120                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

Davis, who was born in Caseyville, Illinois, daughter of David and Ann
Davis, both of whom were natives of Wales. Her father was a coal
miner by occupation. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. C. Sowar
are as follows: Gertrude, wife of George Reifenberg, who resides in
Brazil; Blanche, Catherine, Charles, David, Edwin and Elizabeth, also
living in that city. Two children are deceased.

    JOHN I. BRYAN, who is numbered among the prominent farmers of
Posey township, was born on the farm on which he now resides in section
24, June 18, 1847. His father, Morgan H. Bryan, was for many years
identified with the agricultural interests of this community, but was born
in Henry county, Kentucky, May 5, 1812. After attaining to mature
years he came to Indiana and located south of Terre Haute, but after one
year there came to Clay county and entered forty acres of land in Posey
township. He built his log cabin thereon, but after a short time moved
from there to Billtown and worked on the National road for about two
years, and at the close of that period returned to his former home in Posey
township and built another log house, also cleared forty acres of his land.
With the advancing years he added to his original purchase until he be-
came the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, of which he cleared
about one hundred and twenty acres and made the farm one of the best
in the township. He married a native daughter of Montgomery county,
Kentucky, Lydia Williams, born and reared there, and she was of English
descent, while her husband was of Irish descent. They became the parents
of eight children, all born in Posey township, three sons and five daugh-
ters, and five of the number are now deceased. Mr. Bryan, the father,
gave his political support throughout life to the Democracy, and he died
on the old farm which he had cleared and improved here September 29,
1869, a valued and worthy member of the Predestinarian Baptist church.
    John I. Bryan spent his boyhod days on the old Bryan farm here,
attending the district schools of Posey township, and on the 25th of
March, 1877, he was married to Minerva A. Triplett, who was born in
Ohio, and departed this life February 1, 1905. She was reared in Dick
Johnson township of Clay county, where her parents, French and Sarah
Triplett, were prominent farming people. The eight children of this
union are: Nora, Nellie, Luella, Charles W., Edna Pearl, Minnie, Ethel
and Anna, all of whom were born on the homestead farm, and one, Min-
nie, is now deceased. The Bryan farm contains eighty acres, a part of the
homestead of his father, and he has cleared about twelve acres of this
tract, and during the past five years he has operated a saw mill, conduct-
ing the mill during the winter months and farming in the summers. He
gives his political allegiance to the Democratic party.

    Roy L. SHATTUCK—In the last half century the lawyer has been a
pre-eminent factor in all affairs of private concern and national import-
ance. The man versed in the laws of the country, as distinguished from
business men or politicians, has been a recognized power. He has been
depended upon to conserve the best and permanent interests of the whole
city and without him and the approval of his practical judgment the effort
of the statesman and the industry of the business man and mechanic
would have proved futile. The reason is not far to seek. The professional
lawyer is never the creature of circumstance. The profession is open to
talent and eminence or success cannot be obtained except by indomitable