Clay County, Indiana - The whole text, 1909 (part 9 of 21)

Mr. Sampson was born in Virginia, December 2, 1831, his parents being John and Clarissa Ann (Jollett) Sampson, both of whom were natives of the Old Dominion. The father followed the occupation of farming in Virginia, and was overseer in charge of slaves. In 1836 he left his native state and removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he spent the winter. In the spring of 1837 he arrived in Wayne county, Indiana, where he followed farming until the spring of 1849, when he came to Clay county, making the journey by team. The location was made in Dick Johnson township, where he purchased a tract of land that was partially cleared. He first bought eighty acres, but later added to this and developed an excellent farm, which he continued to cultivate until he brought it under a high state of improvement and made it a valuable property. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy. He died in Clay county on his farm, about three miles from Brazil, at the age of seventy-three years, and the death of his wife occurred on a farm about six miles northwest of Brazil. Their family numbered nine chil¬ dren, three sons and six daughters, of whom but two are now living, the younger being Permelia Ellen, the widow of Albert Bunker.

John J. Sampson was in his fifth year when his parents removed from Virginia to Ohio. His minority was largely passed in this state, however, on the old home farm in Wayne county, where he was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life, sharing with the family in all the hardships and trials incident to settlement upon the frontier. In the early days deer roamed through forests and there were many wild turkeys and much other feathered game that constituted a frequent dish upon the table of the pioneer. It was an arduous task to clear and develop the land, for all farm machinery was very crude in comparison with that in use at the present day. Mr. Sampson early learned the value of earnest, unremitting toil and his life has been one of activity and energy. He came to Clay county with his parents in 1849, when eighteen years of age and remained at home until twentytwo years of age, when he started out in life on his own account, his capital consisting of an eighty acre tract of timber land and a team of horses, which he had earned through hard work. Upon his farm he built a log cabin of round logs and when his little home was completed he was married on the 23d of June, 1856, to Miss Mary E. Houk. They began their domestic life upon a farm which he had located, Mrs. Sampson managing the affairs of the household, while Mr. Sampson worked earnestly and persistently to bring his fields under cultivation. He bought a yoke of oxen, with which to haul his logs from the fields after cutting down the trees, also using the animals in plowing and developing his land. In his farm work he ever kept abreast with the times and was quick to secure the improved machinery. He operated the first threshing machine in this locality that cleaned the wheat, purchasing the machine in Indian¬ apolis, and hauling it across the country to his home. He engaged in threshing wheat in four counties and continued in business for sixteen years, having an extensive patronage. He later built a good house and had a farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he sold in 1873. He then came to Brazil and for more than twenty years thereafter engaged in selling pumps but in 1905 retired and is now enjoying a well earned rest.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sampson were born seven children, of whom three are now living, Lucinda, Joseph H. and Perry S. The wife and mother having passed away, Mr. Sampson again married, his second union being with Hannah Diel. Following her death he wedded Martha J. Moore, who still survives.

In his political views Mr. Sampson has always been a stalwart Democrat since age conferred upon* him the right of franchise. He certainly deserves mention among the pioneer residents of this county. There was only one railroad in the state when he came to Indiana and he helped to hew the timbers for the first depot built in Brazil, it being the property of the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad, now the Vandalia Railroad. Mr. Sampson has paid taxes in this state for the past fifty-six years and has borne his full share in the work of development and progress, especially in agricultural lines. He has always rejoiced in what the county has accomplished, and his influence has ever been on the side of material, intellectual, moral and social progress.

Peter L. Everhart, an enterprising agriculturist and clerk of the circuit court of Clay county, Indiana, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, January 26, 1847, a son of John and Juda (Barrick) Everhart. John Everhart was also a native of Ohio, born in 1805, and he died in 1881. His wife, our subject's mother, was bom in 1806, and died in August, 1879. They were married in Ohio and were the parents of six¬ teen children, four of whom are now living and are as follows: Eliza, widow of Hewett Ross, living in Terre Haute ; David ; Peter L., of whom further mention is made; and Rachel, wife of Eli Cooprider, living in Clay county, Indiana, at Clay City.

John Everhart came to Indiana in 1865, at the close of the Civil war. He located near Middlebury, Clay county. In Ohio he followed the trade of a weaver and also farmed. He owned a place containing one hundred and sixty acres, which place he sold before moving to

Indiana. Here he purchased two hundred and seventeen acres and car¬ ried on general farming operations up to within about ten years of his death, spending his last years in retirement on his well improved farm. He was a devout member of the Lutheran church and in politics a Democrat.

Peter L. Everhart, our subject, came to Clay county, Indiana, when eighteen years of age with his parents, who emigrated in 1865 from Ohio. At the age of twenty years he commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in connection with farming up to 1904, when he was elected clerk of the circuit court of Clay county. He was married first, in October, 1869, to Mary Jane Tipton, who was born in Ohio and died in August, 1879. By this union five children were-born, all of whom are now deceased but Bertha, wife of James M. Hoffa, residing in St. Louis, Missouri. For his second wife Mr. Everhart married, in October, 1881, Teressa Switzer, born in Holmes county, Ohio, daughter of David A. and Elizabeth (Gates) Switzer, both natives of Ohio, and were parents of eight children, six daughters and two sons, one living. They were as follows: Mary C., wife of George J. Kayser; Teressa (Mrs. Everhart) ; Sophia, wife of H. Leslie, living at Canton, Ohio; Margaret, wife of William Brown, of Akron, Ohio; John, residing in Cleveland, Ohio; Lydia, wife of Harry Judd; and Rosa, widow of Lee Battay. The father of this family was a brick and stone mason and also farmed in Ohio. He lived in Greene county, Indiana, several years and was a justice of the peace in the last named county. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, being in an Ohio regiment, and was mustered out as a lieutenant. The last years of his life were spent retired at Canton, Ohio; he died at Lodi, Ohio. Politically he was a Republican, and he was many years a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders.

By his second marriage Mr. Everhart is the father of four children: Pearl, wife of William Fowler ; Orah ; Edna, wife of William Brown ; and Byron R. They have also lost two children, Bessie and Carl, who died at an early age. Mr. Everhart is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, camp No. 3418. He belongs to the Christian church, in which he is an elder, and politically is a supporter of the Democratic party. It is possible and safe to say that he is the first man who was elected clerk of the Clay circuit court who did not use the saloons of Clay county to secure his election, and when he made the canvass over the county he did not go in a saloon and take a drink or buy it for any one else. He was elected by the good citizens of Clay county both in his party and out of his party. This accompanying cut was taken while in office, July 20, 1908, at the age of sixty-one years.

Benjamin Franklin Brown. - Numbered among those energetic and skilful farmers who so materially assist in maintaining the reputation of Clay county as a superior agricultural stock-raising region is Benjamin F. Brown, who is actively engaged in his independent occupation on sec¬ tion eighteen, Harrison township. A son of Louis Frederick and Cath¬ erine (Guyer) Brown, he was born November 25, 1864, in Hocking county, Ohio. A brief sketch of his father may be found elsewhere in this biographical work.

Mr. Brown acquired a practical education in the district schools, and when but a boy began to perform his full share of the manual labor incidental to life on a farm. Becoming familiar with the theory and practice of agriculture, he has continued to follow that branch of industry through life. When ready to establish a household of his own he rented the old homestead from his father, built a house, and there pursued his calling most successfully for twelve years. Removing then to the farm of his father-in-law, G. D. Armstrong, in Perry township, he managed that estate until 1900, when he purchased the farm that he now owns and occupies in section eight, Harrison township. It contains eighty-seven acres of rich farming land, which under his intelligent management has been highly cultivated and improved. He is a systematic and thor¬ ough farmer, everything about his premises indicating the prosperity of the owner. In addition to general farming Mr. Brown is engaged to a considerable extent in stock raising and dealing, finding this branch of his calling quite profitable. His house, which is most pleasantly located, is a commodious brick veneer, conveniently arranged, and, with the other substantial farm buildings, greatly enhances the value as well as the beauty of the property. Pie has also title to a good farm of eighty acres lying in the southwest quarter of section fifteen, this township.

On January 20, 1889, ^r- Brown married Ch£sa Armstrong, who was born in Perry township, Clay county, a daughter of George Dallas Armstrong, and granddaughter of George W. Armstrong. The latter was one of the earlier settlers of Vigo county, Indiana, and from land that he purchased in Riley township cleared and improved the home¬ stead, on which he lived until his death. His wife, who before marriage was Chesa Jackson, spent her last years in Vigo county. George Dallas Armstrong was born in Riley township, Vigo county, March 13, 1845, and died February 9, 1907, in Perry township, Clay county. A studious lad, fond of his books, he acquired an excellent education, and during his early manhood spent a part of each year as a school teacher. After his marriage he bought fifty-four acres of timbered land in Perry town¬ ship, and in the wilderness built a log cabin which was the family home for a number of years. Prior to that time, however, he had carried on a substantial business as a dealer in hogs and live stock, which, there being no railroads at that time, he used to drive at first to Terre Haute, later going with them to Gosport. After locating in Perry township, Mr. Armstrong continued his operations in that branch of industry, at the same time superintending the improvement of his farm. He met with eminent success, and by wise investments of his money became an extensive landholder, having title to four hundred and fifty-six acres of land, all in Perry township. Mr. Armstrong married, January 7, 1866, Lucinda Donham. She was born near Cory in Clay county, Indiana, May 28, 1849, a daughter of Joseph Donham, and granddaughter of William Donham, who migrated from Ohio to Indiana and settled as a pioneer in Vigo county, about six miles from Terre Haute, where he improved a farm and spent his remaining days. Joseph Donham was quite young when he came from Clermont county, Ohio, his native place, to Vigo county, where he grew to manhood. He subsequently bought, in Perry township. Clay county, a tract of land which was partly prairie and partly timber, and having built a log house in the woods devoted his time and energies to the clearing of the timber and the subduing of the prairie, and there resided until his death at the age of sixtv-six years. Joseph Donham married Lucinda Jefifers, who was born in 1818 in Ohio, a daughter of James and Margaret (Reese) Jefifers. Mr. Jefifers came from Ohio to Indiana in pioneer days, making the trip across the wild country with teams. Locating in Perry township, he cleared and im¬ proved the homestead of which he and his wife spent the remaining years of their lives. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. George D. Armstrong eight children were born, namely: Chesa, who became the wife of Mr. Brown; Charles; Reuben; Joseph; David and Linda, twins; Lucy; and George. Mr. Armstrong was an influential member of the Republican party, and served for some time as trustee of Lewis township. Mrs. Brown passed to the higher life November 13, 1906, leaving four chil¬ dren, Ocie, Eva, Ruthie and Mary. Politically Mr. Brown is identified with the Democratic party.

George Robert Phegley. - Noteworthy among the practical and thriving agriculturists of Lewis township is George Robert Phegley, who materially assists in maintaining the reputation of Clay county as one of the best farming and stock-raising regions in this part of the state, and is most ably and faithfully performing the various duties devolving upon him as township trustee. A son of Edward Phegley, he was born in this township December 19, 1865, of honored pioneer stock, his paternal grandfather having been one of the earliest settlers of this county.

Coming from thrifty Scotch-Irish ancestry, Mr. Phegley was en¬ gaged in farming in Spencer county, Kentucky, during his earlier life. Leaving there in 1832, he came direct to Indiana with his family, bringing his household goods in wagons, driving his stock, and camping and cooking by the wayside. Locating in the northern part of Clay county, he took up land, and was there a tiller of the soil until his death. He married a Miss Bacey, whose father was a large planter and slave owner in Kentucky.

But a boy when he came from Spencer county, Kentucky, where his birth occurred on March 4, 1822, Edward Phegley grew to manhood among pioneer scenes. The country roundabout was then thinly popu¬ lated ; bears, deer, wolves, and other wild beasts of the forest were plenti¬ ful and furnished the few inhabitants with much of their living. There were neither railways nor convenient markets, the surplus products of the farm having to be hauled a long distance with teams before being exchanged for the necessary household commodities. On first beginning life for himself he lived for awhile in Washington township, from there coming to Lewis township. He bought eighty acres of land in section four, and immediately, with characteristic enterprise, put in a full crop. Unfortunately that was the year of the August frost, when every kind of vegetation in sight was ruined. Losing his entire crop, he bought another tract of land in the Eel river bottoms. Clearing the heavy growth of timber from it, he labored assiduously in its improvement, and as a gen¬ eral farmer met with well deserved success. He was a man of .much ability and excellent judgment, and acquired considerable wealth, having at his death title to three hundred and forty acres of rich and fertile land, a large part of which was under cultivation. He lived, honored and respected, to a good old age, passing away in 1896. He was twice mar¬ ried, the maiden name of his first wife having been Rebecca Lucas. She was born in North Carolina, a daughter of George Lucas, who removed from that state to Clay county, Indiana, at an early period of its settle¬ ment, took up land near the present site of Brazil and improved a home¬ stead, upon which they spent their remaining years. She died in 1876, leaving nine children, namely : Sarah Ann, Martha Jane, Harriet Ellen,

David Franklin, Margaret, Susan Andora, Mary Alice, George Robert and Charles Howard. Mr. Phegley married for. his second wife Cath¬ erine Mizer, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Mizer. She survived him, and occupies the old homestead.

Brought up on the home farm and educated in the district schools, George Robert Phegley has been identified with the agricultural pros¬ perity of Lewis township the greater part of his life. Owning and occu¬ pying a part of the old home farm, he is meeting with marked success in its management, and holds a good position among the leading farmers of his neighborhood. A stanch Republican in politics, Mr. Phegley never shirks the responsibilities devolving upon him as a faithful citizen, and is now serving as township trustee. Religiously he is a member of the United Brethren church.

Andrew Milo Moss, a resident farmer of Ashboro and a member of one of the county's oldest and best known families, was born in Center Point, Clay county, Indiana, July 15, 1855, a son of George M. and Martha E. (Adams) Moss. Andrew M. is the eldest of their children, and he remained at home with his parents, assisting with the work of the farm, until he had reached the age of twenty-five, in the meantime at¬ tending the schools of Ashboro and Center Point. After his marriage he purchased and moved to a farm in section 20, Sugar Ridge township, and there he made his home until his removal to Ashboro in October, 1896, having sold his farm in the spring previous.

Mr. Moss married, on the 6th of January, 1881, Mattie H. Fortner, who was born in Jackson township, Clay county, Indiana, May 15, 1865, a daughter of Samuel D. and Helen (Cook) Fortner, who were born in Kentucky. Mrs. Moss died August 1, 1897, after becoming the mother of four children: Nellie G., born July 3, 1883, the wife of Oliver Crom¬ well, of Ashboro; Everett F., born April 12, 1886, a resident of Warrior, Alabama; Hallie H., born June 3, 1889, the wife of Herbert Hicks, of Ashboro; and Charles, born" August 21, 1893, died July 19, 1897. Mr. Moss is a Republican politically, and a believer of the doctrine of the Methodist Episcopal church.

George Roeschlein. - An energetic, practical and progressive agri¬ culturist, George Roeschlein owns and occupies a valuable farm in Perry township, Clay county, where he is carrying on his chosen calling with both pleasure and profit. A son of Michael Roeschlein, he was born March 25, 1855, in Vienna, Hancock county, Indiana, being the fifth in succession of birth of a family of thirteen children.

Michael Roeschlein was born and reared in Germany, and there married Annie Tiefel, a daughter of George Tiefel. Shortly after his marriage he emigrated to this country, and for a few years resided in Ohio. Coming from there to Indiana, he lived in Hancock county until 1854, when he settled in Perry township, Clay county. Buying one hun¬ dred and sixty acres of heavily timbered land, he began the pioneer labbr of improving a homestead, and with the assistance of his children was very successful in his efforts. Thrifty and wise in his investments, he added to his original farm by purchase eighty more acres of land, and there continued general farming until his death in 1874. His widow sur¬ vived him a number of years, passing away in 1891.

his childhood and youth in very much the same manner as most of the boys of his neighborhood, attending school in the typical log school house of pioneer days, and helping in the farm work. After the death of his father he assumed the management of the homestead, remaining with his mother until her death. Coming then into possesion of a part of the home farm, Mr. Roeschlein continued the vocation to which he was brought up, and now owns one hundred and seventy-four acres of rich and productive land, finely located in section two, all of which, with the exception of fifty acres of timber and pasture, he has placed under a high state of cultivation. Here he is carrying on general farming and stockraising with most satisfactory results, and each year is adding to the im¬ provements already inaugurated. In 1904 he built his present six-room dwelling house, and his other farm buildings are substantial and wellkept structures, giving evidence of the thrift and good management of the proprietor of the estate.

On April 17, 1891, Mr. Roeschlein married Mary M. Geckler. She was born in Youngstown, Ohio, a daughter of John and Mary (Gebinger) Geckler, natives of Germany and people of considerable prominence in the farming community in which they located on coming to Ohio. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Roeschlein five children have been born, namely: William Edward, Carl Frederick, Ernest Philip, Lena Emma and Roy Clifford. Politically Mr. Roeschlein is a champion of the principles of the Democratic party, and religiously he is a member of the Lutheran church.

Joseph Lenhart, who is conducting a blacksmith shop in Brazil, was born in Sugar Ridge township, Clay county, Indiana, September 13, 1867. He was the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children, whose parents, Joseph and Catherine (Dunbeck) Lenhart, were both natives of Germany. They came to this country in early life, however, and were married in Terre Haute, Indiana. The father was a maltster by trade and also learned and followed the cooper's trade in early manhood. He lived in Quincy, Illinois, for some time after his marfiage and then returned to this county, building a brewery on Sugar creek, where he carried on business for a considerable period. He next removed to Brazil, where he engaged in the cooperage business, conducting his inter¬ ests along that line up to the time of his demise, which occurred in 1879, when he had reached the age of sixty-eight years. He was a member of the German Lutheran church and of the Knights of Honor, and he voted with the Democracy. He is survived by four of his children: Frank, who is now living in Brazil; Elizabeth, the wife of George Morgel, jeweler; Joseph, of this review ; and Charles, who is a railroad engineer residing in Detroit, Michigan.

Joseph Lenhart was reared upon a farm to the age of thirteen years and attended the common schools, thus acquiring his education. He was, however, but a youth when he started out in life on his own account, working in a hardware store for three years or more. When eighteen years of age he engaged to learn the general blacksmithing trade with John Stough, with whom he continued until 1892. In that year he engaged in business on his own account as general blacksmith, making the old fashioned hand drills for the coal mining business for a long period, but since 1903 he has given his attention largely to horseshoeing and is an expert in his line, having now an extensive and growing trade.

Mr. Lenhart was married July 26, 1893, t0 Miss Sarah Collier, who was born in Canelton, Ohio, October 23, 1870, a daughter of Harry and Mary Collier. Her father was born in England and died in Brazil, this state, in 1903. He was a miner of his native country and spent his last days as a miner here. Unto him and his wife were born four children, Alice, William, Mrs. Lenhart and James.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lenhart has been blessed with a daughter and three sons, but the daughter, Nina, died in infancy. The others are Hugh H., Joseph C. and Charles F. Mr. Lenhart belongs to Brazil Lodge, No. 215, I. O. O. F., and to Indianola Tribe, No. 61 of the Order of Red Men. He is also associated with the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 3418 of Brazil and votes with the Democratic party.

Dennis McAuliff, one of the energetic business men of Brazil, has gradually worked his way upward and throughout his business career has endeavored to make his acts and commercial moves the result of care¬ ful consideration and sound judgment. There has never been any great ventures or risks but the practice of slow, growing business methods backed by energy and good system and thus he has attained leadership in his chosen line in Brazil, being today the owner of an excellent brick business block, in which he is conducting the most successful and extens¬ ive bakery business of the city. He was born in Herkimer county, New York, December 18, 1856, and is the eldest and only son in a family of four children, whose parents were John and Mary (Higgins) McAuliff, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1822, and died in 1874, at the age of fifty-two years, while the mother, who was born in Kings county, Ireland, in 1825, passed away in 1889. They came to America in early life, John McAuliff cross¬ ing the Atlantic to the new world in 1849 as a passenger on a sailing vessel, which, after a voyage of three months, dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. Mrs. McAuliff came to this country with her par¬ ents, landing in Philadelphia in the month of November, 1849. They were married at Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York. Mr. McAuliff drifted westward to Salisbury Center, New York, where he engaged to work for a tannef, with whom he learned the trade. After living there for some time he removed to Cortland county, New York, where he spent three or four years, after which he took up his abode in Crawfordsville, Montgomery county, Indiana, arriving there in November, 1864. In that locality he devoted his attention to farming and gardening and thus provided for his family. His political views were in accordance with the principles of the Democracy and both he and his wife were communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Their daughters were : Mary, now the widow of James Wolf; Joanna; and Margaret.

Dennis McAuliff accompanied his parents on their various removals and in early life came with them to Indiana. He attended the district schools for three or four terms, spent two terms as a student in the public schools of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and two terms in a sisters school at that place. His boyhood and youth were passed upon the home farm to the age of sixteen years, when he started out in life on his own account, learning the baker's trade in Crawfordsville. In 1882 he came to Brazil and entered the employ of the firm of Shannon & Fast, bakers, in whose employ he continued for three years. He afterward returned to Craw¬ fordsville, where he engaged in the bakery business on his own account for about three years and after selling out his business there he again came to Brazil, where he worked for his old employers, Shannon & Fast, for eleven years. In 1899 he started in business on his own account and in 1900 he erected a building, in which he conducts his bakery at the present time, having the largest ovens in Brazil. His patronage has steadily increased and his trade has now reached very extensive propor¬ tions.

In June, 1875, Mr. AIcAuliff enlisted in the Montgomery Guards for three years under General Lew Wallace and in 1885 organized a com¬ pany known as the Grant Guards and which was mustered in as Companv H of the Second Regiment of the Indiana National Guard, Air. McAuliff being first lieutenant. On the 10th of June, 1889, he organized Companv F of the First Regiment of the Indiana National Guard and was chosen first lieutenant of this company and in 1890 was elected its captain. On the 31st of December, 1892, he was promoted to battalion major and on the 26th of April, 1898, enlisted in the United States army for service in the Spanish- American war. He was mustered in on the 12th of May as battalion major of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers and continued with that command until November 23, 1890, when, the war having been brought to a close, he was mustered out at Camp Mount, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

On the 25th of May, 1886, Air. McAuliff married Miss Nellie Wal¬ lace, who was born in Aladison county, Indiana, Alarch 6, 18 66, a daugh¬ ter of Lawrence and Alary (AIcCabe) Wallace, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father died at the age of sixty-four years and the mother has also passed away. On coming to this country he located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked at the millwright's trade. He was married in Aladison county, Indiana, and his last days were spent in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Both he and his wife were communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Their family numbered three sons and a daughter, Andrew J., Lawrence, Mrs. McAuliff and Robert. Mrs. Al-c- Auliff was only two years of age at the time of her parents' death and therefore has but limited knowledge of the ancestral history. By her marriage she has become the mother of seven children, of whom five sur¬ vive, Katharine, Margaret, J. Lawrence, James Paul and Elnora.

Air. McAuliff is a member of the Knights of Columbus, being asso¬ ciated with Council No. 541, at Terre Haute. He is also a member of Young Men's Institute Council No. 591, in Brazil and is treasurer of the order. The Roman Catholic church finds in him a faithful communicant and the Democracy a loyal supporter of its platform and principles. He started out in life in a comparatively humble, position. His salary was small and the position he occupied was insignificant, but like many other brave, energetic young men he did not wait for a specially brilliant open¬ ing. Indeed, he could not wait and his natural industry would not have permitted him to do so even if his financial circumstances had been such as to make it possible. However, in the position that he secured he per¬ formed all the duties that devolved upon him, however humble and how¬ ever small the recompense might be, conscientiously and industriously. However, ambition stimulated him to activity that has led to success and his strict integrity, business conservatism and judgment have been so uni¬ formly recognized that he has enjoyed public confidence to an enviable degree and has secured a liberal share of the public patronage.

Mark Messick. - A thriving and prosperous agriculturist of Clay county, Mark Messick, of Lewis township, may well be ranked with the self-made men of our times. Beginning his career at the foot of the lad¬ der of success he has steadily climbed, rung by rung, without other re¬ sources than his indomitable will and determined energy rising from a humble position to one of comfort and plenty. A son of Milton Messick, he was born November 19, 1854, in Henry county, Indiana. He is of pioneer ancestry and comes of Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Thomas Messick, having served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He came from Virginia, where it is thought he was born, to Indiana, settling as a pioneer in Lewisville, Henry county, while that part of the state was still in its original wilderness. Buying a tract of land, he re¬ claimed a homestead from the forest, and there spent the remainder of his life, passing away at the advanced age of ninety-four years.

A native probably of Virginia, Milton Messick was young when he came with his parents to Henry county, Indiana. He learned the trades of a brick maker and a brick layer, and these he followed during his active life, first in Vigo county and afterwards in Worthington, Greene county, where he spent his last days, dying at the ripe old age of ninety years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Newby, was born in Virginia and died in Worthington, Indiana. They reared ten children, as follows: Cyrus, Billy, Mark, Taylor, Zach, Inez, James, Ida, Emma and Thomas. All are now living with the exception of Billy, the second child, and all are married.

Reared to agricultural pursuits, Mark Messick came to Clay county when a lad of fourteen years, and for a number of years thereafter worked by the day or month as a farm hand. At the time of his marriage he set¬ tled on the farm where he now resides, this being a part of the old Perry Holston homestead. He has made excellent improvements on the place, placing the land under a high state of culture, and erecting substantial frame buildings, which are pleasantly located amid natural scenery, con¬ tributing much to the beauty and attractiveness of the place. Here Mr. Messick is successfully employed in general farming and stock-raising. He has a fine herd of high grade Short-Horns and a few Polled Angus cattle, while the Poland Chinas are his favorite breed of swine.

On November 16, 1899, Mr. Messick married Nancy Ella Holston, who has spent her entire life in Lewis township, her birth having occurred in the pioneer log cabin erected by her parents, Perry and Nancy (Reed) Holston.

William P. Steiner. - As an industrious, intelligent and enterpris¬ ing farmer, William P. Steiner, of Harrison township, is actively identi¬ fied with the development and advancement of the agricultural interests of Clay county, in which he has spent the greater part of his life. A son of Peter Steiner, Jr., he was born July 22, 1855, in Holmes county, Ohio, of excellent Swiss ancestry.

Peter Steiner, Sr., the grandfather of William P., was born in Can¬ ton Berne, Switzerland, where during his early life he followed the car¬ penter's trade. In 1831, accompanied by his wife and seven children, he emigrated to America, the sailing vessel on which he took passage being several weeks in crossing the ocean. Proceeding directly to Holmes county, Ohio, he purchased forty acres of land, on which he lived until his death, at the age of fifty years, being engaged to some extent in farm- ing, but de voting the greater part of his attention to his trade. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Mosser, survived him and spent her last years in Harrison township, Indiana, dying here at the advanced age of four score and four years. She reared the following named children: Annie, Elizabeth, Christina, John. Uriah, Peter and Annie Elizabeth. John was drowned in the Eel river, when thirty years old. The other six married and reared families.

Put very young when his parents came to the United States, his birth having occurred in Canton Berne, Switzerland, in 1827, Peter Steiner, Jr., was brought up and educated in Holmes county, Ohio, where in his younger days he worked with his father at the carpenter's bench. In 1855 he came with his wife and their only child, William P., the sub¬ ject of this brief sketch, to Clay county, Indiana. Settling in Harrison township, he bought eighty acres of timbered land situated in the west half of the southwest cpiarter of section fifteen, and in the midst of the thick woods built a log house for a dwelling place. Clearing the land, he improved a good homestead, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death, February 24, 1906. His wife, whose maiden name was Barbara Mavbaugh, was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, which was also the birthplace of her parents, Christopher and Elizabeth (Blazzer) Mavbaugh. Christopher Mavbaugh emigrated with his family to America in 1833, the voyage in a sailing vessel occupying forty days. Landing in Baltimore, he spent but a brief time in that city, going instead to Wayne county, Ohio, where he bought land, and for a few years was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Subsequently buying two hundred and forty acres of land in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, he improved a farm and continued in his chosen occupation the remainder of his life, both he and his wife dying on the home farm. They had eight children, namely : Christopher, Elizabeth, Barbara, Mary, John, Amelia, Daniel and Samuel.

An infant when brought by his parents to Harrison township, Will¬ iam P. Steiner was here bred and educated, and with the exception of a short time spent in Owen county has since resided here. His first recollec¬ tions of Clay county are of a wild and wooded country, for, though the red men had moved afar and the white settlers had been in this part of the state for some time, improvements had been slow, much of the land hereabout being in its primeval condition during his boyhood days. He assisted his father in the arduous task of clearing the unbroken forest, living with his parents until ready to establish a home of his own. Find¬ ing the life of a farmer congenial to his tastes, Mr. Steiner then began till¬ ing the soil on rented land, and has continued in his chosen occupation until the present time, having operated the farm on which he is now residing since 1890, in his labors meeting with signal success.

On March 9, 1886, Mr. Steiner married Laura Ream, a daughter of Solomon Ream, of whom a brief biographical sketch may be found on another page of this work. Politically Mr. Steiner is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Steiner are members of Saint Peter's Reformed church.

George R. Harris. - Holding a position of worth among the leading farmers of Lewis township is George R. Harris, the representative of a prominent pioneer family and a descendant of Hon. Daniel Harris, who for many years was known as the " father of Clay county," being his great-grandson. A son of John Harris, he was born December 30, 1859, in Pierson township, Vigo county. Hon. Daniel Harris, the first of the family to settle in Indiana, came here, it is supposed, from Ohio. He was a pioneer of Owen county, locating in that part of it that is now included within the boundaries of Clay county. A man of strong individuality, capable and energetic, he was elected to represent* Owen county in the state legislature, and while there introduced and championed the bill to set off and organize Clay county, of which he was subsequently dubbed the father. He first improved a farm in the Eel river valley, in Harrison township, near what is now the Eel River Station, and afterward im¬ proved a homestead in Sugar Ridge township, and there resided until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-five years.

Captain Thomas Harris, grandfather of George R., was born in southern Indiana, and until his marriage remained with his parents. He subsequently lived for several years in Vigo county, very near Terre Haute, which was then but a small hamlet. He afterwards returned to Sugar Ridge township, whqre he had spent much of his early life, and there cleared and improved a farm, doing his work with oxen. There were no markets in this vicinity, and he used to build flatboats, load them with produce from his farm and then take them down the Eel, White, Wabash, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, where he would dispose of both cargo and boats, making his way home as best he could. It was while sailing these home-made crafts that he obtained his title of "captain." When quite well advanced in years the Captain on account of ill health went to Iowa to consult a physician, and died at the home of a son in Des Moines. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Witham, spent her last years on the old homestead at Sugar Ridge town¬ ship, dying soon after the close of the Civil war.

John Harris was but a boy when his parents returned to Clay county, and here he grew to manhood, assisting in the work incidental to life on a farm. Marrying, he settled on a farm in this 'county, but three years later removed to Vigo county, going by canal boat to Pierson township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land and began the im¬ provement of a farm. In the first house that he built, a small frame one, he lived a number of years, and then, having been quite successful in his farming operations, he erected a large frame dwelling, a substantial barn and other necessary buildings, and there resided, a respected and valued member of the community, until his death November io, 1900. He mar¬ ried, March 29, 1854, Mahala Bolick, who was born December 23, 1827, in North Carolina, of German ancestry. Her father, Jacob Bolick, came across the country with teams from that state to Indiana in 1831 and located first in Washington township, Clay county. He subsequently spent two years in Vigo county, and on his return to this county located in Harrison township, where he spent the remainder of his years. Mr. Bolick's first wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Houk, died in 1834, leaving six children, among whom was his daughter Mahala. Mr. Bolick married a second wife, but died soon after that marriage. Mrs. Mahala (Bolick) Harris was brought up after her father's death, which occurred when she was about ten years old, in the family of Isaac Dunham, having like her brothers and sisters been bound out. She occupied the home farm in Vigp county, until about the time of her death, at the age of eighty years, being hale and hearty, strong both mentally and physically, and a valued member of the German Baptist church. She passed away March 16, 1908, while visiting her son George, and is interred at the

Harris cemetery in Sugar Ridge township. She reared six children, namely: Algy N., Mary A., George R., Clarence E., Nancy Eveline and Eliza Lucinda.

Brought up and educated in Pierson township, George R. Harris spent his earlier years* beneath the parental roof. When ready to assume the responsibilities of a married man he bought a farm in section twenty, Lewis township, and lived there four years. Pie then took possession of the farm where he now resides, it having come to him by inheritance, and has since carried on general farming in an intelligent and skilful manner, his labors being amply repaid by the fine crops produced in his fertile fields.

On April 15, 1891, Mr. Harris married Maggie West. She was born February 22, 1871, in Clay county, a daughter of William West, who was born in Perry township, and has spent his entire life in Clay county, at the present time being a resident of Lewis township. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna Bollinger, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, a daughter of John R. and Margaret (Obley) Bollinger. Further his¬ tory of the Bollinger family may be found elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of John C. Bollinger. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the parents of six children, namely : Clemence W., Grade Belle, Dollie Ann, Goldie Arlena, Artie Leora and Mona Mahala.

Abner J. Guirl. - Holding an assured position among the honored and respected citizens of Clay City, Indiana, is Abner J. Guirl, who comes of pioneer stock and is a descendant of one of the strongest abolitionists of this part of the country, his parents having been ardent and faithful workers in the anti-slavery cause. His father settled in Jennings county in pioneer days, in the very midst of a people noted for their pro-slavery sentiments. Strong in his convictions regarding the slaves, he made his house a station on the underground railway, hiding runaway slaves in it during the daytime, and at night taking them in a closed carriage to the next station. On account of their abolitionism they were persecuted and turned out of church.

Abner J. Guirl was born November 20, 1846, in Mount Union, Columbiana county, Ohio, and when eight years old was brought by his parents to Jennings county, Indiana. In the rude cabin built of round logs he obtained the rudiments of his education. It had a huge fireplace, plain slab seats, with neither backs nor desks, and a puncheon floor. During the Fremont campaign it was burned. Until sixteen years old he remained with his parents, and the following five years was employed in a saw and flour mill. Embarking then in the timber business, Mr. Guirl was thus engaged until 1890, building up a good trade. Settling then in Sullivan county, he purchased land and was there employed in tilling the soil until 1902, when he sold out. Since that time he has been a resident of Clay City, and has taken much interest in advancing its development and growth.

Mr. Guirl has been twice married. He married first, in July, 1869, Mary Farris, a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, where her death occurred in 1874. Mr. Guirl married second, in March, 1883, Emma E. Lewis. She was born in Noblesville, Hamilton county, Indiana, August 10, 1867, a daughter of George and Martha (Tay) Lewis, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Of this union three children have been born, namely: Eva May, bom March 23, 1884; Ora Leanna, born July 24, 1886, in Lapel, Madison county, Indiana; and Minnie Belle, born Novem¬ ber 12, 1895, near Graysville, Sullivan county, Indiana, died August 21, 1896. Eva May, whose birth occurred at Lapel, married Winfield O. Harris, and has two daughters, Hattie M. and Virginia. A man of strong religious tendencies, Mr. Guirl united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1876, but in 1890 became a Seventh-Day Adventist, and still holds to that belief. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and for a num¬ ber of years has served with fidelity and ability as a justice of the peace.

Edw ard Aarnink, of a substantial family of Dutch origin, was him¬ self born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 22nd of March, 1867. He is a son of Gerhard and Elizabeth (Huckride) Aarnink, his father being a native of the Netherlands and his mother of Germany. The former became a resident of Cincinnati about 1850, coming directly from the fatherland. He commenced work in this country as a teamster, married in the city named and resided there until 1869, when he came to Washington town¬ ship and bought eighty acres of improved land. Subsequently he made additions of twenty and sixty-four acres of bottom lands in Washington township, and still later bought another forty to increase his homestead. Thus finally the elder Mr. Aarnink was proprietor and operator of a fine farm of more than two hundred acres, and continued to cultivate and develop it until the time of his death, September 27, 1887. He was born in the Netherlands on the 5th of May, 1822. His widow still resides with her son Edward, and is a well preserved and honored pioneer of the township, born in the German fatherland on the 4th of Novem¬ ber, 1834.

Edward Aarnink is the sixth in order of birth in a family of four boys and three girls. After obtaining a fair education, at the age of nine¬ teen he commenced to work in a grocery at Terre Haute, the proprietor of which was F. W. Huff and the location No. 1300 East Main street. Two years after commencing this work he returned home, and on October 10, .1889, married Miss Annie Sonnefield. His wife was born in Cass township, Clay county, and is a daughter of Gerhard and Lydia (Knippe) Sonnefield. After his marriage Mr. Aarnink and his brother John bought thirty-six acres of land on the bottom, and after farming on this tract for about three years engaged in the mercantile business at Stearlyville. Three years of prosperous business was concluded by rather a disastrous fire, after which he returned to his farm, besides operating the paternal homestead. Mr. Aarnink is both a general farmer and a raiser of live stock, his specialties in the latter line being coach horses, Poll Angus cat¬ tle and Poland China hogs. Mr. and Mrs. Aarnink are the parents of one child - Hazel Marie, born on the 4th of February, 1896. He is firm in the faith of the German Reformed church, and since becoming an American citizen has always voted the Republican ticket.

Andrew J. McCullough. - In a history of Clay county it is impera¬ tive that mention be made of Andrew J. McCullough, who was one of the pioneer and native sons of the state and for many years a worthy and respected citizen of Brazil. He was born in Rush county, Indiana, December 8, 1836, and passed away December 29, 1904, at the age of sixty-eight years. His parents were James and Nancy (Fort) McCul- lough, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. They removed to Rush county, Indiana, in the early '30s and in 1842 came to Clay county, cast¬ ing in their lot with its pioneer residents.

Thus amid the wild scenes and environments of frontier life Andrew J. McCullough was reared. As his age and strength permitted he assisted more and more largely in developing the homestead farm, gaining a practical knowledge of agricultural life in its various departments. He not only performed the work of the fields but also made shingles and staves and was thus employed at home until eighteen years of age, when he left the parental roof and became an engineer. He was thus engaged until 1859, when he returned to agricultural life, being connected with general farming interests until November, 1861.

It was on that date that Mr. McCullough in response to his country's call for troops enlisted in Company H, of the Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry and marched over the mountains of Virginia and Maryland, con¬ tinuing at the front until mustered out of service in May, 1862. In the following July, however, he again joined the army, becoming a member of Company K, Seventy-eighth Indiana Infantry, for sixty days' service. He was taken prisoner at Munfordsville, Kentucky, September 10, 1862, and was paroled and mustered out of service about September 25, 1862. After his return home he accepted clerkship in a drug store and also gave some time to reading medical works, thinking that he would become a member of the medical fraternity later. In July, 1863, however, he pur¬ chased a provision store, which he conducted until January, 1865, when he disposed of his business and once more joined the army, becoming a member of Company A, Forty-third Indiana Infantry, with which he remained until the close of the war. He then returned home and again engaged in the provision business, but in 1867 he sold out in that line and became a partner of Mr. Croasdale in the drug business. A year later he disposed of his interest in that line and opened a photographic gallery, which he carried on for five years, when failing health forced him to retire from that field. He then accepted the appointment of Dep¬ uty United States marshal of Indiana and upon the expiration of his term in that office he was elected township assessor. His public service was ever characterized by unfaltering devotion to duty and a ready recogni¬ tion of the obligations which devolved upon him.

It was during the period of the Civil war that Mr. McCullough was married on the 14th of May, 1863, to Miss Melissa Davies, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, January 20, 1844, a daughter of William J. and Mary (Jones) Davies. Her father, a native of Wales, died in Johnson county, Illinois, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife was a native of Ohio and they were married in Butler county, that state, in May, 1842. Mr. Davies, crossing the Atlantic when a young man, located in Pitts¬ burg, Pennsylvania, where he' lived for a short time and then removed to Butler county, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Jones. He was a cooper by trade and followed that pursuit in the east. In May, 1857, however, he removed westward to Clay county, Indiana, and located south of Brazil on the Forest avenue road, securing a farm which he made his home until he lost his wife. He then removed to Johnson county, Illinois, where he carried on farming until his death. In all of his business deal¬ ings he was found reliable and trustworthy, being a man of undoubted integrity. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, was active in its work and also in the Sunday school, doing all in his power to pro- mote the moral development of the community. He was a well read man, keeping in touch with the world's progress and was most highly respected by all who knew him. His political allegiance was given to. the Whig party in early manhood, while later he became a stalwart advo¬ cate of the Republican party. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Davies were eight children, six of whom reached adult age, while five are now living : Melissa, now Mrs. McCullough; Margaret, the wife of Samuel Blair, a resident of Oklahoma; Martha, the wife of Homer Saliday, who resides in Brazil; Alice, the wife of Charlton Fairless, now making his home in Illinois; and Newton, who also resides in that state. - Mrs. McCullough's grandfather, James Nicholas, and his wife, Mary Morris, were natives of Wales and were prominent people of that country. The English gov¬ ernment of that day prohibited any of its subjects leaving Great Britain for America unless they were servants. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas attempted to come to the new world as passengers on a sailing vessel, but were arrested and prevented from doing so. They then sold all of their prop¬ erty and engaged as servants for a year in order that they might rightly claim that they had been in service and were therefore entitled to leave England if they so desired. This was about 1700, and having crossed the Atlantic they located east of the Alleghany mountains, where Martha Nicholas, the grandmother of Mrs. McCullough, was born. She mar¬ ried Tubal Jones, also a native of Wales. He was a man of literary tastes and a writer of some note, who also followed the occupation of farming.

Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McCullough became residents of Brazil, where Mr. McCullough spent his last days. In poli¬ tics he was an earnest, unfaltering Republican and throughout his entire life manifested the same spirit of loyalty in citizenship that he displayed when he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battle-fields. He was a very active and devoted member of Brazil Lodge, No. 215, I. O. O. F., also belonged to Iron City Encampment, No. 118, and to the sovereign grand lodge of the state. He was likewise connected with the Improved Order of Red Men, the Chosen Friends, the Good Tem¬ plars and the Grand Army of the Republic - associations which indi¬ cate much of the character of his principles and the rules of conduct which guided his life. All who knew him entertained for him warm regard, for he was ever considerate of the rights, wishes and privileges of others, was straightforward in his business dealings and progressive in his citizenship. Mrs. McCullough has been a member of the Christian church for the past twenty-eight years and a teacher of the Sunday school for the past thirty years. She has also been Sunday school treasurer for fifteen years, holding that position today, and her interest in church work is deep and abiding and has been an effective force in the growth of the organization here. She is a member of Mayflower lodge of Rebekahs and has a circle of friends that is constantly increasing as the circle of her acquaintances widens.

Bert Yocom, superintendent of the Brazil office of the Prudential Insurance Company, is well known in Clay county, being one of its intel¬ ligent as well as one of its representative citizens. He was born in Staunton, this county, in 1874. His father, William F. Yocom, was born in Dick Johnson township, Clay county, September 14, 1847, anc^ was a representative of one of the old pioneer families of this part of the state, being the fourth in order of birth in a family of ten children, whose father, Isom Yocom, came to Clay county from Kentucky in 1832 - the year in which the Black Hawk war occurred. Every evidence of pioneer life here existed. The forest trees stood in their primeval strength and the prairies were covered with their native grasses. Only here and there had a little cabin been built, showing that the seeds of civilization were being planted in this part of the state. The grandfather bore an active and helpful part in the general agricultural development of the community and was identified with various events which left their impress upon the pioneer history. His son, William F. Yocom, was here reared amid the wild scenes and environments of frontier life. He began teaching school when eighteen years of age and followed that profession for fifteen years or more. His early educational privileges were limited to the opportunities offered by the common schools, but being ambitious and persevering he gained by hard study and close application an educa¬ tion much in advance of the majority of the people of the day. Deter¬ mining to devote his energies to lines of life demanding intellectuality and close application he took up the study of law and in 1874 was admit¬ ted to the bar. He then practiced at Staunton until 1890, when he came to Brazil and was appointed Deputy County Auditor, and served until his death, July 15, 1892. He served as deputy sheriff of the county from 1875 until 1877, under J. B. Yocom, his uncle, and while he was filling that position the county records were removed from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Mr. Yocom assisting in this task. He was a member of Staunton lodge, A. F. and A. M., and acted as its master. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy and in citizenship he was pro¬ gressive and helpful. He married Miss Mary J. Reeder, who was born on the present site of Center Point, Clay county, Indiana, March 19, 1853. The wedding was celebrated March 19, 1874 - the twenty-first anniversary of the bride's birth. Mrs. Yocom is still living and by her marriage she became the mother of eight children, seven of whom sur¬ vive: Bert, Harvey C., Ross D., Bessie O., William F., Jr., Eugene F. and Nellie M.

Bert Yocom pursued his education in the graded schools of Staunton and at the age of sixteen years began teaching school. After following that profession for two years he entered the employ of the Baldwin Music Company, with which he continued for six years. He next engaged with the Brazil Steam Laundry and after two years spent in that way in 1901 he became connected with the Prudential Insurance Company as an agent. . On the 9th of April, 1902, he became local superintendent of the Brazil office and has since acted in this capacity, being one of the best known insurance men of his district.

On the 16th of September, 1906, Mr. Yocom was married to Miss Catherine Stewart, who was born near Morgan's Crossing, June 9, 1882, a daughter of James and Anna (Wimsey) Stewart. Her father was a native of Newburg, Kentucky, and her mother of Brazil, Indiana. Both are still living and Mr. Stewart is a coal miner. His political endorse¬ ment at the polls is given to the Democracy. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, namely: Mrs. Yocom, Della, Peter, Frank, Margaret, Paul and Helen.

Lmto Mr. and Mrs. Yocom has been born one son, William Francis. Mr. Yocom is a member of the Brazil Concert Band, with which he has been identified for thirteen years. He has always been a lover of music and finds great pleasure in his association with the band. His political allegiance is given to the Democracy, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to give his undivided attention to his business duties and interests.

William Armstrong. - A prosperous and progressive agriculturist of Van Buren township, William Armstrong is meeting with signal suc¬ cess in the prosecution of his independent calling, and in the meantime materially assists in maintaining the reputation of Clay county as a rich agricultural region. A son of Hugh Armstrong, he was born in Union township, Carroll county, Ohio, April 11, 1842. His grandfather, Will¬ iam Armstrong, migrated westward from West Virginia, going to Carroll county, Ohio, where he followed farming for a number of years. After the death of his wife he removed to Champaign county in the same state, and there spent with his children the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Hughill, was an invalid for many years, and died at the home of a brother in Steubenville, Ohio.

Having much natural mechanical ability, Hugh Armstrong learned the shoemaker's trade when young and followed it for some time. Com¬ ing to Indiana in 1864, he settled on the farm where his son William, the subject of this sketch, now lives, and there resided until his death at the age of seventy-two years. He married Elizabeth Allen, a daughter of William and Catherine Allen, of Somerset, Ohio. She died at the age of seventy-one years. Six children were born of their union, namely: Kate Ann, William, Nancy J., Jacob, Mary A. and Margaret.

Learning the carpenter's trade before attaining his majority, William Armstrong worked at it in Ohio until 1863, when he came to Indiana in search of a favorable place in which to invest a sum of money. Buying a tract of land in Van Buren township, he returned to his Ohio home and remained a year. In 1864 he came to Clay county to reside, arid two years later located on the place that he now owns and occupies. Having cut down a few of the giant trees with which the land was covered, he built a hewed log house, and into that his father's family moved. After locat¬ ing here, Mr. Armstrong worked at his trade some time, and as he had opportunity cleared his land from its heavy growth of timber. His farm is now well improved, and in a good state of cultivation, yielding abun¬ dantly of the crops common to this section of the country. A substantial residence replaces the small log cabin, and he has erected a roomy frame barn and set out a variety of fruit trees, increasing the value and beauty of his fine property.

In 1900 Mr. Armstrong married Esther Irvin, who was born in Jef¬ ferson county, Ohio. Her father, John Irvin, was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestors. Left an orphan at an early age, he came to this coun¬ try with an uncle, Joseph Dreer, who settled in Wheeling, West Vir¬ ginia. He was a natural mechanic, and for a time was engaged in shoe¬ making, afterwards being employed in the manufacture of brooms. He lived for a while in Jefferson county, Ohio, but not feeling contented there returned to West Virginia and spent his last years at Buffalo, Put¬ nam county, dying at the age of seventy. He married Jerusha Saner, who was born in Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry, a daughter of Adam Saner, and they became the parents of eleven children, namely: Joseph; Edward N. ; Isaiah ; Margaret A. ; Samuel G. ; John ; Rachel S. ; Rebecca J. ; Esther, now Mrs. Armstrong; Mary A.; and Adam.

Although mixing very little in public, affairs, Mr. Armstrong sup¬ ports the principles of the Democratic party at the polls. Airs. Arm¬ strong, faithful to the religious belief in wjiich she was reared, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which her parents be¬ longed.

Solomon Ream. - For more than half a century Solomon Ream has been a resident of Harrison township, having come here in early life, at a time when the cheapness of government land was a great inducement to men anxious to secure a home for themselves and their descendants. Cheap land did not mean a farm, but a tract of the virgin forest which could be cleared by hard and persistent toil alone, the brave pioneer woodsman in the meantime suffering trials, privations, and hardships undreamed of by the present generation. During the time that he has lived here, Mr.' Ream has been an interested witness of the various changes that have taken place, and has watched with pride and delight the rapid transformation of the heavily timbered land into a rich and productive agricultural country, he himself taking an active part in the labor therein involved. A son of Peter Ream, he was born October 6, 1826, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and there spent his earlier years.

A native of Pennsylvania, as far as known, Peter Ream was there a tiller of the soil until 1836, when he removed to Coshocton county, Ohio. Buying forty acres of timbered land, he devoted his energies to the clearing of a farm, remaining thus occupied until 1852, when he again started westward, coming to Clay county, Indiana. Here he pur¬ chased one hundred and twenty acres of land, a part of which had pre¬ viously been cleared, and a set of log buildings had been erected. Con¬ tinuing in his chosen occupation, he resided there until his death at the age of seventy-two years. He married Catherine Seller, who was born in Pennsylvania, and died on the home farm in Indiana. She reared nine children, as follows: Samuel, Andrew, Solomon, Eve, Catherine, Polly, Leah, Sarah and Barbara.

Completing his early education in the public schools of his Ohio home town, Solomon Ream remained there, busily employed, until 1853. In that year he came to Indiana, and being especially pleased with Clay county determined here to settle permanently. Therefore he bought on section sixteen, Harrison township, forty acres of heavily timbered land, on which he soon erected a hewed log house, after which he began in earnest the improvement of a homestead. A man of indomitable resolu¬ tion and perseverance, Mr. Ream met with excellent success in his untir¬ ing efforts, and on the farm which he reclaimed from the primeval wil¬ derness he has since resided. He has made wise investments of his money, buying other land, and at one time owned one hundred and eightyseven acres in Harrison township, and one hundred and twenty acres just over the line in Owen county. Retired from active labor, he is now spend¬ ing the sunset years of his life surrounded by his children, like the patri¬ arch of old, enjoying to the utmost the fruits of a well-spent life.

Mr. Ream married, in 1861, Hannah Mischler, who was born in Owen county, Indiana, of which her father, Emanuel Mischler,* was a pioneer settler. She died in July, 1878, leaving five children, namely: James, Leah, David, Mollie and Samuel.

Lewis Lutiier. - Among the veteran agriculturists of Clay county none is held in higher respect than Lewis Luther, now owning and occu¬ pying a well-kept farm in Lewis township. Industrious and enterprising, he toiled early and late during the active years of his career, and through his own unaided efforts achieved success in his undertakings, arising from a modest position to that of one of the representative men of his com¬ munity. A son of Thomas Luther, he was born in Randolph, North Carolina, April 24, 1824, of German ancestry. His grandfather, Jacob Luther, was, without doubt, born in Germany. For many years he resided in North Carolina, but came from there to Clay county, Indiana, and both he and his wife here spent their last days with their child, their bodies being laid to rest in the pioneer burying-ground at Bowling Green. He reared a large family, nearly all of whom settled in Clay county.

Thomas Luther was born, bred and married in North Carolina, liv¬ ing there until 1826. Then, with his wife and two children, he joined a small band of emigrants just starting westward, the party making the overland journey to Indiana with teams, two horses to a wagon, bringing with them all of their worldly possessions and camping and cooking by the way. Arriving in Clay county, Thomas Luther settled in Bowling Green, the county seat, which was then a small hamlet, with no frame structures, the dwellings, business houses, CQunty jail and court house all being constructed of logs. He was a blacksmith by trade, but had no opportunity to show' his skill in that line for quite a number of years, there being but little call for that kind of wrork. Deer, wild turkeys, squirrels and other kinds of game abounded, and for awhile he lived principally by hunting. He subsequently worked in a saw mill and a grist mill, and after awhile established a home and a smithy at Rawley's Mills. In 1838 he started with his family for Arkansas, but on account of bad roads made a temporary stop at Saint Louis, Missouri, wrhere he was taken ill, and died in February, 1839. His widow and her seven children immediately returned to Clay county, being accompanied by a widowed sister and her family, the two brave women putting all of their belongings into a wagon drawn by one horse, while they and their chil¬ dren walked almost all of the way home, being several weeks in making the trip. The mother settled with her family at Rawley's Mills, and with the aid of her children, all of whom were good workers, kept the family together. The mother, whose maiden name was Martha Bingham, subse¬ quently married for her second husband Levi Reed.

Lewis Luther began to be self-supporting at an early age, and in addition to helping his mother somewhat had at the age of nineteen years saved about forty dollars. The man whom his mother was soon to marry then gave him twelve and one-half dollars and he entered forty acres of government land in Lewis township, in section nineteen. He continued working by the month, however, at first receiving seven dollars a month, then eight dollars, besides his board, his wages finally being raised to nine dollars a month and board. During the time that he was thus employed Mr. Luther built a hewed log house on his land, and there his mother and her family lived until she married again. In the course of a few years Mr. Luther sold his land for one hundred and thirty dollars, and bought fifty-four and one-half acres in the Eel river bottoms. There he built a log house, but before it was occupied sold that tract and purchased prairie land in section twenty, Lewis township. After his marriage he began farming on rented land in this township, and continued until 1852, when he \v£nt with a two-horse team across the country to Iowa, being eighteen days on the road. Locating about two miles north of Des Moines, he was there living when the commissioners located the site for the present state capitol. There were then no railways in the state, and the people had to haul their produce to the Mississippi river, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles. He put in one crop,, living there until June, 1853, when he returned to Clay county, settled in section nineteen, Lewis township and built the log house in which the family lived until he replaced it with a frame house several years later. In 1885 Mr. Luther moved with his family to Clay City, but a few months afterwards returned to Lewis township, locating on the farm which he had previously pur¬ chased and has since made this his home.

On April 10, 1850, Mr. Luther married Sarah Wilson, who was born in Putnam county, Indiana, December 8, 1831, a daughter of William Wilson. Her grandfather, Thomas Wilson, was a pioneer settler of Woodford county, Kentucky, locating there when the Indians were plen¬ tiful and hostile towards the whites, being so very aggressive that while he was at work clearing the land his wife, who was an expert shot, had to watch for the foe with a rifle. On the farm that he cleared he spent the remainder of his life. His wife survived him and came to Indiana to live with her children, and died in Sullivan county at the remarkable age of one hundred and four years. William Wilson was born in Wood¬ ford county, Kentucky, and in Bourbon county, that state, married Ellen Hathman. About 1830 he came with his wife and eight children to Put¬ nam county, Indiana, locating two and one-half miles east of Greencastle, where he lived a number of seasons. In 1839 he settled in Pierson town¬ ship, Vigo county, but a few years later sold out and moved to Nevins township, Vigo county, where he remained until 1852. Selling out in that year he went to Warren county, Iowa, where he resided until his death in the summer of 1853. His widow survived him, dying in 1854.

Mr. and Mrs. Luther have one son, Jacob Luther. He was born November 7, 1852, in Nevins township, Vigo county. He married Randy Crist, who was born in Lewis township, a daughter of Henry W. and Lucinda Crist. Genevra, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Luther, married Charles Boston, of Sullivan county, and they have two children, Jerrold Judson and Madeline. When Jerrold Judson Boston was an infant he had four great-grandfathers living, and his picture, with his father, two grandfathers and the four great-grandfathers, was taken, forming a group interesting to others aside from the immediate family and relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Luther are highly esteemed and respected, and are worthy members of the United Brethren church.

Herbert E. Sutton. - Among the sturdy, energetic and successful agriculturists of Clay county who are thorough masters of their calling and are therefore enabled to follow it with profit to themselves and the general progress of the community is Herbert E. Sutton, of Harrison township, who is widely and favorably known individually and as presi¬ dent of the Clay County Farmers' Institute. A son of Alonzo Sutton and descendant of a pioneer family, he was born on the 5th of November, 1870, being a native of Putnam county, Indiana. David Sutton, his grandfather, came to Indiana from Ohio in 1855, and after residing for a time in Jackson township, Clay county, purchased a tract of timber land in Washington township, Putnam county, where he subsequently improved the homestead on which he lived until his death at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Price, survived him until she had reached the age of four score years and four.

Alonzo Sutton, the father, was of a family of five children. Pie was born in Clermont county, Ohio, in 1845, and when ten years old came with his parents to Indiana, attending the district schools of Washington township, Putnam county, and assisting his father in the clearing of the homestead land and the improvement of the farm. When ready to establish a homestead on an independent basis, he purchased land near the parental homestead in Washington township, a portion of this tract being cleared and having a log cabin as another feature of its improve¬ ments. With, the brightening of his agricultural prospects and actual condition as well, he bought adjoining land, including the old home farm, and is now the owner of a valuable estate of two hundred acres. He has erected substantial farm buildings, made other improvements and has all the appointments of a modern farmer and the prosperous urbanite. The elder Mr. Sutton married Miss Sarah C. Hutcheson, daughter of Peyton and Keziah (Morelan) Hutcheson, and their six children are Albert Luther, Herbert E., Clifford P., William H. H., James A. and Nellie P. Sutton.

Of a studious nature, Herbert E. Sutton was given excellent educa¬ tional advantages, attending the public schools, the Central Normal Col¬ lege at Danville, and the State Normal School at Terre Haute. At the age of eighteen he began teaching in the Black Hawk district, Washing¬ ton township, after which he taught one term in the primary school at Manhattan, three terms in Hutton (Vigo county) and eleven terms in Harrison township - a record of service that speaks for itself of his suc¬ cess as an educator. In 1897 he returned to the calling of his forefathers by renting land in Harrison township and engaging in general agricul¬ tural operations. Later he bought a fine tract in the fertile valley of the Eel river, and since that time has been very extensively employed in general farming, both as a renter and an owner of land. He gives spe¬ cial attention to the raising of grain, with corn as his chief and most certain crop.

On March 23, 1897, Mr. Sutton married Miss Sophronia Miller, a native of Sullivan, Indiana, where she was born on the 13th of January, 1872. At the time she was also a successful teacher, being a lady of thorough education and pedagogical training. After completing the graded course at Sullivan, Mrs. Sutton spent three years in the Terre Haute High School and a like period at the Indiana State Normal, after which she taught four years in Benton county and two years in Vigo county. Her father, James E. Miller, is now living in Danville, Illinois, and was one of the pioneers of Sullivan county, Indiana. He is a native of Edgar county, Illinois, but when five years of age came with his father to that section of Indiana. He is a veteran of the Union army, and although he saw much active service and survived the dangers of the battle-field, he nevertheless narrowly escaped with his life, for while guarding a bridge he received a shock from a lightning bolt which nearly terminated his career and from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. His service in the Civil war was as a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Miller married Miss Nancy J. Parker and their offspring are Sophronia (Mrs. Sutton) and Robert P. Miller. Robert and Mary Parker, the parents of Mrs. Miller, were pioneers of Vigo county, locating in Lost Creek township, her place of birth, and purchasing the farm on which they spent their last years. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Sutton have three children, viz: James H., May C. and Edith L. Mr. Sutton's fraternal membership is with the F. & A. M. (Clay City Lodge, No. 562) ; he is a Republican in politics.

IIon\ Ralph W. Moss was born on a farm adjoining Ashboro, in section 17, Clav county, April 21, 1862, and for a number of years has been prominent in the business life of this community and active in its political councils. He is one of the brightest and best senators the dis¬ trict has ever had, and was elected to that high office in November, 1904, for Clay and Owen counties. I11 the session of 1907 he was elected to represent Clay and Vigo counties in the state senate.

The Moss family is one of the oldest and best known in Clay county. In 1826 George Moss, the grandfather of Ralph W., and a son of George and Lydia (Bilderback) Moss, located with his parents in Sugar Ridge township, Clay county, where the senior Mr. Moss entered several hun¬ dred acres of timber land. The wife of George Moss, Jr., was Zorada A. Jenkins, and among their children was James T. Moss, the father of Ralph W. He was horn on the 6th of December, 1837, in Sugar Ridge township, and always resided here, a carpenter, contractor and mill owner. He built a grist mill at Ashboro in 1868, but this was burned in August, 1871, when full of grain, and he thereby sustained heavy losses. In his early manhood his father gave him a few acres of land, and he added to it from time to time until he owned, at the time of his death, a farm above the average in acreage and one of the finest and most pro¬ ductive in the state of Indiana. Mr. Moss never in all his life attended a show of any kind, and never joined a church or society excepting the Grand Army of the Republic, his services in the Civil war entitling him to membership in that order. He enlisted August 11, 1862, in Company I, Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out June 12, 1865, with the rank of second lieutenant. He served his township one year as an assessor, and was elected to the state legislature in 1890.

James T. Moss married Sarah E. Eppert, who was born in Perry county, Ohio, March 17, 1839, a daughter of Edward and Sena (Wil¬ kins) Eppert, natives respectively of Baltimore, Maryland, and Ohio, and a granddaughter of Jacob and Susanna (Bown) Eppert. The eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Moss, Alvernon P., born August 16, 1859, died on the 15th of May, 1891. He always resided on the home farm and had mar¬ ried Hattie Grayson, born in Iowa in 1866, and had one child, Harry A. He was born January 3. 1888, and with his mother now resides with Mrs. Moss and her son Ralph.

Ralph W. Moss supplemented his common-school training by attend¬ ance of one year at Purdue University, and after the close of his school days was associated with his father and brother in conducting a general farming business, and also taught school for ten years during the winter months. Since his father's death he has had entire supervision of the homestead, and since 1905 he has been conducting his cattle feeding on the principles advocated by the experimental station at Purdue University. He has never married, and resides with his mother and brothers on the old Moss farm. He gives his political allegiance to the Democratic party, and is a member of the blue lodge, chapter, commandery and the Eastern

Star of the Masonic fraternity. He served as master of Center Point lodge No. 597 for several years, and is a charter member of Brazil commandery and also of the blue lodge of Center Point. His religious affilia¬ tions are with the Universalist church.

Senator Moss was nominated by the Democratic party for congress¬ man in the fifth congressional district May 26, 1908, and was elected in November of the same year.

Louis Schauwecker. - Occupying a place of importance among the leading merchants of Harrison township is Louis Schauwecker, of Clay City, the senior member of the firm of Schauwecker & Crabtree, dealers in hardware, furniture, and implements. A man of tried and trusted integrity, upright in his dealings, he is held in high respect throughout the community in which he resides. A son of Jacob Schauwecker, he was born August 30, 1851, in Coshocton county, Ohio, of German ancestry.

Jacob Schauwecker was born, reared and educated in Wurtemberg, Germany, and there served an apprenticeship at the tanner's trade. He afterwards went to France, and for a number of years followed his trade in Paris. Then, accompanied by three of his brothers, he came to the United States. Two of the brothers settled in New York, but the third brother, Fred Schauwecker, located in Coshocton county, Ohio, where Jacob joined him. Subsequently going to Bedford, Ohio, Jacob Schau¬ wecker there took unto himself a wife, and for a few years worked at his trade in that locality. In 1853, with his wife and children, he came to Indiana, settling in Clay county. Here he bought forty acres of land, upon which there was a clearing of two acres and a small log cabin, into which the family moved. Soon afterwards he entered a tract of heavily timbered government land, established a tannery, and for about twenty years worked at his trade, and at the same time superintended the im¬ provement of his homestead. He occupied the original log cabin but a short time, replacing it with a substantial house made of hewed logs, later building a commodious frame house. The last years of his life he devoted his attention entirely to farming, the many valuable improvements that he had made giving him all the comforts of an eastern home. He lived to a good old age, passing away in 1885. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Weinz, was born in Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry, and died a year before he did, in 1884. They were the parents of six children, namely: Mary M., Louis, Louise M., Gotlieb, Saloma and Matilda. Saloma married Frederick Burkey and moved to Missouri, where a few years later her death occurred. The other children are all married and reside in Clay county.

But two years old when he was brought by his parents to Clay county, Louis Schauwecker has no recollection of any other home than this, his adopted one. The pioneer log house in which he attended school was rude in construction, with a puncheon floor, slab seats without backs, and no desks, a board placed against the wall serving instead, and the scholars taking turns in writing upon it. It had no windows, a board being raised to admit light. In his boyhood the family lived in true pio¬ neer style, depending upon the productions of the soil and the game to be found in the forest for their subsistence, and wearing garments made by the mother from materials which she carded, spun and wove from either flax or wool grown on the farm. Reared to habits of industry, Louis began when a lad to assist in the tan yard, and afterwards on the farm.

Subsequently, assuming the responsibilities of a married man, he located in Owen county, where for two years he operated a saw mill. Returningthen to Harrison township, he was for a number of years engaged in agricultural pursuits, at the same time operating a threshing machine. Coming to Clay City in 1890, Mr. Schauwecker embarked in business as a dealer in furniture and hardware, and has continued until the present time, his son-in-law, George P. Crabtree, being now associated with him. This enterprising firm has built up an extensive and lucrative business, carrying a full line of furniture, heavy and shelf hardware, stoves, car¬ riages, and farm implements of all descriptions, and having a trade in these goods that is not surpassed in this part of the state.

Mr. Schauwecker was married, in 1874, to Hannah Gonser. She was born in Bowen county, Indiana, a daughter of Eli and Ellen Gonser, both of whom were horn in Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Schauwecker are the parents of four children, namely: Nora B., Catherine A., William M. and Edgar J.

Georoe Charles Hoffman. - Coming from thrifty and substantial German ancestry, and the representative of a prominent pioneer agricul¬ turist of Clay county, George C. Hoffman has during his entire life been intimately associated with the farming interests of this part of Indiana. Energetic and enterprising, he is carrying on his chosen vocation in a businesslike manner, his well cultivated farm, with its substantial dwelling and good barn and outbuildings, being indicative of his industry and good management. A son of Conrad Hoffman, he was born March 19', 1854, in Posey township, Clay county. His grandparents on the paternal side were lifelong residents of Bavaria, the only members of their family to emi¬ grate to this country having been their sons, Charles and Conrad. Charles located in Posey township, and there spent the remainder of his life, em¬ ployed in tilling the soil.

Born in Bavaria, Conrad Hoffman came to America in 1853, being nine weeks in sailing across the Atlantic. Locating immediately in Clay county, he bought one hundred acres of land in Posey township, in section twelve, and in the log cabin which had previously been built his son George Charles was subsequently born. Brazil was then a mere hamlet, and the surrounding country was a wilderness. The railroads had been very recently built, and the railway station was a small log cabin standing in the midst of the thick woods. When he first came here he used to take his grist to the mill at Cloverland on horseback, fol¬ lowing a path made by blazed trees. Clearing a good homestead, he resided here until his death, at the age of sixtv-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Eve Falcott, was also born and bred in Bavaria. She came to this country on the same sailing vessel that he did, and they were married immediately after landing. She died in December, 1900, in Posev township. She bore her husband five children, namely : George C., Annie B.. Annie Catherine, John P. and Barbara.

Beginning as a boy to assist his father in clearing a homestead, George Charles Hoffman remained beneath the parental roof-tree until ready to set up an establishment of his own. When he married his father gave him seventy-four acres of land in section fourteen, Perry township, land that is included in his present farm. Moving with his bride into the log cabin, with its frame addition, he lived there five years. Capable and industrious, Mr. Hoffman met with success' from the first, and as years sped on field after field was added to his original farm, the log cabin has been replaced by a substantial frame house, good outbuild¬ ings have been erected, and he has now two hundred and twenty-four acres of fertile land in one body. He has made valuable improvements on the place, setting out a large variety of fruit trees of all kinds, and is known far and wide as a successful and prosperous farmer.

On February 17, 1878, Mr. Hoffman married Annie Barbara Holdefer, who was born March 23, 1855, in Hancock county, Indiana, a daughter of John Holdefer, a native of Bavaria. John Holdefer and his brother George were the only members of his family to come to the United States. George settled in Butler county, Ohio, making that his permanent home. John Holdefer was a young man when he bade good¬ bye to home and friends and came to America to establish a home. After living for awhile in Butler county, Ohio, he married, and with his young wife came to Hancock county, Indiana. A few months later he settled in Clay county, buying a tract of land in Posey township. Assuming pos¬ session of the log cabin standing on the place, he at once began the work of reclaiming a farm from the forest, and was there employed in tilling the land the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of seventyseven years. The rrfaiden name of his wife was Eve Teifel. She was born in Bavaria, a daughter of George Teifel, who emigrated from his native land to America and lived for a short time in Ohio. From there he came to Posey township, Indiana, where he improved land and lived for a number of years. After his children had grown up and married Mr. Teifel went to Charleston, Illinois, where his death occurred the following year. Mrs. Eve (Teifel) Holdefer died at the early age of thirty-two years, leaving a family of children, of whom four grew to years of maturity, as follows: Elizabeth; Annie Barbara, wife of Mr. Hoffman; John; and George. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have two children, namely: Sophia and Jacob H. The son is associated with his father in farming. Sophia married Albert Taggart, and has four children, Carl, Fred, Annie and Alvah Agnes. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman are members of the German Lutheran church.

Samuel G. Ralston, secretary and treasurer of the Indiana Mer¬ cantile Company and who is also the manager of the same company, is well known as a representative business man whose alert, enterprising spirit and keen discernment enable him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He was born in Waverly, Morgan county, Indiana, September 22, 1856, his parents being James G. and Mary Jane Ralston. The father was born in county Donegal, Ireland, of Scotch parentage on the 29th of August, 1825, and died at Amo, Indiana, March 17, 1889. His wife, who was a native of Hendricks county, Indiana, born May 10, 1835, passed away April 17, 1891. Mr. Ralston had come to America in 1847, being forty-two days on the ocean, as passenger on a sailing vessel which at length dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. Subsequently he located near Columbus, Ohio, where he remained for a short time and then removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was married. Later he removed to Amo, Indiana, where he engaged in general merchandising and was also agent there for the Vandalia Railroad Company from 1858 until 1874. He continued to carry on general merchandising for many years, or until within a short time prior to his death, and was well known as a reliable, enterprising business man. He was a member of the Presbyterian church in early life but as there was no church of that denomination in the locality in which he settled he joined the Methodist Episcopal church. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party but while he kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day he never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business interests, which were carefully managed. Unto him and his wife were born five children.