A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 32

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

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lough, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. They removed to Rush county, Indiana, in the early '30s and in 1842 came to Clay county, cast- ing in their lot with its pioneer residents.

Thus amid the wild scenes and environments of frontier life Andrew J. Mccullough was reared. As his age and strength permitted he assisted more and more largely in developing the homestead farm, gaining a practical knowledge of agricultural life in its various departments. He not only performed the work of the fields but also made shingles and staves and was thus employed at home until eighteen years of age, when he left the parental roof and became an engineer. He was thus engaged until 1859, when he returned to agricultural life, being connected with general farming interests until November, 1861.

It was on that date that Mr. Mccullough in response to his country's call for troops enlisted in Company H, of the Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry and marched over the mountains of Virginia and Maryland, con- tinuing at the front until mustered out of service in May, 1862. In the following July, however, he again joined the army, becoming a member of Company K, Seventy-eighth Indiana Infantry, for sixty days' service. He was taken prisoner at Munfordsville, Kentucky, September 10, 1862, and was paroled and mustered out of service about September 25, 1862. After his return home he accepted clerkship in a drug store and also gave some time to reading medical works, thinking that he would become a member of the medical fraternity later. In July, 1863, however, he pur- chased a provision store, which he conducted until January, 1865, when he disposed of his business and once more joined the army, becoming a member of Company A, Forty-third Indiana Infantry, with which he remained until the close of the war. He then returned home and again engaged in the provision business, but in 1867 he sold out in that line and became a partner of Mr. Croasdale in the drug business. A year later he disposed of his interest in that line and opened a photographic gallery, which he carried on for five years, when failing health forced him to retire from that field. He then accepted the appointment of Dep- uty United States marshal of Indiana and upon the expiration of his term in that office he was elected township assessor. His public service was ever characterized by unfaltering devotion to duty and a ready recogni- tion of the obligations which devolved upon him.

It was during the period of the Civil war that Mr. Mccullough was married on the 14th of May, 1863, to Miss Melissa Davies, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, January 20, 1844, a daughter of William J. and Mary (Jones) Davies. Her father, a native of Wales, died in Johnson county, Illinois, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife was a native of Ohio and they were married in Butler county, that state, in May, 1842. Mr. Davies, crossing the Atlantic when a young man, located in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, where he lived for a short time and then removed to Butler county, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Jones. He was a cooper by trade and followed that pursuit in the east. In May, 1857, however, he removed westward to Clay county, Indiana, and located south of Brazil on the Forest avenue road, securing a farm which he made his home until he lost his wife. He then removed to Johnson county, Illinois, where he carried on farming until his death. In all of his business deal- ings he was found reliable and trustworthy, being a man of undoubted integrity. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, was active in its work and also in the Sunday school, doing all in his power to pro-

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mote the moral development of the community. He was a well read man, keeping in touch with the world's progress and was most highly respected by all who knew him. His political allegiance was given to. the Whig party in early manhood, while later he became a stalwart advo- cate of the Republican party. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Davies were eight children, six of whom reached adult age, while five are now living : Melissa, now Mrs. McCullough; Margaret, the wife of Samuel Blair, a resident of Oklahoma; Martha, the wife of Homer Saliday, who resides in Brazil; Alice, the wife of Charlton Fairless, now making his home in Illinois; and Newton, who also resides in that state. . Mrs. McCullough's grandfather, James Nicholas, and his wife, Mary Morris, were natives of Wales and were prominent people of that country. The English gov- ernment of that day prohibited any of its subjects leaving Great Britain for America unless they were servants. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas attempted to come to the new world as passengers on a sailing vessel, but were arrested and prevented from doing so. They then sold all of their prop- erty and engaged as servants for a year in order that they might rightly claim that they had been in service and were therefore entitled to leave England if they so desired. This was about 1700, and having crossed the Atlantic they located east of the Alleghany mountains, where Martha Nicholas, the grandmother of Mrs. McCullough, was born. She mar- ried Tubal Jones, also a native of Wales. He was a man of literary tastes and a writer of some note, who also followed the occupation of farming.

Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McCullough became residents of Brazil, where Mr. McCullough spent his last days. In poli- tics he was an earnest, unfaltering Republican and throughout his entire life manifested the same spirit of loyalty in citizenship that he displayed when he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battle-fields. He was a very active and devoted member of Brazil Lodge, No. 215, I. O. O. F., also belonged to Iron City Encampment, No. 118, and to the sovereign grand lodge of the state. He was likewise connected with the Improved Order of Red Men, the Chosen Friends, the Good Tem- plars and the Grand Army of the Republic-associations which indi- cate much of the character of his principles and the rules of conduct which guided his life. All who knew him entertained for him warm regard, for he was ever considerate of the rights, wishes and privileges of others, was straightforward in his business dealings and progressive in his citizenship. Mrs. McCullough has been a member of the Christian church for the past twenty-eight years and a teacher of the Sunday school for the past thirty years. She has also been Sunday school treasurer for fifteen years, holding that position today, and her interest in church work is deep and abiding and has been an effective force in the growth of the organization here. She is a member of Mayflower lodge of Rebekahs and has a circle of friends that is constantly increasing as the circle of her acquaintances widens.

BERT YOCOM, superintendent of the Brazil office of the Prudential · Insurance Company, is well known in Clay county, being one of its intel- ligent as well as one of its representative citizens. He was born in Staunton, this county, in 1874. His father, William F. Yocom, was born in Dick Johnson township, Clay county, September 14, 1847, and was a representative of one of the old pioneer families of this part of

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the state, being the fourth in order of birth in a family of ten children, whose father, Isom Yocom, came to Clay county from Kentucky in 1832 -the year in which the Black Hawk war occurred. Every evidence of pioneer life here existed. The forest trees stood in their primeval strength and the prairies were covered with their native grasses. Only here and there had a little cabin been built, showing that the seeds of civilization were being planted in this part of the state. The grandfather bore an active and helpful part in the general agricultural development of the community and was identified with various events which left their impress upon the pioneer history. His son, William F. Yocom, was here reared amid the wild scenes and environments of frontier life. He began teaching school when eighteen years of age and followed that profession for fifteen years or more. His early educational privileges were limited to the opportunities offered by the common schools, but being ambitious and persevering he gained by hard study and close application an educa- tion much in advance of the majority of the people of the day. Deter- mining to devote his energies to lines of life demanding intellectuality and close application he took up the study of law and in 1874 was admit- ted to the bar. He then practiced at Staunton until 1890, when he came to Brazil and was appointed Deputy County Auditor, and served until his death, July 15, 1892. He served as deputy sheriff of the county from 1875 until 1877, under J. B. Yocom, his uncle, and while he was filling that position the county records were removed from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Mr. Yocom assisting in this task. He was a member of Staunton lodge, A. F. and A. M., and acted as its master. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy and in citizenship he was pro- gressive and helpful. He married Miss Mary J. Reeder, who was born on the present site of Center Point, Clay county, Indiana, March 19, 1853. The wedding was celebrated March 19, 1874-the twenty-first anniversary of the bride's birth. Mrs. Yocom is still living and by her marriage she became the mother of eight children, seven of whom sur- vive: Bert, Harvey C., Ross D., Bessie O., William F., Jr., Eugene F. and Nellie M.

Bert Yocom pursued his education in the graded schools of Staunton and at the age of sixteen years began teaching school. After following that profession for two years he entered the employ of the Baldwin Music Company, with which he continued for six years. He next engaged with the Brazil Steam Laundry and after two years spent in that way in 1901 he became connected with the Prudential Insurance Company as an agent .. On the 9th of April, 1902, he became local superintendent of the Brazil office and has since acted in this capacity, being one of the best known insurance men of his district.

On the 16th of September, 1906, Mr. Yocom was married to Miss Catherine Stewart, who was born near Morgan's Crossing, June 9, 1882, a daughter of James and Anna (Wimsey) Stewart. Her father was a native of Newburg, Kentucky, and her mother of Brazil, Indiana. Both are still living and Mr. Stewart is a coal miner. His political endorse- ment at the polls is given to the Democracy. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, namely: Mrs. Yocom, Della, Peter, Frank, Margaret, Paul and Helen.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Yocom has been born one son, William Francis. Mr. Yocom is a member of the Brazil Concert Band, with which he has been identified for thirteen years. He has always been a lover of music

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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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Win Armstrong

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and finds great pleasure in his association with the band. His political allegiance is given to the Democracy, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to give his undivided attention to his business duties and interests.

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG .- A prosperous and progressive agriculturist of Van Buren township, William Armstrong is meeting with signal suc- cess in the prosecution of his independent calling, and in the meantime materially assists in maintaining the reputation of Clay county as a rich agricultural region. A son of Hugh Armstrong, he was born in Union township, Carroll county, Ohio, April 11, 1842. His grandfather, Will- iam Armstrong, migrated westward from West Virginia, going to Car- roll county, Ohio, where he followed farming for a number of years. After the death of his wife he removed to Champaign county in the same state, and there spent with his children the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Hughill, was an invalid for many years, and died at the home of a brother in Steubenville, Ohio.

Having much natural mechanical ability, Hugh Armstrong learned the shoemaker's trade when young and followed it for some time. Com- ing to Indiana in 1864, he settled on the farm where his son William, the subject of this sketch, now lives, and there resided until his death at the age of seventy-two years. He married Elizabeth Allen, a daughter of William and Catherine Allen, of Somerset, Ohio. She died at the age of seventy-one years. Six children were born of their union, namely : Kate Ann, William, Nancy J., Jacob, Mary A. and Margaret.

Learning the carpenter's trade before attaining his majority, William Armstrong worked at it in Ohio until 1863, when he came to Indiana in search of a favorable place in which to invest a sum of money. Buying a tract of land in Van Buren township, he returned to his Ohio home and remained a year. In 1864 he came to Clay county to reside, and two years later located on the place that he now owns and occupies. Having cut down a few of the giant trees with which the land was covered, he built a hewed log house, and into that his father's family moved. After locat- ing here, Mr. Armstrong worked at his trade some time, and as he had opportunity cleared his land from its heavy growth of timber. His farm is now well improved, and in a good state of cultivation, yielding abun- dantly of the crops common to this section of the country. A substantial residence replaces the small log cabin, and he has erected a roomy frame barn and set out a variety of fruit trees, increasing the value and beauty of his fine property.

In 1900 Mr. Armstrong married Esther Irvin, who was born in Jef- ferson county, Ohio. Her father, John Irvin, was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestors. Left an orphan at an early age, he came to this coun- try with an uncle, Joseph Dreer, who settled in Wheeling, West Vir- ginia. He was a natural mechanic, and for a time was engaged in shoe- making, afterwards being employed in the manufacture of brooms. He lived for a while in Jefferson county, Ohio, but not feeling contented there returned to West Virginia and spent his last years at Buffalo, Put- nam county, dying at the age of seventy. He married Jerusha Saner, who was born in Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry, a daughter of Adam Saner, and they became the parents of eleven children, namely: Joseph; Edward N .; Isaiah; Margaret A .; Samuel G .; John; Rachel S .; Rebecca J .; Esther, now Mrs. Armstrong; Mary A .; and Adam.

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Although mixing very little in public. affairs, Mr. Armstrong sup- ports the principles of the Democratic party at the polls. Mrs. Arm- strong, faithful to the religious belief in which she was reared, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which her parents be- longed.

SOLOMON REAM .- For more than half a century Solomon Ream has been a resident of Harrison township, having come here in early life, at a time when the cheapness of government land was a great inducement to men anxious to secure a home for themselves and their descendants. Cheap land did not mean a farm, but a tract of the virgin forest which could be cleared by hard and persistent toil alone, the brave pioneer woodsman in the meantime suffering trials, privations, and hardships undreamed of by the present generation. During the time that he has lived here, Mr.' Ream has been an interested witness of the various changes that have taken place, and has watched with pride and delight the rapid transformation of the heavily timbered land into a rich and productive agricultural country, he himself taking an active part in the labor therein involved. A son of Peter Ream, he was born October 6, 1826, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and there spent his earlier years.

A native of Pennsylvania, as far as known, Peter Ream was there a tiller of the soil until 1836, when he removed to Coshocton county, Ohio. Buying forty acres of timbered land, he devoted his energies to the clearing of a farm, remaining thus occupied until 1852, when he again started westward, coming to Clay county, Indiana. Here he pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres of land, a part of which had pre- viously been cleared, and a set of log buildings had been erected. Con- tinuing in his chosen occupation, he resided there until his death at the age of seventy-two years. He married Catherine Seller, who was born in Pennsylvania, and died on the home farm in Indiana. She reared nine children, as follows: Samuel, Andrew, Solomon, Eve, Catherine, Polly, Leah, Sarah and Barbara.

Completing his early education in the public schools of his Ohio home town, Solomon Ream remained there, busily employed, until 1853. In that year he came to Indiana, and being especially pleased with Clay county determined here to settle permanently. Therefore he bought on section sixteen, Harrison township, forty acres of heavily timbered land, on which he soon erected a hewed log house, after which he began in earnest the improvement of a homestead. A man of indomitable resolu- tion and perseverance, Mr. Ream met with excellent success in his untir- ing efforts, and on the farm which he reclaimed from the primeval wil- derness he has since resided. He has made wise investments of his money, buying other land, and at one time owned one hundred and eighty- seven acres in Harrison township, and one hundred and twenty acres just over the line in Owen county. Retired from active labor, he is now spend- ing the sunset years of his life surrounded by his children, like the patri- arch of old, enjoying to the utmost the fruits of a well-spent life.

Mr. Ream married, in 1861, Hannah Mischler, who was born in Owen county, Indiana, of which her father, Emanuel Mischler, . was a pioneer settler. She died in July, 1878, leaving five children, namely : James, Leah, David, Mollie and Samuel.

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LEWIS LUTHIER .- Among the veteran agriculturists of Clay county none is held in higher respect than Lewis Luther, now owning and occu- pying a well-kept farm in Lewis township. Industrious and enterprising, he toiled early and late during the active years of his career, and through his own unaided efforts achieved success in his undertakings, arising from a modest position to that of one of the representative men of his com- munity. A son of Thomas Luther, he was born in Randolph, North Carolina, April 24, 1824, of German ancestry. His grandfather, Jacob Luther, was, without doubt, born in Germany. For many years he resided in North Carolina, but came from there to Clay county, Indiana, and both he and his wife here spent their last days with their child, their bodies being laid to rest in the pioneer burying-ground at Bowling Green. He reared a large family, nearly all of whom settled in Clay county.

Thomas Luther was born, bred and married in North Carolina, liv- ing there until 1826. Then, with his wife and two children, he joined a small band of emigrants just starting westward, the party making the overland journey to Indiana with teams, two horses to a wagon, bringing with them all of their worldly possessions and camping and cooking by the way. Arriving in Clay county, Thomas Luther settled in Bowling Green, the county seat, which was then a small hamlet, with no frame structures, the dwellings, business houses, county jail and court house all being constructed of logs. He was a blacksmith by trade, but had no opportunity to show his skill in that line for quite a number of years, there being but little call for that kind of work. Deer, wild turkeys, squirrels and other kinds of game abounded, and for awhile he lived principally by hunting. He subsequently worked in a saw mill and a grist mill, and after awhile established a home and a smithy at Rawley's Mills. In 1838 he started with his family for Arkansas, but on account of bad roads made a temporary stop at Saint Louis, Missouri, where he was taken ill, and died in February, 1839. His widow and her seven children immediately returned to Clay county, being accompanied by a widowed sister and her family, the two brave women putting all of their belongings into a wagon drawn by one horse, while they and their chil- dren walked almost all of the way home, being several weeks in making the trip. The mother settled with her family at Rawley's Mills, and with the aid of her children, all of whom were good workers, kept the family together. The mother, whose maiden name was Martha Bingham, subse- quently married for her second husband Levi Reed.

Lewis Luther began to be self-supporting at an early age, and in addition to helping his mother somewhat had at the age of nineteen years saved about forty dollars. The man whom his mother was soon to marry then gave him twelve and one-half dollars and he entered forty acres of government land in Lewis township, in section nineteen. He continued working by the month, however, at first receiving seven dollars a month, then eight dollars, besides his board, his wages finally being raised to nine dollars a month and board. During the time that he was thus employed Mr. Luther built a hewed log house on his land, and there his mother and her family lived until she married again. In the course of a few years Mr. Luther sold his land for one hundred and thirty dollars, and bought fifty-four and one-half acres in the Eel river bottoms. There he built a log house, but before it was occupied sold that tract and purchased prairie land in section twenty, Lewis township. After his marriage he began farming on rented land in this township, and continued until 1852,

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when he went with a two-horse team across the country to Iowa, being eighteen days on the road. Locating about two miles north of Des Moines, he was there living when the commissioners located the site for the present state capitol. There were then no railways in the state, and the people had to haul their produce to the Mississippi river, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles. He put in one crop, living there until June, 1853, when he returned to Clay county, settled in section nineteen, Lewis township and built the log house in which the family lived until he replaced it with a frame house several years later. In 1885 Mr. Luther moved with his family to Clay City, but a few months afterwards returned to Lewis township, locating on the farm which he had previously pur- chased and has since made this his home.

On April 10, 1850, Mr. Luther married Sarah Wilson, who was born in Putnam county, Indiana, December 8, 1831, a daughter of William Wilson. Her grandfather, Thomas Wilson, was a pioneer settler of Woodford county, Kentucky, locating there when the Indians were plen- tiful and hostile towards the whites, being so very aggressive that while he was at work clearing the land his wife, who was an expert shot, had to watch for the foe with a rifle. On the farm that he cleared he spent the remainder of his life. His wife survived him and came to Indiana to live with her children, and died in Sullivan county at the remarkable age of one hundred and four years. William Wilson was born in Wood- ford county, Kentucky, and in Bourbon county, that state, married Ellen Hathman. About 1830 he came with his wife and eight children to Put- nam county, Indiana, locating two and one-half miles east of Greencastle, where he lived a number of seasons. In 1839 he settled in Pierson town- ship, Vigo county, but a few years later sold out and moved to Nevins township, Vigo county, where he remained until 1852. Selling out in that year he went to Warren county, Iowa, where he resided until his death in the summer of 1853. His widow survived him, dying in 1854.

Mr. and Mrs. Luther have one son, Jacob Luther. He was born November 7, 1852, in Nevins township, Vigo county. He married Randy Crist, who was born in Lewis township, a daughter of Henry W. and Lucinda Crist. Genevra, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Luther, married Charles Boston, of Sullivan county, and they have two children, Jerrold Judson and Madeline. When Jerrold Judson Boston was an infant he had four great-grandfathers living, and his picture, with his father, two grandfathers and the four great-grandfathers, was taken, forming a group interesting to others aside from the immediate family and relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Luther are highly esteemed and respected, and are worthy members of the United Brethren church.

HERBERT E. SUTTON .- Among the sturdy, energetic and successful agriculturists of Clay county who are thorough masters of their calling and are therefore enabled to follow it with profit to themselves and the general progress of the community is Herbert E. Sutton, of Harrison township, who is widely and favorably known individually and as presi- dent of the Clay County Farmers' Institute. A son of Alonzo Sutton and descendant of a pioneer family, he was born on the 5th of November, 1870, being a native of Putnam county, Indiana. David Sutton, his grandfather, came to Indiana from Ohio in 1855, and after residing for a time in Jackson township, Clay county, purchased a tract of timber land in Washington township, Putnam county, where he subsequently

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A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 32

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

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