CLAY COUNTY, INDIANA
BIOGRAPHIES

My Walker Family,         I have John Walker born around 1813 or a little later.Where he was born is still up in the air. Maybe Indiana or Ohio. He was married at least 2 times, maybe 3. I have put Rebecca ??? Walker on here also. I know nothing of her, just that she is Ozias Walkers mother. This is my line. John was said to be a traveling medicine man.Ozias was the only child that I know of between John and Rebecca. In 1865 John Walker married Barbara Ellen Reffett in Clay County Indiana. John was living in Missouri. The 1870 Hubble Township, Cape County Missouri John 57 Physician born in Indiana with wife Ellen 21 born in Indiana with children, Magdaline 11/mo Illinois, Zacharia 4 Illinois, Ozias 10 born in Marion Indiana. In the same area ia an older Ozias Walker 53 born in Vir.. Can not find a relationship here. Ozias Walker born January 11, 1861 in Marion Indiana and died in Delta Missouri January 29, 1943. He married Augusta Bornemann May 31, 1860 in Missouri. She was born February 11, 1867 in Whitewater Missouri and died  October 23, 1941 in Delta Missouri. Her father was August Bornemann ( A Doctor from Brunswick Germany ) and her mother was Mary Genter. Genter is spelled alot of different ways. They had 7 children.  John Albert born July 1, 1897, Mary Almina ( Minnie ) born July 6, 1887, Emma Lyda ( my grandmother) born March 8,1894, James Edward born April 4, 1901, Clarence born 1902, Jessie Lee born 1906, and Anna Elizabeth born September 10,1890. Agusta Bornemann Walker was Baptised September 22, 1881 at Fisk Missouri in a Luthern Church. The Baptismal Cert. is written in German. Judy - cte86005@centurytel.net
ADAM C. VEACH Adam C. Veach, a native of Kentucky, born in Harrison county, May 28, 1824, married Miss Helen Swinford, August 11, 1845. He moved to Indiana in the fall of 1852, locating at Augusta, Marion county, where he resided four years, then went to Indianapolis, where he engaged in the lumber business. In 1858 he came to Clay county, locating in Posey township and engaging in farming. In 1859 he was elected township trustee, and re-elected in April, 1860. He was nominated by the Democratic party in 1862 for representative and elected, serving at the session of 1863; renominated and re-elected in 1864. In the spring of 1865 he was again elected trustee, and re-elected in 1866, then, after an interval of four years, was again elected, serving the people of Posey township in this capacity about eight years. Mr. Veach was an ardent friend and stanch supporter of our public school system, having taken an active part in the revision of the school law at the session of the general assembly in 1865. While trustee he built a number of new school houses, including the two-story brick house at Staunton, the first of its kind in the county. Much credit is due to his memory for his interest and influence in the advancement of the cause of popular education. Mr. and Mrs. Veach were both well informed, interesting and entertaining conversationalists. Both were members of the Christian church. To them were born six children, Oscar, Lucius, Victoria, Charles, Patrick H., and Maggie. Mr. Veach died December 4, 1889, aged sixty-five years, six months and six days, and was survived by his wife, who is now nearly eighty-six years of age. SOURCE: FHL Film  928385
DR. PATRICK H. VEACH Dr. Patrick H. Veach, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Staunton, has attained prominence in the professional circles of Clay county. His professional career was begun as a school teacher, having previously passed from the district schools to the Central Normal, of which he is a graduate, and beginning in 1880 he taught in the district schools of Clay county for eight years. In 1886 he entered the drug business in Staunton, and after three years spent as a druggist he entered as a student the Medical College of Indiana and graduated with its class of 1891. Since that time he has practiced with ever increasing success in this city, enjoying a large and remunera- tive patronage. He was for a time a member of the U. S. pension examining board at Brazil, is a member of the State Medical Associations and in 1891 he was appointed the trustee of Posey township for a term of three years.     Dr. Veach was born in Jackson township, Clay county, Indiana, January 2, 1862, a son of Adam C. Veach, who was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, May 22, 1824. He was reared and educated there, and was later married there to one of the county’s native daughters, Helen Swinford, who was born November 22, 1822, and they were of Scotch and German descent. They became the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters. In about 1855 Adam C. Veach moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, and embarked in the saw milling business, while later, in 1860, he came with his family to Clay county, and located on forty acres of land which he purchased near Staunton in Posey township, continuing as a farmer there until his death at the age of sixty-five years. From the Whigs of the early days be transferred his political allegiance to the Democratic party and became prominent in the public life of his community. From 1862 to 1864 he served his district in the legislature, and during twelve years he was a trustee of Posey township.     On the 30th of December, 1891, Dr. Veach was married to Miss Mattie N. Wardlaw, and they have three children, all born in Staunton,namely: Lester W., born February 8, 1893; Albert C., June 15, 1894; and Katherine E., October 13, 1903. Dr. Veach has membership relations with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Red Men and the Knights of Pythias, and his political views are in harmony with the principles of the Democratic party. He owns considerable real estate in Staunton, and is numbered among the city’s leading business as well as professional men. SOURCE: FHL Film  928385
ELISHA F. COOPRIDER Among the best-known and most highlyesteemed residents of Clay City is Elisha F. Cooprider, a representative of one of the earliest families to make a permanent settlement in Clay county. A native of Harrison township, he was born October 29, 1833, and is the only surviving son of John and Elizabeth (Fleshman) Cooprider of whom a sketch may he found elsewhere in this biographical     Born and bred in pioneer times, Elisha F. Cooprider obtained his early education in the rude log schoolhouse, with plain slab benches for seats, while on a board placed against one side of the wall the pupils took turns in writing. Light was admitted through a piece of glass inserted in place of one log, and the children sitting on the front benches were nearly roasted by the intense heat from the fireplace, while those in the rear of the room almost perished from the cold. In the days of his youth the country roundabout was in its pristine wildness, and deer, turkeys and other game was abundant, He was a hunter of some note, and relates that on his last hunting expedition he and his brother started a lot of deer on the present site of Clay City, and before night had killed six of them. Learning the carpenter’s trade. Mr. Cooprider, with his brother, Washington, erected the first frame house built on the present site of the village of Middlebury. He remained an inmate of the parental household until his marriage, after which he lived for a number of years on the home estate. Mr. Cooprider then purchased a part of the Storm homestead, had it surveyed and platted, and made an addition to Clay City. He continued in his chosen occupation, that of a farmer, until 1897, when he rented his property and removed to Missouri. Purchasing a farm, in Bates county, he carried on general farming there for six years, when he sold out and returned to Clay City, where he has since resided.     Mr. Cooprider married, February 6, 1859, Christina Storm, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, a daughter of George Storm and granddaughter of John Storm. John Storm was born at Crab Orchard, Kentucky, of German ancestors. His mother died when he was a small boy, and his father married again. Not liking his step-mother he ran away from home, going to Pennsylvania, where he resided several years. From there he moved with his wife and children to Ohio, settling in Mill Creek, Coshocton county, where he entered eighty acres of government land, from which he cleared and improved a farm. When he located there the country in that vicinity was but a dense forest, and the nearest neighbor was seven miles away. Deer, turkeys, bears and wild hogs were plentiful, and Indians roamed at will through the wilderness. He spent the remainder of his life on the homestead which he improved, in the meantime seeing the country well settled, having taken an active part in developing and advancing its agricultural resources. The maiden name of his wife was Bettie Slonaker, and she proved herself a true and constant helpmate to him.     George Storm, Mrs. Coopriders father, was born in Pennsylvania, and when a boy went with his parents to Ohio, assisting in driving the stock during the overland trip. He grew to manhood in Coshocton county, and after his marriage bought a tract of land near Bedford, and was there employed as a tiller of the soil for a number of seasons. Selling his Ohio property in 1856, he started across the country for Indiana and after journeying for twelve days arrived in Clay county. He subsequently located in section thirty, Harrison township, where he bought a tract of land now included within the limits of Clay City, and was there engaged in farming until his death, in 1867. He married Barbara Miller, who was born in Westmoreland county Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Smith) Miller. She survived him many years, passing away August 1, 1891. When the railroad was built in Clay City she platted a part of her farm, making forty-eight lots, which extended on both sides of Main street as far south as Seventh street. The place was first called Markland, but there being already a town of that name it was subsequently changed to Clay City, its present name. Mr. and Mrs. George Storm reared eleven children, namely John. Adam, Elizabeth, Mary, George, Jacob, Lucinda, Christina, Andrew’ Jackson, Sarah and Ananias.     Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Cooprider are faithful members of the Baptist church. and politically Mr. Cooprider has been a stanch Democrat since casting his first presidential vote, in 1856, for Stephen A. Douglas. SOURCE: FHL Film  928385

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