116                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

Shoe Maker—Thomas Desart, south side west Main street; Painter and
Glazier—James M. Mortimer, Depot street; Hotel (Brazil House), Alden
Webster, present Brattin corner; Carpenter and Builder—James H.
Allison, shops near Vandalia depot; Insurance Agents—Edward S.
Hussey, James M. Oliver; Justices of the Peace—Isaac M. Compton,
for Van Buren township, Fielding M. Sampson, for Dick Johnson town-
ship; Practicing Physicians—James M. Price, Isaac S. Leabo, L. S.
Bemis. Among the physicians prior to these were A. W. Knight, John
Potts, Dr. Morris. The only attorney, then, was George A. Knight.
    The Hendrix Brothers did the smithing at that time, in the main,
but Cyrus Y. Moore and Adam Storm were also resident blacksmiths,
who worked on South Franklin street, as remembered. The principal
carpenters and builders, then, were Gonter and Hays; but there were
others, also. The plasterers were Samuel Harris, Asa Thomas, Miles
Burr, Uriah Stewart, David Keeler and William Travis.
    In designating locations, streets have been named as at present
recognized, but from the Independent, it is seen that South Meridian
was then known as “Depot,” South Franklin as “Locust” and South
Walnut as "Mulberry".
    A census taken in the fall of 1866 with the view to the incorporation
of the town showed a population of 843, a gain of 115 per cent for the
preceding nine years.