272                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY


under the firm name of Luther & Luther, which began business on the
first day of December, 1899.
    On the 29th day of August, 1867, Mr. Luther married Mary E. Crist,
a native of Lewis township. To them were born five children, of whom a
son and two daughters survive, all of whom are married.
    William Luther, the father, died December 18, 1864, aged 57 years, 1
month and 21 days. Nicholas M. Crist, father of Mrs. Luther, died
July 18, 1886, aged 62 years, 7 months and 4 days. Crist was a native of
Clark county, Indiana.
    Of the native-born population of Clay county there are now but few
in P. T. Luthers class in points of age and experience. Substantially, the
county has developed under his observation, so that, in points of personal
acquaintance, practical knowledge of the county’s archives and familiar
recollection of past times and events, traditional and otherwise, he is
accepted as a veritable magazine of facts and figures in its history.

    Thomas Phillips, native of Clay county, born in Perry township,
March 3, 1864; brought up on the farm, attending the public schools in the
winter season. Leaving the farm at twenty-two years of age, he found
employment as clerk in business houses at different places in Indiana,
Kansas and Colorado, for the period of about five years. In the year 1891
he accepted a position in the county auditor’s office, until the death of
Matt R. Yocum, when, on the first day of February, 1894, he was ap-
pointed to fill out the unexpired term, and in the fall of the same year
elected by the Democratic party to the full term of four years. On the
30th day of December, 1891, he married Miss Kate Stewart, daughter of
Robert S. Stewart, one of the first settlers on the site of the city of Brazil.
Since retiring from the auditor’s office he has been engaged, mainly, in the
real estate business, for a time with ex-Recorder D. C. Gilfillan, but for
several years past and at the present time, as senior member of the real
estate agency of Phillips & Weaver.

    John Strauch, native of Germany, born July 13, 1837, his parents
coming to the United States when he was but one year old, landing at
New York City, going thence to Monroe county, Ohio, where they lived
five years before coming to Indiana. As the father was a minister he did
not locate permanently, but lived at Fort Wayne, New Albany, and other
points, as called by his church engagements, going to Jeffersonville to live
on his retirement from the ministry. Having lived much of his time in
the cities of that day, John had the best of opportunities for acquiring an
education, which he improved. At eighteen years of age he learned car-
pentry, at which he worked about twelve years, when he turned his atten-
tion to farming, coming to Clay county in 1856. On the 6th day of
March, 1858, he married Miss Mary Knippe, and continued to live on
the farm, near Poland. In 1872 he was placed on the Republican county
ticket for sheriff and elected, serving the term of two years; was renomi-
nated in 1874, but defeated, when he returned to the farm. His deputies
during his official term were John J. Huffman, for a time, then Lewis
Stone, both of Cass township. He died February 2, 1889, aged 51 years,
6 months and 16 days.

    Samuel Anderson, native of England, of Scottish parents, the father
a marine in the British service, born May 15, 1843, in Chatham Bar-