USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 37
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the wife of Blair S. McNutt, a resident of Brazil. Sadie V. is also living in Brazil and Cora E. is the wife of Harry R. Williams, a resident of Kansas City.
After some years' identification with general agricultural pursuits in this state Mr. Hays engaged in the flour milling business for a number of years at Center Point, Clay county. He then resumed the work of the fields and carried on general farming in Sugar Ridge township until 1899, when he came to Brazil and here lived retired. He was a member of the school board in Sugar Ridge township for a long period and the cause of education found in him a stalwart advocate. In early life he belonged to the Christian church but afterward became a member of the United Brethren, and after coming to Brazil joined the Presbyterian church and lived a most upright, honorable life. He was one of those who voted the Free Soil ticket when that party placed a presidential can- didate in the field. Finding that there had been no steps toward placing a Free Soil ticket in the field in this county, Mr. Hays wrote to George W. Julian, congressman from the third Indiana district, for tickets. He received four hundred and Mr. Hays saw to it personally that two hundred were distributed in this county and two hundred were sent to his brother in Montgomery county. There were only eleven votes cast for the party in this county and among those who voted the ticket were Mr. Hays, his brother, his brother-in-law, his father-in-law and his son. Mr. Hays believed that the Free Soil movement gave birth to the Repub- lican party and that the principles of the Free Soil party were the prin- ciples endorsed in the first platform of the Republican party. He there- fore became a stalwart supporter of the latter. He said in his later years that he loved his country next to his life and his party with an equal affection. He believed it to be on the right side of every question excepting that touching the liquor traffic, for Mr. Hays was always a firm temperance advocate. In fact his influence was always on the side of right, progress, reform and improvement. Perhaps no words could better close this brief review of the life of an honored man than the tribute written by his old time friend, William Travis, who said: "The sense of duty moves me to write briefly, at least, a feeble tribute of respect to the memory of Daniel W. Hays, who passed over the border between the living and the dead on the 23d of January, 1906. It was my good fortune and pleasure to know him intimately during the latter half of his useful and exemplary life. I have known and associated with many good men, but none whose companionship, friendship and counsel were more appreciated and helpful than his. In him there was no guile, nor shadow of turning aside from right and duty. His every day life reflected the true Christian character. In his relations with his fellow- men and in his treatment of his neighbor he never lost sight of the prin- ciple of the Golden Rule. He had the courage of his convictions at all times and under all circumstances. In him the cause of popular educa- tion, the promotion of morals and the improvement and advancement of society had an earnest, devoted and substantial supporter. During the years of my school work at Center Point he was ever vigilant in behalf of the cause and contributed liberally to my success. Then it was that a mutual interest and attachment sprang up between us which was never broken nor even marred, notwithstanding our difference of opinions on vital current questions of the day. Were I at any time in need of aid and encouragement, he did not wait to be asked but came voluntarily
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to my relief. Though of no pretensions nor ostentation, Daniel W. Hays was a man of heart and mind clean and fragrant with love and sympathy for humanity and every work which promises the regeneration and elevation of the race, individually and collectively. No monument of marble nor granite is needed to perpetuate his memory."
SILAS FOULKE .- The name of Foulke is very ancient, most of the original members of the name being doubtless of Welsh extraction. From a genealogy of the Foulke family, compiled by Edwin Rhodes Booth, member of both the Historical and Genealogical Societies of Pennsyl- vania, we make the following extracts: Table one shows the descent of the family from the ancient British kings, beginning with Glowyw Glwad, Lydan king, and founder of the city of Caer Glow, or Gloucester, thence through the great Vortigern, elected king of Britain in 425, A. D., who espoused Seveira, daughter of the Roman emperor, Maximus Magnus, who was beheaded in the year 388, A. D., to Brochmel Ysgythrog. This Brochmel Ysgythrog, king of Rowys and prince of Chester, was slain while battling against the Saxons on the banks of the Dee, in 612, A. D. The line was continued through one of his lineal descendants, Sir Griffith Vaughn, who was created Knight Banneret at the Battle of Agemount, thence through his daughter Anne, who married Levan Vychan, of Llanu-wch-y-lynn, Edward Foulke, the emigrant ancestor, being a descendant in the eighth generation from the above mentioned Anne (Vaughn) Vychan.
Tables three and four trace the descent of the said Edward Foulke from Roderick the Great (Roderig Mawr), King of all Wales in the year 843. Table five shows his descent, and that of his wife, from Cunelda Wledig, a noted chieftain of the fifth century. Table six traces his descent from Maelog, crown chief of the Seventh Noble Tribe of Wales, and from Llywarch, Prince of the Strath Clyde Britons, and a noted lord of the seventh century. Table seven gives his line of descent the Saxon, Norman, German, Castillian and Scottish houses of the eleventh century. Table eight gives the descent of Edward and Eleanor, his wife, from William de Braose, Lord of the House of Braose, or Brieuze, in Normandy : from Milo Fitzwalter, earl of Hereford; and from William Marshall, elder earl of Pembroke, who was elected Regent of England upon the death of King John; and from the Mortimers, barons of Wigmore, including the celebrated Roger, first Earl of March.
Edward Foulke, the founder of the American branch of the Foulke family, was a descendant in the tenth generation of Madock Risid Blaid, of the Poole, who was Lord of Peneline, one of the northern divisions of Wales, the line of descent being as follows: Madock (1), Jerwerth (2), Madock (3), Griffith (4). Evan Vaughn (5), David (6), David (7), Robert (8), Thomas (9), and Edward (10). The mother of Ed- ward (10) Foulke was before her marriage a Miss Lowry, and a descendant in the fifth generation from Robert, of the parish of Lanoer, in Marienilt, the line being Robert (1), Ellis (2), David (3), Edward (4), and - Lowry (5).
Edward (10) Foulke, who became Edward ( 1) Foulke after coming to this country, was born in Wales May 13, 1851. He married Eleanor. daughter of Hugh, son of Cadwallder, son of Reese, of the parish of Spitue, in Denbyshire. Eleanor's mother was Given, daughter of Ellis, son of Hugh, son of William, son of Hugh, son of Thomas, son of
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David, son of Madock, son of Evan, son of Colt, son of Evan, son of Griffith, son of Maddock, son of Enein, son of Meredith, son of Comadock. Eleanor was born in the same parish and shire that her husband, Edward (1) Foulke, was. In 1698 Edward ( 1) Foulke and his wife came to America, sailing from Liverpool in the ship Robert and Elizabeth, and on July 5 of that year landed in Philadelphia. From this ancestor Silas Foulke is a descendant in the sixth generation, the line being thus traced: Edward (1), Hugh (2), Samuel (3), Judah (4), John (5), and Silas (6).
Edward (1) Foulke bought seven hundred acres of land lying about sixteen miles from Philadelphia, and named the township Greyned, or North Wales. In that locality he and his wife spent their remaining days, and there several generations of his descendants spent their entire lives. He was a Quaker in his religion, and on account of his sturdy opposition to bloody strife left home and friends and gave up royalty, coming to this country to enjoy the peace to which he was entitled. His grandson, Samuel Foulke, was also a Quaker, and reared his family in that faith. On account of his religious belief he took no active part in the Revolutionary war, but he furnished supplies for the Continental army and was in sympathy with the colonists. The maiden name of his wife was Ann Greasely.
Judah (4) Foulke migrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1818, making the removal with teams. Settling in Guernsey county, he became a pioneer of Leatherwood township, where he purchased a tract of timber, from which he hewed a farm. Erecting a house of hewed logs, which is now standing, he was there employed in farming for many years, and until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, lived in the log cabin that he built. He married Sarah McCarthy, who died on the homestead in Guernsey county.
John (5) Foulke was about a year old when his parents moved to Ohio. Growing to manhood in Guernsey county, he learned the cooper's trade from his father, and there followed it for a number of years. In 1852, with his wife and five children, he came to Indiana, making the tedious journey with teams, and arrived in Perry township, Clay county, in November of that year. He purchased a tract of land in section twenty-nine, and the twenty acres that were cleared and a small log house constituted the sole improvements that had been previously made on the place. Working at his trade, he made flour barrels and lard kegs, which he sold in Bowling Green and Terre Haute, taking them to those places with teams. After a few years of work as a cooper he turned his attention to agriculture, and was engaged in general farming until his death, April 17, 1878. He married Sarah Hartley, who was born in eastern New Jersey July 13, 1818, and died July 31, 1901, in Clay county, Indiana. Her father, David Hartley, a native of New Jersey, moved to Noble county, Ohio, about 1820, bought land, improved a farm, and the house which he there built is still standing. He was a Quaker in religion, and at his death, at a ripe old age, his body was laid to rest in the Quaker cemetery, while his wife, whose maiden name was Phebe Parks, was buried in the Methodist Episcopal churchyard. John (5) Foulke and his wife reared six of their eight children, namely: Silas, David H., Edwin A., William P., Phebe Ann, and Mary.
Silas (5) Foulke was eleven years old when he came with his parents to Clay county, his birth having occurred May 30, 1841, in Leatherwood
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township, Guernsey county, Ohio. He has witnessed the grand trans- formation of the country round about from a wilderness inhabited by wild game of all kinds to a populous and wealthy community. He began as a boy to assist his father in the shop and on the farm, remaining with his parents until after the breaking out of the Civil war. Then, on July 28, 1861, Mr. Foulke enlisted in Company C, Thirty-first Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, was mustered into service at Terre Haute September 5, and went to the front with his regiment. He took part in many of the more prominent engagements of the war, including those at Fort Donel- son, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Stone River, Murfreesboro, Chicka- mauga and others. At Bridgeport he veteranized, and after a furlough of thirty days joined his command, and was with Sherman in his Atlanta campaign, taking part in the many battles along the route. After the siege and capture of Atlanta he continued with his regiment, going back to Tennessee, where he was in the battles at Franklin and Nashville. The following winter he was stationed at Huntsville, Alabama, in the spring going by way of East Tennessee to Asheville, North Carolina, where, with his command, he fought his last battle. Obtaining a furlough in June, 1865, Mr. Foulke returned home, and at the expiration of his furlough joined his regiment at Green Lake, Texas, and on December 12, 1865, received his honorable discharge at Victoria, Texas.
After his return to Clay county Mr. Foulke began his career as an independent farmer on a tract of forty acres lying in section twenty, Perry township. Twenty acres of the land were cleared, and a log house had been built at the time of his purchase. He subsequently bought an additional twenty acres and lived there for some time. He then pur- chased the portion of the parental homestead which he now owns and occupies, and has since carried on general farming with most satisfactory results, being uniformly successful in his operations.
Mr. Foulke has been twice married. He married first, October 22, 1869, Jane Cade, who was born in Cumberland, Maryland, a daughter of Enoch Cade. She died February 22, 1871, leaving one child, Charles C. Mr. Foulke married second, February 23, 1872, Sarah Trimmer. She was born March 14, 1853, in Fairfield county, Ohio, near Winchester, of German ancestry. Her father, Barnard Trimmer, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, from there going to Ohio in pioneer days. He lived first in Franklin county, going from there to Fairfield county, where he remained until 1866. Coming then with his family to Vigo county, Indiana, he purchased land in Riley township, and was there employed as a tiller of the soil until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Wolfe, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and she is now living, a bright and active woman of four score and four years. Mr. and Mrs. Foulke have nine children, namely: Jesse M., Arpie E., John R., Barnard, Katie Mary, Silas, Dudley, Homer and Ruby. Jesse M. married Sadie Nees, and they have had two children, Marietta and Masel, the latter deceased. Arpie E. is the wife of Otis Lawson. Politically Mr. Foulke has always been identified with the Republican party, and for four years, from 1880 until 1884, served as county recorder. Religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Foulke are active members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church and he has served as president of the Clay County Sunday School Association and as its county organizer. He has also been superintendent of the Sunday school and steward of the church. For two years Mr. Foulke was secretary and for two years chairman
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of the Clay County Farmers' Institute, and for seventeen years he was a notary public. He was the candidate on the Republican ticket for repre- sentative of Clay county in 1908.
WESLEY B. SHAW, who for twenty-seven years was engineer of the Vandalia Railroad Company and is now living retired in Brazil, was born near Georgetown, Brown county, Ohio, February 25, 1835. His parents were Merritt and Levina ( Brockway) Shaw, the former born in Ohio, March 10, 1810, while the latter was born near Albany, New York, in 1812. The Shaw family was established in the Buckeye state at an early period in its pioneer development. The grandfather, Russell Shaw, located in Brown county in 1802 and laid out the village of Russellville and established the family homestead upon which Wesley Shaw was reared. The father, Merritt Shaw, was also reared there and early became familiar with the arduous task of developing a new farm upon the frontier. Throughout his entire life he gave his time and energies to agricultural pursuits and for many years resided at the old home in Ohio. His last days, however, were spent in Brazil, where he passed away July 20, 1886. His wife, however, died in Ohio shortly before. They were consistent and faithful members of the Christian church and Mr. Shaw gave his political allegiance to the Whig party. Their family numbered eight children, but only two are now living, the daughter being Cindora, now the wife of William Johnson, a resident of Russellville, Ohio.
Wesley B. Shaw during his boyhood days worked upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He also ran a bus line for his father at Russellville, Ohio, and to some extent worked in a sawmill as an engineer. At the age of nineteen years he came to Indiana with Washington Miller, arriving in August, 1854. Here he assisted in building two or three mills in Clay county and became engineer of one of the mills. After a short time, however, he returned to Ohio but in the spring of 1855 again came to Indiana, establishing his home at Brazil, where he was employed as engineer of a mill and blast furnace. He was the second engineer that pumped water for the city and in the line of his chosen occupation he was regarded as an expert.
On the 5th of September, 1863, Mr. Shaw offered his services to his country, enlisting in defense of the Union as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, for six months' service. He was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, Indiana, in February, 1864, at which time he held the rank of first lieutenant of Company D. While at the front he participated in the siege of Knoxville, Tennessee, and the battle of Cumberland Gap. Following his return from the army Mr. Shaw engaged as engineer at Hills & Stunkard's flour mill, where he was employed until he determined to turn his attention to rail- road engineering and entered the service of the Vandalia Railroad Com- pany. He continued with them until the Ist of March, 1905, or for a period of nearly twenty-seven years, when he retired and has since enjoyed a well earned rest.
Mr. Shaw has been married twice. On the 24th of February, 1857, he wedded Elizabeth Hendrix, a daughter of John Hendrix, Sr., and unto them were born seven children, five of whom are now living: William M .; Edward M .; Mary Jane, the wife of William A. Biddle:
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Franklin F .; Anna Bell, the wife of Charles Skaull, of Anderson, Indiana. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Shaw was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Nancy A. La Manche, nee Bullock, a native of Kentucky.
Mr. Shaw gives his political support to the Republican party, with which he has affiliated since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, belonging to Division No. 25, and he is also an interested and valued member of General Canby Post, No. 2, G. A. R. He thus maintains pleasant rela- tions with his old army comrades. Throughout his entire life he has been loyal in his citizenship and interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of the community in which he makes his home. He has many friends whose esteem and respect he enjoys and who will receive with interest this record of his life.
WILLIAM ARTHUR BIDDLE, conducting a plumbing and heating estab- lishment in Brazil, was born in Anderson, Indiana, October 4, 1865, his parents being Hudson Springer and Cynthia ( Hoffiner) Biddle. The father was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, and in early life learned and fol- lowed the carpenter's trade. He was married in that state to Miss Cynthia Hoffiner, and subsequently removed to Anderson, Indiana, becoming one of the early representatives of business life there. He engaged in con- tracting and building for many years and many evidences of his handi- work are still seen in substantial structures of the city. Year by year many important contracts were awarded him and he always maintained a reputation for thorough reliability and excellent workmanship. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, associations which indicate the character of his prin- ciples and the rules that governed his conduct in his relations with his fellowmen. His political views were in accord with the platform of the Republican party and he was much interested in its success. He died in July, 1875, at the age of fifty-three years, and his widow, long surviving him, passed away in 1906, at the age of seventy-two. They were the parents of four sons and three daughters, of whom four are now living : Clara, Charles W., William Arthur and Albert H.
In his boyhood days William Arthur Biddle worked at farm labor and also attended the common schools, but thinking to find other pursuits more congenial than those of the field, at the age of eighteen, in 1883, he became an apprentice in a machine shop. After serving his term of indenture he worked at his trade until September, 1906, when he began business on his own account, opening a plumbing, steam heating and hot water heating establishment in Brazil. He has since continued in business here and his patronage is constantly growing, so that he is now in control of a good business.
On the 17th of April, 1890, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Biddle and Miss Mary Jane Shaw, a native of Brazil. She was a daughter of Wesley B. and Elizabeth ( Hendrix) Shaw. Her father was born in Georgetown, Brown county, Ohio, February 25, 1835, a son of Merritt and Levina ( Brockway) Shaw, and a representative of one of the old families of the Buckeye state. In his boyhood days Wesley B. Shaw worked on a farm and also ran a bus line for his father. He was always employed in sawmills as engineer, but at the age of nineteen years he came to Indiana with Washington Miller, whom he assisted in building two large mills in Clay county. This was in August, 1854, and upon the
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completion of the mills he was made engineer in one of them. Not long after he returned to Ohio, but in the spring of 1855 again came to Brazil and became engineer in a mill and blast furnace. At the time of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations and enlisted for service as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Fifteenth Regi- ment of Indian Volunteers, September 5, 1863. His term covered six months and he was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, Indiana, in. February, 1864, with the rank of First lieutenant of Company D. Fol- lowing his return home he became engineer in a flour mill and later entered the railroad service of the Vandalia Railroad as engineer, con- tinuing with that company until the Ist of March, 1905. He is now living retired in Brazil, where he is widely and favorably known. Further mention of Mr. Shaw is made on another page of this volume.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Biddle have been born two children, Clara Amelia and Ernest Hudson. The parents are widely known in Brazil and the hospitality of many of the best homes is freely accorded them. Mr. Biddle is connected with the Knights of the Maccabees and with the Home Defenders of America, No. 1, while his political allegiance is given to the Republican party. In his business life he has been prompted by laudable ambition and strong purpose and gradually has worked his way upward until he is now numbered among the enterprising business men of the city, who are winning a goodly measure of success through carefully directed effort.
DR. PATRICK H. VEACH, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Staunton, has attained prominence in the professional circles of Clay county. His professional career was begun as a school teacher, having previously passed from the district schools to the Central Normal, of which he is a graduate, and beginning in 1880 he taught in the district schools of Clay county for eight years. In 1886 he entered the drug business in Staunton, and after three years spent as a druggist he entered as a student the Medical College of Indiana and graduated with its class of 1891. Since that time he has practiced with ever increasing success in this city, enjoying a large and remunerative patronage. He was for a time a member of the U. S. pension examining board at Brazil, is a mem- ber of the State Medical Associations and in 1891 he was appointed the trustee of Posey township for a term of three years.
Dr. Veach was born in Jackson township, Clay county, Indiana, Jan- uary 2, 1862, a son of Adam C. Veach, who was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, May 22, 1824. He was reared and educated there, and was later married there to one of the county's native daughters, Helen Swin- ford, who was born November 22, 1822, and they were of Scotch and German descent. They became the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters. In about 1855 Adam C. Veach moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, and embarked in the saw milling business, while later, in 1860, he came with his family to Clay county, and located on forty acres of land which he purchased near Staunton in Posey township, continuing as a farmer there until his death at the age of sixty-five years. From the Whigs of the early days he transferred his political allegiance to the Democratic party and became prominent in the public life of his com- munity. From 1862 to 1864 he served his district in the legislature, and during twelve years he was a trustee of Posey township.
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