the old bugle he used in the war is still in his possession, and becomes dearer and more valued every year. While in infantry Mr. Samuels was wounded in the right shoulder, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, August 5, 1862, where 2,500 Union troops defeated J. C. Breckenridge, with 6,000 rebels, who left his wounded, including one General (Clark) on the field. since the war Mr. Samuels has been nearly exclusively engaged in the general mercantile business. He was married September 30, 1886, to Miss Nancy Isabelle Wann, a daughter of William H. Wann, of Lodi, Indiana. They are the parents of one child, a daughter named Ellen V. Mr. Samuels came too Cayuga in 1886, where he has built a comfortable home, and is one of the substantial and most respected citizens of the place. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of the Knights of labor and Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member of the Baptist church.
WILLIAM WRIGHT, a worthy representative of one of the old and respected pioneer families of Vermillion County, was born on the homestead which he now owns and occupies, the date of his birth being December 4, 1831. He is a son of George and Mary (Briggs) Wright, and a grandson of George Wright, Sr., who settled here as early as 1820. George Wright, the father of our subject, was a man of more than ordinary ability, ambitious and energetic, and made, considering the disadvantages of the times, rapid progress. He was a man of strict integrity, kind and generous almost to a fault, and if in his power to aid he never turned away a needy man from his door. Politically he was always loyal to the Whig party. In religious views he never doubted God's goodness, and believed in the final salvation of all men. His death, which was a source of universal regret throughout the county, occurred December 4, 1852, on the day his son William attained his majority. He was born in Ontario County, New York, July 11, 1801. He commenced life for himself at the age of eighteen years but came to Vermillion County about the same time as his parents settled here, in 1820. He was married in 1822 to Miss Mary Briggs, who was born near Seneca, in Lake County, New York, in 1806, a daughter of John Briggs. Her parents came to Indiana and settled in Vigo County in 1816. Both were natives of England. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wright commenced housekeeping at the Wright homestead, where all their five children were born. Two children died in infancy; their daughter Jane married James Rush, and died six month after her marriage. Ann became the wife of William Wood, and is now deceased, and William is the subject of this sketch. The mother was a strong, lion-hearted woman, and feared nothing. She was accustomed to all kinds of manual labor, and worked out-doors as well as in-doors. In the early years of the county wild game and wild animals roamed almost undisturbed through the woods, and wolves would even gather near their house to eat the crumbs swept from the family table. At one time Mrs. Wright drove away a bear that was feasting upon the body of a live hog. She lived to witness the marvelous development of Vermillion County, to see its forests vanish and become replaced by the homes of thousands of people. She died December 9, 1883, beloved by all who knew her. William Wright, whose name heads this sketch, was reared at the homestead, and has succeeded, by inheritance and purchase, to
William Wright
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the ownership of the same. October 14, 1852, he married Miss Charlotte Robertson, daughter of James and Mary Robertson, formerly of the State of Virginia, but early settlers of Sullivan County, Indiana, where Mrs. Wright was born September 25, 1833. Both of her parents died of apoplexy, in Vigo County, this Staate. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, as follows -- Mary died in infancy; George, living in Clinton township; Landon died in infancy; Lincoln, of Clinton Township; Josephine died aged two years; Mrs. Glendora G. Pittenger, of Vigo County; Charles, at home; Freddie died in infancy; Burt and Anna, at home. The homestead where our subject has spent his life is located on the line between sections 31 and 32, Clinton Township, and within a few feet of the east door of his present residence may still be seen the large flat stone which made the foundation of the rude double chimney which served the double log house of his parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wright are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Wright cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and since then has been a staunch supporter of the Republican party. In 1868 he was elected county commissioner, serving one term. He has held official positions of trust in Clinton, serving as trustee, clerk, etc. Since the year 1868, he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and takes an active interest in that organization.
AMOS FLESHMAN, a prominent and enterprising citizen of Highland Township, is a native of Indiana, born in Harrison County, October 12, 1822, a son of William and Sarah Fleshman, old pioneers of Vermillion County. The father of our subject was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, November 18, 1795, and was of German descent. When about ten years of age he was taken by his parents to Kentucky. He subsequently engaged in flat-boating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, making a number of trips to new Orleans, and on two occasions, he walked the entire distance from that city to Louisville, Kentucky. While on a flat-boat trip to new Orleans in 1815 the celebrated battle of New Orleans took place between the British and the American army. He had reach Natchez, Mississippi, when that event occurred, and was pressed into the service for duty if necessity required. He reached New Orleans soon after the battle, and visited the scene of the recent contest where the terrible slaughter made by the American army under General Jackson in the ranks of the British under General Packingham was plainly visible. On these trips he passed through many strange experiences and vicissitudes of fortune. On one occasion returning from new Orleans he made his way by helping work a barge loaded with merchandise up the river. It was hard work and their progress was very slow -- so slow that frequently when stopping in the evening for the night, they could look back and see the smoke of their fires of the previous night. They were ninety days making the upward trip. When a young man William Fleshman came to Indiana, and was married in this State in 1815, to Miss Sarah Charley, a native of Kentucky, born August 3, 1798, who was brought to Harrison County, Indiana, when a child. They lived in Harrison County until 1827, when in October of that year they came to Vermillion County. Mr. Fleshman then located on eight acres of land in Highland township, which had been entered by Isaac Chenoweth. A log cabin had been built on the land, 14 x 16 feet in