USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
MICHAEL COMER .- A resident of Brazil for almost a third of a cen- tury, Michael Comer was identified with mining operations here for twenty years or more, but is now living retired. His life of well directed labor. thrift and careful expenditure at length brought him the capital sufficient to enable him to live retired without further recourse to active business pursuits in order to provide for the necessities and comforts of life. He was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1832, a son of
Digitized by Google
199
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Patrick and Margaret (Dolphin) Comer, both of whom were natives of Ireland, where they spent their entire lives.
Michael Comer was reared on the Emerald Isle to the age of twelve years, and he crossed the Atlantic to America in 1844 as passenger on a sailing vessel which at length dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. From the eastern metropolis he made his way to Pottsville, Pennsyl- vania, and was there engaged in mining coal until the fall of 1876, when he removed westward to Brazil, where he has since made his home. Here he also engaged in mining coal until May, 1896, when with a substantial competence acquired from his labors he retired to private life, and he has since enjoyed a well earned rest.
On the 19th of August, 1860, Mr. Comer was married at Newcastle, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, to Miss Mary McGurty, who was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1835, a daughter of Peter and Ellen ( Flana- gan) McGurty, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father died in Champaign county, Illinois, in the ninetieth year of his age, while the mother passed away in Montreal, Canada. They had made the long voyage across the briny deep to Quebec by a sailing ship and located in Montreal, where they remained until the death of Mrs. McGurty, after which Mr. McGurty removed with his family to Newcastle, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. He continued to reside there until 1864, when he removed to Champaign, Illinois, where he spent his last days. In his family were five daughters and a son, of whom three are now living: Mrs. Comer ; Ellen, who has been a sister of a Catholic order for fifty- three years and is located in Montreal, Canada; and Ann, who is also connected with a Catholic order and is living in London, Canada. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Comer have been born two sons and five daughters, but two of the family have passed away. Those still living are John, Ellen, Margaret, Mary and Sarah, all of whom are married and have gone to homes of their own.
Mr. Comer was reared in the faith of the Roman Catholic church, of which he is now a communicant. He usually votes with the Repub- lican party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has reached the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey, and from early boyhood his career has been one of unfaltering activity and persistency of purpose. His life has indeed been well spent, and his faithfulness, reliability and integrity in business have been the crowning points of his career and have won him a gratifying measure of prosperity.
REMY JALBERT is now living retired after long and close connec- tion with commercial interests in Brazil. Those who know aught of his history are familiar with the story of his unfaltering diligence, strong determination and resolute purpose-qualities which characterized his entire business career and gained him the measure of success which now classes him with the substantial residents of his adopted city. A native of Belgium, he was born in Brussels, October 3, 1848, and is the only child of John and Caroline Jalbert, both of whom were also natives of Brussels, but died during the early childhood of their son Remy. However, they left him sufficient means to afford him an education, which was obtained in the schools at Brussels. He was placed under the guardianship of his aunt and uncle, with whom he made his home until his marriage. Immediately after his marriage he engaged in the con-
Digitized by Google
200
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
fectionery business, which he followed for two years previous to his coming to America in 1873. He is a man of scholarly attainments, speaking five different languages.
Ere his removal to the new world, however, he was married on the 4th of October, 1871, to Miss Marceline De Camp, who was born in Mons, Belgium, November 29, 1844. Her parents were T. P. and Floren- tine De Camp, who were also natives of Mons, and in whose family were four children, a son and three daughters, all of whom have now passed away with the exception of Mrs. Jalbert.
Ere coming to the United States, Mr. and Mrs. Jalbert had become the parents of one child. Crossing the Atlantic, they continued their way into the interior of the country and settled in Brazil, Indiana. This removal was made because of reading and hearing of America. After carefully studying the English language and learning it sufficiently, he opened a confectionery and grocery business, and for twenty-five years conducted his store, enjoying a good trade, which made his business a large and profitable one. He further extended his efforts by establishing a branch store at Perth. He was also agent for several steamship lines and issued drafts on foreign countries. His careful management and keen discrimination were seen in the success of his business, and as the years passed he gained the competence that now enables him to live retired.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jalbert have been born eleven children, of whom four sons and two daughters are yet living: Adele, the wife of George Bayer; Remy, who is now foreman in a machine shop in St. Louis, Mis- souri; Achille, a merchant of Perth, Indiana; Eugene, who is conducting a drug store at Terre Haute; Virgil, who is also conducting a drug store at Terre Haute; and Anna, who is an accomplished musician.
In politics Mr. Jalbert is a Republican, but the honors and emolu- ments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has preferred to con- centrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. Fraternally he is connected with the Red Men and is interested in the order and its object. During the long period of his resi- dence in Brazil he has gained the esteem and confidence of all who know him, and his life record should serve as a source of inspiration to others, for it shows what may be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do.
DAVID ROYER .- The substantial and well-to-do citizens of Harrison township have no better or more worthy representative than David Royer, who has contributed his full share towards the advancement and growth of its agricultural prosperity, and is now living retired from active pur- suits in Clay City, enjoying not only the comforts but the luxuries of life. He is a man of solid worth, possessing in a high degree those traits that command respect in the business world and gain the esteem of one's neighbors and associates. A son of Samuel Royer, he was born February 23, 1835, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio.
Samuel Royer was born in Pennsylvania, Somerset county, but in early life moved to Ohio, and for several years lived in Tuscarawas county. In 1838, accompanied by his wife and their three children, he came to Indiana, the trip hither being made with teams. Locating in Owen county, he was a pioneer of Marion township. There he bought a tract of land that was still in its virgin wildness, and almost immediately built
Digitized by Google
=
20I
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
a house of round logs, riving clapboards to cover the roof, sawing each board that he used with a whip-saw, and by hand splitting the puncheon for the floor. His furniture was very primitive in style and construc- tion, he having made his first table by splitting it out of a large black walnut log. Settlers were few in number and far between, but the forests were filled with an abundance of wild game of all kinds, forming for a while the chief subsistence of the inhabitants. He raised flax and kept sheep, himself raising the material which his good wife carded, spun and wove into the homespun in which she dressed her family. For years after he settled in that locality there were no railroads, neither any con- venient markets, Gosport, twenty-eight miles away, being the first estab- lished, and Terre Haute being the next, and to these places he used to draw dressed hogs, which he sold at two and one-half cents per pound. Clearing quite a tract of his land, he lived there until about two years prior to his death, which occurred when he was but fifty-two years old, when he sold out, and moved to a place near by. His wife, whose maiden name was Julia Ann Brixel, survived him many years and carefully reared her children. She died at the age of eighty-four years at Middle- bury, Indiana. She was the mother of the following named children : Crystal, David, Hattie, Daniel, Barbara, Polly, Eliza and Samuel. Daniel served as a member of the Forty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, and died in service at Helena, Arkansas.
Three years old when he was brought by his parents to Indiana, David Royer has no clear recollection of any other home. His only schooling was obtained in the old log schoolhouse, at a time when the teachers were paid by subscription. Reared to habits of industry, econ- omy and thrift, he began as a boy to assist in the pioneer work of clearing the land and tilling the soil, thus early obtaining a practical knowledge of agriculture in its various branches. Choosing for his life occupation that of a farmer, he began his independent career at the age of twenty- four years on rented land, and there carried on general farming about three years. In June, 1862, Mr. Royer enlisted in Company G, Fifty- ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment in all of its battles, marches and campaigns until the close of the war, with the excep- tion of about a month, just after the siege of Vicksburg. At that time he was taken prisoner, sent to Richmond, and after eighteen days of captivity was exchanged. Being then granted a furlough of ten days, he made a visit to the home people, after which he joined his command at Memphis, Tennessee. While in the army Mr. Royer did service in the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas, at the close marching to Washington and with his regiment participating in the Grand Review, after which, in June, 1865, he received his honorable discharge.
Returning then to Indiana, Mr. Royer soon purchased, in section six- teen, Harrison township, the farm which he still owns, it being the origi- nal homestead of the late Philip Burkhart. A log house and stable had been erected and a few acres cleared. An energetic, wide-awake man, he set to work with a will to improve his estate. He put a large part of it under cultivation, erected a good set of frame buildings, and resided there, a contented and happy farmer, until 1905. Removing then to Clay City, he has since lived there, retiring from the activities of business, esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
Digitized by Google
202
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
On January 14, 1859, Mr. Royer married Elizabeth Burkhart, who was born July 20, 1835, in Coshocton county, Ohio, a daughter of Philip Burkhart, Jr., and granddaughter of Philip Burkhart, Sr. Her grand- father, a native of Pennsylvania, removed with his family from that state to Ohio, becoming a pioneer of Coshocton county, and having bought wild land, improved a farm, and there spent the remainder of his life. Born in Pennsylvania, Philip Burkhart, Jr., was brought up, edu- cated and married in Coshocton county, Ohio, living there until 1849. In that year, bringing with him his wife and eight children and all of their worldly possessions, he came across the country to Indiana, traversing the entire distance with teams, camping and cooking by the way, being three weeks in making the trip. Buying a tract of heavily timbered land in section sixteen, Harrison township, he began its im- provement by building a log house and barn. There were at that time neither railways nor canals in this part of the country, and the farms were but small clearings in the wilderness, not much like the broad expanse of highly-cultivated, grain-bearing acres that we now see through- out the agricultural regions of the state. On the homestead which he improved he lived until his death, in 1859. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Ragle. She was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, a daughter of George and Marilla Ragle, and died in Harrison township, Indiana, in 1885. She reared nine children, namely: Mary, Elizabeth, Jacob, Emanuel, Abby, Venable, Maggie, George and Rhoda. Jacob and Eman- uel both served during the Civil war in the Forty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry and both died while in service in Arkansas.
Nine children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Royer, namely : Anderson, Quillar, Otis, Newton, Phemie, Norie, Maggie, Net- tie and Samuel. Anderson married Martha Moyer, by whom he has three children, Franci, Otis and Pearl. Quillar, who married Frances Moyer, has seven children, Earl, Carl, Omie, John, Ruth, Titus and Marie. Otis married Ella Baumgardener and they have one son, Raymond. Newton married Lizzie Young. Phemie, wife of Perry Church, has four children, Ernest, Ralph, Ruby and Wallace. Norie, wife of Harry Freed, has four children, Paul, Emerson, Helen and Mildred. Maggie died at the age of twenty-four years. Nettie is the wife of Paul Patton. Samuel married Maud Mccullough. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Royer are members of the United Brethren church, in which their son Newton is a preacher, and to which all of their children belong.
CYRUS WINFIELD MACE, a resident farmer of Sugar Ridge town- ship, is a representative of two of the oldest pioneer families of Clay county, both his paternal and maternal grandfathers, Isaac Mace and Samuel Stigler, natives respectively of Tennessee and Kentucky, coming here in an early day in its history and securing government land in Cass township. They spent the remainder of their lives there, and from that early day until the present the name has been prominently associated with the agricultural interests of Clay county. Robert and Louisa (Stig- ler) Mace, their children and the parents of Cyrus Winfield, were born and spent their lives here, the former having been drowned at Carpenter's Mills in 1878, and the wife and mother had died a few years previously, in 1875.
Cyrus W. Mace is the eldest of their eight sons and two daughters, two of whom, a son and a daughter, are now deceased, and was born in
Digitized by Google
.
203
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Cass township, Clay county, Indiana, January 29, 1858. He attended the district schools of the neighborhood and remained at home with his parents until his marriage, moving then to a rented farm in Cass town- ship. He remained there three years, after which he spent a few years in Putnam county, Indiana, and from there went to Owen county, this state, and worked in a sawmill for nine years. From Owen county he moved to Center Point, in Clay county, and erected and conducted a sawmill there until August, 1907. The mill was then moved to near Hoosierville, where Mr. Mace and his son-in-law, C. O. Rentschler, and son Robert, bought tracts of timber land and conducted the mill. Mr. Mace subsequently bought ninety-four and three-quarter acres in section 4, joining Center Point, and has greatly improved the place and is actively engaged in its cultivation. His farm and residence are by the corporate limits of Center Point. For some years he served as a member of the school board of Center Point, and his political affiliations are with the Democracy and his fraternal with the Masonic order, Lodge No. 585 of Center Point.
On the 3d of April, 1877, Mr. Mace was united in marriage to Nancy Rachel Johnson, who was born on the 6th of May, 1858, in Washington township, Putnam county, Indiana, a daughter of Levi and Rachel ( Met- calf) Johnson, who were born in Ohio. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Mace are Grace, Robert, Dona, Leora, Lawrence, Herdman, Lucile and Clay. The oldest, Grace, is the wife of C. O. Rentschler, of Center Point, and their eldest son, Robert, who married Gertrude Van Horn, daughter of Dr. John Van Horn (deceased), of Clay City, is a resident of Hoosierville. Lawrence died in infancy.
JAMES F. HARRIS .- Numbered among the enterprising and well-to- do agriculturists of Perry township, Clay county, is James F. Harris, who was born on the homestead where he now resides, October 5, 1859, the son of a prominent and highly respected pioneer, the late Dr. William M. Harris.
Dr. William M. Harris was born and bred in Darke county, Ohio, and there married Frances Barber, a native of Miami county. Coming to Clay county in 1853, the Doctor bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, eighty in section eleven and eighty in section fourteen of Perry township. Clearing off the brush and timber, he labored with all the enthusiasm of the pioneers to improve a homestead, enduring with forti- tude the hardships and privations incidental to life in those days in a new country, and in course of time found himself the owner of a good farm with a substantial set of farm buildings. In addition to managing his farm most successfully he was for many years a practicing physician, having a long country ride in attending to his professional duties. He was a prominent and highly esteemed member of the community, and his death, in 1897, at the venerable age of eighty-two years, was a cause of general regret. He was a charter member of Ashboro Lodge, No. 251, I. O. O. F., and did much towards promoting the good of that order. His wife died many years before he did, passing away in 1866, aged forty-one years. They reared four children, namely: James F., the spe- cial subject of this sketch; William, living with Mr. Harris; Dell, wife of Oscar O. Van Cleve; and Clara, wife of J. C. Williams, of Custer, Montana.
Having completed his early studies in the district schools of Perry
Digitized by Google
204
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
township, James F. Harris assisted his father in the management of the homestead until 1880. Going then to Nebraska, he prospected in Box- butte county for a year, after which he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Saline county until 1892. Returning then on horseback to Perry township, he remained on the home farm until the death of his father. Purchasing then the eighty acres of the homestead that were in section eleven, he has since carried on general farming with success, the rich and fertile soil under his magnetic touch yielding abundant harvests of hay and grain.
On October 6, 1898, Mr. Harris married Mrs. Elizabeth (Kylander) Hancock, who was born in this township, a daughter of David and Lydia ( Williams) Kylander, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Ohio. Her first husband, Joseph Hancock, died in early manhood, leaving her with one child, Josephine O. Hancock. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Harris four children have been born, namely : Victor O., Hortense M., Freda N. and Rosa Belle. In politics Mr. Harris is a stanch Republican. Fra- ternally he is a member of Ashboro Lodge, No. 251, I. O. O. F., and religiously he is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM H. SHANNON .- Among the progressive and enterprising business men of Brazil was numbered William H. Shannon, who might well be termed a self-made man, for from the age of fourteen years he was dependent upon his own resources, and his force of character, strong purpose and laudable ambition constituted strong elements in his busi- ness career and his success. He was born January 22, 1849, in Ashland county, Ohio, and passed away in Brazil, June 20, 1884, so that his life record covered only the brief span of thirty-six years, six months. His parents were Samuel and Sarah (Van Tilburg) Shannon. The father, a farmer by occupation, spent his entire life in Ohio, but he died when his son William was only two years of age, and the mother passed away when her son was a little lad of eleven years. The boy then went to live with his grandfather, Henry Van Tilburg, with whom he remained until he reached the age of fourteen years, when he started out in life on his own account. He had previously acquired a fair education in the com- mon schools, and entering upon an apprenticeship to the baker's and con- fectioner's trade, he thus served for three years, receiving as a compen- sation for his services his board and fifty dollars per year. When his term of apprenticeship was completed he worked upon a farm for about two years, and in 1868 came to the west. After many successes and some reverses he found himself part owner of a prosperous business in connection with Jonathan M. Fast and was engaged in its conduct until ill health made it necessary for him to leave for the west.
On the 10th of October, 1877, Mr. Shannon was united in marriage to Miss Hannah R. Reddie, who was born in the south of Scotland, at Ecclefechan, in Dumfriesshire, November 25, 1852. Her parents were Charles and Isabelle (Graham) Reddie, both of whom were natives of Scotland, in which country they were married. The father died at the age of seventy years and the mother was sixty-four years of age, both passing away in Brazil. After crossing the Atlantic to the new world, Mr. Reddie was a mining boss and lived at various times in Canada, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. He was a member of the Modern Wood- men of America, and his early political allegiance was given to the Whig party, while subsequently he joined the ranks of the new Republican
Digitized by Google
205
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
party. Mrs. Shannon was only six months old when brought by her parents to the new world, the voyage being made upon a sailing ship to Quebec in 1853. She was the eldest in a family of six children, of whom four are now living, the others being: John; Mary, the wife of Andrew Volz; and William A. All are residents of Brazil. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shannon were born three children, of whom two survive: Charles F., who wedded Gertrude Pell; and Frances, at home.
During the winter of 1884 Mr. Shannon, accompanied by his wife, made a trip to Los Angeles, California, on account of ill health. They returned home in the following spring, but Mr. Shannon soon afterward passed away, dying in Brazil on the 20th of June, 1884. He was laid to rest with Masonic honors, for he had been a valued and loyal member of Brazil Lodge, No. 264, A. F. and A. M. He was also a member of Brazil Lodge, No. 30, K. of P. His religious faith was indicated by his connection with the Presbyterian church and his political views were attested by the loyal support which he gave to the Democracy. Mr. Shannon was a man of many good qualities, patriotic in citizenship, loyal to his friends and devoted to his home and family. The principles which actuated his life were high and honorable and he left to his children an example that may well be followed. He had many friends, and although almost a quarter of a century has passed away since he was called to his final rest, his memory is yet dear to all who knew him.
JOHN JONES dates his residence in Brazil from 1873 and for thirty- one years has been well known in its commercial circles as a grocer. During this period he has gained a reputation for reliability and enter- prise that has secured him a liberal patronage and brought him a gratify- ing competence. Mr. Jones was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, June 10, 1834, a son of Abram and Alice ( Williams) Jones. The father was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, and died in his native country in 1854, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, whose birth occurred in Breconshire, Wales, died in 1862, at the age of seventy years. The father was a butcher and a farmer and both he and his wife spent their entire lives in the little rock-ribbed country where their deaths occurred. They were members of the Church of England. Their family numbered six children, a son and five daughters, the two surviving members being: Jane, now the wife of James Lee, a resident of Victoria, British Colum- bia ; and John, of this review, who was the youngest child.
While spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, John Jones pursued his education in the schools of Wales, remaining at home until twenty-one years of age. He then determined to try his fortune in America, and in 1857 bade adieu to friends and native land and took passage on a sailing ship, City of Brooklyn, which was four weeks and four days in making the voyage across the Atlantic to New York city. From that town he went to Bondhead, Canada, on Lake Ontario, where he resided until December, 1859, when he returned to Wales. In his native country he took up railroading, which he followed until 1873, when he again sought a home in America, which has since been his place of residence. This time he did not locate on British soil, but came to the "land of the free," settling in Brazil, Indiana. Here he entered the employ of the Vandalia Railroad Company, at which he continued until 1877, when he engaged in the grocery business and has since been pro- prietor of a well equipped store in which he carries a large and carefully
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.