A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 57

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

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Emanuel Miller

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business, in which he is highly successful. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat but independent on local issues. He is connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Brazil lodge No. 762, and also belongs to Brazil lodge No. 30, Knights of Pythias.

On August 6, 1891, he was married to Miss Mary Adams, who was born in Perry township, Clay county, Indiana, April 30, 1871, a daughter of Joseph T. Adams, a prominent farmer residing in Perry township. The children of this marriage are: Harley, Nicholas, Catherine, Austin, Emanuel.

ISAAC MARKLEY .- A practical and thriving agriculturist of Harrison township, Isaac Markley is actively employed in the prosecution of the free and independent calling upon which the wealth and prosperity of our nation so largely depends. He is a man of enterprise and foresight, possessing a good understanding of the best ways of so conducting his affairs as to secure the best returns. He was born upon the farm where he now resides August 18, 1867, a son of the late William Markley. His grandfather, Daniel Markley, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, was a pioneer settler of Medina county, that state, and on the homestead that he there improved he and his wife, Margaret (Buzzard) Markley, spent their remaining days.

William Markley was born February 10, 1830, in Medina county, Ohio, and was there bred and educated. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed successfully for a number of years, establishing a good business. In 1864, his health failing, he decided to try a change of place and occupation, and with that object in view came to Clay county, Indiana, in search of a favorable location. On section seventeen, Harrison township, he bought eighty acres of land, on which a half acre of cleared land and a set of log buildings were the only improvements. He began the clearing of a farm, but did not live to see it completed, his death occurring June 12, 1870. He married, April 25, 1857, Mary Overholt, who was born September 1, 1833, in Plumstead, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, of which her father, Abraham Overholt, Jr., and her grandfather, Abraham Overholt, Sr., were life-long residents. Abraham Overholt, Sr., a German by descent and a sturdy farmer, married Mar- garet Wismer, also a life-long resident of Bucks county. Abraham Overholt, Jr., was a natural mechanic, and, although never learning a trade, did much work of that kind in addition to farming, living on his homestead until his death at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He married Magdaline Gross, a daughter of Isaac and Magdaline (Gaymon) Gross, and she survived him, passing away in the ninety-eighth year of her age. Mrs. Markley survived her husband, and in January, 1877, became the wife of Rev. Daniel Royer, a Mennonite preacher, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, a son of Samuel and Katie Royer. He died in 1891. By her marriage with Mr. Markley she had seven chil- dren, namely : Lanah, Rebecca, Jacob H., Joseph, Susannah, Isaac and Elizabeth, and by her second marriage had one child. She is a member of the Mennonite church, and a generous contributor towards its support.

Born in the log house that stood upon the homestead when his parents assumed its possession, Isaac Markley was early trained to habits of industry and thrift, assisting on the farm when school was not in session. Succeeding to the ownership of the home estate, he has

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continued his farming operations since his youthful days, and by his skill, combined with systematic and thorough methods, has met with good success.

Mr. Markley married, December 17, 1893, Cora J. Gelvin, who was born at Benham, Ripley county, Indiana. Her father, William Gelvin, a soldier in the Civil war, was a farmer by occupation and married Mary Hyatt, a daughter of Lawrence Hyatt, of Ripley county. Of their union seven children were born, as follows: Ida, Joseph, Frank, Hiram, Cora, Bertha and Edna. Mr. and Mrs. Markley have two children, Mary W. and Bernice M. Politically Mr. Markley is a straightforward Repub- lican, and in agricultural circles is quite prominent, being at the present time secretary of the Clay County Farmers' Institute. Both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church.

DAVIS C. WITTY, who is prominently identified with the farming interests of Sugar Ridge township, was born in Posey township of Clay county January 19, 1845, a son of Baldwin H. and Elizabeth ( Walker) Witty, who were born in Barren county, Kentucky, and both his paternal and maternal grandfathers, Ezekiel Witty and Richard, were also born in that commonwealth. Baldwin H. Witty came to Bowling Green, Indiana, in 1832, where he raised a crop of corn which he distilled into whiskey and also fed to his stock, and he was married there and after- ward moved to Posey township and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres from Elijah Wright, another of the early pioneers of Clay county as well as one of the pioneer teachers. The land was located in section 36, and only forty acres had been cleared, and that farm was his home during the remainder of his life. Davis C. was the fifth born of his twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, and only four sons are now living, one in Oklahoma and two on the old home place.

Davis C. Witty remained with his parents on the farm until his mar- riage, and he then lived on a portion of the Gibbons farm, which his wife inherited, for three years, when he sold the farm and bought one hundred acres in section 7, Sugar Ridge township, thirty-five acres of which had been cleared and the remainder covered with timber. He has since cleared this tract, and in 1896 built his present home, a portion of which had been used as a school house. In addition to this valuable property he also owns forty acres of the old home farm in Perry town- ship, all of which is improved, and his main crops are corn, hay and wheat.

On the 21st of February, 1877, Mr. Witty was married to Rachael Gibbons, who was born in Jackson township, a daughter of John and Rhoda (Antrim) Gibbons. who were born in Virginia but were early settlers of Clay county. Mrs. Witty died on the 9th of August, 1897, and lies buried in Ashboro cemetery. She became the mother of the following children: William, who died August 19, 1897; Charles M., who is employed on the rural free delivery at Center Point; Walter D., of Ashboro; Harry H., at home; Daisy, who died on the 9th of August, 1897, and was buried in the grave with her mother; and Harrison Mckinley, at home.

HON. WILLIAM HENRY GUIRL .- A man of strong force of character and possessing excellent business and executive ability, Hon. William Henry Guirl, of Clay City, holds a position of importance in financial,

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industrial and social circles, and as a fine representative of the most valued and highly esteemed citizens of Clay county is well worthy of more than passing notice in a work of this kind. A son of the late Charles A. Guirl, he was born October 31, 1859, in Jennings county, Indiana, of substantial French ancestry, being the descendant of one of three brothers, spelling their names "Guilley," who emigrated from France to this country in colonial days and fought with the colonists in the Revolutionary war. One of these brothers afterwards served in one of the subsequent Indian wars, and it is supposed was killed in one of the skirmishes. Another settled in Virginia, and the third brother, from whom Mr. Guirl is descended, located at Fremont, Pennsylvania, where he spent his remaining years.

The great-grandfather of Mr. Guirl on the paternal side was a farmer by occupation, and as far as known spent his entire life in Penn- sylvania. His widow survived him many years, and spent her last days in Jennings county, Indiana, with her only child, Isaac Guirl, dying at his home at the advanced age of ninety-three years.

Isaac Guirl, the grandfather of William H., was born March 10, 1813, near Fremont, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and there when a young man learned the trade of a blacksmith. Removing to Columbiana county, Ohio, about 1835, he settled about midway between Alliance and Mount Union, buying a tract of land containing forty acres. A log house with a frame addition, a stable, and a small piece of cleared land constituted the only improvements that had been made on the place. He there farmed and followed his trade for nearly twenty years, living there until 1854, when, with his wife and four children, he came to Jennings county, this state. Locating in Bigger township, he purchased eighty acres of land, through which the Little Graham creek ran. Sixty acres of land had been cleared, and a hewed log house, with a stone chimney, a detached kitchen and a round log barn had been erected. Continuing his labors as a farmer and a blacksmith, he lived there until 1862, when he sold out, and for seven years resided in Benville, the same county, where he purchased forty acres of land. Disposing of that property in 1869, he purchased a home in Fishersburg, Madison county, and there lived retired until his death, October 25, 1879.

Isaac Guirl married Jane Reddick, who was born in Fremont, West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1813. She was of English ancestry, her grandfather Reddick having been born and bred in Eng- land. Coming to America prior to the Revolution, he assisted the colonists in their struggle for liberty, and afterwards settled in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. Jane Reddick's father, the great-grandfather of William H. Guirl, was a noted sportsman in his youth, and on one of his expeditions went with a party of hunters down the Ohio river on a raft, landing at what is now the populous city of Cincinnati, but which at that time contained but one building, a blockhouse used as a fort. While making their way back through Ohio, the party came across but one white settlement, that being a trading post at the present site of the city of Chillicothe. He was a resident of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, the greater part of his life, although he spent his last days in Ohio, dying, when upwards of eighty years old, at the home of his daughter in 1848. Mrs. Isaac Guirl survived her husband several years, passing away April 25, 1888. She bore him five children, namely : William R., born March 16, 1835,

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died in infancy: Charles A., father of William H .; William M., born October 16, 1838, enlisted, August 10, 1861, in the Thirty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and died while in service the following December at Otterville, Missouri; James A., born July 6, 1841, died December 20, 1868, at Benville, Indiana, and Abner J., born November 20, 1846. James A. was a finely educated man and a talented artist.

Charles A. Guirl was born near Fremont, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1836, and at the age of sixteen years began life for himself as a fireman on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad, on which he was subsequently an engineer. After three years of railroading he joined the family in Jennings county, Indiana, and from that time until his death was engaged in the lumber business in this state, carrying it on in Jennings, Hancock and Hamilton counties. He died in March, 1870, in Fortville, Hancock county, his death being a loss to the community. In November, 1858, he married Mary Millhouse, who was born near Clarksburg, West Virginia, of early English ancestry, and died in Indiana in 1884. Both she and her husband were members of the Missionary Baptist church of Graham, Jennings county. They reared six children, namely: William H., the subject of this sketch; Ellet A .; Isaac; Benjamin M .; James ; and Mary.

Completing his early education at the university of Lebanon, Ohio, William Henry Guirl began at the age of seventeen to teach school, a vocation in which he met with excellent success. On attaining his ma- jority, however, his business ability asserted itself, and he gave up his professional work to engage in the lumber business with his uncle Abner. In 1883, in partnership with G. H. Palmer, Mr. Guirl started in the lumber business at Sheridan, Hamilton county, on an extensive scale, having a mill in that place and another at Kirklin. Going from there to Mooresville in 1889, Mr. Guirl became associated in business with Henry C. Long as proprietor of a flour mill, and in addition to managing the mill built elevator A and embarked in the grain business. Locating in Clay City in 1892 Mr. Guirl, in company with his brother, Benjamin M., opened a lumber yard and stave factory, and under the firm name of Guirl Brothers carried on a substantial business for a number of years. In 1906 he sold out his interest to his brother, and turned his attention to other matters. He had in the meantime acquired several thousand acres of land, becoming one of the largest landholders of this part of the state.

On December 21, 1882, Mr. Guirl married Ernestine Palmer, who was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, a daughter of Osmer Palmer. Her grandfather, George Palmer, was born in Pennsylvania, where his father, a native of Switzerland, settled on coming to this country. A pioneer settler of Switzerland county, Indiana, George Palmer cleared and improved a farm in Posey township, where he lived until his death in 1901, at the venerable age of ninety-four years. He married Phebe Jones, who survived him but three days, passing away at the age of eighty-seven years. Her father, a native of one of the eastern states, became a pioneer settler of Lexington, Kentucky, where he was for many years a large landholder. He was killed by the Indians, and his widow came with her children to Indiana to live. Osmer Palmer was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, and there reared to agricultural pursuits. When ready to begin the battle of life on his own account he purchased land in Jennings county, improved it, and was there engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death, February 8, 1878, at the com-

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paratively early age of forty-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Frances Davis, was born in Hamilton county, Kentucky, a daughter of Henderson and Margaret ( Mason) Davis. They reared five children, namely: Frances; George; Florence; Ernestine, now Mrs. Guirl; and Osmer Kilburn. Mr. and Mrs. Guirl are the parents of five children, namely: Florence, Charles James, Harry Warrington, Doris and Helen.

Public-spirited and enterprising, Mr. Guirl takes an intelligent interest in the growth and development of the part of Clay county in which he resides, and no man is more willing to contribute of his time and means to further its advancement. There were no graveled roads in the vicinity of Clay City when he came here, and much of the best land was useless for want of drainage. Joining hands with the more pro- gressive element of the city, he has liberally supported all measures cal- culated to benefit the public, and to-day good gravel roads extend from the city in all directions, large ditches costing thousands of dollars have been dug, and miles of tile have been laid, thus increasing the value of the land in this vicinity ten fold. While a member of the state legisla- ture in 1905 Mr. Guirl labored effectively, winning the praise of his con- stituents for the able manner in which he championed the temperance cause. He introduced into the house a bill of which the "Moore Bill," now operative, is almost a duplicate. The Moore bill passed the senate, and was sent to the house before his had been acted upon, so he advo- cated the other bill, allowing his own to be side-tracked. Politically he has always been a Republican, and a stanch advocate of the principles of that party. Both Mr. and Mrs. Guirl are consistent and valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Clay City, Indiana. ·

REUBEN JACOB SCHIELE was born in Medina county, Ohio, June 27, 1857, and was reared to the life of a farmer and has always followed that occupation, being now one of Clay county's most successful agriculturists and stock raisers. He owns and occupies his father's old homestead in Harrison township, and has placed his name high on the roll of the leading business men of this community.

He is a son of Michael and Mary Magdaline ( Miller) Schiele. born respectively in Wittenberg, Germany, November 2, 1831, and in the state of Pennsylvania in 1838. she being of German parentage. They were married in Medina county, Ohio, in 1856, and their union was blessed by the birth of six children .- Reuben J., David F., Henry (deceased), Catherine (who died young ) and twins, Rosana Sarah and Mary Eliza- beth, the former of whom died in infancy and the latter is the wife of James Hixon. In 1851 Michael Schiele, the father, emigrated from his native land to the United States, spending the first year in this country in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : during the following eight years was a resident of Medina county, Ohio, from there moving to Owen county, Indiana, and one year later to Harrison township, Clay county, where he in time purchased a part of the fine large farm which he later improved. He worked at shoe making until he became the owner of this land, and subsequently became one of Clay county's most successful agriculturists. Mr. Schiele's first wife, Mary Magdaline, died on the 28th of July, 1866, and in 1867 he married Elizabeth Krible, they becoming the parents of eight children : William A., Sylvester, Dora S., Susan C., Lovina J., Nathan D., Andrew D. and Charles O). Michael Schiele died September 12, 1897, and his last wife yet survives him.

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On the 8th of June, 1880, in Clay county, Reuben J. Schiele was married to Lanah Markley, a daughter of William and Mary (Overholt) Markley, the father, a farmer and blacksmith, born in Medina county, Ohio, January 10, 1830, and the mother was born in Pennsylvania Sep- tember 1, 1832, both born of German parentage. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schiele, namely: Ida Ellen, born September 19, 1881, married Jesse G. Liechty March 31, 1904, and they have two children, Etalka M., born October 23, 1905, and Emerson Lamont, born May 6, 1907; Eda May, born February 27, 1883, married William Leo King July 27, 1902; Oliver Leo, born October 24, 1885; and William Jacob, born June 22, 1888, all born in Clay county. Mrs. Schiele, the mother, was born in Medina county, Ohio, February 26, 1858. Mr. Schiele has been a life-long Republican, and is now one of the county's most prominent reform and temperance workers. Both he and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the United Brethren church.

ROBERT M. BRYANT .- During many years Robert M. Bryant was closely associated with the business and social interests of Clay county, and in that time he endeared himself to many friends and his memory is cherished by those who knew him. He was born in Dresden, Ohio, August 17, 1838, the younger of the two sons of Henry and Mary ( Wood) Bryant, natives respectively of Virginia and of Ohio. The son Robert was but seventeen years of age when he began learning the mill- wright's trade in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he remained about five years, and afterward he followed his trade in Indiana, Missouri and Kentucky for over twenty years. Coming then to Sugar Ridge township in Clay county he took up his abode on the farm owned by his wife and remained there until his death on the 26th of October, 1896.

He had married, September 25, 1873, Anna E. Wilson, who was born near Terre Haute in Vigo county, Indiana, a daughter of Ralph and Catherine ( Bazier) Wilson. The father was born in Dayton, Ohio, and the mother in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and they were married in Terre Haute, Indiana. The father for many years was closely associated with the history of this section of the state, and was twice elected a member of the state legislature. He was a personal friend of Daniel W. Voorhees, whom Mr. Wilson had named "Tall Sycamore of the Wabash." In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were ten children, of whom the daughter Anna was the eighth born, and she and her brother Harry, of Sugar Ride township, are the only surviving members of this once large family. She inherited one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 1, Sugar Ridge township, a portion of which she rents and she farms the remainder. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bryant are: Mary E., who was born July 1, 1874, and is now the wife of Stephen A. Gantz, an electrician in Clay City; and Ruth H., born September 10, 1892, is at home with her mother. Mr. Bryant voted with the Democratic party and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Terre Haute Lodge No. 157, and of the Methodist Episcopal church of Law- renceville, Illinois.

SCOTT C. CROMWELL .- This honorable farmer and citizen of Clay City, who has spent his life of more than sixty years in his native county of Clay, comes of the historic English family which gave to the world the

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great character who has had such a lasting influence on the progress of popular rights, Oliver Cromwell. His grandfather bore the honored name himself, was a Kentuckian, a brave soldier of the war of 1812, and later a wealthy citizen of Clay county. His remains are buried in the Snoddy graveyard. The father of Scott C. Cromwell was Thomas I. Cromwell, who was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 16th of September, 1804, and died in Clay county, Indiana, on the 17th of Octo- ber, 1889, his death occurring near Bowling Green. As he came to Indiana with his parents in 1825, shortly after he had reached his majority, he spent more than sixty years as a strong assistant in the agri- cultural, commercial and industrial development of this section, for during his long and honorable career he was farmer, merchant and mine operator. He served in the Mexican war as a member of Company C, Second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and during the war of the Rebellion he served his country in Company B, 133rd Infantry, from the same county. As our subject was also a member of that organization in the Civil war, the American genealogy of the Cromwell family presents the patriotic record of grandfather, father and son serving in their country's defense in three of its wars.

Scott C. Cromwell was born in Bowling Green, Clay county, Indiana, on the 9th of May, 1848, was educated in the common schools of his home community, and spent the greater portion of his life on the farm until he was sixteen years of age. He then volunteered as a soldier of Company B, One Hundred and thirty-third Indiana Infantry, and served in the ranks until the close of hostilities. He returned to his father's farm, was married two years after the close of the war, and since that time has been a progressive agriculturist and citizen, busily and success- fully engaged in the honorable furtherance of his own interests and those dependent upon him. On August 18, 1867, Mr. Cromwell was united in marriage with Miss Mary Susan Hadden, the ceremony occurring at Staunton, Clay county. His wife was born in that county January 23, 1848, being a daughter of Thomas J. and Eliza (Downing) Hadden, the former being of English, and the latter of German and Irish descent. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Scott C. Cromwell. Their first child died an unnamed infant. Lizzie was born July 11, 1872, and married John A. Zurcher, whose parents were natives of Germany. The following seven children have been born to this union: Samuel, Joseph Scott, Thomas Oliver, Bonnie Marie, Hallie May, Clarence Chester and Blanche. The third child of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Cromwell was Thomas I., born March 18, 1875, and died August 5, 1897. Oliver Dennis Cromwell, the fourth, was born August 9, 1877, and on August 27, 1900, wedded Miss Nora Lankford, the children born to them being: Floyd, December 17, 1901, and Don, in October, 1903. Mrs. Oliver Cromwell died Feb- ruary 16, 1906. The fifth and youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Scott C. Cromwell is Harry Herschel, born on the 29th of September, 1892.

ISAAC MCINTOSH, vice president and secretary of the Superior Block Coal Company of Brazil, is thus closely associated with the development of the natural resources of this country, in which connection he estab- lished a paying business and one which contributes to the general pros- perity by affording employment to a number of workmen. Mr. McIntosh is of Canadian birth, the place of his nativity being the city of Ottawa, while his natal day was May 16, 1849. His parents were Alexander and

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A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 57

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

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