HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      371

    On the 10th of February , 1875, Mr. Gonter was married to Miss
Margaret Eacret, who was born in Hendricks county, Ohio, October 2,
1848, a daughter of Harrison and Mary Ann (Reed) Eacret, both of
whom were natives of Ohio. The father spent his days in Marion, Hen—
dricks and Hamilton counties of Ohio devoting his time and energies to
farming. His father was one of the early pioneers of Ohio and in pioneer
times owned the land upon which the city of Indianapolis now stands,
including the site of the capital. Harrison Eacret hunted deer on the
present site of the city in early day was a postrider, carrying the
mail as far west as Lafayette, Indiana. Unto him and his wife were born
six children, of whom five are now living John. a resident of Indian—
apolis Catherine, the wife of Phillip B. Stitt, living in Danville, Indiana
Mrs. Gonter Foster and Mary, the wife of William Privitt.
    The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gonter was blessed with four children:
May, now the wife of Dr. H. H. Thacker, a practicing dentist of Brazil
Carena, the wife of Charles Hutchinson, who is living in Brazil Grace,
at home ; and J. Frank, who died in his eighteenth year.
    Mr. Gonter is not only well known as a merchant but has also been
somewhat active in community affairs and for one term served as city
councilman. His influence is always given on the side of improvement
and progress and he is a valued supporter of the Republican party, he
belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and to Centennial Lodge. No.
541, F. and A. M., Coal City Lodge, No. 522, I. 0. 0. F., and Brazil
Lodge, No. 30, K. P. From early boyhood he has been a resident of this
city and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are numbered among
those who have known him from boyhood indicates that his has been an
honorable career.

    LIEUTENANT WILLIAM THOMAS ANDERSON -Among the well-
known and highly esteemed residents of Dick Johnson township, Lieu-
tenant William T. Anderson occupies an assured position. A veteran
of the Civil war, he is distinguished not only for his own life and work,
but for the honored ancestry from which he is descended, being a grand-
son of Reverend Daniel Anderson, one of the first white settlers of
Indiana.
    Rev. Daniel Anderson, it is thought, was a native of Kentucky. A
Methodist preacher and an old-time circuit rider, he located in Monroe
county, Indiana, in 1813, and a few years later settled in Owen county.
Entering a tract of government land, he superintended its clearing, in
the meantime preaching the gospel every Sunday and often traveling
many miles to meet his appointments. For forty-six years he was a
licensed preacher, his circuit, which covered Owen, Clay and other coun-
ties, being very large. In the performance of his pious duties he had to
travel miles upon miles on horseback, oftentimes over almost impassable
roads. There being no bridges, the streams had to be forded, his horse
being his bridge at low water, and his boat at high water, for many a
time the poor horse had to swim. For many years after he came here
there were no church buildings in existence, and he held meetings in the
log cabin homes, which were oftentimes so diminutive in size that the
loom, tables and other pieces of furniture had to be removed to make
room for the worshippers. On the farm which he cleared from the
primeval forest he spent the remainder of his life, passing to the higher