WILLIAM H. CUTSHALL.—An extensive, skilful and progressive agri-
culturist, William H. Cutshall is actively engaged in his independent
vocation on one of the pleasantest and most desirable homesteads in Dick
Johnson township. It is located on section twenty-six, and with its fer-
tile and well-tilled acres and its comfortable set of farm buildings, gives
visible evidence of the wise manner in which the proprietor has employed
his time and means. A son of Henry Cutshall, he was horn in Coshocton
county, Ohio, September 28, 1853. His grandfather, William Cutshall,
was born on a farm near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His great-grand-
father Cutshall, who emigrated to the United States from Germany,
bought land near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and was there employed in
tilling the soil until his death, He was very successful in life, acquiring
a large estate.
    Leaving his native state when a young man, William Cutshall located
as a pioneer in Coshocton county, Ohio, and from the government bought
a piece of land lying one and one-half miles east of the present site of
Chili. Improving a good farm, he resided upon it the remainder of his
life, passing away when upwards of eighty years old. He married a
Miss Albert, who was of German parentage, and who had a sister that
attained the remarkable age of one hundred and six years. She reared
six of her children, William, Nicholas, Henry, John, Jacob and Margaret.
    Henry Cutshall was born on the parental homestead near Chili, Ohio,
and was there brought up as a farmer. Starting in life on his own ac-
count, he bought a farm one and one-half miles west of Bakersville, on
White Eyes creek, and lived there until 1863. Disposing then of his Ohio
property, he came to Noblesville, Indiana, with a view of settling there.
Not pleased with the place, however, he returned to Ohio, and remained
in that state a few months. In 1864 he again came to Indiana, and after
spending a month in Owen county settled in Clay county, moving with
his family intQ a log cabin standing in the southern part of Brazil town-
ship. The following year he purchased a tract of land in section twenty-
six, Dick Johnson township, receiving a quit claim deed to the property.
Clearing an opening in the forest, he erectecf a log house, and had lived
there but five or six years when a man came along, claimed the land, and
paid him one hundred and fifty dollars for the improvements he had made.
He then purchased another tract of land in the same section, which in-
cludes the farm now owned and occupied by his son William. At that
time it was covered with the virgin timber, from which he cut down trees
to make room for a log house. He improved a valuable farm, replaced
the log cabin with a frame house, and there resided until his death. Sep-
tember 27, 1902, aged eighty-three years.. He married Anna Roshong,
who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, a daughter of Daniel and Fanny
(Barnthouse) Roshong, the former of whom was born in France and the
latter in Ohio, of German ancestry. She died in October, 1902, aged
seventy-seven years, leaving the following-named children, Susan, Frank,
William H., Elizabeth, James M., Margaret, Daniel H. and Louisa.
    Eleven years old when he came with his parents to Clay county, Will-
iam H. Cutshall continued the studies which he had begun in Ohio in the
public schools, one of his teachers having been A. J. Doak, now of Terre
Haute. Since attaining manhood he has been a resident of Dick Johnson
township with the exception of the few years when as county treasurer
he lived in Brazil, and during the time has been engaged in agricultural
pursuits. Succeeding to the ownership of a part of the old homestead,
Mr. Cutshall has made valuable improvements, and in 1902 built the house
he now occupies. He is busily employed in general farming, gathering
pleasure as well as profit in his congenial occupation, and he has also for
thirty years been engaged in carpentering and contracting. Since 1895
he has contracted for and built a number of concrete bridges in Clay and
Vigo counties.
    On August 25, 1880, Mr. Cutshall married Lucy Crabb, who was
born and bred in this township, a daughter of Silas Blunt Crabb. Her
great-grandfather, William Crabb, Sr., emigrated from England, the place
of his birth, to Ohio, and for a number of years lived in either Highland
or Clinton counties. Later in life he came to Indiana, and as a pioneer
of Clay county entered a tract of government land not far from the pres-
ent site of Brazil, and there spent his remaining years, dying at a good
old age. William Crabb, Jr., the grandfather of Mrs. Cutshall and a
native of Ohio, came to Indiana in 1837, settling in Posey township, where
he entered forty acres of government land, which he occupied a number
of years. Selling out, he moved to Van Buren township, Clay county,
where both he and his wife, Susanna (Easter) Crabb, spent their remain-
ing years. A native of Highland county, Ohio, Silas Blunt Crabb was in
his twelfth year when he came with his parents to Indiana, and since that
time he has been a resident of Clay county, for the past forty years occu-
pying his present homestead. He has watched with pride and pleasure
Clay county’s transformation from a wilderness to a well settled, wealthy
county, rich in its many industrial resources. He married Eliza Wallace,
who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Thomas and Susanna Wallace, na-
tives of Scotland. Mrs. Crabb died March 9, 1896.
Mr, and Mrs. Cutshall are the parents of four children, namely:
James, Clay, Anna and Lucy. James married Adelaide McGranahan.
Mr. Cutshall is a stanch Republican in politics, active in public affairs,
and has filled various offices of trust. In 1884 he was elected township
trustee, in 1894 county treasurer, and in 1902 county commissioner, in
each position performing the duties devolving upon him with the utmost
fidelity. Fraternally he is a member of Brazil Lodge, -No. 264, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons; of Brazil Camp, No. 3418, Modern Woodmen
of America, and of Lodge No. 336, Knights and Ladies of Security. Both
Mr, and Mrs. Cutshall are members of the Christian church.