HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                          448

later, was reappointed to the same office by President Roosevelt, who
again reappointed him to the office in February, 1908.
    Mr. Fesler married, in 1883, Mrs. Mary (Reed) Long, who was
born in Ohio, a daughter of Samuel Reed. She married for her first
husband Brishon Long, by whom she had two children, namely: Orville,
deceased, and Nettie, wife of Dr. H. O. Woodrow. Fraternally Mr. Fes-
ler is a charter member of Uncas Tribe, No. 68, Improved Order of Red
Men, organized in 1882; a member of Martz Lodge, No. 360, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows; and of Clay City Lodge, No. 562, Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons, organized in i88o, and of which he is a charter
member, and was secretary and worshipful master for years. Of the first
two lodges he has been treasurer since 1893. Politically he is an earnest
advocate of the principles of the Republican party.

    NELSON WEBSTER MARSHALL.—Prominent among the more prosper-
ous, systematic and thorough-going agriculturists of Lewis township, Clay
county, is Nelson W. Marshall, a typical Indiana farmer. Beginning life
for himself even with the world, his present financial position is ample
evidence of the wise manner in which he has employed his time, and .of
the ability and good judgment of which he is the fortunate possessor.
He is the owner of one of the best appointed homesteads in his corn-
nunity, and on account of his strict integrity and high character is num-
bered among its most valued citizens. A native of Indiana, he was born,
March 4, 1842, in Washington county, where his grandfather, Jesse
Franklin Marshall, was a pioneer settler, and where his father, Iram
Riggs Marshall, was reared from infancy. The parents of Jesse Franklin
Marshall were born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and from there emi-
grated to the United States, locating first in North Carolina, from there
going in pioneer days to Kentucky, where he cleared a farm, and resided
the remainder of his life.
    Born in North Carolina, Jesse F. Marshall was brought up and mar-
ried in Kentucky. Migrating soon afterwards to Washington county,
Indiana, he took up government land, erected a round log house, putting
in a split puncheon floor, riving clapboards to cover the roof, and making
a chimney from sticks, clay and stone. Improving quite a tract of the
land, he there resided until his death, at the ripe old age of eighty-six
years. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Waller, survived him
but two days, passing away at the age of fourscore and four years. She
was born in Kentucky, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, her parents settling in
that state on their removal from North Carolina.
    Iram. Riggs Marshall wsa born in Kentucky, and when but a few
months old was brought by his parents to Washington county, Indiana,
where he grew to man’s estate. Choosing farming as his life occupation,
he lived there until after the breaking out of the Civil War, when he came
to Clay county, and purchased land. in section five, Lewis township. He
was in poor health at the time, and as his health continued to fail he re-
turned after two or three years to Washington county, where his death
occurred a short time later. He married Elender Allis, who was horn in
Kentucky, a daughter of Peter and Christina (Starnge) Allis. She lived
until eighty-two years old, and reared a fine family of children, namely:
Catherine, deceased; Nelson W.; John; Ambrose D.; Jesse F.; James;
Iram, deceased; Peter; Cyrus; and Christina.