HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      233

member of the Brazil school board and is its treasurer. His political
views accord with the principles of the Republican party and his religious
faith indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. The
succcess he has achieved in business is the outcome of his persistency of
purpose his fidelity and the manner in which he has met every duty
that devolved upon him In business trustworthy, in fraternal rela—
loyal in citizenship faithful and progressive, he has been found in
every relation of life a man whom to know is to respect and esteem.

    William C. Diel. -  Progressive and enterprising and well versed in
agricultural lore, William C. Diel, of Dick Johnson township, has built
up an extensive and remunerative business as market gardner, the pro
ductions of his greenhouses metting a ready sale in near-by and more
distant cities. A native of Indiana he was born December 13, 1864, in
Jackson township,Clay county. He comes of thrifty German stock being
a descendant in the fifth generation from the emigrant ancestor, Adam
Diel, who emigrated from Germany to this country, the line being con-
tinued through Henry Diel, a native of Pennsylvania; Jacob Diel, Sr.,
who was born in Pennsylvania ; Jacob Diel, Jr., and William C. Diel. A
more extended history of the Diel family may be found elsewhere in this
volume, in connection with the sketch of David Diel.
    Jacob Diel, Jr., was born in August, 1835, in Wayne county, Indiana,
and when but a child was brought to Clay county by his parents. At that
time Brazil was but a hamlet, and the surrounding country a dense
wilderness, through which deer, bears and other wild beasts roamed at
will, and wild turkeys and other game were plentiful. Although never
learning a trade, he was a natural mechanic and for a number of years
operated a shingle mill, managing that in addition to his labors as a
farmer. During the Civil war he enlisted as a private in Company E,
Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which all of his brothers were
members, and served his country bravely. After leaving Jackson town-
ship he lived for a few years in Perry and Cass townships, and is now a
resident of Terre Haute. His wife, whose maiden name was Huldah
Slack, was a daughter of John and Margaret (Wright) Slack, natives of
North Carolina and pioneers of Clay county. She reared three children,
namely: William C., the subject of this sketch; Joseph D.; and Francis M.
    Having completed his early education in the public schools, William
C. Diel began as a youth to make himself useful, his first employment
being in his father’s sawmill. At the time of his marriage he began farm-
ing on his own account in Cass township, remaining there until 1892.
Going from there to Terre Haute, he worked first in the car shops, later
following the carpenter’s trade for awhile, and then entered the employ
of L. H. Mahan, a market gardener, under whose instruction he became
familiar with the special branch of agriculture in which he is now
engaged. Returning to Clay county in 1901, Mr. Diel lived in different
places for two years, in 1903 establishing himself on the farm where he
now resides and beginning his present profitable work. Here he is well
equipped for gardening purposes, the several greenhouses which he has
built having a combined area of twenty-three thousand feet, giving him
ample room for the raising of lettuce, of which he makes a specialty, his
reputation in this line being one of which he may well be proud.
    In April, 1886, Mr. Diel married Ludema Latham, a native of Cass
township, Clay county, a daughter of David U. and Delaney (Mace)