moved to Perry County, Ohio, in 1815. Tilghman was reared on a farm in Ohio, and when eighteen years old began to learn the brick mason's trade at Lancaster, at which he worked twelve years. In 1842 he came to Vermillion County, Indiana, and located in Helt Township, where he has since lived. He was married August 11, 1840, to Sarah, daughter of John and Christina May. To Mr. and Mrs. Foncanon have been born ten children, eight of whom are living -- Thomas Jefferson, Emily, Isabelle, Charles A., Mark, Georgiann and Christiann (twins), and Elva. All are married and settled near the old homestead. Mr. Foncanon has twenty grandchildren living, and one great-grandchild.
ISAAC RICE, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 15, Vermillion Township, where he owns 173 acres of land under cultivation, and twenty acres of timber land. He has a valuable property, which he has acquired by years of toil and economy, having nothing when he started for himself, his first money being earned by hauling wood and running a threshing machine. He has made a specialty of stock-raising, and has some very fine cattle and horses. Mr. Rice was born in Floyd County, Indiana, March 7, 1832, a son of John and Catherine (Smith) Rice, natives of Kentucky, of German descent, who were early settlers of Floyd County, where they spent their last days. In 1857 Mr. Rice came to Vermillion County and settled on the farm where he now lives, which at that time was a tract of wild, uncultivated land. He was married in 1858 to Christina Burkhart, a native of Floyd County, born in 1834, a daughter of Jacob Burkhart. To Mr. and Mrs. Rice have been born four children, one of whom, John W., is deceased. Those living are -- James A., Alice and Lafayette. Alice is the wife of Bruce Merriman, and has two children -- Collett and Jessie B. Mr. Rice is a member of the Odd Fellows order, Lodge No. 563. In politics he is a Republican.
HENRY NEBEKER, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Clinton, is a member of one of the old and prominent families of Vermillion County. He was born in Helt Township, this county, June 16, 1854, a son of Aquilla and Naomi (Wright) Nebeker, his father a native of Newport, Delaware, and his mother of Ontario County, New York. They were married in Vermillion County, having come to the county when young. The early life of our subject was spent on a farm, completing his literary education at DePauw University at Greencastle, Indiana. His preparatory medical studies were commenced in the office of Drs. Hedges and Bogart, in Clinton, and in 1873 he attended the medical department of the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1875-'76, he was a student at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating from that institution in March of the latter year, and immediately after he commenced the practice of medicine at Clinton. He is devoted to his profession, and has established a large and lucrative practice which is gradually increasing. September 6, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Wilson, who was born December 27, 1857, in Parke County, Indiana, a daughter of E. G. Wilson who is still a resident of Parke County. Doctor and Mrs. Nebeker are the parents of two children named Ray B. and Mark E. In politics the doctor is identified with the Republican party. He is a promi-
nent Mason, and belongs to Jerusalem Lodge, No. 99, and Terre Haute Chapter, No. 11. The doctor is a man of public-spirit, taking a deep interest in the town where he resides, and every enterprise calculated to aid in building up the place has his encouragement and assistance.
SAMUEL J. HALL, an active and enterprising agriculturist of Vermillion Township, residing on section 16, is a native of Vermillion County, Indiana, born April 13, 1835. His parents, William B. and Nancy (Jordan) Hall, were of English descent, the father a native of the State of Virginia, and the mother born in Kentucky. She left her native State in 1822, coming to Parke County, Indiana. The parents of our subject lived in Parke County until 1830 when they removed to Vermillion County, residing here until their death, the father dying December 10, 1863, and the mother in the year 1872. They reared a family of thirteen children, as follows -- Mrs. Harriet Davis, Tabitha (deceased), Mrs. Lacy A. Lemon, Mrs. Elizabeth Woodward, Mrs. Mary Saunders, Charles H., Samuel J., Mrs. Emily Dunlap, Mrs. Amanda Utter Mrs. Ellen Hopkins, Melvin L. (a prominent physician of the county, residing at Newport), James W., and John D. The latter was a member of Company C, Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, and died while out on the field in Missouri. Samuel J. Hall, the subject of this sketch, was reared to agricultural pursuits which he has made the principal vocation of his life. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting October 9, 1861. He raised a company know[n] as Company I, Forty-third Indiana Infantry, and served three and a half years. He was in the engagements at New Madrid and Riddle's Point, then helped to take the city of Memphis, Tennessee, holding it seven days. He was at the siege of Fort Pillow, being fifty-six days under fire, and was at the siege of Vicksburg, also on the expedition up White River and at the battle of Helena. Part of the time he had command of two companies, Colonel Bell having surrendered his forces to him. He also participated in the battle of Little Rock, and other engagements of minor importance. He was on the Red River expedition, and was at the battle of Marks Mill, where half of his company was killed and the remainder captured with the exception of Himself and one man. For his gallant conduct at the battle of Helena Mr. Hall received a leave of absence for thirty days from General Grant. He was mustered out at Indianapolis, when he returned to his home in Vermillion County, and resumed farming. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Head, who was born in the year 1847, a daughter of Francis and Emeline (Lucas) Head. In connection with his general farming Mr. Hall devotes some attention to raising and dealing in stock. He is one of the prosperous men of Vermillion Township, where he has a valuable farm of 540 acres, 400 acres being well improved and under a high state of cultivation. Politically Mr. Hall affiliates with the Republican parrty.
JOHN L. PETERS, an active and enterprising business man of Cayuga, is a native of Ohio, born in Circleville, March 3, 1858, a son of Newton Peters, who is still a resident of Circleville. He was reared and educated at his birthplace, remaining there until 1871, when he came to Vermillion County, Indiana, and made his home