County Auditor is the second son of Cornelious B. and Lucinda Burroughs Murray. His father was a native of Westmoreland County, Penn, while his mother was a native Hoosier, having been born near Pendleton, Madison Co. They twain became one about the year 1836, in the county of Randolph, this State, to which locality Mrs. Murray�s parents had previously removed. About two years later (1838) they settled upon a farm near Blountsville. Henry Co., Ind, and here, January 11, 1840, William H. the subject of our narrative, was born. Continuing their residence at this place up to 1864, his parents then purchased and occupied the old Burroughs homestead in RandolphCounty. Here they lived contented and happy up to 1873, when Mother Murray departed this life at the mature age of fifty-seven. Thus bereft of endeared companion, Father Murray subsequently removed to Hagerstown, Wayne County, Indiana where he still resides, aged sixty-eight years.

William Murray, the grandfather of William H, was of Irish parentage, and a native of the Keystone State. His (William�s) father, and great-grandfather of William H., yet unmarried and fresh from the shores of Ireland, espoused the cause of the colonies, buckled on the armor of a private soldier, and fought valiantly in the struggle for American independence. Young William, of whom we write, was reared upon their farm, near Blountsville, up to eighteen years of age, receiving the advantages afforded by the common schools of that period. His father, at that age, having given him freedom to do for himself, he first sought higher educational attainments, employing principally, as a means, the vocation of teaching. This pursuing, till the war of the rebellion broke upon us, and moved by a true devotion to country, with firm contempt for the enemies of her beautiful starry banner, he stepped forth and enlisted July 14, 1861, as a private soldier.

Joining Company K, Nineteenth Indiana Infantry, and passing upward through the varied steps in the line of non-commission officers, finally on July 1, 1863, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and, during the campaign of 1864, was commissioned First Lieutenant. By reason, however, of his regiment consolidating with the Twentieth Indiana Volunteers, he was never mustered in with the said rank of First Lieutenant! And yet, at the close of the war, he received a commission as brevet Captain. During his career in the army, he participated in the following engagements viz: Lewinsville, Rappahannock, Second battle of Bull Run, and South Mountain. In the engagement last named, he was disabled by a hip wound, and sent to the hospital at Middletown, Md. Rejoining his command about December 1862, he took part in the fierce contest at Fredericksburg. Subsequent to this battle, he was placed on detached duty until more fully recovered from wounds received at South Mountain.Yet, hero-like, without being reported for duty to his company, and with borrowed musket, he voluntarily rejoined his regiment to help fight the great battle of Gettysburg; and, for praiseworthy conduct here displayed, at the instance of his Lieutenant Colonel (W. W. Dudley), he received his promotion to Second Lieutenant. Advancing with the invincible legions of Grant across the Rapidan, and hurled into the deadly carnage of the Wilderness, he was again wounded in his right leg, the first day of that terrible conflict, May 5, 1864.

Having been removed to the city of Washington on account of his wound, he was furloughed home for sixty days, and, at the expiration of that time, was-granted extension. Finally recovering sufficiently he returned to the front joining his command near the "Yellow Tavern." Engaged on the flank and in the siege of Petersburg, he remained at his post until September 14,1864, when, by reason of physical disability, occasioned from gun shot wounds, he received his discharge. Returning home, he settled at Selma, this county, and, on February 16, 1865 was married to Miss Maggie J. Orr, daughter of Hon. James Orr, a wealthy farmer of Delaware Township, also of this county. She was born October 13 1844.

Alternately pursuing the vocation of farming, and teaching in the public schools up to April 1870, he then turned his attention to the mercantile business in Selma. Aside from successfully managing his business relations here, he was elected to the position of Trustee for Liberty Township, to serve from 1872 to 1874. Continuing in the line of merchandise till October, 1878, he then accepted the position of Auditor of Delaware County, to which he had just been elected, still retaining his business interests at Selma until the following April.

Mr. and Mrs. Murray are the parents of five children, viz.: Lulu M., born March 27, 1860; James O., born December 8, 1868; Donn P., born September 13, 1870; Maggie, born January 1, 1874; and Arthur L., born December ?0, 1877.

An industrious, studious boy; an ambitious, self-educated youth; a patriotic, valiant soldier; an earnest, successful man of business; an efficient, faithful servant of the public; liberal and enterprising beyond his means; happy in his domestic relations, he is a genial associate, and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends. (Page 226)

Surnames: Neely, Smith, Gamble, Kirby, Gilbert, Bebb, Smith, Wachtell, Berkey
THOMAS S. NEELY

Thomas Neely was born September 13, 1811, in Adams County, Penn., of which county his grandfather, Thomas Neely, and his father, Moses Neely, were also natives. His father married Jane Smith, in that county, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning a farm within eleven miles of Gettysburg. In 1831, he removed with his family to Miami County, Ohio, and, about the year 1840, to Randolph County, Ind, settling near the town of Windsor. His family consisted of four sons and five daughters, of whom Thomas S. and George are the only survivors.

In early life, the subject of this sketch was engaged in the labor of farm work at home, attending the district school in the winter, until seventeen years of age, when he was apprenticed to a blacksmith at Petersburg, Penn., to learn the trade. He remained with him for nearly three years, and, having acquired a good knowledge of the trade, he began to work on his own account, and, in 1831, removed with his parents to Miami County, Ohio. He worked at his trade in Troy, Urbana, and other Ohio towns, and, in 1833, returned to his former home in Pennsylvania, and was wedded to Miss Matilda Wierman. He lived in Miami County, Ohio, six years, and, in February 1839, came to Muncie, with whose interests he has long been identified.

He at first engaged in the grocery trade, but the town was small and merchants plenty, and he was soon convinced that there was a better opening for the mechanic than the merchant, deciding, therefore, to devote himself to his trade. He was engaged in the grocery business only about six months, and, during this time, the first wagon was built in Muncie. The wagon-maker progressed very well until he came to the iron work, when his skill proved unequal to the task Mr. Neely left his store and ironed the wagon for him, making and setting the tires, etc.

After an experience of six months as a merchant he sold his store and opened a shop, where he was engaged at his trade for more than twenty years. By faithful application and economy, he accumulated some capital in the meantime�the basis of the fortune he now enjoys. He first purchased the lot now occupied by the Abbott House, where he had his residence, and, at a later date, erected the brick block on Main Street, in which the photographic rooms of G. R. Gamble are now located. In this building, Mr. Neely established a daguerreotype gallery, after retiring from work at his trade, and made the first pictures in Muncie. As the art of photography became better known, he adopted it, and was the leading photographer of this city until about fifteen years ago, when he transferred the gallery to his son, Lon M., and, since his retirement from this pursuit, he has not been engaged in any active business. He has been prominently identified with many of the public improvements of this, county and city, and especially with the schools, having been all his life a zealous advocate and friend of public education.���������������

From 1842 to 1848, he served as a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Delaware County, and as School Director during and subsequent to that time, and the schools of Muncie are indebted to no, one more than to him, for active, earnest labor in their behalf. To his powers as School Director he added the weight of personal argument and influence to bring about desired measures of reform in the system of public education. In a history of the Muncie schools, issued with the report of the State Superintendent for 1878, his identity with the early schools of this place is alluded to in the following words:

"In 1849, Thomas S. Neely, a native of Pennsylvania, who had served as a School Examiner in Ohio called a meeting of the voters of District No. 9 for the purpose of voting a tax for the erection of a schoolhouse. At the time appointed, he, but no other person, was present; but, after going around, making personal appeals, a sufficient number of voters came to vote the tax of 25 cents on the $100, which was asked. The district not having the needed moneyor credit, the house could not be built until an additional tax of 37½ cents was collected.� With the proceeds of these taxes, a house was erected in the school year of 1851. The District Trustees then were Thomas Kirby, John A. Gilbert and Thomas S. Neely."

For the handsome and commodious high-school building on West Adams Street the citizens are no less indebted to his efforts than for the schools of earlier days. In June 1878, he was elected a member of the Board of Education of Muncie, and immediately began to agitate the question of erecting a building that should be at once an ornament to the city and supply a crying need for better accommodations in schoolroom. His colleagues were opposed to him, and it was only by the most persistent effort that he won them to his side. The cheapness of labor and material at that time, the necessities of unemployed mechanics, etc., were urged by him as inducements to erect the building at what certainly appeared an auspicious time; but only when he showed how the tax could reduced from 50 to 40 cents on the $100 did his associates yield. His point was carried and the schoolhouse was built. It is a monument to the memory of the board of 1878, and particularly to its most active member,and is a model of elegance and architectural skill as well.�

In another public enterprise, which had rebounded to the incalculable benefit of Muncie, Mr. Neely bore a conspicuous and praiseworthy part. We refer to the location and construction of the Bellefontaine Railway. While carrying on the trade of blacksmithing in Muncie, he was compelled to send to Cincinnati for iron, hauling it home by teams, and often having to leave his work here and make a personal visit to that city, when important purchases were to be made. This slow and expensive method of transportation set him to thinking, and, with characteristic promptness, his thoughts developed into action. In the spring of 1847, he determined to move to secure the location of a railroad to Muncie, by some practicable and, acting upon this determination, circulated a subscription paper to secure funds with which to pay for posters to advertise a railroad mass to be held at Muncie. �

A hard canvass, resulted in his securing only a part of the funds necessary, and, contributing the balance from his own purse, he had, the bills struck and posted up, designating June 26, 1847, as the day of meeting. On that day, people from all parts of the county assembled, and discussed the question with great animation, both pro and con.�This meeting was almost barren of results, and was adjourned to the 5th of July following, the interim to be devoted to a general agitation of the subject. A healthy public interest had been awakened, and, on the day of the second meeting, the question turned upon the most advisable route. Hitherto, the agitation had been purely local, no outside parties�having appeared to join issue with the people of Delaware County, and the matter was wholly under the leadership of Mr. Neely; but the seed was sown and the people were enthusiastic. The second meeting was adjourned to August 20, when men of talent and public spirit from abroad were to be invited. Mr. Neely solicited the attendance of Gov. Bebb, of Ohio; Hon. O. H. Smith, of Indianapolis (afterward President of the road), as well as others from Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Bellefontaine, etc., who responded to the invitation. At this meeting, it was decided to make an effort to build a road from Indianapolis, through Muncie and Union City, to Bellefontaine, Ohio, to be called the Indianapolis and Bellefontaine Railroad; and resolutions were passed Delaware County to vote a tax of $12,000, at the ensuing fall election, to aid the enterprise. Mr. Neely, although unaccustomed to public speaking, yet led in the public discussion of this question throughout the county, and had the pleasure of seeing it settled by an affirmative vote.� He is justly entitled to be termed one of the prime movers in the inauguration and consummation of the enterprise, which has become of such vast importance to this city and county. He is, withal, a modest man, and it is chiefly to outside parties that we are indebted for many of the facts contained in his biography.

The happy choice of a companion in early life proved the solace of other years; and they have each been spared to bless the other, and see their children grow to honorable and useful maturity. Eliza is the wife of A. J. Wachtell, of Muncie; M. Jennie and Thaddeus A. reside with the parents; and Leonidas M. married Miss Welthy Berkey, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and resides at Muncie. (Page 226)

Surnames: Powers, Petijon, Holland, Gordon, Powers, Walling, Lewis
BRICE P. POWERS

The paternal grandfather of this gentleman came from England at an early day and settled in Harrison County, W. VA, where he married Miss Petijon. Her father was a resident of Harrison County, and was long engaged as a surveyor. Subsequently, he represented that county in the Legislature of West Virginia, and held other offices of honor and trust.

His maternal ancestors, whose patronymic was Holland, were the descendants of Caple Holland, who settled in the Old Dominion of Virginia at an early day, and afterward in Monongalia County, West Virginia. Jacob Holland was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He was married, in Monongalia County, West Virginia, to Mary Gordon, a native of Pennsylvania They settled in Delaware County, Ind., where both died.�William, Nehemiah and John Powers all settled in Indiana, and are now deceased. The daughter, Naomi, married a Mr. Roby, and settled in Union County, Indiana, where she died. Nehemiah Powers, the father of Brice P., was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, and removed with his parents to Monongalia County, in the same State, where he grew to maturity and married Cassandra Holland. In 1823, he came with his family to Indiana, having all his earthly goods in a wagon. Fording the Ohio River at Wheeling, W. Va., he proceeded on his way until he reached Wayne County, Ind, where he purchased, a tract of wild land and cleared a farm.

His son, Brice P., was born January 13, 1815, in Monongalia County, West Virginia, and was in the ninth year of his age when he came with his parents to Indiana. In the pioneer days of WayneCounty, he enjoyed but few opportunities of attending school, and, as he grew older and stronger, his services were required in the labor of clearing the home farm. After attaining his majority, he attended school at Centerville, Wayne Co., Ind., during two summers, acquiring a very good English education.

After the close of his school life, he was engaged for two years in the performance of various odd jobs in the neighborhood of his home,and, at the end of that time, came to Delaware County. His brother, Jacob K Powers, was the proprietor of a store and sawmill on the Mississinewa River, near Wheeling, in this county. Mr. Powers accepted�employment with his brother, and was thus engaged for about a year. He then went to reside with his grandfather, Jacob Holland, in Center Township, and, during this time, his brother sold his establishment near Wheeling and engaged in mercantile pursuits at the village of New Burlington, in this county, and the subject of this sketch again accepted�employment with him in the store. Subsequently, he and his brother purchased a tannery at that place, and conducted a very successful trade.

While engaged in this business, May 4, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah, daughter of John Lewis, a former resident of this county. Some time after his marriage, he removed with his wife to a farm in Henry County, Ind, which he had purchased jointly with his brother, Reason Powers, and, after cultivating it for several years, came to Delaware County in 1852 and purchased the farm upon which he still�resides in Center Township.

From the days of his boyhood, Mr. Powers has practiced habits of industry, which have borne rich fruit and placed him in a position of opulence. He is the possessor of a fine farm of 327 acres, situated on the Muncie and Granville Pike, and the neatness and system displayed about the home proclaim the master farmer. He has arisen to his present position in life by his own exertions, with scarcely a helping hand; and the competence he enjoys is the reward of labor and undaunted courage in the battle with the world. He has always been ready to lend a helping hand to all enterprises designed to promote the public welfare of his township and county, contributing both time and money to their�advancement.

While he has always taken an active part in politics, he has never been a candidate for any public office, and desires no higher distinction than the reputation of a good citizen; and no greater honor than the love and confidence of his fellow-men.

As members of the Baptist Church, both himself and his estimable wife have led consistent Christian lives, and, by the practice of the religion they profess, have endeared themselves to all who know them. ����

To bless their wedded life there were five children, two of whom Mark and Amelia, are now deceased. Nehemiah married Miss Anna Walling, of Delaware County, and is now a�prosperous merchant at Linden, in the State of Kansas; Naomi resides at home with her parents, while John is attending the University at Bloomington, Ind. (Page 228) �