A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 10

Author: William Travis
Publication date: 1909
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 631

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

and thus for two years he was the custodian of the state funds. Since the organization of the party he has been a stalwart champion of Repub- lican principles and has long been recognized as one of its leaders in the state. He maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in General Canby's Post, No. 2, G. A. R. His course in public office has ever been above suspicion. The interest of the county and state have always been first with him and he has placed the gen- eral good before partisanship and the welfare of his constituents before personal matters. He commands the respect of all who know him through- out the state, but at home, in the city of his residence where he is best known, he inspires personal friendships of unusual strength and all who know him have the highest admiration for his excellent record as a soldier and public officer and also for his good qualities of heart and mind.

Major Samuel Hill, elder brother of Major R. S. Hill, at the break- ing out of the war of 1861 was a member of the Fourth United States Cavalry and had crossed the plains with Albert Sidney Johnson to Salt Lake City to put down the Mormon Insurrection. He was appointed major of the Second Indiana Cavalry by Governor Morton on the recom- mendation of his uncle. John P. Usher, Secretary of the Interior.

Major Samuel Hill was noted for his fine drill and discipline, and always drilled the officers of his regiment. He was wounded and cap- tured at Hartsville, Tennessee. December 7, 1862. He came home to recuperate from his wound, and after one month at his home he reported for duty at Louisville, Kentucky. Being still unable for field duty, he was assigned for court martial duty. The enemy appearing in numbers in the vicinity of Louisville and he being an experienced officer was sent out on a reconnaissance. from which he caught a severe cold, which aggra- vated his old wounds, from which he died in March, 1863, at Lebanon, Kentucky. Major Samuel Hill, like all of his family, was loyal to his country and his friends. His body was brought to his old home and laid in the old Hill cemetery on West Main Street, Brazil, Indiana.

JOSEPH T. ADAMS .- A soldier during the Civil war and for many years after a successful and popular school teacher. Joseph T. Adams, of Perry township, is now extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, hav- ing a well-kept and finely managed farm. He is numbered among the best men of his community, socially and financially, and is especially valued as a large-hearted, public-spirited citizen, whose enterprise and forethought have contributed greatly to the comfort and happiness of the people about him. A son of Samuel C. Adams, he was born July 16, 1841. in Adams township, Parke county, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, his great-grandfather, Samuel Adams, having been born in Ireland, of Scotch lineage, and came to America in the early part of the eighteenth century.

James Adams, grandfather of Joseph T., lived near Harrodsburg, Kentucky, until 1814. Migrating that year to the territory of Indiana, he resided for two years near Vincennes. Pushing on then to the interior, he entered two hundred and forty acres of land in what is now Rac- coon township, Parke county. In 1816, his corn not maturing for bread, he went to Vincennes, seventy miles distant, to mill, buying the corn at that place. Improving his land, he was there employed in tilling the soil the remainder of his life, passing away at the advanced age of eighty- one years. He was a man of much force of character. very prominent in public affairs, and Adams township in Parke county was named in his honor.

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

Samuel C. Adams, father of Joseph T., was born in 1801 on a Ken- tucky plantation about four miles from Harrodsburg, Mercer county. But thirteen years old when he came with the family to Indiana. he helped to clear and improve the parental homestead in Parke county, living at home until after attaining his majority. He subsequently married, bought land lying about seven miles north of Rockville and began the improve- ment of a homestead. During the panic of 1837 he lost everything and returned empty-handed to Adams township, Parke county. Subsequently buying a tract of wild land in that locality, he was exceedingly fortunate in improving it, and in course of time paid all of his debts. Coming to Clay county in 1852, he purchased a tract of land in Sugar Ridge township and lived there until his death, February 29. 1868. During his busy life he witnessed many of the important changes that took place in the face of the country, seeing it transformed from a dense wilderness to a land of riches filled with thriving cities, populous villages and magnificent farms, all telling of wealth and prosperity. When he moved from Vin- cennes to Parke county in 1816, a boy fifteen years old, there were but three buildings in Terre Haute, and those were small log cabins located on the bank of the river. He married Nancy McGinnis, who was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, a daughter of James and Temperance (Irving) McGinnis, who came from Virginia, their native state, to Indi- ana in 1820, becoming pioneers of Parke county. Eight children were born of their union, namely : Elizabeth J. ; James W. ; Andrew W .. who died at the age of seven years ; John W .; Margaret A .; Martha E .; Mary B .; and Joseph T.

Receiving some educational advantages when young, Joseph T. Adams began teaching school when eighteen years old, and continued in that vocation until after the breaking out of the Civil war. In (October, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Forty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, went south with his comrades, and during the entire period of his enlist- ment was in active service. He took part in many important engage- ments, among the more notable being those at Island No. 10, New Madrid. siege of Fort Pillow and capture of Memphis, Saint Charles, Helena, Lit- tle Rock, Little Missouri, and Jenkins Ferry. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, Mr. Adams was honorably discharged, and on being mustered out returned home. Resuming his profession, he taught school for a number of years, being very successful in his educational work and in the meantime making his home in Sugar Ridge township. Locating in Perry township in 1895, Mr. Adams bought the farm where he now resides. It is pleasantly located in section one, and contains two hun- dred and five acres of rich and fertile land, with a good set of farm build- ings, and in its management he is meeting with most satisfactory pecuni- ary results.

Mr. Adams married, in 1868, Nancy A. Williams. She was born in Perry township, a daughter of John and Sarah ( Neal) Williams. In August, 1872, after four short years of happy married life, she died, leaving two children, Samuel C. and Mary E. Mary E. married Emanuel Miller, of Brazil, of whom a brief sketch appears elsewhere in this vol- ume. Samuel C. conducts the home farm, managing it with skill and ability. He was born August 23, 1869, and was brought up and edu- cated in Sugar Ridge township. On September 1, 1895. he married Nel- lie B. Gantz, who was born in Ashboro, Indiana, a daughter of Dr. Rich- ard and Elizabeth ( Knoll) Gantz. Five children have been born of their

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

marriage. namely: Esther, who died at the age of seven months; Mary E .; Olive : Joseph R. ; and Frances Anna.

ELISHA F. COOPRIDER .- Among the best-known and most highly esteemed residents of Clay City is Elisha F. Cooprider, a representative of one of the earliest families to make a permanent settlement in Clay county. A native of Harrison township, he was born October 29, 1833, and is the only surviving son of John and Elizabeth ( Fleshman ) Coop- rider. of whom a sketch may be found elsewhere in this biographical work.

Born and bred in pioneer times. Elisha F. Cooprider obtained his early education in the rude log schoolhouse, with plain slab benches for seats. while on a board placed against one side of the wall the pupils took turns in writing. Light was admitted through a piece of glass inserted in place of one log, and the children sitting on the front benches were nearly roasted by the intense heat from the fireplace, while those in the rear of the room almost perished from the cold. In the days of his youth the country roundabout was in its pristine wildness, and deer, turkeys and other game was abundant. He was a hunter of some note, and relates that on his last hunting expedition he and his brother started a lot of deer on the present site of Clay City, and before night had killed six of them. Learning the carpenter's trade, Mr. Cooprider. with his brother, Wash- ington, erected the first frame house built on the present site of the vil- lage of Middlebury. He remained an inmate of the parental household until his marriage, after which he lived for a number of years on the home estate. Mr. Cooprider then purchased a part of the Storm home- stead, had it surveyed and platted, and made an addition to Clay City. He continued in his chosen occupation, that of a farmer, until 1897, when he rented his property and removed to Missouri. Purchasing a farm in Bates county, he carried on general farming there for six years, when he sold out and returned to Clay City, where he has since resided.

Mr. Cooprider married, February 6, 1859, Christina Storm, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, a daughter of George Storm and granddaughter of John Storm. John Storm was born at Crab Orchard, Kentucky, of German ancestors. His mother died when he was a small boy, and his father married again. Not liking his step-mother he ran away from home, going to Pennsylvania, where he resided several years. From there he moved with his wife and children to Ohio, settling in Mill ('reek. Coshocton county, where he entered eighty acres of government land, from which he cleared and improved a farm. When he located there the country in that vicinity was but a dense forest, and the near- est neighbor was seven miles away. Deer, turkeys, bears and wild hogs were plentiful. and Indians roamed at will through the wilderness. He spent the remainder of his life on the homestead which he improved, in the meantime seeing the country well settled. having taken an active part in developing and advancing its agricultural resources. The maiden name of his wife was Bettie Slonaker, and she proved herself a true and constant helpmate to him.

George Storm, Mrs. Cooprider's father, was born in Pennsylvania, and when a boy went with his parents to Ohio, assisting in driving the stock during the overland trip. He grew to manhood in Coshocton county, and after his marriage bought a tract of land near Bedford, and was there employed as a tiller of the soil for a number of seasons. Sell-

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

ing his Ohio property in 1856. he started across the country for Indiana and after journeying for twelve days arrived in Clay county. He sub- sequently located in section thirty, Harrison township, where he bought a tract of land now included within the limits of Clay City, and was there engaged in farming until his death, in 1867. Hle married Barbara Miller, who was born in Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Smith) Miller. She survived him many years, passing away August 1, 1891. When the railroad was built in Clay City she platted a part of her farm, making forty-eight lots, which extended on both sides of Main street as far south as Seventh street. The place was first called Markland. but there being already a town of that name it was subsequently changed to Clay City, its present name. Mr. and Mrs. George Storm reared eleven children, namely : John. Adam, Eliza- beth, Mary, George, Jacob, Lucinda, Christina, Andrew Jackson, Sarah and Ananias.

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Cooprider are faithful members of the Baptist church, and politically Mr. Cooprider has been a stanch Democrat since casting his first presidential vote, in 1856, for Stephen A. Douglas.

DR. FREDERICK C. DILLEY, a native of Clay county, Indiana, was born November 5, 1876, son of James N. and Percilla J. (Councilman ) Dilley. The father was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1839, and died in Brazil, Indiana, in 1901. He married Miss Councilman, a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, born in 1849. She died April. 1907. They were united in marriage in their native county and their only child was Frederick C. Upon coming to Indiana they settled, in 1860, at Knights- ville, Clay county. Soon after Mr. Dilley arrived in Indiana he engaged in the drug trade, continuing for twelve or fourteen years, at the end of which period he returned to Rochester, Pennsylvania, where he fol- lowed the same line of business. After two years he believed he could better his interests by again taking up his abode in Indiana, so returned and located at Brazil, in which place he continued as a prosperous drug- gist until the date of his death in 1901. He bore well his part in put- ting down the rebellion. August 8, 1861, he enlisted as a member of Company A. Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years as a private, being mustered out with an honorable discharge. He was appointed sergeant of his company, and received his final discharge. at Cincinnati, Ohio, January 21, 1865, on certificate of disability. While doing picket duty, July 9, 1864, along the Chattahoochee river, Georgia. he was wounded. During his military services he participated in the engagements at the battle of Shiloh. Stone River, Chickamauga. Mis- sionary Ridge and Resaca. His death was occasioned by his exposure. while in the army, in connection with other complaints. Politically. Mr. Dilley was a supporter of the Republican party, and held with credit to himself and his neighbors, the offices of school director and school treas- urer for a number of years. He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Brazil Lodge, No. 264, A. F. & A. M., of which lodge he was a past master, having served a number of years and was ever an active, bright Mason. He was also a member of Brazil Lodge No. 30 of the order of Knights of Pythias. In his church connection he was identified with the Methodist Episcopal church.

Frederick C., son of James N. and Percilla J. Dilley, was educated in the high schools of Brazil and later chose medicine for his profession

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

and studied under Doctor Joseph Eastman, of Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Central College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapo- lis, with the class of 1898, since which date he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Brazil, where he has won an enviable reputation as a medical practitioner and a skilful surgeon. In his politi- cal affiliations, Dr. Dilley is a Republican. He is a worthy member of the Indiana State Medical Society and American Medical Association, and in 1908 he was elected president of the Fifth Councilor District of the Indiana State Medical Association. In civic societies he is numbered among the active members of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Brazil Lodge, No. 762, of which he is now the exalted ruler. He is also a member of the Brazil Lodge, No. 38 Knights of Pythias order : and the Home Defenders of America. At this date (summer of 1908) he is secretary of the Brazil city board of health, in which position he is prov- ing himself highly efficient.

Of his domestic relations it may be stated that Dr. Dilley was married March 14, 1900, to May E: Leavitt, a native of Clay county, Indiana, daughter of William and Margaret (Lewis) Leavitt, both natives of Ohio and now residing in Brazil, Indiana. Dr. Dilley's wife is the fourth child in a family of six children now living.

KINNEY THOMAS, superintendent of the county farm of Clay county, Indiana, which is located near Center Point, in Washington township, has been all his life a resident of that locality, engaged in agricultural pursuits during most of his mature life. He was born in Washington township on the 3rd of October, 1866, and received his education at the Center Point schools. His parents are Lewis S. and Mary A. (Lucas) Thomas, the mother being born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on the 4th of May, 1837, and the father on the old Thomas farm in section 13 of Washington township, January 5, 1839. They are now living in Vigo county, Indiana, the parents of four children, of whom Kinney T. is the oldest.

Mr. Thomas lived on the farm in Washington township with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, when he began work on his own responsibility as a farm hand. He was thus employed for about five years, split staves for another two years and then married and rented a farm of ninety acres. After operating this for some two years he rented a farm of about one hundred and sixty acres of W. B. Ringo in Cass township, and made that his homestead for four years and a half. On March 1. 1896, Mr. Thomas purchased one hundred and five acres in Sugar Ridge township, and two years afterward bought forty acres adjoining it. In October, 1902, he sold that farm and a year after bought one hundred and sixty acres in sections 22 and 27, Perry township, where he resided until June, 1907, when he was appointed by the com- missioners of Clay county as superintendent of the County Infirmary or Poor Farm, assuming the functions of his office September Ist of that year. He has long been active as a Republican. After selling his farm in Sugar Ridge township Mr. Thomas rented it and worked the land in connection with his Perry township farm. He had no specialty, but was a general farmer and stock raiser. His experience and training, therefore, have specially adapted him for the responsibilities of his pres- ent office.

On August 13, 1890, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with Miss

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Kinney Thomas

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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINO'S

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Cora M. Murbarger, a native of Clay county, Indiana, born on the 4th of July, 1871, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth ( Latham) Murbarger. Her parents were both natives of Indiana, and they had four children, two of whom died in infancy. Two daughters are living. of whom Mrs. Thomas is the youngest. She herself is the mother of seven children- Herbert. Mary Esther, Edsil H .. Ona D., Marie, Norma M. and Goldie Fern Thomas, all living with their parents. Mr. Thomas is a popular and efficient official, and is also widely known among the faternities, being a member of the Masonic lodge at Riley ; of the Clear Creek lodge No. 449, at Corey, and the Knights of Pythias lodge No. 200, at Center Point.

WILLIAM HENRY MCCULLOUGH, a retired farmer now residing in Brazil, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, July 28, 1843, son of West and Matilda ( Mills) Mccullough. West McCullough was a native of Bullsgap, Tennessee, born in 1818 and died in 1876. His wife was born in North Carolina and died September, 1855, aged thirty-four years. They were united in marriage in Putnam county near Webster Mills and were the parents of eight children, as follows: Levina, William Henry, Newton A., Vincent, Marion, John T., Millard and Franklin. After the death of Mr. Mccullough's first wife he married Rachel J. Paul at Rails- ville, Putnam county, by which union ten children were born, seven of whom still survive, as follows: Albert, Perry, Martha Jane. Lee, Nelson, Riley and Eliza. West Mccullough came to Indiana in 1828 with his parents who located in Putnam county. They returned to Tennessee, however, and spent one year and then returned, making the journey by wagon. He grew to manhood in Putnam county and entered government land, first building a log cabin in which his son, William Henry, was born. Later he erected a large, two story house which now stands in good state of preservation. This farm contained about seven hundred acres and at Mr. Mccullough's death he was one of the prominent men of his county. Politically, he was a Jackson Democrat.

William Henry Mccullough spent his youthful days at home driving an ox team, much of his time at hauling logs which was the chief busi- ness of those times in this section of the state. He was industrious and saved his earnings, so that he became a tax-payer in the county, before he had reached his majority. Since 1865, he has lived in Clay county. He was among the "boys in blue" who enlisted to suppress the Rebellion, being a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Indiana volunteer regiment. He entered the service March 27, 1865, and was dis- charged August 4, the same year, on account of illness and the termination of the war. He came home and located in Cass township, Clay county, where he purchased a farm and remained there until 1880. In the early '7os he bought in Harrison township. In 1884 he took charge of the County Farm and remained its superintendent up to 1897, then moved to Posey township where he resided until 1899 and then moved to Brazil. While residing in Clay county, he was in charge of the Orphans' Home for one year. He was also in charge of the farm department of the Feeble-minded Institute at Fort Wayne for eighteen months. Since mov- ing to Brazil he has held the office of justice of the peace. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and in politics a Democrat.

Mr. Mccullough was married November 15, 1868, to Hannah Heath, born in Ohio, April 21, 1847, and died February 27, 1887; she was the daughter of John and Effie (Shaffer) Heath. The father was a native

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

of Vermont and the mother was born in Ohio. John Heath and wife were the parents of eight children, five of whom still live: Galvin, deceased ; Peter, deceased : Hannah, Mrs. McCullough, deceased ; Jemima, Susan ; James; Ella ; Delila, living. The father came to Indiana at an early day and located in Owen county, where he taught school winters and farmed in the summer. He held the office of county commissioner : was a Democrat and belonged to the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Cullough were the parents of three children, one of whom is now living- Annie M., wife of Everett Elkin, residing in Oklahoma, and they have two children-William L. and Hannah Maria.

After the death of his first wife, Mr. Mccullough married Maria Dunahey, the date of their marriage being October 14. 1890. She was born in Pennsylvania. November 4, 1844, daughter of John and Agnes ( Davis) Dunahey. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and died in the Union army, he being a member of an Ohio regiment and met death at Portsmouth, Ohio. Mrs. McCullough's mother was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and died when her daughter, Mrs. McCullough, was but nine years of age. Mr. and Mrs. John Dunahev were the parents of ten children : Jane, Sarah, John, George, and Maria. Five others are deceased.

THOMAS JOSEPH KEEGAN .- Dependent upon his own resources from early manhood, whatever success in life Thomas Joseph Keegan has enjoyed has come to him as the direct reward of his own labors. He is now well known in Brazil and this part of Indiana as a contractor in railroad, gravel road and street work and receives a liberal patronage. A life of well directed activity has also gained for him the respect of his fellow-men, making him one of the worthy and representative citizens of the county. He was born in Owen county, Indiana, March 6, 1856. his parents being John and Mary ( McNamara ) Keegan. As the name indicates, the family is of Irish lineage. The father was born in county Roscommon, Ireland, in 1825, and there resided through the period of his boyhood and youth, after which he wedded Miss Mary McNamara. whose birth occurred in county Roscommon August 18, 1830. They came to America as passengers on a sailing vessel, leaving Ireland in November. 1850, and reached the harbor of New Orleans on the 12th of January. 1851. From the Crescent City they made their way northward to Indiana, settling near New Albany, where Mr. Keegan engaged in teaching school for several years. He next removed to a point between Gosport and Quincy, Indiana, and was section foreman of a railroad. Later he took up his abode in Monroe county, this state, where he had purchased a farm to which he now gave his time and energies. During the period of the Civil war he was agent at the depot in Louisville, Kentucky, for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. although his family continued to live on the Monroe county farm. At the close of hostilities between the north and the south he returned to his farm in Indiana and from 1868 until 1875 was engaged in railroad construction. His labors were then termin- ated by death, and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Monte- zuma. His life was a useful, active and honorable one and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. He lived in har- mony with his professions as a communicant of the Roman Catholic church and gave his political allegiance to the Democracy. His wife, long surviving him, passed away in Brazil, Indiana, March 16, 1906. They were parents of three sons and five daughters, of whom six are now living : Mary, the wife of James McGuire, a resident of Brazil; Thomas

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A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 10

Author: William Travis Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Number of Pages: 631

Author: William Travis
Publication date: 1909
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 631