HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      257

years. He was also a teacher in the public schools of Owen and Clay
counties. In 1898 he left Middlebury, locating at Terre Haute, where
he resided until his death, November 14, 1904, aged 75 years, 10 months
and 24 days, his wife dying in April following. Both were consigned to
Mother Earth in the cemetery at Jordan village, Owen county.

    Daniel Zenor, native of Harrison county, Indiana, born May 7, 1811:
came to the territory of Clay county before its organization, when but a
boy, the family locating near the site of Bowling Green. On the 16th day
of August, 1832, he married Elizabeth Leonard, with whom he lived
fifty-seven years, who preceded him in death. There were born unto
them eight children, only two of whom now survive, John H. Zenor
and Joseph M. Zenor. Daniel Zenor was one of the pioneer, honest and
hardy sons of toil, who, by their deprivations and sacrifices, laid the
foundations of civilization and society in Clay county. He died March
29, 1890, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Joseph M. Boothe, at Bowling
Green, aged 78 years, 10 months and 22 days.

    Walter C. Elkin, native of Kentucky, born in Woodford county,
March 1, 1832, son of Merryman and Susan (Bailey) Elkins, both natives
of Kentucky, the family coming to Clay county, Indiana in 1834, locating
at Bowling Green, where the father engaged in the mercantile business,
one of the pioneer merchants of the county. Here, in his boyhood, the
subject of this sketch took advantage of such school facilities as were
afforded at that time, including, later, a course of two years at Asbury
University. He then read law two years with D. E. Williamson. At the
age of twenty-one he also engaged in merchandising. On the 30th day
of October, 1854, he married Miss Maria Markle. In 1857 he went onto
the farm, where he lived until 1861, when he enlisted in Company I,
Twenty-first Indiana Infantry, afterward Heavy Artillery, and was in
active service up to October 31, 1863, when he was mustered out for disa-
bility, having been previously promoted to a lieutenancy. In 1860 he
was elected justice of the peace, which he resigned on joining the army
the following year. In the year 1864 he was the Republican candidate
for county recorder. After his return home from the army he was again
elected justice of the peace. In March, 1874, he left Bowling Green
and located at Middlebury in the practice of the law, where he engaged,
also, in hotel-keeping for two or three years. On April 1, 1880, he moved
to Clay City, devoting his remaining years to the law. “Wat Elkin,”
as he was familiarly known to every one, was liberally endowed by nature,
having a genius for painting. As a self-made artist he penciled land-
scapes and other specimens which would have done credit to even a trained
hand. He died January 17, 1892, aged 59 years, 10 months and 16 days,
survived by his wife (who still lives), son and daughter, Fred M. Elkin,
of Oklahoma, and Mrs. Nellie Harris, of Chicago.

    Absalom B. Wheeler, native of Clay county, born near the site of
Bowling Green, April 30, 1825, the first birth within the territory after
the act of the legislature organizing the county; brought up on the farm,
and at the age of nineteen began life for himself. At some time in the
year 1845 he married Miss Jane Lowdermilk, and soon thereafter acquired
eighty acres of land in the southwest part of Jackson township, on the
old Bowling Green-Brazil road, on which he platted the Prairie City town-

Vol. I—17