HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      451

Danville, Illinois, a daughter of David H. and Mary Lewis, both of whom
were natives of Wales, but, coming to America in early life, were married
in Illinois. They became the parents of eight children, of whom six are
yet living: David, Elizabeth, Mary J., Thomas, Benjamin and Daniel.
It was in the year 1839 that Mr. Lewis arrived in Indiana, first settling
in Clay county, where he resided for a short time prior to his removal to
Illinois. In that state he took up his abode near Danville, where he de-
voted his time and energies to farming and mining, owning and operating
coal mines in that locality, He was a man widely and favorably known,
his business interests being capably conducted along lines which brought
him success and gained him prominence. He was a member of the Bap-
tist church and his political allegiance was given to the Republican party.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jones has been blessed with eight children, of
whom six are now living: Edna May, Bessie Lucile, Lewis Franklin,
Helen, Thomas Paul and Mary Maxine.
    Never remiss in the duties of citizenship, Mr. Jones has served as
president of the school board for three years and his labors in behalf of
education have been far-reaching and beneficial. He belongs to Brazil
Lodge, No. 264, A. F. & A. M., Brazil Chapter, No. 59, R. A. M., Brazil
Council, No. 40, R. & S .M., and Brazil Commandery, No. 47, K. T.
He is also connected with the Indianola Tribe, No. 61, I. 0. R. M., and
with Aerie No. 274, F. 0. E. His political views are in harmony with
the principles of the Republican party. Mr. Jones has spent his entire
life in this county and has been closely associated with its interests and
development. His record has been that of a business man who, energetic
and determined, has pushed forward along honorable paths, his life record
proving that success is ambition’s answer.

    JOHN B. MERSHON, who is engaged in drilling for coal and also in
drilling wells in Clay county, makes his home in Brazil, his native city.
He was born July 14, 1871, of the marriage of Furnnace and Charlotte
(Webster) Mershon. His father was a native of Kentucky and was
engaged in the lumber business and in the manufacture of shingles on an
extensive scale, He was also well known as a driller, in which capacity
he was a pioneer, and also had a fine farm with superior improvements
in Dick Johnson township. From a humble position in the financial world
he steadily rose by his own efforts and determination until he had acquired
a handsome competency, and his life record proved that success and an
honored name might he won simultaneously. He belonged to Brazil
Lodge, No. 264, A. F. & A. M. and was in entire sympathy with the prin-
ciples and purposes of the craft. His political views were in harmony
with the platform of the Democratic party. He married Miss Charlotte
Webster, who comes of the same ancestry as Daniel Webster, the cele-
brated New England statesman. Three children were born of this mar-
riage, but only two are now living, the daughter being Ida, the wife of
E. T. Avdelotte, now living in Dick Johnson township.
    The experiences which came to John B. Mershon in his boyhood and
youth were those which usually fall to the lot of the farmer boy, who
divides his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of
the playground and the work of the fields. He supplemented his early
education acquired in the district schools by study at Danville, Indiana,
and when eighteen years of age began work as a driller, in which connec-
tion he has been engaged with the development of the coal resources of