HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      153

been one of the industries of the town, for a time, within the first twenty
years of its history.
    Coal was mined here at a very early day, and immense quantities
produced and shipped. Many mines were operated in this field. This
was the home of Michael Combs, who is credited with having not only
discovered, but with having developed and shipped the first coal produced
within the county.
    Here was erected the first two-story brick district schoolhouse in
the county, built by Trustee Adam C. Veach in 1868, completed in 1869,
at a cost of $6,000.
    Staunton was incorporated in 1873, having then a population of 554,
the preliminary election having taken place on Saturday, June 28th,
when 107 votes were cast—85 in favor of and 22 against the proposition.
    Four church societies and as many houses of worship are maintained
at this place—Christian, Methodist, New Light and German Lutheran,
of which the last named was dedicated November 3, 1872. As to time of
dedication and details pertaining to the other churches there are no
reliable data at hand from which to write.
    During the first ten or more years of its history Staunton was the
rival of Brazil commercially and industrially and ranked, for a time, as
the most important shipping point and railroad center in the county.
It was then, in the business sense, what Williamstown and Cloverland
had previously been. Then, emigration to Clay county and the borders
of Owen knew more of “Highland” than of Brazil and had their goods
shipped to this point, when, also, grain and other products were hauled
here for market and shipment. The time was when Brazil’s population
was dependent on Staunton and Cloverland for bread stuff—when the
average Brazilian, out of bread, would take in hand a “pillowslip” or
dishpan and go to Bob Conley’s or to George Kress’s grocery store and
have scooped into it a baking of flour from a barrel which had been
hauled from the mill at one of the points named and left for sale on
commission. In midwinter, when the mud was too deep to haul a barrel
of flour, the dernier resort of the breadless Brazilian was to buy a bushel
of corn from “Uncle Johnny Hendrix” or other adjacent farmer and
borrow one of his horses to go to Staunton to mill. Reminiscently, in
this connection, it is a distinct recollection of the writer, that in the month
of October, 1859, wanting a peck of cornmeal, which the Brazil market
did not afford, he walked to the Cloverland mill, bought and carried home
the meal, a round trip of twelve miles. Such were the diversions and
luxuries of “Brazil’s 400,” just half a century ago. Staunton, at a time,
also, maintained a line of daily communication with Bowling Green,  by
hack, when the town of Center Point and Bowling Green people, in part,
transacted their express business at this point. This place is the residence
of Rev. Samuel Slavens, now the oldest native resident of Posey township.
A phenomenal fatality befell a prominent citizen and familiar character
of this place thirty-nine years ago. All the surviving residents of that
time have distinct recollection of P. H. Veach Sr., uncle of Dr. P. H.
Veach, whom everyone knew as “Pat.” In those days Staunton usually
maintained a debating society during the winter season. In this circle
Pat was accorded an honorable position and was regarded an able debater.
Though comparatively a young man, while on the floor making an argu-
ment at a meeting of the society, in the month of March, 1870, he was