed to Wash¬ ington township, Clay county, settling on a farm of forty acres which his father had given him, in accord with the usual family custom. In 1884 he sold the property and bought forty acres in section 4, Sugar Ridge township, which is still a portion of his present homestead. Later he bought an additional forty-eight acres, adjoining his original purchase, the entire farm being under thorough and profitable cultivation with the exception of eighteen acres which he uses as pasture. Mr. Butt has been quite influential as a Republican and a citizen of public affairs within the past fifteen years, serving as trustee of Sugar Ridge township from 1894 to 1900, inclusive. He is also an active member of the Center Point Masonic Lodge No. 597, and is closely identified with the Methodist Episcopal church of that place.

Walter Hazen Peavey. - Prominent among the leading agricultur¬ ists of Clay county is Walter H. Peavey, of Lewis township, a skilful and experienced farmer, who is meeting with excellent success in his under¬ takings. He is a man of energy, ability and push, three characteristics which are pre-eminent in all true-born Americans, and are made evident in the good results which he has obtained in caring for and managing his home estate. His commodious frame house, built in modern style, with a wide veranda, stands on a high elevation of land, giving an extensive viewr of the surrounding country, being an ideal country seat. Coming from honored New England ancestry, he was born, August 9, 1853, at Stafford Springs, Connecticut, a son of Hazen Peavey, and grandson of Joseph L. and Mary (Drew) Peavey, natives, respectively, of New Hampshire and Maine.

Born in Moultonboro, New Hampshire, Hazen Peavey spent his early life in his native state, where he received a good common- school education. At the age of seventeen years he began life for himself as a bell boy in one of the leading hotels of Boston. He was afterwards clerk in the Federal House, at New London. Connecticut, and later was steward at Willard's Hotel, in Washington, District of Columbia, from there going to Old Point Comfort, where he was clerk and cashier in a prominent hotel, a position that he subsequently filled at the Grammercy Park Hotel in New York City. Becoming familiar with the business of a hotel, he was at a still later period proprietor and manager of two hotels in Florida, one at first in Jacksonville, and later at Enterprise. In 1861 he was sutler for the Fourteenth United States Infantry. Giving up that office, he went to Henry county, Illinois, settling near Galva, where he bought land, and embarked in sheep raising. At that time there were large tracts of open prairie in that vicinity, and these have since been improved, the former range being now a rich agricultural region, inter¬ spersed with magnificent farms. For two years, Hazen Peavey had over three thousand sheep feeding on this free range. Selling out then, he returned to Washington, D. C., and for a time was cashier at the Ebbit House. There, in 1866, he established the Waddamannock Hotel. Coming with his brother-in-law, Mr. Lewis, to Indiana in 1867, he pur¬ chased large tracts of land in Clay and Greene counties, his purchase including the present home of his son, Walter H. Peavey. Here he was extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, August 1, 1898.

Hazen Peavey was twice married. He married first Celia W. Crocker, who was born on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a daughter of Cap¬ tain Crocker, and died March 11, 1884. He married second Sophronia Forkner, who lived but a short time after their marriage, dying May 7, 1888. By his first marriage, he had two children, namely: Walter Hazen, the special subject of this sketch; and Nellie, who married Mack Ed¬ monson.

After coming with the family to Indiana, then a boy of thirteen years, Walter H. Peavey attended first the public schools, afterwards the University of Notre Dame, at Notre Dame, Indiana. Under the wise tuition of his father, he acquired an excellent knowledge of the art and science of agriculture while young, and since the death of his parents has succeeded to the ownership of the homestead. He is practical and pro¬ gressive in his farming operations, and pays especial attention to the breeding ,and raising of fine stock, his herd of cattle containing Short- Horns, Poll-Durhams, and a few Jerseys for the dairy. His wife is a poultry fancier, and has in her chicken yard a large flock of pure-bred Plymouth Rock hens, and of both Bronze and Bourbon Red turkeys.

On September 15, 1881, Mr. Peavey married Lillian M. Free, who was born in Warren, Huntington county, Indiana, September 15, 1863. Her father, Henry Free, came from Pennsylvania, his native state, to Indiana, and settled first near Fort Wayne, as a tailor. He subsequently established himself as a tailor in Warren, from there moving to Terre Haute, where he was successfully engaged in business until his death, in 1872. He married Isabelle McEwin, who was born, July 15, 1827, and died, in Paris, Illinois, in 1885, leaving three children, Florence, Myron, and Lillian M. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Peavey has been blessed by the birth of four children, namely: Carl, Omar, Ertice, and Abbie Leonore. In national affairs, Mr. Peavey uniformly votes the Democratic ticket, but in local matters he casts his vote for the best men and measures, regardless of party prejudices. Religiously Mrs. Peavey is a worthy and valued member of the Presbyterian church in Howesville, Indiana.

Corwin M. Mofford, manager of the Brazil office for the Central Union Telephone Company, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, October 28, 1862. His parents were John and Tamson ( Boul ware ) Mofford. The father was born in Clermont county in December, 1828, and has there spent his entire life, devoting his time and energies to general agri¬ cultural pursuits. His grandfather left Ohio for California in 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope and was never heard from again. Starting out upon his business career at an early age, John Mofford has since been dependent upon his own resources and whatever success he has enjoyed has come to him through his well directed labor. His wife, who was born in Bethel, Clermont county, Ohio, died in 1870, at the age of thirty-five years. They were the parents of a daughter and three sons, namely : Charles, who is living in Cincinnati ; Corwin, of this review ; Branch, also living in Cincinnati ; and Emma, who died in infancy. Having lost his first wife, the father was married again, his second union being with Mrs. Amanda Boulware, nee Goff, who was a native of Will¬ iamsburg, Ohio. Unto this union were born six children, of whom four are now living: Harry, Bessie, George and Robbins. In his political views John Mofford has always been an earnest Republican. At the time of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause and joined the Ohio Regi¬ ment of Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years, giving loyal aid to the Union cause. He is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at New Richmond, Ohio, and his religions faith is indi¬ cated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.

Corwin M. Mofford remained under the parental roof until twentyone years of age, working on the home farm during the summer months, while in the winter seasons he pursued his education in the 'public schools. He early learned the value of industry as a forceful factor in the duties of life and when he started out upon his own account it was his chief stock in trade. He first worked in a store in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for about six months, after which he returned to Ohio, where he continued until the 10th of March, 1886. On that day he arrived in Brazil, Indiana, where he has since made his home. Here he entered the employ of B. F. Kruzan as a salesman, and continued with him until June, 1895, when he went upon the road as a traveling salesman for C. L. Brayman & Com¬ pany, of Terre Haute, Indiana. He spent some time in that way and when his labors had brought him sufficient capital to engage in business on his own account he opened a grocery store in Brazil in February, 1896. For about a year he continued in that business, and in June, 1897, engaged with the Central Union Telephone Company as manager of the Brazil office. He has now continued in this position for eleven years and the interests of the office are well systematized, capably managed and faith¬ fully executed, his long connection therewith plainly indicating the trust entertained for him by the company which he represents.

On the 26th of September, 1889, Mr. Mofford was married to Miss Manila Jackson, who was born in Vigo county, Indiana, September 10, 1864, and is a daughter of Robert and Melissa (Kruzan) Jackson. Her father was born in North Carolina and died in 1864, while the mother, a native of Vigo county, passed away in 1870. Mr. Kruzan was one of the pioneer farmers of Vigo county and there carried on general agricultural pursuits until his demise, while to the Democratic party he gave his political support. Unto him and his wife were born two daughters, Cora and Mrs. Mofford, and a son who died in infancy.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Mofford were four in number : Helen ; Edith, who died at the age of five years; Lester; and one who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Mofford are well known in Brazil, where they have an extensive circle of warm friends. Fraternally he is identified with Brazil lodge, No. 264, A. F. & A. M., while both are members of William Black chapter, No. 80, O. E. S. Mr. Mofford also belongs to the Modern Woodman camp. His political endorsement is given to the Republican party at the polls and he is also an active worker in its ranks. In 1894 he was elected from his ward as a member of the city council and served for four years, during which time he exercised his official prerogatives in support of various measures that have proven of substantial benefit to the city.