scenes, and has lived to see the many changes that have transformed the wilderness into the present prosperous county. He was married in 1841 to Elizabeth E. Bozart, a native of East Tennessee, born in 1819, a daughter of Henry Bozart. To this union have been born four chldren, three are living -- Julius C., who married Louisa Wade, and has one child, Clarence; John B. married Hattie Davis, and Ella, wife of J. D. Hunter, of Illinois, has three children -- Collett, Florence and Columbus. Mr. Groves started the first tile factory in the county in 1867, and has carried on this business quite extensively, employing six men the greater part of the year. Mr. and Mrs. Groves are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
HARRY E. SANDERS, one of the active young business men of Eugene, and a representative on one of the old and honored pioneer families of Vermillion County, was born in Highland Township, this county, March 13, 1863, a son of Ezekiel Sanders, a native of the same county, his father being one of Vermillion County's early settlers. Harry E. Sanders was reared in his native county, and received his education in the common schools of his neighborhood. He worked as a farm hand until December, 1885, when he came to Eugene and established his present livery business, in which he is meeting with good success. He has now two stables, one located at Eugene and another at the railroad crossing in Cayuga, and keeps on hand nine good horses, five buggies and carriages, besides two spring wagons, and by his fair and reasonable prices and accommodating manners he has gained many customers and established a good business. Mr. Sanders was united in marriage to Miss Alice Hildren, December 30, 1886, she being a daughter of the late Charles Hildren. Mrs. Sanders was born in Fountain County, Indiana.
DANIEL SEARS, retired farmer, resides on section 4, Vermillion Township, where he owns a farm of sixty acres of land. He was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, June 20, 1808, a son of Jacob and Mary (Huffstutter) Sears, natives of North Carolina and Pennsylvania, respectively, and both of German descent. They came to Vermillion County, Indiana, in 1830, and lived until their death on the land on which they first settled, the mother dying in 1856, aged about eighty years, and the father dying in 1859, at the age of eighty-five years. They reared a family of eight children, but three of whom are living at the present time -- Daniel, our subject: Elizabeth, widow of Andrew Shoults, and Julia, widow of Manson Meriman. Daniel Sears was reared to the vocation of a farmer, and in his boyhood received such education as the farmer boys of his day. He was first married in Harrison County, Indiana, in 1831, to Miss Sarah Soppinfield, who was born in North Carolina, in 1808, and to them were born eight children, only two of whom are now living -- George H., of Missouri, who married Nancy M. Alexander and has five children, and Jackson A., of Newport, who married Rosa A. Filson, and has two children. George served three years in the war of the Rebellion, and although he participated in many hard-fourght battles he returned home at the close of the war without a scratch. Mrs. Sears died in 1848, and Mr. Sears was again married in 1855, to Miss Martha Clark, born
in Butler County, Ohio, in 1827, a daughter of Ezra and Nancy Clark. Mrs. Sears is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Sears belongs to the Christian church. Being one of the old pioneers Mr. Sears has witnessed the surrounding country change from a wilderness to its present prosperous conditon and has become well and favorably known throughout the county. In politics he is a Democrat. Postoffice, Newport.
JAMES M. NICHOLS, of Newport, is a son of William Nichols, an old and respected pioneer who settled in Vermillion Township, about 1833, The father was born in Amherst County, Virginia, May 1, 1795 and when a young man went to Mercer County, where he was married June 11, 1818, to Rhoda Martin, a native of North Carolina, born February 13, 1798. Thirteen children were born to this union, eleven of whom reached maturity, and of these only four are now living -- James M., who was their eldest child; Jeremiah, Sarah and Lucinda. When the father came to this county his family consisted of his wife and seven children. They made the journey in a wagon drawn by five horses, being about three weeks on the road. The father lived in this county until his death which occurred October 11, 1876, his widow surviving until August 25, 1881. He was a man of energy and much force of character, and highly respected throughout the community in which he lived. He always followed agricultural pursuits, and at different times owned considerable land. In early life he was a Whig, and later a Republican. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the United Brethren church for many years. James M. Nichols, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, June 19, 1819, and has made his home in Vermillion County, since coming here with his parents, and remembers quite well how the country looked almost sixty years ago. He was married May 11, 1843, to Miss Cassandra Arrasmith, born in Eugene Township, this county, May 25, 1824, a daughter of Alexander and Jane (Gray) Arrasmith, who were natives of Kentucky, and North Carolina respectively, the father being of German parentage. The parents of Mrs. Nichols settled in Eugene Township in 1817, and there their eight children were born four of whom are still living -- Thomas G., James A., William B. and Mrs. Nichols. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have had born to them eight children all living and married but one who died in infancy. They are as follows -- Martha Jane, wife of Daniel Wise; Richard E.; Isabel, wife of Alexander Frazer; Rhoda M., wife of David Jones; Lucinda, wife of John Q. Adams; America A., wife of Joseph M. Wimsett and George Omar. Mr.Nnichols has made farming his life work although in the early days of the county he taught school about seven years. His homestead is on section 33, Vermillion Townshiip. He also owns his father's homestead, his real estate consisting of 224 acres of land. Both he and his wife have been worthy members of the Methodist Protestant church for forty years, and all that time have taken The Telescope, the organ of that church. In politics Mr. Nichols is a Republican.
HON. JOHN WHITCOMB, one of the leading citizens of Vermillion County, and of Western Indiana, is a native of Ohio, born in Preble County. August 26, 1821, a son of Benjamin R. and Anna (Sutton) Whitcomb, the father being a native of