29                          HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

being out in all kinds of weather, and through exposure his health failed,
his lungs becoming weak, and rheumatism causing him much suffering.
He then turned his attention to the study of medicine, and for many
years was both a successful physician and a zealous worker in the Mas-
ter’s vineyard, continuing active until his death, October 12, 1892.
    Rev. Absalom Briley was twice married. His first wife, whose
maiden name was Mary Carroll, was born November 15, 1824, and died in
1848. He married second, in 1849, Martha Stewart. She was born,
June 7, 1829, in Crawford county, Illinois, a daughter of John and
Lucinda (Young) Stewart. Her paternal grandfather, Thomas Stewart,
emigrated from Scotland, his native country, to America, becoming a
pioneer of Kentucky, where he spent his remaining years. Migrating
from Kentucky to Illinois, John Stewart was one of the early settlers of
Crawford county. After living there a few years, he came with his
family to Clay county, Indiana, settling in Lewis township, where he
purchased from the Government the land now owned and occupied by
his grandson, Flavius J. Briley, and on the homestead that he improved
from the wilderness lived until his death. John Peter Young, father of
Lucinda Young, and great-grandfather of Mr. Briley, was born in Ger-
many, but as a young man emigrated to the United States, fought with the
Colonists throughout the Revolutionary war, taking an active part in the
Battle of Bunker Hill, and at the close of the struggle settling in Nelson
county, Kentucky, where he remained until his death. By his first mar-
riage, Absalom Briley had two children, Marinda and Albert G. By his
second marriage he had six children, Flavius J., Florence, Lena, Alice,
Eva, and Laura.
    Flavius J. Briley obtained the rudiments of his knowledge in the
rude pioneer log schoolhouse, with its slab benches, without desks in
front, and with no backs. The larger part of his youthful days were
spent with his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Stewart, and
as soon as old enough was given full charge of the farm, to the owner-
ship of which he succeeded, and on which he has since resided. To the
substantial hewed log house built by his grandfatber, Mr. Briley has
made extensive additions and improvements, and still occupies it, having,
with the exception of two years, 1905 and 1906, when the family went to
Terre Haute in order to give the children better educational advantages,
lived in it since a boy. As an agriculturalist Mr. Briley has been suc-
cessful, and in addition to managing his farm, he has for the past ten
years been employed a part of the time in mining.
    Mr. Briley married, August 15, 1869, Elizabeth Stewart, who was
born in Jackson township, Sullivan county, July 4, 1851, a daughter of
Charles Stewart. Her grandfather, Thomas Stewart, was born in Ken-
tucky, and after his marriage to Sarah Clark came to Clay county, Indi-
ana, bought a tract of government land in section 6, Lewis township,
and on the homestead which he reclaimed from the forest spent his
remaining days. His wife survived him, and spent her last years with
her .children, dying in Lewis, Vigo county. Coming with his parents to
Indiana, Charles Stewart, who was born in Bullitt county, Kentucky, lived
in Lewis township during his early manhood. About two years after his
marriage he bought a tract of land, covered with its original growth of
timber, in Jackson township, and built of round logs the cabin in which
Mrs. Briley first opened her eyes to the light of this world. He had
previously learned the trades’ of both a carpenter and shoemaker, and