418                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY


Brazil commandery, No. 47, K. T. He is also identified with Brazil
lodge, No. 215, I. 0. 0. F., and with the Modern Woodmen camp No.
3418. His political endorsement is given to the Republican party, but he
is not active in its ranks as one who seeks or desires office. His interest
is that of a public-spirited citizen who desires the welfare of the com-
munity and labors for its advancement in political as well as other lines.

    EDWARD FRANKLIN STRAUCH, the well known farmer and stock
raiser of Washington township was born within the limits of the town-
ship where he has attained a substantial station on the 27th of March,
1870. He is a son of John and Mary (Knippe) Strauch, his father being
a native of Germany and his mother of Union county, Indiana. On the
paternal side his grandparents were John and Mary (Mann) Strauch,
and on the maternal George and Margaret Knippe , all born in Germany,
as were their ancesors or many generations. The father came with his
parents to the United States in 1839, and until his death at Jeffersonville
Indiana, in 1878, the grandfather was identified with the ministry of the
German M. E. church. John Strauch, the father, settled down in Wash-
ington township, bought timber land, and also became an extensive dealer
in horses. After also amassing quite a property in agricultural lands and
becoming quite prominent as a Republican and a man of affairs, he died
on his Washington township homestead on the 2nd of February, 1892.
He was the first Republican sheriff of Clay county, and an honorable,
useful citizen. His worthy widow, who was born in November, 1836,
has resided with her, son, Edward F., since the death of her husband.
    Edward F. Strauch, the fourth in a family of two sons and five
daughters, has continuously resided on the old family homestead with the
exception of two years after his father’s death, when he was engaged in
farming in Douglas county, Illinois, and two winters in Terre Haute,
where he was employed in a dairy. He has had charge of the home farm,
with fifty-one acres adjoining which he has purchased, and the entire
property has been brought to a high standard of productiveness and at-
tractiveness. He produces the general crops, and raises Pole Angus
cattle, coach horses and Poland China hogs, as well as turkeys and chick-
ens. Married December 22, 1897, to Miss Clara M. Kattman, he has
become the father of the following: John Robert, born August 12, 1901;
Ross William, born July 18, 1904, and Leona May, born December 7,
1907. His wife is a daughter of John G, and Sarah (Schroer) Kattman,
and is of German parentage.

    SAMUEL M. STIGLER, who makes his home in Brazil while superin-
tending business interests elsewhere, is a well known dealer in stock and
also derives a substantial income from a farm of about two hundred acres
which he superintends. He is likewise one of the stockholders in the
Citizens’ National Bank of Brazil. There has never been anything indefi-
nite in his business plans, On the contrary they have been well defined
and carefully executed, and in this lies the secret of his success.
    Mr. Stigler is one of Clay county’s native sons, his birth having
occurred in Cass township August 21, 1863. His parents were David
and Lavina (McCullough) Stigler, both representatives of old families
of this state. The father was born in Cass township, Clay county, in 1835,
while the mother’s birth occurred in Putnam county, on the, 11th of
November, 1841. They were married at her father’s home in the county