36  HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

    John Thomas KELLER. a farmer and stock raiser of Posey township,
was born within the borders of this township. January 6. 1845, and the
history of his father. Philip Keller, and his family is recorded on other
pages of this work. The district schools of Posey afforded the
son John Thomas with his educational training in his youth, and in 1868
he made his first purchase of land, consisting of a little tract of forty
acres South of his father’s homestead, a part of which he cleared and
improved and he owned at one time in Posey township two hundred
and sixteen acres of land. He remained on his first purchase until 1897.
when he bought his present farm of twenty—six acres in section one, a part
of which he has cleared, and the land is well improved and fertile. In addi-
tion to his general farming and stock raising he also raises a great deal
of fruit.
    Mr. Keller was married on the 30th day of August, 1868, to Fred—
ericka Kumpf, who came from her native land of Germany to the United
States with her parents when but three years of age, and they settled at
Dover, Ohio. After living there seven years, they moved to Clay county,
Indiana. She is the youngest of her parents family of four children,
and the union of Mr. and Mrs. Keller has also been blessed by the birth
of four children, namely George William Sophia. who is the wife of
Walter Payne: Charles P. and Emma, who is the wife of Dennis Aeling.
All were born in Posey township. Clay county. The son Charles P. is
a graduate of De Pauw university and has served (1908) for four years
as principal of the Brazil high school. In his political affiliations Mr.
Keller has been a life—long supporter of Republican principles, and he is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

    Harry Elliott, M. D.—Numbered among the rising voting physi—
cians of Clay county is Harry Elliott. M. D., of Poland. who during the
brief time that he has here been in active practice has given evidence of
his professional knowledge and skill, while by his genial manners and
kindly courtesy he has gained the esteem and good will of the people.
He is a fine representative of the native-born citizens of the place, his
birth having occurred here October 4, 1878. He comes of honored pioneer
stock, his paternal grandparents, Harrison and Elizabeth (Young)
Elliott, natives of North Carolina, having been among the early settlers
of Putnam county, Indiana, where their son, Thomas A., the Doctor’s
father, was born
    Brought up on a farm in Putnam county. Thomas A. Elliott received
good educational advantages, and after teaching school a few terms began
the study of medicine. Locating in Poland, Clay county, in 1878, he
became one of the leading physicians of the place, and here enjoyed a large
and remunerative practice until his death, June 15, 1907, at the age of
fifty-six years. Dr. Thomas A. Elliott married Annie B. Collier, who
was born in Putnam county, Indiana, a daughter of James T. and Lucy
(Usher) Collier, the former of whom was born in Kentucky, while his
wife, a native of New York state, was a sister of John P. Usher, a mem-
ber of President Lincoln’s cabinet. She survives him, and is now a
resident of Terre Haute, Indiana. Five children were born to them,
namely Harry, the subject of this sketch ; James, a physician in Terre
Haute Jennie, attending college in Kansas City, Missouri; Frank; and
John.
    Following in the footsteps of his honored father, Harry Elliott began