72                      HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY


being a son of Peter and Annie (Steiner) Zurcher, the father a native of
Switzerland, and the mother of Ohio of German ancestry. They were
married in the Buckeye state. and about five years later moved to Har-
rison township, Clay county, Indiana, where the husband bought the farm
upon which his widow now resides. Mr. Zurcher died in 1886. Nine
children were born to their union, of whom three sons and two daughters
are still alive.

    John Zurcher received his education in the country schools of Har-
rison township and at the German school connected with the Reformed
Lutheran church known as Butro Chapel. To this denomination the fam-
ily has been stanchly attached for many generations. Mr. Zurcher lived
on the farm with his parents until October 4, 1883, when he married
Rachel Moyer, who died in September, 1888, leaving two children—
Allie K. and William H., both living with their grandfather. Henry Moyer,
in Clay City. On October 6, 1891, Mr. Zurcher married Nancy E. Hud-
son, born in Washington township, Clay county, on the 20th of January,
1864, daughter of Jacob and Margaret J. (Luther) Hudson, of the town-
ship named. To this union was born one child, Mary F. Zurcher, now
seven years of age.
    Upon leaving his parents Mr. Zurcher conducted a rented farm for
a time, but his principal work was that of operating a thresher. He has
also owned and operated a saw mill to advantage. At his second mar-
riage he built a four-room house on land given to his wife by her father,
and Mr. Zurcher also owns an interest in his father's homestead. The
family home is located on a tract of five acres in section 35, Washington
township. Mr. Zurcher is connected with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, being a member of Bowling Green lodge No. 513. In
politics he is a Democrat, and, as stated, is strongly rooted in the faith
of the Reformed Lutheran church.

    NATHAN ANDREW HARRIS.—Among the substantial and enterprising
business men of Clay county is Nathan A. Harris, who for the past
quarter of a century has conducted a store of general merchandise at
Howesville. He is a man of sterling qualities, and has accumulated his
property by downright hard labor and the exercise of the good judgment
and sound sense with which nature generously endowed him. A son
of Jesse Harris, Jr., he was born July 16, 1851, in Morrow county, Ohio.
His paternal grandfather, Jesse Harris, Sr., migrated from Virginia, his
native state, to Ohio, becoming an early settler of that state. In 1851,
still following the march of civilization westward, he removed with his
family to Illinois, making the overland journey with teams. Locating in
Iroquois county, he bought prairie land from the government, and on the
farm which he improved spent the remainder of his life.
    Born, bred and educated in Ohio, Jesse Harris, Jr., was there engaged
in agricultural pursuits during his comparatively short life, his death
having occurred in 1851, while he was yet in manhood’s prime. His
wife, whose maiden name was Jane Hall, was born in Knox county, Ohio,
and spent her last years in Middlebury, Indiana. After the death of Mr.
Harris, she married for her second husband John Auld. By her first mar-
riage she reared three children, namely: Sarah M., Hester Ellen, and
Nathan Andrew.
    But an infant when his father died, Nathan A. Harris was early
thrown upon his own resources, and at the age of eight years went to