78                      HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

to Kansas, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying a short time
later at the home of his son Henry, in Cherokee county. He was twice
married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Lowry, was born
in Holmes county, Ohio, of Scotch-Irish ancestors, and at her death, in
early womanhood, left four children: John, Henry, Alfred and Isaac.
His second wife, Mary (Culler) Shidler, bore him six children: George,
William, Elizabeth, Clara, Oliver, and an infant.
    In the public schools of Holmes county, Ohio, and of Clay county,
Indiana, Alfred Shidler obtained a practical education, to which he subse-
quently added much by reading and study. After leaving school he
worked with his father at the blacksmith’s trade until after the breaking
out of the Civil war, when his intense patriotic ardor was thoroughly
aroused and he cheerfully responded to his country’s call. In 1863,
although but sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Company M, Seventy-
first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which afterwards became the Sixth
Indiana Cavalry. Going south, he remained with his regiment in all of its
marches and battles, including the Atlanta campaign, and was a part
of a detail that started with General Stoneman to release the prisoners
confined in Macon, but learned before reaching that city that they had
been removed. The detail started to retrace their steps, but soon found
themselves surrounded by a large force of Confederates, who captured
the greater part of the men. Mr. Shidler was mounted on a mule, and
attempted to flee from the enemy, but the mule was so slow that he jumped
off, ran as swiftly as possible, and was soon joined by three of his com-
rades. After tramping four days and nights, sleeping in the brush day-
times; he, with his companions, joined the command at Marietta, Georgia,
and soon after proceeded to Tennessee, arriving in season to take part in
the battle of Nashville, Mr. Shidler continued with his regiment until
honorably discharged from the service in September, 1865.
    Returning home, Mr. Shidler. worked with his father for a while,
for a number of years following the trades of a blacksmith and a wagon
and carriage maker in Harrison township. He was converted when a
young man, and in 1877 became an exhorter in the United Brethren
church, doing such excellent work in that capacity that in 1889 he was
licensed to preach, and joined the Lower Wabash Conference. For six-
teen years Mr. Shidler was actively engaged in the ministry, having
charge of several different circuits in both Indiana and Illinois. In
Indiana he was pastor of Briley Chapel, Shady Grove, Pleasant Grove,
Nye’s Chapel, Grimes Schoolhouse, South Union, Wilson Schoolhouse,
Otterbein. Six Mile, Union, Mount Pleasant, Mount Zion, Johnstown and
North Union, and in Illinois was pastor of the churches in Long Point
and Galton circuits. Since his retirement from the ministry Mr. Shidler
has devoted his time and attention to general farming and stock-raising,
living on the farm, in section thirty-three, Lewis township, upon which
he settled in January, 1883. He has a good set of farm buildings on his
place, and in his agricultural labors has been quite successful.
    On October 15, 1868, Mr. Shidler married Elizabeth Brush. She
was born in Harrison township, Clay county, Indiana, a daughter of
William and Annie (Cooprider) Brush, and granddaughter of John Coop-
rider of whom a brief sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and
Mrs. Shidler have seven children, namely: Theodore Curtis, Rosa Belle,
William Willard, Otto Clarence, Alfred Clyde, Harley Boyd and Nora
Ethel, Rosa Belle, wife of Henry McGinnis, has four children living—