Johnson County, Indiana - Chapter 6, 1888 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 6

'EOGRAPHICALLY, Johnson County lies south of the center of Indiana. It comprises an area of 320 square miles, or 211,206 acres of land. In form it is a true parallelogram, measuring, from east to west, sixteen miles, and, from north to south, twenty miles. This county is bounded, on the north, by Marion; on the east, by Shelby; on the south, by Bartholomew and Brown, and on the west, by Morgan County. Franklin, the county seat, is twenty miles south of Indianapolis. Originally, the whole county was an unbroken forest, with a dense undergrowth, much of it regarded as worthless, being wet and swampy. Other portions were supposed to be so broken as to prevent successful cultivation. Under energetic and progressive agriculture, these difficulties have been annihilated; every marsh has been made a marvel of fertility, and every hillside a mine of wealth.

Topography. - The surface features of Johnson County are very simple. A bird's-eye view of its whole extent would reveal a general outline as follows: A broad, high ridge, beginning in the northern part and gradually growing higher as it extended to the south, would be observed in the central part of the county. It would appear to be a sort of flattened ridge, in a crescent form,, with the convex side westward. From this elevated center, a gentle slope would be observed on both sides, in the northern part of the county ; but, as it extended toward Brown County, the slope would appear more abrupt and precipitous. On the eastern side, this descent, in places, as in Nineveh Township, would be quite abrupt, making the boldly escarped hills of that township. On the western side, the descent has caused the streams to cut deep channels, rendering much of the land very broken. To the east and south, would be stretched away, as far as the eye could reach, a broad, alluvial plain, covering the whole area of Clark, Needham and Blue River townships. To the west and south, would be seen the bold bluffs of White River, running' sheer up to the eroded channel of its waters. West of the northern extremity of this ridge, would be seen a broad valley, extending to the White River, threaded by Honey Creek and Pleasant Run. This surface outline reveals the hvdrography of the countv.

The ridge is the watershed, and upon its summit all the streams originate. The flattened ridge, in the north, forms broad plateaus that were originally swamps, but now, thanks to thorough drainage, they are so no longer. These swamps are, really, the highest land in the county, and not the lowest, thus facilitating their reclamation. Many of the ditches made to drain them continue to cut deeper channels, instead of filling up. From this summit region the streams all flow either southwest or southeast, emptving into Blue River or White River, according to their relation to the ridge. White River touches the county on the northwest, cutting off about 1,000 acres, and Blue River touches the southeast corner, cutting off about 1,400 acres. It will be- seen, thus, that the whole of Johnson County is a watershed, lying between these two rivers.

The streams that flow down its slopes, or plunge down its descents, are numerous and beautiful. Sugar Creek is the main stream of the eastern slope. It receives, in Needham Township, through Little Sugar Creek, nearly the whole of the drainage of Clark Township. Young's Creek, with its tributaries, Indian, Moore's, Burkhart's and Hurricane creeks, drain the concave side of the crescent ridge. Gathering, thus, the whole volume of water from this level basin, it finallv empties into Sugar Creek, near Amity, in the northwest part of Blue River Township. From the southern and highest part of the ridge, Nineveh Creek sweeps down a narrow ravine, excavated by its plowing waters. Its channel is simply a gorge, with high and precipitous clay banks. On the western side of this ridge, Indian Creek begins with its various tributaries. These streams, like all running in that direction, descend to the valley of White River, through deep channels, not all of them, however, of recent origin, for some of them have evidently adopted the channels of ancient glacial streams.

The other streams are, Stott's Creek, with its tributaries, and Crooked and Coot's creeks. These last streams are small, and, indeed, none on the western side of the countv are large enough to afford mill power. Occupying, as they do, rocky gorges, they are quite dry during most of the year. Some, at points where there are springs flowing, make a rill, useful only as a supply of water for stock. Sugar Creek is the only stream of the county that furnishes adequate mill power, and along its banks a number of large mills have been erected. This topographical outline puts before us the various topographical features of this county. We have the form, and are now ready for the structure and constituents. Observations throughout the county, with measurements of many widely separated exposures and outcrops, give the following connected section:

Recent Geology. - It being the fact that all geological formations are the results of successive depositions of material, the lower deposits, if undisturbed, are the older, and the rocks are later, successively, until we reach the surface, where the latest formations are found. These later deposits, as seen by the section given, are very heavy in Johnson County, and present many features of interest.

These formations present three varieties in Johnson County. The ridges of the southern part, in Nineveh and Hensley townships, are capped with Loess, a yellow or buff-colored sediment. It has much siliceous material, but little coarse sand, and is easily removed fry currents of water. The hills are accordingly cut into gullies and gorges, with abrupt sides. The valleys in many places are filled up with the lacustral from the hills. The loess bed extends, in a wedge-shaped tract, almost to Trafalgar. In the western point of Hensley and Union townships, a large extent of light gray soil was observed, which is also assigned to this period. Slight changes were observed in several localities, where these fine-grained sedimentary deposits are replaced by silt, a sandy deposit made by slowly moving currents of shallow water. These lacustral deposits are simply fragments of a great area of loess that covered several counties of Indiana, thus cut up into isolated areas, in later transformations of surface, by erosion and denudation. The ancient lake bed is thus the*level ol the highest ridges, and the soil that caps them the sedimentary deposit of its quiet waters. Underneath these alluvial and lacustral beds, throughout the county, is found the glacial drift. It is either obscurely unstratified or modified, and in one form or the other, or both, it covers the rocky substratum of the whole county. The alluvial of Sugar Creek valley rests upon modified drift. But the lacustral deposits of the high southern ridge as far as observed, lie above deposits of undisturbed drift, the latter being, in general, compact blue clays filled with angular, fragmental rocks. This formation is evidently the foundation of the primeval glacial deposits.

This glacial drift varies greatly in thickness, ranging from only a few feet to over a hundred, wells that deep not having reached its base. The probability is that its thickness over this region was quite uniform, and that what remains in place is the undisturbed portion of a great mass of drift material. As far as seen, this part of the drift, throughout the county, was quiet uniform. ^ The variations of the surface are very marked, being lacustral, fluviatile, or alluvial, but the identity of this blue' clay that superimposes the sandstone is clearly apparent. Dig where you will, on the great central ridge of this country, this blue clay will be found at varying depths. It, like the others, gets its name from its origin. The alluvial is formed by the wash and overflow of streams; the lacustral by the slow accumulation of sediment in quiet waters; the glacial drifts were formed by the action of great masses of moving ice.

The local details of the drift in Johnson County, furnish a good exposition of glacial phenomena. The primeval glacier extended over the whole of Johnson County, there being evidence that it covered the whole of Brown County, save the summit of " Weedpatch Hill," the, northern ridge of Brown County became a great barrier in the pathway of the glacier. The changed climate came on slowly. The melting ice causes the gradual recession of the glacier. Its dissolution sets new agencies into operation. Torrents of water begin the re-assortment of the drift. As the glacier withdrew, its detritus of bowlders, sand, and clay is subjected to the action of these fluviatile floods. The original deposit of the glacier is unstratified bowlder drift; the foundation is of blue clay, or hardpan that underlies the surface deposits. The glacier did not recede uniformly. Its progress backward was varied with periodical advances. Nor was its retreat equal in every latitude. Surface elevation, and the nature of the underlying formations, would affect the dissolution of the ice mass. Tongues of the glacial ice would extend southward. Along elevated ridges, waters, rushing down, would conspire in the construction of deep, broad channels, where the excavation was the easiest. That would "be the locality where the surface was lowest and the underlying formations most susceptible of erosion.

This was the process of glacial action in Johnson County. The great central ridge of the county was covered with ice after it had wholly disappeared in the eastern side of the county. Indeed, it appears, from conditions observed, that the whole valley of Sugar Creek was a portion of what is now definitely known to science as "Collett's Glacial River." Through this region, comprising three townships, there is evidence of deep erosion. There is no outcrop of the substratum, save one exposure of the black shale. The deposits are all fluviatile, modified bowlder drift, either as a pebbly clay, with pockets of sand, or large and wide-spread deposits of obliquely stratified sand and gravel. Throughout this region, large bowlders are rarely found. The western shore of this ancient channel is well defined. In the southern part of the county are boldly out-lined hills of the knobstone formation. Some of them are plainly terraced, as particularly one on "Montrose farm," in Section 34, Nineveh Township. From the top of this hill there is a magnificent view of this ancient valley- Its eastern shore, the highest lands in Shelby County, stands out in distant outlines. This hill is 140 feet above the valley at its base, and 207 feet above Edinburg, six miles to the east, and located on the alluvial and fluviatile deposits in the bed of this ancient river. In the northeastern part of the county, this outline is not less distinctly, though not so abruptly and grandly defined. On the map, it coincides almost exactly with the course of the Hurricane Creek. Observation revealed the striking fact that this stream, with an almost due south course, followed the eastern limit of the modified bowlder drift. This is seen in the fact that the western bluff of the stream is the highei for a distance of seven miles, and that this higher bluff, throughout this whole extent, is full of bowlders, while none were observed on the eastern side. West of Hurricane, the bowlder clays are thick and undisturbed; but on the east, the soil is sandy and loamy, with local gravel deposits, just as observed elsewhere throughout this ancient valley. This shore line, beginning thus in the northern part of this county, continues, with this general southern course, to the southern part of the state.

Prof. John L. Campbell has conjectured that at the time of greatest flow in this channel, the southern terminus of the glacier was not far south of Indianapolis. There is evidence of this, not only in the fact that the western shore disappears in this region, but that the crescent-like ridge of this county sweeps around to the east with a sharp curve, outlining to the observer, a mighty mass of drift material that is a notable feature in the northern part of Pleasant and Clark townships. It extends from Greenwood, eastward, with its axial line running a little south of east. It is a ridge well marked by the hundreds of bowlders that are strewn along its surface. Near Greenwood, the railroad crosses this ridge at an elevation of 840 feet above the sea, this being the highest point on the railroad between Indianapolis and Louisville. The eastern terminus of this ridge is in Section 4, Clark Township, at which it is rounded by Leatherwood Creek. Throughout its course, no deposits of gravel were seen. The bowlders are everywhere thickly studded in a solid matrix of clay. Near Rocklane, a multitude of unusually large ones were seen, sometimes hundreds of them in an area of a few acres, many of them ten to fifteen feet in length and weighing many tons. On the farm of Mr. W. F. Kimuck, in Section 36, Clark Township, one was measured, showing the following dimensions: Length over top, 18 feet, 1 inch; circumference, 41 feet, 10 inches; height above ground, 5 feet. Near this monster were a number of immense proportions.

There are a number of localities where a heavy removal of clay is revealed by the abundance of bowlders exposed, notably in Nineveh Township, Section 16. The whole mass of undisturbed bowlder clays of the central part of this county are more or less filled with these massive, eratic rocks. Most of them are granitic. Occasionally a feldspathic or chistose bowlder is seen. A few large fragments of limestone, usually filled with Devonian fossils were noted; one weighing several thousand pounds was seen in a deep ravine, near Barnes' Creek, in Hensley Township, Section 17.

Proof that large volumes of water, at one time, flowed through these passage-ways of this glacial ridge, is found in the fact that, in the deep channels of the creeks in Hensley Township, deposits of gravel are found. In many places they occupy positions with reference to the clay and sandstone that show the direction of flow as being from the northeast. Two beds of gravel on Barnes' Creek were examined, having the usual oblique and alternating stratification of such fluviatile deposits. Both were on the west bank of the valley, the one in Section 17, facing a bluff with an exposure of sandstone capped by about 30 feet of clay. The current that cast up this sand-bank came down this valley from the northeast. Similar conditions were observed in other valleys, many of the low points in these deep gorges being simply deposits of the post-glacial streams.

Where the region to the northeast of this central ridge is examined, it reveals the fact that these fluviatile waters wrought wonders in re-assorting the drift. North and east and south of Frank- lin, extensive deposits of sand and gravel exist. In their arrangement there is a general trend to the southwest. The sand ridge beginning at Franklin runs southwest, without interception, for several miles, where it is intersected by a small stream, but it appears again in the west, in Sections 29 and 30, Franklin Township. The sand and gravel at Mount Pleasant Church is a continuation of the ridge south of Franklin.

Another conspicuous deposit of sand and gravel, and probably the most remarkable, is the " Donnell Mound," Section 8, Franklin Township. It is an illustration of the effect of rluviatile waters, and it shows well their southwestern course. The northeast side of this mound is abrupt; and the southwest side, sloping gently toward Young's Creek, presents a talus, showing the direction of the current. The sand and gravel at Hopewell and vicinity is all of the same origin. The "Donnell Mound" presents a section of alternate layers of sand and clay and gravel, showing well the " flow and plunge" structure. The mound is about ninety feet above the bed of Young's Creek. From its rounded summit there is an interesting view of a region of wondrous fertility and beauty. While these floods were re-assorting portions of the glacial drift in the central part of the county, the eastern parts were wholly submerged. Clark Township was a broad flood-plain, and in Sugar Creek Valley the waters had more current; hence the casting up of the great sand deposits, characteristic of this region. The elevated portions of Needham Township, notably on the land of L. Waggoner, in Section 18, and of W. Duckworth, in Section 15, are excellent examples of these fluviatile deposits. They overlie large areas in Blue River Township. All of these deposits bear a marked resemblance throughout the county, and all are contemporaneous in origin.

The only departure from this rule, that was observed, was a gravel deposit in Section 20, Hensley Township. This formation is apparently near the base of the glacial drift, being overlaid by from thirty to forty feet of bowlder clay and loess deposits. From observation, this bed of gravel is present through quite an area of drift, and is not a mere pocket of sand and gravel, as such deposits usually are in unstratified drifts. The formation is, on an average, about ten feet thick, and, as far as seen, shows a regular, horizontal stratification. The alternating layers of fine sand and gravel are from six to ten inches thick, and all are charged with various mineral solution, that gave the whole deposit a variegated appearance. The bands are reddish-brown, ash-gray, blue, and yellow, features of chemical discoloration not seen in any gravel deposits elsewhere in the county. In many, the ordinary coloring of red oxide of iron was seen, but nothing with these features of color and stratification.

Geology

This deposit, probably, antedates the general fluviatile modifications of the drift, and was formed at the first advance of the glacier^ under the action of the waters attending its periodic advance and retreat, and, as thus deposited, finally deeply covered with drift, when the glacier reaches its culmination. The contrast of condition between this gravel bed and the one on Barnes' Creek, just one mile west, is very striking. The one lies above the drift, with oblique stratifications; and the other below it, with regular layers. The covering of the gravel pit on Barnes' Creek, is black alluvium; of this one, the covering is of the most compact clay, so hard and firm that it could onlv be removed by blasting. The relative antiquity of these two adjacent deposits is thus suggested. An epoch of geological history probably intervenes them.

Along the bluffs of the White River, the peculiar phenomena of the glacial and post-glacial periods are observed. On this side of the central ridge of the county, the fluviatile floods apparently had not the advantage of long continued erosion. Instead of filling up a wide valley, already excavated, the great flood performed the Herculean task of cutting a channel through the sandstone ridge that extended, in bold outlines, across its course. This fluviatile erosion of the ancient valley of White River is thus seen to be a later event in geologic history than the formation of the " Collett Glacial River," which was the product of glacial action previously. This sandstone formation was probably capped with a heavy drift deposit. Through this barrier the water found its way, having, as the shore of its channel, the bold bluffs of White River, at Waverly and Far West. The bluffs mark the eastern limit of the Knobstone formation. Instead of following the outline of the outcrop, as in " Collett Glacial River " valley, the waters are compelled to cut directly across the barrier, because of the ridge on the east. . North of Smith's valley there is a broad level plain, covered deeply with alluvium. Parallel with the present channel of White River, there are, in many places, detached ridges of sand and gravel, the axial lines of which lie northeast and southwest, coincident with the course of the ancient river. Some of these sand deposits are very thick. In several places they are piled directly upon the sandstone, all the clay having been removed. The sand and gravel gradually disappear as we go east from Far West, showing that these deposits were limited to that ancient channel. The high lands of Sections c, 16, etc., of White River Township, are the eastern shore of glacial drift, of superimposing sandstone strata. From the county line, one mile south of Far West, this elevation affords a magnificent view of the ancient valley, now threaded by the comparatively diminutive and meandering channel of White River. Observation and inquiry in various parts of the county reveal the fact that buried timber and leaves are frequently found, under such conditions as to position and distribution as to indicate a glacial and not " forest-bed " origin. The wood was apparently that of conebearing species, and found usually imbedded, at irregular depths, in clays. In Section 21, Franklin Township, at the bottom of a well twenty feet deep, leaves and twigs were found in the clay; and in Section 20, three-fourths of a mile west, fragments of wood were taken out thirty-five feet below the surface. These remains all seem to be isolated and fragmentary - not a portion of a buried forest, but particles of wood and debris, dislodged and ground up by the moving glacier, and deposited finally with its detritus.

In Section 12, of Hensley Township, just south of Trafalgar, on the farm of J. J. Moore, is a formation of tufa that is quite extensive and interesting. There is above it a deposit of gravel, much of it is cemented firmly together; beneath it lies a mass of calcareous tufa, or " honey-comb limestone." It contains perfectly preserved outlines of sticks, grass, moss, and leaves. The formation is produced by the filtration of water through the soil, which is highly charged with mineral ingredients, in this instance particularly, calcareous matter. The water becoming thus charged with lime, deposits a thin layer upon any object that it may cover; hence, the leaves and moss lying where such waters issue will, sooner or later, have their material replaced with carbonate of lime, and, so, perfect casts are preserved and these curious formations are produced. For this reason these tufaceous deposits are usually observed in the vicinity of springs.

Paleozoic Geology. - The substrata of Johnson County comprises two different formations - one of the Carboniferous Age and the other Devonian. The Sub-carboniferous period is represented by the Knobstone group or epoch, that underlies the drift throughout the western portion of the county. The Devonian is represented by the black shale of the Hamilton period, which is seen at a single exposure in Blue River Township, but, probably, underlies the drift throughout the eastern third of the county.

Knobstone Group or Epoch. - As previously intimated, this formation underlies the glacial drift in the western portion of the county. As traced by outcrop, it enters the southern line of the county in the southeast quarter of Section 34, where it appears in force, forming the precipitous slopes of Woodruff's Hill, near Nineveh. From this point it extends northwest in a waving line, having a heavy outcrop in Section 10, Nineveh Township, at Pritchard's Hill; thence, northwest through Sections 4 and 5, Nineveh

Township, and Section 31, Franklin Township. In all the deep channels of the streams in Hensley, Union and White River townships, there are uniformly exposures of strata of this formation. Generally, the exposures are continuous to the very source of the small streams, showing that this formation lies well up in the central ridge of the county. It was seen at the head-waters of Nineveh, Indian, Stott's, Crooked and Bluff Creeks. This elevation of strata suggests the possibility of their continuance underneath a portion of the eastern extension of this ridge, through Pleasant and Clark townships. This can only be determined by a deep bore in those regions. The probability of this extension is increased by the consideration that eroision did not occur here so deeply, because of the overlying ridge of compact bowlder drift. This whole region was more or less protected while the denudation of the formations southward was in progress.

Originallv, the Knobstone formation extended eastward much farther than at present. Indeed, such an extension is demanded by the present position of the strata. They lie in position with an undisturbed and almost horizontal stratification, and with only a gentle dip to the west, yet, six miles west of Edinburg, they have an altitude of more than 200 feet above the level of Blue River. There are no sufficient data to prove that this difference of altitude is produced by oscillations of surface; the ledges show no signs of any sort of disturbance. The main cause of the change has, apparently, been the deep erosion of the eastern portion of the Knobstone toward the older and more elevated formations of Shelby and Decatur counties. The precipitous walls of the Knobstone formation in southern Johnson County indicates that it was caused by erosion. The very constituency of the lower portion of the Knobston group favors the idea of their general denudation in the eastern part of Johnson County.

The characteristic of these ledges is that the lower are more argillaceous; hence, loose, fine-grained clay shales are found, almost generally toward the base of this formation, with an increase of sandstone toward the top. The whole group in Johnson County exhibited these features.

The easily disintegrated clay shales are lowest and eastward, and the heavier ledges of massive freestones are found, as we rise, in series toward the limestone of the next formation. This feature indicates not only the probability of extensive erosive action along the eastern outline of the Knobstone, but suggests also the fact that the physical condition of the lower parts of the Knobstone conditioned the course of the Collett Glacial River, and contributed not a little to the formation of this glacial valley. The natural tendency of water is to follow the line of an outcrop, especially when an outlet with the dip is not easily secured, as was the case in this instance. The glacial deposits, westward, overlaying massive sandstone formations, made the natural channel coincide with the outcrop of the soft clay shales of the Knobstone. These favored deep and rapid erosion. All the data have, as yet, not been gathered to establish its depth and extent. It certainly swept away the whole part of the clay shales, and a greater part of the black shale of the next period. It is possible that the drift deposits, in some localities, rest upon the corniferous limestone - the final bed of the deep flowing, river of the misty past.

The Knobstone formation is quite uniform throughout the county. A section from White River Township would coincide, in general features, with a section in Hensley. Everywhere, the blue clay shales are filled with ironstone concretions, of all sizes and shapes. They are particularly abundant in the deep ravines of Nineveh and Hensley townships. They contain a large per cent, of iron, but the quantity is not sufficient to give them economic importance. Near the top of the outcrop at " Pritchard's Hill, " Section 10, Nineveh Township, two beds appear that are quite rich in iron, the mineral not being in nodules, but mingled with the shale, and, under exposure, showing a reddish-brown color.

The aluminous shale, while persistent through the whole section, nevertheless, varies in appearance. In one locality, on the land of Alfred Vandiver, in Section 5, Nineveh Township, it was a fine micaceous clay. The outcrop is about ten feet thick, underlying layers of freestone, about six inches in thickness. In character, it was very soft and friable, but, on exposure to the air, it soon hardens, and, if it is rubbed, it takes a smooth polish and turns white. The early settlers of the neighborhood used it as a finishing mortar in " daubing " their houses. Its qualities demand some test of its practical value. No other exposures of this aluminous shale were observed, with the peculiarities of this outcrop. Elsewhere, they are more of a drab color, and usually with more or less of arenaceous material.

Along the course of Indian Creek, in Hensley Township, the peculiarities of this formation are well displayed. One branch of the stream rises in the northern ridge of Brown County and the other starts from high land south of Trafalgar. Each one passes down a deep gorge, in part the work of its own waters. The South Fork presents the best exhibit of the Knobstones. Along its whole course they present a precipitous bluff, ranging from seventy-five to one hundred feet in height. At the junction of the two branches of Indian Creek, in southeast quarter of Section 27, the following section was taken :

This alternation of shale and sandstone is very marked as we go down the stream. The sandstone becomes more massive, but the shales are persistent. The floor of the stream, at the point of the section given, is a layer of ferruginous sandstone. It is in broad slabs from three to six inches thick. It quarries easily, is regularly seamed in one direction and breaking with a square fracture in the other, thus being well adapted for pavements. The verticle partings through this layer all trend east and west.

This layer is exposed in Union Township, under similar conditions, in the bed of the Middle Fork of Stott's Creek. The dip of the strata is down stream. It was observed that they rapidly thickened as they continued westward; a stratum of freestone, six inches thick, increased to about two and one-half feet in less than two miles. The increase of thickness was very uniform through the whole distance. Its continuous outcrop along this creek is a very noticeable feature of the scenery. The ledge juts out in massive shelves over the water. Where it finally passes below the bed of the stream, it is nearly three feet thick. At this point, the overlying deposits are comparatively thin, and the conditions are favorable to the successful removal of this excellent building stone. It is a durable rock, hardening with exposure and not affected by climatic changes. Ledges that had been exposed for an indefinite period, preserved the sharp angles of the first fracture.

No fossils were found in any part of this formation, though constant and careful search was made. Ripple marks were occasionally seen, though usually in faint outlines. One slab of brown ferruginous sandstone on " Woodruff's Hill " had its surface covered with raindrop-like impressions; another was was found in Hensley Township, with outlines of " fucoids or sea-weed." The absence of fossils is explained by the conditions of the ancient sea in which these shales and sand-stones were deposited. The turbulent and shallow water of its shore, may have been fatal to their existence, or, if they existed, its deposits were not adapted to their preservation. In some of the ravines of White River Township, geodes were found quite numerously, but, generally, smaller than those abounding in Brown County. The hollow concretions are characteristic of the Keokuk beds, the next higher formations, and appearing in. outcrop some distance westward. Their presence in this distant and isolated valley may be explained by the decomposition of some outlier of the Keokuk. The calcareous matter of limestone being removed, these siliceous concretions would remain, and would naturally find their way to the beds of small streams. In the valley of Indian Creek, a geodized goniatite was found by Hiram Porter, who kindly presented it to the State Museum.

The Black (Genesee) Shale. - There is but one outcrop of this well-known and much studied formation. It is well exposed in the bed of Sugar Creek, in Blue River Township. The outcrop begins just below the railroad bridge, in Section 9, and extends down the stream to the iron bridge, over Bradley's Ford, in Section 17. It is a fine exposure, the formation composing both the bed and the banks of the steam. The shale is jet black, breaking usually, on exposure, into small pieces, the fracture being quite as ready in one line as another. Other ledges exist in broad slabs that are quite massive; these are usually stndded with quantities of iron pyrites in flattened concretions. When broken, the illusive yellow suggests the common name, "fool's gold," and, therefore, is simply sulphide of iron.

This exposure of the black shale seems to be an isolated one, there being no other observed nearer than Valley Mills, in Bartholomew County, nearly seven miles south. It seems to be an island of shale, capped with a heavy deposit of modified drift. If any of this bed exists in any place in this locality, it is at a much lower level. In this outcrop, the shale ascends well up on the bluffs of the creek; and in the adjacent regions the alluvial and fluviatile deposits are very heavy, the deepest wells never reaching the shale.

Only one fossil was found in this outcrop. Though this group, in other localities, has furnished quite a namber of species, the specimen found was the impression of a fossil plant on a large slab of the shale". It was fully six feet long, and was apparently a rush-like plant with a jointed stem, which, when growing, must have been a gigantic Eqaisetum, allied to the genus Cala mites of the carboniferous age. It had jointed stems, the joints being from two to four inches apart. In process of preservation these joints seem to have been separated, and, in the interstices, was found a layer of coal that was as hard and irridescent as anthracite. This black shale is full of carbonaceous matter.

The rocks of this period, in other localities, are rich in oil, but these shales contain only about ten per cent, of combustible matter. For this reason, they burn with a bright flame for a few minutes, when placed in a hot fire, but, aside from this they have no other resemblance to coal; nor have they any relation to the coal-bearing rocks, being far below them geologically. These beds probably underlie the most of the surface of the eastern part of the county. It has been subject to great erosion, and, as it readily decomposes on exposure to air and water, it is not unlikely that the broad belt of black loamy land in Clark and Needham townships derive their color and fertility from the decomposition of the black shale. Its clayey, carbonaceous matter, mingling with alluvial deposits of organic material, produces a fertile soil.

John Ballard, a farmer of Clark Township, was born in Kentucky, May 18, 1832, and is a son of Taylor and Nancy (Fitzpatrick) Ballard. The former was of English descent, and was born in 1801, and was assassinated January 15, 1885; the latter of Irish descent, was born in 1806, and died March 6, 1883. Our subject's early life was spent on a farm in Clark Township. He received a good common school education. At twenty-one years of age he began the struggle of life for himself as a farmer, and on January 27, 1859, ne was united in matrimony to Charlotte Drake, a daughter of Gideon and Susan Drake, the former of whom was born in 1801, and the latter in 1805. To this union the following children were born: Theodore, deceased; Taylor O., born October 8, 1862; Laura May, born December, 1868; Arthur, born March 6, 1876. The mother of these children was born December 8, 1837. He and wife are members of the Protestant Methodist Church, and in politics he is a republican. He now owns 143 acres of fine land in Clark Township. His father lived alone, and it was generally known that he had a great deal of money, and on going to the barn to feed his stock, he was waylaid and shot twice.

was born January 8, 1835. He is a son of Abraham and Emma (Ramsdall) Banta, the father was a son of Peter A. and Margaret (Voris) Banta, and was born about 1807, and died about 1872; the latter was born in 1813, and died in 1857. Our subject was reared on the farm which was entered by his father, about 1830. He received a common school education. At the age of twenty-one years, he began life for himself, his vocation being that of a farmer. In 1 861, when our Union was threatened with dissolution, and in answer to his country's call for 300,000 troops, he shouldered his musket and marched to the front. He enlisted on the 14th day of July, 1861, at Indianapolis, under Capt. Wood's Company F, Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, and served until the 12th day of May, 1864, when he received an honorable discharge at Baton Rouge. March 4, 1868, he was united in marriage to Mary A. Brooks, daughter of Henry and Lydia (Barnes) Brooks. This union was blessed with the following children: Carl E., born December 14, 1870; Minnie M., born January 26, 1873, deceased. The mother of these children was born May 30, 1849, departed this life, August 26, 1873. He was married October 19, 1875, to Mary M. Mangun, a daughter of Benedict W. and Jane (Wiley) Mangun; the former was born April 29, 1818, the latter was born June 11,1820, died January 16, 1873. To this union the following children were born: Arthur M., born December 31, 1877; Emma J., deceased, born January 2, 1880; William A., born April 16, 1882; Mary C, deceased, born August 30, 1S84; Edith, born October 30, 1S85. The mother of these children was born October 25, 1841. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Banta is a member of the James Wagner G. A. R. Post, at Greenwood, Ind. He is a republican, and served as trustee of his township, two years, and it is a democratic township. He now owns 160 acres of well improved land in Clark Township.

John Barlow, who is a practical and progressive farmer of Clark Township, was born March 1, 1826, a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Piles) Barlow; the former was of Dutch descent, and was born in Virginia, February 26, 1785, and died June 9, 1863; the latter was of Irish descent, and was born May 13, 1793. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm. He received a common school education in the old log school-house. This education was received under disadvantages, school terms being short and poorly taught, and he only attended school in winter, and then when the weather would not permit of his working on the farm. He never served an apprenticeship at any trade, but is very handy with tools of all kinds, and can make almost anything that is used on the farm. At the age of twenty-one years, he began life for himself as a farmer. August 21, 1853, he was united in marriage to Hannah Smith, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Heck) Smith. The father was of English descent; was born in 1797; the mother was of German descent, and was born in i8ooi This union was blessed with the following children: William H\, born July 3, 1854; Orea, born April 3, i86i;May, born May 1, i\868; Herman, born September 15, 1870. Orea departed this life\, September 5, 1863. The mother of these children was born December 3, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Barlow settled in Clark Township, on what was then known as the "Gulf," in 1853, a piece of land which was very heavily timbered, with very thick underbrush, and when they had only been there six weeks an exciting incident happened. Mrs. Barlow, while Mr. Barlow was away from home, on hearing the hogs making a terrible noise, went to the door to ascertain the cause, when she saw all the hogs running for dear life toward the house, and never halted until they were inside. She then discovered that they had been chased into the house by a- catamount; it is useless to say that Mrs. Barlow was badly frightened. Mrs. Barlow, her daughter and oldest son, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Barlow was a granger during the life of that order. In politics he is a republican. He now owns 480 acres of land in Clark Township. It is one of the finest and most convenient stockfarms in the county, well watered, ditched and drained. In connection with farming he makes a specialty of short-horn cattle and berkshire hogs. He has commenced the erection of a fine stockbarn which, when completed, will be an ornament as well as a useful addition to his already beautiful farm. Mr. Barlow's father was quite a genius; although he had never served an apprenticeship at any trade, could make anything he undertook. Mr. Barlow has in his keeping an old iron square, made by his father about fifty years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Barlow are highly esteemed by all their neighbors. In regard to schools and churches, and all laudable improvements, he has been friendly, and has throughout life been characterized as an industrious and enterprising, as well as a progressive, citizen and successful farmer.

Jesse M. Beard, farmer, was born December 1, 1844, and is a son of William and Mary J. (Tucker) Beard; the former was of Irish, and the latter was of English descent. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm. He received a common school education in the country schools, and then attended college at Franklin, one term of three months. On the 8th day of March, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances A. Webb, daughter of Zachariah and Nancy A. (Huff) Webb, the former of English descent. The latter was born in Ohio, April 22, 1813. This union was blessed with the following children : Birdellah A., born January 1 6, 1864; Laura B., born February 21, 1866; Emma E., born October 27, 1869, and Carrie O., born April 3, 1871. The mother of these children was born February 19, 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Beard are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Beard is a republican, casting his first presidential vote for Lincoln. He owns 212 acres of good land, 140 acres of which are in a good state of cultivation.

John J. Beard was born in Johnson County, Ind., December 15, 1858. He is a son of John W. and Jane (Sutor) Beard. The father was born January 16, 181 3, and while he was yet an infant, his parents emigrated westward from North Carolina, and located in what is now Clark Township, Johnson County, before the State of Indiana was admitted to the Union. Our subject was reared in Johnson County, and his youth was spent on the farm, and farming has been his life pursuit. He received a common school education, and on June 14, 1885, he was married to Nancy A. Boucher, daughter of William and Mary (Coffen) Boucher. This union was blessed by two children (twins), viz.: Ora and Oda, born April 13, 1886. The mother of these children was born September 23, 1867. She is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Beard is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. In politics, he is a republican, casting his first presidential vote for Garfield. He owns 460 acres of good land, well improved.

Samuel- Billingsly, a prominent young farmer of Clark Township, was born October 14, 1861, son of Samuel and Mariah L. (Harbert) Billingsly; the former was born in North Carolina, November 16, 1809, of Irish descent, and died August 19, 1876, and the latter was a native of this state, born October 5, 1817, and was of English descent. Although she is seventy-one years old, she does the house-work and cooking for her son and hired help. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm on which he now lives. He received a good common school education, and when he was fourteen years of age his father died, which caused him to give up the idea of further schooling, and he then had to take charge of the farm and the care of his widowed mother. He is a member of the Christian Church. In politics, he is an ardent democrat, and a recognized leader among the young men. He was elected trustee of his township, at the April election of 1888, by eleven votes, his predecessor having been elected by only four votes. He and his mother own 120 acres of well-improved land.

William H. Dungan, a native of Washington County, Va., was born November 25, 1824. He is the son of Charles G. and Nancy (Johnson) Dungan. The former was born December II,

1798, and died March 22, 1877. The latter was born in Washington County, Va., April 24, 1804. Charles G. settled in Johnson County, in October, 1834, and the same year commenced clearing the farm on which he lived until his death. The wife of Charles G. is still living on the old farm with her son, William H., the only one living of a familv of seven children. In 1828, she became a member of the Christian Church, in which she has since continued to be an active and zealous worker, laboring with earnest purpose, to bring souls to Christ, which has been the greatest ambition of her life. She has lived a long and active life, and is now passing the decline of years in happiness and comfort. Our subject came with his parents to Johnson County at the age of ten years. He received a thorough common school education, and commenced life for himself at the age of sixteen years. He was an apprentice at the wagon-maker's trade, which he followed a number of years. In 1862, he volunteered as a private in Company F, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, under Capt. Felix W. Graham, and in six days after he was mustered into the service, was appointed first lieutenant and quartermaster of the regiment; one month later, was offered the commission of first major of his company, refusing, because he felt his inability to fill so important a position. In 1863, he resigned his quartermaster position upon, the surgeon's certificate of disability, and was discharged in August, 1863, at Glasgow, Ky. He then opened a claim office at Louisville, Ky., remained in this business four years, when his health failed, and he returned to the old farm in Johnson County. He then built a planing mill in Clarksburg, remaining in this business one year, when, in 1873, he removed to Indianapolis for the purpose of schooling his children, where he remained two and one-half years, and again returned to the old farm, where he now lives. He was married November 20, 1845, to Sarah Robison. She was born October 3, 182 1, in Monroe County, Ind. To this union the following children were born, viz. : Charles T., November 27, 1846; George H., September 1, 1848; Jane, Septembers, 1850; Nancy A., November 11, 1852; James A., December 3, 1854; Elizabeth A., November 6, 1857; Joseph J., August 18, 1861; Eliza F., October 11, 1864. Mr. Dungan and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Dungan was an elder and a deacon in his church a number of years. Has served his township as trustee one year. He possesses a great deal of genius, evidence of which is found in the fact that he has invented and received patents on a number of devices, several of which are now in general use; among these may be mentioned, a buggy-jack, apple-trimmer, a harrow, and a wire fence, which he now manufactures.

Francis Dunlavy, an old and highly esteemed pioneer of Clark Township, was born January 6, 1803, in Montgomery County, Ky., a son of Daniel and Martha (Yocom) Dunlavy; the former was born January 16, 1765, and died in 1846, the latter was born January 27, 1783, died in 1838. Our subject's early life was spent on a farm in Kentucky. He removed from Kentucky in 1825 and settled in Lawrence County, Ind., where he remained twenty-six years, thence to Iowa, where he stayed 'three years, and in 1854, came to Johnson County, Ind., and settled on the farm on which he now lives. He received a common school education in the pioneer log school-house. He served an apprenticeship at the stone-mason's trade, which he continued to work at occasionally for about thirty years. At the age of twentyone he began the struggle of life for himself, working at his trade. July 25, 1824, he was united in marriage to Mahala Stewart, a daughter of John and Mary (Jenning) Stewart. To this union the following children were born: James H. (deceased), born May 25, 1825; Mary J. (deceased), born February 13, 1827; Martha A., born February 11, 1829; John W., born July - , 1831; Francis M. (deceased), born December 29, 1833. The mother of these children was born February 15, 1801; died August 22, 1835. He was united in a second marriage with Eleanor Miller, a daughter of Daniel W. and Rhoda (Arthur) Miller. This union was blessed with the following children: Daniel W., born April 11, 1840; William, born February 20, 1845; Elvesta, born March - , 1847, and Julia A., born May - , 185 1. The mother of these children was born in 1813, and died March 26, 1873. His third marriage was to Mrs. Eliza Mavity, who was born in 18 16; died November 24, 1883. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church over sixty years.

Adam Dunlap, a prosperous and industrious farmer, was born September 18, 1833. He is a son of James and Anne (McCormick) Dunlap; the former was a son of Adam and Sarah (Kirk) Dunlap. William Dunlap, the great grandfather, came from Ireland,- at the age of four years, and settled in West Virginia, near West Liberty, about the middle of the eighteenth century. His wife, Martha (Gamble) Dunlap, was of Irish descent. The great grandfather, Adam Dunlap, was born in West Virginia, 1772, and was married to Sarah Kirk. He died in Ohio, in 1840. The wife died in 1822. James Dunlap, the father of our subject, was born February 3, 1802, in Jefferson County, Ohio, removed to Indiana, in 1837, and died near Hopewell Church, in Johnson County, in 1884. The mother of our subject was born in Luuisville, Ky., January 23, 1815, of Irish descent; died near Franklin, February 26, 1853.

Clark Towxship

Our subject's boyhood and youth were spent on a farm in Morgan County, Ohio. He received a common school education and came to Indiana at the age of eighteen years, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-two, his vocation being that of a farmer, and in connection with farming he has been buying and shipping poultry for about twenty years. September 12, 1855, he was united in marriage to Marrietta Freeman, daughter of Charles and Marv A. (Langston) Freeman. The father was a son of John and Hannah Freeman, who were both natives of New Jersey. They were married in 1798, and removed to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 181 7. In 1848, they removed to Union County, Ind. He departed this life in 185 1, aged seventy five years, in Union County. She departed this life May 28, 1873. This union was blessed with the following children: Mary A., born June 18, 1856: Anna M., born August 1, 1858, and James R., born November 22, 1877. The mother of these children was born April 15, 1838. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a republican. He now owns eighty acres of fine land which is in a high state of cultivation. He and wife are highly esteemed by their neighbors.

Oliver H. Draper, a prosperous and successful farmer of Clark Township, was born March 15, 1828, in Decatur County, Ind., a son of Thomas and Catharine (Harbert) Draper; the father was of English descent, was a native of Virginia, was born May 4, 1788, and died in 1872. The latter was of English descent, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born about 1790. Our subject's early life was spent in Decatur County, Ind., on a farm, and on Januarv 15, 1848, he came to Johnson County, and bought the farm on which he now lives. He received a common school education at the district school, and through the advantages of books and newspapers, he has acquired a good, practical knowledge on general subjects. At the age of twenty-one, he began life for himself, his vocation being that of a farmer. March 23, 1848, he was united in marriage to Phebe Harbert, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Cora) Harbert; the former was of Dutch descent, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1798, died in 1878; the latter was of English descent, born in 1800, died in 1834. To this union the following children were born: Sarah J. (deceased), born February 18, 1849; Mary E., born March 19, 1851; Winfield S., born March 19, 1853; Thomas J., born March 24, 1855; Elizabeth (deceased), born February 5, 1857; Catharine, born November 26, 1858; John H., born June 29, 1861; Nancy A., born May 7, 1863; Joseph M., born August 21, 1865; Effa O. and Elzora, twins, born October 20, 1869; Oscar G., born May 14, 1872. The mother of these children was born Septem-

"ber 26, 1830. She is a member of the Christian Church. He was a Granger during the life of that lodge. In politics, he is a republican. He now owns 472 acres of well improved lands, seventy-two of which are in White River Township.

Adam S. Dougherty, a prominent farmer of Clark Township, was born in Pennsylvania, September 9, 1822, the son of William JE. and Sarah (Smith) Dougherty. The former was born in Maryland, of Scotch-Irish descent, and was a soldier in the struggle for independence. The latter was born in Pennsylvania. Our subject's early life was spent in Pennsylvania, his occupation being a miller. He received a common school education. At the age of twenty-four years, he began life for himself by working at his trade. About six years later, on account of failing health, he gave up milling, and commenced clearing the farm, on which he now lives. July 27, 185 1, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Barlow, who was a daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Piles) Barlow, and to this union the following children were born, viz.: Jacob B., born July 10, 1852; William E., born November 12, 1853; Rebecca J. (deceased), born August 15, 1855; James M., born June *5> 1B57 ; Sarah E., born May 18, 1859; Mary E. (deceased), born January 28, 1861; Alvira A., born December 2, 1862; John W. (deceased) and Hannah E., twins, born September 12, 1865; Albert U., born April 30, 1868; Margaret A., born October 31, 1870. The mother of these children was born May 2, 1828, and died April 25, 1875. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He was united a second time in marriage to Mrs. Mary J. Crouch, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Mitchell) Portteus, both born in Ireland. Mary J. Dougherty was born August 31, 1828. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Protestant Church. He is a member of the Knights of Labor. In politics, he belongs to the Union Labor Party. He now owns 114 acres of well-improved land.

Daniel Dake, a native of Shenandoah County, Va., born March 21, 1818, and is a son of John and Catharine (Bowman) Dake. The former was born in Virginia, about 1796. His father came from Virginia, was of German descent, and died about 1868. The latter was born in Virginia about 1801, and died about 1856. Our subject emigrated from Virginia with his parents, and settled in Ohio, remained there two years and removed to Shelby County, on what is known as Sugar Creek, but removed to Johnson County in 18^5, and settled on the farm on which he now lives. He received a common school education. At the age of twenty-one years he began life for himself as a farmer, which he has continued all through life. He married Eliza J. Moore, October 29, 1854. She was

Tx>rn in Highland County, Ohio, May 8, 1834, and died January 24, 1883. To this union the following children were born, viz.: Catharine, born August 25, 1855; Eve Margaret, born August 8, 1S57; Abijah W., born May 8, i860; John, born September 1, 1862; Ladora, born January 3, 1865; Henry E., born November 25, 1867; James W., born December 25, 1870. Of these only three are living, viz. : John, Ladora, and James. His wife's parents were both born in Ohio, and her father was of German descent, and her mother was of Irish descent. In politics, Mr. Dake is a democrat. He now owns 177 acres of well-improved lands.

Toliver Fisher, an old and respected farmer of Clark Township, was born in this state October 11, 1818, a son of James and Marly (Mahoney) Fisher, both natives of Kentucky. After the death of both father and mother, our subject was taken to Kentucky, when about four years of- age, where he lived with an uncle until about twenty-two years of age,_ when he emigrated from Kentucky, and walked to Marion- County, where he remained two years, thence to Clark Township, where he has since resided. Being an orphan, he was compelled to work both winter and summer, and never had the advantage of any schooling at all. He began life for himself at the age of twenty-two, and his occupation has always been that of a farmer. On March 31, 1841, he /as united in marriage to Mary M. Miller, a daughter of John and Catharine (Messinger) Miller, and to this union the following children were born, viz. : James M., deceased, born January 8, 1843; William, deceased, born November 8, 1849; Jonn5 born June 2, 185 1 ; Zachariah, born February 8, 1853; Garrett, deceased, born January 1, 1863; Cynthia A., deceased, born June 10, 1868; Toliver, born September 10, 1867; Thomas J., born June 10, 1868; Harvey, born January 21, 1869; Albert, born January 26, 187.1; Dayton C. and George W., twins, George W., being deceased, born January 13, 1872; Jacob, born August 31, 1873; Stephen, born January 26, 1883, and one unnamed. The mother of these children was born January 1, 1824. She is a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Fisher is a democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Harrison. He* now owns 120 acres of land.

Robert S. Fitzpatrick, a farmer of Clark Township, was born August 26, 1838. He is a son of Hezekiah and Ruth (Webb) Fitzpatrick; the former's father was born in Ireland, and came to this country and settled in Kentucky, and thence to Shelbyville, where the former was born. The latter was born in Oldham County, Ky. Our subject's father came to Indiana at an early date, and settled in Clark Township. Our subject's early life was 3i spent in Clark Township, on the old homestead. He received a common school education in the old pioneer log school-house. At the age of twenty-one years, he began life for himself, as a farmer, which vocation he has followed through life, and in connection, he has been in the poultry business for about eighteen years. August, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Third Indiana Cavalry, under Capt. Graham. He was with his company in several severe engagements; among them may be named, Stone River, Pittsburg Landing, Missionary Ridge, and Atlanta, Ga. In January, 1870, he wras united in marriage to Malinda Jane Beard, daughter of William and Mary J. (Tucker) Beard. This union was blessed with one child, Alma, who only lived one year. The mother of this child was born September 29, 1851, and died September 19, 1873. He was united in a second marriage to Millie Williams, a daughter of James and Charity (Smith) Williams, March 11, 1875. To this union one child was born, Victor H., September 2, 1876. The mother of this child was born April 15, 1852, and departed this life October 26, 1877. He was again married, to Nancy U. Harriatt, February 4, 1879, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Overstreet) Harriatt. This union was blessed with one child, Norah, born October 12, 1880. The mother of this child was born October 3, 1849, an<^ departed this life October 30, 1880. He was again married January 16, 1883, to Cornelia W. Overstreet, a daughter of William H. and Laura (Wick) Overstreet. She was born September 27, 1849. She was formerly a Presbyterian, but after her marriage she became a member of the Methodist Church, with her husband. In politics, he is a republican, casting his first presidental vote for Lincoln. He now owns 160 acres of land, which is under a high state of cultivation.

Thomas O. Francis, a prosperous farmer of Clark Township, was born in Sugar Creek Township, Shelby County, March 8, 1848, son of Milton and Sarah (Henderson) Francis. To our subject's father and mother these children were born: Mary E., born January 19, 1846; Thomas O., born March 8, 1848; Emma C, born September 9, 1853; Jennie, born January 15, i860. Our subject's early life was spent on a farm, working on it in summer, and attending the district school in winter. He received a good common-school education, and he began life for himself at the age of twenty-one as a farmer. His father being an extensive stocktrader, he was away from home a great deal of his time, which placed the responsibility of looking after the farm upon our subject while he was yet quite young. In 1870, Mr. Francis went to Kansas on a prospecting tour, where he remained six months, he then returned to Shelby County, where he remained with his father one year, and thence to Clark Township, Johnson County, where he "batched" one vear, and raised one crop, then returned to Shelby County and remained about six months, when he again returned to Clark Township, Johnson Countv, and settled on the farm on which he now lives. On the 19th day of November, 1873, he was united in marriage to Mary L. Craig, a daughter of Henry T. and Mary (Ransdell ) Craig. To this union the following children were born, viz.: Alice A., October 25, 1874; Mary A., September 17, 1876; Charles E., January 10, 1878; Stella, January 22, 1881 ; William O., July 10, 1883, and Thomas E., July 15, 1886. The mother of these children was born November 28, 1857. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He is also a member of the Masonic order. During the late war he belonged to a company of Home Guards under Capt. B. F. Reeves. In politics, he is an ardent republican, casting his first presidential vote for Grant. He now owns eighty-nine acres of well improved land.

Granville "R. Griffith, a farmer of Clark Township, was born June 29, 1843, a son of James and Isa Ann (Dobbins) Griffith; the former was a native of Kentucky, he emigrated from Keutucky and settled in Jennings County, Ind., and then came to Johnson County, about 1851. The mother was born in South Carolina. Our subject was reared on a farm in Johnson County. He received a common-school education,, and at the age of nineteen years he began life for himself. In August, 1862, he volunteered in the War of the Rebellion, in Company I, Seventieth Indiana Infantry, at Indianapolis. He participated in all the battles that his regiment was engaged in, among which were : Russleville, Ky., Resacca, Dalton: and many others, including Sherman's March to the Sea. He was discharged in June, 1865, at Indianapolis. He was united in marriage January 16, 1867, to Mary E. Fitzpatrick, daughter of James and Margaret Fitzpatrick. To this union the following children were born: James L., January 19, 1869; Anna B. (deceased), November, 1871; Maggie May, August 9, 1873. The mother of the children was born in 1S50. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and departed this life in October, 1873. He was married to Susan A. Clark, January 4, 1877. She was a daughter of Samuel A. and Marv (Darrel) Clark. This union was blessed with one child: Mary V., bom May 19, 1886. The mother of this child was born April 22, 1849, and is a member of the Christian Church. Her husband is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a republican, casting his first presidential vote for Johnson. He now owns 100 acres of good land in Clark Township, about eighty of which are under cultivation.

was born in Scott County, Ky., November 3, 1805, and is the son Thomas and Hannah (Rictcheson) Griffith, the former of whom was born in the state of Delaware. When he waS thirteen years old, or in 1818, his parents came to this state and located in Jennings County, where he spent the rest of his youth on a farm. He was married in that county, December 27, 1838, to Eliza Ann Campbell. She was born in Jennings County, this state, April 13, 1818, and is the daughter of David and Anna (Clinton) Campbell. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith began their married life on a farm in Jennings County. In March, 1863, they came to this county, and first located in Pleasant Township. In the following September, they removed to Clark Township and located where Mr. Griffith now resides. His life occupation has been farming. He owns a farm which contains about 120 acres, about 100 of which are in cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have had six children : Eliza J., born October 18, 1839; Presley R., September 10, 1842; Elzora, August 4, 1848; Calvin L., October 27, 1850; William II., August 19, 1856; and a twin sister to William H., that died unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are members of the Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Griffith is a republican.

James T. Grubbs, Sr., an industrious and enterprising farmer of Clark Township, is a native of Kentuckv, a son of James T. and Eliza P. (Prentiss) Grubbs. The father was born in Louisa County, Va., 1796, the mother was born in Lexington, Ky. Our subject's father was a physician, and practiced his profession in Burlington, Ky., about forty years. He departed this life May 21, 1884. The wife died in 1880. To our subject's father and mother the following children were born: William B., in 1831; Anna G., in 1834, and James T., in* 1837. Of these, the two brothers are now living. The sister was married in 1873, to Samuel Bergen. Our subject came to Indiana and settled in Johnson County, April 11, 1855, and began farming. He began life for himself at the age of twenty-one years, when he entered into merchandising in Burlington, Ky., where he remained two years. On June 7, i860, he was united in marriage with Mildred A. Grubbs, a native of Christian County, Ky. To this union the following children were born: James T., Jr., August 29, 1861 ; John T., May 5, 1864, and Anna M., March 21, 1870. The mother of these children, and the oldest son and daughter, are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Grubbs is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He emigrated from Kentucky in 1865, and settled in Johnson County, where he began farming, and by close economy and good management, he has added to his farm until he now has 350 acres of fine farming land, 200 acres of which are under a high state of cultivation. He is a straight-out democrat. In 1882, he, with his sons, began the manufacture of shingles, and since that time have added a lumber saw to their mill, and for the last two years have been doing an extensive business in shipping pine shingles. They have under construction at this time a planing and box factory, with all kinds of building material, under the firm name of J. T. Grubbs & Sons.

Ebenezer Harbert, a prominent farmer of Clark Township, was born Julv 1, 1837, and is the son of Oliver and Mary A. (Wheeler) Harbert. The father was born September 21, 1806, in Pennsylvania. He emigrated with his parents from Pennsylvania, and settled in Dearborn County, Ind., about 1810. He came to Johnson Countv about 1835, and'for many years he would take his reap hook in harvest time and go to Dearborn County and harvest for 50 cents per day. He died September 20, 1886. The latter was born in Kentuckv, September 16, 1818, and died January 20, 1887. Our subject's" early life was spent on the old homestead farm, a part of which he now owns. He received a good common ichool education, in the old pioneer school-house. At the age of wenty-one years he began life for himself, his vocation being that of a farmer. In August, 1862, he volunteered in the War of the Rebellion, Company I, Seventieth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. William Fisher. He has the honor of serving under Gen. Benjamin Harrison. He was detailed into the Pioneer Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in several of the hard-fought battles; among them may be named the battle of Stone River, and was in the brigade that supported the famous Chicago Board of Trade Battery, commanded by Capt. Stokes. He served three years, and received an honorable discharge, at Nashville, Tenn., in June, 1865. On May 2, 1866, he was united in marriage with Mildred A. Johnson, a daughter ot Henry and Ellen (Harmon) Johnson. The former was born in Kentuckv, April 30, 1820, the latter was born May 20, 1826. This union was blessed with the following children, viz. : Curtis M., born February 24, 1867; Clay A., December 27, 1868; Minnie L. O., January 11, 1871; Ebenezer D, June 7, 1874; William A., September 14, 1876; Samuel B., November 26, 1878; Laura E., February 8, 1881. The mother of these children was born May 24 1848. Mr. Harbert is a fluent writer, and has contributed numerous poems to the Franklin Republican; and has in addition to this, written manv songs of merit. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the James W agner Post No. 177, at Greenwood, Ind. In politics, he is a republican,

George Huston, born in Montgomery Count v, Ohio, the 22nd day of October, 1817, son of Samuel and Nancy (Key) Huston. The former was born in 1774, the latter in 178S. To this union there were eleven children born, our subject being the eighth. His parents came to this state from Ohio in 1828. The former died in 1857, and the latter in 1861. At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Huston began the battle of life for himself as a farmer. He entered 160 acres of land in Jasper Count)-, 111., but never went to it. He then purchased forty acres in Clark Township, on which he now resides. He married Miss Mary A. Clark, February 27, 1840. To this union the following children were born: Francis M., September 1, 1841; Almira, April 9, 1842; Nancy, March 13, 1845; Mary, May 9, 1847; James, March 22, 1856: Ellen, February 2, 1858; George W., date unknown. Mrs. Huston died August 14, 1872. He was married to Mrs. Ruhama Grittan, in February, 1874. This union was blessed with the following children: Charles E., born May 11, 1875; Gracy B., January 1, 1878; Maude, March 11, 1880; Harry, April 4," 1883. His second wife was born May 3, 1 841. In politics, Mr. Huston is a democrat, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

Jabus Kinnick, one of the pioneers of Clark Township, is a native of North Carolina, and was born April 15, 1812, a son of George and Hannah (Grimes) Kinnick. The former was born in 1784, and died in 1865; the latter was born in 1787, and died in i860. Both were natives of North Carolina. Our subject immigrated from North Carolina in 1833. He only had the advantage of forty-five days' schooling in his life, but being of a studious turn of mind, and by close reading, he has acquired a good knowledge of general topics. He began the battle of life for himself at the age of twenty-one years, as a farmer, which vocation he has continued through life. December 14, 1834, ne was united in marriage with Elizabeth Todd, and this union was blessed with the following children: Hannah J., born October 11, 1835 ; John R., April 6, 1837; William H., February 19, 1840; George W., February 15, 1842; James T., January 15, 1844; Sarah A., May 24, 1846; Samuel E., May 29, 1848; Joanna, Feburary 16, 1851; Susan E., November 4, 1852; Armelia, August 12, 1854; Amanda, March 22, 1856; Mary I., September 5, 1858; Harriet, July 10, i860. Of the above children, only seven are now living. In politics, Mr. Kinnick was formerly a democrat, but during the war became a republican, and has identified himself with that party ever since.

He has been a member of the Christian .Church fifty-three years. His wife was formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but has been a member of the Christian Church twenty-five years. He has been a deacon in his church about thirty years. Three of his children, James T., Susan E. and Joanna, were successful teachers in the country schools. In regard to schools, churches and all laudable improvements, he has been friendly, and throughout life has been an industrious and enterprising citizen.

Lawrence Lowe, a farmer, was born December i, 1823, and is a son of Elijah and Kate (Voris) Lowe. The father was born about 1798, and died about 1828. The mother was about the same age of the father. Our subject came to this state with his parents, from Kentucky, at the age of five years, and settled on Young's Creek, Pleasant Township, Johnson County, where they remained about thirteen years, going thence to Keutucky, where they resided about tour months, thence to Ohio, remaining there about six months, and returned to Johnson County, and settled in Franklin Township, remained about three years, thence to Clark Township, and settled on the farm on which he ncfw lives. He received a very limited education, but through the advantage of home reading, has become acquainted with subjects of general interest. He served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, at which he continued to work until his failing eye-sight compelled him to abandon his trade. He began life for himself at the age of eighteen years, as a farmer, which he has followed through life. He was a soldier in the Mexican War, and enlisted in Company C, Third Regiment, under Capt. David Allen, and on the 15th day of June, 1846, his company was taken to New Albany by railroad, went into camp, remained three weeks, thence to New Orleans, remained a short time, thence to Brazes Island, remained in camp several weeks, thence to Rhinoso for a short time, thence to Buena Vista, where he engaged in active service. He was in the battle of Buena Vista and several smaller battles. He remained in this war one year, and returned home. In 1859, he went as a teamster with a government train to Utah, after which he went en a prospecting tour through several states and territories, traveling about eight months. In 1861, he entered the service of the Union Army, in Company F, Seventh Indiana Regiment, under Capt. Samuel Lambert, and served nine months, and discharged his duties in a manner becoming a loyal soldier, when he was discharged for disabilities. In 1862, he' re-enlisted, and remained in active service for about two years, when he was sent to the hospital at Indianapolis. He was a member of the invalid corps, and afterward was nurse in the hospital at Indianapolis about six months. He then returned to the invalid corps, Company F, under Capt. Craig. He was discharged at Indianapolis, in 1864. August 19, 1847, he was united in marriage with Lavina Townsan, daughter of Major and Phebe (Biggs) Townsan, the former born in 1796, the latter in 1805. This union was blessed with the following children : James H., born May 27, 1848; Phebe J., born January 19, 1850; Loyd, deceased, September 18, 1852; Mary A., born March 28, 1855*; Martha H., born September 2, 1857; Eliott P., born October 15, 1859. The mother of these children was born April 26, 1829, and died April 19, 1865. In 1865, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah Mclntire, a daughter of John Kerlin. To' this union the following children were born: Cornnda, deceased, December 13, 1866; Edward and Elmore, twins, born March 31, 1868; David A., deceased, March 30, 1870. The mother of these children departed this life June 15, 1870. In 1871, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Sarah Towson. To this union one child was born, Norah O. Since 1885 they have lived apart. In 1885, he was united in marriage with Elvira Smith, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Heck) Smith, the former of English descent, and was born in 1797. The latter was of German descent, and was born in 1800. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Presbyterian. In politics, he is a republican. He now owns 20a acres of fine farming land.

John D. Marlin, a farmer, was born in Johnson County, Clark Township, December 30, 1836, and is a son of Nathaniel ana Mary (Doty) Marlin. The former was born in Mount Holly, N. J., November 29, 18 10. He immigrated from New Jersey, about 1833, and entered the land on which J. D. Marlin now lives. He died in Bartholomew County, May 2, .1878; the latter was born December 12, 1810, in Virginia, and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Doty, who removed to this state from Virginia, May 8, 1821, and settled in White River Township, and is still living. Mr. Marlin spent his early life in Bartholomew County, on the farm. He received a common school education in the district school, and through books and newspapers has become conversant on subjects of general interest. At twenty years of age he began to work at the carpenter's trade. He followed this trade for about two years, and then commenced farming, which he continued four years, and removed to Johnson County, and purchased land in Clark Township, where he has since remained. February 20, 1862, he was united in marriage to Jeretta Spaugh, a daughter of Timothy E. and Elizabeth J. (Robbins) Spaugh. Mrs. Marlin was born June 20, 1841. To this union the following children were born: Alta, August 26, 1863; Sherman N., November 21,

1864; Adda M., June 6, 1866, all of whom are deceased. Mrs. Marlin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Marlin owns 143 acres of well improved land.

James McClaix, one of the old and honored pioneers of Clark Township, was born in Shelby County, Ky., March 9, 1808, and is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Lacefield) McClain, the former of whom was born in Mercer County, Ky., in 1780, and was in the War of 181 2; the latter was born about 1782, and died about 1832. They came to this state in 1829, and settled in Marion Count}', where they remained one year, removing to Johnson County, where he remained a short time, and then returned to Kentucky, and was united in marriage with Susan Wood. He remained in Kentucky about five years, and returned to Indiana and settled in Johnson County, where they resided the remainder of their lives. Our subject began life for himself at the age of eighteen years as a farmer, which vocation he has followed through life. At one time he was a very large land owner, but has given. all to his children except 143^ acres of fine land on which he lives, which speaks well for a man who only had 25 cents when he came to Indiana with a wife and one child. He was united in marriage with Rose White, in 1826, and this union was blessed with the following children: Martha, Catherine, Jacob F., Rebecca, Verlinda, Reuhana, Fletcher, John S. F., Joseph E. S. and Ametia F. The mother of these children died November 18, 1S49. March 6, 1853, he was united in marriage with Susannah Huffer. This union was blessed with the following children : Armilda A., Elender, Mariah R., Mary I., Alice M., and one that died unnamed. The mother of these children died March 20, 1863. In June, 1863,' he was united in marriage with Mrs. Ann E. Donavan, to which union the following children were born : Fermen V., George Ann V., Marion S., Leotis and Enoch D. The mother of these children is still living. In politics, he is a democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.

James R. McConnell, a native of this state, was born March 4, 1836, the son of William and Sarah (White) McConnell. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, was born about i795> died in 1873: the mother was a native of Virginia, and was born about 1800, and died in 1845. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm. He received a good common school education, and attended one term of twelve weeks at Waveland Academy. At the age of twenty-one years he began life for himself. He was united in marriage, January 13, 1859, to Clarinda Rhorer, daughter of S. H. and Jane Rhorer, and this union was blessed by the following children: Ella F., born October 7, 1859- Hiram A., December 19, 1861;

Alice J., November 30, 1863, and Clarinda, October 16, 1865. The mother of these children was born about 1840, and departed this life April 16, 1886. Mr. McConnell was again married June 10, 1869, to Miss Hannah Newman, daughter of John and Mary (Blair) Newman. Both were Quakers. This union was blessed with the following children : Agnes, born April 23, 1879; James T., August 25, 1882; Addie, November 9, 1885, and Baby Boy, November 3, 1887. In politics, Mr. McConnell is a democrat, casting his first vote for James Buchanan. He now owns 270 acres of good land.

John McNutt, an old pioneer of Clark Township, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, June 5, 181 1, and is a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Burch) McNutt; the former was born in Ireland in 1784, and emigrated to this county from Ireland in 1796. The latter was born in Ireland, about 1794. Our subject's early life was spent on a farm in Ohio. He came to this state at the age of twelve years. He received a common school education, served as an apprentice at the carpenters trade, and at the age of twenty-two years, he began life for himself by working at his trade. He came to Franklin County, Ind., in 1825, and remained there until 1852, thence to Clark Township, Johnson Co., and settled on the farm on which he now lives. March 31, 1837, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Jones, a daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Flack) Jones, and to this union one child was born, viz. : Sarah E., deceased, born January 26, 1838. He was married in 1840, to Margaret Armstrong, a daughter of William, Sr., and Margaret (Suf ridge) Armstrong; to this union the following children were born : Elizabeth, born May 26, 1841; Charles M., January 26, 1843; Alvira, May 13, 1845; Emma J., April 24, 1847; William, May 10, 1852; George, September 27, 1856. He and wife are members of the old Primitive Baptist Church. He is now the oldest Mason living in Johnson County. In politics he is a democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Jackson. He has served as trustee two years, and now owns 256 acres of fine land.

Richard A. Morris, a farmer, was born in Rush County, Ind., October 25, 1844, and is a son of James C. and Nancy B. (Ward) Morris. His father was born in Pennsylvania about 1822, the mother was born in Indiana about 1824. Her parents were originally from England. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm. He received a common school education, and in January, 1864, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the Civil War under Capt. Albert Moorhouse, Company L, One Hundred and Twentyfirst Regiment, Ninth Indiana Cavalry Volunteers, and was dis- charged at Vicksburg, August 28, 1865. On January 17, 1878, he was united in marriage to Mar}- J. Baas, daughter of Henry and Mary (Glass) Baas, and to this union the following children have been born: Charles A., February 1, 1879; James E., September 20, 1880, and Henry A., December 2, 1882. The mother of the above children was born in Marion County, September 20, 1859. Her father was a native of Holland. Her mother was a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Morris is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Morris is a democrat, casting his first vote for Seymour. He owns eighty acres of well improved land.

George S. Myers, a highly respected citizen of Clark Township, was born October 22, 1818. . He is the son of Henry and Hannah (Salisbury) Myers; the former was born in Pennsylvania, September 8, 1788, and departed this life in September, 1871; the latter was born in Lewis County, Ky., July 15, 1794, and departed this life in September, 1870. George S. was the fifth of a family of thirteen children, whose parents emigrated from Kentucky in 182 1, settling in Rush County, Ind. He received a limited education in the country schools. His youth was spent on the farm, and his life occupation has been farming. December 30, 1843, he was united in marriage with Miss Medeline Somers. Unto this union was born a daughter, named Apellne, deceased. The mother died July 13, 1845, and on July 24, 1847, Mr. Myers married for a second wife, Jane Packie. This marriage was blessed by the birth of the following children: Robert H., born July 24, 1848; John P., February 5, 1851; Martha, October 24, 1853; William M., August 29, 1855; Frank W., March 13, 1858, and Felix B., August 31, 1861. Their mother was born May 26, 1816, and died February 7, 1888. Mr. Myers located in 1843, in Rush County, where he lived for a period of three years. In 1846, he removed to Johnson County, and settled on the farm on which he now lives. He is a member of the Christian Church, in which he has been an elder for twenty-six years. In politics, he is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Harrison.

John T. Overstreet, a native of Indiana, was born August 28, i860, son of John H. and Ellen V. (Covert) Overstreet; the former was born in 1809, and died in 1882; both were of Irish descent. Our subject's early life was spent on the old homestead where he now lives. He received a good common school education, and took a classical course of two years in Asbury College. At the age of eighteen years he began life for himself as a farmer. January 14, 1880, he was united in marriage to Dessie Reese, a daughter of Thomas H. and Eliza J. (Garrison) Reese. This union was blessed with one child: Cecil, born September 7, 1883. The mother of this child was born December 25, i860. He is a member of the Christian Church. The wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. In politics, he is a republican, casting his first presidential vote for Garfield. He now owns sixty-eight acres of well improved land in Clark Township.

James Parmer is a practical and progressive farmer of Clark Township, a native of Kentucky, and is the son of Isaac and Sarah (Wishard) Parmer. His father was born in Somerset County, Maryland, October 22, 1801. The mother was born August 14, 1805. They emigrated from Kentucky, and settled in Johnson County about the year 1835. To the parents of our subject were born the following children: Matilda, October 8, 1829; one unnamed, November 3, 1831 ; James, December 23, 1832, Charles, September 23, 1834. The mother of these children was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Wishard. She was called away by death, and the father married for a second wife, Jane Robison, the widow of Thomas Robison, in 1838. This union was blessed with the following children: Samuel, born March 8, 1839; Noah, October 31, 1840; Nancy, July 26, 1842; George, March 30, 1844; Margaret E., March 1, 1846; Susan M., December 10, 1848; Isabell J., April 11, 1850, and Martha A., August 11, 1853. Our subject was reared on a farm in Johnson County. He received a fair education for that day, but being fond of reading books and papers, he has become conversant on subjects of general interest. At the age of eighteen years he began the battle of life for himself. He served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, which he followed three years. At the age of twenty-one years he. drifted with the tide of emigration to the gold fields of California, remaining there nearly three years. He then returned to Indiana, and settled in Johnson County, on a farm where he now lives. It contains about no acres of well improved land. He was married to Lucy C. Oldham, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Oldham, September 23, 1858. To this union the following children were born: Charles O., born August 8, 1859; Appie, September 27, i860; Addie, April 10, 1862; Lula, December 9, 1863; Albert, August 17, 1865; James, March 1, 1869; George W., January 12, 1871; Alonzo, June 20, 1873; Frederick, December 3, 1875, and William, February 21, 1879. In politics, he has always been a staunch republican, casting his first vote for John C. Fremont. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. He has been a deacon in his church a number of years.

John R. Patterson was born in Clark County, Ind., February 18, 1825, and is the son of Thomas and Frances (Harris) Patterson; the former born April 24, 1801, of Scotch-Irish descent, and the latter born in 1804. He came with his parents to this county and settled in Franklin Township, and in 1848, removed to Clark Township and settled on the farm on which he now lives. He received a common school education. At the age of twentytwo years he began life for himself as a farmer, which occupation he has followed all his life. On February 25, 1847, he was united in marriage to Sarah Stewart, a daughter of James (and Miss Ogdon) Stewart. This union was blessed with the following children: Mildred F., born March 11, 1848; Eliza A., December 18, 1S49; Nancv C, January 30, 185 1 : Mary E., December 17, 1S52 ; Alice E., July 30, 185^; Thomas G., February 11, 1857, and James H., April 8, 1858. The mother of these children was born in August, 1823, in Indiana, and died January 16, 1859. He was united in a second marriage with Sarah Martin, daughter of Henry (and Miss Pavne) Martin. This union resulted in the birth of the following children: Willis G., born February 28, 1S63, and Etta J., January 22, 1865. The mother of these children was born February 16, 1825, and died October 24, 1877. She was a member of the Presbvterian Church. He is a member of the Grange order, and is a Presbvterian. In politics, he was formerly a whig, but became a republican on the birth of that party, and has been an advocate of its principles ever since. He now owns sixty acres of well improved land in Clark Township, Johnson Co., Ind.

Thomas Patterson, one of the respected pioneers of Needham Township, was born April 24, 1S01, and is a son of Robert and Jane (Henderson) Patterson. They w-'^ both born in Pennsylvania, the father being of Irish descent. Our subject's early life was spent on a farm in Clark County, Ind. He received a common school education. At the age of twei iv-three years he began life for himself as a farmer, which occupation he has continued through life. January 22, 1824, he was united in marriage to Frances Harris, and this union was blessed with the following children: John R., born February 18, 1S25; James and William, twins, August 13, 1827; Eliza Jane, January iS, 1830; Samuel C, December 25, 1831; Thomas H., June 1, 1833; David B., September 3, 1835. The mother of these children was born in 1804. He married for a second wife, Nancy Hardesty, and to this union the following children were born, viz.: Francis H., born November 23, 1840; Benjamin F., June 3, 1843; Zerilda C, March 11, 1846; Sarah E., November 21, 185 1; Susan I., November 3, 1853; Virginia E., October 4, 1857. The mother of these children was born August 14, 1817. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church, as are all their' children. In politics, he is a republican. He now owns ninety acres of well improved land.

William H. Patterson, an old farmer of Clark Township, was born August 14, 1827, in Clark County, and is a son of Thomas and Frances (Harris) Patterson. The former was born in Kentucky April 24, 1801. The mother died when our subject was quite small. At the age of six years he came with his parents and settled in Franklin Township, Ind. He remained there about six years, and removed from there and settled in Clark Township, settling on the farm on which he now lives. He received a common school education. He began life for himself at the age of twenty-five years, and his occupation has always been that of a farmer. January 31, 1856, he was united in marriage to Sarah A. Guyton, a daughter of Henry D. and Sarah (Coons) Guyton. The former was born in Maryland, and was of English descent; the latter was of Scotch-German descent, and was born in Oldham County, Ky. To this union the following children were born, viz. : Cordelia E., April 30, 1857; Alcnzo M., April 7, 1859; Susan F., November 16, 1861; Addie F., August 16, 1863; Amanda J.. September 29, 1867; Carrie D., December 7, 1869. The mother of these children was born June, 15, 1830, in Oldham County, Ky. He and wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a republican. His first presidential vote was cast for Clay. He now owns sixty acres of well-improved land.