DAVID SLIPHER, a retired farmer now living in Mulberry, Clinton county,
Ind., was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 28, 1814, and is a son of Stephen
and Elizabeth (Flenner) Slipher. The father was a native of Virginia, and the
mother of Maryland. while both were of German descent. Stephen Slipher was
born in 1780, and in 1802 emigrated to Ohio, locating in Butler county, where
he entered 210 acres of land on the Miami river. In 1828, he came to Clinton
county, Ind., and entered from the government 640 acres of land. Two years
later he secured another section and moved to Clinton county and settled on
this land in 1851, remaining in Ohio up till that time; upon the farm which he
there developed he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1868. His
wife died in 1856. They had nine children, of whom three are yet
living--Emily, widow of Simeon Bryan; David and Susan. Those deceased are
Daniel, Isaac, Philip, Stephen, Elizabeth and Polly.
The gentleman whose name heads this record was reared upon his father's farm
and began working in the fields at a very early age. His school privileges
were thus limited, and his youth was not a flowery one. Having arrived at
mature years he chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Mary,
daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Mills) Scott, natives of Lancaster county, Pa.
Her parents were of German and English descent respectively. Her father died
in Wisconsin and her mother passed away in Ohio. Of their twelve children
only two are living. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Slipher was celebrated
March 1, 1838, and has been blessed with nine children : Elizabeth, wife of
David Bolyard; Martha, widow of John B. Beard; Mary, deceased; Louisa, wife of
William Peters Isaac, who resides in Missouri; Stephen, deceased; Clark, who
is living near Frankfort ;William I.; and Emeline, wife of Frank Burkhalter
After his marriage, Mr. Slipher rented a farm for four years and then came to
Clinton county; Ind. This was in 1842. Here he cleared a farm, transforming
the land into rich and fertile fields, and at one time he was the owner of 340
acres of valuable land. He first began threshing in 1850, using horse power
for the purpose, and in 1862 he bought a steam thresher, the first ever
introduced in the community. To the work of farming and threshing he devoted
his energies with good success until 1875, since which he has lived retired In
his business dealings he was successful and thereby won the capital which now
enable him to lay aside business cares. Both Mr. and Mrs. Slipher are members
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are highly respected citizens. He is
also a warm advocate of temperance principles and votes with the prohibition
party. He served as county commissioner from 1870 until 1879.
Transcribed by Chris Brown from page 858 of "A Portrait And Biographical
Record of Boone and Clinton Counties, Ind.," published in 1895 by A.W. Bowen &
Co. Chicago.