HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                       265

his studies, he entered the drug business in partnership with his brother
in Ashville, Indiana. But after two years there he in 1883 opened a store
in Center Point, where he was one of the leading druggists for fifteen
years. In 1897, however, he retired from the drug business, and in 1899
moved to his present homestead in Posey township, purchasing at that
time one hundred and nineteen acres, and he also owns an interest in the
old McCullough homestead of forty acres.
    He married on the 24th of April, 1887, Jennie Ringo, who is a
native of Posey township and a daughter of one of its pioneer farmers,
William Ringo, now deceased. They have three sons, Frederick M.,
William Alexander and Francis Marion, all of whom were born in Center
Point. Throughout the years of his maturity Mr. McCullough has up—
held the principles of the Democratic party, but votes independent of
party at local elections.

    Otis is C. Drake --Numbered among the industrious and enterprising
citizens of Washington township, Cav county, is Otis C. Drake, who, as
superintendent of a grist mill at Bowling Green, has built up an extensive
and lucrative husiness. and has become an important factor in advancing-
both the manufacturing and the mercantile interests of the place. He was
born May 10 1871. in Washington township, a son of Steward and Delila
(Tressel) Drake, and grandson of Thomas and Alaria (Bybee) Drake,
pioneer settlers of Clay county. Further parental and ancestral history
may be found on another page of this volume, in connection with the
sketch of his father Steward Drake.
    After leaving the public schools Otis C. Drake entered the Garvin
Commercial at College at Terre Haute where he took a full course in book—
keeping he subsequently taught school two years in Washington town-
ship, but since that time has had charge of the grist mill belonging to his
father. This mill was erected in Bowling Green in early days, but has
been greatly improved since coming into the possession of Mr. Drake. It
is now operated by steam power, and has a capacity of forty barrels per
day. Mr. Drake thoroughly understands its management, and has built
up a large and lucrative patronage, doing all kinds of work connected with
the grinding of grains, and keeps three men busily employed in its
operation.
    On December 23, 1896, Mr. Drake married Olive Miles, who was
born June 30, 1872, in Bowling Green, which was also the birthplace of
her father, H. H. B. Miles. Her mother, who before marriage was
Perintha Clemmens, was born in Butler county, Ohio. Mrs. Drake died
September 22, 1899, and her body was laid to rest in the Bowling Green
Cemetery. She left two children, namely: S. Miles, born March 4, 1898;
and Olive V., born September 20, 1899, died January 18, 1900. Politically
Mr. Drake is a Republican. Fraternally be belongs to Clay Lodge No.
85, F. & A. M., and to Poland Lodge No. 364, K. of P. Religiously he
is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

    WILLIAM THOMAS Modesitt.--Among the native-born citizens of
Clay county, conspicuous for their enterprise, energy and sterling worth,
is William T. Modesitt, of Cory, one of the foremost agriculturists of
Perry township. A son of Nathaniel Modesitt, be was born in this town-
ship February 8, 1860, of Virginian ancestry. His grandfather, Uriah
Modesitt was born, it is thought, on the eastern shore of Virginia, from