HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                              69

Cora M. Murbarger, a native of Clay county, Indiana, born on the 4th
of July, 1871, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Latham) Murbarger.
Her parents were both natives of Indiana, and they had four children, two
of whom died in infancy. Two daughters are living, of whom Mrs.
Thomas is the youngest. She herself is the mother of seven children—
Herbert, Mary Esther, Edsil H., Ona D., Marie, Norma M. and Goldie
Fern Thomas, all living with their parents. Mr. Thomas is a popular and
efficient official, and is also widely known among the faternities, being a
member of the Masonic lodge at Riley; of the Clear Creek lodge No. 449,
at Corey, and the Knights of Pythias lodge No. 209, at Center Point.

    WILLLIAM HENRY MCCULLOUGH, a retired farmer now residing in
Brazil, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, July 28, 1843, son of West
and Matilda (Mills) McCullough. West McCullough was a native of
Bullsgap, Tennessee, born in 1818 and died in 1876. His wife was born
in North Carolina and died September, aged thirty-four years.
They were united in marriage in Putnam county near Webster Mills and
were the parents of eight children, as follows: Levina, William Henry,
Newton A., Vincent, Marion, John T., Millard and Franklin. After the
death of Mr. McCullough’s first wife he married Rachel J. Paul at Rails-
ville, Putnam county, by which union ten children were born, seven of
whom still survive, as follows: Albert, Perry, Martha Jane, Lee, Nelson,
Riley and Eliza. West McCullough came to Indiana in 1828 with his
parents who located in Putnam county. They returned to Tennessee,
however and spent one year and then returned, making the journey by
wagon. He grew to manhood in Putnam county and entered government
land, first building a log cabin in which his son, William Henry, was born.
Later he erected a large, two story house which now stands in good state
of preservation. This farm contained about seven hundred acres and at
Mr. McCullough’s death he was one of the prominent men of his county.
Politically, he was a Jackson Democrat.
    William Henry McCullough spent his youthful days at home driving
an ox team, much of his time at hauling logs which was the chief busi—
ness of those times in this section of the state. He was industrious and
saved his earnings, so that he became a tax-payer in the county, before
he had reached his majority. Since 1865, he has lived in Clay county.
He was among the “boys in blue” who enlisted to suppress the Rebellion,
being a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Indiana
volunteer regiment. He entered the service March 27, 1865, and was dis-
charged August 4, the same year, on account of illness and the termination
of the war. He came home and located in Cass township, Clay county,
where he purchased a farm and remained there until 1880. In the early
'70s he bought in Harrison township. In 1884 he took charge of the
County Farm and remained its superintendent up to 1897, then moved to
Posey town ship where he resided until 1899 and then moved to Brazil.
While residing in Clay county, he was in charge of the Orphans’ Home
for one year, He was also in charge of the farm department of the
Feeble-minded Institute at Fort Wayne for eighteen months. Since mov-
ing to Brazil he has held the office of justice of the peace. He is
a member of the Presbyterian church and in politics a Democrat.
    Mr. McCullough was married November 15, 1868, to Hannah Heath,
born in Ohio, April 21. 1847, and died February 27, 1887; she was the
daughter of John and Effie (Shaffer) Heath. The father was a native