USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 54
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On the 26th of December, 1894, Mr. Holland was united in marriage to Miss Loretta May Hulstone, who was born in Dade county, Missouri, February 15, 1870, a daughter of Christian and Nancy M. (Kirby) Hul- stone. Her father was born in Abingdon, Virginia, and the mother's birth occurred in Dade county, Missouri, August 29, 1839. The Kirbys
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were a prominent family of that state. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hulstone was celebrated in Dade county, where the family lived for many years. The father was a cabinet maker and carpenter by trade but later in life turned his attention to the milling business and his death was occa- sioned by an accident in his mill when his daughter, Mrs. Holland, was but seven years of age. He was a member of different societies and fra- ternal organizations and was a prominent and influential resident of the county in which he made his home. His political views were in accord with the principles of Democracy. He died in Missouri in 1877 and of his family of ten children, six are yet living.
Mrs. Holland, who was the seventh in order of birth, has become the mother of two children, Loula M. and Christine V. Both Mr. and Mrs. Holland have many friends in Clay county, the hospitality of a large number of the best homes being cordially extended them. Mr. Holland has spent almost his entire life in this county and his worth as a citizen and official is widely acknowledged.
HENRY MOHR .- Henry Mohr, well known as a representative and energetic commission merchant of Brazil, was born in Lafayette, Indiana, July 10, 1859, and is of German lineage. His parents, Henry and Mary (Worster) Mohr, were both natives of Germany but were married in Lafayette, Indiana. The father came to the United States as passenger on a sailing vessel in 1848, when a young man, landing at New York city. He lived for about two years in Cleveland, Ohio, and then came to Lafay- ette, Indiana. He was a brick mason by trade and for many years fol- lowed that pursuit. He died in 1870, at the age of forty-seven years, his death being occasioned by an accident. His wife died in May, 1896, at the age of sixty-seven years. Both were members of the Lutheran church and enjoyed the high esteem of many friends. Unto him and his wife were born four children, of whom two are now living: Mary, the wife of John Arom; and Henry.
Henry Mohr attended a Lutheran school at Lafayette, Indiana, for seven years and after putting aside his text-books learned the cigar manu- facturer's trade at that place. He engaged in the business of manu- facturing cigars for some time, and in April, 1886, removed to Brazil, where he continued cigar manufacturing for two or three years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to the commission busi- ness, which he now follows, having the oldest house of the kind in Brazil. He makes a specialty of handling apples, potatoes, onions and cabbages, and has secured an extensive patronage and now conducts a successful annual business. He has worked earnestly and persistently to attain to his present creditable position in the commercial world, and as the years have gone by has derived substantial benefit from his labor.
On the 19th of March; 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. Mohr and Miss Josephine Swendenmann, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 13, 1859, her parents being Copley and Josephine Swendenmann, both of whom were natives of Germany. They were married, however, in Cin- cinnati, Ohio. The father was a druggist and learned the business in his native country, and at the time of his death was conducting a drug store at Canton, Illinois. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and his life was in harmony with the beneficent teachings of that society. His widow still survives, but of their thirteen children only two are now living, Copley and Mrs. Mohr. Mr. and Mrs. Mohr have become
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the parents of ten children, nine sons and one daughter: Walter, Arthur, Julian, Marshall, Frank, Adolph, Clarence, Lewis, Cecil and Josephine.
Mr. Mohr belongs to Brazil Lodge No. 264, A. F. & A. M. and to Elks lodge No. 262 of Brazil. His entire life has been spent in Indiana and he possesses the spirit of enterprise and determination which have been the leading factors in the rapid and substantial upbuilding of the middle west. Indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, and realizing that unfaltering industry is the basis of all advancement he has so labored to achieve prosperity.
JAMES FRANKLIN SMITH has led a most active and useful life. From the age of sixteen years his leisure hours have indeed been few and the success which he enjoys is the visible evidence of his life of well directed thrift and enterprise. He is now conducting a profitable transfer business in Brazil, is also interested in the Progressive Coal Company and is the owner of a farm in Clay county and half owner of another farm property in Vigo county.
Mr. Smith was born in Champaign county, Illinois, March 5, 1862, his parents being Madison and Eliza ( Watson) Smith, both of whom were natives of Indiana, in which state they were reared and married. They became parents of five children, but only two are now living: James F., who was the second in order of birth; and Ella, the wife of H. D. Falls, a resident of Brazil. The father engaged in business as proprietor of a grocery and meat market, conducting his store up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1871 when his son James was but nine years of age. He died at Fithian, Vermilion county, Illinois, of the smallpox, and two of the children of the family, Flora and Albert, were also victims of the same disease. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy, and he was a man of many good traits of character. His widow still survives him and is now living in Brazil at the age of seventy-four years.
Following his father's death James F. Smith went to live with his maternal grandfather, James A. Watson, near Cloverland, this county. The mother returned to her father's home with her two sons and two daughters. The farm was situated in Vigo county a mile and a half northwest of Cloverland, and while spending his youth there Mr. Smith of this review attended school during the winter months, while in the summer seasons he worked on the farm with his grandfather. He was sixteen years of age when his grandfather died, and thus in the fall of 1878 the burden of caring for his mother and the younger children of the family devolved upon him. His previous training at farm labor now proved very valuable and the responsibilities which came to him developed his latent manhood and self-reliance. At that time he rented a farm in Vigo county west of Cloverland and there carried on general agricultural pursuits until twenty-four years of age, when in 1886 he removed to Brazil, thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the city. Here he turned his attention to the livery business on South Meridian street, successfully conducting his stables until the 10th of January, 1891, when his barn was destroyed by fire. For twenty days he was out of business, which has been the longest time that he has ever been unassociated with business interests from the age of sixteen years. Following the fire he purchased the Henderson transfer business, which he has since conducted with good success, securing an extensive patronage in this line. As the years have passed by and he has prospered he has also become interested
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in other business affairs and is now connected with the Progressive Coal Company as a partner.
On the 6th of September, 1886, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Anna E. Jones, who was born in Vigo county, Indiana, December 28, 1866, a daughter of David J. and Mary A. (Stevens) Jones, both of whom were natives of Wales. They came to this country in early life and were married in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Jones was a game- keeper in his native country and after coming to America resided for a time at Columbus, Ohio, from whence he removed to Vigo county, In- diana, and where he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, living upon one farm in that county for twenty-eight years. He was a lover of fine horses and engaged in breeding them. His political alle- giance was given to the Republican party and his religious faith was indi- cated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. He died in 1903, at the age of eighty-six years, while his wife passed away in 1905 at the age of eighty-four years, both dying at their home in Brazil, where for some time they had lived retired. Their family numbered four children, of whom two sons and a daughter are yet living, namely : Robert, Thomas and Anna. The last named became the wife of Mr. Smith and their children are five in number: Charles E., Arla, Beulah, Naoma and Charlotte C.
Mr. Smith has always given his political support to the Democracy since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He was county auditor for four years, elected in 1902, and at the expiration of his term retired from office as he had entered it-with the confidence and good will of all concerned. He was also vice president of the library board of Brazil for several years, and is interested in everything pertaining to the progress and welfare of his community. He belongs to Centennial Lodge, No. 541, A. F. & A. M., and both he and his wife are members of William Black Chapter, No. 80, O. E. S. He is also connected with Indianola Tribe, No. 61, I. O. R. M., has held all of the offices in this order and is a member of the Order of Indianola Haymakers, connected with both the local and state associations. He has held all of the different offices in both the state and national organizations. He has likewise been a member of the Teamsters' Union, has filled all of the offices in the local society and has been its representative to the national association. He belongs to Coal City Lodge, No. 522, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all of the chairs, also serving several times as a delegate to the grand lodge of the state, while he is identified with Rebekah Lodge, No. 61. Mr. Smith's membership relations also extend to Crossdale Lodge, No. 30, K. P., and to Peoria Council, No. 64, of the Order of Pocahontas. He is in thorough sympathy with the beneficent principles of these organizations and is loyal to their teachings and tenets. He enjoys in high degree the confidence, good will and friendship of his brethren of these organizations and more- over is widely known as a reliable and enterprising business man, deserv- ing much credit for the success he has accomplished.
GEORGE A. FLETCHER, filling the position of city engineer in Brazil, was born in Henry county, Indiana, October 26, 1863, his parents being Silas R. and Elizabeth (Labar) Fletcher. The father, whose birth oc- curred in Henry county, Indiana, December 5, 1829, died February 10, 1903. The mother, who was born in Vigo county, Indiana, died March 10, 1872, at the age of thirty-five years, ten months and twenty-one days.
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Ges. A. Fletchers
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They were married in Fayette county, Indiana, and unto them were born nine children, three sons and six daughters, of whom the sons and three daughters are yet living. The father followed farming throughout his entire life, being closely identified with agricultural interests in Indiana, and his last days were spent within three miles of his birthplace. In con- nection with the tilling of the soil he became one of the extensive breeders of fine draft horses and did much to improve the grade of stock raised in his part of the state. He was a prominent and influential man of his locality, and his opinions were largely received as authority upon matters relating to agriculture and the raising of live-stock. He never cared for public office nor sought to figure prominently in any public light. He was a member of the Society of Friends or Quakers and his life was in har- mony with the teachings of that sect, making him a most honorable, upright man.
George A. Fletcher remained upon his father's farm until sixteen years of age. His youth was largely a period of earnest, unremitting toil. He was early trained to the work of the farm, assisting in the cultivation of the fields from the time that he was old enough to handle the plow. He paid the expenses of his education with money earned by making shoes. After leaving home he worked at the carpenter's trade until twenty-four years of age, when he took up the trades of a jeweler and barber. He continued in business along those lines for two years, when he disposed of his barber shop and concentrated his entire attention upon his jewelry business, conducting a store from 1893 until 1897. Durings that time he was also postmaster at Carthage, Indiana, for two years, but resigned that position in order to engage in the jewelry business at Fair- mount, Indiana. He had been a resident of the latter place for only about a year when he was elected city clerk and treasurer, being chosen to those offices in the spring of 1898. The following year he was re-elected and thus served for two terms, during which time he took up the study of civil engineering and followed that calling in and near Fairmount. He put in several miles of conduit sidewalks and was called to Brazil by W. W. Moore, then mayor of the city, through the influence of Lewis McNutt, who had inspected some of the work done by Mr. Fletcher in Fairmount, Indiana. He has been retained by the present mayor and aldermen as city engineer of Brazil, for which his training and experience well qualify him, and in the position has given eminent satisfaction. No trust reposed in him is ever betrayed in the slightest degree and his service is entirely satisfactory, winning him high encomiums.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Fletcher was married June 21, 1883, to Miss Letitia S. Johnson, who'was born in North Carolina April 7, 1861, a daughter of Evan and Elizabeth (Couch) Johnson. Her father, who was born in North Carolina, August 7, 1821, died in Rush county. Indiana. November 16, 1901, at the venerable age of eighty years. His wife, a native of Guilford county, North Carolina, was born Septem- ber 2, 1826, and her life record covered the intervening years to the Ist of March, 1903, when she passed away. They were married in North Carolina and became parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. Fletcher was the sixth in order of birth. Of their family two sons and four daugh- ters are yet living. The father was a gunsmith by trade and was a con- script gunmaker for the Confederate army during the Civil war. He was, however, a stanch Republican and remained as an advocate of that party throughout his entire life. In 1870 he came to Indiana, settling in
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Henry county at Dunreith. The last thirteen years of his life were spent . in Carthage, Rush county, Indiana, where he engaged in business, being a splendid mechanic.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher has been blessed with a son and daughter: Ralph S., who married Myrtle Carter, and Hazel C .. now the wife of Earl S. Harger. Mr. Fletcher is a member of Centennial Lodge, No. 541. A. F. & A. M., Brazil Lodge, No. 215, I. O. O. F., and in Jan- uary, 1888, he became a member of Carthage Lodge, No. 255. He is also a member of Tent No. 123, K. O. T. M., in Fairmount, and he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah Lodge in Fairmount. He likewise belongs to the Home Defenders. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and, as every true American citizen should do, he feels an interest in the growth and success of the party which he believes embodies the highest principles of good government. He is recognized as a man of energy and activity, of stalwart purpose and honorable action -qualities which make him one of the respected and valued residents of this part of the state.
WILSON HOUK .- Among the leading and representative agriculturists of Clay county, Wilson Houk, of Dick Johnson township, occupies a place of prominence and influence. His well cultivated and highly improved farm, with its modernly built residence and substantial farm buildings, has an air of comfort, thrift and prosperity that never fails to attract the attention and win the approval of the passing traveler. A son of Michael Houk, he was born May 21, 1837, in Butler county, Ohio.
Henry Houk, grandfather of Wilson Houk, was born in one of the eastern states of German parents. He lived during a part of his earlier life in Maryland, from there removing to Ohio and settling close to the line running between Butler and Warren counties. Taking up land in the town of Mason, he cleared and improved the homestead on which he lived several years. After the death of his wife, whose maiden name was Ford, he came to Indiana, and here made his home with his son Michael until called by death to the better world at the venerable age of eighty- five years.
One of a family of thirteen children, Michael Houk was born in Maryland, and when a young lad moved with his parents to Ohio. He was brought up to agricultural pursuits and early chose farming as his life work. In 1839, desirous of enlarging his opportunities, he came to Clay county, bringing with him his wife and three children and all of his worldly goods, the journey through the almost trackless woods being made with teams. Entering one hundred and twenty acres of land in what is now Dick Johnson township, on section ten, he began the establishment of a home, his first step in that direction being to clear a space in which to erect a log cabin, his first habitation in this county. He rived boards to cover the roof, and not having nails to hold them in place used weight poles, and put in a puncheon floor. The country hereabout was in its original wildness, game of all kinds was abundant, and the Indians far outnumbered the white settlers. Neither canals nor railways had then been thought of ; the roads were simply forest paths, and all transporta- tion was with teams. After a few years Terre Haute became the market- ing place for a wide territory, and the people from this section drew all their products to that city. Industrious and enterprising, Michael Houk cleared and improved a good homestead, and in 1856 erected a frame
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house, later adding other buildings, and here resided until his death, October 23, 1873. He married Amy Stitt, who was born in Pennsylvania November 24, 1809, and went with her parents to Ohio when a girl. Her father died while yet in the prime of life in Ohio. His widow, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Phillips, subsequently spent her last years with her children in Illinois, dying there at the advanced age of ninety- one years. Mrs. Michael Houk survived her husband, living until De- cember 14, 1886. She reared nine children, four sons and five daughters.
But two years old when he was brought by his parents to Dick John- son township, Wilson Houk has no recollection of any other home. As soon as old enough to wield an axe or hoe he began working with his father, and was thus employed until his marriage. Settling then on his present farm he and his bride, who was well trained in the domestic arts, began housekeeping in a small log cabin. At first they had no stove, neither had they the where-with-all to buy one, so for several months the good housewife did all of her cooking by the fireplace. Both labored industriously, and thrift indoors and out has borne its usual fruit, their farm to-day being one of the best in its improvements and appointments of any in the vicinity.
On August 11, 1861, Mr. Houk married Jennie Webster, who was born in this township February 12, 1846, of honored pioneer ancestry, her father, John Lewis Webster, and her grandfather, Daniel Webster, having been among the earlier settlers of this part of Clay county. Born, reared and married in Virginia, Daniel Webster came from there to Indiana in 1829, journeying with teams to Dick Johnson township. He was accom- panied by his wife and nine of his ten children, and also having in his party his brother Reuben. Taking up land on section fifteen, he improved a homestead on which both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Rhoda Arthur, spent their remaining years. For a number of years after coming to Clay county, John Lewis Webster was engaged in the lumber business at Brazil, and was also a manufacturer of shingles. Subsequently embarking in agricultural pursuits, he continued as a farmer until his death at the age of seventy-three years. He married Fanny Brenton, who was born in Clark county, Indiana, a daughter of John and Catherine (Bullock) Brenton, early settlers of Clark county and later pioneers of Dick Johnson township.
Mr. and Mrs. Houk are the parents of four children, namely : Marion. Oscar, Mary M. and Frances E. Marion married Edna Nicoson, and they have two children, Bertha Paulina and John M. Oscar married Mattie Easter, by whom he has four children, Otho Forest, Jennie Marie, Amy and William Wilson. Mary M., wife of Lee Slack, has two children, Jennie Frances and Mary Helen.
WILLIAM FRIZZLE PELL .- For three score years William Frizzle Pell was closely identified with the agricultural interests of Van Buren township, and during his active career as a general farmer and stock- raiser met with merited success. Beginning life here in the pioneer days, he labored with energy and determination in his efforts to clear and improve a homestead, and while thus working for himself and family contributed his full share toward the development and advancement of both town and county. A son of John Pell, he was born April 20, 1825, in Lewis county, Kentucky. His paternal grandfather, John Pell, Sr., was born in England and thence, accompanied by two of his three broth-
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ers, emigrated to America. He settled in Virginia, where as far as known he spent his remaining years, while one of his brothers became a resident of New York state.
John Pell was born in Virginia in 1797, and spent his earlier years in the Old Dominion. Subsequently removing to Lewis county, Ken- tucky, he purchased a tract of land which he operated with slave labor for a number of years. He came to Indiana in 1838, entered one thou- sand one hundred and thirty acres of land in Clay county (paying a dol- lar and a quarter an acre), and in the following year ( 1839) brought his family hither, making the journey with a pair of oxen and a one- horse wagon and bringing all of his household effects. Clay county was then a wilderness, with here and there a clearing, in one of which, in the southeast quarter of section 10, he erected a log house. Deer, turkeys and other wild animals were plentiful, and the settlers then lived upon the products of their land or the chase, while the busy housewise spun and wove the homespun in which she clothed the family. Energetic, industrious and capable, John Pell cleared large tracts of land, replaced the humble log cabin with a good frame house, erected a large hewn-log barn, on the puncheon floor of which, before the advent of threshing machines, he spread the grain to be threshed out with flails. Having acquired a competency, he retired from active business, living for awhile in Brazil, then in Harmony, but spending his last days at the home of his son, William Frizzle, passing away in the eighty-third year of his age. John Pell married, first, Rebecca Ales, who was born of German ances- tors. She died several years before his decease, in 1860. Of their union eleven children were born, namely: Washington, William F., Nancy, Susan, Richard Dudley, Rebecca, Melcina, Louisa, Lucinda, John F. and Benjamin F. Pell. Mr. Pell married for his second wife Nellie Stallcop, who survived him.
Fourteen years of age when he came with his parents to Clay county, William Frizzle Pell assisted in clearing the homestead land, early becom- ing familiar with the various branches of agriculture. He subsequently spent two years as a farm laborer in Iowa, but not caring to settle there permanently returned to Clay county. Soon afterward he married, and at once began his career as an independent farmer on a tract of land given him by his father, who treated all of his sons alike by giving to each on his wedding day one hundred and sixty acres of land, while to each of his daughters he gave as a wedding gift eighty acres of land. On this heavily timbered land Mr. Pell built a house of hewn timber, plastered with mud, twenty feet square and one and a half stories in height. The walls were six inches thick, and the two porches of the house were fully as useful as ornamental. In this house Mr. and Mrs. Pell lived several years and in it six of their children were born. Subse- quently, buying an adjoining tract of eighty acres, Mr. Pell moved to that place, and having erected substantial buildings and made other improvements he afterward resided on it and built a modern and well improved country estate. He was so eminently successful that at the time of his death he owned three hundred and nineteen acres of valuable land.
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