HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      223

member of the fire department, is now a citizen of Cherryvale, Kansas,
having immigrated to the Sunflower state some years ago. When For-
tune knocked at his door, in his adopted state, he was at home and
responded promptly to her call, and was led into association, in some
capacity, with an electric railroad company, and in due time rose to posi-
tion. It is said that he is now a ‘promoter” in interurban railroad con-
struction circles and rated at $100,000.

    Marion I. Nicoson, a native of Clay county, son of William L.
Nicoson and wife, of Dick Johnson township, formerly a teacher in the
public schools of this county, who went to the west sixteen years ago,
having chosen to engage permanently in the ministry, is at this time
pastor of the Christian church at Memphis, Missouri. His success and
high standing in the profession have brought him calls to pastorates at
important points in different states. Previous to his location at Memphis
he accepted and filled satisfactorily and with credit to himself similar
positions at Aurora, Missouri, Keokuk, Iowa, and Grand Junction,
Colorado.

    Ernest R. Keith, a native of Clay county, son of R. L. Keith and
wife, born at Bowling Green, August 30, 1866; attended the public schools
of Bowling Green and Brazil, and later the University of Ann Arbor,
from the law department of which he graduated, then located at Indian-
apolis. In the month of October, 1894, he married Mary Bryson, a
native of Brazil. In the profession of the law at the state capital he has
been successful in developing a busy, lucrative and permanent practice,
with the forecast of greater volume and returns in the future.

    Edward Knight, a native of Clay county, born at Brazil, youngest
son of Hon. George A. Knight, is also a member of the Indianapolis bar,
who has achieved success and reputation in his profession, with a promis-
ing future in the legal circles of the state capital. He is 32 years of age
and is married.

    Louis Siegel, a native of Clay county, son of Samuel Siegel and
wife, who resided many years at Brazil, has won the appreciation and
plaudits of the critics and musical circles of Europe as a violinist, reflect-
ing enviable credit upon his native city of Brazil. An Indianapolis musi-
cian who recently attended a concert of foreign masters at Berlin said
of him:
    “Another event in the history of musical Berlin was the concert given
by Louis Siegel, which was doubly attractive, as Ysaye conducted the
orchestra. It will be of interest to Indiana people to know that the man
Siegel was born in Brazil. At the time when he left his home for Europe
great things were predicted for him, and, good to say, those things have
been realized. He was one of the few to be right with Ysaye several
years, spending the summers with him at Godine, near Brussels, where
he accepts a very few pupils and works hard with them.”

    John P. Koehier is at Wichita, Kansas, engaged in the real estate
business, where Alpheus Dillon is also located. Both were former Clay
countians, prominent as teachers in the public schools and in other
capacities.