A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 31

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

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Mr. Lenhart was married July 26, 1893, to Miss Sarah Collier, who was born in Canelton, Ohio, October 23, 1870, a daughter of Harry and Mary Collier. Her father was born in England and died in Brazil, this state, in 1903. He was a miner of his native country and spent his last days as a miner here. Unto him and his wife were born four children, Alice, William, Mrs. Lenhart and James.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lenhart has been blessed with a daughter and three sons, but the daughter, Nina, died in infancy. The others are Hugh H., Joseph C. and Charles F. Mr. Lenhart belongs to Brazil Lodge, No. 215, I. O. O. F., and to Indianola Tribe, No. 61 of the Order of Red Men. He is also associated with the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 3418 of Brazil and votes with the Democratic party.

DENNIS MCAULIFF, one of the energetic business men of Brazil, has gradually worked his way upward and throughout his business career has endeavored to make his acts and commercial moves the result of care- ful consideration and sound judgment. There has never been any great ventures or risks but the practice of slow, growing business methods backed by energy and good system and thus he has attained leadership in his chosen line in Brazil, being today the owner of an excellent brick business block, in which he is conducting the most successful and extens- ive bakery business of the city. He was born in Herkimer county, New York, December 18, 1856, and is the eldest and only son in a family of four children, whose parents were John and Mary ( Higgins) McAuliff, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1822, and died in 1874, at the age of fifty-two years, while the mother, who was born in Kings county, Ireland, in 1825, passed away in 1889. They came to America in early life, John McAuliff cross- ing the Atlantic to the new world in 1849 as a passenger on a sailing vessel, which, after a voyage of three months, dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. Mrs. McAuliff came to this country with her par- ents, landing in Philadelphia in the month of November, 1849. They were married at Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York. Mr. McAuliff drifted westward to Salisbury Center, New York, where he engaged to work for a tannet, with whom he learned the trade. After living there for some time he removed to Cortland county, New York, where he spent three or four years, after which he took up his abode in Crawfordsville, Montgomery county, Indiana, arriving there in November, 1864. In that locality he devoted his attention to farming and gardening and thus provided for his family. His political views were in accordance with the principles of the Democracy and both he and his wife were communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Their daughters were: Mary, now the widow of James Wolf; Joanna ; and Margaret.

Dennis McAuliff accompanied his parents on their various removals and in early life came with them to Indiana. He attended the district schools for three or four terms, spent two terms as a student in the public schools of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and two terms in a sisters school at that place. His boyhood and youth were passed upon the home farm to the age of sixteen years, when he started out in life on his own account, learning the baker's trade in Crawfordsville. In 1882 he came to Brazil and entered the employ of the firm of Shannon & Fast, bakers, in whose employ he continued for three years. He afterward returned to Craw- fordsville, where he engaged in the bakery business on his own account

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for about three years and after selling out his business there he again came to Brazil, where he worked for his old employers, Shannon & Fast, for eleven years. In 1899 he started in business on his own account and in 1900 he erected a building, in which he conducts his bakery at the present time, having the largest ovens in Brazil. His patronage has steadily increased and his trade has now reached very extensive propor- tions.

In June, 1875, Mr. McAuliff enlisted in the Montgomery Guards for three years under General Lew Wallace and in 1885 organized a com- pany known as the Grant Guards and which was mustered in as Company H of the Second Regiment of the Indiana National Guard, Mr. McAuliff being first lieutenant. On the 10th of June, 1889, he organized Company F of the First Regiment of the Indiana National Guard and was chosen first lieutenant of this company and in 1890 was elected its captain. On the 31st of December, 1892, he was promoted to battalion major and on the 26th of April, 1898, enlisted in the United States army for service in the Spanish-American war. He was mustered in on the 12th of May as battalion major of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers and continued with that command until November 23, 1890, when, the war having been brought to a close, he was mustered out at Camp Mount, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

On the 25th of May, 1886, Mr. McAuliff married Miss Nellie Wal- lace, who was born in Madison county, Indiana, March 6, 1866, a daugh- ter of Lawrence and Mary ( McCabe) Wallace, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father died at the age of sixty-four years and the mother has also passed away. On coming to this country he located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked at the millwright's trade. He was married in Madison county, Indiana, and his last days were spent in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Both he and his wife were communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Their family numbered three sons and a daughter, Andrew J., Lawrence, Mrs. McAuliff and Robert. Mrs. Mc- Auliff was only two years of age at the time of her parents' death and therefore has but limited knowledge of the ancestral history. By her marriage she has become the mother of seven children, of whom five sur- vive, Katharine, Margaret, J. Lawrence, James Paul and Elnora.

Mr. McAuliff is a member of the Knights of Columbus, being asso- ciated with Council No. 541, at Terre Haute. He is also a member of Young Men's Institute Council No. 591, in Brazil and is treasurer of the order. The Roman Catholic church finds in him a faithful communicant and the Democracy a loyal supporter of its platform and principles. He started out in life in a comparatively humble. position. His salary was small and the position he occupied was insignificant, but like many other brave, energetic young men he did not wait for a specially brilliant open- ing. Indeed, he could not wait and his natural industry would not have permitted him to do so even if his financial circumstances had been such as to make it possible. However, in the position that he secured he per- formed all the duties that devolved upon him, however humble and how- ever small the recompense might be, conscientiously and industriously. However, ambition stimulated him to activity that has led to success and his strict integrity, business conservatism and judgment have been so uni- formly recognized that he has enjoyed public confidence to an enviable degree and has secured a liberal share of the public patronage.

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MARK MESSICK .- A thriving and prosperous agriculturist of Clay county, Mark Messick, of Lewis township, may well be ranked with the self-made men of our times. Beginning his career at the foot of the lad- der of success he has steadily climbed, rung by rung, without other re- sources than his indomitable will and determined energy rising from a humble position to one of comfort and plenty. A son of Milton Messick, he was born November 19, 1854, in Henry county, Indiana. He is of pioneer ancestry and comes of Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Thomas Messick, having served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He came from Virginia, where it is thought he was born, to Indiana, settling as a pioneer in Lewisville, Henry county, while that part of the state was still in its original wilderness. Buying a tract of land, he re- claimed a homestead from the forest, and there spent the remainder of his life, passing away at the advanced age of ninety-four years.

A native probably of Virginia, Milton Messick was young when he came with his parents to Henry county, Indiana. He learned the trades of a brick maker and a brick layer, and these he followed during his active life, first in Vigo county and afterwards in Worthington, Greene county, where he spent his last days, dying at the ripe old age of ninety years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Newby, was born in Virginia and died in Worthington, Indiana. They reared ten children, as follows: Cyrus, Billy, Mark, Taylor, Zach, Inez, James, Ida, Emma and Thomas. All are now living with the exception of Billy, the second child, and all are married.

Reared to agricultural pursuits, Mark Messick came to Clay county when a lad of fourteen years, and for a number of years thereafter worked by the day or month as a farm hand. At the time of his marriage he set- tled on the farm where he now resides, this being a part of the old Perry Holston homestead. He has made excellent improvements on the place. placing the land under a high state of culture, and erecting substantial frame buildings, which are pleasantly located amid natural scenery, con- tributing much to the beauty and attractiveness of the place. Here Mr. Messick is successfully employed in general farming and stock-raising. He has a fine herd of high grade Short-Horns and a few Polled Angus cattle, while the Poland Chinas are his favorite breed of swine.

On November 16, 1899, Mr. Messick married Nancy Ella Holston, who has spent her entire life in Lewis township, her birth having occurred in the pioneer log cabin erected by her parents, Perry and Nancy ( Reed) Holston.

WILLIAM P. STEINER .- As an industrious, intelligent and enterpris- ing farmer, William P. Steiner, of Harrison township, is actively identi- fied with the development and advancement of the agricultural interests of Clay county, in which he has spent the greater part of his life. A son of Peter Steiner, Jr., he was born July 22, 1855, in Holmes county, Ohio, of excellent Swiss ancestry.

Peter Steiner, Sr., the grandfather of William P., was born in Can- ton Berne, Switzerland, where during his early life he followed the car- penter's trade. In 1831, accompanied by his wife and seven children, he emigrated to America, the sailing vessel on which he took passage being several weeks in crossing the ocean. Proceeding directly to Holmes county, Ohio, he purchased forty acres of land, on which he lived until his death, at the age of fifty years, being engaged to some extent in farm-

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ing, but devoting the greater part of his attention to his trade. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Mosser, survived him and spent her last years in Harrison township, Indiana, dying here at the advanced age of four score and four years. She reared the following named children : Annie, Elizabeth, Christina, John. Uriah, Peter and Annie Elizabeth. John was drowned in the Eel river, when thirty years old. The other six married and reared families.

But very young when his parents came to the United States, his birth having occurred in Canton Berne, Switzerland, in 1827, Peter Steiner, Jr., was brought up and educated in Holmes county, Ohio, where in his younger days he worked with his father at the carpenter's bench. In 1855 he came with his wife and their only child, William P., the sub- ject of this brief sketch, to Clay county, Indiana. Settling in Harrison township, he bought eighty acres of timbered land situated in the west half of the southwest quarter of section fifteen, and in the midst of the thick woods built a log house for a dwelling place. Clearing the land, he improved a good homestead, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death, February 24, 1906. His wife, whose maiden name was Barbara Maybaugh, was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, which was also the birthplace of her parents, Christopher and Elizabeth ( Blazzer) Maybaugh. Christopher Maybaugh emigrated with his family to America in 1833, the voyage in a sailing vessel occupying forty days. Landing in Baltimore, he spent but a brief time in that city, going instead to Wayne county, Ohio, where he bought land, and for a few years was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Subsequently buying two hundred and forty acres of land in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, he improved a farm and continued in his chosen occupation the remainder of his life, both he and his wife dying on the home farm. They had eight children, namely : Christopher, Elizabeth, Barbara, Mary, John, Amelia, Daniel and Samuel.

An infant when brought by his parents to Harrison township, Will- iam P. Steiner was here bred and educated, and with the exception of a short time spent in Owen county has since resided here. His first recollec- tions of Clay county are of a wild and wooded country, for, though the red men had moved afar and the white settlers had been in this part of the state for some time, improvements had been slow, much of the land hereabout being in its primeval condition during his boyhood days. He assisted his father in the arduous task of clearing the unbroken forest, living with his parents until ready to establish a home of his own. Find- ing the life of a farmer congenial to his tastes, Mr. Steiner then began till- ing the soil on rented land, and has continued in his chosen occupation until the present time, having operated the farm on which he is now residing since 1890, in his labors meeting with signal success.

On March 9, 1886, Mr. Steiner married Laura Ream, a daughter of Solomon Ream, of whom a brief biographical sketch may be found on another page of this work. Politically Mr. Steiner is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Steiner are members of Saint Peter's Reformed church.

GEORGE R. HARRIS .- Holding a position of worth among the leading farmers of Lewis township is George R. Harris, the representative of a prominent pioneer family and a descendant of Hon. Daniel Harris, who for many years was known as the "father of Clay county." being his great-grandson. A son of John Harris, he was born December 30, 1859,

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in Pierson township, Vigo county. Hon. Daniel Harris, the first of the family to settle in Indiana, came here, it is supposed, from Ohio. He was a pioneer of Owen county, locating in that part of it that is now included within the boundaries of Clay county. A man of strong individuality, capable and energetic, he was elected to represent- Owen county in the state legislature, and while there introduced and championed the bill to set off and organize Clay county, of which he was subsequently dubbed the father. He first improved a farm in the Eel river valley, in Harrison township, near what is now the Eel River Station, and afterward im- proved a homestead in Sugar Ridge township, and there resided until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-five years.

Captain Thomas Harris, grandfather of George R., was born in southern Indiana, and until his marriage remained with his parents. He subsequently lived for several years in Vigo county, very near Terre Haute, which was then but a small hamlet. He afterwards returned to Sugar Ridge township, where he had spent much of his early life, and there cleared and improved a farm, doing his work with oxen. There were no markets in this vicinity, and he used to build flatboats, load them with produce from his farm and then take them down the Eel, White, Wabash, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, where he would dispose of both cargo and boats, making his way home as best he could. It was while sailing these home-made crafts that he obtained his title of "captain." When quite well advanced in years the Captain on account of ill health went to Iowa to consult a physician, and died at the home of a son in Des Moines. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Witham, spent her last years on the old homestead at Sugar Ridge town- ship, dying soon after the close of the Civil war.

John Harris was but a boy when his parents returned to Clay county, and here he grew to manhood, assisting in the work incidental to life on a farm. Marrying, he settled on a farm in this county, but three years later removed to Vigo county, going by canal boat to Pierson township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land and began the im- provement of a farm. In the first house that he built, a small frame one, he lived a number of years, and then, having been quite successful in his farming operations, he erected a large frame dwelling, a substantial barn and other necessary buildings, and there resided, a respected and valued member of the community, until his death November 10, 1900. He mar- ried, March 29, 1854, Mahala Bolick, who was born December 23, 1827, in North Carolina, of German ancestry. Her father, Jacob Bolick, came across the country with teams from that state to Indiana in 1831 and located first in Washington township, Clay county. He subsequently spent two years in Vigo county, and on his return to this county located in Harrison township, where he spent the remainder of his years. Mr. Bolick's first wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Houk, died in 1834, leaving six children, among whom was his daughter Mahala. Mr. Bolick married a second wife, but died soon after that marriage. Mrs. Mahala (Bolick) Harris was brought up after her father's death, which occurred when she was about ten years old, in the family of Isaac Dunham, having like her brothers and sisters been bound out. She occupied the home farm in Vigo county, until about the time of her death, at the age of eighty years, being hale and hearty, strong both mentally and physically, and a valued member of the German Baptist church. She passed away March 16, 1908, while visiting her son George, and is interred at the

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Harris cemetery in Sugar Ridge township. She reared six children, namely : Algy N., Mary A., George R., Clarence E., Nancy Eveline and Eliza Lucinda.

Brought up and educated in Pierson township, George R. Harris spent his earlier years beneath the parental roof. When ready to assume the responsibilities of a married man he bought a farm in section twenty, Lewis township, and lived there four years. He then took possession of the farm where he now resides, it having come to him by inheritance, and has since carried on general farming in an intelligent and skilful manner, his labors being amply repaid by the fine crops produced in his fertile fields.

On April 15, 1891, Mr. Harris married Maggie West. She was born February 22, 1871, in Clay county, a daughter of William West, who was born in Perry township, and has spent his entire life in Clay county, at the present time being a resident of Lewis township. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna Bollinger, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, a daughter of John R. and Margaret (Obley) Bollinger. Further his- tory of the Bollinger family may be found elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of John C. Bollinger. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the parents of six children, namely : Clemence W., Gracie Belle, Dollie Ann, Goldie Arlena, Artie Leora and Mona Mahala.

ABNER J. GUIRL .- Holding an assured position among the honored and respected citizens of Clay City, Indiana, is Abner J. Guirl, who comes of pioneer stock and is a descendant of one of the strongest abolitionists of this part of the country, his parents having been ardent and faithful workers in the anti-slavery cause. His father settled in Jennings county in pioneer days, in the very midst of a people noted for their pro-slavery sentiments. Strong in his convictions regarding the slaves, he made his house a station on the underground railway, hiding runaway slaves in it during the daytime, and at night taking them in a closed carriage to the next station. On account of their abolitionism they were persecuted and turned out of church.

Abner J. Guirl was born November 20, 1846, in Mount Union, Columbiana county, Ohio, and when eight years old was brought by his parents to Jennings county, Indiana. In the rude cabin built of round logs he obtained the rudiments of his education. It had a huge fireplace, plain slab seats, with neither backs nor desks, and a puncheon floor. During the Fremont campaign it was burned. Until sixteen years old he remained with his parents, and the following five years was employed in a saw and flour mill. Embarking then in the timber business, Mr. Guirl was thus engaged until 1890, building up a good trade. Settling then in Sullivan county, he purchased land and was there employed in tilling the soil until 1902, when he sold out. Since that time he has been a resident of Clay City, and has taken much interest in advancing its development and growth.

Mr. Guirl has been twice married. He married first, in July, 1869, Mary Farris, a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, where her death occurred in 1874. Mr. Guirl married second, in March, 1883, Emma E. Lewis. She was born in Noblesville, Hamilton county, Indiana, August 10, 1867, a daughter of George and Martha (Tay) Lewis, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Of this union three children have been born,

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namely : Eva May, born March 23, 1884; Ora Leanna, born July 24, 1886, in Lapel, Madison county, Indiana; and Minnie Belle, born Novem- ber 12, 1895, near Graysville, Sullivan county, Indiana, died August 21, 1896. Eva May, whose birth occurred at Lapel, married Winfield O. Harris, and has two daughters, Hattie M. and Virginia. A man of strong religious tendencies, Mr. Guirl united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1876, but in 1890 became a Seventh-Day Adventist, and still holds to that belief. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and for a num- ber of years has served with fidelity and ability as a justice of the peace.

EDWARD AARNINK, of a substantial family of Dutch origin, was him- self born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 22nd of March, 1867. He is a son of Gerhard and Elizabeth (Huckride) Aarnink, his father being a native of the Netherlands and his mother of Germany. The former became a resident of Cincinnati about 1850, coming directly from the fatherland. He commenced work in this country as a teamster, married in the city named and resided there until 1869, when he came to Washington town- ship and bought eighty acres of improved land. Subsequently he made additions of twenty and sixty-four acres of bottom lands in Washington township, and still later bought another forty to increase his homestead. Thus finally the elder Mr. Aarnink was proprietor and operator of a fine farm of more than two hundred acres, and continued to cultivate and develop it until the time of his death, September 27, 1887. He was born in the Netherlands on the 5th of May, 1822. His widow still resides with her son Edward, and is a well preserved and honored pioneer of the township, born in the German fatherland on the 4th of Novem- ber, 1834.

Edward Aarnink is the sixth in order of birth in a family of four boys and three girls. After obtaining a fair education, at the age of nine- teen he commenced to work in a grocery at Terre Haute, the proprietor of which was F. W. Huff and the location No. 1300 East Main street. Two years after commencing this work he returned home, and on October 10, 1889, married Miss Annie Sonnefield. His wife was born in Cass township, Clay county, and is a daughter of Gerhard and Lydia (Knippe) Sonnefield. After his marriage Mr. Aarnink and his brother John bought thirty-six acres of land on the bottom, and after farming on this tract for about three years engaged in the mercantile business at Stearlyville. Three years of prosperous business was concluded by rather a disastrous fire, after which he returned to his farm, besides operating the paternal homestead. Mr. Aarnink is both a general farmer and a raiser of live stock, his specialties in the latter line being coach horses, Poll Angus cat- tle and Poland China hogs. Mr. and Mrs. Aarnink are the parents of one child-Hazel Marie, born on the 4th of February, 1896. He is firm in the faith of the German Reformed church, and since becoming an American citizen has always voted the Republican ticket.

ANDREW J. MCCULLOUGH .- In a history of Clay county it is impera- tive that mention be made of Andrew J. Mccullough, who was one of the pioneer and native sons of the state and for many years a worthy and respected citizen of Brazil. He was born in Rush county, Indiana, December 8, 1836, and passed away December 29, 1904, at the age of sixty-eight years. His parents were James and Nancy (Fort) McCul-

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A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 31

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

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