162                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

the first school teachers in Van Buren township. At the time of his
marriage he received from his father one hundred and sixty acres of land
situated in the northern part of the township, and was there engaged in
agricultural pursuits for a few years. Settling then on a part of his
father-in-law’s land, he resided there until his death, in 1886. Mrs.
Pell, with her son Oscar and his family, now live on the homestead on
the National Road, occupying the commodious brick house built by Mr.
Pell in 1871.
    Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pell, namely:
George G., of whom a brief sketch appears elsewhere in this volume;
Cynthia I., who married George Riddell; Charles A., who died aged
two years; and Oscar E. Oscar E. Pell was born November 3, 1871, and
since leaving school has been successfully engaged in general farming.
In 1890 he married Mary E. Early, who was born in Putnam county,
Indiana, a daughter of John and Jane (Steele) Early. Mr. Early was a
pioneer settler of Putnam county and built the first saw and grist mill
erected within its limits, drawing the machinery with teams from Cin-
cinnati. The country roundabout was then but thinly populated, and
for a number of years after he came here Terre Haute was the nearest
market place and depot for supplies. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Pell have four
children, namely: Cynthia, Bertha, Mary and Edwin. Politically Mr.
Pell is a strong advocate of the principles of the Democratic party.
Fraternally he is a member of Knightsville Lodge No. 409, Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons.

    WLLIAM JAMES WARD.—Among the prominent and influential men
of Harrison township is William J. Ward, editor and proprietor of the
Clay City Reporter, a bright, newsy paper, which he is conducting with
signal success. A son of William Ward, he was born April 5, 1844, in
Worcester county, Maryland, and there received his elementary educa-
tion in the public schools.
    William Ward, a son of James Ward, learned the trade of a shoe-
maker when young and followed it in his native state until 1856, when
he migrated with his family to Indiana, settling in Worthington, where
he spent the remainder of his days. He married Ann Elizabeth Dryden,
who was born in Maryland, a daughter of William Dryden. She died
in Worthington, Greene county, Indiana, leaving three children, Little-
ton; Mary and William James, the subject of this brief sketch.
    Soon after coming with his parents to Indiana, William J. Ward
began learning the printer’s trade in the office of the White River Val-
ley Times, at Worthington, Greene county, and in the years that ensued
became well versed in the duties of a newspaper office. Leaving his work
in the summer of 1862, Mr. Ward enlisted in August of that year in
Company H, Seventy-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he
went to the front. While in action at the engagement in Richmond,
Kentucky, he was severely wounded, receiving in the thigh a gunshot
wound which incapacitated him for further duty. After remaining for
a time in the hospital he was honorably discharged from the service on
account of physical disability. Returning to Worthington, Mr. Ward
resumed his former position in the office of the White River Valley
Times, of which he subsequently became a part owner, and for a number
of years was connected with that paper. Coming to Clay county in 1889
he purchased the Clay City Reporter, which he has since published.