A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 35

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

USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 35

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).

Dr. Kester married Melinda Hartley, who was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1809. Her father, Mahlon Hartley, was born in Prince George county, Maryland, and moved from there to Bucks

Digitized by Google

241

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

county, Pennsylvania, where he lived until 1818. Going then to Leather- wood township, Guernsey county, Ohio, he bought land, improved a farm, and utilized the natural water power by putting up a log building for a grist mill. In this he had two sets of burrs, grinding both corn and wheat, and also had a bolt for the flour. Being injured by a fall from a horse, he afterwards lived retired from active pursuits in Quaker City, dying there in 1844. The maiden name of Mr. Hartley's wife was Charity Scarborough. Dr. Kester's wife died the same year that he did, in 1889. Eleven children were born of.their union, and the following named grew to years of maturity : Mary, Mahlon, Abby, Ephraim W., Melissa, Phebe Ann and Charity.

Ephraim W. Kester lived in Ohio until about thirteen years old, and while there attended school several terms, having for his teachers Joseph Webster, Byron Cecil, Nathaniel Smith, Smith St. Clair, Hiram Hartley and Milton Squib. After coming to Indiana he attended school in both Vigo and Clay counties, among his instructors being George W. Brill, John Wyatt, Garrison Robinson, Hiram Hartley, Riley Thompson and George W. Teeters. His father had bought land at different times after coming here, acquiring title to four hundred acres, all of which had to be cleared, and in this labor he subsequently made himself quite useful as an assistant.

On October 8, 1861, Mr. Kester enlisted in Company D, Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and with his command took part in many of the more important engagements of the Civil war, among them being the following battles: Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Memphis, Helena, Arkansas, Fort Pemberton, Raymond, Port Gibson and Champion Hills. At the latter engagement Mr. Kester was cap- tured, and was kept a prisoner at Vicksburg until exchanged, about thirty days later. In the winter of 1863 and 1864 his regiment was made a part of Barnes' Battalion, non-veterans, which was attached to the Thirteenth Army Corps, and under command of General A. J. Smith, took part in all of the battles of the Red River expedition, being in Louisiana until July, 1864. Going then with his command to Virginia, Mr. Kester was located in the Shenandoah Valley, where he was in active service the most of the time until the expiration of his term of enlistment. He was honorably discharged August 30, 1864, near Win- chester, but was kept in active service in the valley until the following October, when he was mustered out at Harpers Ferry.

Returning to Perry township, Mr. Kester resumed farming on the old homestead, and has succeeded to its ownership. He is here carrying on general farming with excellent results, and has made improvements of great value, having set out many fruit trees, erected substantial build- ings, and placed the larger part of the land in a high state of culture, rendering his estate one of the best and most attractive in the neighborhood.

On January 10, 1866, Mr. Kester married Sarah S. Hixson, who was born in Perry township, Indiana, August 23, 1846, a daughter of John Hixson. Her grandfather, Amos Hixson, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish ancestors. In 1802 he moved to Clermont county. Ohio, becoming a pioneer of that state, and there fol- lowed his trade of a shoemaker winters and worked on the farm summers until 1834, when he journeyed with teams across the country to Indiana. bringing with him his family and all of his household effects. Entering

Digitized by Google

242

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

eighty acres of government land in section nineteen, Perry township, he and his family lived in a tent or a wagon while he and his sons built the hewed log house which is still standing on the place. Here he resided, engaging in farming, until his death, September 12, 1871. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Wolverton, died August 20, 1861. John Hixson was born in Clermont county, Ohio, September 16, 1806, and was there reared and married. He learned the carpenter's trade when young, and after coming to Indiana with the family helped to build his father's log house. Returning then to Ohio, he remained there until 1837, when, with his wife and children, he came to Perry township, entered one hundred and twenty acres of government land in sections seventeen and twenty, and with his family assumed possession of the log cabin standing on section seventeen. He was the first carpenter in the township, and for a number of years after coming here made all the coffins needed in this vicinity. He continued his residence here until his death, September 25, 1889. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Lindsay, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, in 1807, a daughter of Hezekiah Lindsay, who spent his last years in Clermont county, Ohio, moving there from Pennsylvania, his native state. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Laycock, died April 14, 1850.

Mr. and Mrs. Kester have reared six children, namely : Linna Leota, Phebe Melinda, Leo Zell, Nancy L., Rudolph B. and Floy A. Linna L. married Henry Miller, and they have nine children, Hattie, Mamie, Merle, Norma, Earett, Estelle, Lolia, Edgar and Netha. Their oldest daughter, Hattie Miller, married Ray Corbin and had two children, and their oldest child, Claude, died at the age of two years; Herbert Harold is living. Phebe Kester married Ennis L. Hamilton and they have five children, Leolia F., Verne R., Thelma R., Gerald V. and Ermal M. Nancy L. Kester married Earl D. Jackson, and they are the parents of five children, Cecil T., Herman, Hazel, Cora and Herbert H. Rudolph married Goldie Shaw, and they have one child, Dorothy. Floy A. Kester married William Jeffers, and has three children, Jewy L., Doris G. and William A. Politically Mr. Kester is a straightforward Republican, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Cory, Indiana.

ALBERT F. WALL .- The commercial interests of Brazil find a worthy representative in Albert F. Wall, who is proprietor of a music store and is a valuable addition to the musical circles of the city. He was born in Beaufort, Wales, March 29, 1857, his parents being James and Jane ( Briggs) Wall. The father was born in England, and the mother's birth occurred in Froome, that country. They were married in their native land and the father spent his entire life as a miner. On coming to the United States in 1884 he located at Carbon, Indiana, and after- ward removed to Harmony, where he resided for about five years. He next became a resident of Portland, Oregon, where he spent his last days. Throughout his entire life he was a devoted and faithful member of the Baptist church and in politics was a Republican with strong pro- hibition tendencies, for he was an ardent advocate of the cause of tem- perance, and did everything in his power to suppress the liquor traffic. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wall were born nine children, namely: Albert F., Frank, Edwin, Oliver, Rose, William, Emily, John and Francis.

Albert F. Wall spent the first ten years of his life in the little rock

Digitized by Google

243

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

ribbed country of Wales and afterward lived in Yorkshire, England, for some time. He was engaged in the music business at Sheffield until twenty-one years of age, when, attracted by the favorable reports which he heard concerning the new world and its opportunities, he resolved to try his fortune on this side the Atlantic. Accordingly he crossed the ocean in December, 1879, and located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in mining. In 1880 he removed to Pittsburg, where he also engaged in mining for a short time, after which he traveled west as far as St. Louis, also visiting Chicago and other parts of the country on a prospecting tour. He finally went to Carbon, Indiana, where he arrived with ten cents in his pocket. His financial condition rendering imme- diate employment a necessity, he soon secured a position with the Litch- field Coal Mining Company, working under Smith Tally. Later he removed to Harmony, where he engaged in mining and in 1882 he came to Brazil, where, changing the line of his occupation, he established a meat market and also began teaching music, following the profession for about two years. On the expiration of that period he established a music store and is still engaged in this business, where financial success has been achieved. He possesses much natural musical talent and has been a factor in promoting musical taste and culture in this city, becoming thus a valued addition to musical circles. .

Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Wall was married January 17, 1883, to Miss Sarah Arnold, who was born near Center Point, Clay county, Indiana, a daughter of John and Sarah Arnold, both of whom were natives of Germany but were married in Ohio. In the family were five children, three of whom are now living, Mrs. Wall, Celinda and Adam. Mr. Arnold came to America with his parents when a little lad, the family home being established in Ohio and later the family removed to Indiana. John Arnold in this state established his home near Center Point, Clay county, and entered land from the government at five dollars per acre. In the midst of the wilderness he built a log cabin and began clearing away the timber preparatory to developing the farm. Living here in pioneer times, he frequently secured wild game to replenish the larder and shot the last deer that was killed in Clay county, his son now having some of the rawhide from this deer. The death of Mr. Arnold occurred in 1881, when he was sixty-eight years of age, and his wife passed away in 1887, at the same age. They were consistent members of the United Brethren church and Mr. Arnold gave stalwart allegiance to the Republican party.

Mr. Wall belongs to Centennial Lodge, No. 541, A. F. and A. M .; William Black Chapter, No. 80, O. E. S .; Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 34; and the Home Defenders of America. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he also has strong prohibition tenden- cies, for he believes earnestly in the cause of temperance and does all in his power to promote its interests. He has been a factor in the work of the churches through his musical talent and skill. When seventeen years of age he was the chorister of the United Brethren church at Wombwell, Yorkshire, England, serving in that capacity for three years, at the end of which time he was presented by the church officers with a fine Bible containing the autograph of each. He was a local preacher of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Brazil for about ten years and was the first organist in the new Methodist Episcopal church and was choir leader there for fifteen years prior to the building of the new church.

Digitized by Google

244

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

Hle has been chorister of the Sunday School since 1885, this being the second largest Sunday school in the United States, having about a thou- sand members, and the school is justly celebrated for the fine music rendered. While his efforts have been more particularly put forth in the line of musical culture, his influence is always found on the side of those interests which tend to promote intellectual, aesthetic and moral culture, and Brazil owes not a little to his influence in this direction.

JAMES J. BUCKLIN. secretary and treasurer of the Crawford Coal Company, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, September 10, 1844, his parents being James M. and Mary ( Beckwith) Bucklin. The father was born in Rhode Island and died in Greencastle, Indiana, at the age of eighty years. The mother was born in Kentucky and passed away near St. Louis, Missouri, at the comparatively early age of thirty-eight years. They were married in Louisville, Kentucky, and became the parents of seven children, but only two are now living, the elder being a daughter, Mary, who is the widow of George E. Keating and lives in Kokomo, Indiana.

The father of this family removed to Baltimore, Maryland, with his parents when only six years of age and was living in that city at the time of the siege of 1812. His father, John C. Bucklin, was in command of a company of soldiers during the siege and served with the rank of first lieutenant. He removed to Kentucky with Captain Bullett, a distin- guished pioneer resident of that state, and Alfred Bullett, of the same family, married the sister of Mrs. Mary Bucklin. John C. Bucklin also figured prominently in the new locality in which he located and was the first mayor of the city of Louisville. He aided in establishing its policy during its formative period and his labors were an element in laying the foundation for the present progress and prosperity of that city. James M. Bucklin, his son, became a civil engineer and was engaged on the con- struction of the Erie canal. He had charge of the interior improvements of the state of Illinois and laid out the city of Chicago in connection with Major William B. Ogden. He was chief engineer in charge of the surveying of the line of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad in Missouri and was succeeded by J. T. K. Haywood, of Bangor, Maine. He sur- veyed a railroad along the Black river in Arkansas and was thus closely associated with the work of opening up the country and advancing civilization. At length he retired and spent his last days in Greencastle, Indiana, enjoying a well earned rest. His early political support was given to the Whig party and after its dissolution he voted with the Democracy.

James J. Bucklin, whose name introduces this record, resided upon a farm near St. Louis, Missouri, until five years of age, when he lost his mother and went to live in Owen county, Indiana, with Alfred Bullett, whose wife was Mrs. Bucklin's aunt. He spent three years at their home, after which he became a resident of Hannibal, Missouri, where he resided until 1861. He then removed to Louisville, Kentucky, and in July, 1862, came to Indiana, where he engaged as telegraph operator with the Terre Haute & Indiana Railroad Company, now the Vandalia Rail- road Company. Mr. Bucklin served as agent and operator at Knights- ville, Indiana, for seventeen years, his long connection with that office indicating clearly his ability and fidelity. In July, 1887, he resigned his position there and came to Brazil, where he engaged in the coal business

Digitized by Google

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Digitized by

Google

Malin Ayoung, M, 4,

Digitized by Google

245

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

with the Jackson Coal & Mining Company. He was with this company for two years, after which he engaged with the Crawford Coal Company and since 1904 has been secretary and treasurer. The company is now doing a substantial business in mining and shipping coal and the success of the enterprise is attributable in no small degree to the efforts of Mr. Bucklin.

On the Ist of March, 1868, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bucklin and Mary C. Fleming, who was born in Frederick, Maryland, in 1844, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fleming, whose family numbered six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom five are now living. Mr. Fleming was a farmer and stock dealer and gave his political support to the Democracy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bucklin has been born one child, Harry F., who is assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Brazil. He married Miss Edna Herr and they have two sons and two daughters.

James J. Bucklin gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, having always supported its principles since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. His business interests have brought him a wide acquaintance and while telegraph operator and station agent he was uniformly respected by reason of his unfailing courtesy and obliging manner. In his present position as secretary and treasurer of the Crawford Coal Company he is manifesting keen business ability and executive force leading to success in his chosen field of activity.

MELVIN H. YOUNG, M. D .- Prominent among the successful and skilful physicians of Van Buren township is Melvin H. Young, M. D., of Harmony, who has built up a large and lucrative practice in this part of Clay county, his professional knowledge and ability being recognized and appreciated throughout the community. The son of a physician, Dr. Will- iam L. Young, he was born, July 29, 1858, in Shelby county, Indiana. Thompson G. Young, the Doctor's grandfather, came from Tennessee to this state in pioneer days, locating at Saint Omer, Shelby county, where he followed his trade of a blacksmith during his active life. After his retirement he went to Brazil, and there spent his declining years.

In the days of his youth Dr. William L. Young learned the black- smith's trade in his father's shop, but never followed it to any extent. Desirous of entering upon a professional career, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Depew, of Sanford, and in 1865 was graduated from the Indiana Eclectic Medical College. He was subsequently located in dif- ferent places, including Old Highland, Vermilion county, and Edinburg, Johnson county, remaining in the latter place until his death, when but sixty-two years old. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Larison, was born in Perry township, of which her father, George Larison, was a pioneer. Three children born of their union grew to maturity, namely : Melvin H., the special subject of this brief sketch; Clarence, who died at the age of thirteen years, in Greenup, Illinois; and Charles, a practising physician at Newberry, Greene county, Indiana.

Diligent and studious as a boy and youth, Melvin H. Young laid a substantial foundation for his future education in the public schools, after which he read medicine for a time with Dr. James at Cory. Subsequently attending lectures at the Medical College of Indiana, he was graduated from that institution with the class of 1892, and the ensuing six years was engaged in practice at Raglesville, Daviess county. In 1898 Dr. Young went to New York city and he took a post graduate course at the Post

Digitized by Google

246

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

Graduate Medical School, after which he entered the German Clinical School of New York, from which he was graduated. Thus ably fitted for the duties of his profession, the Doctor located in Harmony, and has remained here until the present time, having gained a large and lucrative general practice, his wide experience, natural talents and industry classing him among the most successful physicians of this part of the state.

Dr. Young married, in 1882, Mary E. Donham, who was born in Clay county, a daughter of Lewis and Sarah Donham, and they have one child, a daughter named Tillie E. The Doctor belongs to the Clay County Medical Association, to the Indiana State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. In addition to these, he is a member of Moore Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; of Clay Lodge No. 368, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; of the Ancient Order of United Workmen ; and of Shasta Tribe No. 282, Improved Order of Red Men. Although taking no very active part in political matters, the Doctor was elected county coroner in the fall of 1906, and is still serving as such.

BERYL SCOTT GRIFFITH .- A man of excellent business qualifications and ability, Beryl S. Griffith is actively identified with the industrial inter- ests of Clay county, being extensively engaged in the manufacture of pot- tery at Clay City. A son of the late Benjamin Griffith, he was born October 22, 1845, at the foot of Flint Ridge, near Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio. His grandfather, Benjamin Griffith, Sr., the descendant of Welsh ancestors, removed from West Virginia to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he spent the closing years of his life.

Benjamin Griffith, Jr., was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, and after removing with the family to Ohio learned the potter's trade, which he followed for some time in Muskingum county. He subsequently migrated to Illinois, traveling with teams and taking with him his family and all of his effects. Buying land in Clark county, he established a pot- tery which, in connection with farming, he operated for a number of years. On retiring from active business he removed to Marshall, and was there a resident until his death, February 28, 1884. He married Elizabeth George Stacy Holmes, who was born in Virginia and died on the home farm in Clark county, Illinois, September 24, 1869. Her father, Nathaniel Holmes, was a plantation overseer in Virginia. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, after which he received a land warrant for his services, and during his last years received a pension. Moving to Illinois, he was one of the early settlers of Edgar county, where he spent his last years. Benjamin and Elizabeth Griffith reared eight children, as follows: Eliza- beth Jane, Beryl Scott, Lucy Ann, Julius C., Catherine, Theodore Lincoln, Justus Hamlin and Mary M., the last named.

Five years of age when his parents removed to Illinois, Beryl S. Griffith was there brought up and educated. Beginning to assist in the home pottery when a boy of fifteen years, he learned the trade and con- tinued with his father until February, 1865. Enlisting then in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-second Illinois Volunteer infantry, he went with his regiment to Tennessee, and served until after the close of the war, when, in September, 1865, he received his honorable discharge. Returning home, he resumed his former employment, continuing there two years. In 1867 Mr. Griffith removed to Vermilion, Edgar county, and was there engaged in the manufacture of pottery until 1876. In the fall of that year he settled as a potter in Clark county, Illinois, and there

Digitized by Google

247

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

conducted a factory for nine years. In 1885 he came to Clay City, bring- ing with him the late Martin Crumrine, an experienced potter who had formerly worked for his father. On the place which he purchased there had been a pottery since 1844, when it was founded by Truman Smith and his son Ralph, who after operating it for twenty years had sold it to John Everhart. Mr. Smith also had a store here long before Clay City was established. Mr. Everhart did not run the potteries himself, but leased the property to other parties, who continued the business. Mr. Griffith bought out the interest of the Everhart heirs, replaced the buildings that were burned the August before he came here, erected a new dwelling house, and has since carried on an exceedingly prosperous manufacturing business.

On May 9, 1869, Mr. Griffith married Susan M. Shively, who was born in Elbridge township, Edgar county, Illinois, March 20, 1849. Her father, Armstead Shively, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, and his father, William Shively, was born in Virginia, of Swedish ancestry. Will- iam Shively was a pioneer settler of Coshocton county and one of its earliest teachers. In the early forties he moved to Edgar county, Illinois, and in Elbridge township bought land covered with the virgin timber. He cleared the farm and resided there the remainder of his life. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Brown, died on the home farm at an advanced age. A young man when he went to Edgar county, Illinois, Armstead Shively entered a tract of government land not far from his father's, and on it erected a small frame house. That being destroyed by fire soon after its erection he put up a hewed log house for the family residence. Clearing a homestead, he was there employed in agricultural pursuits until his death, September 6, 1898, at the age of seventy-seven years. He married Mary Laufman, who was born in Pennsylvania, which was also the birthplace of her parents, Jacob and Margaret (Keefer) Laufman. Mr. Laufman, who served as a soldier in the Black Hawk war, settled in Edgar county, Illinois, about 1840, and there established a tannery, the first one in that vicinity, and operated it for many years. He was a well educated man, and at different times taught school. Both he and his wife spent the remaining years of their lives on the Illinois farm. Mrs. Armstead Shively, the mother of Mrs. Griffith, died in June, 1902, aged seventy-five years, leaving six children, namely: Susan M., Emily, Mary, Cyrus, Olive and Bruce.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Griffith, namely: Ira, Myrtle, Gertrude, Mamie and Clyde. Ira, who married Musa Wells, was killed by lightning May 20, 1902. Myrtle married Charles W. Knox. Gertrude is the wife of George Correll, and has two children, Floyd and Musetta. Messrs. Knox and Correll are engaged in business in Clay City, having as butchers and provision dealers built up a thriving trade. Mamie died at the early age of twenty years. Religiously Mrs. Griffith is a member of the United Brethren church, and Mr. Griffith is an Adventist.

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.

A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 35

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

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