164                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

is said to have been the pioneer pastor. This was, perhaps, the first and
only instance in the geography and history of the county that the original
plat in the founding of a town-site covered the ground occupied by both
a schoolhouse and a church, doing away with both.
    In its early history Cardonia was distinctly a mining town, with coal
works in the immediate vicinity, when, at times, its population would have
numbered from three to four hundred, but as the field of coal production
receded, the population, business and life of the place was correspondingly
affected. Lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of
Honor, Independent Order of Good Templars, and Chosen Friends, have
been maintained here. Estimated population at present 250.

                            NEWBURG.
    Newburg, a station on the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad, in
Posey township, two miles southwest of Brazil, founded by Joshua M.
Modesitt, in 1854, but for what reason, if any, it was given this name
in preference to any other does not appear. This place lies on the border
line between the block and the bituminous coal areas, and was for many
years the home of the veteran operator Peter Ehrlisch, deceased, the
surviving brother, Christian Ehrlisch, who was associated with him, still
residing here. The name of the first postoffice here, which was in
existence at the time of the Civil war, was Sherman, so named, perhaps,
in honor of General William T. Sherman, which, after a few years, was
discontinued. At some time in the seventies it was re-established and
named Turner, in honor of Rev. Turner, of the Friends’ church, Indian-
apolis, president of the Indianapolis Mining, Coal & Coke Company, who
had large interests in the way of investments here in mineral lands and
their development.
    The postmasters, as remembered by the present population of the
village, were: Ben I. Tribble, Joseph Spry, Allen Payne, Henry M.
Pierce, Fred Meckel, Jacob F. Houser (present incumbent). Mary Ellen
Tribble, daughter of the postmaster, usually performed the duties of the
office under the administration of her father. John Pomeroy is said to
have been a deputy for a time under Postmaster Pierce. Fred Meckel,
deceased, had the office for nearly a quarter of a century.
    The merchants of the town remembered, including the present ones,
may be named as follows: Allen Payne, John Minnis, David Carmichael,
Thomas Finnigan, Frank Shepperd, Joseph Spry, William Haywood,
Perry Johnson, Henry M. Pierce, The Ehrlisch Company, Fred Meckel
(succeeded by his son), and Jacob F. Houser.
    A potter shop was operated here for some time, by Doiph Clarke, on
the site now occupied by the United Brethren church, which was built
and dedicated in 1886.
    The physicians were Drs. Payne and Gerstmeyer.

                                BENWOOD.

    Benwood, a town in Van Buren township, three and a half miles
northeast of Brazil, founded by Franklin and Martha Casteel, in 1871.
Through in the developed area of the coal field and populated largely by
miners employed at the shafts thereabout, this place did not derive its
name from this circumstance. Owing to the fact that the lands of Van
Buren township were heavily timbered, much of the cord-wood delivered
to the Vandalia Railroad for fuel prior to the use of coal, was cut on the
Casteel and surrounding grounds, to which frequent visits were made
by the railroad company’s inspector and receiver, who was familiarly