the present home of our subject, in December, 1829, where he made his home until his death. Andrew Sprouls was reared to the vocation of a farmer, and received a limited education in the rude log cabin subscription schools. He has always followed the cooper's trade in connection with his farming pursuits, and for several years ran a shop at Eugene. He was united in marriage April 27, 1851, to Miss America Pribble, a daughter of James Pribble, who came from Ohio to Vermillion County, Indiana, in an early day. Of the eight children born to this union seven are living -- James, Lucinda, Douglas, Thomas, Jennie, George and Lillie G. Lucinda married George W. Watson of Eugene Township, and has three children -- Grace, Dora and Daniel. Douglas married Mary Watson, and has three children -- Florence, Alva and Charlie. Jennie married Lionah Worth, of Wymore, Nebraska. George married Rebecca Naylor, a daughter of Lewis Naylor, and they have one child named Elva. Mr. Sprouls resides on section 29, Eugene Township, where he has 266 acres of fine land. In connection with his general farming he devotes some attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of hogs. He has been a resident of Eugene Township since 1855, and in 1859 settled on the farm where he now resides. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and affiliated with the lodge at Eugene when in existence.
JACOB L. THOMAS, an active farmer and stock-raiser of Vermillion Township, resides on section 6, where he has 520 acres of as good land as can be found in the county, being a part of the stock farm of the late Dr. Joseph Cook. Mr. Thomas was born in Vermillion County, Indiana, April 12, 1838, a son of Philemon and Catherine (Custer) Thomas. They were among the pioneers of the county, the father having come here in 1822, and the mother in 1828. The father died in January, 1860, and the mother is still living on the old homestead, where she has resided for sixty-five years. The father being a farmer, Jacob L. was reared to the same occupation, which he has made his life work. He was first married in Vermillion County, Illinois, in 1866, to Miss Eliza Bates, who was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1844, and to them were born two children -- Clay and Torrence (deceased). Mrs. Thomas died in 1874, and for his second wife he married Margaret J. (Dallas) Cook, a native of Wheeling, Virginia, born in 1835, and widow of Joseph C. Cook, late of Vermillion County. Mr. Thomas devotes considerable attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of thoroughbred Jersey cattle, of which he has a fine herd of six. He has one mare registered. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of Newport Lodge, No. 209, A. F. & A. M. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
OTIS M. KEYES, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Vermillion County, was born in Helt Township, this county, three miles from Dana, August 3, 1854, his father Dr. Cuthbert Keyes, also being a native of Vermillion County. He was reared principally on a farm, and in his youth received good educational advantages, in the common schools of his neighborhood and at the academy at Bloomingdale, Indiana. After completing his education he taught school four years in Vermillion and Parke Counties. He subsequently attended the Kentucky School of
Medicine, at Louisville, and graduated from that institution June 28, 1877, with the highest honors, receiving the gold medal which at that time was awarded to the person graduating with first honors in all branches. In the fall of 1877 he located at Dana, and immediately engaged in the practice of medicine, where he has since built up a large and lucrative practice, and by his kind and cordial dispostion, and honorable dealings he has gained the confidence and respect of all who know him. August 7, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Labelle Hunt, a daughter of Isaac Hunt, of Dana. One child has been born to this union, named Paul H. The doctor is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders, and takes an active interest in these organizations. He has held the office of township trustee one term, and is at present a member of the board of health of Dana.
JOSEPH MOORE, an old and honored pioneer of Eugene Township, Vermillion County, now deceased, was born in the State of Ohio, near Columbus, in 1803, a son of Thomas Moore. He came to this county in the year 1833, and the first winter after coming he spent at Eugene. He then settled on a tract of wild land, in Eugene Township, where Indians and wild animals were the principal inhabitants. He was married to Miss Sarah Dunlap, a daughter of Joseph Dunlap. Her brother James was a soldier in the war of 1812. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore, eight of whom still survive, their names being as follows -- Rebecca, Thomas, Jane, Ellen, Wallace, Robert, Joseph and Louise. Mr. Moore always followed the vocation of a farmer, and in his agricultural pursuits was very successful, owing to his industrious habits and good management, and at his death left a large landed estate, which he had acquired by fair and honorable dealings. He died September 8, 1861, his death causing universal regret throughout the community, where he made his home for so many years. His widow still lives on the old homestead. Her grand-daughter, Blanche Moore, whose mother died when she was an infant, is being reared by her.
JOHN R. STAHL, one of the successful teachers of Vermillion County, resides on section 22, Vermillion Township, where he owns forty acres of good land under a high state of cultivation. He is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born June 16, 1851, a son of Samuel and Catherine (Humrickhous) Stahl, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. In 1858 his parents moved to Vermillion County, and settled in Eugene Township, where the father died in 1884. The mother is now living in Illinois. They had a family of six children, four of whom are living -- Beulah, wife of Michael Willfang; Henry, of Illinois; John R., Eli and Daniel (twins, the latter deceased), and Elizabeth E., deceased. John R. Stahl commenced teaching school in 1873, and has taught thirteen winters, and in the meantime in the summer has attended the Indiana State Normal School five terms, the Brookville, Ohio, Union Academy one term, the Georgetown, Illinois, Academy, one term, and has been under the instruction of Prof. John Hurty, of Paris, Illinois, four months. He takes advantage of every opportunity he has to better fit him for his profession, and is fast gaining an enviable reputation as a teacher. Mr. Stahl was married in 1880 to Lucy Bell,