USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 62
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age of thirty-three years; Stella E., the wife of Albert E. Holliday ; Bernice B., the wife of J. Hubert Cooper ; and two who have passed away.
Mr. Crooks is interested in all matters pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of his adopted city and is now serving for the second term as a member of the school board, with which he has been contin- uously connected since June, 1902, and of which he is now the secre- tary. He is an exemplary member of Brazil lodge, No. 264, A. F. & A. M., and was the first man initiated into the Harmony lodge in 1872. He was a member of the city council from 1894 to 1898. He holds mem- bership with the Methodist Episcopal church and gives strong endorse- ment to the Republican party at the polls. His activity in business has not only contributed to his individual success, but has also been a factor in the development of the city, and he has been conspicuous among his associates not only for his prosperity but for his probity, fairness and honorable methods.
WILLIAM TAPY .- Occupying a noteworthy position among enter- prising and respected citizens of Bowling Green is William Tapy, who has spent the larger portion of his business life in Clay county, and has been conspicuously identified with the best interests of both town and county, generously using his influence to promote the public welfare. Like many others of our most industrious and thrifty citizens he was born across the sea, his birth having occurred, in 1842, in Prussia, Germany. His father, John Tapy, died in the fatherland in 1851, leaving his widow, Eugene (Foderlade) Tapy, with a family of young children to bring up.
Living with his mother until eighteen years of age, William Tapy received a substantial education in his native country. In 1860, wishing to test the truth of the glowing accounts that he had heard of America's prosperity, he came to the United States, settling in Poland, Clay county, Indiana, where he learned the trade of a cabinet maker. He subsequently followed his trade for a short time in Brazil, Indiana, from there coming about 1862 to Bowling Green, which has since been his abiding place. In addition to his work as a cabinet maker he is the leading furnishing undertaker of this part of the county, and on account of his efficiency in that line his services are sought throughout the community.
Mr. Tapy married Mary Marsh, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Thomas and Kate (Gilbreath) Marsh, and of their union two children have been born, Katie E. and one who died in infancy. An active and valued member of the Democratic party, Mr. Tapy has rendered his fellow-townsmen excellent service both as town clerk and as town treas- urer, filling these offices with ability and fidelity for four years. He is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he was secretary for ten years, and religiously belongs to the Christian church.
FARMER J. JAMES .- When the tocsin of war sounded men from all stations of life flocked to the standard of the country, coming from the workshops, the fields, the offices and the counting rooms, all actuated by the common purpose of upholding the Union. Forty-seven years have come and gone since the outbreak of hostilities, and the ranks of the vet- erans are fast becoming thin as one by one they answer to the last roll call. Among those who did valued service on southern battlefields and
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are still active factors in the affairs of life is numbered Farmer J. James, of Brazil. He was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, July 17, 1838, and is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the state. His parents were William and Nancy ( Doyle) James. The father was born in Kentucky in 1803 and died at the age of seventy years, passing away at Wills Point, Texas, in 1873. He had for ten years survived his wife, who was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, January 1, 1800, and died in Bushnell, Illinois, in 1863. They were married in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and their children were two in number, the elder being Rebecca, now the wife of James H. Wilson, a resident of Peoria, Illinois. The father served his . country in the Mexican war as a soldier of the Seventh Indiana Regiment and after the cessation of hostilities located at Wills Point, Texas. He had at one time eighteen thousand acres of land in Van Zandt and Kauf- man counties of that state, and was extensively engaged in the stock business. There he lived until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he became conscript agent for the Confederacy in the state of Texas. He had a wide acquaintance throughout that state and was most highly respected. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity in Dallas and gave his political allegiance to the Democracy.
Farmer J. James, whose name introduces this record, spent his boy- hood days in Illinois, and at Bushnell, that state, enlisted in September, 1861, joining the Sixteenth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers for three months. On the expiration of that term he was mustered out at Quincy but, not content to resume the pursuits of civil life while the preservation of the Union was an uncertain fact, he again enrolled as a member of the Union army, becoming a member of Company G, Eleventh Illinois Cav- alry, for three years or during the war. He continued at the front until mustered out July 17, 1865, and was detailed at Shiloh to act as body guard for General McPherson. He was on many a hotly contested battlefield and never was his loyalty or his courage called into question.
Having been honorably discharged when the war was over and the country no longer needed his military aid, Mr. James returned to the north and engaged in mining coal in Clay county, Indiana. He was married on the 20th of January, 1867, to Mrs. Carrie Doyle, the widow of James Doyle. She was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and died in the year 1904. She was a school teacher, and in the early '50s came to Clay county, teaching school for twenty-seven years at Staunton. She became recognized as one of the ablest educators in this part of the state, and for some time served as county school examiner. She issued a teacher's cer- tificate to William Travis and to many others who have done good work in connection with the public schools. Not only was her labor effective and far-reaching in the line of mental development but was also effective as a force in moral progress. She was state secretary of the Sunday School Union for a number of years and was secretary of the county Sunday School Union for ten years. Her church membership was with the Methodist Episcopal church, and throughout her life she was an earnest, devoted Christian woman, whose work was of great benefit to humanity. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, belong- ing to chapter No. 80, and was a delegate to the first state convention at Greencastle and drew up the by-laws for the organization.
Following his marriage Mr. James continued mining, which pursuit he followed for twenty years, and in 1894 he retired from active business and has since lived in the enjoyment of well earned rest in Brazil. He
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has been prominent in the affairs of the city and has an official record over which there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, having served for about twenty-five years as justice of the peace in Brazil and Clay counties, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial and winning him "golden opinions from all sorts of people." In 1867 he became a member of Brazil Lodge, No. 264, A. F. and A. M., and has since been an exemplary Mason, devoted to the teachings and tenets of the craft. For eight years he served as master of Staunton Lodge and is also a member of Brazil Chapter, No. 59, R. A. M., Brazil Council, No. 40, R. and S. M., and General Canby Post, No. 2, G. A. R. He likewise belongs to William Black Chapter, No. 80, O. E. S., of which his wife was one of the organizers and a most active member. Mr. James gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, which he has stanchly supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has always regarded it as the party of reform, progress and improvement. and it was the party of the Union at the time of the Civil war. In all matters of citizenship Mr. James has been as loyal and as patriotic as when he followed the stars and stripes upon the battlefields of the south.
DAVID KELLER .- Among those active and prosperous men of Lewis township who have accumulated a competency through their own exer- tions and economy is David Keller, a well-known and prosperous agri- culturist, owning and occupying a valuable farm on the rich Eel river bottoms. A son of Henry Keller, Jr., he was born November 18, 1855, in Owen county, Indiana, about six miles north of Spencer. His grandfather, Henry Keller, Sr., came from Tennessee to Indiana in pioneer days, becoming one of the first settlers of Putnam county. Establishing a tan yard near Greencastle, he conducted it a number of years, and then removed to a place near Santa Fe, Owen county, where he followed the trade of a tanner during the remainder of his active life, residing there until his death.
Born, it is thought, in Putnam county, Indiana, Henry Keller, Jr., as a boy and youth assisted his father in the tan yard, but did not choose to follow the tanner's trade, agriculture being more congenial to his tastes. He therefore entered government land near Santa Fe, and after improving a part of it sold out and bought another tract of timber, that he also improved in part and sold, and subsequently bought, partly improved, and also sold several farms in Owen county. About 1883 he came to Clay county, rented a farm in Harrison township, and was there employed in tilling the soil until his death, three or four years later. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Minnick. She was born in Virginia, and died in Clay county, Indiana, in 1907, at the age of seventy-five years. With her parents, David and Seely Minnick, she came to Owen county, Indiana, where her father took up govern- ment land in what is now the town of Cataract. There, during seed time and harvest, he worked on the land, while in the winter seasons he devoted his time to his trade of a cooper. He was a man of great physical and mental vigor, and lived to the remarkable age of ninety- eight years. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Keller, Jr., eight of whom grew to years of maturity, namely: Zachariah T., Alfred, David, Ellen, Daniel, Arloff, Mary and Minnie.
Acquiring a practical education in the district schools, David Keller started in life for himself at the age of eighteen years. Coming then
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to Clay county he entered the employ of his uncle James Keller, a farmer, with whom he remained for some time. After working for seven years Mr. Keller rented land and began farming for himself. His labors were crowned with success, and in 1885, with the money that he had saved, he bought twenty acres of his present home farm. The land was then in its pristine wildness, being covered with timber and brush. Improving the land and erecting good buildings, he has subsequently purchased other land, having now in his home estate one hundred and forty-eight acres of rich and productive land, the greater . part being bottom land, his house, however, being situated in a beautiful natural grove, an ideal location for a home.
On November 28, 1880, Mr. Keller married Laura Stout. A daughter of John Stout, she was born in Lewis township, Clay county, Indiana, October 5, 1862. Her grandfather, Peter Stout, was a pioneer settler of Lewis township, and on the homestead that he redeemed from the wilderness spent his declining years. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Graveston, survived him many years and married for her second husband John Lanning. John Stout followed farming in Lewis township during his active life, which was but brief, his death occurring while he was yet in manhood's prime. He married Rachel Jessup, a daughter of Silas and Nancy Jessup, and she, too, died at a compara- tively early age, passing away at the age of forty-five years. She was a life-long resident of Lewis township. Mr. and Mrs. Keller are the parents of five children, namely: Leora, Estea, Woody, Russell, Ertice and David Herschel. Religiously Mrs. Keller and her two daughters are faithful members of the United Brethren church. Politically Mr. Keller is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and in 1896 was elected a county commissioner. He and his son Woody also, belong to the United Brethren church.
MARTIN HYLAND .- Among those who assisted in transforming Clay county and its vicinity from its primitive state to one of the fore- most sections of the state is numbered Martin Hyland, for many years one of the most prominent farmers of Perry township. He was born in county Mayo, Ireland, in 1814, a son of James and a Miss (McMannus) Hyland, who spent their lives in their native land of Ireland. The son, however, left his home and native land and coming to the United States located in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1848, where he worked at his trade of blacksmithing, and soon afterward went from there to Greggsville, Virginia, to work at his trade for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. After some years there he was transferred from place to place on the company's line until finally, on November 19, 1856, he landed in Perry township, Clay county, Indiana. He had been induced to remain in Virginia until after the election in order to vote for Buchanan for the presidency, and after his arrival in this county he bought timber land in section 26, also becoming the owner of fifty-six acres in Sugar Ridge township and eighty acres near Saline, and these, with his sixty-nine acres in Perry township, made him a large and val- uable farm. He became the owner of his land in Sugar Ridge town- ship in 1856, and to his credit it may be said that there was never a debt on his farm. He cleared all of his land and experienced all the trials and hardships known only to the frontiersman, his busy and useful life being ended on the 13th of June, 1888.
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Mr. Hyland married, December 29, 1851, in Greggsville, Virginia, Helen Mullarkey, who was born in county Mayo, Ireland, November 8, 1833, a daughter of Owen and Mary ( Mulkene) Mullarkey, also of that country. Their daughter came to the United States with relatives in November, 1851, and located first in Greggsville, Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Hyland became the parents of the following children: James, whose home is in Omaha, Nebraska; Maria, of Terre Haute; Annie C., wife of Charles W. Lamb, of Terre Haute; Martin, also of that city ; John T., of Washington, D. C .; Agnes, at home; Jennie F., also at home ; Robert E., of Indianapolis, Indiana; Clara, who became the wife of Elsworth Miller and died May 13, 1907; Simon, who died December 21, 1902 ; and Isadore and Ansalom, who died in infancy. Mr. Hyland gave his political allegiance to the Democracy, and was a member of the Catholic church, as is also Mrs. Hyland.
WILLIAM SPEARS .- At the early age of seven years-at a time when most boys have hardly begun their education as public-school students-William Spears began to provide for his own support. He is truly a self-made man and deserves great credit for what he has accomplished. for it has been through his diligence and unwearied indus- try that he has worked his way upward, occupying now the responsible position of assistant superintendent with the Crawford Coal Company and also with the Indiana Block Coal Company. He was born in Dundi- van, Scotland, February 16, 1843, his parents being Andrew and Ann (Kilpatrick) Spears. The father's birth occurred at Toll Cross, Scot- land, February 28, 1817, and he died at the age of fifty-six years in Akron, Ohio. His wife was born near Glasgow, Scotland, July 28, 1818, and died at Middlebury, Ohio, when fifty-four years of age. Their family numbered ten children, of whom nine are living: William, James, George, Esther, Robert, Agnes, Catharine, John and Annie. The father was a miner in Scotland and came to America in 1865, settling at Sharon, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he followed mining for about two years. He then removed to the vicinity of Akron, Ohio, where he continued in the same department of business activity up to the time of his death. He was a man of Christian faith and principles, and in his political views was a stalwart Republican.
William Spears, whose name introduces this review, crossed the Atlantic to the United States in January, 1864, when twenty years of age. His youth was a period of earnest, unremitting toil. He was employed in the rolling mills of his native country between the ages of seven and nine years and afterward worked in the coal and iron mines until twelve years of age. He then worked in the mills for about a year and then again returned to the mines, where he continued until seventeen years of age. He became a contractor in the mining business, being perhaps the youngest contractor in that line in his native country. He so continued for about a year and a half and then again followed mining until 1864, when, attracted by the opportunities of the new world, he came to the United States, settling first at Frostburg, Mary- land. There he worked at mining for about eight months, when he removed to Sharon, Pennsylvania, where he resided for about nine months. On the expiration of that period he became a resident of Galesburg, Illinois, where he followed mining for a short time, after which he
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returned to Sharon, Pennsylvania, living there until his removal to Akron, Ohio. His next place of residence was at West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, where he worked for W. W. Risher for fourteen months. He then came to Brazil with Mr. Risher in January, 1873, and acted as mine manager until Mr. Risher sold out to the Brazil Block Coal Com- pany. Mr. Spears was retained by that company as manager for eight years, during which period the company sank eleven shafts and bought ten mines. On severing his connection with that corporation he engaged as manager for the Crawford Coal Company, which at that time had but one mine but at the present time has five mines. He is now the assistant superintendent and is also assistant superintendent for the Indiana Block Coal Company. He is regarded as an expert in coal mining and his long experience, study and investigation give him superior knowledge in this direction.
On the 28th of March, 1872, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Spears and Miss Maggie Walker, who was born near the town of Ayr, in Scotland, while her parents, Allen and Mary (Love) Walker, were also natives of the land of hills and heather. Her father was a miner of Scotland, who on crossing the Atlantic settled near Melburn, Canada, where he lived for about four years. He then removed to Ohio, locating near Akron, and subsequently came to Indiana. After spending several years in this state he returned to Ohio, where he resided until his demise. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Christian church and his political endorsement was given to the Republican party. Their family numbered nine children, of whom eight. are living: Mrs. Spears, Mary, John, Charles, Allen, James, Mina and Priscilla.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Spears have been born five children, as follows: Mary, a bookkeeper in the employ of the Central Telephone Company ; Andrew A., who is a practicing dentist in Brazil, Indiana; Annie, who died in infancy ; Almeda, who follows dressmaking; and Margaret, who is engaged in teaching in the Brazil schools.
The parents are consistent and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, co-operating in many of the church activities. Mr. Spears belongs to Brazil lodge, No. 264, A. F. & A. M., while both he and his wife are connected with William Black chapter, No. 80, O. E. S. He likewise belongs to Brazil lodge, No. 215, I. O. O. F., and Iron City encampment, No. 118, while in the subordinate lodge he has filled all of the offices. Both he and his wife are identified with Mayflower lodge, No. 61, of the Order of the Rebekah, in which Mrs. Spears has filled all of the chairs and they are likewise connected with the Knights and Ladies of Honor, in which Mrs. Spears has held all of the offices and has been representative to the grand lodge, while Mr. Spears is vice protector. He has no use for either tobacco nor, intoxicants, and has led a clean, upright life, following those teachings which make for honorable man- hood and for worthy citizenship. He early learned the value of industry, economy and integrity in the business world and those qualities have characterized his entire career.
JOHN H. COATS .- An energetic, practical man, of sound judgment and good business talents, John H. Coats is widely known to the traveling public as proprietor of one of the leading hotels and livery stables of Center Point, Indiana. A son of the late Steward Coats, he was born December 3, 1854, in Patricksburg, Owen county.
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Steward Coats was born in Pennsylvania, and there grew to man- hood. He was three times married, and by each wife had children. He married for his third wife, in Owen county, Indiana, Hannah Harris, a native of Kentucky, and they became the parents of eight children, of whom John H., the special subject of this sketch, was the fourth child in order of birth. He died in 1900, surviving his third wife by many years, her death having occurred in 1884.
Beginning the battle of life for himself at the age of seventeen years, John H. Coats was for seven years engaged in logging. Embarking then in the livery business, he was first located for a short time at Patricks- burg; then in Spencer, Owen county, for a year; the following two and one-half years was in Clay City; and then for awhile was again in Pat- ricksburg. Turning then his attention to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Coats carried on general farming in Clay county for fourteen years. Locating then at Bowling Green, he conducted a livery there for more than two years, after which he spent two years on his farm in Posey township. On February 1, 1900, Mr. Coats traded his farm for the hotel and livery business at Center Point, where he has since been profitably employed, keeping a firstclass hotel and having in his livery barn about eight horses.
On February 2, 1879, Mr. Coats married Catherine Royer. She was born in Patricksburg, Indiana, a daughter of William and Elizabeth ( Miller) Royer. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Coats, namely : Moyne, wife of Robert Perry, of Center Point; Beulah, of Fontanet, Indiana; Gail, at home; Anna, a teacher living at home; Roy ; Guy ; Wayne, who died at the age of two and one-half years ; Olga ; Ruth ; and Marjorie Imogene. Politically Mr. Coats supports the principles of the Democratic party, and fraternally he belongs to the Modern Wood- men of America of Brazil, Indiana.
JOHN BOUCHER, the engineer at the city water works of Brazil, was born in Clay county, Indiana, September 11, 1869, a son of one of the pioneers of the county, James Boucher. The last named was born in county Clare, Ireland, November 9, 1836, a son of James and Mary (Flonery) Boucher, both of whom were also born on the Emerald Isle and came to America on a sailing ship. Landing at Quebec, they made their way to Detroit, Michigan, from whence they went to Indianapolis, Indiana, and after some time there came to Clay county and spent their last days here. Of their seven children two are now living, Annie and Kate.
James Boucher was about seventeen years of age when he came to Indiana and to Clay county, his parents both dying near Staunton, this state. He spent his active life as a railroad man, principally in the build- ing of tracks for the Vandalia Railroad Company, for which he helped to build the tracks from Indianapolis to Terre Haute. In 1898, while employed with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Company, he received an injury from which he never fully recovered, and his death occurred at his home on West Church street when he was seventy-two years old,
December 29, 1907. On the 18th of January, 1864, in Terre Haute, he married Matilda West, who was born in Staunton, Clay county, Indiana, February 18, 1840, and she is now living in Brazil. She is a daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth (Archer) West, both of whom were born in Ohio, the father August 17, 1800, and he died April 7, 1882, and the mother was born October 9, 1802, and died in May, 1873. They became
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the parents of ten children, but only three are now living-Elizabeth ; Matilda, who became the wife of Mr. Boucher; and Alfred, living in Staunton. Mr. West, the father, was one of the pioneers of Indiana. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Boucher, and the seven now living are: Elizabeth, wife of Edward Hutchinson ; Henry, who married Nessie Ferguson, and they have one daughter; John, the subject of this review ; Alfred M. and Alice M., twins; Matilda J., the wife of Albert Scott; and Mary, wife of John Brown. James Boucher gave his political allegiance to the Democratic party, and was a member of the Catholic church. In his life time he was one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Brazil. He was a quiet man, a kind and generous husband and father, a generous neighbor, and was possessed of the many virtues necessary in the really good citizen.
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