14                  HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

1869, at Bainbridge, Indiana, to Miss Helen E. Ader, daughter of David
and Elizabeth (Aidridge) Ader. She was born in Putnam county,
Indiana, December 1, 1845. Her father was born in North Carolina and
came to Indiana at an early day, locating in Putnam county, where he
followed farming and cattle raising. Politically, he was a Democrat.
He was the father of four children, Mrs. Sherfey being the eldest child.
His wife was a native of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Sherfey are the parents
of four sons and two daughters, as follows: David A.; Charles W.;
Winfield E.; Mary McNeill; Elizabeth A.; and Henry E. Mr. Sherfey
has in his possession a complete genealogy of the Sherfey family—dating
from March 15, 1735.

    WILLIAM LEAVITT, SR., dependent upon his own resources from
the age of fifteen years, has gradually worked his way upward, his career
characterized by an orderly progression which has resulted from the
determination which he has displayed in the accomplishment of every-
thing that he has undertaken. He has been identified with the industrial
development of Brazil and in more recent years with its substantial and
material growth through his real estate operations.
    A native of Ohio, Mr. Leavitt was born in Trumbull county, October
11, 1844, his parents being John and Minerva (Rodgers) Leavitt, both
of whom were natives of Ohio. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Leavitt,
removed from Connecticut to the Buckeye state at an early period in its
history in company with his father, John Leavitt, in whose honor the town
of Leavittsburg, Ohio, was named. The family were prominent and
active in the development of the part of the state in which they located
and their connection with its pioneer history is perpetuated by the naming
of the town. The marriage of John Leavitt and Minerva Rodgers was
celebrated in Leavittsburg, Ohio, and their last days were spent in Girard
Ohio. The father was a stock dealer and farmer and in the course of
an active life bought and sold many horses. His political views endorsed
the principles of the Whig party. Unto him and his wife were born
three sons and two daughters, and of this family of five all are yet living
with the exception of Joseph, the third in order of birth. The others are:
Martha, now the wife of James McCoombs; John, who resides in Youngs-
town, Ohio, where he is engaged in the wholesale grocery business;
William, of this review; and Lydia, the wife of Charles Johnson, who
is living in Birmingham, Alabama.
    William Leavitt was only four years of age at the time of his father’s
death and from early boyhood has been dependent upon his own resources.
At the age of fifteen years he began learning the flour milling business
but when seventeen years of age he put aside all business and personal
considerations in order that he might defend his country as a soldier of the
Union army. He enlisted in Company C, Nineteenth Regiment of Ohio
Infantry Volunteers, at Girard, that state, September 7, 1861, for a three
years term, The regiment moved to Camp Denison near Cincinnati,
Ohio, and thence went to Camp Jenkins near Louisville, Kentucky. From
that point the troops were sent forward to the front and were first
engaged in battle at Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing. Mr. Leavitt was
wounded there, being shot through the right leg, and was taken from
the battlefield to the Louisville hospital, where he remained for six weeks.
He was then sent home but for three months thereafter he was confined
to his bed and for eighteen months had to go about on crutches. His