which he followed some two or three years. In the spring of 1881 he established his mercantile business, which he carried on successfully until late in the year 1885, when he sold his stock of goods to Joseph Flinn, although he still owns the store building. He is also the owner of eighty acres of choice land in Helt Township, besides town property in Alto and Hillsdale. He has been a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church for thirty years, and is a liberal supporter toward all benevolent institutions. Mrs. Casebeer is also an active member of the same church, is president of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Salem Methodist Episcopal church, and is an ardent temperance and Sabbath-school worker. Few men in the county are more widely known or more generally respected than the subject of this sketch. Genial in temperament, charitable toward the unfortunate, active in the support of every movement calculated to promote the public welfare, he takes a prominent position in the community, and has gained the confidence of all who know him.
REASON H. SWINEHART, hardware merchant, Clinton, established his residence and business at this place in April, 1871. He was born in Holmes County, Ohio, February 22, 1822, a son of Daniel and Vesta (Hogland) Swinehart, his father a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and his mother a native of Ohio. In 1841 the family moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, where the parents lived until their death, the mother dying in 1848, aged fifty years, and the father dying in 1872, at the age of seventy-six years. Reason H. Swinehart was married at Terre Haute, April 12, 1857, to Miss Ann Palmer, and to them have been born six children as follows -- Emma died in infancy; Clara, born September 8, 1860, is the wife of W. L. Morey, of Clinton; Harry, born July 20, 1863; Frank, born January 15, 1866; Daniel died in infancy, and Elizabeth, born at Clinton, August 15, 1871. Soon after locating in Terre Haute Mr. Swinehart commenced work at the tinner's trade which he followed until establishing his hardware business in Clinton. His sons, Harry and Frank, both of whom are young men of fine business qualifications, assist him in his business. Both are members of the Odd Fellows order, and Harry is at present Junior Warden of Clinton Encampment, No. 143. The father and sons are members of Amant Lodge, No. 356, I. O. O. F., and have passed all the chairs of the lodge. In politics Mr. Swinehart is independent, but of Democratic antecedents.
WILLIAM A. JAMES, section 11, Helt Township, was born in Vermillion County, Indiana, September 16, 1831, a son of Zachariah D. and Jane (Skidmore) James. His father was born in Virginia in 1811, and in 1822 came with his parents to Vermillion County, where he was reared and married. Of a family of five children, but three are living -- William A., John S., a grocer of Danville, Illinois, and Dr. Harry H., of St. Bernice. William A. James was reared on a farm in Helt Township. He was given good educational advantages, attending school in Paris and Bloomington Illinois, and after leaving school taught a short time. In 1862 he enlisted in defense of his country and was assigned to Company B, Eighty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and served six months. After his return home he clerked in his father's store
in Montezuma, and in 1867 returned to Vermillion County. In 1869 he settled on the farm where he now lives, which contains 128 acres of valuable land, all well improved and under a good state of cultivation, and his residence and farm buildings are commodious and convenient. Mr. James was married February 5, 1856, to Frances Houghland, daughter of William Houghland. They have had seven children, but two of whom are living -- Charles W. and Harry E. The latter married Ida B. Rose, and is now a telegraph operator of Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. James is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Ancient Order of the United Workman and the Patrons Mutual Aid Society of Vermillion County. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. James is a Republican. He is one of the prominent and properous citizens of the township where he has spent his life.
JESSE HOUCHIN was born in Pike County, Ohio, November 10, 1825. He is of Scotch and Welsh ancestry, but for three generations preceding him his paternal ancestors were natives of Virginia. His father, Jesse Houchin, was born in Amherst County, Virginia, June 10, 1770. His grandfather, William Houchin, was born in Buckingham County, as was also his great-grandfather, John Houchin. His mother was Mary Allison, daughter of Thomas Allison, of New York State. Five of his uncles were soldiers in the war of 1812, Moses and Charles Houchin, and Jesse, James and Daniel Allison. His parents, soon after their marriage moved to Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and in 1820 to Pike County, Ohio, and from there in 1830 to Vermillion County, Indiana, settling first in Highland Township, but soon after moved to Warren County, where they lived twenty years. Jesse Houchin remained with his parents until manhood, and in his youth, when not employed in the work of the farm, attended the subscription schools. In February, 1851, he moved to a farm in Helt Township, Vermillion County, and there improved a farm on which he lived until November 10, 1886 when he moved to Montezuma, but keeps his farm of 320 acres well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs and sheep as heretofore; and raising crops of grain and grass. Mr. Houchin was married April 9, 1846, to Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of John Jackson, They have had eight children -- Martha S., John S., Mary M., Jessie E., Alice C., Daniel V., William E. and Lawrence Bruce. Daniel and William are deceased. Martha married William Malone, of Helt Township and has nine children; John married Endora Johnson; Mary is the wife of Silas Davis, and has eleven children; Jessie is the wife of James M. Morgan; Alice is the wife of Frank P. Thorn, and has one child; Daniel married Alice S. Earles, and at his death left one child. Mr. Houchin has been a prominent citizen of Vermillion County for thirty-five years. He is in no sense a politician, but is interested in promoting the material welfare of his township and county, and is always ready to assist any enterprise worthy of his support.
DAVID A. REED, a representative of one of the old and respected pioneer families of Vermillion County, was born in Stokes County, North Carolina, September 28, 1824. His father, Jacob Reed, was also a native of Stokes County, his father being a native of Germany, and coming to