28                      HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

sons: John G., Albert E. and Eugene A. They have also reared an
adopted daughter, Ruth, now the wife of John G. Bryson, and they have
two grandsons.
    Mr. Holliday is prominent socially, belonging to Brazil Lodge, No.
264, A. F. & A. M., to Brazil Lodge, No. 762. B. P. 0. E., and to Gen-
eral Canby Post, No. 2, G. A. R., to the teachings of which he is most
loyal. He is a valued member of the Presbyterian church and his social
qualities have won for him the warm devotion of many personal friends.
On the political stage, such is his popularity and such his personal mag-
netism, that his appearance to address the people is a signal for tumul-
tuous enthusiasm. His is a sturdy American character and a stalwart
patriotism and, having the strongest attachments for our free institu-
tions, he is ever willing to make any necessary personal sacrifice for their
preservation.

    FLAVIUS J. BRILEY.—A life-long resident of Lewis township, and
one of its most successful agriculturists, Flavius J. Briley has been an
interested witness of the various changes that have here taken place,
watching with delight the gradual transformation of the heavily tim-
bered land into a rich and productive farming region, and has aided by
every means within his power its growth and advancement. Having,
seemingly, inherited a desire for knowledge, he has always been an intel-
ligent reader, analyzing each subject as he read and forming opinions of
hjs own, so that even as a young man he was always prepared to talk
on any topic, and ably defend his convictions in a debate. He was born
in this township, June 30, 1850, a son of Rev. Dr. Absalom Briley, who
had the distinction of being the first white child born in Lewis township,
his birth occurring here, February 21, 1823. He is descended from one
of the very early settlers of Indiana, his great-grandfather, James Bri-
ley, having settled in Crawford county in the early part of the last cen-
turv. As an extensive dealer in horses and cattle, he made frequent
trips South, on his last trip being intercepted by his hired man, and
murdered for his money.
    James Briley, the grandfather of Flavius J., was very young when
brought from South Carolina, his native state, to Crawford county, this
state. He was of Scotch descent, and had the same habits of industry,
thrift and perserverance that characterized his ancestors. Coming to
Clay county soon after his marriage, he entered a tract of Government
land in section ten, on the bank of the Eel river, in Lewis town and
there built the log cabin in which his son Absalom was born. Several
years later, he bought another tract in the same township, and was there
profitably employed in farming and stock raising and dealing until his
death, at a venerable age.. To him and his good wife, who passed to the
life beyond before he did, five children were born, namely: Absalom,
Betsey, John, Mary, and Stephen.
    Reared in early pioneer days, before public, schools had here been
established, Absalom Briley availed himself of every opportunity to
obtain knowledge, and, having been converted while yet a youth, subse-
quently became a preacher in the United Brethren church, laboring in his
ministerial work in various places in Indiana and Illinois, In the mean-
time his family lived, mostly, on the farm which he had improved, in
Lewis township, Indiana, although for a short time they were with him
in Illinois, He made his circuit, which was a large one, on horseback,