364                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

Kerr made a trip to Parke county, and in Raccoon township entered a
tract of government land. Returning to Kentucky, he remained there
four years. In 1821 he brought his family to Indiana, assumed posses-
sion of the land he had previously taken up and became one of the original
settlers of Parke county. A man of sterling integrity and ability, he
soon became influential and prominent in public affairs, and served as a
representative to the state legislature. Clearing and improving a good
homestead, he resided in Raccoon township until his death, at the vener-
able age of eighty-five years. During the time he witnessed many won-
derful transformations in the face of the country roundabout, and in its
growth and development was an important factor.
    Mrs. Mary (Kerr) Webster survived her husband, and with the
assistance of her sons continued the improvements already inaugurated
on the home farm, among other things erecting a substantial frame house
in place of the primitive log cabin. She died in 1887, aged sixty-eight
years. She bore her husband ten children, of whom one, Susan, died in
childhood, and nine grew to years of maturity, namely: Mary E.; John
K.; Sarah; James E.; Arminda; Anderson; Fernando; and George M.
and Joanna, twins. George M., who was well educated and for a number
of years was engaged in teaching, died at the age of forty-eight years, in
August, 1907. This death was the first among his family of brothers and
sisters since that of little Susan, sixty-five years before.
    Anderson Webster attended school in his youthful days, and assisted
in the work of the farm from his boyhood. He was endowed by nature
with much mechanical ability, and for four years worked at the carpen-
ter’s trade. Ingenious and inventive, he put his talents to good use,
making many articles of value in the household, and has now in his home
a handsome bookcase which gives evidence of his skill. In it there are
forty different kinds of wood, thirty-nine of which were grown in Clay
county. With the exception of the four years spent in carpentering, Mr.
Webster has devoted his time and energies to the care of his farm, which
is located in Dick Johnson township, and in his free and independent
occupation has met with well-merited success.
    At the age of twenty-two years he married Arminda McMillen, who
was born in Dick Johnson township, of thrifty Scotch ancestry, being a
daughter of Michael and Sarah McMillen, early settlers of Clay county.
Mr. and Mrs. Webster have one daughter, Nellie. They have had four
children, namely: Clarence C., who died aged three years; Pearley E.,
Who died aged fifteen months; Minnie Ethel, who married Franklin Bell
and died leaving one child, Carl; and Nellie, mentioned above: In their
religious beliefs, Mr. and Mrs. Webster are liberal, and Mrs. Webster is
an active member of the Universalist church. In politics Mr. Webster is
a Republican.

    WILLIAM E. GRAESER is one of the largest property owners of Clay
county and is one of its best known and most prominent citizens. He has
served four years as the deputy assessor of Sugar Ridge township, for
five years as its assessor, has served as a town clerk and on the town
board and at the present time is a member of the advisory board of his
township. At the time of his father’s death he came into possession of
considerable money, which he has invested in three hundred acres of land
in Harrison, Jackson and Sugar Ridge townships, also in real estate in
Brazil and Center Point and in government bonds.