Clay Township

Clay Township

This township was formed by separating from the north end of Franklin Township three tiers of sections of land, and taking off of the southeast corner of Marion three sections, making for Clay Township an area of twenty -four square miles. The organization was effected by the Board of Commissioners in 1845. The surface is rolling, and the soil for the most part good; especially is this so in the eastern portion, but much of the western half of the town¬ ship is only second-rate land. It is drained by the three forks of Mill Creek.

Obadiah, George and John Tincher, John Hadley, Joel and Jesse Hudson, William Benbow,Dr. Kersey, Newbry Hunt, Abra¬ ham West, Nicholas Orsburn and George Hancock.

Official

The following list of those who have held the several township offices, is believed to be nearly complete, as it is made from the election returns on tile in the office of the County Clerk.

Justices of the Peace: Robert Harvey, 1845-'50; Amiel Hunt, 1851; Amiel Hunt and Alfred V. Coffin, 1855; Amiel Hunt ! and William W. Wellman, 1859; Cyrus L. Stanley, 1860; Robert N. Harvey, 1863; Cyrus L. - Stanley, 1864; Thomas Mendenhall, 1866; William P. Jenkins and A. Bundy, 1868; Thomas C. Mendenhall and Joel T. Tinder, 1870; Cyrus L. j Stanley, 1871; John S. Roberts and Joseph Bundy," 1872; Thomas

Constables : William Moore and Alfred Hunt, 1845; William Tincher and James Wright, 1846; Hiram D. Jones and James Wright, 1847; John 0. Gambold and Cyrus Moore, 1848; Cyrus Moore and John Rushton, 1849; James Crews and William Hutch¬ ings, 1850; Milton Wright and Thomas E. Harrison, 1851; A. M. Cleghorn and William Page, 1852; Joseph McAninch and Milton Wright, 1853-'4; Joseph McAuinch and William Tincher, 1855; William Tincher and Henry Yount, 1856; Quincy C. Tomlinson and John A. Phillips, 1857; Quincy C. Tomlinson and Benja¬ min Hiatt, 1858; Cyrus L. Stanley and Renal F. Swaim, 1859; Al¬ fred Y. Coffin and Stephens. Kitchen, 1860; John A. Phillips and Stephen S. Kitchen, 1861; John C. Gambold and James Queen, 1862-'3; Himelius Kendall and Annuel Edwards, 1864; Jason Tomlinson and Josiah Phillips, 1866; William M. Farmer and John C. Gambold, 1867; P. P. Thomas and George Smith, 1868; William White and Joseph Bundy, 1869; Stephen Climeworth and Zimri Warren, 1870; James L. Astley and Zimri War¬ ren, 1872; John Harris and Annuel Edwards, 1874; John Cham¬ pion and William Stanley, 1876; John Champion and William Stanley, 1878; Lewis Shaw and Woodson Bryant, 1880; J. A. Bo¬ hannon and John Crews, 1882; W. H. Crose and John Crews, 1884.

First Election

The poll-book of the general election of 1846 (held at Springfield, Aug. 3) gives the names of 101 voters, which are here cop¬ ied, as forming a nearly complete list of the pioneers of that day: Peter Long, Wesley Hardwick, Joshua F. Huckings, Mordecai Samuels, Abraham West, Benjamin Picket, Caleb Hunt, Thomas

Political

In political sentiment the people of Clay have always been over¬ whelmingly Republican, and before the birth of that party they were as loyal to its predecessor, the Whig party. The township was also a stronghold of free-soilism during the days of Clay and Webster, and in the campaigns of 1848 and 1852 many more votes were given to the Free-Soil than to the Democratic candidates. Following is the vote cast at each presidential election from 1848 to 1884, inclusive:

Clay Township* is the smallest in the county, but is the most ! densely populated (eighty to the square mile) and has the most villages and postofficee, which are five in number, three on the Vandalia line and two on the Indiana & St. Louis Railroad.

Pecksburg, which was named in honor of the first President of the Yandalia Railroad, is near the east line of the township, on section 31. It has one store, kept by Abraham Bowen, who is also Postmaster and station agent. There is also a church, of the Lutheran denomination, where services are usually held every other Sunday. William Tinster preached for several years, and in 1882 removed to Mud Creek. At present writing there is no regular pastor, the last one having been Rev. Mr. Keller, now in Kentucky. The congregation numbers about fifty. Sunday-school sessions are held every Sunday, under charge of Allen Reitzel. Pecksburg is not prosperous as a village, and has now but fifty in¬ habitants.

Two miles west of Pecksburg, on sections 2, 3, 34 and 35, is Amo, the voting place of the township, and a prosperous place of 200 inhabitants. It was laid out in 1850 by Joseph Morris, and called Morristown, which name was dropped for that of Amd by some of its classical-minded citizens. The first house was built by William Tomlinson, who lives yet in the village. The business firms of. to-day are: E. B. Owen, general store; Cook & Masten, grocery and meat market; Thomas Mendenhall, grocery; Roberts & Marshall, saw-mill; Pearson & Snodgrass, livery; G.W. McCloud, livery; I. H. George, drugstore and postoffice; A. J. Croeswaite, blacksmith and wagon shop; W. W. Ralston, station agent.

The handsome brick school-house was completed in 1868, at a cost of $8,000. There are four rooms, three of which are occupied. The teachers for the present year are Joseph J. Doane, Mrs. Naomi RatlifFe and Miss Anna Hawkins. There are 150 pupils on the rolls.

' is the oldest. They organized about 1840, and built first a log I church. This was speedily succeeded by a frame structure, which I was used forty years and then gave way to the present structure, ! which was completed in the fall of 1883, at a cost of $1,500.

| Among the early members of this society were Philip Johnson, John Cosner, Annuel Edwards and Asael Hunt. Services are held on the first and fifth days of each week.

: and costing $2,000. Among the early members were Elijah I Wheeler, Harding Tincher, Milton Bland, Hiram Bland, Samuel i Hubbard and their wives. The first regular pastor was Rev. Mr.

i The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1867. The I church was completed in that year, having been begun in 1866, at ; a cost of $2,000. Among the first members were William H. j Tush, Winfield Hines, John McAninch, Wesley Johnson, M. W.

| furniture; Henry Crews, restaurant; Draper & Gambold, general | store; E. R. Ellis, harness; Alex. Fetrow, saw and planing mill; Nathan Fisher, freight and express agent; Thomas Gibbons, har¬ ness; George N. Glass, photographer; Allen Job, hardware; W. H. Johnson, livery; W. N. Latin, wagon and agricultural imple- ment6; Elias H. Marker, miller; William Newkirk, contractor; D. W. Risher, postoffice and grocery; Robbins & Baughman, drug¬ gists; Noah Siler, blacksmith; Wier & Tucker, dry-goods; Joseph Williams, Justice of the Peace.

The Methodist Episcopal Church lias been organized nearly fifty years. Their first church was burned about 1860, that now used being their second edifice; it was built in 1863, at a cost of $2,000. The present membership of the church is 105. Services are held every Sunday. The present pastor is Rev. E. Mason, who has now been here two years. He was preceded by Revs. J. B. Combs, two years; Jesse Hill, two years; D. W. Risher, three years; Nel¬ son Green, three years; John McDaniel, W. D. Davidson and B. H. Bradbury. The Trustees of the church now are Tilghman Hunt, Joseph Williams and Abner Miller. S. P. Brown is Super¬ intendent of the Sunday- school.

The Missionary Baptists organized their church in 1871, and built their frame church in 1873, at a cost of $1,200. The mem¬ bership is about forty, and services are held monthly. The present pastor is Rev. G. W. Terry, of Stinesville, preceded by Revs. Sherrill, Jesse Buchanan and John F. Crews. Following are the church officers: Clerk, Jesse Harlan; Moderator, Harding Tincher; Treasurer, Darius Crews; Trustees, J. F. Crews, David Walker, Dariu9 C^ews and Harding Tincher.

Coatesville Lodge , No. 357, 1. O . O . F , was organized Nov. 27, 1870, with the following first members: Joel T. Tinder, Wallace Snowden, William Lakin, William Newkirk and Alva W: San¬ ders. The present officers are: O. S. Newton, N. G.; J. N. Bowen, V. G.; J. G. Sharp, Secretary; W. M. Lakin, Treasurer, David Fisher, Warden.

is a small station on the Indiana & St. Louis Railroad, on section 30. It has about 100 inhabitants, and is fourteen years old, dating from the construction of the railroad through the town¬ ship. In business at Reno are William Rammel, postoffice and general store; John Walden, general store; T. L. Hadley, broom factory; T. L.Qose, blacksmith; William Worline, blacksmith; Will¬ iam Criinmel, station agent; Jesse Alberson, shoe shop.

Statistical Biographical

James N . Bourne is one of the wide-awake, enterprising busi¬ ness men of Coatesville, where he has lived, since 1876. For a time after coming here he was engaged in the livery business, but since December, 1877, has been engaged in the drug business, in which he has built up a large trade. His father, William S. Bourne, was a native of Garrard County, Ky., and one of the pio¬ neers of Putnam County, Ind., where he died, in Jefferson Town¬ ship, in September, 1872, and where his wife still lives. They had a family of eight children. James N. is the only one living in Hendricks County. He was born in Jefferson Township, Putnam Co., Ind., in 1847. He remained with his parents till after the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he enlisted, in March, 1864, in Company A, Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry. He participated in some of the most important battles of the last years of the war, including the Atlanta campaign and Sherman's march to the sea; thence to Washington, where he was in line at the grand review of the army. He married Sarilda J. Hill, a native of Putnam County, Ind., daughter of Andrew J. Hill. They have had five children - Everett, Maggie, Bertha, James A., and Ralfo. Bertha is deceased.

Comity, In i., born in 1844, a son of Luther J. Campbell, one of ^ the early settlers of that county. He remained at home till eight" j een years of ago, and in 1862 enlisted in defense of the Union, and was assigned to the Eighteenth United States Infantry, and served six years. During the war his regiment operated with the j Eastern army, and he participated in a number of severe engage¬ ments, and during General McClellan's peninsular campaign formed a part of General Butler's command. Alter the close of ! the war he served on the Western plains three years, and there had many thrilling experiences. The regiment was stationed at differ¬ ent torts doing garrison duty. In November, 1866, they were transferred to Fort Phil Kearney, and were there at the time of the slaughter of Captain Fettemore and his command, the partic¬ ulars of which may be of interest to our readers, as our subject was directly concerned in the transaction. Mr. Campbell, as Ser¬ geant, was detailed with a party of men to go some distance from the fort to procure fuel, and Captain Fettemore, with ninety-six men, accompanied them as a guard. They were considerably annoyed by the Indians, and when nearing the fort on their return Captain Fettemore determined to turn back and attack them, while the wooding party proceeded to the fort. This was a fatal error, as he was decoyed to a ravine and at once attacked by thousands of Indians on both sides, and the entire party slaughtered, not a man escaping. After the expiration of his term of service Mr. Camp¬ bell returned to Indiana and soon after located in Coatesville and j settled down to the peaceful vocation of a merchant. He has been successful in this branch of business, and is now the oldest mer- ; chant in the village. He has a fine brick store, which he erected in 1877, and has also one of the best residences in the town. He has built up a large trade, his annual sales amounting to $40,000. i He was married in 1869 to Mary A. Allen, of Putnam County,

I of Hendricks County. He was a son of James and Elizabeth Christy, and when a child moved with them from Virginia to Put- ; nam County, Ind., where they both died. In 1828 he came to Hendricks County and settled on land entered by his father in 1828. He has been a successful financier, and has by industry and energy I made of his land a good farm and acquired a competence for his j old age. He has been thrice married. His first wife was Harriet Kinsler. Their only child, a daughter, died in infancy. His second wife was Kesiah Vice. To them were born three children - Mary, James A. and Robert K. His third and present wife was Nancy Flinn. They have had two children - William Sherman and Charles. The latter is deceased. William Sherman was born June 5, 1865, and lives with his parents on the homestead. He is an industrious, enterprising young man, intelligent and well edu¬ cated, and takes an active interest in all enterprises of social or mental benefit.

Jesse F. Elrod was born in North Carolina, Aug. 29, 1824, a son of Joseph and Catherine Elrod, the former born in 1806, and the latter in 1810. In 1834 Joseph Elrod and his family, and John Gambold and George Fansler and their families left North Caro¬ lina to seek homes in the wilds of Indiana, and after a journey of six weeks arrived in New Garden, ten miles north of Richmond, Wayne County. The father lived but two years after his settle¬ ment in the new country, and after liis death, in 1836, the mother moved to Hendricks County with her family, and settled on forty acres of leased land in Franklin Township. She died in Co^tesville, Sept. 10, 1877. The family consisted of seven children, four of whom are living - Jesse F., Barbara Ann, Charles and Joseph. Jesse F. Elrod was twelve years of ago when he came to Hen¬ dricks County. He remained with his mother till manhood, and in connection with farming was engaged in milling several years. In 1863 he bought the farm where he now lives, on section 31, Clay Township, adjoining the village of Coatesville, which contains 108 acres of choice land, and is one of the pleasantest homes in Clay Township. He was married to Lydia Pursell, a native of Mariou County, Ind., born June 8, 1834, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Strong) Pursell. The former lives at Tuscola, Ill., but the latter has been dead many years. Mrs. Elrod died Sept. 28, 1884, leav¬ ing her husband and children to mourn the loss of a true and affectionate wife and mother. The children are four in number - Samuel H., Charles W., William F. and Mary A.

Josephus B . Gambold , of the firm of Draper & Gambold, gen¬ eral merchants, Coatesville, Ind., is a son of JohnC. Gambold, one of the pioneers of Hendricks County. John C. Gambold was born in Pennsylvania, in November, 1805. His parents died when he was a child and he was placed in a family named Green and with them went to North Carolina and was reared in a Moravian settle¬ ment. He was married to Nancy Swaim, a native of that State, and in 1834 they came to Indiana in company with Joseph Elrod and family and located in Wayne County. In 1835 he moved to Hen¬ dricks County and settled in Clay Township. In 1856 he started for Minnesota, and before reaching his destination, at Delhi, Dela¬ ware Co., Iowa, in January, 1857, his wife died. The family remained in Minnesota till 1859, and then returned to Clay Town¬ ship, where the father died June 2, 1870. His family comprised ten children, six ot whom are living - Levi S., Eri A., Louisa! C., Mary J. , Josephus B. and Cynthia A. Josephus B. Gambold was born in Clay Township, Oct. 18, 1839. Aug. 7, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry, and served three years and two months. He participated in the battles of Win¬ chester, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellor6ville and Gettysburg;was transferred West and participated in the Atlanta campaign. He escaped without injury save a slight wound at Dallas, Ga. After his return from the war he was employed by the Terre Haute and Indiana Division of the Vandalia Railroad till 1872, and the next three years by Pierson, Fellows & Stanley, merchants of Coatesville. In 1882 he formed his present partnership with Malilon B. Draper. He was married to Mary E. Brown, of Putnam County, Ind. They have two children - Charles and EllaE.

William Greenlee is a native of Hendricks County, Ind., born in September, 1839. His father, Abner Greenlee, settled in Marion Township in 1829, and there he was reared and educated. He enlisted in October, 1861, in the Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, and served in the defense of his country three years, two months and ten days, participating in many important campaigns and battles. He was in General Buell's command at Shiloh; was at Stone River, with General Streight on his noted raid, at Franklin, and later with Gen¬ eral Thomas at Nashville, where he was discharged Dec. 17. 1864. He returned to Hendricks County, and in 1865 bought the farm on section 28, Clay Township, where he has since lived. He is a model farmer and has one of the pleasantest homes in the township. He has been twice married. His first wife, Martha Bryant, is deceased. His present wife was Melinda J. Pierson, daughter of Ervin Pierson. He ha8had two children, only one of whom is living - Ernest, born Sept. 16, 1876. His eldest son, Emerson, died in infancy.

Milton E. Radley is a representative of one of the mostprorai. nent pioneer families of Hendricks County, and is one of the oldest living natives of the county. He was born in Center Township in December, 1829, a son of Simon T. Hadley, the second Clerk of i Hendricks County. He has livel in Clay Township since 1870 and owns a fine farm on section 32. He now resides in the village of Amo. His wife was Jane Phillips, daughter of John Phillips. They have no children, but have an adopted daughter - Sarah.

Mordecai Hadley is a representative of one of the leading pioneer families of Hendricks County. His ancestors were early settlers of Pennsylvania. Subsequently one branch of the family moved to North Carolina, another to Kentucky and a third to Massachusetts, for whom Hadley of that State is named. The grandfather of our subject, Joshua Hadley, was a member of the North Carolina branch, and was born May 23, 1743. He married Ruth Lindley, who was born at London Grove, Pa., March 25, 1745. Their son , Joshua Jr., was born in Chatham County, N. C., Dec. 13, 1783, the thir¬ teenth of sixteen children. Joshua, Jr., was married twice. His first wife was Lydia Hiatt, by whom he had one daughter, who grew to womanhood and married William White, and died several years ago. Mr. Hadley's second wife was Rebecca Hinshaw, who was born in Randolph County, N. C., Feb. 20, 1789. Their fam¬ ily consisted of eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity. In the fall of 1838 they came to Hendricks County, lnd., and settled in Clay Township. At that time their two eldest children were married. Mr. Hadley died Aug. 23, 1847. As is characteristic of all members of the society of Friends, he was strongly opposed to slavery, one object of his leaving North Carolina being to escape the evils resulting from it. He was a man of decided convictions, strong in the support of what he believed to be right, and equally earnest in denouncing what he believed to be wrong. He was a well-educated man and for some time a teacher in his early life. His wife survived till April 19, 18S2, dying at the age of ninetythree years. She was a woman of great energy and fortitude, aud strong religious convictions, and a devoted Bible student. She was a frequent attendant at church, riding horseback when between eighty and ninety years of age. Mordecai Hadley was born in Chatham County, N. C., June 30, 1827, and was ten years of age when his parents moved to Hendricks County. He was educated in the schools of his adopted county, remaining with his parents till manhood. He has been twice married. His first wife, Sarah Jane Clark, was born in Chatham County, N. C., in July, 1827, and died in October, 1877. His present wife, Susan Lindley, was born in Chatham County, N. C., May 16, 1842. Mr. Hadley is one of the leading citizens of Clay Township, representing its most pros¬ perous agriculturists.

W. IT. Lakin is the proprietor of the carriage and wagon factory, , Coatesville, Ind., one of the principal enterprises of the town. He is a native of Illinois, born in 1845. His father, William H. Lakin, is a native of Ohio, moving thence to Illinois about 1845, and in 1859 coming to Hendricks County, Ind., and locating in j Plainfield, where he still lives. W. N. learned his trade of his I father, and was for some time associated with him in business in Plainfield. He then went to Danville and remained a year, and in 1869 located in Coatesville. In 1875 he erected a commodious I building to accommodate his growing trade, and in 1885 built an addition, 20x45 feet in size, as a storeroom for his carriages and agricultural implements, tfhichis a leading feature of his business. | He carries on a general blacksmithing business. He is one of the 1 most prosperous business men of the town and one of its most in¬ fluential and enterprising citizens. He married Louisa C. Gam- : bold, daughter of John Gambold, a pioneer of Hendricks County. I They have one son - Otto F.

George W. Me Cloudy proprietor of the livery and 6ale stables, Amo, Ind., was born in Lee County, Va., Dec. 27, 1811. His ! father, John McCloud, died in 1819, and in 1830 his mother, with ] her four children - George W., Nancy, Thomas and Archlif, moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled in Franklin Town¬ ship. Of the family, George W. is the only one living. He mar- I ried Eunice Bray, a native of Kentucky, daughter of Henry Bray. To them were born twelve children, seven of whom are living. His wife died several years ago and he subsequently married Eliz- i abeth Elliott, who died Jan. 14, 1885, leaving two children. j

Daniel Osborn , one of the pioneers of Hendricks County, was born in Hart County, Ky., in 1811. In 1829 his father, Daniel | Osborn, Sr., emigrated with his family to Hendricks County, and settled in what is now Franklin Township, and lived where he ! first settled till his death, in 1839. His wife survived her husband till 1855. They had a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters. Of these there are living Margaret, Christina, Daniel , and Mary. Daniel Osborn, Jr., married Mary Broadstreet, ana- I tive of Clark County, Ind. She died in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. J Osborn had twelve children, nine of whom are living, eight sons and one daughter.

Eli Phillips , deceased, was one of the first settlers of Clay Township. He was born in Stokes County, N. C., in 1805. He was reared in his native county and there married Peggy Cosner, who was born in 1814, a daughter of John and Abigail Cosner, who came from North Carolina in 1832 and settled in Clay Town¬ ship, Hendricks Co., Ind., where the father died in 1849 and the mother Jan. 1, 1861. In 1833 Mr. Phillips moved to Indiana and settled on a tract of wild land on sections 33 and 34, Clay Township, on which he lived till 1867, when he moved to Amo, where he died Jan. 1, 1881. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were born twelve children, all in Clay Township; six are living - William; Pamelia, wife of Bonnet Osborn; Phoebe, wife of William Beason; Abigail, wife of William Demoss, of Kansas; Jane, wife of John Walls, of Stilesville, and Arcada, wife of Dr. H. C. Summers. Mrs. Phillips makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Summers. She has one brother and four sisters living older than she. The eldest, Mrs. Mary Vass, was born Jan. 1, 1795. i Jonathan F \ Phillips , the eldest son of Samuel and Rachel (Newman) Phillips, resides on the southeast quarter of section 5, j Clay Township. His farm contains 128 acres of valuable land, located on sections 4 and 5. He was born in Clay Township, April I 16, 1840. He remained with his pareqts till July, 1863, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Infantry for six months. He was discharged after a service of seven months,

! and in February, 1865, enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana and served till the close of the war. He i was married March 23, 1868, to Makina Couch, a native of North Carolina. They have, a family of five children - Alma, Lora, i Aldus, Amanda and Olney.

County, Ind., where the father died, and in 1836 the mother and two unmarried children, Samuel and Sally, came to Hendricks County, and settled on section 4, Clay Township. Samuel bought j a tract of land, but a few acres of which had been cleared of the timber, and on it a small log cabin had been built. This land he | cleared and improved and made his home till his death, in July, 1880, and it is still the home of his widow and younger children, i He was married in 1839 to Rachel Newman, a native of Randolph

Newman, who came to Hendricks County in 1837, and settled in j Franklin Township, where they both died. To Mr. and Mrs. Phill- | ips were born seven children - Jonathan F.; Susanna E., wife ot

Enoch Harlan; Lewis A. ; Sally M., wife of William Shirley; John N., Oliver P. and Emery E. Mr. Phillips in an early day hauled a load of wheat to Lawrenceburg, which he sold for $9.00, the time occupied in going and returning being fourteen days.

Simon Rammel , one of the pioneers of Hendricks County, was born in Franklin County, Ind., Nov. 16, 1818, a son of Rev. Henry and Elizabeth P. (Heward) Rammel. Henry Rammel was a na¬ tive of New Jersey, and a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. He came to Indiana in 1817, and in 1828 to Hendricks County, and settled in Danville. He organized the first Method¬ ist society in Center Township. He died Feb. 21, 1882, aged eighty-six years, one month and twenty-eight days. He was mar¬ ried three times and had a family of seven children, six of whom lived till maturity - Eli, a Methodist minister, died in Kansas in October, 1882; Simon; Elizabeth, deceased; James, of Nebraska; Ruth, of Illinois; Lydia A., deceased; Henry, deceased. Simon is the only member of the family living in Hendricks County. He is by trade a mason, and has been one of the most industrious and enterprising citizens of Danville. He has served as Justice of the Peace twelve years. He has been twice married. His first wife was Lavina Ball, and to them were born four children - David, William, Eliza and James. His present wife was Cynthia A. Griggs.

William Rammel , merchant and Postmaster, Reno, Ind., is a son of Simon Rammel and grandson of Rev. Henry Rammel, one of the earliest settlers of Danville. He was born in Danville, in 1852, and has been a life-long resident of Hendricks County. In August, 1881, he located in Reno, and bought the stock of general merchandise of William Davis, and at the same time was appointed Postmaster. His is the only store of any importance in the place, and he has a good trade, his annual sales amounting to $5,000. He was married to Jennie, daughter of David Haworth. They have two children - Otis and Clara.

Cyrus L. Stanley , attorney at law, Coatesville, Ind., is a son of Samuel Stanley, one of the pioneers of 1831. Samuel Stanley was a native of North Carolina, and was there married to Anna Bow¬ man. They were members of the society of Friends, with strong anti-slavery principles, and not wishing to rear their children un¬ der the influence of that institution, in the fall of 1830 they left North Carolina, and with a one-horse team came to Indiana, be¬ ing six weeks in making the journey. Their family at that time consisted of five children, the eldest fourteen, and the youngest two years of age. They located near Richmond, Wayne County, where, April 6, 1831, Cyrus L. was born. The same season they moved to Hendricks County and settled od the east half of the southwest quarter of section 23, Clay Township. The land was heavily timbered with no improvements. Mr. Stanley erected a log cabin fourteen feet square, and began clearing his land, which he made his home till his death in October, 1850. His wife survived him but one week. He was an upright, honest man, of a quiet disposition, but decided in his convictions. He was in politics a Whig, strongly o pposed to slavery, and was as conscientious in his political as in his religious views. He had a family of eight chil¬ dren, all of whom are living except Barkley, who died iu October, 1849. The surviving children are Harvey, of Douglas County, Kas. ; Rebecca, of Dallas County, Iowa; Sarah, of Warren County, Iowa,; William, of Parke County, Ind.; Cyrus L.; Levi, of Warren County, Iowa, and Anna Jane, of Huron, Dak. The second son, Barkley, learned the carriage-maker's trade, and settled in Springville. He took a prominent partin politics; was a strong anti¬ slavery man, a member of the Free-Soil party, and a delegate to the convention that nominated Martin Van Buren in 1848. He died in October, 1849, leaving a wife and one child, the former since deceased. Harvey and Barkley were prominent in the early settlement of the county. Harvey was well educated and taught school a number of years. Al ter reaching maturity he cleared a farm of his own, but in 1871 removed to Kansas. Cyrus L. Stan¬ ley has been a resident of Clay Township since his iufancy. He has always given some attention to agriculture, and owns a fine farm. He was also for some time engaged in the mercantile busi¬ ness, and since 1870 has devoted considerable time to the practice of law. He was originally in politics, a Whig, but since its or¬ ganization, has been a Republican. In 1860 he was elected Jus¬ tice of the Peace, and was re-elected in 18C4, but resigned before the expiration of his term, and in 1868 was again elected to the same office. He has also served as Commissioner of Hendricks County. Mr. Stanley has been twice married. In 1850 he mar¬ ried Lucy Elrod, who died in 1853, leaving one daughter - Mary Elma. In 1857 he married Sarah Jane Braun, a native of Ohio. They have three children - Eva Ettie, Ena Ethel, and Oscar O.

mers. His paternal grandfather, Rev. Cornelins Summers, was a native of Kentucky and one of the pioneer Presbyterian ministers ! of Northern Indiana. His maternal grandfather, Rev. Harvey Oollings, was a native of North Carolina, and a pioneer Methodist minister of Putnam County, Ind. H. C. Summers was reared in lii8 native county, where he received his literary education. He began the 6tudy of medicine with Drs. Holman and Johnson, of Martinsville, Morgan Co., Ind., and subsequently attended, in | 1872-,73, a course of lectures at the medical department of the

University at Louisville, Ky. He then returned to Putnam County and entered the office of Drs. Ellis and Smythe, at Greencastle, and later entered the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati. | After being at Cincinnati two months he was prostrated with ty¬ phoid fever and was sick about three months. This prevented him from graduating, and he returned to Indiana, and in 1874 formed I a partnership with Dr. S. C. Mon net, and located at Amo. In the | fall of 1877 he returned to Cincinnati and graduated in the spring of 1878. Dr. Summers was married Sspt. 18, 1879, to Arcada Phillips, daughter of Eli Phillips, one of the pioneers of Clay I Township.

When twenty-three years of age he came to Indiana and has 6ince * been a resident of Clay Township, Hendricks Co., Ind. In 1855 his father-in-law, James Kersey, Sr., gave him forty acres where he now resides, which he has improved and erected good build¬ ings, and now has a pleasant home. He was married Nov. 29, 1854, j to Mary Kersey, daughter of James Kersey. She died April 29, 1879, aged forty-three years, four months and four days, leaving five children - Rachel, Eva, Luella, Lillian and James Claude.

Source changes here: from History of Hendricks County, Indiana, Her People, Industries and Institutions, by Hadley, John Vestal, published 1914; 1,173 words in this source stream.

Topography

The land surface of Clay township is in most respects similar to the rest of the county. The township is one of the smaller ones and is drained by the three forks of Mill creek. The land is practically level, with slight valleys made by the streams, and the drainage, now aided by artificial means, is adequate. The quality of the land in this township is good. The farmers have managed, by skillful cultivation and intelligent study, to derive large profits from the soil and are to be commended, especially for this work and progress. The St. Louis division of the Big Four railroad, the Vandalia, and the Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern interurban line traverse the township and, supplemented with an excellent system of gravel and macadam roads, make the township strictly a modern one and a pleasurable location in which to live.

Organization

The township was formed by separating from the north end of Franklin township three tiers of sections of land and taking three sections off the southeast corner of Marion township, thereby giving Clay township an area of twenty-four square miles. This organization was executed by the board of county commissioners in the year 1845.

The poll book of the first election, held at Springfield, in Clay township, August 3, 1846, gives the names of one hundred and one voters. They were Peter Long, Wesley Hardwick, Joshua F. Huckings, Mordecai Samuels, Abraham West, Benjamin Pickett, Caleb Hunt, Thomas J. Hadley, Erasmus Nichols, Milton Asher, Phineas Moon, Eli Hodson, Job Hadley, Henry Bland, Robert Harvey, Mencher Coe. John Candiff, John Harlan, John Gambold, Phineas Tomilson, Ransom Estes, Edward B. Estes, John Johnson, Mathias Alaster, Carver Benboel, Timothy Swain, Clark Hill, David Mastin, Henry Coats, James Wright, William Talbot, Hiram D. Jones, Elijah Anderson, Isaac Miracle, William H. Dalton, Harvey Stanley, Samuel Stanley, (5)

First Settlement

The first settlement in Clay township was made near the year 1825. The exact identity of the first settler is not known, but among the families which came prior to 1832 were those of Obadiah, George and John Tincher, John Hadley, Joel and Jesse Hodson. William Benbow, Doctor Kersey, Newbry Hunt, Abraham West, Nicholas Osburn and George Hancock.

The village of Pecksburg was named in honor of the first president of the Vandalia railroad. The village is located near the east line of Clay township on section 31. The plat of Pecksburg was officially recorded on May 24, 1853. Some of the earliest settlers in the neighborhood of Pecksburg were David Wreitzel, John Sheerer and Daniel Wreitzel. They settled two miles south of the present village in a very early day and constructed a log church of the Lutheran denomination. This afterwards was abandoned and a frame built in Pecksburg, which still stands, about sixty years old. It is not used at present, however. Abraham West had a grist mill near here in the early days, but sold out to John Sheerer. When the Vandalia was built, through the village. Sheerer opened the first store, having a general assortment of goods.

The village at present is very small, comprising but one general store, in charge of Mr. Wreitzel, a descendant of David and Daniel Wreitzel, and

Two miles west of Pecksburg, on sections 2, 3, 34 and 35, is the town of Amo, one of the voting places of the township. This village was laid out in 1850 by Joseph Morris and was originally Morristown, The first "house in this village was constructed by William Tomlinson. The present town has a population of about three hundred people and is incorporated, this having been voted in 1913. The board of trustees is composed of G. G. Hunter, J. S. Carter, H. C. Summers; C. C. Burch is clerk and W. A. Barker is marshal. The town of Amo bears the appearance of prosperity and will in all probabilities have a marked growth in the next few years. The incorporation has been a good thing for the town and the business men have planned to make the most of it.

The First National Bank, of Amo, was organized on January 20, 1906, "by John Kendall and others. J. N. Phillips was the tirst president of the bank; H. C. Summers, the first vice-president; John Kendall, cashier; W. H. White and E. B. Owen, second and third vice-presidents. The capital stock is $25,000, the deposits amounted to $88,168 and the surplus is $5,000. The present ofiicers are as follows : E. B. Owen, president ; George ^V. Christie, vice-president; J. N. Phillips, cashier; Milber Kendall, assistant cashier. This bank opened for business on July 23, 1906.

Amo Lodge No. 701, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has a present membership of over one hundred. The lodge was instituted in 1899. Amo Tribe No. 503, Improved Order of Red Men, has seventy-five members.

Reno is a small village located in Clay township on section 30. The village originated with the building of the Indiana & St. Louis railroad, now the Big Four, in 1870. The official plat of the village was recorded on December 10, 1870. The town in 1914 is exceedingly small and with no industrial activity.

It is unfortunate that more of the early history of the town of Coatesville is not obtainable. Even the official plat of the town has been lost. The town, however, was orginated sometime in the late sixties and quickly became a prosperous community. The town, by the census of 1910, had a population of four hundred and seventy-two people, but this is conceded to have grown to nearly six hundred in 1914.

The town was incorporated in the year 1909 and the present officers are : Trustees, Marvin Hunt, R. C. Knight and James Davidson; clerk, Clarence Shortridge; marshal, O. E. McCammick. The town is supplied with electricity from the Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction Company.

The business houses and residences of the town of Coatesville are attractive and orderly, in fact, to the visitor the town presents an aspect of civic pride and a progressive community. Everything is modern, the streets are well cared for and trade is excellent. The citizens claim that there is not a poor merchant in the town. A new high school was constructed in 1911 and is a model of its kind.

The Coatesville Bank was organized in May, 1902, by Messrs. Beck, Moffet and Reeds. It was reorganized in 1906 as the First National Bank, commencing business on January i, 1907. The first officers were: W. T. Beck, president; F. P. Mofifett, vice-president and James M. Reeds, cashier. The first capital stock was $6,000, the present capital is $25,000, with $125,000 in deposits and $8,500 surplus. W. T. Beck is' the president in 1914; Jesse Masten, vice-president, and C. D. Knight, cashier. The bank was chartered in 1906.

Coatesville Lodge No. 357, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized November 27, 1870, with the following first members: Joel T. Tinder, Wallace Snowden, William Lakin, William Newkirk, Alva W. Sanders. There are now one hundred and twenty-five members.