30                      HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

in winter made shoes, while in summer he built houses. Removing with
his family to Pierson township in 1860, he purchased another tract of
wild land, and while he worked at his trades his sons cleared and improved
a farm. Four years later, he sold out, came to Lewis township Clay
county, bought land in section thirty-one, and there resided until his
 at the of seventy-two years. Charles Stewart married in Sul-
livan county Indiana, Nancy Sills a daughter Qf Abraham and Eliza.-
beth (Randolph) Sills, who came from kentucky to Sullivan county,
Indiana being pioneers of Jackson township. Mr. Sills was a black-
smith, and worked at his trade, his Sons doing the work of the farm,on
which he and his good wife spent their remaining years. Mrs. Briley’s
mother, Mrs. Nancy (Sills) Stewart, is still living, being now eighty-
seven years of age. She reared nine children, as follows: Felix Chester,
Tilburn Curtis, Charles Webster, Theodore Hamilton, Elizabeth, Willis
P., Letha Jane, Newton Jasper, and Sarah Ann. The three oldest sons
all served in the Union Army during the Civil war, Felix C., as a member
of Company C, Thirty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving through-
out the entire period of the contest.
    Mr. and Mrs. Briley have reared nine children, namely: Della D.;
Oscar O.; William Wallace; Absalom A.; Niman N.; Charles C.;
Emery E. and Emily E., twins; and Flavius F. Absalom enlisted in the
regular army, and served in China during the Boxer war, his company
being for several months on guard in Pekin. Subsequently going with
his regiment to the Philippines, he died while in service at Namar Island.
Della D. married Alvin Stark, and has three children, Noel, Judson and
Verne. Oscar O. married first Maggie Saunders, by whom he had one
child Evelyn Geneve, and married second Mamie Harris, by whom he has
one son, Merle 0. William W. married Rachel West, and they have two
children, Granville and Elizabeth. Charles C. married. Elizabeth Will-
iams. Emily E. is the wife of Emmett Hayth. Niman N., who married
George Bear, died October 19, 1895, leaving one child, Walter Everett
Bear.

    BENJAMIN M. GUIRL.—Prominent among the foremost citizens of
Clay county is Benjamin M. Guirl, of Clay City, a man of superior busi-
ness discernment and judgment, and who by careful attention to the inter-
ests of others and to those things conducive to the welfare and progress
of society has shown himself a public-spirited and highly useful’ member
of the community. Gifted with quick perceptions and an intelligent mind,
is he also endowed with that peculiar vein of enterprise and ambition
which is essentially American, and which has been the means of leading
him onward to success in his undertakings. He was born February 11,
1864, in Jennings county, Indiana, a son of Charles A. and Mary (Mill-
house) Guirl. A short sketch of his parents and more immediate ances-
tors may be found on another page of this work, in connection with a
brief personal notice of his brother, Hon. William H. Guirl.
    Completing his early education in the district schools, Benjamin M.
Guiri remained at assisting in the care of the farm until twenty years of
age. Beginning life then for himself, he obtained work in a sawmill at
Lapel, where he acquired his first knowledge of the lumber business.
Going from there to Kirklin, he had charge of a sawmill for a while, and
then, buying a half interest in a flour mill, superintended the operations
of both mills for about three years. Disposing then of his interest in the