504                 HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

at Terre Haute. After leaving college hc was engaged for two or three
years in drilling for coal and also in drilling wells. It was about this
time that the father had been called to the office of county treasurer and
the son then served as his deputy, discharging his duties in prompt and
able manner. After retiring from that public office he once more resumed
his business interests in drilling for coal and drilling wells, a business
which he has continued to the present time. He is meeting with grati—
fying success in his undertakings—a success which is well merited, for it
has come as a result of his honorable, straightforward methods and excel-
lent business ability.
    Mr. Brown was married December 14, 1898. the lady of his choice
being Miss Sophia Melbilie, who, like her husband, is a native of Clay
county, her birth having occurred in Knightsville, August 9, 1875. Her
parents, James and Euphemia (Lawson) Melbille, were both natives of
Scotland, where they were reared and married, subsequent to which time
they crossed the Atlantic and took up their abode near Knightsville, Clay
county, where the father engaged in mining operations, acting as super-
intendent of a mine there, in his native country, however, he followed
the sea, and after his arrival in this country was engaged for a number
of years as a hoisting engineer. His political allegiance was given to the
Republican party, while fraternally he was identified with the Masons,
having become a member of that body in Scotland. His family numbered
three children, of whom Sophia is the second in order of birth, the others
being David and Agnes Melbille.
    The home of Mr. and Mrs. Brown has been blessed with three inter-
esting little daughters, Euphemia, Thelma and Agnes Ellen. Following
in the political footsteps of his father, Mr. Brown gives his support to
the men and measures of Democracy, while fraternally he is connected
with Brazil Lodge, No. 30, K. P., and Brazil Lodge, No. 215, I. 0. 0. F.
Having spent their entire lives in Clay county, both Mr. and Mrs. Brown
have a wide and favorable acquaintance and the hospitality of their
pleasant home is enjoyed by their many friends.

    JAMES M. RINGO, who is a life-long farmer of Posey township, Clay
county, was born in that township, near the village of Turner, February
11, 1860. William H. Ringo, the father, was a native of Henry county,
Kentucky, born February 22, 1830, son of Major and Elizabeth (Bryan)
Ringo. The grandparents came to Clay county in 1833 and settled in
Posey township near the town of Staunton, and in that locality reared
their family of ten children, namely: Morgan H.; George; Margaret.
who married William M. Congleton; Allen; Martha, who married Farmer
Doyle; Albina, who married Frank Congleton; William H.; John W.; Lu-
cinda; and Cornelius. The father was three years of age when the family
located in Clay county and he was reared in Posey township and educated
in the public schools of the township. He married Miss Elizabeth Gainer.
daughter of James and Elizabeth (Coffman) Gainer, both natives of
Putnam county, Indiana, his wife being raised and educated near Green-
castle. Their five children were: Jennie, who married William McCol-
ough and still lives in Posey township; James M., of this sketch; Sarah,
now Mrs. Philander Mace, who resides at Terre Haute, Indiana; Mary,
who died at the age of nineteen years; and Charles, who died when four
years of age. The father was a Democrat and both he and his wife were