84                      HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

cleared and improved, his death occurring there at the age of sixty-eight
years. He voted with both the Whigs and Republicans.
    James L. Boothe, the eldest son and second child of his parents' eight
children,—four sons and four daughters, all born in Washington town-
ship,—was reared in the locality in which he was born, and in 1863 he
enlisted for the Civil war in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Vol-
unteer Infantry, Company D, in which he served until the close of the
conflict, doing principally skirmish duty, and he was discharged as a
sergeant. In the fall of 1866 he moved with his family to Boone county,
Iowa, where he farmed for fourteen years, and returning to Clay county
in 1880 bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Sugar Ridge
township, but in 1897 moved from there to his present farm of one hun-
dred and sixteen acres in Jackson township. From 1905 for two years
he had charge of the county farm, but has since been conducting his own
homestead. His first political vote was cast for Fremont, and he has since
supported the principles of the Republican party, taking an active part in
its local councils. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the
Republic.
    In Washington township, January 24, 1865, Mr. Boothe was mar-
ried to Marian LaSalle, a daughter of John and Harriet (Gilbert)
LaSalle, pioneer farmers of Washington township, where their daughter
Marian was born and reared. Nine children have been born of this union,
namely: Albert M., John T., Harry H., Mary D., Lena R., Jeptha L.,
Blanch. B. (deceased), Holley T. and Harriet H., five of whom were born
in Iowa and the remainder in Clay county.

    THOMAS PHILLIPS, engaged in the real estate, loan and abstract busi-
ness, was born in Perry township, Clay county, March 3, 1864. He is a
son of Early and Cerilda (Fagan) Phillips, natives of Kentucky and of
Butler county, Ohio, respectively. The father, who was born November
19, 1839, was brought to Clay county, Indiana, by his parents when only
two years of age. His father was Micajah Phillips, a native of North
Carolina, who on leaving that state removed to Kentucky during the
pioneer epoch in its history when it was still known as the “dark and
bloody ground,” owing to the Indian atrocities and warfare that was
there waged by the red men upon the white settlers. He married Miss
Loveall, who died when her son, Early Phillips, was but two years of age.
The, family home of the Phillips in Indiana was established in the midst
of the wilderness, and there Micajah Phillips built a sawmill upon the land
which he entered from the government. After removing to Clay county
he became an extensive land owner here and continued to make his home
in this locality until his death, which occurred when he had reached the
venerable age of ninety-three years.
    Early Phillips spent his boyhood days in the wilderness, working in
the sawmill and in the timber. He enlisted for service in the Union army
in the Civil war as a member of Company C, Eighty-fifth Regiment of
Indiana Volunteers, with which he served for three and a half years,
doing valiant service for his country as a soldier of the Union. After
the war he engaged in farming and has since made his home in Clay
county, where he yet resides. He is a member of Cory Lodge, No. 449,
I. 0. 0. F., and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, loyal to
its teachings and active and interested in its work. His political allegiance
is given to the Democracy. His wife, who was born in Butler county,