USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 44
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The third child in order of birth of the parental household, Henry Keiser, was brought up amid pioneer scenes, and obtained his early edu- cation in the typical log schoolhouse in Owen county, Indiana, with its puncheon floor, slab seats, and its one small window to light the room. He began when but a small lad to assist on the farm, and remained with his parents for a year after his marriage. Mr. Keiser then, in 1873, bought thirty acres of land in Jackson township, Owen county, paying seven hundred and fifty dollars for the tract. Selling out in 1880 for six hundred dollars, he in company with his brother-in-law, William Wer- remeyer, bought one hundred acres of land in Washington township, Clay county. Two years later Mr. Keiser bought out Mr. Werremeyer's inter- est, and he has since bought other land, owning now two hundred and sixty acres, on which he has made improvements of a substantial char- acter. In 1893 he replaced the old two-story frame house which was standing on the place when he bought it by a fine six-room cottage, and has also erected two large barns, which have all the latest equipments. . There are two residences on his farm, his son, Albert E., residing in one of them. Here Mr. Keiser is following his chosen vocation with good results, carrying on general farming and raising much stock, making a specialty of Short-Horn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and horses of a good grade.
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Mr. Keiser married, June 2, 1872, Sophia Werremeyer, who was born October 3, 1848, in Prussia, Germany, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Hockman) Werremeyer. Seven children have been born of their union, namely : George, born April 23, 1873, died August 4, 1899; Oscar, a farmer in Washington township, owning thirty acres of land, is married; Sarah, living at home ; August, of Poland, Indiana; Albert E., residing on the home farm, and having the management of a portion of it; Frederick, who is married and lives in Washington township; and Eunice, at home. A zealous advocate of the principles of the Republican party, Mr. Keiser takes an active interest in local affairs, and served one term on the township advisory board. He is a valued member of the Ger- man Reformed church, in which he was deacon for two years.
Mr. Keiser is a self-made man, since he began his business career at the bottom round of the ladder of life, and is now a man who has large property interests and a competency which places him in a position of ease. His beautiful country residence lying near the Eel River is known as "The Eel Valley Cottage."
MORTON E. DECKER was born in Posey township, Clay county, Indiana, four miles southwest of Staunton, December 19, 1871, and is a son of William W. and Loretta (West) Decker. His parents moved to Brazil, Indiana, about 1875 or 1876, where he has since resided. He graduated from the high school of that city in 1889, and then as a lad of eighteen made a tour of the West, earning the money with which to pay his expenses en route, and while in Salt Lake City he was stricken with mountain fever for a month. Recovering sufficiently he went on to San Francisco. While convalescing at the latter place he played a guitar and French harp for a living. Afterward he found employment in the Davis Brothers Golden Rule Bazaar. Later and in company with his uncle, O. B. Decker, he engaged in the notion business outside of the city, selling their goods in the surrounding villages, and while thus employed the Messrs. Decker formed the acquaintance of Dr. Lepper, who engaged them to give open air concerts while selling his Rocky Mountain Tea.
In 1891 Mr. Decker returned to Brazil and began work for his uncle, Jesse A. Decker, in the furniture business, remaining with him for about three years. In all this time his love for music had kept him in touch with the profession and he with others organized the Concert Band. It was while at Carbon one evening with this band that Dr. Decker and his former friend and schoolmate, John C. Kidd, decided to engage in business for themselves, and they entered the field of fire insurance and real estate under the firm name of Kidd & Decker at Brazil. In 1894 Mr. Decker purchased his partner's interest and has since been in business alone. He now owns considerable real estate in this city, has held several public and private trusts and is one of the leading business men and citi- zens, and during his life has been a total abstainer from drink and tobacco.
Mr. Decker married Miss Anna Hollaway on the 4th of January, 1892. She was born in Putnamville, Putnam county, Indiana, February 23, 1872, a daughter of William H. and Caroline ( Lancett) Hollaway. The father was born in Pennsylvania and came to Indiana some time in the '50s, locating in Owen county. He enlisted in the army for the Civil war and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Decker are Ada and Leone. In his life- time Mr. Decker has had the pleasure of traveling through twenty-seven
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states of the Union. He is a liberal giver to the churches, and is a member of Brazil Lodge No. 215, I. O. L. O .; of the Modern Woodmen of America, No. 3418; and of the Improved Order of Red Men, No. 61. He is also a member of the Brazil Concert Band, with which he has been connected for twelve or fifteen years, and in that time they have won many state prizes and the reputation of being one of the best bands in Indiana. Mr. Decker gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, and at .this time is chairman of the county central committee.
NOAH THOMAS KEASEY .- The name of Noah T. Keasey is a familiar one to the citizens of Brazil and Clay county through its connection with the N. T. Keasey Lumber Company, one of the largest corporations of its kind in the county, and the successor to N. T. Keasey. They handle lum- ber, lath, shingles, sash, doors, blinds, builders' hardware, Eagle .brand patent plaster and elastic pulp plaster, and their office and yard are at 1124 West National avenue.
The president and treasurer of the company, Noah Thomas Keasey, was born in Middletown, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1836, a son of Samuel and Mary (Terry) Keasey, both of whom were also born in Pennsylvania, the father in 1806 and the mother in 1813. They were married in 1834, became the parents of five children and passed away respectively in 1866 and 1860. Samuel Keasey was a grandson of Keasey, who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war and was wounded at the historic battle of Brandywine. Samuel Keasey was a foundryman throughout his entire business life, and was the manager of a charcoal blast furnace. He was a Whig in his political affiliations, and was a member of the United Brethren church, his wife being a Baptist.
Noah Thomas Keasey was named for his grandfather, and he was the first born of his parents' five children and was a school teacher in his younger years, although a carpenter by trade. He came to Indiana in April, 1863, and in July of that year he enlisted at Kokomo, Indiana, in Company E, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment of Indiana Volun- teers, and received his discharge at Indianapolis, Indiana, March 15, 1864, serving in what was called the Persimmon Brigade. He returned to his home in Indiana after the close of the war and resumed his educational labors and work at his trade. In 1867 he assisted in the building of the first furnace erected near Brazil, also helped to build the Maston furnace in 1868, and bought his first lot in Brazil and built his first house in 1868, buying the lot of Mr. Shattuck. Mr. Keasey taught his last term of school in 1868-9 at Morgan's Crossing in Clay county, and going to Lafayette, Indiana, in 1874, he was in the coal business there with A. H. Woodruff and Captain Morris until the spring of 1876, after which he spent about four months in Indianapolis and then came to Brazil and began the manu- facture of brick with John and Robert Stewart. He thus continued until the spring of 1877, when he took a trip through Kansas, returning on the last passenger train which pulled into Brazil during the railroad strike of 1877. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Keasey purchased an interest with Mr. Stoneheart and Jefferson Baughman in a saw mill, and in 1881 Mr. Keasey and Mr. Baughman dissolved partnership, Mr. Keasey taking the one of their two mills located in Brazil, and later he added a lumber yard to his milling business. He continued the business alone with the excep- tion of the year 1885, when he had Mr. Stoneheart as a partner.
On the 7th of January, 1899, the N. T. Keasey Lumber Company was
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organized, the members consisting of N. T. Keasey and family, and the officers of the company are: N. T. Keasey, president and treasurer ; J. T. Roberts, a son-in-law, vice president and general manager ; and Goldie G. Barr, a daughter, secretary. In addition to his offices in this company Mr. Keasey is the president of the Citizens' Building and Loan Association, and the president and the organizer of the Summit Lawn Cemetery Asso- ciation. He is a member of Brazil Lodge No. 264, A. F. and A. M .; Brazil Council No. 40, R. and S. M .; Brazil Chapter No. 59, R. A. M .; the Independent Order of Red Men, Indianola Tribe No. 61 ; and General Canby Post No. 2, G. A. R. Mr. and Mrs. Keasey and their children, with the exception of one, are members of William Black Chapter No. 80, Order of Eastern Star
On the 27th of September, 1864, Mr. Keasey married Agnes C. Moore, who was born in Carondelet, Missouri, April 13, 1847, a daughter of Thomas T. and Agnes Eliza Moore. Thomas T. Moore was born in Scotland, and came to this country on a sailing vessel when nineteen years of age, landing in the harbor of New York city, and from there he made his way to Missouri in an early day and followed his trade, that of a "tight barrel" cooper. He was a Republican and a member of the Metho- dist church, and his death occurred in Brazil in 1895. His wife died dur- ing the childhood of Mrs. Keasey, and their other child, the second born, died at the age of twelve. Mr. Moore married secondly Mary Wilker, of Philadelphia, Ohio, and they had three sons. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Keasey, namely : Lillie M., the wife of John T. Rob- erts ; Minnie E. Nahily ; Major O. P., who died May 24, 1881 ; Myrtle O. Black, the wife of Charles C. Black ; Katie M., the wife of F. B. Bridges ; Goldie G .; and Albert T.
In September, 1876, the board of county commissioners made an order to relocate the county seat from Bowling Green to Brazil, the con- tract was let to Mr. Keasey, and he built the foundation. He then trans- ferred to John G. Ackermire and John Andrews, who completed same.
JOSEPH D. POLLOM is one of the leading business men of Brazil, the proprietor of two of the city's leading barber shops, and also extensively engaged in the real estate business and the vice president of the Central Land and Investment Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born in Lyon county, Kansas, near Emporia, March 9, 1869, a son of Luther and Emma ( Boon) Pollom, the father born in Ohio, November 6, 1845, and the mother in Putnam county, Indiana, near Green Castle. Luther Pollom is now a farmer in Jackson township, Clay county, where he has resided and farmed since coming to Indiana in 1875. He is a member of the Christian church, and is a Republican politically.
Of the six children born to Luther and Emma ( Boon) Pollom, four are now living and Joseph D. is the second oldest. He received his edu- cation in the public schools, and when but a youth of eighteen opened a barber shop in Harmony, Clay county, continuing in business there for about three years. From there he went to Knightsville, Indiana, and was in business in that city until coming to Brazil in 1894. He at once became prominently identified with the business interests of this community, and until recently was the proprietor of three barber shops here, having sold one, the Davis House, in 1907. He located in the Hill Block in 1899, in which is located his real estate office and one barber shop, and in his Walnut street shop he has three chairs. Mr. Pollom first entered the real
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estate field in June of 1907, and he handles both city property and farm lands in Clay county. At the present time he owns a number of lots in Brazil, and as above stated is the vice president of the Central Land and Investment Company, of Indianapolis, and as the representative of this and other companies , dealing in Texas lands he spends about half of his time in taking parties to that state. The Central Land and Investment Company deals extensively in Texas Panhandle lands, which is especially adapted to the raising of wheat, corn and alfalfa, and special trains leave for that point every first and third Tuesday of each month.
Mr. Pollom married Miss Margaret Houk April 17, 1893. She was the daughter of John P. Houk, and she died April 14, 1901, leaving one son, Roy Luther. For his second wife he married Miss Lena Tevis July 10, 1902. She was born in Illinois April 20, 1873, and is the daughter of William Tevis. Mr. Pollom is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, Brazil Lodge No. 762; of the Knights of Pythias, Knightsville Lodge, No. 186; and of the Home Defenders No. I. His political allegiance is with the Republican party.
JOHN G. H. KLINGLER, president and general manager of the Citi- zens' Telephone Company of Clay County since organization and a rep- resentative of that spirit of enterprise which has brought about the rapid business development of the middle west, is a native of Brazil, Indiana, born December 20, 1871. His parents were Ulrich and Anna M. ( Nussel) Klingler. The father was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, and came to this country with his parents when six and a half years of age. The family crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel which landed them at New York city and John Klingler, the grandfather of our sub- ject, went with his family to Ohio, later coming to Indiana, locating in Owen county and soon after the Civil war removing to Clay county, where his death occurred when he was seventy-two years of age. His wife departed this life at the age of seventy-five.
After living in Owen county, Ohio, with his parents, Ulrich Klingler came to Indiana in 1854 and to Clay county in 1867. He had been reared to the occupation of farming and during the period of his man- hood gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits and other business interests, being for some time agent at Brazil for the Schmidt Brewing Company of Indianapolis. He was also a member of the volunteer fire department of this city at an early day and was prominent in community affairs, giving tangible evidence of his loyalty and devotion to the public good. He served as a member of the city council and did all in his power to promote the interests of Brazil through municipal enactment. His political views were in accord with the principles of Democracy. After coming to this county he was married to Miss Anna M. Nussel, a native of Clay county. Her parents were born in Bavaria, Germany, but became pioneer residents of Indiana, where they located in 1844. Her father died at the age of seventy-two years and her mother when eighty-seven years of age. The death of Ulrich Klingler occurred in Clay county January 13, 1887, and his wife, surviving him for more than eight years, passed away December 8, 1895, at the age of forty-nine years.
John G. H. Klingler pursued his education in the public schools of Brazil, passing through consecutive grades until he attained the age of fifteen years, when the death of his father rendered it imperative, as he
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was the eldest child of the family, to assist his widowed mother in making a living for the younger children. He therefore engaged in farming and teaming in early life and subsequently he had the agency for the sale of pop and ginger ale but disposed of that business in 1893. He then became conductor for the street car company, five years being thus passed, when in 1898 he was elected to the office of sheriff of Clay county, receiving a majority of 732 votes, the largest majority that was ever given any sheriff in Clay county. Two years later he was re-elected by a majority of 622 votes. This fact stands in evidence of the capability and fidelity which he displayed during his first term, his second election being the public endorsement of his loyalty and efficiency between 1898 and 1900. He retired from office at the end of his second term as he had entered it- with the confidence and good will of all concerned, and has a splendid record to his credit.
In 1903 Mr. Klingler organized the Citizens' Telephone Company of Clay County, of which he was chosen president and general manager, with T. W. Englehart vice president, and M. J. Murphy secretary and treasurer. This is an incorporated independent company and their course has ever been an exemplification of their motto: "Our aim is to please and satisfy the people." They have secured many patrons and are con- tinually extending their lines. Fraternally Mr. Klingler is connected with Centennial Lodge, No. 541, A. F. and A. M., Brazil Lodge, No. 30, K. P., Indianola Tribe, No. 61, I. O. R. M., and Brazil Lodge, No. 762, B. P. O. E., and Home Defenders. In politics he has always been a stalwart Democrat and has recently been elected chairman of the Demo- cratic county central committee-a fact which indicates his leadership in the local ranks of the party. He is regarded as one of the prominent representatives of Democracy here, while in citizenship he stands for local advancement and national progress and in office has ever placed the public welfare before personal aggrandizement.
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THOMAS SCOTT PELL .- A young man of ability and scholarly attain- ments, Thomas Scott Pell is well known in the educational circles of Clay county as principal of the Carbon schools, a position for which he is eminently fitted. He is a native-born citizen, his birth having occurred on the home farm in Van Buren township October 7, 1861. A brief history of the lives of his parents and his immediate ancestors may be found on another page of this work, in connection with the sketch of his father, William F. Pell.
Fond of his books from an early age, Thomas S. Pell labored hard to secure an education, walking a mile and a half to the nearest public school, traveling over an almost impassable mud road much of the time. Subsequently completing his early studies at the Central Normal School in Danville he began to teach at the age of twenty years, making teach- ing, with farming, his life work. With the exception of teaching one term in Brazil, Mr. Pell has taught in Van Buren township, and is now serving his eighth year as principal of the schools in Carbon. Well qualified for this responsible position he has proved himself a most com- petent instructor and is discharging the duties devolving upon him in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactorily to all concerned.
On November 21, 1880, Mr. Pell married Nettie R. Cornwell, who was born in November, 1862, in Brazil township, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Mary E. (Griffee) Cornwell. A brief sketch of her father
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appears elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Pell eight children have been born, namely: Dora; Vellie; Benjamin F .; Ernest and Elda, twins; George Marshall ; Roy Worth ; and Cynthia. Dora married Martin Bell, and has one child, Louise. Fraternally Mr. Pell is a charter mem- ber of Pontiac Tribe, No. 137, Improved Order of Red Men; of Carbon Lodge, No. 145, Knights of Pythias; and of Carbon Lodge, No. 693, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
AUGUST GAUCHAT .- Many of the most enterprising and prosperous farmers of Clay county have come from the land beyond the sea, some of them, mayhap, seeking a refuge from military despotism, others fleeing from the penury and poverty that obtains in their native country, while others come with the hope of legitimately bettering their condition by willing toil. Prominent among this latter class stands August Gauchat, whose finely-improved farm, almost adjoining Clay City, bears visible evidence of his industry, thrift and good management. A native of Switzerland, he was born March 12, 1851, in the village of Prilly, Canton Berne, which was also the birthplace of his father, John F. Gauchat.
John F. Gauchat made farming his principal occupation during life, being employed in tilling the soil in his native land the greater part of his active career. In 1857 he made a bold venture, going on a sailing vessel to South America. At the end of ninety-eight days on the ocean he arrived in Buenos Ayres, and from there went up the La Plata river to Santa Fe. Going then into the country, he bought a tract of land, and at the end of a year and a half, having made some improvements on it, sold it and returned to his native heath, having been away from home two years. After the death of his wife, whose maiden name was Sophia Geauque, he came here in 1881 and spent his last days with his son August, dying at the age of sixty-one years. Nine children were born to him and his wife, namely: Julia, August, Zaline, Louis, David, Fred- erick, Mary, Paul and Emile. David now lives in Clay county, Indiana. Frederick came to Indiana and died, while yet in manhood's prime, in Indianapolis. Paul is a resident of Linton, Greene county, Indiana. All of the other children still live in Switzerland.
Brought up in his native canton, August Gauchat was educated in its schools, in which French, the language of the people, was taught, attend- ing regularly until sixteen years old. In the subsequent six years he followed farming, but not satisfied with his future prospects he deter- mined to come to America. Leaving Switzerland September 2, 1872, he came directly to Indiana, arriving at Bowling Green, Clay county, on October 2 of that year, a stranger in a strange land, unable to speak any- thing but the French language. Mr. Gauchat worked at various kinds of labor for awhile, for two months being employed in a brewery at Bowling Green, and for a year working in the timber. He subsequently
- worked on a farm three months, receiving sixty-five dollars wages for that time. With the money that he had accumulated he then, in com- pany with John Wellen, bought a tract of standing timber, and for twenty-one years was engaged in the manufacture of staves until forced to give up the business on account of the scarcity of timber. In 1877 Mr. Gauchat bought fifty-five acres of land lying three and one-half miles northeast of Clay City, and after living on it seven years sold it and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres in sections twenty-nine and thirty- three, very near Clay City. Taking possession of the frame buildings
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that were standing on section thirty-three, he lived there until 1900, meet- ing with marked success in his agricultural labors. Building a com- modious and conveniently arranged house on section twenty-nine, and erecting substantial barns and outbuildings, he then moved with his family to his newer home, and has since resided here, his home being one of the most cheerful and attractive of any in the vicinity. In 1881 Mr. Gauchat visited his old home and friends in Switzerland, and on his return to Indiana brought with him his brother Paul and his father. In 1900 he made another trip to his native land, and at that time took in the Paris Exposition.
On June 20, 1876, Mr. Gauchat married Mary Betteron, who was born in Mackinic township, Holmes county, Ohio, April 17, 1839. Her father Abraham Betteron, was born in the village of Nods, Canton Berne, Switzerland, where he received a good education, and was well drilled in agriculture. In 1837, accompanied by his second wife and his three children, he came to America in a sailing vessel, being three months on the voyage. Locating in Holmes county, Ohio, Mr. Betteron bought forty acres of land near Berlin, and after living there a brief time removed to Mackinic township, where he remained several years. In 1850 he came across the country to Indiana, journeying for two weeks with teams. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of heavily timbered land in section twenty-two, Harrison township, and built for his first dwelling house a two-story cabin of round logs. Clearing a large part of the land, he engaged successfully in general farming, and later erected a substantial frame house, in which, with the exception of a few years spent in Bowling Green, he resided until his death, in 1879. Mr. Bet- teron was four times married. By his first wife, who was a life-long resident of Switzerland, he had one child, Julia Harriet. His second wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Forchelin, bore him four children, namely : Sophia ; Amos; Mary, now Mrs. Gauchat ; and Margaret. This wife was born in Canton Berne, and died in Indiana, on the home farm, in May, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Gauchat have three children, Caroline Louise and Charles Louis, twins; and Lydia Julia. Caroline L. married Silas A. Travis, and they have two children, Vera Etna and Vella Glenn. Charles L. married Addie Neal, and they have three children, Olive Cletis, Charles Vincent and Kermit Orville. Mr. and Mrs. Gauchat are members of the Reformed church.
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