266                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

wife and only son, Calvin Presnell. After his death Mrs. Presnell made
her home with the son, on the farm, two miles south of Center Point,
where she died July 4, 1897, aged 79 years, 3 months and 3 days.
    By the terms of the will made by the father, the son, Calvin Presnell,
was appointed executor, who was required to file bond in the sum of
$130,000, the largest ever given in the county up to that time by any
one executor into whose hands was committed the settlement of an indi-
vidual estate. In the estate of Robert M. Wingate, settled thirty years
ago, under the provisions of the will there were three executors—James
M. Nees, Will P. Blair and John Hendrix—each of whom gave bond in
the sum of $60,000, a total of $180,000.

    Morgan B. Ringo, native of Kentucky, born in Henry county, March
23, 1818, son of Major and Elizabeth (Bryant) Ringo, also native Ken-
tuckians; came to Clay county in April, 1833, when our subject was
fifteen years of age, the family settling in Posey township. At some time
in the year 1842 he married Mary Ann McKinley, daughter of George
G.  McKinley, a pioneer settler on the National road, near the present
town of Harmony. By diligence in application and study and attend-
ance at the public schools of that day, both in Kentucky and Indiana, he
acquired a fair education. In his early manhood he identified himself
with the agricultural interests of his adopted county, acquiring lands of
his own, which he improved and cultivated with more than ordinary
attention and care and with well directed efforts, devoting a share of his
time to the improvement of his stock, as well as to the proper usage of
his lands. He was regarded the model farmer of his time, both in
methods and results. By persistent industry and rigid economy, he
acquired not only a competency, but an estate, also, owning at the time
of his death 1,288 acres of land in this county. The family homestead
was in Cass township, west side of Eel river, a part of which is now
owned and occupied by the younger son, Walter B. Ringo. For some
years before his death Mr. Ringo was the heaviest taxpayer in the county.
    Politically he was a Whig up to the time of the dissolution of that
party, when he affiliated with the Democratic party. In 1872 he was
nominated for state senator and elected, serving at the legislative ses-
sions of 1873 and 1875. Having all along been an ardent advocate of
the cause of temperance, to which his every-day life conformed, when
in the General Assembly he aligned himself with the supporters of the
Baxter local option law, passed at session of 1873. Both he and Mrs.
Ringo were devoted patrons and promoters of the Sunday school, having
at an early day organized and supported one of the primitive Sunday
schools of the county at their home. Both were devoted and helpful
members of the M. E. church. In this family were six children, three
sons and three daughters, all of whom married, the sons and one of the
daughters surviving. Morgan B. Ringo died December 25. 1878, aged 59
years, 9 months and 2 days. survived by his wife.

    Amos W. Hedge, native of Pennsylvania, born at Harrisburg. De-
cember 16, 1796, the family emigrating to Columbus, Ohio, in his child-
hood, where he continued to live until grown to manhood, when, in 1816,
he came out into the Wabash country, thence to Harrison county, where.
on the 7th day of March. 1822, he married Jane Wright, who was born
May 1, 1781. In 1834 he came to Clay county and bought forty acres