Butler County, Ohio - The whole text, 1882 (part 26 of 39)

In 1834 the Asiatic cholera visited the township, especially the eastern side, in a malignant type. About sixty died within three weeks. There was scarcely a family which was not visited. In 1852 flux prevailed as a disease, and twenty died within two weeks. On the 16th of November, 1854, six lives were lost by the falling of the church-steeple - Nathaniel and Robert Jones instantly killed; onthe 17th, John C. Jones died from injuries; in a month, Joseph Phellis, the contractor, died; and after lingering several weeks, Thomas Jones and Elias Williamson died. In 1856 Robert Griffiths and his family were drowned in the Ohio River, near Madison, while on their way to Missouri. Their bodies were recovered and buried in the old grave-yard. In all there were seven who lost their lives.

The men who laid the foundations of society in this valley were intelligent, and the firm friends of knowledge. In 1821 a bill was passed in the Ohio Legislature incorporating the Union Library Association of Morgan and Crosby Townships. Sixty-five shares were taken, costing three dollars each. The books purchased were Plutarch's Lives, Rollin's Ancient History,

Josephus, Mungo Park's Travels, Lewis and Clark's Expedition, Campbell on Miracles, Paley's Evidences of Christianity, Butler's Analogy, and others. The library was kept at Smith's mill on Dry Fork, and the shareholders assiduously improved their opportunities to read.

The year 1811 was memorable for the appearance of a wonderful comet. During the Summer a fearful pestilence visited the township, and all who were smitten by the disease died. People called it the 'cold plague." After the pestilence came a terrible hail storm, the ground in some places being covered with pieces of ice of irregular shape, six inches in circumference. In 1812 an earthquake convulsed the country and filled the people with terror. Dishes were shaken from their places, and the limbs of the trees swayed back and forth in a very remarkable manner.

The first death in the township is said to have been a daughter of Benjamin James, a squatter on Dry Fork. A coffin was made by splitting a black walnut log and dressing it with a broad-ax and drawing-knife. The slabs were fastened with wooden pins, and the body laid in the first grave dug in the township in the neighborhood at what is now known as Race Lane. Mrs. Blackburn, mother of William Blackburn, was the first who died on Paddy's Run. Her remains were buried on the hill west of where Mrs. Margaret Sefton now resides. John Merring, a distinguished Sunday-school worker, was kicked to death by a horse at the Fairview Church, many years ago. The Indian chief Kiatta is buried on the stream which bears his name, a few rods above where it empties into Dry Fork. Nothing marks the grave.

In June, 1880, a terrible hurricane passed over the township, entering it two miles east of Scipio, and going in a south-easterly direction. Entire forests were destroyed, barns and houses were unroofed, fences swept away, and an immense amount of damage done in yarious other ways.

The first three hewed log-houses erected in Morgan Township are yet standing in a good state of preservation, One is located on the California Pike near Biddinger's saw-mill, and is owned by Samuel De Armond. It was built by Reuben George. The other is in Okeana on North McLain Street, occupied by Nancy De Armond. Tt was built by Alexander and King De Armond. Another is on the old Atherton farm, north-west of New London, owned by J. P. Jones. It was built by Patterson Blackburn of blue ash logs that would face from fifteen to twenty inches. It has been weatherboarded, and is now used for a barn.

Okeana. - Samuel D. Lloyd, May 27, 1858; Henry Brandenburg, May 3, 1866; Perry Clawson, January 18, 1876. Before being known as Okeana it was called Tariff, and under this cognomen had the following post-

Elder Knowles Shaw - a name familiar in many western households - was born near New London, in Morgan Township, on the 13th of October, 1834. His mother's maiden name was Huldah Griffin, and by both of his parents he was of Scotch extraction. His early life was spent in Rush County, Indiana, where he first began to play the violin, furnishing the music for many a dance. While the ball was going on he was converted, ceasing to play in the middle of the piece he was performing. Very soon thereafter he entered the ministry of the Christian Church. On the 11th of January, 1855, he married Miss Martha Finley. Most of his time after entering the ministry was spent in the West and South, and on account of his wonderful vocal powers he was called the '' singing evangelist."

As a singer he was considered, in some respects, equal to Sankey and Bliss. Reporters of the press all spoke of his singing as something wonderful. Soon after beginning _ to preach, he began to compose and to write music. His first song was 'The Shining Ones," still popular. He published at different times five singing-books: " Shining Pearls," 'Golden Gate," "Sparkling Jewels,". "The Gospel Trumpet," and the " Morning Star." " Bringing in the Sheaves" was one of the last songs from his hand.

Henry Sefton, the father of a large posterity, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, February 19, 1812. On the 22d of March, 1838, he married Margaret Jones, daughter of Morris and Ann (Bebb) Jones. His wife was born in Ross Township, Butler County, Ohio,. January 11, 1814. This union produced eleven children, seven of whom are living, two dying in their youth, and one at the age of twenty-seven years, killed in a well. Milton, the oldest of the family, was born on the 12th of April, 1839. He is married and lives in Preble County, Ohio. Elizabeth, who is single, was born on the 13th of May, 1840. Martha Ann was born February 21, 1842. She is the wife of John R. Bevis, of Reily Township, onehalf mile west of Ogleton. Everett was born on the 14th of January, 1844, and was killed in 1871. Louisa was born February 22, 1846. Euphemia was born July 21, 1847, and died young. Cornelia was born August 17, 1849. She is the wife of William Baughman, of Harrison Township, Hamilton County, Ohio. Emma S. was born April 18, 1851; she is unmarried. Helen was born March 19, 1854, dying early in life. Gilbert was born February 15, 1856.

After his marriage Mr. Sefton farmed in Hamilton County for a few years on his father's place, and about 1845 moved to Morgan Township, on Paddy's Run, where he purchased one quarter section of land, on which he resided until his death, August 15, 1856. Mr. Sefton was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and in all the enterprises of a public nature took an active and consistent part. His son, Milton, was drafted for the war, but secured a substitute. Everett enlisted in the Fall of 1861 in the Fifth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Company H. He served three years, was discharged, and then taken prisoner. Mrs. Sefton, with the family, a portion of which is yet at home, carries on the farm successfully. They are among the solid people of the county, having accumulated a handsome competency.

John P. Jones was born in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, April 20, 1810. On the 9th of June, 1834, he married Mary (Jones), widow of John Swancott, of this township, who was born in Montgomery, North Wales, October 16, 1794. This marriage produced two children - Elliott, born May 24, 1835, and who died May 5, 1867, and Michael, who was born August 13, 1838. He is married and lives in New London. Mr. Jones came to America in the Fall of 1832, settling in Morgan Township, on Paddy's Run. When first taking up his residence here he was a poor man. He at once went to work by the month on a farm until his marriage. He then purchased one hundred and twentyone acres of land, part on time. Since his arrival from the mother-country he has, by careful management, accumulated a large property, ranking at present as one of the wealthiest citizens of the township. Of the minor offices of the township he has held several. He is also a faithful member of the Congregational Church. In polities he was a Whig till about 1856, from which time he has ranked as a Republican. His first vote was cast for General Harrison. Michael, the second son, married Miss Parthenia Wilkins, June 2, 1881, who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, September 22, 1848. He was a member of the Fifth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Company B, being stationed in the Kanawha Valley, West Virginia. He was also a member of the "one hundred day" company; took part in Morgan's raid ; and has been a school-teacher for three years each, in Morgan and Ross Townships.

A well-known man in Morgan Township is William Augustus De Armond, who was born August 17, 1846, and married Ada Brown, daughter of H. W. Brown, of Okeana, November 28, 1878, who was born February 3, 1860. Mr. De Armond is one of the present township trustees, which office he has held for three terms. He has been assessor for two years; he is also a member of Harrison Encampment Odd Fellows' Lodge. Mr. De Armond resides at the old Bebb homestead, Section 27.

John Shroyer was an undertaker for forty years in this section of country, during which time he buried over one thousand persons. The first hearse in this township was a common one-horse farm-wagon. After several years it was replaced by a one-horse spring-wagon. In 1855 another took its place, with window glass eight by ten inches on each side. It did service until January 13, 1864, when Mr. Shroyer died, aged sixty-six. He was buried at his request in a coffin made by himself, as really he was his own workman. His prices ranged from two dollars to eight dollars per coffin and attendance. There have been eight children, the eldest dying in infancy. The others are, Nelson, Delilah, John, who died May 26, 1868, aged twenty-five ; Catherine, Thomas, Lydia, and George, who died in his youth.

Thomas Shroyer is well known in both Hamilton and Butler Counties. He is of a literary disposition; has filled the office of Sunday-school superintendent, organist in the United Brethren Church of New Haven, and has for a number of\years leading correspondent for newspapers.

Hugh Williams was born in Anglesea, Wales, March, 1806, and married Eliza Gwilym, widow of Abner Francis, Sen., in 1833. Mrs. Williams was born February 5, 1809, in Morgan Township. This union produced eight children, three of whom are living: Mark, born October 28, 1834, married, and serving as a missionary in China; Jane, born June 17, 1844, the wife of D. Gaston Boyd, of Newtown, Ohio ; Hannah, born May 2, 1848, the widow of Professor James A. Clark, now of New London. Mr. Williams came to America in 1829, stopping in Pennsylvania for one year, then coming to Paddy's Run and beginning business as a blacksmith, which trade he followed until 1845. In 1847 he pur- chased a farm of one hundred acres, on which he lived until his death in March, 1870. He was one of the prominent men of Morgan Township ; was identified with all public improvements; and was a prominent member of the New London Congregational Church, of which he was deacon, for more than forty years. Mark Williams married Isabella Riggs, daughter of the Rev. S. R. Riggs, the distinguished missionary. He graduated at Oxford in 1858, went to Lane Seminary in the Fall of the same year, where he remained for three years, joining the ministry in 1861. After his theological course he preached for a short time in Illinois and Wisconsin, and in 1866 was sent to China by the American Board of Missions, where he has since resided.

Abner Francis, Jr., was born February 18, 1829, in Ross Township, and is the son of Abner Francis, Sen., and Mrs. Williams, who was a widow at that time. Mr. Francis married Martha A. Vaughn, which marriage has given birth to eight children. William was born February 7, 1858; David, July 8, 1859; John, February 15, 1862; Mark, March 19, 1863; Eliza, December 80, 1865; Mary, November 12, 1868; Edward, March 27, 1872; Annie, October 6, 1875. Mr. Francis has been active in all the industrial and educational pursuits of his township and county. He is one of the directors of the Cincinnati and Brookville turnpike, along with James A. Bevis and Amzi McGill; isa member and deacon of the Paddy's Run Church, and for a number of years has been chorister of the Sundayschool.

The Gwilyms, of whom Morgan is the progenitor on this side of the Atlantic, came to America in 1768, and married Elizabeth Evans, in Butler County. His brother William came to America in 1795, and stopped on the Red Stone River, in Pennsylvania, for a few months, where he aided in making the first iron west of the Alleghanies. In 1798 he came down the Ohio and took up his residence as a squatter on Blue Rock, in Colerain Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, and in 1802 settled on Paddy's Run, in Morgan Township. He died in 1845, and his wife in 1862. The marriage produced five children, all of whom were daughters.

The Vaughns came to America in 1801, and in 1802 removed from Pennsylvania to Morgan Township. Mr. Vaughn married for his second wife Ruth (Crosby) Comstock, of Yankee extraction, in 1807. She was born in Connecticut, 1766, and died August 5, 1825, leaving no family. He married the third time, to Mary Wardell, June 14, 1828, widow of William Brightwell. Mrs. (Wardell) Vaughn was born March 17, 1765, and died June 24, 1853, without issue.

Mr. Vaughn died September 4, 1848. His son, William, was born August 16, 1803, in Morgan Township. He married Mary Bebb, November 4, 1825, who was born January 12, 1806, in this township. This marriage resulted in five children, one dying in infancy; four of whom grew to maturity. John Green Vaughn was born January 21, 1827, and is married and lives in Marion County, Illinois; Martha Ann, born November 12, 1832, is now the wife of Abner Francis, of Ross Township; William Crosby, born February 25, 1835, is unmarried, and lives with his mother, in New London; Mary Bebb, born October 28, 1846, is the wife of Rees H. Evans, of this township. William Vaughn received from his father about ninety acres of land, on which he commenced life for himself, rising constantly in the estimation of his fellow-citizens. He was chosen captain of the State militia, and served as the first postmaster of Paddy's Run, which office he held until about 1847. At the time of his death, November 22, 1851, he owned two hundred and twenty acres of land.

Another of the leading citizens of Morgan Township is Andrew J., son of John C. Jones, who was born in Ross Township, November. 27, 1826, and married, for his first wife, Jane Morris, January, 1851, daughter of Evan Morris. Mrs. Jones died July 3, 1853, leaving one son, Gilbert M., who was born June 5, 1853, and is unmarried, living in the Township of Ross. For his second wife Mr. Jones married Patience Moorehouse, February 5, 1861, daughter of Eliphalet Moorehouse ; the latter born February 6, 1835. Mr. Jones is a member of the Congregational Church, and has been a trustee of the township. He was in Colonel Moore's one hundred day regiment. He began life with one hundred and thirty acres which his father gave him, and from time to time has added to them until at present he owns four hundred acres of tillable ground.

Among the most prominent of the old pioneers was William Atherton, born May 21, 1808, in Boston, Mass., and married in 1830, to Elizabeth: Willey, who was born -in Hamilton County, Colerain. Township, June 24, 1810. This marriage brought forth nine children, as follows: George, born October 30, 1831, married, and lives in Terre Haute, Indiana; Henry, born October 21, 1833, and died February 28, 1839; Amos, born December 27, 1835, married, and lives in Missouri; Olive, born September 21, 1837, the wife of B. F. Clark, of Venice; Naomi, born March 1, 1840, unmarried, at home; Mary, born June 21, 1842, now dead; Belinda, born January 5, 1845, died March 12, 1876; William, born May 26, 1847, met his death by an accident November 9, 1861; Jane, born February 22, 1850, wife of Austin Scott, the son of William H. Scott, of Crosby Township, both men of many excellent parts. These last named live near Harrison, Ohio. Mr. Atherton was brought when a child ten years of age to Hamilton County, and in 1836 purchased two hundred acres of land in this township, on which he took up his residence. He met his death from cholera, June 21, 1858. His widow still resides on the old farm. William Atherton was a hard-working farmer; and in all his undertakings was a man of probity and ultimate success.

Amos Atherton, born in 1793, married Mary Francis, born in 1797, daughter of David Francis. The result of this marriage was a family of ten children, four of whom were twins: David F., born 1817, a resident of Morgan; Pheebe, born 1819, widow of Andrew McCoy Wakefield, of New Haven, Hamilton County, Ohio; Elijah, born 1821 - dead; Abner, born 1823, married and lives in Iowa; Francis, born in 1823 - dead; Mary, born 1827 - dead; Elizabeth, born 1830, wife of David Pottenger, of New Haven, Ohio; Amos W., born in 1832 - dead; Mary, born in 1835 - dead; Rachel, wife of Joseph McHenry, of New Haven, Ohio. Amos Atherton came to Hamilton County, Ohio, about 1808, where he acquired a large body of land near the Shaker village, living there at the time of his death. He was a man of deep religious convictions, and distinguished for his liberality in Church matters.

David F. Atherton married for his first wife Jane Gwilym, daughter of Morgan Gwilym, of this township. Mrs. Atherton was born in 1819, and died February 5, 1867. This marriage resulted in two children, both of whom are dead. For his second wife Mr. Atherton married Jane, daughter of Hugh Price, born in Franklin County, Ohio, 1840. The fruits of this union were two children, one of whom still lives. Mr. Atherton came to Morgan Township in 1844, and settled on the Mor-

Griffith Morris, son of Evan Morris, was born in Morgan Township, September 7, 1820, and married Mary Jane Wapon, widow of Benjamin Humphreys, April 17, 1856. Mrs. Morris was born December 22, 1880, in Delaware County, Ohio. There have been four children: Minter C., born February 19, 1857, who married a daughter of the Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, now resides near home as a farmer; Walter, born January 7, 1860; Minor, born August 23, 1863; Armer, born August 9, 1868.

Evan Morris, Sen., was born in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, where he married Jane Morris, by whom he had eight children, two dying in infancy: Evan, born March 15, 1816; Griffith, born in Morgan Township ; John, born in Morgan Township - dead; Mary and Ann, dead; Mary Ann, born in this township but living in Ross; Jane, born in Morgan Township, now dead; Hannah, born in Morgan but living in Ross. Mr. Morris came to America in 1818, and from Pittsburg to Cincinnati made his way on a flat-boat. He purchased eighty acres of land on Paddy's Run, where he resided until his death, but in the mean time adding to the first purchase very considerably.

Jane, wife of George King; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Otto; Pearson; Catharine, wife of Enoch Larison, and John. Pearson Appleton was born in New Jersey about 1803; he married Margaret Mahaffey, of this county. They had eight children: Nancy, wife of David Morris, of Hamilton County; John, now a resident of Okeana; Elizabeth Ann, wife of John Morgan - dead ; Isabelle, wife of John Arkenbyer, now of Kansas; Sarah, wife of Josiah Deen, of Marion County, Indiana; Mary, widow of Michael Milholland, of Hamilton County, Ohio; Abel, married and lives in Iowa; Pheebe, wife of Amos Cann, lives in Kansas.

John L. Appleton was born November 12, 1824, and married Esther Ann McHenry December 16, 1846. His wife was born in Delhi Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, June 11, 1826. This marriage resulted in ten children: Pearson, born November 6, 1847, died July 6, 1848; Lindsay, born July 10, 1849, married and residing in this township; Rhoda, born September 12, 1852, wife of Amos Van Loo, of Preble County, Ohio; Pearson E., born July 31, 1855, married and a citizen of Morgan; Margaret A., born August 7, 1857, and wife of James Freiling, of this township; William W., born April 1, 1859; Wallace W., born May 2, 1862; Charlotte R., born May 22, 1866; Canowels, born September 14, 1868, and Enoch McHenry, born July 23, 1871. Mr. Appleton is one of the representative men of Butler County. His family moves in the best circles of society.

George Milholland was born in Franklin County, Indiana, December 16, 1811, and married Mary Ann, daughter of John Merring, March 24, 1842. Their children are John, born March 6, 1843, who lives in Iowa, and is a practicing physician; Charlotte, born September 24, 1845, the wife of Tobias Speiah, resides ried, and in Nebraska; William, born J uly 10, 1850, is a practicing physician in Shelby County, Ohio; Anna, born September 8, 1852, lives in Mt. Carmel, Indiana, and is the wife of Edwin M. Arnold; David M., born March 5, 1858, is unmarried, and is a student of medicine in Shelby County, Ohio; George E., born June 23, 1861. John enlisted in the army in the Fall of 1861, in Company H, Fifth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and served until 1864. At the expiration of this time he contracted sickness, from which he suffered for some time after his discharge. Mr. Milholland came to Morgan Township in 1832. He began work by the month, and rented until 1842, when he and his wife purchased one hundred acres of the Merring homestead. Mr. Milholland was a member of the Congregational Church, and in many other matters took a lively interest. He died in March, 1878, leaving a wife and seven children.

John Merring was born in Frederick County, Maryland, and married in Morgan Township, in 1819. His wife was Mary E. Bottenburg, of the same county and State. This marriage resulted in eight children, two dying in infancy, the remaining six reaching maturity. George was born in 1820, and died in the late war ; Mary Ann was born July 22, 1821, and is now the widow of George Milholland; Anna, born August 11, 1824, the wife of Evan Evans; Catharine is the wife of Cornelius B. Surface, of Warren County, Ohio; David M. is married, and resides in Warren County, Ohio; Eliza M., married, is now of Terre Haute, Indiana. George Merring, the father of John, and John M. Bottenburg, had each purchased one-quarter section of land in Morgan township at an early day. Mr. Merring, Sen., never coming to this county, deeded his quarter section to his son. John Merring died from injuries received by the kick of a horse, October 26, 1849. He was a cap-

Ephraim Hall was born in Pennsylvania about 1785. He married for his first wife, in Pennsylvania, Hannah Wynn, who died in 1819, leaving two children. Benjamin was born about 1815, is married, and lives in Mercer County, Ohio; Jonathan, born February 18, 1818, is married, and lives in Morgan Township. For his second wife, Ephraim Hall married Dorcas Callahan. She bore him three children: Jeremiah, whose whereabouts is unknown; Matthew, who is dead; Nancy, who is supposed to be alive, but whose residence is uncertain. Mr. Hall was a resident of this township before 1812, taking up his residence on Paddy's Run. He died about 1853. Jonathan Hall married Catherine Brandenburg, who was born November 10, 1823, daughter of Jacob Brandenburg. He is the father of eight children, as follows: Hannah, wife of Nelson Shroyer, now of Kansas; Jacob, a resident of Kansas; Mary, wife of David Burnett, of Morgan; William, married and at home; another, wife of Leander Selyer, now of Kansas; Charles and Albert, both single and at home; and Hiram, who also is the eldest. Mr. Hall is a self-made man. He began work ~ as a farm-hand, and has continued to prosper, until now he owns one hundred and sixty-three acres of land. He is surrounded by many of the comforts of life.

James Harrison Williamson, M. D., father of Dr. Henry Allen Williamson, was born in Scott County, Kentucky, about 1824. Caroline Payne, his wife, was born in Frankfort County, Kentucky, about 1821. This marriage resulted in three children, one dying in infancy: Henry Allen, born October 10, 1845, married, and a resident of New London; Preston Emmett, born March 4, 1848, married, and a dentist at Frankfort, Kentucky. Dr. Williamson, Sen., was one of the pioneer settlers of Scott County, Kentucky, and ranked as one of the foremost citizens. He gave both of his children a liberal education, and, though not a man of large means, at one time lost all his property. His son, Henry Allen, was born in Boone County, Kentucky, married Mary Belle Sleet, of the same place, October 10, 1867. His wife was born May 28, 1851. The results are four children, two of whom live: Lula Belle, born June 29, 1876; Weedie A., born January 18, 1876. Dr. Williamson, Jr., studied medicine for one year under Dr. John Needham, of Newcastle, Indiana, and in 1867 began his studies at one of the medical colleges of Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1870. He has since practiced in Paris, Kentucky, for one year, and now follows his profession in the country of Paddy's Run. All the Williamsons are Baptists, religiously. The father of James H. was a Virginian by birth. He came down the Ohio at an early day on a flat-boat, fighting his way through the Indian nations. William Payne, the grandfather of Dr. H. A. Williamson on his mother's side, was also a Virginian, a captain in the war of 1812, and a great hunter, keeping a pack of hounds to the day of his death. Dr. Williamson, Sen., died September 4, 1848.

John Evans, born in North Wales, July 17, 1795, came to this county in 1818, and settled on Paddy's Run. His wife, Sarah, was born in this county in 1806, and married him June 28, 1821. By trade Mr. Evans is a tanner. He is the father of fourteen children: Mrs. Mary Jones, born December 9, 1827; Evan, born November 4, 1823; William, born July 7, 1823; Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, born March 26, 1827 ; James, born February 26, 1829; Mrs. Ann Jones, born November 26, 1830; Mrs. Martha Griffith, born August 17, 1832; John, born July 17, 1834; Robert, born March 8, 1836; David, born July 21, 1838; Mrs. Sarah Davis, born November 3, 1840; Richard, born December 1, 1842; Edward, born August 24, 1845; George, born January 19, 1850. John Evans's father's given name was Evan, his mother's name, Elizabeth; his wife's father's and mother's names were James and Mary Nicholas. They came to this county in 1812. John Evans, Jr., was a soldier of the Rebellion. John Evans, Sen., is a man of ripe experience ; he has accumulated a large and handsome property about him, and in all the active walks of life has acted his part well.

Joseph Clawson was born in Butler County, Ohio, March 7, 1808, and married for his first wife Cynthia Parkhurst, February 26, 1824, who was born June 14, 1806, and died December 28, 1834. For his second wife he married Belinda Parkhurst (born in Trumbull County, Ohio, November 21, 1809), April 14, 1836. Andrew and Mary Clawson, his father and mother, came to this county in 1802; his wife's father and mother, David and Mary Parkhurst, came to Butler County in 1814. Joseph Clawson is the father of Belinda, born December 30, 1824; G. W., born July 23, 1832; Cynthia, born December 25, 1836; Maria Sulser, born November 21, 1841, a resident of Kansas; Amos P., born June 14, 1844; Ellen Smith, born October 10, 1846; Malon M., born March 17, 1849; Andrew P., born January 5, 1853. G. W. and A. P. were soldiers in the late war. Ne is a man of good habits, and has accumulated, by

A well known gentleman in Morgan, Reuben Woodruff, was born in Lemon Township, Butler County, Ohio, September 11, 1804, and was married December 2, 1824, in Ross Township, to Elizabeth Fenton, born August 11, 1808. This marriage resulted in John, born September 6, 1826 - dead ; George, born November 3, 1828, now of Edwards County, Illinois; Stacy, born July 11, 1831, now of St.. Charles, this county; James C., born September 3, 1834; Daniel R., born October 28, 1837, of Paddy's Run; Samuel W., born December 26, 1839; Ensign, born August 13, 1845 - physician. Daniel and Sarah Woodruff came to Butler County January 5, 1800. Stacy and Mary Fenton came also to the same county in 1808. Samuel Williamson, the sixth son, was a soldier in the late war, in the Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff have lived together for over fifty-seven years, and have raised a family of respectable sons. Daniel, his father, witnessed the battle of Bunker Hill, at the age of ten years. His son has now a musket and bayonet used in that memorable fight.

Alexander Walker De Armond was born in Butler County, Ohio, December 5, 1822. For his first wife he married Eliza, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Ross, October 21, 1845; for his second wife, Elizabeth Lloyd, daughter of David and Nancy Owens, January 9, 1867. The fruits of these unions have been William Augustus, born August 17, 1846; Byron Ellwood, born January 22, 1851---dead; Cassius M., born August 23, 1860; Angie Hammond, born May 13, 1844, living in Boone County, Indiana; Imogene Thompson, born December 27, 1846, St. Charles; Eva Sparks, born February 23, 1850, wife of Samuel Sparks, of Groesbeck, Hamilton County, Ohio. Thomas and Rebecca De Armond came to this county in 1818. William Jenkins, one of their relatives, was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. A. W. De Armond was a soldier in the war of 1861. He has also accumulated a considerable property, mostly in land, to the amount of three hundred and twenty-five acres, all of which he has earned through his own efforts.

One of the most prominent men in Butler County, who held the office of justice of the peace for twenty-four years, was township treasurer for nine years, and trustee for two years, is Samuel De Armond, born in Hamilton County, Ohio, November 15, 1805, and married to Sarah, daughter of Peter and Sarah Youmans, November 2, 1826. Mrs. De Armond was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, the 2d day of November, 1806. King and Hannah De Armond, his father and mother, came to this county in 1807; his wife's father and mother came to Butler County in 1815. Samuel De Armond is the father of seven children: Hannah Robinson, born February 6, 1830 - dead; Elizabeth Ann, born February 27, 1832, now of St. Mary's, Illinois; Caroline Brown, born April 24, 1834; Margaret Siselove, born May 22, 1839; John

C., born May 25, 1841; Mary E. Hall, born November 19, 1848, now of Sumner County, Kansas; Samuel H., born May 1, 1846. Mr. De Armond is a man of iron nerve. During his term as magistrate he never had a decision overruled. He is known throughout the country as '*'Squire Sam," a title which he won by being a civil officer for so long a time. This household has been happy, and is now completing its fifty-fourth year of married life.

James De Armond, a farmer, living in Okeana, was born in Franklin County, Indiana, October 20, 1807, settling in Butler County, 1815. On the 30th of August, 1827, he married Maria, daughter of Peter and Sarah Youmans, who was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, January 24, 1810. This marriage resulted in a large and estimable family as follows: John Randolph, born August 5, 1828 - dead; Sarah Smith, born July 22, 1830, of Decatur County, Indiana; Peter, born July 30, 18382; Rebecca George, born November 19, 1834 - dead; Elizabeth Jones, born August 1, 1837; Anna Mercer, born September 20, 1839; Mary Ellen Denison, born January 26, 1842; Emeline Day, born March 28, 1844; Theodore, born Septeimber 28, 1846; James, born December 27, 1847; Isabella Phellis, born May 8, 1850; Eliza M. Day, born July 5, 1852.

Alexander and Elizabeth, the father and mother of James De Armond, came to this county in 1807. They had their horses stolen by the Indians. By careful management they accumulated a large share of the goods of the world, as also have their children.

John Finn was born in Ireland, about 1823, and was the son of William and Catharine Finn. He settled in this county in 1852, and was in 1855 married to Ellen Dee, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Dee, and born in Ireland, November 24, 1831. They have had five children: Catharine, Margaret, William, Mary, and John. Margaret and Mary are dead. Mr. Finn has always been a farmer. '

John Lloyd Evans was born in Culpepper County, Virginia, June 22, 1827, and is the son of William Harris Evans and Lavina D. Evans. They came from Culpepper County to this State in 1832, settling at Paddy's Run August Ist. He was married April 21, 1870, at Brookville, Indiana, to Josephine Price, born November 21, 1839, daughter of Henry and Sarah Price, who lived in Franklin County, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have had two children, Le Roy, who was born September 7, 1872, and Lloyd Price, who was born January 2, 1874. Mr. Evans is engaged in general merchandise at New London, and was the postmaster at Paddy's Run in 1852 and 1853, and from 1860 to 1872. His mother's father, John Deane, was in the Revolutionary war. He was at Princeton and Brandywine, going from Fauquier County, Virginia, and serving three years. Mr. Evans's father, William Harris Evans, was in the Seventy-third Welsh Fusileers from 1808 to 1815, and was at the storming of Badajos and the battle of Waterloo. He was born in 1790 and died June, 1843, at New London.

Joseph Cann was born in Loudon County, Virginia, in 1804, His parents were Wilson and Jane Cann, and he came with them to this county in 1831. He has been twice married; the first time to Harriet J oyce, by whom he had four children. Elizabeth Mary was born April . 15, 1838; Andrew B., May 7, 1840; Sarepta, June 24, 1842; and William James, May 12, 1845. His second wife was Catherine Bittinger, and by her he had four children. Joseph Norvell was born May 26, 1874; Sarah Jane, December 21, 1876; Harmon Will, September 14, 1878; and Phebe Elizabeth, October 17, 1880. His first wife died in 1866, and he married again in 1872. The farm that he now lives on he settled in 1835, and he has cleared it all himself.

E. J. George was born in this county July 7, 1827, being the son of Joshua and Catherine George, who came to this county in 1810. He was married August 7, 1851, to Margaret E. De Armond, daughter of Thomas and Phebe De Armond, who was born March 1, 1832. They have had eight children. Oscar Weller was born January 5, 1855; Mary J., June 9, 1857; Alfred Cory, November 7, 1859; Clement V. Benton, December 22, 1861; Alice O., May 18, 1864; Franklin J., September 29, 1866; Charles W., February 6, 1871; and Eva A., February 4, 1875. A grandfather of Mr. George, David Thompson, served under General Wayne.

William Mercer was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1798, and was married in this county in 1826, to Margaret Bell, daughter of David and Margaret Bell, who was born August 8, 1804. She bore him nine children. David was born July 31, 1827; Letitia Lovis, December 24, 1828; William, December 26, 1830; John R., December 8, 1832; James L., November 8, 1834; Robert L., January 29, 1838; Willson L., October 11, 1840; Margaret A., October 3, 1844; Florence A., July 3, 1848. Mr. Mercer's father, Thomas, served in the Revolutionary war. His mother's name was Letitia. David Mercer and Wilson Mercer were in the last war, and the latter was killed on Pumpkin Vine Creek in 1864. David served in the Mexican war. Mr. Mercer has been a justice of the peace and township trustee.

HANoveR is a township six miles from the south and west lines of the county, bounded on the north by Milford, on the east by St. Clair, on the south by Ross, and on the west by Reily. It is made up of thirty-six sections.

The justices of the peace have been: 1812, James Johnson, John Rainey; 1815 to 1818, Matthew Hueston, John Rainey; 1821, Matthew Hueston, James Beaty ; 1824, John Rainey, Matthew Hueston, Reuben Blackford ; 1829, Andrew Lester, John Rainey, Reuben Blackford; 1832, John Morse, John Rainey; 1833, Reuben Blackford ; 1834, John Morse; 1835, Reuben Blackford, Daniel Rumple, M. Bowerman; 1841, Reuben Blackford, Abraham Bercaw, John Morse; 1842, Henry Dillon ; 1844, R. Blackford, John Morse; and since that date Henry Dillon, Reuben Blackford, John Morse, William Hueston, Samuel Snell, Jacob Bottenburg, Joseph Hileman, Robert Moore, Frederick Shaffer, Michael Kumler, Henry A. Strawhaver, Wm. R. Cochran, George B. Tobias, I. M. Warwick, J. M. Johnston, W. B. Davis, Henry Keller, and J. W. Boatman.

The early settlers in the township were named Ayres, Anderson, Alexander, Beaty, Beaver, Bell, Blackford, Beckett, Brozier, Carr, Coomb, Caldwell, Donor, Delaplane, Dodd, Earhart, Gray, Hazlet, Hueston, Hall, Irwin, James, Lewis, Lister, Lintner, Moore, McVicker, Marshall, McKinstry, McCullough, McGonigle, Nixon, Nichols, Roll, Rinehart, Reese, Rainey, Rumple, Sample, Salmon, Smiley, Stephens, St. Clair, Thorn, Tracy, Wickard, Wason, Willis, Yeakle, Zeigler, and others. In 1844 there was but one postoffice in the township - at Jacob Stillwell's corner.

The climate, soil, and surface is pretty much like that of the other adjoining townships. There are no villages within the borders of Hanover. The first settlements were generally made in locations favorable to farming. A dividing ridge extends across the township from the south-east to the north-west, causing the water to flow either towards Four-Mile, which passes diagonally through the north-east corner, or into Indian Creek, which also cuts the south-west corner in a very similar manner. Both these streams are of considerable size, " and have numerous small tributaries. The most important branch of Indian Creek is Salmon's Run, which derived its name from William Salmon, an early settler, who lived on its bank and carried on distilling. Another ' stream of considerable size, a tributary of Indian Creek aso, is Zeigler's Run, taking its name from Samuel Zeigler, who settled on its head-waters three-quarters of a century ago. JT our-Mile has for its main inlets Stony

Run and Beckett's Run, the latter from Robert Beckett, a man who settled here in the woods far back in the beginning of the century. The dividing ridge from which these and other lesser streams flow is a table-land of deep, rich loam, where all the staples are grown in abundance. The south side of the township is a fine lands, except the south-east corner, where the surface is hilly. In the north the surface is more broken, and, if any thing, the soil is less fertile than anywhere else in the township.

One of the old landmarks in the township is an elm, four feet in- diameter, with tall head and spreading limbs, at the original voting precinct at Hanover Station. It is at least one hundred and forty years of age, for when the first settlers knew it, its size was the same as to-day. t

In 1809 Andrew Lewis killed one of the largest deer ever seen in this section. Its horns were enormous, and old hunters pronounced them the largest they had ever seen. Game abounded here between 1800 and 1820. Mr. Lewis says he could have killed fourteen deer one morning going from his home to Millville - all broadside shots. 'I have caught hundreds of wild turkeys in turkey-pens, and have seen this country fairly alive with squirrels, ground-hogs, opossums, raccoons, foxes, wolves, and deer." He also says, ''I have often caught as many as a dozen turkeys in a single day, and I remember once that I took out of my pen twenty-seven large gobblers at one time; the smallest would not weigh less than fifteen pounds."

Millville was laid out May 23, 1815, by Joseph Van Horne, who previously had taken up his residence in this community. There soon gathered around him and his grist-mill, erected in 1805, by Joel Williams, a large and busy class of people, all intent upon making money and buying land. The first roads, therefore, naturally led in the direction of Van Horne's mill. From Hamilton to Reily and on to the State line, the first road, part of the time, followed the dividing line of the townships to Millville, but zigzagged through the woods in a very irregular course. From Millville it took the same direction pretty much as the Reily pike now does, and ended, as far as Butler County is concerned, near where Walker Chapel stands. This highway was one of the roads which tapped the bordering counties, and, forming a junction with the Oxford road near Millville, poured a constant stream of produce into Cincinnati, by the way of Venice. In 1810

Obadiah Welliver kept a tavern-stand on this road above Bunker Hill, on the bank of Indian Creek, east side, where, until his death, he fed many a hungry hog-driver and teamster. Another road, but of less importance, ran from Darrtown to Hamilton. The Oxford road, perhaps the most important highway in the township, was located about where the present pike runs. It was here as early as 1820, and at that time was used by a large traveling public. These roads named are now the most important, as they were then, in the county.

David Doner, on Section 27, on a little branch of Indian Creek, known as Kumler's Run, had a still-house at an early day. William Salmon had another here on Section 19, on Salmon's Run, early in 1808. This still-house was in operation for twenty-five years. Alexander Moore, on Section 22, was here in early times. Philip McGonigle and Richard Martindale had distilleries in 1830, on Section 7. Robert Beckett had a very large whisky manufactory in Section 14. Michael Yeakle had another on the north-west corner of Section 8. John Morse had one on Section 22, and James Willis another on Section 23. J. Heitzman was also in the same branch of business on Section 26. Philip Shafer was also a distiller where Alexander Emrick now lives. Near the tollgate, on the Riley and Oxford pike, Michael Hawk had a large steam distillery in 1827. George Shafer had a still-house as early as 1820, on Section 33. From 1820- 1850, Andrew Lewis, Sen., had a large still-house on Indian Creek, on Section 30. Most of these establishments were in operation from 1810 to 1830. Many had grist-mills connected with them, or at least the necessary machinery to grind corn for meal.

Matthew Hueston, who owned all of Sections 1 and 2, and a quarter each out of 11 and 12, had a grist-mill, built by Joel Williams in 1809, on Four-Mile, in the south-west corner of Section 1. Williams was a millwright by trade, who came from the East about 1803, and built six mills in the Miami Valley, near Hamilton. Mr. Hueston afterwards added a very extensive stillhouse to the grinding department. These he continued to run, adding a saw-mill in the mean time, for many years, though the property passed through several members of his family as to ownership. The grist department was propelled by a large undershot water-wheel. It is yet standing, but used for a stable, and is scarcely recognizable.

Andrew Lewis, Jr., and brother built an undershot saw-mill on Indian Creek, Section 30, in the south-west corner, in 1827. One of the shares was soon sold to James Lewis. In 1830, or thereabouts, the still-house was added. These establishments went down in eight or ten years. There are a few remnants still to be seen. Andrew Lewis's, Jr., still-house was on the same site as his son's. One of the remarkable features connected with these establishments was a stream of water from a one and a quarter inch iron pipe driven into the ground to the depth of twenty feet, from which water still runs with undiminished regularity. When the pipe was first put down the water rose to the height of ten feet. It is strongly tinctured with iron.

Ezekiel and Maxwell Ross built a tub-wheel grist and saw mill on Indian Creek about twenty rods below the Bethel Church, in 1815. The Ross mill passed into possession of Jacob Zinn, and from him to Robert Moore and P. B. Shafer in 1847; in one year the former became owner, and in 1861 the mill ceased to run. altogether. Nothing remains to mark the site but a race overgrown with willows and weeds.

Jacob Stillwell's corner was known far and wide in Butler County fifty years ago. In the forks of the road, one of which takes the direction of the State line and the other toward Oxford, in Section 7, was a frame steam grist and saw mill and still-house. The still-house was built about 1830, and the mills in 1835 or 1836. The flouring department was three stories high. For many years this mill ground the grain for a large section of country. Mr. Stillwell was also engaged as a tavern and storekeeper, the former about 1854. Richard Martindale afterwards rented the property of Mrs. Thomas McCulloch, and carried on the tavern-keeping business for twenty-five or thirty years. The old tavern stand is now occupied by Thomas Roll.

Near the Zeigler grave-yard, in 1805, James Ray carried on blacksmithing. He is supposed to have been the first resident blacksmith in the township. By birth Ray was a Pennsylvanian.

About 1825, when Bethel Church was in her prime, William Calloway carried on blacksmithing near the mouth of Salmon's Run. Daniel Sortman and Michael Emrick were early blacksmiths on Section 29, in the north-west quarter. John Reese, in 1815, was a blacksmith on Section 21, in the south-west corner, where he owned twenty-eight acres of land. In the east end of the township, a Mr. Murphy carried on the same trade along in the twenties.

Hanover Township is made up pre-eminently . of farmers. 'These men, with their wives, were not long in establishing a system of education. The first school in the neighborhood of Bethel was a log-house which stood between the church and the mouth of Salmon's Run. Andrew Lewis, Jr. (the present old gentleman), was the teacher here in 1809 or 1810. After him came Alexander Martin, when the house burned down. The house was rebuilt half a mile below on the same road, near where the Oxford and Reily Pikes unite. This house was here in 1817. Some of the teachers were Griffith and Evan Morris, residents of Paddy's Run. Previous to 1817 a school was conducted in a little log-house where Mr. Lewis now lives, on the Oxford Pike. It was a hewed log-house in which the school was kept, standing here until 1830.

The first school-house in the central part of Hanover stood near the old voting precinct on the State road from Hamilton to Oxford, on the north-west quarter of Section 22, then owned by John Morse. The house was a hewed log, put up about 1825, before the township was districted; and at the time districts were created was made one of those subdivisions. This house lasted for twenty years, but is now gone. .Among the teachers here were Andrew Lester, Joseph Douty, and Jasper Branden, a Yankee, all men who left a deep impression on the boys and girls who made up their schools.

On the north-east corner of Section 26 a school was taught in a log house, without a floor, in 1820. This house stood on the bank of Two-Mile Creek; the teacher was John Ducat. After one year the house was used for other purposes. Some of the scholars were Robert Moore, born in Hanover Township in 1815, and residing there all his life; the Wickards, who were from Pennsylvania; the Doners, of Pennsylvania; the children of Henry Wanson and J. Heitzman. On the section lying north, No. 23, a school was kept by John W. Caldwell in 1825, on the farm now owned by J. H. Bell, on the old State road. This house burned down. The scholars here were those taught by Ducat, except some members of the Morrison, Pellam, and Vestry families.

'Thomas Nichol, or '' Uncle Tommy Nichol," as he is generally called, says he '' attended five schools in the north-eastern part of the township that had no floors, no loft, no window-glass, and none of your modern seats, desks, globes, and maps." These houses have all disappeared.

Bethel Chapel, or as it was called from 1815 to 1818, Indian Creek Church, is one of the most important religious institutions in the western half of Butler County.

'"On Sabbath Day," the Church record says, '' June 24, 1815, Rev. Mr. Hayden preached and appointed a meeting of the congregation on the succeeding day for the purpose of organizing a Church. June 25th the congregation met agreeable to appointment. After the sermon was preached, the congregation proceeded to the election of members of the session. Rey. Mr. Hayden was chosen moderator; when Ezekiel Ross, Joseph Van Horne, Smith Williams, Daniel Baker, and William Mitchell were elected, after which Joseph Van Horne was appointed clerk of the Church for the purpose of recording the proceedings." The record goes on and says, '"' Mrs. Juliet G. Tumor had a child baptized. Sabbath, J uly 30th, was a day appointed for the administration of the Lord'ssupper. On Saturday preceding, the widow Margaret

Craven had two children baptized, as also did Mrs. Catharine Ross, wife of Aaron Ross. Two of the elders elected, Joseph Van Horne and Ezekiel Ross, formally ordained, proceeded to form or constitute a session. Among the members were David Baker, his wife Fanny, and family, from Duck Creek Church, Ohio; Juliet G. Tumor, David Ross, Alexander Cragmile, John and Margaret Harper, Joseph and Martha Van Horne, Miss and Mrs. Rebecca Van Horne, Garrett Van Ausdall, Sen., William Mitchell, Matthias Roll and Mary, his wife, and Martha Dick, from the Hamilton Church; Margaret Craven, from Harmony Church, Pennsylvania; Ann Hawkins, from Rahway Church, New Jersey; Ezekiel and Ruth Ross, Amos, Lydia, Mrs. Catharine, and Mrs. Maria Ross, from Westfield, New Jersey; Smith and Mary Williams, from Cincinnati Church; Mrs. Charity Stineman, from a church in the forks of the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania, and Hannah Martin, from Millintown Church, Pennsylvania. The elders first elected were Smith Williams, David Baker, and William Mitchell, but the latter declined to serve. The first ordinance was administered by the Rev. William Gray and the Rev. John Thompson. There were thirty-one communicants of the congregation, besides several from neighboring Churches. In May, 1816, at the invitation and request of the congregation of the Indian Creek Church, the Rev. John Boyd came and settled as stated pastor. Joseph Van Herne was appointed to attend the next meeting of the Presbytery, May 28th." In April, 1817, there were forty-three members.

David Monfort, one of the most successful pastors which the Church ever had, preached his first sermon to this people the 14th of September, 1817. He was chosen in the preceding August at a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars, which was made up by subscription. The first death in the Church occurred on the 13th of September, 1817. On the 51st of January, 1818, the Rev. Mr. Monfort preached at the residence of Nehemiah Wade, and baptized his daughter, Letitia Chambers, who was born the 25th of November preceding. In 1818 there were reported to the Presbytery eightythree members; and in October, 1819, ninety-one members. It is here we find the first mention of the name Bethel, which must have been changed from Indian Creek Church early in the year. Mr. Monfort was continually preaching throughout the county and baptizing many. In 1820 there were one hundred and twentyseven members; 1821, one hundred and _ fifty-four; 1822, one hundred and seventy-seven; 1825, one hundred and eighty-four. Mr. Van Horne was an excellent penman and kept the proceedings of the Church in a full and handsome manner. The pastorship of Mr. Monfort was very successful. Under his preaching the Church prospered wonderfully, as evinced by the membership in 1825.

Bethel Church stands on the Reily pike, about two miles and a half above Millville, very nearly on the line which separates sections Nos. 31 and 32, equally distant from the east and west side. An old toll-gate formerly stood opposite the church. From 1815 to 18438 the importance of this point as a place of holding preaching was very great. When people first began to assemble here, along in the '20's and '30's, they brought their dinners with them, and put in the day attending divine worship. The site of Bethel was selected because, at that time, there were no Presbyterian Churches for miles in all directions. From Venice came the Wades, Butterfields, Hungerfords, Willeys, Clarks, Dicks, Andersons, and others; from the direction of Hamilton came the Kumlers, Wickards, Moores, Emricks, Timbermans; from the north, the Grays, Wards, Stephenses, Bradys, and dozens more, many of whom have long since passed _beyond; from Paddy's Run came the people of that enterprising community in great numbers. These persons made a congregation of great respectability; and henceforward the Church continued to prosper. Services were often held in distant farm-houses, at the bidding of a score of the members.

In 1828 the Rev. A. B. Gilliland, father of Carey Gilliland, now of Venice, took charge of Bethel. In the mean time a parsonage had been erected, now occupied by Mr. Robert Moore, where the ministers took up their abode. Here they were always found, ready to lend a helping hand and administer to the wants of the unfortunate. Gilliland was a man of large intellect and an excellent singer.

As the membership continued to grow under Messrs. Gilliland and John S. Weaver, and a number of less prominent pastors, there naturally sprang up a desire in the hearts of many of the members to have a Church nearer at home. This feeling resulted in the Venice Presbyterian Church, in 1828, and some time afterwards a Church at Reily. These Churches reduced the attendance and membership somewhat, but still the old Church was full of life. Not until 1873 was Bethel abandoned, when the Millville Presbyterian Church was erected. The old church had grown out of date, with its old-fashioned furniture.

The Bethel Church at Millville is a handsome brick building, capable of holding six hundred people. It is nicely furnished. The building is principally an addition to the old school-house, with the walls raised and a vestibule and steeple added. The line dividing the townships of Ross and Hanover passes through the north-west corner of the house.

The following are inscriptions from the Bethel burying-ground, which was given by Andrew Lewis's father. The ground on which the old church stands was from Ezekiel Ross. Mr. Lewis is the only member of the building committee - composed of three members - who is yet living.

A large monument reads: Samuel Dick, departed this life August 4, 1846; aged 82. Martha Allen, consort of Samuel Dick. Ezekiel Ross, the father of a large and respectable posterity in this and other townships, departed this life February 13, 1845; aged 88. Ruth Ross, his wife, died November 10, 1819, in the 62d year of her age. Among the first burials here was Smith Williams, one of the original members of the Church, who departed this life April 22, 1819, in the 57th year of his age; also his wife, Polly Williams, who died April 11, 1828, in the 61st year of her age. Nenian Beaty, a large land-owner among the pioneers who lived on Section 33, immediately north of Millville, was born March 26, 1787, and died February 21, 1857. Jane, wife of Nenian Beaty, was born November 12, 1785, and died March 8, 1838. A very peculiar block of marble, in the shape of a full-size coffin, reads: James Beaty, died February 26, 1863; aged 78 years. Jane, wife of James Beaty, died November 26, 1864; aged 68. In memory of Jacob Denman, who was born January 5, 1782; died November 13, 1834. Also his wife, who was born December 12, 1783, and who died April 13, 1848. Both natives of Essex County, New Jersey. Here lies another pioneer: Nathaniel Briant was born in Westfield, New Jersey, October 18, 1776; died September 18, 1859. Elizabeth, wife of Nathaniel Briant, a native of Westfield, New Jersey, died October 27, 1856; aged 77 years, 2 months. Ellis Hand, a native of New Jersey, died March 20, 1837; aged 82 years, 1 month, and five days. Hannah, his wife, died February 19, 1858; aged 87 years and 4 months. In memory of John Dungan, who departed this life January 29, 1843, in the 71st year of his age. The Rosses were old men in this part of the county in 1800, as witness these: William Ross departed this life January 12, 1831, in the 91st year of his age. Jacob Ross, born August 13, 1781; died March 13, 1859.

In the north-west corner of the yard we find: Mary, wife of Dr. R. D. Herron, who died January 26, 1847; aged 29. Margaret, wife of Charles Chambers, departed this life May 21, 1847; aged 77. In memory of Margaret Hindman, who died August 22, 1836; aged 76 years. Robert Crawford, born December 4, 1788; died August 21, 1864. Elizabeth, wife of Robert Crawford, born April 5, 1798; died April 29, 1853. Andrew Lewis, Sen., a native of Ireland, and an early pioneer in the West, died March 26, 1847; aged 84. Martha, wife of Andrew Lewis, Sen., died February 22, 1852; aged 77. All the above, from Mrs. Dr. Herron, are in the north-west corner of the yard. .

Thomas Tracy died July 5, 1849; aged 80. Rebecea, his wife, died October 29, 1851, in the 66th year of her age. Adam Bowman, died September 11, 1853; aged 92. Mary, wife of Adam Bowman, born November 23, 1789, died July 27, 1835. Joseph Van Ausdall, died August 7, 1834; aged 49. Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Van Ausdall, died October 15, 1825; aged 43. In memory of Lewis Williams, who died August 29, 1840; aged 69. Chloe, wife of Lewis Williams, departed this life March 11, 1838, in the 64th year of her age. In memory of James Haslet, who died November 28, 1834; aged 65. Sacred to the memory of Mary, wife of James Haslet, who departed this life March 2, 1826; aged 44. John Scudder, died April 7, 1839; aged 37. Susanna Scudder, died October 28, 1862; aged 92. David Baker, Sen., died April 11, 1855; aged 83. Fanny, wife of David Baker, Sen., died June 8, 1831; aged 59. Benjamin James departed this life November 11, 1848; aged 74. In memory of Jane, wife of Benjamin James, who died March 1, 1853; aged 76. Here lies another of the Ross family: Sacred to the memory of Carmon Ross, who departed this life July 25, 1834, in the 54th year of his age. Elizabeth, wife of Carmon Ross, died July 11, 1865; aged 83. Sacred to the memory of Randolph Ross, who departed this life January 30, 1834, in the 32d year of his age. Ellis John, died September 3, 1859; aged 94. Margaret, wife of Ellis John, died October 10, 1833; aged 33.

The Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church stands in the extreme south-west corner of Section 7, almost on the township line. It is supposed to be one of the oldest societies on the circuit, but the exact date of its organization is not known. It is not improbable that this Church was organized as early as 1817. The first meetings in this neighborhood were held in private houses. In 1822 a log church was built, a few feet north of where the present church stands. It was dedicated by the Rev. John P. Durbin. The brick house was built in 1833. Thomas A. Morris, presiding elder, afterwards bishop, preached the dedication sermon. This house, in 1869, was the strongest point on the Venice circuit. In 1867, during the pastorate of Rev. W. N. Williams, an effort was made to build a new church and locate it at Woods' Station. A considerable amount of money was subscribed, but the enterprise failed. In 1868 the Rey. N. C. Parish introduced the first catechisms into the Sunday-school. The pastor in charge catechised the school once in four weeks.

One of the most prominent of all the early members of this Church was Ebenezer Woods, an exhorter, who settled about one mile south, on one of the tributaries of Salmon's Run. It was after Mr. Woods the Church was named. The ground on which the church stands, containing one acre, both for the house and burying-ground, was a part of a body of land comprising eighty-eight acres, owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Moore, whose husband made the presentation. Some of the other members were Corey Conkling, Hiram Griffis, John Malone, the latter of whom is living, and their wives, with portions of their families. Among their ministers were John Baughman, Arthur W. Elliott, John Waterman, all of whom were able men. The Rev. Messrs. Flint, Steel, and Tibbitts were here in early times. A full list of the preachers of this circuit will be found in the history of the Venice Methodist Episcopal Church.

During the last decade Ebenezer has undergone many important changes. About 1854 the Old and New School and the Associate Reformed Churches united and built a church at McGonigle's. The members of the different societies were from Bethel, Oxford, and Darrtown Churches. For several years this congregation was prosperous, but in time there came dissensions which resulted finally in the abandonment of the church. There were also remoyals and deaths. Some of the members were Samuel Lintner, William Elliott, Michael Yeakle,

James Simley, James Beckett, Thomas Nichol, David P. Nelson, a man of ripe culture, who graduated at Oxford, and afterward filled the position of principal of the Millville High School. Rev. Daniel Tenney, of the Oxford Female Seminary, represented the New School Presbyterians; Rey. Dr. Patterson, the Old School Presbyterians, and Rey. Mr. Claybaugh, the Associate Reformed.

After the abandonment of the Union Chureh by these three denominations, the Methodists, who formerly worshiped at Ebenezer, took charge of it, with such reservations as the Presbyterians thought proper to make. This was in 1878, since which time there has been preaching every fortnight, and Sunday-school weekly. ''Old Ebenezer" is seldom used, mainly on account of its unfavorable location and failure to meet the wants of more modern worshipers. The Church at McGonigle's is prosperous. We give inscriptions from the grave-yard connected with the old church:

In memory of Rachel, consort of William S. Stewart, who died September 3, 1835; aged 42.. William Hamer, a native of Pennsylvania, who married Isabel Vanderhook, September 11, 1796, and who died May 4, 1811. Archibald Addison, a native of England, died March 12, 1846; aged 63. Mary, wife of Archibald Addison, died February 18, 1868; aged 82. Timothy Meder died December 8, 1853; aged 62. Nathaniel Meder died September 5, 1841, in the 56th year of his age. Samuel Weaver died September 13, 1868; aged 61. Lydia, wife of Samuel Weaver, died February 12, 1875; aged 57. Peter Wilson died March 20, 1863; aged 72. Abigail, wife of Peter Wilson, died October 8. 1855; aged 58. Jonas Jones died December 26, 1853; in the 67th year of his age. Henry Hall, Sen., died February 1, 1858; aged 84. William Chaney died August 15, 1834; aged 60. In memory of Samuel Marsh, who died February 12, 1838; aged 68. Hannah, wife of Samuel Marsh, died July 29, 1847; aged 75. Gabriel Stead died June 27, 1849; aged 41. Rebecca, wife of Gabriel Stead, died April 29, 1855; aged 46. - There are, perhaps, onc hundred burials here. The yard is overgrown with bushes.

McGonigle's Station, on the Junction Railroad, took its name from Philip MeGonigle, an old settler who contracted for and built one mile of the railroad at. this point. He added the house used as a station, but it is yet owned by private parties. McGonigle had a horsemill here in 1830, as also a still-house. Among the distinguished residents at this station have been Dr. Silas Roll, who was here forty years ago. Dr. Hancock, who studied with him, was also a practitioner in this vicinity. Dr. James Roll, a nephew of Dr. Silas Roll, is the present practicing physician. Daniel Larey was a blacksmith here in 1806; some of the others have been Michael Shank and Joseph Hileman. There is a handsome Grange hall in the village; also a Grange storehouse.

school-house, one mile north of McGonigle's, was erected in 1852 by J. S. Smiley, contractor. There are about fifty people at the station, though it was never laid out.

HANOovER is another station on the railroad, but of less importance than the above-named. This place is a voting precinct for the township. There are no stores here, nor any thing else which deserves notice.

Henry Wauson, who fifty years ago lived on fifty acres in the north-west corner of Section 26, was one of the most remarkable men who ever became a resident of the township. He claimed to be a waterwitch, and often boasted of his power to find water when all other experiments failed. Wauson was well known throughout the country on account of his wild, roving, careless disposition. There were in the family three sons and one daughter. He was a cripple, caused by his horse taking fright at a flock of wild geese.

In 1829 corn sold to the distillers at six and a quarter cents per bushel, and few sales at that figure. The growth of corn at that date formed a leading business in Hanover Township.

Matthew Hueston

Matthew Hueston was a native of Pennsylvania, coming from what is now Franklin County, where he was born on the Ist of May, 1771. His father's next neighbor was a Scotchman, named Buchanan, who afterwards became better off in the world, and moved to Mercersburg, where he became a justice of the peace. His son James was sent to Dickinson College, afterwards entering upon the practice of law. He was successively a member of the United States Senate, minister to England, and President of the United States. When Matthew Hueston was two years of age his father, William Hueston, removed to the backwoods, and settled on the Monongahela, in Ohio County, Virginia. The Indians becoming troublesome, Mr. Hueston removed his family to Taylor's Fort, twenty-four miles from the town of Wheeling. The family remained most of the time at the fort, but occasionally went to the farm when it was deemed safe. Mr. Hueston went back and forth to cultivate his place, but on one of these trips he was shot, killed, and sealped by the Indians, at the door of. his own cabin. Mrs. Hueston was left a widow with six small children.

As soon as Matthew Hueston was able he began working around the farm, and at fifteen went as an apprentice to learn the trade of a tanner and currier, continuing at that employment for several years. When he became a journeyman he saved up his money, and, in 1793, made a small venture of stock, with which he went down the Ohio River. On the 17th of April he landed at Cincinnati, but after a few days went down to the falls of the Ohio. He returned by the way of Maysville, again float- ing down to Cincinnati, where General Wayne's army had arrived in the mean time.. -Soon after arriving he sold out his goods to a man named McCrea, who, however, decamped without paying him. He then went to work in a tannery, being the one afterwards owned by Jesse Hunt, and afterwards went with Robert and William McClellan, who were engaged in driving a brigade of pack-horses from Cincinnati to Fort Jefferson. Completing his first trip, he drove a number of beeves from Fort Washington to Fort Jefferson, and then superintended the killing of the cattle and putting up the beef, which was designed to subsist the men the next Winter. There being no salt at the garrison, the meat had to be hung up in the open air around the fort to prevent it from spoiling, until salt could be procured. This caused a delay in the business for some time. Soon after Mr. Hueston was appointed commissary at this post, at the pay of thirty dollars a month. The next Summer he returned to Fort Washington, and went out with Wayne on his expedition, being issuing commissary until the Summer of 1795, when he resigned.

He then furnished himself with a stock of groceries and other articles, and began as a sutler, following this up until the year 1796. He had one store at Greenville and another at Cincinnati, in the latter haying a partner. The business was very profitable, and he soon accumulated twelve to fifteen thousand dollars. In the latter part of 1796 Mr. Hueston was taken sick, remaining in his bed for three or four weeks. When he had sufficiently recovered, he set out for Cincinnati, but found his affairs were in a wretched condition. His partner had become dissipated, had squandered most of the property by gambling, and had finally sold out the stock, going down the river, and leaving Mr. Hueston to pay the debts of the firm. This he did, and found that, after exhausting all his means, he still owed four hundred dollars. _Undiscouraged, he persevered in his industrious way, and again embarked as a drover. He drove a large number of cattle from Cincinnati to Detroit for two dollars and fifty cents a head, and was successful in delivering them all, although the route was a complete wilderness. He returned in forty days. This business he followed till the year 1800, when he had paid off all his old debts and had accumulated fourteen or fifteen hundred dollars in hard cash. This he laid out in land.

He bought a tract of two hundred acres, four miles south of Hamilton. It was then altogether in the woods, but now the railroad, the canal, and the Cincinnati turnpike pass through it. In a few years he had a large farm under cultivation. He built a bewed log-house, in which he lived and kept entertainment for travelers a number of years. At the United States land sales in 1801 he purchased, or entered, three sections of land and two fractional sections, on the west side of the river, comprehending in all about two thousand six hundred acres. 'To these purchases he added from time to time,

On his farm south of Hamilton he began to reside in the year 1802, and on the 15th of April married Miss Catherine Davis. He remained here till 1813, when he removed to his farm on Four-Mile Creek, in Hanover Township. Here he built a large stone mansion, and attended to his agricultural interests for many years. He then removed to Rossville, taking up his abode there in October, 1834. This is in the house now occupied by his son-in-law, Robert Harper.

At the beginning of the century the militia was better organized than it is now. Mr. Hueston became captain of a company of light-horse, from which he was afterwards advanced to the office of colonel of the Second Regiment. When Hull surrendered Colonel Hueston volunteered his services, and went with a number of others to Fort Wayne, which was then besieged by the enemy. After serving two or three months, he was made purchasing agent for the contractor of the Northwestern army, acting in that capacity until the conclusion of the war.

In 1808 he became a justice of the peace in Fairfield Township, remaining so till he removed to Hanover, where, after a few months, he was again elected. In this position he served until his removal to Rossville, holding this office for twenty-three years. In no case was his judgment reversed on appeal. He was a commissioner of Butler County from 1826 to 1835. He died on the 16th of April, 1847, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and was buried near the Presbyterian church in Collinsville. The services were conducted by the Masons.

Andrew Lewis

Andrew Lewis, son of Andrew Lewis and Martha Montgomery, was born in Campbell County, Kentucky, April 4, 1797. His parents came to this county March 4, 1804. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, and afterwards was employed in Indian warfare under Generals Harmar and St. Clair. He was not in St. Clair's defeat, but helped to bury his dead. He was in the whole campaign of General Wayne, and such confidence was reposed in him that when night came, or they were in camp, the pass-word was given him so that he could go out to shoot game. On one occasion he went out a short distance from camp and brought in a deer, although the Indians filled the woods in every direction. Another time he went out hunting, but accidentally got further than he designed, and finally lost his way; night on, and he gave up the attempt for that time. But in the morning he began again, uselessly, as he knew not the direction, and it was nine days before he extricame cated himself. He subsisted on game the whole time. At last he struck the Miami and followed its course down stream until it reached the Ohio. The camp had been at Fort Hamilton, but while Lewis was lost in the woods they had proceeded on their way. By this lucky mishap he failed of being present in the defeat of St. Clair. He remained in Fort Washington until after the battle, and saw the remnant of the army as it marched back.

After this he and nine others returned to Pennsylvania, where General Wayne was then recruiting an army, and enlisted under him. With him they came to Cincinnati, and after a period of service were discharged. He went back to Pennsylvania for a brief season, but soon was on his way west again, locating in Campbell County, Kentucky, about seven miles from Newport, on the Licking River. In March, 1804, he came to this county, cutting his own road to Ross Township. There were only three cabins the whole distancé, one-at Cumminsville, another near Bevis's tavern, and one and a block-house near Millville. There were no houses between his place and Hamilton. He entered half of a section, or 320 acres. After three years he bought a quarter of a section more. He followed farming until his death, which happened in 1847. His wife died February 12, 1852. He had eight children: Jane, Andrew, Robert M., Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Martha, and Clarissa.

Andrew Lewis, the second child, remembers the time when the county was a vast wilderness. Indians used frequently to go by, occasionally stopping. At one time Captain Pipe, a renowned warrior, came along from Hamilton, where he had been drinking whisky pretty freely. Stopping at Mr. Lewis's house, he asked for some more, but was told they had none. This infuriated the Indian, who replied that they had. Mr. Lewis again asserted that they had none, when Captain Pipe drew his long, glittering knife, and began flourishing it around his head. He was very angry, and told Mr. Lewis that he had seen him before, and knew that he was a bad man. On being asked where, he replied that it was in Wayne's army. He continued flourishing his knife until forbearance ceased to be a virtue. Mr. Lewis determined to put a stop to it, and took down his rifle. No sooner did the Indian see this than he began to run, and Mr. Lewis after him. How far they went the boy did not know, but they were never troubled with the presence of Captain Pipe again.

Mr. Andrew Lewis remembers when the first church was built in the township. This was in the year 1815. It was completely surrounded by the wilderness. Indians were very numerous for several years after they came here, and he has often played with them. regarded as very treacherous.

He was married on February 23, 1828, to Mary McCleary, daughter of Samuel McCleary and Mary Young. They came to the county in 1804, was born January 9, 1796, in Pennsylvania.

seven children, all now living. Robert was born December 10, 1823; Mary, October 13, 1825; Martha, December 13, 1827; Nancy, February 14, 1830; Dorcas, July 25, 1832; Sarah Jane, January 27, 1835, and Hannah E., June 16,1837. Robert was in the hundred days' service in the last war. A grandson, James Jackson, was killed in the struggle. Joseph A. Beatty, a grandson, served three years, and a son-in-law, A. H. Miller, was in the hundred days' service. All Mr. Lewis's children are now living; all have been married, and all are living in Western homes but one, who is now a widow, Mrs. Doreas L. Burke. She lives with her father. Her husband, Addison M. Burke, died March 17, 1860, leaving her with two children, John L. and A. M. Burke, the latter being only nine weeks old. The oldest one is now Auditor on the Dayton, Delphos, and Toledo Railroad, and the younger one is a teacher in the publie schools. Mr. Lewis has had forty-nine grandchildren and twenty-five great-grandchildren, and only six of the number have been lost. Mr. Lewis has through life been a farmer, although for many years teaching school in the Winter season. He was a supervisor for a number of years, never receiving any money for it. His uncle, Richard Montgomery, was in the War of 1812, and Robert Lewis, another uncle, was a captain of light horse in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Andrew Lewis was always very fond of his dog and his gun, and spent much of his time in hunting, being very successful. Future dwellers in Ross will never know the hardships and privations that the first settlers endured.

MeGonigle's Station. - James McGonigle, September 14, 1859 ; changed to Woods' Station, November 24, 1863; revived with James McGonigle as postmaster March 13, 1866.

Reason R. Baxter, the son of Sill and Mary Baxter, was born in Clark County, Kentucky, November 15, 1829. He settled in this county in 1877. He was married on the 22d of December, 1860, at Winchester, Kentucky, to Clara French, daughter of Charles and Alice French, who was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, in 1840. They have had three children: Anna was born March 17, 1863; Carrie, April 26, 1868, and Lewis H., March 15, 1871. Mr. Baxter was a member of the Fifth United States Cavalry, serving two years. He is a farmer.

James H. Bell was born in Hanover Township, October 17, 1826. He is a retired farmer, and is the son of James Bell and Nancy Hall. His father was in the War of 1812, coming to the county in 1811. He was born in Philadelphia, December 2, 1779, and died May 29, 1828. Mrs. Bell was born in South Carolina, May 5, 1792, and died August 24, 1871. They raised a family of seven children, five daughters and two sons, of whom two sons and two daughters are still living. All but James H. Bell are married. He now controls and resides upon the farm where he was born. For the past five years he has been unable to get around much, owing to a stroke of paralysis. Mrs. Rhoda Bugg, who is and has been his housekeeper the thirteen years last past, was born in Clayton, England, November 17, 1824. She was married March 4, 1848, to John Henry Bugg, who died in 1855. In the year 1869 she embarked for this country and located in this county.

The Boatmans were one of the earliest families in the county. Jeremiah W. Boatman, now living in this township, is a descendant of this family. He was born in Hamilton, September 7, 1840, and is the son of Mark M. Boatman and Cynthia Warwick. The great-greatgrandfather Boatman was of French descent, enlisting as a actions of the Revolutionary War. He remained in America at the close of the war where he had married, and raised a small family, of which the members were nearly all massacred by the Indians, in Pennsylvania. James Boatman was born in Northumberland County, in that State, about 1771, as nearly as can be told. On the 22d of August, 1799, he was married to Anna Mills, daughter of Colonel James Mills, and emigrated to Ohio two years after. Colonel Mills was of Irish descent. He emigrated from Berks County, Pennsylvania, and settled at Hamilton. He had seven children: Reed, Mark, James, Anna, Abbie, Julia, and Eliza. When the colonel started from the East he had three fine-blooded horses. These he sent on in advance, in charge of a man who was going that way, but when he arrived, either owing to the Indians or to the duplicity of his agent, he found neither horses nor man, and was obliged to content himself with his loss. Colonel Mills came down by boat, as did Mr. Boatman, who carried his family in a canoe, landing at Cincinnati, where there were then only a few cabins. From there he went to Hamilton. It was at that time a common thing to mark a road by little sticks and stones, to indicate the route; they followed these for a long time, and then discovered that some person had maliciously changed the little end, which indicated the right way, so as to point out another and entirely wrong direction. This cost them several days' lost labor.

As soon as the land was surveyed on the west side of the river, he located one hundred and sixty acres four miles north of Hamilton, on Four-Mile Creek. Here he built a small cabin, in which he lived until he became easy in money matters, when he erected a commodious frame house, which is still standing. At the time he took up his settlement here there were only three fami- lies in his neighborhood - one opposite the Flenner Mills, one on the farm now owned by Andrew Flenner, and one on William Brooks's present farm. The two former lived in block-houses.

James Boatman resided on his farm till his death, at which time he was eighty years old. He reared a family of thirteen children: Claudius, James M., Mark M., Sarah M., Mary A., Ann, Jane, Reed M., William, John M., Nathan C., and Jeremiah N., eight boys and five girls. Himself, wife, brothers, and sisters were great hunters. In Pennsylvania they would go out hunting many miles from home and remain for weeks. The game was bears, raccoons, deer, and turkeys, besides. small fry. They were often chased by the Indians, having many narrow escapes. On one occasion, while he and his sister were hunting, they were pursued by Indians, and the sister was caught, scalped, and left for dead. She escaped, recovered, and afterwards married and lived to a good old age, although without a forelock, which was artificially supplied.

Being penniless at the time of his marriage, he and his wife apprenticed themselves to a farmer for one year to get the means necessary for housekeeping. His wife, besides faithfully attending to her household duties and enduring the hardships of frontier life, acted as an herb physician, in which she was very successful. She was a fine horsewoman and a good marksman. One night they had a visitor. The meat was out, and there was no way of getting any more except by shooting it. So she rose early in the morning, built a fire, put on the pot, and went out. Guided by her knowledge of the habits of deer, she soon found one, brought her rifle to her shoulder, and fired. The animal fell, and she soon had a large piece of it in the pot. Her breakfast was soon got ready, and by the time the family was awake and dressed it was upon the table.

John Doyle was born in Morgan Township, August 31, 1823. His parents were Thomas Doyle and Catherine Weaver. 'The former was a soldier in the War of 1812, and came here about 1819. He died in 1834 with cholera. Mrs. Doyle, the mother, died January 9, 1879, aged one hundred and five years. John Doyle was married October 22, 1851, in Rush County, Indiana, to Euphemia Warner, born in Ohio, April 16, 1833. They have had eight children. Eliza Jane was born October 4, 1854; Angelette, November 10, 1856; Thomas Jefferson, July 22, 1860; Wilfred W., known as John, September 7, 1862; Elisha H., October 9, 1864; Sarah M.., November 25, 1868; Lella I., June 28, 1872; Edna Anna, March 9, 1877. Mr. Doyle served in the late war as a member of Company E, Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

John Egby was born in Centerville, Indiana, February 3, 1855, being the son of Armistead Egby and Emily Craig. Mr. Egby served four years in the late war, and died while in the army. John Egby was married at

Hamilton, October 4, 1879, to Ida Hyers, daughter of Moses Hyers and Rachel Pembrew, who was born in Centerville, Indiana, August 14, 1861. Mr. Egby is a farmer.

John M. Hall was born in Hanover Township, in 1809. He is the son of John Hall and Elizabeth Morris, who came here in March, 1806, from Kentucky. He is a farmer, and has been supervisor and school director. His father was in the Revolutionary War as a private in a South Carolina regiment, and received a pension a few years before he died. This was in the year 1836, his wife dying May, 1838. They were both buried on their farm.

John Theodore Lagetrost was born in December, 1832, in Germany. He was married to Mary Hafertepen in 1852, and had ten children. John was born May 2, 1853; Minnie, December 6, 1855; Henry, January 27, 1858; Lizzie, January 11, 1860; Caroline, June 24, 1862; Anthony, September 25, 1864; Benjamin, October 20, 1866; Annie, December 21, 1868; Rosa, December 30, 1870; Joseph, January 14, 1873. The oldest lives in Minster, Auglaize County, and the rest in this county. Mr. Lagetrost was a farmer. He died January 15, 1873, and since that time the widow and her children have carried on the farm.

Adam Hummell, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Bavaria, October 18, 1842, and is the son of David and Elizabeth Hummell. The father died June 20, 1854, but the mother is still living in Germany. Mr. Hummell came to this country in 1865, and was married February 19th, of that year, to Elizabeth Ritter, daughter of Christian Ritter, who died January 24, 1864, in Germany, and of Pheby Ritter, who died December 4, 1874, at Hamilton. Mrs. Elizabeth Hummell was born January 11, 1844. Their children have been Katharine, born January 28, 1868; Adam, February 2, 1870; Michael, January 9, 1870; Francis 8., March 8, 1874; Frita, September 1, 1876; Anna, September 24, 1878; and Hilda, September 23, 1880. Mr. Hummell has always been a farmer, and now owns a place of one hundred and forty-two acres. He was a school director of District No. 2 from 1876 to 1881.

Azariah T. Irwin was born in Butler County, June 9, 1821, being the son of John Irwin and Mary Thorn. | The land on which he was born was entered by his grandfather, Azariah Thorn, December 13, 1811, and his deed bears the names of James Madison, President, and James Monroe, Secretary of State. Mr. Thorn served in the War of 1812. Azariah T. Irwin was married April 28, 1853, in Fairfield County, Indiana, to Elizabeth Cheney, daughter of Jacob Cheney and Mahala Hill, who was born in that place March 29, 1834. They had five children: Charles E. was born February 7, 1854; John, January 4, 1856; Washington, September 5, 1859; Edwin C., September 4, 1860; and Mary Virginia, November 12, 1864. John died October 5, 1856.

Mrs. Irwin had a brother, Edwin J. Cheney, who participated in the late war. He was first sergeant of Company G, 68th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving throughout the entire struggle. Mr. Irwin died in Indiana on the 2d of August, 1873.

Gilea L. Kumler was born in Hanover Township, January 27, 1853. He is the son of Michael Kumler and Nancy Beam. He was married September 27, 1879, to Hannah Gillespie, daughter of Robert Gillespie and Margaret Bigham, who came to this county about 1833. She was born on the 25th of December, 1855. They have one child, Leola, born April 2, 1880. Mr. Kumler is a farmer and stock-raiser, and lives on the farm on which he was born.

John Kelly, son of Jacob Kelly and Morris Brooks, was born in Butler County, Ohio, May 6, 1855. His parents had come here two years prior to this 'event. He was married April 7, 1880, to Elizabeth Gardner, daughter of Peter Gardner and Elizabeth Gardner. Her parents came here in 1851, and she was born in 1861. Mr. Kelly is a farmer, and has served one term as supervisor.

Frederick Krucker was born in Germany, coming to this county in 1865 from Hamilton County. He was twice married. His second wife, whose maiden name was Louisa Frankhouser, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, March 29, 1838, and was married in Hamilton County, November 24, 1855. Her parents were Daniel and Mary Frankhouser, and they live in Belmont County. She has had five children: William was born March 17, 1859; Mary, March 22, 1861; Frederick, February 138, 1863; Edward, April 23, 1866; John Frank, June 5, 1868; and Louisa, October 28, 1864. William died June 23, 1864; Frederick, January 15, 1864; and Louisa, January 13, 1866. Mr. Krucker was a wagonmaker by trade, but carried on a farm the last three years of his life. He died April 2, 1869.

Oliver P. Morris is the son of Isaac K. Morris and Sarah J. Hinkle. They came to this county about 1838. The father is now dead. Oliver P. Morris was born in Fairfield Township, April 22, 1848, and was married

October 20, 1870, at Cincinnati, to Orlette J. Clark, - daughter of William V. Clark, born December 4, 1827, ~ and Elizabeth Holmes, born December 30, 1832. Their daughter was born in Fairfield Township, October 22, 1851. She and her husband have four living children. Albertine was born January 4, 1872; William Isaac, September 4, 1874; Ann Elizabeth, November 6, 1877, and Charles L., November 18, 1880. Two other children were born who were not named; one on the 17th of June 1876, and one October 30, 1879. Mr. Morris is a school-teacher by profession, following that occupation for several years prior to his marriage, and one term since then. Since 1871 he has paid all his attention to his farm and raising stock. He now has control of' five hundred acres, three hundred of which is under a good

Jacob Mehl was born in Strasbourg, now in Germany, on the 22d of September, 1828, and came to this county in 1841 with his parents, Michael Mehl and Catherine Reop. The father died in the year 1876, and the mother in 1861. Mr. Jacob Mehl was married on the 30th of November, 1854, to Lena Wehr, daughter of George Wehr and Barbara Hitelinger, who came here in 1844, and are both living. Mrs. Mehl was also born in Strasbourg, February 2, 1840. Their union has been blessed with eleven children: Elizabeth Barbara was born September 17, 1855; Anna Caroline, October 20, 1857; Simeon Charles, August 19, 1860; Louisa Matilda, May 28, 1862; Mary Ann, September 25, 1863; Jacob Benjamin, March 7, 1865; Lena Barbara, February 12, 1867; Clara Ellen, February 11, 1869; Sarah Lovina, June 8, 1870; William Andrew, July 22, 1870, and Frank Elmer, January 17, 1875. Mr. Mehl is a farmer.

Frederick Mistler was born in Germany, January 14, 1834, being the son of John Mistler and Elizabeth Har- © ris. He came to this county in 1859, and was married to Mary Lustyck, February 26, 1861, in this county. She is the daughter of John Lustyck and Elizabeth Macon, and was born in July, 1836. Their children have been nine. Mary Elizabeth was born August 29, 1861; Catherine, April 20, 1863; Lena, October 25, 1864; Frederick, September 24, 1866; Pitt, March 5, 1868; Andrew, August 30, 1870; George, June 9, 1873; Jacob, January 27, 1876; and Mary Catherine Josephine, July 16, 1879. Lena died March 19, 1868, and Frederick, April 17, 1868. Mr. Mistler is a farmer.

John Nixon was born in this county, May 8, 1837. His parents were William and Margaret Nixon. He was married on the 31st of December, 1861, to Margaret Lonner, daughter of David and Jane Lonner, who was born in this county, January 1, 1838. They have four children. Linda Nixon was born November 19, 1862, and is dead. William H. was born April 25, 1864; Charles D., October 29, 1868; and Mary Jane, December 9, 1870. He is a farmer. His father was in the War of 1812.

William Nixon was born in August, 1787, in Ireland, coming to America at nine years of age with his parents, James and Jane Nixon. They remained in Pennsylvania for some time, and then emigrated to where Cincinnati now stands. In: 1809 they removed to Butler County. James Nixon died on the 2d of August, 1825, and his wife October 17, 1840. William Nixon was married on the 11th of January, 1821, to Margaret Dodds, daughter of Andrew and Margaret Dodds, who moved to this county in 1808. Mrs. Nixon was born in Pennsylvania, March 18, 1800. They had nine children: Matilda, the eldest, is dead. She was born January 27, 1822; Jane Hueston was born May 8, 1824; Margaret Taylor, July 29, 1826; James, March 4, 1829; William, March 21,

1831; Anna, June 9, 1833; John, May 8, 1837; Elizabeth Pocock, July 25, 1839; Martha Louise Weaver, February 8, 1845. Mrs. Hueston lives in Blooming Grove, Franklin County, Indiana. Mr. was always a farmer, but served one term in the War of 1812. He died August 2, 1861, his wife still surviving.