44                      HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

(Horahan) Kennedy. The father is a miner and one of the prominent
early residents of Dick Tohnson township, and his father. John Kennedy,
assisted in sinking the first shaft in Brazil. Mrs. Robison attended the
district schools of Dick Johnson township and the state normal at Terre
Haute, and during three terms after the completion of her educational
training she taught in the schools of that township. Mr. and Mrs. Robison
have two sons. Ernest, born July 23, 1903 and James Thomas, October
23, 1905, both born on the home farm. Mr. Robison came to his present
homestead in 1896, where he owns a valuable and well improved tract of
eighty acres and makes a specialty of the raising of wheat and horses.
His politics are Democratic where national issues are concerned. His
wife is a member of the Methodist church.

    WILLIAM BERRISFORD.—A self-made man in every sense implied by
the term, William Berrisford is one of the many well—to-do citizens of
Clay county who came to the United States poor in purse but possessing
an unlimited stock of energy and perseverance, and who by untiring indus-
try and good management have succeeded in acquiring a fair amount of
this world’s goods. The owner of a well—kept farm in Van Buren town-
ship, he is engaged in tilling the soil, each year adding to the improvements
of his estate. A native of England, he was born July 23, 1852, in Ipstones,
Staffordshire, where his father, John Berrisford, spent his entire life.
    At the age of twelve years William Berrisford began to be a wage
earner, and the following six years worked at mining in his native county.
Determining then to take advantage of the many opportunities offered the
poor man in America for obtaining a living, he crossed the broad Atlantic,
arriving in New York with no other available capital than good health,
strong muscles, willing hands and a most resolute spirit. Proceeding
westward to Ohio, he was for three years employed at mining about four
and one-half miles from Akron. The following year he spent in Clay
county, Indiana, after which he worked for a short period in the Missouri
mines. Going from there to Illinois, Mr. Berrisford worked for a few
months near East Saint Louis, and was afterwards in the lead mines at
Rosiclare, the same state. He then came back to Clay county. staying
in this vicinity until 1876, when he migrated to Colorado, and there for
ten months was employed in mining at Erie, Weld county. Returning to
Clay county, Mr. Berrisford has since been a resident of Van Buren town-
ship, living mostly in the vicinity of Knightsville, although for a time his
home was in Carbon. In 1887 he bought a place in that part of Knights-
ville known as New England, and lived there twenty-five years. Then, in
1902, he purchased forty acres of land on the National Road, two miles
east of the court house, and on an elevation commanding a fine view of
the surrounding country built the modern house which he has since occu-
pied.
    On February 18, 1875, Mr. Berrisford married Annie Liddell. She
was born in Shields, Northumberland county, England, May 17, 1855.
Her parents, Joseph and Mary (Ladly) Liddell, natives of the same
county, came to America in 1862 and settled in Hubbard, Ohio, where the
death of Mrs. Liddell occurred soon after. About 1870 Mr. Liddell came
with his family to Clay county, this state, and a few years later removed
to Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life. To him and his wife
four children were born, as follows: Anna, Maggie, Elizabeth and Jennie.
Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Berrisford eight children were born.