208                                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

which he was president until the year 1901, when, disposing of his inter-
ests in this institution, he again organized the National Bank of Childress,
of which he was president, until the first of July, 1907, when he sold out
his interests therein. In connection with his banking interests he was
also largely engaged in the cattle business for a number of years. At
one time, before closing out his cattle interests, himself and partner had
5,000 head and 40,000 acres of land. Mr. Fires is now engaged in the
oil business at Nowata, Oklahoma.
    Though actively engaged in and closely identified with, the politics
of the state, he has held no official position other than that already named,
lending his aid and efforts to the promotion of the aspirations of his
friends. In the year 1900 he was the delegate from his district in the
National Democratic convention at Kansas City.
    On the 15th day of May, 1889, he married Miss Maggie Warnick,
of Bloomfield (Indiana). They have three children, all Texans.
    In a letter under date of May 2, 1908, Mr. Fires concludes with the
following significant paragraphs detailing his experience and career:
    “When I first came to this county it was wild—wild game in abun-
dance, and the festive cowboy monarch of all this vast domain. But it
is different now. The country is becoming thickly settled. Our town
has grown to a population of 5,000, and I am proud to be able to say,
with no spirit of boasting, that I have been permitted to be in a measure
instrumental in adding to its prosperity.
    “Coming, again, to the main subject, I want to say, too, that I am
proud of the fact that Peter T. Luther, of Brazil, was my first teacher,
and that Hon. John C. Chaney was my last, both of whom so taught me
that my impressions of them will go with me all through life.”

    Cornelius W. Crouse, native of Owen county, born near Hauser-
town, June 25, 1853, eldest of a family of eight children ; brought up on
his father’s farm, near the Clay county line, attending the common
schools of the neighborhood until eighteen years of age, and at nineteen
began teaching in the public schools of Harrison township, Clay county.
When twenty-three, in 1876, he married Miss Elizabeth Burger, daughter
of Samuel J. Burger, of Owen county, to whom have been born four
children, only one living, Roswell E. Crouse, who is a prosperous mer-
chant at Sacaton, Arizona, among the Pima Indians, on the Gila river.
    The Crouse family, which is of German descent, has been well repre-
sented in the wars of this country. Our subject’s great-grandfather
fought for American independence, having been an active participant in
the battle of the Cowpens, South Carolina, and his father, William H.
Crouse, a soldier in the Union army, participating in the battles at Frank-
lin and Nashville and minor engagements.
    After having taught eight years, Mr. Crouse entered the State Nor-
mal school, from which he graduated in 1883, receiving his diploma in
1885. He is also a graduate of the Terre Haute Commercial College.
Subsequently, he had charge of the public schools of Cardonia, Benwood,
Harmony and Knightsville, which he superintended and taught success-
fully.
    In 1889 President Harrison appointed him Indian agent for the
Pima, Papago and Maricopa Indians in Arizona, serving in this capacity
during that administration. In 1892 he organized the Mesa City Bank,
of which he was vice-president for five years. Was elected probate