USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 38
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On the 30th of December, 1891, Dr. Veach was married to Miss Mat-
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tie N. Wardlaw, and they have three children, all born in Staunton, namely: Lester W., born February 8, 1893 ; Albert C., June 15, 1804 ; and Katherine E., October 13, 1903. Dr. Veach has membership relations with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Red Men and the Knights of Pythias, and his political views are in harmony with the principles of the Democratic party. He owns considerable real estate in Staunton, and is numbered among the city's leading business as well as professional men.
SAMUEL HORN .- Occupying a place of prominence among the indus- trious and enterprising men who have contributed so largely towards the agricultural prosperity of Clay county is Samuel Horn, a veteran agri- culturist, who, having accomplished a satisfactory work in his chosen occupation, is now living retired in Harrison township, enjoying to the utmost the well-merited reward of his many years of unremitting toil. A son of Daniel Horn, Jr., he was born September 7, 1838, in Washington, Washington county, Pennsylvania, the same town in which his father's birth occurred on April 4, 1807. His grandfather, Daniel Horn, Sr., was of German parentage, and was born either in Germany or in Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation, and spent his last years in Washington county, Pennsylvania.
Endowed by nature with much mechanical ingenuity, Daniel Horn, Jr., worked as stone mason and a carpenter during his early life. Sub- sequently turning his attention to agriculture, he moved with his family to Coshocton county, Ohio, settling near Chili. Purchasing forty acres of timbered land, he cleared a portion of it, and when well started in farming established a nursery. Selling out in 1857, he came to Clay county, Indiana, bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty- one, Harrison township, and in the opening that he cleared erected a double house of sawed logs, riving boards to cover the roof, this being the first home of the Horn family in Clay county. The first year he hired help and cleared forty acres of his homestead, and afterwards continued the improvements, residing there until his death, April 2. 1860, while yet scarce past manhood's prime, being but fifty-three years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Priscilla Caton, was born November 30, 1810, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, of German ancestry, and died February 3, 1884. She reared eight children, namely: Polly, Charlotte, Samuel. George Jackson, Priscilla J., Angeline, Nancy Ann and Josephus.
After leaving the district school Samuel Horn assisted his father on the farm and in the nursery, while in Ohio becoming familiar with both agriculture and horiticulture. Coming with the family to Harrison town- ship, he cut the trees felled on the land his father had purchased, and thereafter the ringing strokes of his axe could be heard for many a day as he assisted in leveling the giants of the forest. The year after his father's death he began farming for himself on rented land, and had just got well started when the Civil war began. In 1865, on February 28, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infan- try, and with his regiment took part in several engagements, remaining in service until receiving his honorable discharge the following November. Returning home he found his wife very ill, and twenty-one days later she died. Previous to his enlistment Mr. Horn had bought twenty acres of land in section twenty, Harrison township, and that land he had traded for twenty acres that are now included in his present homestead, and had
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begun to build a log house, but enlisted before the roof was put on. After returning from the war, he farmed for a year on the old homestead, in the meantime completing the log house on his own land. As soon as it was finished, in 1867, he moved into it, and at once commenced improving a farm. At that time the land was heavily timbered, and deer, wild turkeys and wild hogs roamed through it at will. Since that time Mr. Horn has bought one hundred more acres of land, has cleared a fine farm and erected substantial frame buildings in place of the log structures, his homestead being one of the most valuable and attractive of any in the neighborhood, its improvements comparing favorably with any in the vicinity. Having by his well-directed toil acquired a competency, he has retired from active labor and is spending his leisure in comfort and ease, enjoying the pleasures of his well-appointed home.
Mr. Horn married first, November 7, 1860, Adeline Duncan, who was born November 5, 1838, and died November 25, 1865. Her parents, Rev. George and Lovinia Duncan, were for many years esteemed residents of Harrison township, where her father was both a physician and a preacher. Mr. Horn subsequently married for his second wife Elizabeth Dickey, daughter of Abraham and Catherine (Roush) Dickey. She was born in Ohio, January 15. 1841, and died on the home farm January 24. 1905. Mr. Horn has three children now living, namely: George A., born March 18, 1868; William N., born June 1, 1870; and Sarah Ann, born July 30, 1872. George A. married Mary J. Price and has children, Lula Maud, Rozella, Ray Franklin, Renos Hobart, James Everett, Herschl Ray, Goldie May and Alice Marie. William N. married Lavina Mccullough, and they have two children, Samuel Ernest and Paul. Sarah A., wife of Landry Miller, has six children, Emery Pearson, Myrtle Celestia, Vernila Ertis, Jacob S., Edith E. and Leonard C.
HENRY CLAY DEITRICK .- A man of ability and sterling worth, Henry Clay Deitrick, now living retired from active business at his pleasant home in Harmony, was for many years prominently identified with the agricultural and manufacturing interests of Van Buren township, doing his full share in advancing the welfare of this section of the state. A son of Nicholas Deitrick, he was born in Stovertown, Muskingum county, Ohio, February 18, 1844.
The descendant of a German family of some prominence, Nicholas Deitrick was born in Pennsylvania and there grew up and was educated. Accompanied by his brother Jacob, he moved to Ohio, settling in Mus- kingum county. Purchasing a tract of unbroken land at Stovertown, he improved the homestead on which he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of seventy-two years, in 1850. He was twice married, and by his first wife reared seven children, as follows: David, Jacob, Balster, Margaret, Mary, Sarah and Jane. By his second wife, whose maiden name was Martha Duncan, he had two children, William, who enlisted in the Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war and was killed at the battle of Fort Wagner; and Henry, the special subject of this brief sketch.
But six years old when his father died, Henry Clay Deitrick went to live with his half-brother, Balster Deitrick. At the age of eighteen years, according to a provision made in the will of his father that he should be taught a trade, Henry went to Zanesville to learn how to make shoes. Instead of learning the trade, however, he soon enlisted in Company B,
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One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and in the sum- mer of 1863 was sent with his regiment to Baltimore, where he did gar- rison duty for three months. Then, his term of enlistment having expired, he was honorably discharged from the service and returned to his home. After his return, his first enterprise was to go down the Muskingum and Ohio rivers with a boat load of stoneware. Disposing of his stock, he made his way to Center Point, Clay county, Indiana, where he found employment with Hardy Hicks, a farmer, for whom he worked one sea- son before returning to Ohio. Going to Taylorville, Illinois, in the spring of 1867, he was there employed in farming until fall, when he located permanently in Clay county, Indiana. Soon after coming here, Mr. Deit- rick bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Jackson township, about two miles south of Harmony. Eighty acres of this had been cleared, and with two small frame shanties comprised the improvements of the place. Settling on this land at the time of his marriage, he and his bride began housekeeping in a most primitive style. A year later he sold out at an advantage and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, forty of which were in Jackson township and eighty in Van Buren township, near Harmony, where, at the same time, he bought the resi- dence in which he has since lived. For a number of years thereafter he was very busily employed, not only superintending the management of his farm, but being quite extensively engaged in the manufacture of stone- ware at Harmony. Having acquired a competency through his own efforts, he is now spending his time free from business cares, enjoying a well-earned leisure.
On December 24, 1868, Mr. Deitrick married Martha Adamson, who was born near Roseville, Muskingum county, Ohio, November 13, 1845, a daughter of Lloyd and Eliza ( Bond) Adamson. A more extended parental and ancestral history may be found on another page of this book, in connection with the sketch of S. F. Adamson.
WILLIAM MCCULLOUGH, a farmer and stock raiser of Posey town- ship, was born in Jackson township of Clay county September 1, 1856. He is a member of a family which was established in this county in an early epoch in its history by William McCullough, whose genealogy is recorded on other pages of this history. Among his children was Alex- ander McCullough, who was born in Tennessee March 10, 1822, and was but a boy when he came with his father to Indiana, attaining to years of maturity in Putnam county. He was there married to Mary Payne, who was born in Kentucky but came to Clay county, Indiana, with her parents when young and received her education in the pioneer schools of Jackson township. Her father, Robert Payne, was a prominent early farmer of Clay county. After his marriage Alexander McCullough moved to Jack- son township, Clay county, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cleared and improved and resided thereon until his death at the age of eighty-four years, owning at that time an estate of two hun- dred and forty acres. Eight children, four sons and four daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. McCullough, but two died in infancy and those living are Robert, Charlotte Summers, William, Sarah Lucas, Louis and Mary Haney, all born in Jackson township. Mr. Mccullough, the father, voted with the Democratic party.
The district schools of Jackson township furnished William McCul- lough with his educational training, and in 1879, after the completion of
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his studies, he entered the drug business in partnership with his brother in Ashville, Indiana. But after two years there he in 1883 opened a store in Center Point, where he was one of the leading druggists for fifteen years. In 1897, however, he retired from the drug business, and in 1899 moved to his present homestead in Posey township, purchasing at that time one hundred and nineteen acres, and he also owns an interest in the old Mccullough homestead of forty acres.
He married on the 24th of April, 1887, Jennie Ringo, who is a native of Posey township and a daughter of one of its pioneer farmers, William Ringo, now deceased. They have three sons, Frederick M., William Alexander and Francis Marion, all of whom were born in Center Point. Throughout the years of his maturity Mr. Mccullough has up- held the principles of the Democratic party, but votes independent of party ties at local elections.
OTIS C. DRAKE .- Numbered among the industrious and enterprising citizens of Washington township, Clay county, is Otis C. Drake, who, as superintendent of a grist mill at Bowling Green, has built up an extensive and lucrative business, and has become an important factor in advancing both the manufacturing and the mercantile interests of the place. He was born May 10, 1871, in Washington township, a son of Steward and Delila (Tressel) Drake, and grandson of Thomas and Maria (Bybee) Drake, pioneer settlers of Clay county. Further parental and ancestral history may be found on another page of this volume, in connection with the sketch of his father, Steward Drake.
After leaving the public schools, Otis C. Drake entered the Garvin Commercial College at Terre Haute, where he took a full course in book- keeping. He subsequently taught school two years in Washington town- ship, but since that time has had charge of the grist mill belonging to his father. This mill was erected in Bowling Green in early days, but has been greatly improved since coming into the possession of Mr. Drake. It is now operated by steam power, and has a capacity of forty barrels per day. Mr. Drake thoroughly understands its management, and has built up a large and lucrative patronage, doing all kinds of work connected with the grinding of grains, and keeps three men busily employed in its operation.
On December 23, 1896, Mr. Drake married Olive Miles, who was born June 30, 1872, in Bowling Green, which was also the birthplace of her father, H. H. B. Miles. Her mother, who before marriage was Perintha Clemmens, was born in Butler county, Ohio. Mrs. Drake died September 22, 1899, and her body was laid to rest in the Bowling Green Cemetery. She left two children, namely: S. Miles, born March 4, 1898: and Olive V., born September 20, 1899, died January 18, 1900. Politically Mr. Drake is a Republican. Fraternally he belongs to Clay Lodge No. 85, F. & A. M., and to Poland Lodge No. 364, K. of P. Religiously he is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM THOMAS MODESITT .- Among the native-born citizens of Clay county, conspicuous for their enterprise, energy and sterling worth, is William T. Modesitt, of Cory, one of the foremost agriculturists of Perry township. A son of Nathaniel Modesitt, he was born in this town- ship February 8, 1860, of Virginian ancestry. His grandfather, Uriah Modesitt, was born, it is thought, on the eastern shore of Virginia, from
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there moving to the western part of the state. where he was employed in tilling the soil until his death. He married a Miss Cole, and they reared nine children, namely : James, Nathaniel, Charles, Joshua, Augus- tus, Uriah, Mahala, Sarah and Frances.
Born in West Virginia, Nathaniel was there bred, educated and mar- ried. Shortly after his marriage he came with his bride to Indiana, locating in .Clay county and becoming a pioneer of Perry township. Set- tlers in this vicinity were at that time few and far between, and the forests were filled with an abundance of game of all kinds, forming the chief subsistence of the inhabitants. Entering land in section four, he soon built the log cabin in which his younger children were born. A hard working, persevering man, and one who thought for himself, he labored intelligently and met with much success. He subsequently bought land just across the line in Posey township, and in later years, after his sons grew old enough to assist him, he cleared several large tracts of land and placed them in a good state of cultivation, at the time of his death, when he was sixty-five years old, having title to three hundred and twenty-eight acres of land, the greater part of which was improved. He was twice married. His second wife, the mother of William T., was Mrs. Hiley ( Mccullough ) Akre. She was born January 26, 1822, in Tennessee, being a sister of W. H. McCullough, in whose sketch, which appears else- where in this volume, a more extended history of her parents may be found. Of this union four children were born, namely : Martha, William Thomas, West M. and Alexander. His wife had two children by her marriage with Mr. Akre, Lemuel and Nancy E.
Acquiring an excellent business education when young, William T. Modesitt also obtained a substantial knowledge of the various branches of agriculture under the tuition of his father, who kept him busy on the home farm when he was not in school. Beginning life for himself on the parental homestead, he was there engaged in farming until 1894, when he removed to his present home in Cory. Here Mr. Modesitt has one hundred and twenty acres of land adjoining and partly surrounding the village, his land, which is gently undulating, being well watered and hav- ing two beautiful natural groves, which furnish shade for his stock in the hot days of summer. Energetic, ambitious and progressive, he is carry- ing on general farming and stock-raising in a systematic and scientific manner, and is meeting with undoubted success in his operations. He deals largely in stock, and as the only dealer of hay and grain in Cory is carrying on an extensive and lucrative business in that line of industry.
On December 21, 1884, Mr. Modesitt married Mary Tribble, who was born October 11, 1864, in Sugar Ridge township, Clay county, a daughter of John Tribble. Her grandparents, Hiram and Hannah Trib- ble, were pioneers of Monroe county, Indiana, from there coming to Sugar Ridge township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, residing on the farm that they improved from government land. John Tribble was born in Monroe county, Indiana, and as a farmer settled on land near Ashboro, where his last years were spent. He married Minerva J. O'Brien, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Thomas and Lucinda (Kennedy) O'Brien, and died on the home farm in Indiana. M :. and Mrs. Modesitt have two children, Ada and Mary V. Ada married Ray Bennett, and has one child, Louise. Mr. Bennett is a son of B. J. Bennett, of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this work. An active and trusted member of the Democratic party, Mr. Modesitt was town-
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ship trustee from 1889 until 1894, and is now a member of the Board of County Commissioners, a position to which he was elected in 1906.
GEORGE A. KNIGHT .- In no profession does success depend more largely upon individual merit than in the law and the attainment of prominence at the bar therefore is an indication of ability, strong men- tality, keen analytical force and a comprehensive knowledge of the prin- ciples of jurisprudence. Possessing all the requisites of an able lawyer, George A. Knight has made steady progress in the profession which stands as the conservator of the rights, liberties and privileges of the indi- vidual and of the city at large and has gained much more than local repu- tation as a criminal lawyer.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Knight was born in Mount Sterling, Muskin- gum county, May 7, 1840, his parents being Dr. Austin W. and Achsah (Crosdale) Knight. The father, who was born in Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, September 5, 1807, and spent his last days in Brazil, Indiana, where he passed away December 21, 1877, at the age of seventy years, was a member of the first graduating class of the old Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and after having thus made thor- ough preparation for the profession, he engaged in the practice of medi- cine and surgery in Bucks county, Pennsylvania for three or four years, subsequent to which time he removed to Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1833. For twenty years he resided there, after which he came to Indiana, establishing his home in Clay county. He laid out the town of Knights- ville and was identified with the early development and substantial prog- ress of this locality. He continued in the village which he founded until 1857, when he removed to Brazil, where his remaining days were passed, while in his profession he received that recognition which is always ac- corded to merit and skill. During the period of the Mexican war he was appointed by the governor of Ohio as a sergeant in the American army. He belonged to Brazil Lodge, No. 264, A. F. & A. M. and at his death was laid to rest with Masonic honors. He was also a member of the oldest Odd Fellows lodge in Philadelphia and he gave his political allegiance to the Democracy. He held to high ideals in his profession, in citizenship and in his social relations, and all who knew him respected him. His wife, who was born October 10, 1803, passed away May 27, 1887. In their family were five children, of whom three are now living: Elizabeth, the wife of William H. Winegardner ; George A .; and Charles H.
George A. Knight pursued a public school education in Ohio and Indiana and took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of the firm of Follett & Follett, attorneys of Ohio. He also read to some extent in the office of James M. Hanna of Sullivan county and success- fully passing the required examination was admitted to the bar in 1861. He is today the oldest practitioner in Brazil circuit, having for forty- seven years been a well known representative of the legal fraternity here. He was admitted to practice in the supreme court of Indiana in 1871 and to the United States circuit court in 1881, while in 1891 he was admitted to practice in the United States circuit court of appeals, and in 1895 to the supreme court of the United States at Washington, D. C. He has always been remarkable among lawyers for the wide research and provi- dent care with which he prepares his cases and his practice has long been extensive and of an important character. He has won for himself very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has
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followed. He has excellent powers of concentration and application and as an orator stands high, especially in the discussion of legal matters before the courts, where his comprehensive knowledge of the law is mani- fest and his application of legal principles demonstrates the wide range of his professional acquirements. He has for almost a half century been connected with the most important criminal cases that have appeared in the courts of his district and has won many notable forensic victories.
On the 13th of May, 1862, Mr. Knight was married to Miss Lucia E. Hussey, who was born at Carlisle, Sullivan county, Indiana, April 8, 1843, and was a daughter of Edward S. and Eliza Hussey. Her father was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and removing westward at an early day cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Sullivan county, Indiana. For a number of years he was proprietor of the National Hotel in Terre Haute and in 1856 came to Brazil, being prominent in its business life and public interests for a long period. For twelve or fourteen years he served as postmaster of the city and gave a businesslike administration in the discharge of the duties of the office. He was a member of Brazil Lodge, No. 264, A. F. and A. M .; Brazil Chapter, No. 59, R. A. M .; and Brazil Lodge, No. 30, K. P. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party and he served as justice of the peace, rendering decisions which were strictly fair and impartial. His family numbered seven chil- dren, of whom three are now living: Edward H., a resident of Wiscon- sin ; Joseph L., who makes his home in California; and John B., also a resident of that state.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Knight were born five children: Grace, the wife of Wilber E. Houpe; Austin W., a practicing attorney of Brazil; Helen, the wife of Dr. David L. Kahn, now living in Indianapolis, Indiana ; Lucia, the wife of George G. Kerfoot, a resident of Brazil; and Edward H., an attorney of Indianapolis, Indiana. The wife and mother died December 21, 1892, and her demise was the occasion of deep and wide- spread regret, for her many good qualities of heart and mind had gained her the esteem and friendship of those with whom she had been brought in contact.
Mr. Knight has always given his political allegiance to the Democracy and is a stalwart supporter of the party, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to concentrate his time and energies upon his professional duties. He pos- sesses strong oratorical powers, which, clothing sound logic of truth, car- ries conviction to the minds of judge and jury. He has always main- tained a high standard of professional ethics and has depended for his success upon thorough and exhaustive preparation and a careful presenta- tion of his cause.
FREDERICK C. WITT, well known in business circles of Brazil as pro- prietor of a merchant tailoring establishment and one who is well known in Clay county as a leader in local Democratic circles, was born in Stral- sund, Germany, on the 6th of September, 1859, his parents being John and Christina Elizabeth ( Prenick) Witt. His paternal grandfather, John F. Witt, was born at Triebsees-Kries, Grimmen Regierungs, Bezirk, Stral- sund, Germany, and was a carpenter by trade. He married Dorothea Luders and among their children was John Witt, who was born at Trieb- sees on the 22d of March, 1821. He, too, learned and followed the car- penter's trade and he served in the German army as a recruiting officer.
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