USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 73
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"Richmond, Ky .. Sept. 2, 1862.
"Headquarters of the Army of Kentucky :-
"This is to certify that Mitchell Gum, a private in Company A. Sev- enth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, does solemnly swear that he will not take arms against the Confederate States, or give any information to the enemy thereof. ( Violation of this parole the penalty is death) till duly exchanged according to the cordial regulation of Exchange of Prisoners. "E. Kirby Smith, Major General, commanding Army of Kentucky."
Returning to his home, Mr. Gum remained there until exchanged, when he rejoined his regiment at Covington Barracks, Virginia. Three weeks later he went to Cincinnati, and there with his command embarked on the transport "R. C. Wood," and went down the Mississippi to Vicks- burg. Landing at Milliken's Bend, his regiment was camped there a few days. On December 28th they met the enemy at Chickasaw Bluffs. and being repulsed. with heavy loss, retreated to Milliken's Bend, and there remained until April, 1863. Marching then to Grand Gulf, Mississippi, his battalion, after a fierce fight of five and three-fourths hours, ran the blockade, landing at the James plantation, in Mississippi. Proceeding to Thompsons Hill, they fought, captured the place, and took seven hundred prisoners, the loss on the Union side. also, being very heavy. From there to Port Gibson, fourteen miles away. thence to Mississippi Springs, and on May 16, 1863, took an active part in the engagement at Champion Hill. From there to Black River Bridge, and after the battle at that place was fought crossed the river on pontoons, and marched to Vicksburg, where,. with his regiment, Mr. Gum took part in the memorable siege of that city, remaining in that vicinity until its surrender. After the fall of Vicksburg, he was at the front in the Battle of Jackson. There receiving a sun- stroke, he was taken back to Vicksburg, placed on the hospital boat, on which he remained until August 18, 1863, when he was sent to the Over- ton Hospital, at Memphis, Tennessee. The fever' from which he was suffering caused an abscess to form on his left thigh, which had to be operated on. On November 2, 1863, Mr. Gum was transferred to the United States Hospital. at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. On the tenth of January. 1864, he was granted a thirty days' furlough, which he had extended from time to time. On recovering his health, he rejoined hi: company at Barracks, No. 1, Louisville, Kentucky, from there was sent
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to Benton Barracks. St. Louis, but his remaining time of service being then so short, he was sent back to Louisville, Kentucky, where, on October 5. 1864. his term of enlistment having expired, he was honorably discharged.
Returning from the army, Mr. Gum remained for some time in his native place, working a part of the time in the coal mines, and a part of the time as river pilot. Coming to Indiana in 1873. he was in the employ- ment of the Otter Creek Coal Company until he commenced mining operations on his own account. In addition to the management of his coal interests. Mr. Gum is also engaged in agricultural pursuits on his well improved farm, located near Carbon, and is meeting with excellent suc- cess, both as a farmer and as a miner.
Mr. Gum married, in 1862, Ellen Fowler. She was born in North Carolina. and when an infant was left fatherless. Her widowed mother removed to Kentucky, and there she was brought up and married. Mr. and Mrs. Gum have three sons and one daughter, namely : John P., Harry I .. James B., and Mary Belle. Harry married Bertha Bailey, and they have one daughter, Ethel. James B. married Ella Nickson, and they have two children, Harley and Mary Agnes. Mary Belle, the wife of Thomas Umpleby, has three children, Harry, Bernice, and Lucia. Fraternally Mr. Gum, as we should naturally expect from his honorable war record, belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.
JOSEPH H. CLINGERMAN, of Brazil, was born in Washington town- ship, Clay county, Indiana. July 6, 1861, a son of John and Barbara Ann ( Royer ) Clingerman, natives of Pennsylvania, and a grandson of John and - (Funk) Royer. The parents were married in Indiana in about 1846, and purchased and lived on land two and a half miles from Bowling Green until their death, the mother dying in 1895 and the father on the 2d of January, 1899.
Joseph H. Clingerman was the fifth born of their twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, seven of whom are now living, and he remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age. Dur- ing the two and a half years following his leaving home he farmed on rented land near Stanton, while during six years he farmed on rented land in Jackson township, and it was on the 23d of December, 1891, that he came to Brazil and engaged in the teaming business, an occupation which he has ever since followed, and since 1897 he has also driven the city sprinkling wagon.
Mr. Clingerman was married on the 2d of October, 1881, to Cannie Bohannon, who was born in Washington township September 1, 1863, a daughter of Abner and Palmyra (Garvin) Bohannon, born in Kentucky, and a granddaughter of John Bohannon and John and Lydia Garvin, who were also born in that state. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Clingerman are : Clifton J., whose home is in Brazil ; Elva Bell, the wife of Josephus Hudson, also of Brazil; John Abner, at home; Lola, also at home : and Ross Earl, who died in infancy. Mr. Clingerman is a Republican in his political affiliations, and during two years he represented the Fourth ward of Brazil in the city council. He is a member of the Eagles, Knights and Ladies of Security and of the Home Defenders.
SAMUEL WILSON .- An industrious and well-to-do agriculturist of Van Buren township, Samuel Wilson is the owner of a well improved
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farm, the neat and orderly appearance of which bears speaking evidence to the fact that he has a thorough understanding of his business, and exer- cises good judgment in its management. Of pioneer ancestry. he was born, June 20, 1845, in this township, a son of Peter Wilson. His grand- father. Joshua Wilson, was, without doubt, born in Virginia, where he was living at the time of his marriage. He subsequently joined the tide of emigration westward, and after spending a few years in Ohio, came to Clay county, Indiana, being a pioneer settler of Van Buren township. Quite an old man at the time of his arrival, he did not enter land, but rented a farm, and resided here until his death.
Peter Wilson was born in Lee county. Virginia. in 1818. Before attaining his majority, in 1836. he came with the Poff family to Indiana, locating in Van Buren township. Entering land in the southwest quarter of section 14, he subsequently built a log cabin in the clearing, and in it his son Samuel first opened his eyes to the light of this world. Almost the entire stretch of country roundabout was then a wilderness, and in the set- tlements then in process of formation the ringing strokes of the pioneer's axe could be heard as he levelled the giants of the forest. Bears, deer, wolves and other wild beasts were plentiful, and often did great damage to the early crops. The wild game found in the woods assisted in fur- nishing the food for the few people of the place. Peter Wilson labored with courage and perseverance, cleared a large portion of his land, erected a frame house in place of the first log one, and was here employed in farming until his death, at the age of seventy-two years. He married Mary McMillen, who was born in North Carolina, a daughter of Daniel McMillen. Her father, a native of Scotland. was three years old when he was brought by his parents to the United States, his first home in this country being in Randolph county. North Carolina. In 1838 he left that place, and with his family came to Clay county, Indiana. Settling in Van Buren township, he took up land in section 10, and in addition to clearing the farm on which he spent his remaining days made good use of his natural mechanical talents, making for his family and neighbors spinning wheels, chairs, tables and other needed household articles. His wife before marriage was Alice Cole. Mary ( McMillen) Wilson proved a true help- mate to her husband, cheerfully performing her share of the pioneer labor, with her own hands carding, spinning and weaving the homespun with which her family was clothed, and with her own hands fashioning the garments they wore. She is now living, an aged woman of eighty- seven years. She reared six children, as follows: Luvisa; Sarah J. ; Samuel, of this brief sketch ; Rhoda ; George C., and William.
The little log cabin in which Samuel Wilson obtained his early book knowledge was heated by a fire in the huge fireplace; had no desks ; but boards placed around the sides of the building furnished a place on which the children could write. He remained beneath the parental roof-tree until ready to start in life for himself. Settling then upon a forty-acre tract of land given him by his father, he remained there two years, and then traded for the property he now owns and occupies. This is located in section 14, and contains seventy acres of land. About thirty acres had been cleared when Mr. Wilson assumed its possession. He has since cleared the remainder. and is still continuing his works of improvements. He has erected a good set of frame buildings, planted a variety of fruit trees, and is here carrying on general farming in an intelligent and skillful
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manner, his labors being well repaid by the fine crops produced in his fertile and well-tilled fields.
In 1870 Mr. Wilson married Mary Ann Armstrong, who was born in Carroll county, Ohio, a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Allen) Arm- strong. Further parental and ancestral history of her family may be found elsewhere in this volume, in connection with the sketch of William Armstrong. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of nine children, namely: Jacob E .; Mary C .; Luvisa ; Peter ; Beppo; Omer and Homer, twins : Dora ; and Hugh E. Jacob E. married Emma McQueen, and they have four children, Ernest, Elsie, Lola, and Elmer. Mary C., wife of Frank Flack, has four children, William, Clara, Cora, and Louise. Luvisa, wife of Elza Brooks, has four children, Jasper, Mary Catherine, Elizabeth, and Linus. Beppo married Maudie Thomas, and they have one child, Marshall. Homer married Clara Adamson, and they have one child, Ray- mond. Dora, wife of Abel McQueen, has four children, Ralph, Ruth, Marie, and Alvah. In his political affiliations, Mr. Wilson is a straight- forward Democrat, sustaining the principles of his party by voice and vote.
PHILIP KELLER, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Posey town. ship, is a native son of this township, born on the 22d of November, 1877, the second son and second child of Michael Keller, who is represented on other pages of this work. The district schools of his native township afforded Philip Keller with his educational training and he remained at home with his parents until his marriage, assisting his father to clear and improve his land. In 1901 he established his home on his present farm, his first purchase consisting of eighty-four acres, to which he has since added another tract of eighty acres, and has made many of the improve- ments which now adorn the homestead.
On the Ist of January, 1901, Mr. Keller was married to Flora Jean- nette Howald, who was born in Posey township. Her father, Peter Howald, was born in Switzerland, but in his early boyhood days he came alone to this country, and from Canada, where he first landed, he came to Clay county, Indiana, where he was married to Cecelia Hirt, also a native of Switzerland. She came to America with her parents in early life, and the Hirts were among the early pioneers of Clay county. Two children, a son and a daughter. have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Keller, Mabel Louise and Raymond Michael, both of whom were born on the present home farm. The Republican party has received the support and cooperation of Mr. Keller since he attained to years of maturity, and he is prominent and active in the public life of his community.
ALFRED HOWALD, who owns and conducts a valuable estate in Jack- son township, in section 29, was born in Posey township of Clay county July 10, 1869. His father, Peter Howald, for many years a farmer in both Posey and Jackson townships and one of the early pioneers of this community, was born in Switzerland in 1834, and was reared in his native land, and at the age of eighteen years emigrated to America. Land- ing in Canada, he remained there for several years working by the day. and in about 1854 he came to Clay county, Indiana, and established his home in Posey township, where he remained until buying and moving to a farm in Jackson township in 1903. He was married in Posey township to Cecelia Hirt, who was born in Switzerland, and came with her parents during her early girlhood days to America, the family locating in Ohio,
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from whence they later came to Clay county and farmed in Posey town- ship. Her father, Franklin Lewis Hirt, was one of the early pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Howald became the parents of twelve children, namely: William, Franklin, Alfred, Charles (deceased), Jacob, John, Flora, Elizabeth and May (twins), Peter, George and Sally. Mr. Howald, the father, gave his political support to the Democratic party, and was a member of the German Reformed church. Farming was his life occupation, and he died at the age of seventy-four years.
In the district schools of Posey township Alfred Howald gained his educational training, and on the 31st of December, 1893, he was mar- ried to Mary S. Deardorf, the daughter of Gustav Deardorf, a deceased pioneer farmer of Jackson township. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 12, 1845, and coming to Clay county when a young man 'he farmed on eighty acres of land with his father, Peter Deardorf, the latter having cleared and improved his land, and later added to the boundaries of his farm. Gustav was the fifth of his eight children, and he was mar- ried in Jackson township to Margaret Sieglin, who was brought from her native land of Germany to America when but six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Deardorf cast their lot with the early pioneers of Jackson town- ship, Clay county, Indiana, clearing forty acres and later buying forty acres more. In their family were five children, all born in Jackson town- ship, John Michael (deceased), Mary S., Emma J., George W. and Carry Ellen. Mr. Deardorf gave his political support to the Democratic party, and was a member of the German Reformed church.
Mr. and Mrs. Howald took up their abode on their present home- stead January 15, 1894, where they own one hundred and forty acres, all under an excellent state of cultivation. They have four children, namely : Gustave Franklin, Lydia Pearl, Margaret Ellen and Mary Emma, all of whom were born in the present family home. Mr. Howald supports the principles of the Democratic party, and is a member of the German Reformed church.
MATTHEW WILSON NANCE .- Numbered among the native-born resi- dents of Clay county is Matthew Wilson Nance, who is one of the most thrifty and prosperous farmers of Dick Johnson township, and possesses in a marked degree those principles which constitute him an honest man and a good citizen. A son of Joseph Nance. he was born, July 20, 1849, on the homestead where he now resides, of pioneer ancestry.
William Nance, Mr. Nance's grandfather, was born in Iredell county, North Carolina, of French ancestry. In 1826 he moved from his native place to Ohio, but not pleased with his future prospects in that part of the county soon continued his journey westward to Greencastle, Putnam county, Indiana. Taking up land, he cleared a farm in true pioneer style, and lived there until 1843. Coming in that year to Clay county, he secured a tract of land that was still in its original wildness, and com- menced to clear it. He did not finish its clearing, however, having received injuries from which he never recovered, but continued his residence here until his death. He married Elizabeth Culver, who was born in North Carolina, and died, in 1859, on the Indiana homestead, in Clay county. Nine children were born of their union, as follows: Joseph and James, twins : Adam : Henry ; Webster ; Amelia ; Jane ; Lydia ; and Ruth.
Born in Iredell county, North Carolina, November 30, 1819, Joseph Nance was a little boy when he left his birthplace, and with his parents
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made the overland trip to Ohio, thence, a short time later to Indiana. During the journey, which was made with teams, the family was obliged to pass through extensive woods and morasses, and to cross many creeks. the way at times being full of danger. A large part of this section of Indiana was then a wilderness, the land being owned by the government. and the forest were filled with an abundance of game of all kinds, forming in a large measure the subsistence of the few inhabitants. While yet in his teens he began to make himself useful, helping to clear the land, and to till the soil. Succeeding, after the death of his father, to the ownership of the homestead, he there carried on general farming until 1871. In that year Joseph Nance removed to Crawford county, Kansas, and in 1880 located in Linn county, the same state, where he bought land, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, February 28, 1898. aged seventy-nine years.
Joseph Nance married Nancy Wilson, who was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, December 12, 1825. a daughter of Matthew Wilson, who, like his father. was born in Ireland. of Scotch ancestry. Mr. Wilson was one of the early settlers of St. Joseph county, locating there at a time when the Indians were still on their reservations, and before there were any towns or villages in that part of the state, an occasional "Indian trading post," only, breaking the monotony of the wild scenery. There were, of course. no markets, the few settlers having to haul anything they had to sell to Michigan City. He improved a farm, and both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives in that county. Mrs. Joseph Nance sur -. vived her husband. and now. a hale and hearty woman of eighty-two years. is living in Crawford county. Kansas. She reared the following named children : Matthew Wilson, Daniel W .. Margaret Jane, Sarah Elizabeth, Archibald J., Mary M., Ellen, Walter, and Julian.
Completing his studies in the district schools, Matthew W. Nance subsequently attended the Bloomingdale Academy, and at the age of twenty years began his professional career at Bee Ridge. Dick Johnson township, teaching there one term. He subsequently taught in Posey and Brazil townships, this state. and in Linn and Crawford counties, Kansas. In 1888, returning from Kansas, Mr. Nance settled on the parental home- stead, which he now owns, and has since been successfully and profitably engaged in general farming.
On September 16, 1871. Mr. Nance married Sarah Catherine Weaver. who was born near Covington, Kentucky, December 9, 1848, a daughter of Samuel Warren and Magdaline ( Van Gorder ) Weaver. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nance, all being born in Kansas, and two are now living, namely: Lelia and Maude. Lelia married Joseph Tilly. and has two children, Mary Catherine and Florence. Frank, the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Nance, was born June 29. 1872. After his graduation from the public schools, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and followed farming until his death, August 8, 1897. Daniel W .. the second child, born September 30, 1873, was graduated from the Brazil High School, and afterwards attended the Indiana Central Normal School. in Danville, preparing himself for a professional life. He met with success in his work. and was teaching his second term when he was taken ill, and died October 26. 1804, aged twenty-one years. While a resident of Kansas, in 1871, Mr. Nance became a member of Cherokee Lodge. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but is not affiliated with any fraternal organization of Indiana.
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SAMUEL FREDERICK ADAMSON .- A man of recognized enterprise and ability, Samuel F. Adamson is a substantial and prominent business man of Knightsville, and is contributing his full share towards advancing its growth and prosperity. A son of the late Lloyd Nelson Adamson. he was born, July 31, 1848, in Muskingum county, Ohio, near Zanesville. His grandfather, Frederick Adamson, was of Scotch ancestry, but the place of his birth is unknown. A farmer by occupation, he removed from Vir- ginia to Ohio, becoming a pioneer settler of Muskingum county, and there. with his wife, whose maiden name was Martha Riley, cleared a home from the unbroken wilderness.
Born at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, Lloyd N. Adamson received excel- lent educational advantages, and in his early life was engaged in teaching for several years. In the meantime he studied medicine, but never adopted the profession. Embarking in preference in agricultural pursuits, he bought land at Brush Creek. Muskingum county, Ohio, where he car- ried on farming until 1872. Coming then to Indiana, he located at Harmony, and was there engaged in mercantile business the remainder of his active life, dying there, in 1886, aged sixty-six years. He married Eliza Bond, who was born in New Jersey, a daughter of Samuel and Har- riet ( Whittaker) Bond. She survived him, and now. a venerable woman of eighty-two years, is living in Harmony. Ten children were born of their union, all of whom are living, namely: Martha, Samuel Frederick, William, Harriet, George, Rose, Mary, Alice, Charles, and Della.
Having received a practical education in his Ohio home, Samuel. F. Adamson came to Harmony, this state, in February, 1868, and there began the struggle of life for himself, starting out even with the world. Working as a clerk until 1893. he obtained a good knowledge of mer- cantile business in its various branches, and, settling in Knightsville, opened a store of general merchandise, which he conducted successfully for a few years himself, giving his entire attention to its care. At the present time, 1908, Mr. Adamson's son, Clarence Clinton Adamson. who is a member of the firm, carries on the business principally. his father devoting his time to outside matters, dealing in real estate, and being inter- ested in farming.
On December 4, 1871, Mr. Adamson married Sarah J. Evans, who was born February 2, 1851, in Bartholomew county, Indiana, a daughter of William Evans. Her paternal grandfather, John Evans, was born in Pennsylvania, but in early life settled in West Virginia. A few years later he migrated to Butler county, Ohio, from there coming to Indiana, about 1844, to make his home with a son who had previously settled in Bartholo- mew county. William Evans, Mrs. Adamson's father, was brought up and married in Butler county. Ohio. In 1840 he entered a tract of gov- ernment land in Bartholomew county, near the east line of the county, and for his first dwelling place built a small cabin of round logs. This was subsequently replaced by a more pretentious house made of hewn logs, and in this domicile Mrs. Adamson first drew the breath of life. Selling that farm in 1856, Mr. Evans came to Van Buren township. Clay county, and having purchased a tract of partly improved land, engaged in tilling the soil for some time. Subsequently retiring from active pur- suits, he spent his last years in Harmony. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Phillips, was born in Butler county, Ohio, and died in Har- mony, Indiana. She reared seven children, namely: Mary, Susan. George, John, Elizabeth, Rachel, and Sarah J. Of the eight children
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born to Mr. and Mrs. Adamson, six are living, namely : Charles Clay, Monte May, Ora Etta, Clarence Clinton, Sarah Alice, and Claude Evans. Bernice Beulah died at the age of twenty-four years, and Blanche Beatrice when but eighteen years old. Fraternally Mr. Adamson is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 316, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows ; and of the Ben Hur Social Insurance Association. In politics he is a Republican, although in local affairs he votes independent of party restrictions for the best men and measures. In their religious beliefs the family are Methodists, attending and supporting the church of that denomination.
JESSE E. ALLEE .- Of pioneer stock on both sides of the house, Mr. Allee is a worthy and honored representative of those energetic, hardy and courageous men and women who came to Indiana in the early days of its settlement, bravely daring all the hardships and privations incidental to frontier life, in order to pave the way for those who followed, and that their children, and their children's children, might enjoy the com- forts and even the luxuries of life without the labor and toil which marked their lives. A son of John Allee, he was born, March, 1843, in Putnam county. His grandfather, William Allee, for many years a resi- dent of Kentucky, moved from there to Putnam county in 1835, being among its earlier settlers. That region was then in its virgin wildness, guiltless of railways or canals, and gave few, if any, evidences of civiliza- tion then existing. Continuing his occupation of a farmer, he resided there the remainder of his life, in the development of that section of the country giving good assistance.
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