from The Republican (Danville, Indiana)--issue of Thursday, March 10, 1898--page 1, column 1:
Republican candidates for county offices:
was born in Scotland in 1846. He came to the United States while an infant and as his parents died while he was young, he had no home after he was ten years of age until he made one by untiring industry. He came to this county in 1866 where he has lived since with the exception of about eighteen months. He was a bound boy when the war opened but volunteered when he was seventeen years of age but was refused on account of his age. He volunteered again as soon as he was old enough and served until honorably discharged. He is a successful and industrious farmer and has served two years as commissioner, successfully.