USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 19
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Mr. Risher has been twice married, first to Jane Kyle, February 15, 1853; she was born in Ireland and came to America with her parents when but nine years old. She died in September, 1865, the mother of four children-three sons and one daughter, two of whom now survive-
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Almeda J., born July 21, 1858, and William R., born May 26, 1865. For his second wife Mr. Risher married June 19. 1866, Cordelia Mitchell, born near New Castle, Pennsylvania. She had followed school teaching in her young womanhood. She died June 5, 1882.
ALHAIN W. ADAMS, owning a half interest in the Daily Times of Brazil. was born in Monroe county, Indiana, March 26, 1870. He is a son of George W. and Caroline (Smock) Adams, and in the paternal line is of English lineage and in the maternal of German descent. The father, a painter by trade, was born in New York city, and the mother was a native of Kentucky. They were marired in Monroe county, In- diana, and became the parents of six children, of whom three are living. Mr. Adams served his country as a soldier in the Civil war, being a member of Company K, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana Volun- teers.
Alhain W. Adams was the youngest child in his father's family, and pursued his education in the schools of Brazil. He has worked in a newspaper office from the age of sixteen years, beginning as "devil" in the office of the Brazil Register. Gradually he worked his way upward and when twenty-three years of age purchased that paper, which he con- ducted for five years, when he became reporter on the Daily Enterprise. Later he joined the reportorial staff of the Daily Times, with which he was thus associated for twelve years, and in 1905 he purchased a half interest in the paper. They own a most extensive newspaper plant in Clay county and the business is a most profitable one.
Mr. Adams was married at Knightsville, this county, in 1894, to Miss Lillian E. Scott, a daughter of John J. and Agnes (Snell) Scott, natives of England, in whose family were six children, all of whom are yet living. Mrs. Adams was the second in order of birth and for thirty- two years has been a resident of Clay county. By her marriage she has become the mother of one son, Everal.
Mr. Adams is a Republican in his political views. His fraternal relations are with the Home Defenders, the Modern Woodmen, the Elks and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is also a member of Brazil Lodge, No. 264, A. F. and A. M.
JOHN JEFFERS .- A man of marked ability, possessing keen business judgment, actively and successfully engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing, John Jeffers of Perry township, has for many years been prominently identified with the agricultural and industrial development and progress of this part of Clay county, and, as opportunity has occurred, has lent his aid and influence to encourage the establishment of beneficial enterprises. He was born October 20, 1851, in Perry township, a son of Andrew J. Jeffers, of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume. He comes from Pennsylvania stock, his paternal grandparents, James F. and Margaret (Reece) Jeffers, having been born, bred and married in that state.
Coming with his parents to Clay county, Indiana, from Clermont county, Ohio, where his birth occurred April 30, 1816, Andrew J. Jeffers lived on the homestead until after his marriage, and then settled first in Sugar Ridge township. He subsequently bought land in Perry town- ship, and was here prosperously employed in tilling the soil until his death, August 31, 1889, aged seventy-two years four months and one day.
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He had volunteered in the Second Indiana Cavalry in 1861 and served three years. He married Jane Gilbert, who was born in Clermont county, Ohio, February 14, 1819, and died on the home farm in Perry township October 13, 1894.
The sixth child in succession of birth of a family consisting of seven boys and two girls, John Jeffers remained with his parents until about sixteen years old, and then began life for himself as a farm laborer. Although his earnings were not munificent, he was prudent in his expenditures, and having accumulated some money he bought in 1875 forty acres of timber land in section twenty-six, Perry township, and at once began its improvement. During the years that have since elapsed Mr. Jeffers has from time to time added to his acreage, and has diligently improved his property, continually adding to its value, and has now four hundred acres of fine land, mostly under a good state of cultivation. He makes a specialty of growing stock and keeps the best grades of cattle, having Short-Horns and Poll-Angus cattle, Poland-China hogs, and Norman-Percheron horses, and is a large shipper of stock to Chicago, Indianapolis and Pittsburg. His estate, with its modernly-constructed residence and substantial buildings, is one of the most attractive in the neighborhood, giving ample evidence to the passer-by of Mr. Jeffers' skill and good taste as a practical farmer and rural householder.
On June 8, 1878, Mr. Jeffers married Sarah Alice Pearcy. She was born in this township October 24, 1856, a daughter of Milton H. Pearcy. Her father, a native of Kentucky, was a son of George and Sarah Pearcy, and married Matilda Donham, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of John and Susan (Reece) Donham, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Seven children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffers, namely: Lewis Cass, who died at the age of two years ; Rosa E., wife of Fred Butt, of Posey township; Hattie; Mamie, wife of Ray Miller, of Ashboro, Indiana; Andrew J .; Margaret Verna; and Milton Harvey. Politically Mr. Jeffers is an earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and has twice been elected trustee of Perry township. Religiously he is an adherent of the Methodist Epis- copal church, but Mrs. Jeffers and their two daughters, Mamie and Hat- tie, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Saline City, Indiana.
THOMAS CULLIN, for nearly thirty-five years a leading farmer and stock man of Clay county, saw also active service during the last year of the Civil war, and was a citizen of true worth in the best American sense of the word. He was born in Ireland, and by the death of his mother when he was eighteen years of age became the main support of the children of the family. With three sisters and a brother he came to the United States, located at Venice, Ohio, learned the blacksmith's trade, and assisted in the support of the family until its different members themselves secured means of livelihood. Later he removed to Bowling Green, and there followed his trade until 1864, when he enlisted in Com- pany D, Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. While in action he re- ceived a saber wound in the head and came home to recuperate, but soon returned to the front and served until his discharge, being at the time second lieutenant of his company.
Upon returning to Clay county Mr. Cullin commenced to purchase horses for the government, and soon after the close of the war bought
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a farm just east of Bowling Green. He continued to add to his landed possessions until he was the owner of six hundred acres of land in Washington township, not only conducting general farming on a large scale but continuing to raise horses and cattle and deal in livestock. He was a man of unimpeachable integrity and marked business ability, and died on his homestead near Bowling Green on the 29th of April, 1899, at the age of seventy years. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church; belonged to the Masonic lodge No. 85, of Bowling Green, and was actively identified with the local Grand Army lodge .. His par- ents, Thomas and Mary (Bell) Cullin, both died in the mother land.
On May 30, 1858, Thomas Cullin was joined in marriage to Miss Ann Moss, born in Bowling Green February 3, 1842, daughter of Henry and Jane (Blatton) Moss, the father being a native of South Carolina and the mother of Virginia. The issue of the union consisted of the following children: Jennie, now Mrs. Smith Campbell, of Bowling Green; Edward M., of Washington township, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this history ; H. Curtis, also of Washington township; John, who is still living with his mother and engaged in the conduct of the home farm; and Mary Hannah, who died in infancy. Since her hus- band's death the widow has resided in Bowling Green, where her husband had purchased property and was living retired. She is now classed with the pioneers of the county, and is widely honored for her faithfulness as a wife and mother and the sterling traits of her character in general.
DAVID DIEL .- Among the highly respected and esteemed citizens of Clay City is David Diel, who is now living retired from active pursuits. His father, Jacob Diel, and his grandfather, Henry Diel, were both natives of Pennsylvania, where Adam Diel, the great-grandfather of David, settled on coming from Germany to this country, and where he spent the remainder of his life.
Henry Diel was born, reared and married in Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, but in 1812 moved from there to Ohio, taking with him his wife, four children and all of his earthly possessions. A pioneer of Montgom- ery county, he bought a tract of timbered land that is now included within the corporate limits of the city of Dayton. He was the first black- smith in that locality, and one of the first in the county. After a resi- dence there of twenty years he settled in Wayne county, Indiana, which was then in its primitive wildness. Purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of timbered land, he cleared and improved the farm, on which he carried on general farming for twenty-two years. Coming then to Jack- son township, Clay county, he purchased a partly improved farm, the management of which he left to his son Joseph, who was still a member of the parental household. There he lived, retired from the activities of life, until his death, September 15, 1858, at the venerable age of ninety years. He married Elizabeth Hetsel, who was born, of German parents, in Pennsylvania, and died at the very advanced age of ninety-six years. She belonged to a family noted for its longevity, her father having attained the age of ninety-nine years.
One of a family of ten children that grew to maturity, Jacob Diel was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and when seven years old was taken by his parents to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married. Coming in 1830 to Indiana, he lived for four years in Fayette county, and from 1834 until 1847 was engaged in
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farming in Wayne county, where he had purchased wild land. Remov- ing then to Clay county, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of tim- bered land in Jackson township, and soon the ringing strokes of his axe were heard as he leveled the giants of the forest in his endeavor to clear a space in which to erect a log cabin. He split boards to cover the roof of the cabin, holding them in place with poles, and split puncheon for the floor. Ilis wife, who shared with him the privations of pioneer life, worked equally as hard, carding, spinning and weaving the homespun in which she clothed her family, making the garments herself. He cleared a fine homestead, replaced the original log cabin with a substantial house made of hewed logs, built a good barn, and was there employed in tilling the soil until 1872. Going to Jasper county, Illinois, in that year, he bought an improved farm of two hundred acres, which he subsequently divided among his children, after which he made his home with his son William in Sugar Ridge township, Clay county, until his death, at the age of ninety-one years and twenty-four days. He was a man of fine physique, stalwart and strong, weighing over two hundred pounds, and was very industrious and temperate in his habits. He married Sarah Kerschner, who was born in Pennsylvania, which was also the birthplace of her father, John Kerschner, who removed from there to Ohio in 1820, and spent his last years in Montgomery county. Mrs. Sarah ( Kersch- ner) Diel died in Jasper county, Illinois, aged seventy-two years. She reared nine children. namely: Emeline, David, Jacob, John, Daniel. Mary, Catherine, William and Lucinda. During the Civil war all of these sons enlisted in Company E. Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and Daniel died in the service, all of the others returning home, marry- ing, and rearing families.
Fourteen years old when he came to Clay county with his parents, David Diel had previously obtained the rudiments of his education in the pioneer schools of Wayne county, each day walking three miles to reach the rude log school house. He subsequently attended school in Jackson township for a while, in the meantime having a practical drilling in the various branches of agriculture, and remained at home until his mar- riage, when he began life as a farmer on rented land. In September, 1864. Mr. Diel enlisted in Company E, Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry. and was with the regiment in all of its engagements until December 16, 1864. when, at the battle of Nashville, he was wounded and sent to the hospital. Recovering from his injury, he joined his regiment in Alabama in February, 1865, and continued with it till the close of the war, serving in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. . Receiving his honorable discharge from the service June 14. 1865, Mr. Diel returned home, and during the ensuing six years was employed in a saw mill. He then resumed farming, and in 1881 pur- chased land in Perry township, where for twenty years he was prosper- ously employed in agricultural pursuits. In 1901 Mr. Diel removed to Brazil, and six years later, in September, 1907, traded his Brazil property for his present home estate in Clay City.
Mr. Diel married, in 1858, Catherine Latham, who was born in Cass township, Clay county, September 14, 1841, that being likewise the place of birth of her father, George W. Latham. Her grandfather, John Latham, moved from his native state, North Carolina, to Cass township. which then formed a part of Owen county, about 1818. He cleared and improved a farm from the wilderness, and after living there for a long
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time went with his son to Jackson township, where he lived until more than ninety years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Lucas, died two years before he did. Reared on the home farm in Cass township, George W. Latham subsequently lived for a few years in Jack- son township, after which he sold the farm that he there owned and returned to Cass township. Buying land, he cleared and improved a homestead, on which he was employed in tilling the soil until his death, at the age of seventy-four years. He was a man of prominence in the community, and for twenty years served as a justice of the peace. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Wilkerson, was born in Cass township, a daughter of Robert and Catherine ( Moffit ) Wilkerson, the former of whom was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and was a pioneer settler of Cass township. George W. Latham's first wife died at the early age of twenty-nine years and he married for his second wife Rhoda Slack, who is still living, being now eighty-five years of age.
Six children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Diel, namely: Myra Ella, Sarah Lucinda, Rhoda Annis, Mary Elizabeth, Clarissa Catherine and Olive May. Myra Ella is the wife of Lawrence Loudermilk, and has four children, Bessie, Myrtie, Ray and Hester. Sarah Lucinda, wife of Daniel Meyers, has eight children, Gertie, George, Mabel, William, Edith, Leora, Dewey and Bernice. Rhoda Annis, wife of Charlie Bennett, has three children, Grace Belle, Fred and Fredie. Mary Elizabeth mar- ried Leander Overton, and they have one child, Elsie. Clara Catherine married William Schiele, who died in 1898. She lived but two years longer, dying in May, 1900, and leaving one child, David William Schiele. Olive May is the wife of John Nevins. Three of the grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Diel are married, Bessie Loudermilk having married William Beasley ; Myrtie Loudermilk is also married ; and Gertie Meyers married Frank Nyer and has two children, Janice and an infant.
ULRICH SCHLATTER .- As proprietor and manager of a well-tilled farm in Van Buren township, Ulrich Schlatter is identified with the ad- vancement of the agricultural prosperity of Clay county. For many years he has been a resident of this vicinity, and is in all respects con- sidered a valuable citizen of the township, fulfilling his duties and obli- 'gations as such with commendable fidelity. A son of John George Schlatter, he was born October 31, 1857, in Owen county, Indiana, of honored German ancestry.
John George Schlatter was born, bred and educated in Wurtemberg, Germany. In early manhood, seeing but little opportunity for accumu- lating wealth in the Fatherland, he turned his face towards America. and after a sixty days' passage on a sailing vessel arrived in New York city, he and his brother Martin being the only members of the family to cross the Atlantic. Proceeding westward to Ohio, he lived there until after his marriage, when he came to Owen county, Indiana, where for a time he was employed in farming on a tract of rented land. In 1871 he came to Clay county, and for a number of years lived in Harrison town- ship, from there removing to Harmony, where his death occurred at the age of seventy-two years. The maiden name of his wife was Magdalena Schepper. She was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and died at her home in Indiana, aged three score and ten years. She reared a family of eight children, namely : William, Catherine, Mary, John, Ulrich, Barbara, Henry and Rosa.
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Ulrich Schlatter attended school in both Owen and Clay counties, and when not occupied with his books helped his father on the farm. Beginning life as a miner at the age of seventeen, he followed mining almost continuously until 1907. Industrious, frugal and temperate, Mr. Schlatter harbored his resources, and ere long was enabled to buy a home in Harmony, where he was a resident for a number of years. He sub- sequently bought the farm he now owns, and which he has occupied since 1890. This farm, located in section twenty-three, Van Buren township, is well improved and is furnished with a good set of farm buildings.
On July 31, 1879, Mr. Schlatter married Louisa Wilson, who was born in Van Buren township, Clay county, a daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Von Cannon) Wilson. Her father came here from Ohio when a boy, his parents being pioneer settlers of this part of the state. He died when Mrs. Schlatter was but three years old, and her mother subse- quently married William Craig. Mr. and Mrs. Schlatter are the parents of eight children, namely : Oscar, Ervin, William, O'Dell, Iven, Rosa, Elzie, and Howard. Oscar married Jennie Reberger, daughter of Ben- jamin and Anna (Ford) Reberger, and they have one child, Mary E. Ervin married Eunice Frost, daughter of Samuel A. and Emma ( Ward) Frost, and they have one child, Ulrich A. William married Selma Rojohn, daughter of Edgar Rojohn, and they have one child, William K. O'Dell is the wife of Burt Hughes. Politically Mr. Schlatter is a strong Prohibitionist, and upholds the principles of his party at the polls. Mr. and Mrs. Schlatter are liberal in their religious beliefs, and although belonging to no church organization accept all true Christians as brothers and sisters.
WILLIAM F. SONNEFIELD .- Conspicuous among the successful farmers and extensive stock-growers of Clay county is William F. Sonnefield, who for many years has been actively identified with the agricultural progress and prosperity of Cass township, owning and occu- pying one of the most magnificent farming estates within its limits. A native of Clay county, he was born July 26, 1852, in Washington town- ship, a son of Frederick Sonnefield. He comes of thrifty German stock, his grandfather, William Sonnefield, having been born, bred and married in Germany.
Coming with his parents from the Fatherland in 1833, Frederick Sonnefield lived for a few years in Ohio, and then with his parents came across the country with teams to Owen county, Indiana. After his mar- riage he bought land in Washington township, and after living there a few years sold out and bought a farm in Cass township, where he con- tinued as a tiller of the soil the remainder of his life. On February 21, 1850, he married Minnie Frank. She was born in Germany, and came with her parents, William and (Knippe) Frank, to Union county, Indiana, in 1837. Her parents subsequently removed to Owen county, this state, and there spent their remaining days.
The only son in a family of seven children, of whom but four are now living, William F. Sonnefield remained at home until his marriage, attending the district schools in his boyhood, and obtaining a practical knowledge of agriculture. Buying then a portion of the parental home- stead, he erected a good set of buildings, including a two-story, eight- .room house, barns, and other necessary outbuildings, and turned his attention to farming in earnest. Prosperity has followed his footsteps, smiling on his every effort. From time to time he has bought other land,
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owning now nearly the whole of the parental homestead, and having title to over nine hundred acres of improved land, all being located in Cass township. As a stock-raiser Mr. Sonnefield is particularly fortunate, his horses, cattle and hogs, all of the best grades, doing well under his wise management, and as a general farmer he stands second to none in the township.
On December 11, 1879, Mr. Sonnefield married Fredericka Katt- man, who was born in Washington township, Indiana, August 4, 1852, a daughter of Christopher and Clara Margaret (Menke) Kattman, natives of Germany. Her grandparents, John G. and Catherine (Cullenbergh) Menke, came to the United States with their family, hoping in this country to find remunerative work for their children. Christopher Katt- man emigrated to this country about 1836, and for a few years thereafter worked as a stone mason and a stone cutter. In 1842 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington township, where he cleared and improved a homestead. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sonnefield, namely : Clarence, born August 1, 1881, lives with his parents; Martha, born June 12, 1883, died in infancy; Walter, born December 21, 1885, died at the age of six years and six days; Mary E., born April 14, 1888, is at home; Henry A., born April 17, 1890, died in infancy ; Roy Alvin, born May 21, 1891 ; and Lester, born September 12, 1895. Politically Mr. Sonnefield invariably casts his vote in favor of the Democratic party. Fraternally he is a member of Poland Lodge, No. 364, K. of P. Religiously, true to the faith in which he was reared, he belongs to the German Reformed church.
GEORGE W. BROWN .- An enterprising and practical agriculturist in the early prime of life, George W. Brown is prosperously engaged in the prosecution of his independent calling on one of the most desirable home- steads in Harrison township. He is a stanch and true citizen, always using his influence to promote the best interests of the community in which he resides, and well deserves the esteem and favor in which he is held by all. . He was born December 28, 1861, in Hocking county, Ohio, a son of Louis Frederick and Catherine (Guyer) Brown, of whom a brief per- sonal history appears elsewhere in this volume.
A bright and active lad of five years when he came with his parents to Clay county, Mr. Brown has a vivid recollection of many of the inci- dents connected with the journey. He received his early education in the district school, and assisted his parents in the work of improving the farm, remaining with them until his marriage. Beginning then to farm on his own account, he rented land, and in its care and management met with such good results that in three and one-half years he was enabled to become a land owner. Buying, therefore, a farm in section twelve, Harrison township, he lived there until 1902. In that year, at the urgent solicitation of his father, Mr. Brown rented his own farm and returned to the old homestead, where he has since been actively employed in tilling the soil.
On January 11, 1885, Mr. Brown married Mary Ida Boardman. She was born in Putnamville, Putnam county, Indiana, June 28, 1865, a daughter of James M. Boardman. Her grandfather, James R. Board- man, removed from Kentucky, his native state, to Putnam county, Indiana, in pioneer days, locating first near Bainbridge, on land that he purchased from the government. Subsequently disposing of that, he
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