HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      237
farm near Somerset, and was there a resident until 1854. Coming in that
year to Indiana, he lived for a brief time in Hendricks county, and then
located in Putnam county. He subsequently made an overland journey
to Missouri, but was evidently disappointed in his expectations of the
place and its possibilities, for in a few months he returned to Putnam
county, purchased a place near Reelsville, and was there a resident for
ten years. Selling that property, he built a house on his son’s farm near
Reelsville, Indiana, and there lived until his death in 1868. Mr. Osborn
married Sarah Dixon, who was born in North Carolina, She was a
daughter of John Dixon, a soldier in the Mexican war, who died of yellow
fever in the city of Mexico while in service. His wife, who before mar-
riage was a Miss Snyder, survived him many years, passing away in 1878.
Mrs. Jones's Grandfather Osborn, who was engaged in agricultural pur-
suits during his life, was, in common with the other Virginia planters,
a slaveholder, but to his credit be it said liberated his slaves prior to the
breaking out of the Civil war.
    Six children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jones,
namely: Esther Minnie, born January 23, 1871, married, February 9,
1888, Schuyler Brush, and died August 9, 1888; Mamie Viola, born
August 16, 1873, married, December 27, 1891, George W. Baumgartner,
and they have one child, Elsie Marie, born August 4, 1894; Clara Belle,
born August 21, 1879, died in August, 1880; Grace Darling, born March
18, 1884, married, September 23, 1903, Hiram Edgar Grismer; Mabel
Blanche, born November 18, 1889, died December 8, 1891; and Harry
Byron, born October 8, 1893. Formerly Mr. Jones was identified with
the Republican party, but is now a Democrat. Religiously both Mr. and
Mrs. Jones are members of the United Brethren church.

    SIMON L. ROW.—Noteworthy among the clear-headed, energetic and
thriving business men of Clay City, Indiana, is Simon L. Row, who has
long been prominent in the public affairs of Harrison township, and now
as junior member of the firm of Bonham, Goshorn & Row is identified
with its mercantile interests. A native of this state, he was born Novem-
ber 3, 1861, in Marion township, Owen county, a son of Martin Row. He
comes of Pennsylvania ancestry, his great-grandfather, Nicholas Row,
and his grandfather, Lewis Row, having been natives of that state. Some-
time after his marriage with Mary Gonser, Nicholas Row in 1808 moved
with his family to Ohio, and was one of the first settlers of Tuscarawas
county. Buying a tract of land that was in its primitive wildness, he
built a log house, and having cleared and improved a homestead, resided
there the rest of his life.
    Born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1802, Lewis Row was but
six years old when he went with his parents to Ohio, where he received
a practical training in pioneer agriculture. Choosing for himself the free
and independent occupation of a farmer, he bought land near where his
father located, and like him cleared a farm from the forest. Enterprising
and sagacious, he platted the town of Baltic, which was first named in his
honor, Rowville. In 1851, selling at an advantage the remainder of his
land, he came to this state, and in Marion township, Owen county, bought
a tract of land on which a cleared patch and a set of log buildings con-
stituted the improvements. He cleared more land, erected a large frame
barn, and was there employed in cultivating the soil until his death, in
1876. He took great interest in advancing the growth and prosperity of