HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      533

Carolina of English and German descent. She had one daughter by her
first marriage, Clarissa Kendall, now the wife of Albert Wilson, To
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Francis were horn eight children, viz: James
M. (deceased), Joseph L., Nancy E., Harriet (deceased), William,
Jacob (deceased), Andy, and Mary J. (deceased). Mr. Francis was in
politics a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for William H.
Harrison in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Francis were both members of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
    Christian Luther, the grandfather of Mrs. William J. Francis and
the great-grandfather of William Francis, of this sketch, was born in
Ireland of Scotch ancestry. Emigrating when young to the United
States, Christian Luther lived for a number of years in North Carolina,
but spent his last days in Indiana, making his home with his children.
William Luther, his son, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina,
and there grew to manhood. In early life, probably about 1825, he came
to Clay county, becoming a pioneer of Washington township. Securing
from the government two hundred acres of woodland he cleared a space in
which he built the log cabin that was the place of birth of all his children.
In common with his neighbors, who were few and far between, he lived
in a very primitive manner, with few of the comforts and conveniences
of these days. He never had a wagon, but did own a sled, which was
doubtless home-made. Traveling was performed on horseback in those
times, and in this way he used to go to the distant mill and have a little
meal ground. His farming implements were crude, and he always used
a wooden mould board plow. He raised sheep and flax, and the family
dressed in homespun garments made by the wife and mother from
material which she carded, wove and spun, and in addition she spun and
wove all the bed clothing, towels, table linen. The husband was equally
industrious, splitting by hand the rails with which he fenced the land
that he cleared, running the fences by the compass. On the farm which
he improved he resided until his death, in August, 1844. Patience Long,
the wife of William Luther, was born in Virginia, a daughter of Benjamin
Long, who accompanied by three of his daughters and one son, came
overland from that state to Indiana with one horse, the father and two
of the children walking the entire distance. Settling in Clay county, Mr.
Long entered government land in Washington township, cleared a farm,
and there spent his remaining days. The wife of William Luther survived
him a number of years, dying in 1856. Of the six children she reared,
but two are now living, Margaret J. and William Luther. Margaret J.
is the wife of Jacob Hudson, who was born in North Carolina, a son
of James Hudson, a native Virginian, who became a pioneer of Clay
county. William Luther served as a soldier in the Civil War, and is
now a resident of Terre Haute, Indiana.
    Brought up on the homestead, William Francis acquired a practical
education in the public schools, and while yet young became familiar
with the various branches of agriculture. In early manhood, after
farming for a time with his father, he bought a part of his present
farm, and has since been actively employed in general farming. His
untiring industry, combined with skill and practical judgment in con-
ducting his operations have met with a well merited reward, his home-
stead, with the substantial set of buildings which he has erected, being
one of the most valuable in the locality. He has added to the farm by
purchase at different times,and now has one hundred and ninety-five