A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 30

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

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selected line of staple and fancy groceries. He has many patrons who have given him their support for years and who find him at all times thoroughly reliable, adhering closely to a high standard of commercial ethics.

Mr. Jones was married in his native country in January, 1872, to Mrs. Susan Hicks, nee Herbert, who was born in Monmouthshire, Wales. They have a pleasant home in Brazil and a large circle of warm friends here. In politics Mr. Jones is a Democrat, but has never sought nor desired office. He belongs to Centennial Lodge, No. 541, A. F. & A. M., and is true and loyal to the teachings of the craft. A resident of Brazil for more than a third of a century, his fellow townsmen know him as a representative of that class of citizens who uphold the legal and political status of the community, who stand for law and order, for improvement and advancement.

JOHN J. SAMPSON .- The story of pioneer life in Indiana is a familiar one to John J. Sampson, for he has passed through all of the experiences incident to settlement upon the frontier. He came to Clay county in 1849 and has therefore for almost six decades been a witness of the events which have shaped its policy and formed its history. His home was a log cabin and oxen were used in clearing the land and carrying on the farm work. He always stood for progress and was ever one of the first to introduce the latest improved machinery, being not a follower but a leader in the line of agricultural development here.

Mr. Sampson was born in Virginia, December 2, 1831, his parents being John and Clarissa Ann (Jollett) Sampson, both of whom were natives of the Old Dominion. The father followed the occupation of farming in Virginia, and was overseer in charge of slaves. In 1836 he left his native state and removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he spent the winter. In the spring of 1837 he arrived in Wayne county, Indiana, where he followed farming until the spring of 1849, when he came to Clay county, making the journey by team. The location was made in Dick Johnson township, where he purchased a tract of land that was partially cleared. He first bought eighty acres, but later added to this and developed an excellent farm, which he continued to cultivate until he brought it under a high state of improvement and made it a valuable property. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy. He died in Clay county on his farm, about three miles from Brazil, at the age of seventy-three years, and the death of his wife occurred on a farm about six miles northwest of Brazil. Their family numbered nine chil- dren, three sons and six daughters, of whom but two are now living, the younger being Permelia Ellen, the widow of Albert Bunker.

John J. Sampson was in his fifth year when his parents removed from Virginia to Ohio. His minority was largely passed in this state, however, on the old home farm in Wayne county, where he was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life, sharing with the family in all the hardships and trials incident to settlement upon the frontier. In the early days deer roamed through forests and there were many wild turkeys and much other feathered game that constituted a frequent dish upon the table of the pioneer. It was an arduous task to clear and develop the land, for all farm machinery was very crude in comparison with that in use at the present day. Mr. Sampson early learned the value of earnest, unremitting toil and his life has been one

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of activity and energy. He came to Clay county with his parents in 1849, when eighteen years of age and remained at home until twenty- two years of age, when he started out in life on his own account, his capital consisting of an eighty acre tract of timber land and a team of horses, which he had earned through hard work. Upon his farm he built a log cabin of round logs and when his little home was completed he was married on the 23d of June, 1856, to Miss Mary E. Houk. They began their domestic life upon a farm which he had located, Mrs. Sampson managing the affairs of the household, while Mr. Sampson worked earnestly and persistently to bring his fields under cultivation. He bought a yoke of oxen, with which to haul his logs from the fields after cutting down the trees, also using the animals in plowing and developing his land. In his farm work he ever kept abreast with the times and was quick to secure the improved machinery. He operated the first threshing machine in this locality that cleaned the wheat, purchasing the machine in Indian- apolis, and hauling it across the country to his home. He engaged in threshing wheat in four counties and continued in business for sixteen years, having an extensive patronage. He later built a good house and had a farm of one hundred and twenty acres which he sold in 1873. He then came to Brazil and for more than twenty years thereafter engaged in selling pumps but in 1905 retired and is now enjoying a well earned rest.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sampson were born seven children, of whom three are now living, Lucinda, Joseph H. and Perry S. The wife and mother having passed away, Mr. Sampson again married, his second union being with Hannah Diel. Following her death he wedded Martha J. Moore, who still survives.

In his political views Mr. Sampson has always been a stalwart Democrat since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He certainly deserves mention among the pioneer residents of this county. There was only one railroad in the state when he came to Indiana and he helped to hew the timbers for the first depot built in Brazil, it being the property of the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad, now the Van- dalia Railroad. Mr. Sampson has paid taxes in this state for the past fifty-six years and has borne his full share in the work of development and progress, especially in agricultural lines. He has always rejoiced in what the county has accomplished. and his influence has ever been on the side of material, intellectual, moral and social progress.

PETER L. EVERHART, an enterprising agriculturist and clerk of the circuit court of Clay county, Indiana, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, January 26, 1847, a son of John and Juda ( Barrick) Everhart. John Everhart was also a native of Ohio, born in 1805, and he died in 1881. His wife, our subject's mother, was born in 1806, and died in August, 1879. They were married in Ohio and were the parents of six- teen children, four of whom are now living and are as follows: Eliza, widow of Hewett Ross, living in Terre Haute ; David; Peter L., of whom further mention is made; and Rachel, wife of Eli Cooprider, living in Clay county, Indiana, at Clay City.

John Everhart came to Indiana in 1865, at the close of the Civil war. He located near Middlebury, Clay county. In Ohio he followed the trade of a weaver and also farmed. He owned a place containing one hundred and sixty acres, which place he sold before moving to

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Indiana. Here he purchased two hundred and seventeen acres and car- ried on general farming operations up to within about ten years of his death, spending his last years in retirement on his well improved farm. He was a devout member of the Lutheran church and in politics a Democrat.

Peter L. Everhart, our subject, came to Clay county, Indiana, when eighteen years of age with his parents, who emigrated in 1865 from Ohio. At the age of twenty years he commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in connection with farming up to 1904, when he was elected clerk of the circuit court of Clay county. He was married first, in October, 1869, to Mary Jane Tipton, who was born in Ohio and died in August, 1879. By this union five children were-born, all of whom are now deceased but Bertha, wife of James M. Hoffa, residing in St. Louis, Missouri. For his second wife Mr. Everhart married, in October, 1881, Teressa Switzer, born in Holmes county, Ohio, daughter of David A. and Elizabeth (Gates) Switzer, both natives of Ohio, and were parents of eight children, six daughters and two sons, one living. They were as follows: Mary C., wife of George J. Kayser; Teressa ( Mrs. Everhart) : Sophia, wife of H. Leslie, living at Canton, Ohio; Margaret, wife of William Brown, of Akron, Ohio; John, residing in Cleveland, Ohio; Lydia, wife of Harry Judd; and Rosa, widow of Lee Battay. The father of this family was a brick and stone mason and also farmed in Ohio. He lived in Greene county, Indiana, several years and was a justice of the peace in the last named county. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, being in an Ohio regiment, and was mustered out as a lieutenant. The last years of his life were spent retired at Canton, Ohio; he died at Lodi, Ohio. Politically he was a Republican, and he was many years a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders.

By his second marriage Mr. Everhart is the father of four children : Pearl, wife of William Fowler ; Orah; Edna, wife of William Brown; and Byron R. They have also lost two children, Bessie and Carl, who died at an early age. Mr. Everhart is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, camp No. 3418. He belongs to the Christian church, in which he is an elder, and politically is a supporter of the Democratic party. It is possible and safe to say that he is the first man who was elected clerk of the Clay circuit court who did not use the saloons of Clay county to secure his election, and when he made the canvass over the county he did not go in a saloon and take a drink or buy it for any one else. He was elected by the good citizens of Clay county both in his party and out of his party. This accompanying cut was taken while in office, July 20, 1908, at the age of sixty-one years.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BROWN .- Numbered among those energetic and skilful farmers who so materially assist in maintaining the reputation of Clay county as a superior agricultural stock-raising region is Benjamin F. Brown, who is actively engaged in his independent occupation on sec- tion eighteen, Harrison township. A son of Louis Frederick and Cath- erine (Guyer) Brown, he was born November 25, 1864, in Hocking county, Ohio. A brief sketch of his father may be found elsewhere in this biographical work.

Mr. Brown acquired a practical education in the district schools, and when but a boy began to perform his full share of the manual labor incidental to life on a farm. Becoming familiar with the theory and

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practice of agriculture, he has continued to follow that branch of industry through life. When ready to establish a household of his own he rented the old homestead from his father, built a house, and there pursued his calling most successfully for twelve years. Removing then to the farm of his father-in-law, G. D. Armstrong, in Perry township, he managed that estate until 1900, when he purchased the farm that he now owns and occupies in section eight, Harrison township. It contains eighty-seven acres of rich farming land, which under his intelligent management has been highly cultivated and improved. He is a systematic and thor- ough farmer, everything about his premises indicating the prosperity of the owner. In addition to general farming Mr. Brown is engaged to a considerable extent in stock raising and dealing, finding this branch of his calling quite profitable. His house, which is most pleasantly located, is a commodious brick veneer, conveniently arranged, and, with the other substantial farm buildings, greatly enhances the value as well as the beauty of the property. He has also title to a good farm of eighty acres lying in the southwest quarter of section fifteen, this township.

On January 20, 1889, Mr. Brown married Chesa Armstrong, who was born in Perry township, Clay county, a daughter of George Dallas Armstrong, and granddaughter of George W. Armstrong. The latter was one of the earlier settlers of Vigo county, Indiana, and from land that he purchased in Riley township cleared and improved the home- stead, on which he lived until his death. His wife, who before marriage was Chesa Jackson, spent her last years in Vigo county. George Dallas Armstrong was born in Riley township, Vigo county, March 13, 1845, and died February 9, 1907, in Perry township, Clay county. A studious lad, fond of his books, he acquired an excellent education, and during his early manhood spent a part of each year as a school teacher. After his marriage he bought fifty-four acres of timbered land in Perry town- ship, and in the wilderness built a log cabin which was the family home for a number of years. Prior to that time, however, he had carried on a substantial business as a dealer in hogs and live stock, which, there being no railroads at that time, he used to drive at first to Terre Haute, later going with them to Gosport. After locating in Perry township, Mr. Armstrong continued his operations in that branch of industry, at the same time superintending the improvement of his farm. He met with eminent success, and by wise investments of his money became an extensive landholder, having title to four hundred and fifty-six acres of land, all in Perry township. Mr. Armstrong married, January 7, 1866, Lucinda Donham. She was born near Cory in Clay county, Indiana, May 28, 1849, a daughter of Joseph Donham, and granddaughter of William Donham, who migrated from Ohio to Indiana and settled as a pioneer in Vigo county, about six miles from Terre Haute, where he improved a farm and spent his remaining days. Joseph Donham was quite young when he came from Clermont county, Ohio, his native place, to Vigo county, where he grew to manhood. He subsequently bought, in Perry township, Clay county, a tract of land which was partly prairie and partly timber, and having built a log house in the woods devoted his time and energies to the clearing of the timber and the subduing of the prairie, and there resided until his death at the age of sixty-six years. Joseph Donham married Lucinda Jeffers, who was born in 1818 in Ohio. a daughter of James and Margaret (Reese) Jeffers. Mr. Jeffers came from Ohio to Indiana in pioneer days, making the trip across the wild

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country with teams. Locating in Perry township, he cleared and im- proved the homestead of which he and his wife spent the remaining years of their lives. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. George D. Armstrong eight children were born, namely: Chesa, who became the wife of Mr. Brown; Charles; Reuben; Joseph; David and Linda, twins; Lucy; and George. Mr. Armstrong was an influential member of the Republican party, and served for some time as trustee of Lewis township. Mrs. Brown passed to the higher life November 13, 1906, leaving four chil- dren, Ocie, Eva, Ruthie and Mary. Politically Mr. Brown is identified with the Democratic party.

GEORGE ROBERT PHEGLEY .- Noteworthy among the practical and thriving agriculturists of Lewis township is George Robert Phegley, who materially assists in maintaining the reputation of Clay county as one of the best farming and stock-raising regions in this part of the state, and is most ably and faithfully performing the various duties devolving upon him as township trustee. A son of Edward Phegley, he was born in this township December 19, 1865, of honored pioneer stock, his paternal grandfather having been one of the earliest settlers of this county.

Coming from thrifty Scotch-Irish ancestry, Mr. Phegley was en- gaged in farming in Spencer county, Kentucky, during his earlier life. Leaving there in 1832, he came direct to Indiana with his family, bringing his household goods in wagons, driving his stock, and camping and cooking by the wayside. Locating in the northern part of Clay county, he took up land, and was there a tiller of the soil until his death. He married a Miss Bacey, whose father was a large planter and slave owner in Kentucky.

But a boy when he came from Spencer county, Kentucky, where his birth occurred on March 4, 1822, Edward Phegley grew to manhood among pioneer scenes. The country roundabout was then thinly popu- lated ; bears, deer, wolves, and other wild beasts of the forest were plenti- ful and furnished the few inhabitants with much of their living. There were neither railways nor convenient markets, the surplus products of the farm having to be hauled a long distance with teams before being exchanged for the necessary household commodities. On first beginning life for himself he lived for awhile in Washington township, from there coming to Lewis township. He bought eighty acres of land in section four, and immediately, with characteristic enterprise, put in a full crop. . Unfortunately that was the year of the August frost, when every kind of vegetation in sight was ruined. Losing his entire crop, he bought another tract of land in the Eel river bottoms. Clearing the heavy growth of timber from it, he labored assiduously in its improvement, and as a gen- eral farmer met with well deserved success. He was a man of.much ability and excellent judgment, and acquired considerable wealth, having at his death title to three hundred and forty acres of rich and fertile land, a large part of which was under cultivation. He lived, honored and respected, to a good old age, passing away in 1896. He was twice mar- ried, the maiden name of his first wife having been Rebecca Lucas. She was born in North Carolina, a daughter of George Lucas, who removed from that state to Clay county, Indiana, at an early period of its settle- ment, took up land near the present site of Brazil and improved a home- stead, upon which they spent their remaining years. She died in 1876, leaving nine children, namely: Sarah Ann, Martha Jane, Harriet Ellen,

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David Franklin, Margaret, Susan Andora, Mary Alice, George Robert and Charles Howard. Mr. Phegley married for his second wife Cath- erine Mizer, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Mizer. She survived him, and occupies the old homestead.

Brought up on the home farm and educated in the district schools, George Robert Phegley has been identified with the agricultural pros- perity of Lewis township the greater part of his life. Owning and occu- pying a part of the old home farm, he is meeting with marked success in its management, and holds a good position among the leading farmers of his neighborhood. A stanch Republican in politics, Mr. Phegley never shirks the responsibilities devolving upon him as a faithful citizen, and is now serving as township trustee. Religiously he is a member of the United Brethren church.

ANDREW MILO Moss, a resident farmer of Ashboro and a member of one of the county's oldest and best known families, was born in Center Point, Clay county, Indiana, July 15, 1855, a son of George M. and Martha E. (Adams) Moss. Andrew M. is the eldest of their children, and he remained at home with his parents, assisting with the work of the farm, until he had reached the age of twenty-five, in the meantime at- tending the schools of Ashboro and Center Point. After his marriage he purchased and moved to a farm in section 20, Sugar Ridge township, and there he made his home until his removal to Ashboro in October, 1896, having sold his farm in the spring previous.

Mr. Moss married, on the 6th of January, 1881, Mattie H. Fortner, who was born in Jackson township, Clay county, Indiana, May 15, 1865, a daughter of Samuel D. and Helen (Cook) Fortner, who were born in Kentucky. Mrs. Moss died August 1, 1897, after becoming the mother of four children : Nellie G., born July 3, 1883, the wife of Oliver Crom- well, of Ashboro; Everett F., born April 12, 1886, a resident of Warrior, Alabama ; Hallie H., born June 3, 1889, the wife of Herbert Hicks, of Ashboro; and Charles, born August 21, 1893, died July 19, 1897. Mr. Moss is a Republican politically, and a believer of the doctrine of the Methodist Episcopal church.

GEORGE ROESCHLEIN .- An energetic, practical and progressive agri- culturist, George Roeschlein owns and occupies a valuable farm in Perry township, Clay county, where he is carrying on his chosen calling with both pleasure and profit. A son of Michael Roeschlein, he was born March 25, 1855, in Vienna, Hancock county, Indiana, being the fifth in succession of birth of a family of thirteen children.

Michael Roeschlein was born and reared in Germany, and there married Annie Tiefel, a daughter of George Tiefel. Shortly after his marriage he emigrated to this country, and for a few years resided in Ohio. Coming from there to Indiana, he lived in Hancock county until 1854, when he settled in Perry township, Clay county. Buying one hun- dred and sixty acres of heavily timbered land, he began the pioneer labor of improving a homestead, and with the assistance of his children was very successful in his efforts. Thrifty and wise in his investments, he added to his original farm by purchase eighty more acres of land, and there continued general farming until his death in 1874. His widow sur- vived him a number of years, passing away in 1891.

Brought up on the homestead, George Roeschlein spent the days of

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his childhood and youth in very much the same manner as most of the boys of his neighborhood, attending school in the typical log school house of pioneer days, and helping in the farm work. After the death of his father he assumed the management of the homestead, remaining with his mother until her death. Coming then into possesion of a part of the home farm, Mr. Roeschlein continued the vocation to which he was brought up, and now owns one hundred and seventy-four acres of rich and productive land, finely located in section two, all of which, with the exception of fifty acres of timber and pasture, he has placed under a high state of cultivation. Here he is carrying on general farming and stock- raising with most satisfactory results, and each year is adding to the im- provements already inaugurated. In 1904 he built his present six-room dwelling house, and his other farm buildings are substantial and well- kept structures, giving evidence of the thrift and good management of the proprietor of the estate.

On April 17, 1891, Mr. Roeschlein married Mary M. Geckler. She was born in Youngstown, Ohio, a daughter of John and Mary (Gebinger) Geckler, natives of Germany and people of considerable prominence in the farming community in which they located on coming to Ohio. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Roeschlein five children have been born, namely : William Edward, Carl Frederick, Ernest Philip, Lena Emma and Roy Clifford. Politically Mr. Roeschlein is a champion of the principles of the Democratic party, and religiously he is a member of the Lutheran church.

JOSEPH LENHART, who is conducting a blacksmith shop in Brazil, was born in Sugar Ridge township, Clay county, Indiana, September 13, 1867. He was the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children, whose parents, Joseph and Catherine (Dunbeck) Lenhart, were both natives of Germany. They came to this country in early life, however, and were married in Terre Haute, Indiana. The father was a maltster by trade and also learned and followed the cooper's trade in early manhood. He lived in Quincy, Illinois, for some time after his marriage and then returned to this county, building a brewery on Sugar creek, where he carried on business for a considerable period. He next removed to Brazil, where he engaged in the cooperage business, conducting his inter- ests along that line up to the time of his demise, which occurred in 1879, when he had reached the age of sixty-eight years. He was a member of the German Lutheran church and of the Knights of Honor, and he voted with the Democracy. He is survived by four of his children: Frank, who is now living in Brazil; Elizabeth, the wife of George Morgel, jeweler ; Joseph, of this review; and Charles, who is a railroad engineer residing in Detroit, Michigan.

Joseph Lenhart was reared upon a farm to the age of thirteen years and attended the common schools, thus acquiring his education. He was, however, but a youth when he started out in life on his own account, working in a hardware store for three years or more. When eighteen years of age he engaged to learn the general blacksmithing trade with John Stough, with whom he continued until 1892. In that year he engaged in business on his own account as general blacksmith, making the old fashioned hand drills for the coal mining business for a long period, but since 1903 he has given his attention largely to horseshoeing and is an expert in his line, having now an extensive and growing trade.

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A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 30

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

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