HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                              163

Haute and Greencastle and the second in Clay county was built here in
1855, by Jacob Carpenter, George W. Eppert and John G. Ackelmire,
named “Buffalo” Mills, destroyed by fire in 1881. As this place is in
the coal field, which has been recently developed, and on the Terre Haute
and Indianapolis Traction line, it has made some growth and improve-
ment for the few years past. It is a desirable location for residences and
within easy reach of both Brazil and Terre Haute. Among the early
inhabitants of the town who contributed to the development, reputation
and stability of the place, socially, industrially and otherwise was the
George Carpenter family, of whom several worthy representatives con-
tinue to reside there. Among the early merchants of the town were Jesse
Redifer and James M. Lucas, of whom the latter was the first postmaster,
holding the position sixteen years, and was succeeded by Jacob A. Car-
penter. Other merchants were G. W. Eppert, Carpenter & Hoskins,
F. J. S. Robinson, George W. Moore, John Lucas.
    Of the practicing physicians located here may be named Drs. F. B.
McCullough, R. C. Black, D. W. Cushman, Harold Pierce.
    This place was for many years the residence of Adam H. Bowles,
who was the first white child born within the township.
    United Brethren and Christian churches are maintained here.
    Cloverland has an estimated population of 200.

                        CARDONIA.
    Cardonia, a town in the western central part of Van Buren town-
ship, three and a half miles northeast of Brazil, near the line of the
Central Indiana (formerly the Chicago & Southeastern) Railroad founded
in 1871, by the Clay County Coal Company, and named in honor of John
F. Card, who was at the time the president of this company. The old
cross-roads at the Easter schoolhouse, on the hill, are the intersection of
the two principal streets of the town, the plat including all the four cor-
ners, the company’s store building covering the site on which stood the
district schoolhouse of more than forty years ago. The first postoffice
here, which was granted in the latter part of the year 1873, was named
Alexander, in honor of John S. Alexander, who acknowledged the execu-
tion of the plat of the town, May 25, 1872, by his attorney, William H.
Zimmerman, then changed, at a later date, to conform to the name of
the town. This office was discontinued in 1904, Postmaster Richard
Rayboldt having resigned. A few months later D. W. V. Morton, the
druggist of the town, consenting to accept the position, the office, on
petition, was reinstated. Other postmasters were W. D. Black, James
Price, George Easter, Jr., and Edward Crosser. Mail delivery to this
office was for a number of years by the Carbon-Brazil stage, or hack line,
and later, for a time, by the Chicago & Southeastern Railroad, a carrier
making the daily trips between the office and the point on the railroad
popularly known as “Sundown.”
    Among the merchants of the town were Pliny F. Sharp, W. D. Black,
A. P. Hand, Isaac Barnett, — Burger, B. F. Witty, Edward Crosser,
John L. Morgan, Benjamin Reybold, D. W. V. Morton.
    Of the practicing physicians were Drs. Price, Morgan and Gilbert.
    A two-story frame department schoolhouse and a Congregational
church are maintained here. Antedating the founding of the town, ten
years, perhaps, a Christian church occupied the northeast corner of the
public crossing, a site now in the central part of the town, of which
church society Elder Isaac Nicoson, a resident of the immediate locality,