FLAVIUS J. BRILEY.—A life-long resident of Lewis township, and
one of its most successful agriculturists, Flavius J. Briley has been an
interested witness of the various changes that have here taken place,
watching with delight the gradual transformation of the heavily tim-
bered land into a rich and productive farming region, and has aided by
every means within his power its growth and advancement. Having,
seemingly, inherited a desire for knowledge, he has always been an intel-
ligent reader, analyzing each subject as he read and forming opinions of
hjs own, so that even as a young man he was always prepared to talk
on any topic, and ably defend his convictions in a debate. He was born
in this township, June 30, 1850, a son of Rev. Dr. Absalom Briley, who
had the distinction of being the first white child born in Lewis township,
his birth occurring here, February 21, 1823. He is descended from one
of the very early settlers of Indiana, his great-grandfather, James Bri-
ley, having settled in Crawford county in the early part of the last cen-
turv. As an extensive dealer in horses and cattle, he made frequent
trips South, on his last trip being intercepted by his hired man, and
murdered for his money.
    James Briley, the grandfather of Flavius J., was very young when
brought from South Carolina, his native state, to Crawford county, this
state. He was of Scotch descent, and had the same habits of industry,
thrift and perserverance that characterized his ancestors. Coming to
Clay county soon after his marriage, he entered a tract of Government
land in section ten, on the bank of the Eel river, in Lewis town and
there built the log cabin in which his son Absalom was born. Several
years later, he bought another tract in the same township, and was there
profitably employed in farming and stock raising and dealing until his
death, at a venerable age.. To him and his good wife, who passed to the
life beyond before he did, five children were born, namely: Absalom,
Betsey, John, Mary, and Stephen.
    Reared in early pioneer days, before public, schools had here been
established, Absalom Briley availed himself of every opportunity to
obtain knowledge, and, having been converted while yet a youth, subse-
quently became a preacher in the United Brethren church, laboring in his
ministerial work in various places in Indiana and Illinois, In the mean-
time his family lived, mostly, on the farm which he had improved, in
Lewis township, Indiana, although for a short time they were with him
in Illinois, He made his circuit, which was a large one, on horseback,
being out in all kinds of weather, and through exposure his health failed,
his lungs becoming weak, and rheumatism causing him much suffering.
He then turned his attention to the study of medicine, and for many
years was both a successful physician and a zealous worker in the Mas-
ter’s vineyard, continuing active until his death, October 12, 1892.
    Rev. Absalom Briley was twice married. His first wife, whose
maiden name was Mary Carroll, was born November 15, 1824, and died in
1848. He married second, in 1849, Martha Stewart. She was born,
June 7, 1829, in Crawford county, Illinois, a daughter of John and
Lucinda (Young) Stewart. Her paternal grandfather, Thomas Stewart,
emigrated from Scotland, his native country, to America, becoming a
pioneer of Kentucky, where he spent his remaining years. Migrating
from Kentucky to Illinois, John Stewart was one of the early settlers of
Crawford county. After living there a few years, he came with his
family to Clay county, Indiana, settling in Lewis township, where he
purchased from the Government the land now owned and occupied by
his grandson, Flavius J. Briley, and on the homestead that he improved
from the wilderness lived until his death. John Peter Young, father of
Lucinda Young, and great-grandfather of Mr. Briley, was born in Ger-
many, but as a young man emigrated to the United States, fought with the
Colonists throughout the Revolutionary war, taking an active part in the
Battle of Bunker Hill, and at the close of the struggle settling in Nelson
county, Kentucky, where he remained until his death. By his first mar-
riage, Absalom Briley had two children, Marinda and Albert G. By his
second marriage he had six children, Flavius J., Florence, Lena, Alice,
Eva, and Laura.
    Flavius J. Briley obtained the rudiments of his knowledge in the
rude pioneer log schoolhouse, with its slab benches, without desks in
front, and with no backs. The larger part of his youthful days were
spent with his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Stewart, and
as soon as old enough was given full charge of the farm, to the owner-
ship of which he succeeded, and on which he has since resided. To the
substantial hewed log house built by his grandfatber, Mr. Briley has
made extensive additions and improvements, and still occupies it, having,
with the exception of two years, 1905 and 1906, when the family went to
Terre Haute in order to give the children better educational advantages,
lived in it since a boy. As an agriculturalist Mr. Briley has been suc-
cessful, and in addition to managing his farm, he has for the past ten
years been employed a part of the time in mining.
    Mr. Briley married, August 15, 1869, Elizabeth Stewart, who was
born in Jackson township, Sullivan county, July 4, 1851, a daughter of
Charles Stewart. Her grandfather, Thomas Stewart, was born in Ken-
tucky, and after his marriage to Sarah Clark came to Clay county, Indi-
ana, bought a tract of government land in section 6, Lewis township,
and on the homestead which he reclaimed from the forest spent his
remaining days. His wife survived him, and spent her last years with
her .children, dying in Lewis, Vigo county. Coming with his parents to
Indiana, Charles Stewart, who was born in Bullitt county, Kentucky, lived
in Lewis township during his early manhood. About two years after his
marriage he bought a tract of land, covered with its original growth of
timber, in Jackson township, and built of round logs the cabin in which
Mrs. Briley first opened her eyes to the light of this world. He had
previously learned the trades’ of both a carpenter and shoemaker, and
in winter made shoes, while in summer he built houses. Removing with
his family to Pierson township in 1860, he purchased another tract of
wild land, and while he worked at his trades his sons cleared and improved
a farm. Four years later, he sold out, came to Lewis township Clay
county, bought land in section thirty-one, and there resided until his
 at the of seventy-two years. Charles Stewart married in Sul-
livan county Indiana, Nancy Sills a daughter Qf Abraham and Eliza.-
beth (Randolph) Sills, who came from kentucky to Sullivan county,
Indiana being pioneers of Jackson township. Mr. Sills was a black-
smith, and worked at his trade, his Sons doing the work of the farm,on
which he and his good wife spent their remaining years. Mrs. Briley’s
mother, Mrs. Nancy (Sills) Stewart, is still living, being now eighty-
seven years of age. She reared nine children, as follows: Felix Chester,
Tilburn Curtis, Charles Webster, Theodore Hamilton, Elizabeth, Willis
P., Letha Jane, Newton Jasper, and Sarah Ann. The three oldest sons
all served in the Union Army during the Civil war, Felix C., as a member
of Company C, Thirty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving through-
out the entire period of the contest.
    Mr. and Mrs. Briley have reared nine children, namely: Della D.;
Oscar O.; William Wallace; Absalom A.; Niman N.; Charles C.;
Emery E. and Emily E., twins; and Flavius F. Absalom enlisted in the
regular army, and served in China during the Boxer war, his company
being for several months on guard in Pekin. Subsequently going with
his regiment to the Philippines, he died while in service at Namar Island.
Della D. married Alvin Stark, and has three children, Noel, Judson and
Verne. Oscar O. married first Maggie Saunders, by whom he had one
child Evelyn Geneve, and married second Mamie Harris, by whom he has
one son, Merle 0. William W. married Rachel West, and they have two
children, Granville and Elizabeth. Charles C. married. Elizabeth Will-
iams. Emily E. is the wife of Emmett Hayth. Niman N., who married
George Bear, died October 19, 1895, leaving one child, Walter Everett
Bear.