170                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

    The U. B. church at this place was built in the year 1899 and dedi-
cated on the 18th day of June, by Bishop N. A. Castle.

                        PRATTVILLE

    Prattville, on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, in Dick Johnson
township, founded by James M. Halbert, in 1871. During the time of
the existence of this place as a business point and station on the railroad,
it was known as Lodi, the name originally intended, but as it was neces-
sary to select a different name for the postoffice, the Department named
it Pratt, in honor of Daniel D. Pratt, then a United States Senator from
Indiana. Then, to conform to the name of the postoffice, the town was
from that time known as Prattville. This is the only instance in the
history of the county of a point’s having three distinct names for the
town, the postoffice, and the railroad station. James M. Halbert, the
proprietor, was the first merchant and postmaster. As a town-site, post-
office and business point this place has been practically abandoned.
                        STEARLEYVILLE.
    Stearleyville, a town—site, station and former postoffice in the south
part of Jackson township, on the line of the Center Point division of the
Vandalia Railroad, two miles north of Center Point, so named for the
reason that it was founded by George Stearley, on his premises in 1891.
The postoffice was established in 1892, and discontinued in 1902 suc-
ceeded by rural delivery. The postmasters were James T. Carrithers
and Edward Shults. The first business house was erected on the south-
cast corner of the crossing. on the premises of Dr. B. F. Holmes. which
was burned several years later, when Stearley put up a business room
on the opposite or northwest corner of the crossing, which is still
occupied. The merchants of the place have been Edward Arnink. John
Hoffman, Stigler Brothers and Edward Shults. A German Reform
church was erected here, known as St. Peters, perhaps prior to the found-
ing of the town-plat.
                            WHITTINGTON.
    Whittington, in Jackson township, four miles southeast of Brazil,
founded in 1873, by John G. Ackelmire, John Andrew and R. M. Win-
gate, named for John Whittington, because of its location, in part, on his
farm. The founders were interested in coal lands at this point, where,
at the same time, they put down and operated the “Hoosier’’ shaft, on the
northwest side, from which the postoffice. established in 1874, was named
Hoosierville. By common consent and usage the town soon became
known by the same name. The postmasters, during the thirty—four years
of the existence of this office, when it was succeeded by rural delivery,
were Noah Auman, Esau Bolin. D. N. Barnett. Ellen Thompson. Esau
Bolin. The first merchant was Dr. Lynch, of Greencastle, followed by
Sturdevant & Auman, Leason B. Pruner, W. S. Zenor, D. N. Barnett.
James Thompson, John Bolin. Esau Bolin. The two-story brick school-
house at this place was built by Trustee John W. Winn. in 1891 The
practicing physicians have been: John Lynch. B. F. Holmes, G. NV.
McMillan, H A. Davis Dr. Myrtle, A. H. Nall, Henry Muncie. Popu-
lation 100 This town site is the nearest in the county to the center of
population.
                        ASHERVILLE.
Asherville a town and postoffice in Jackson township six miles
southeast of Brazil on the Center Point division on of the Vandalia Rail-
road so named by the projector and founder, John Asher whose