388 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

    On April 20, 1866. Mr. Miller married Mary S. Cuning, who was
born in Maryland December 15, 1839, but was reared in Darke county,
Ohio, where her mother settled after the death of her husband. Mr. and
Mrs. Miller are the parents of two children, namely John A. and Mar-
tha D. John A. married Melvina Bowman. and to them five children
have been born, one of whom, Clarence, died at the age of nine years, and
four are living, Harry, Raymond. Marie and Clara. Martha D., wife of
John P. Backfisch, has three children, Edna M., Frederick and Floyd,
Mrs. Miller is a consistent member of the German Baptist Brethren
church.

    William J. HALL.--Prominent among the enterprising and prosper-
ous agriculturists of Harrison township is William J. Hall, who for the
past twenty—five years has here been actively employed in the pleasant,
peaceful and independent occupation of a farmer. He is a man of excel-
lent business capacity, thorough, skilful and sy systematic in his work, his
well—appointed and well-kept farm evincing in a high degree his thrift
and ability as a manager. A son of Clayborn Hall, he was born in 1859,
in Sullivan, Sangamon county, Illinois.
    A native of Jefferson county Kentucky Clayborn Hall was there
bred and married migrating to Illinois in 1857, he resided in Sangamnon
county till 1860, when he returned to his Kentucky home. Two years
later he again went to Illinois, purchased land in Clark county, and was
there employed in cultivating the soil until 1869. Selling out in that year
he came to Indiana, locating in Vigo county. Buying a farm in Linton
township, he was there employed in his favorite pursuit until his death.
During his active life he bought several farms, many of which
he improved to a considerable extent. and as he always sold at an ad—
vanced price he accumulated a competency in that manner, he married
Rosanna Bates, who was born in Kentucky and died in Vigo county. Of
the children born of their union, seven grew to years of maturity, namely
Mary Hugh; Charles T. William J., the special subject of this sketch
Dora ; John and Cora.
    During the days of his boyhood and youth William Hall attended
school quit regularly, and when twelve years old spent his vacations as
clerk in a general store. On leaving school he continued as a clerk for
a number of seasons, becoming familiar with the details of mercantile
pursuits. Subsequently embarking in business on his own account, he
operated a general store at Riley,Vigo county, Indiana, for two years.
After his marriage he located in Harrison township, and has since been
actively engaged in general farming in the Eel River valley.
    Mr. Hall married, in 1883, Anna K. Connely. She was born in Bates
county, Missouri, a daughter of William A. and Elizabeth (Leavitt) Con-
nely. A brief sketch of her parents may be found on another page of this
biographical work. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have two children, namely Rex.
in Purdue University pursuing the agricultural course, and Helen, who
finished at the common school, spent one term at Stanley Hall, Minne—
apolis, Minnesota, and was also a student in the Brazil Business Univer-
sity. Politically Mr. Hall is identified with the Republican party, and is a
true and stanch supporter of its principles.

    HON. WILLIAM CONNELY.—In the annals of Clay county no name,
mayhap, is more worthy of honor and respect than that of the late Hon.