18                       HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

grain and gardens of fruits, gave immediate promise of a new and better
era in the development and future of this territory and the county at
large. Of the Tribble brothers, the fates dealt more graciously with
Hiram than with Robert. The latter acquired and lived on the land
afterward owned and occupied by Samuel Adams, and later by Jacob
Steuerwalt. Soon after locating here and while felling the forest trees
he was caught and crushed to death. His burial was the first interment
in the Grimes cemetery on the adjoining premises. But a few years later
Hiram was elected sheriff of the county. Thomas Carrithers built the
first frame house in this territory, which he afterward sold to Jonathan
Crimes, and he to the canal company, or Henry Jameson, and which is
still standing on the border of the town plat of Saline. George Grimes
built the first brick house, on the highest ground in the township in the
year 1842.