310                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

at the time of his death was probate judge of the county. Dempsey Sey-
bold, Jr., grew up on the farm, of which he took charge when but fourteen
years of age. At twenty-one he and a brother rented the farm. On the
first day of June, 1850, he married Margaret Martin, of Parke county,
who died August 17, 1863, leaving four of the seven children born to them.
In 1864 he married Nancy F. Martin, sister of the deceased wife. She
died in 1866, leaving one daughter. For his third wife he married Mrs.
Mary Hansel, to whom were born two children. Dempsey Seybold has
enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and fellow-citizens all
along through life. In 1857 he was elected a member of the board of
township trustees, then re-elected to the same position. He has rendered
the community a most substantial service in the settlement of estates,
having disposed of thirty or more, some of which were much complicated,
having rendered satisfaction in this capacity all along the line. In 1860 he
was largely instrumental in organizing and putting on foot the Bridgeton
district fair, and in 1879 was a member of the State Board of Agriculture,
the first and only Clay countian ever honored with this position, and was
also the superintendent of the cattle department of the state fair for the
same year. In 1880 he was nominated by the Republican party for mem-
ber of the State Legislature and defeated by a majority of only sixty-two
votes.

    Jacob I. Baker, native of the state of Pennsylvania, born October 3,
1826; emigrated with the family to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in his boy-
hood. coming to Owen county, Indiana, about the year 1850. On the 5th
day of September, 1852, he married Fannie Mischler, then engaged in
farming for several years, residing meanwhile in Marion township, Owen
county. About the year 1860 he engaged in merchandising at Middlebury.
In partnership with John Row he opened one of the first general stores at
Clay City, in 1874. Later, he located on the farm, adjoining Clay City on
the east. At some time in the eighties he engaged again in the store busi-
ness at Middlebury and was postmaster for a time under the first Cleve-
land administration. In the year 1857 he united with the Brethren (Dun-
kard) church. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker were born nine children, seven of
whom survive, of whom John Baker, present marshal of Clay City, is the
eldest son. He died June 6, 1890, aged sixty-four years.

    Daniel S. Maurer, a native of Ohio, son of Jesse and Margaret (Fer-
ree) Maurer, born in Richland county, January 9, 1846. Jesse Maurer
was a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania, born May 23, 1816, his parents
of German descent, and he the eldest of a family of twenty-two children,
his father, Jacob Maurer, having been twice married. Margaret, the
mother, was born July 13, 1818, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania,
whose parents were William and Mary (Raab) Ferree. In 1850 the par-
ents of Daniel S. Maurer emigrated from Richland county, Ohio, to Clay
county, Indiana, and purchased land in Jackson township, where he grew
up on the farm, attending the public schools in the winter season, usually
about three months. In the spring of 1865 he attended a term of school
at Center Point, taught by William Travis, who was then county superin-
tendent, and the following fall attended another term, taught by Mr.
Travis and C. P. Eppert, and was then licensed to teach, which he contin-
ued to do for twenty-five years, and during four years of this time was
county surveyor, elected in 1876 and re-elected in 1878. By close applica-
tion he raised his grade of license from six months to two years.