Butler County, Ohio - The whole text, 1882 (part 28 of 39)

David Descombes, son of Jacob Descombes and Lydia Yeakle, was born in St. Clair Township, June 6, 1835. His father was a native of France, and came here in 1810. He died in 1845, and his mother died in November of the same year. Mrs. Descombes was born in this county. David Descombes was married July 4, 1861, to Lydia Garner, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Keiver. They came to this county at an early period. Mr, and Mrs. Descombes have had two children. Minnie May was born June 12, 1863, and George, April 28, 1868. He died June 29, 1869. Mr. Descombes by trade is a wheelwright, as well as a cabinet-maker and carpenter. He has followed these different vocations from boyhood until the past two years, since which time he has paid his attention to the farm. He also makes a specialty of raising fruit - apples, peaches, grapes, and small fruit. He had a brother, Francis, who was in the Mexican War. Mr. Descombes was school director of St. Clair Township for 1872 and 1873.

Captain Samuel Dick, now deceased, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 5, 1797. He was the son of Samuel Dick, Sen., of whom a full account will be found near the beginning of this book, and Martha Allen Gillespie. Samuel Dick, Jr., followed the business of a farmer all of his life, living for many years on the north half of a section of land entered by his father about the year 1809, and now owned by his heirs. Captain Dick was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Rhy, who bore him one son, David Howen, who was born August 9, 1832, and died September 5, 1850. He then married in Ross Township, Butler County, on the 20th of March, 1834, Isabella Parks, daughter of Arthur Parks, who was born February 2, 1779, and Elizabeth McCloskey, born April 14, 1784. They died in Hamilton County. The daughter, Isabella, was born March 31, 1817. They had fourteen children. George was born April 2, 1835. Rebecca B. was born October 20, 1836, and died February 18, 1852. Cul- bertson P. was born July 1, 1838; James, April 16, 1840. Samuel A. was born November 13, 1841, and died June 12, 1871. John W. was born October 6, 1843. Martha was born December 14, 1845, and died May 7, 1877. Robert L. was born April 27, 1848; Jennie, on the 17th of February, 1850; Susan, February 28, 1852; Annie R., December 21, 1853; Effie J., February 5, 1856; Sarah, September 5, 1857, dying October 10, 1880; and Isaac N., August 1, 1860. Kighteen grandchildren are now living, and six others are dead. All of Captain Dick's children haye been married except six, and three of those are deceased. He was always a farmer. His death occurred on the 1st of January, 1871.

Bartholomew Demoret was born in Cincinnati, May 30, 1809, and came to Butler County with his parents, Nicholas and Lydia Demoret, in 1816. Bartholomew Demoret has never moved since he arrived in this county. His motto is, that a ''rolling stone gathers no moss." He is a farmer, and was married in 1834 to Elizabeth Belser, daughter of George and Rebecca Belser. Their children are as follows: Joseph L., born October 21, 1835; Rebecca, October 22, 1837; Bartholomew, October 30, 1839; Seba Alexander, February 7, 1842; Miranda, December, 1844; George Lee, December, 1847; Nancy Timberman, 1849; Margaret Jane, October 12, 1852. His father was in the war with the Indians, in 1792. Mr. Demoret has accumulated considerable means by his own industry.

Charles Emrick was born in Pike County, Ohio, March 4, 1839. His father was Peter Emrick, and his mother Rosanna Emrick. He settled in this county in 1865. He was married on the 25th of August, 1860, in Pike County, to Mary Ann Swab, daughter of George A. and Susan Swab. The former died December 14, 1856, and the latter July, 1875. Mrs. Swab's maiden name was Fisher. They came to this county about 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Emrick have had six children, of whom John M., the eldest, was born November 6, 1861, in Pike County, as were the next two, Charles A., born September 26, 1862, and Louisa C., born March 12, 1865; Mary C., born February 4, 1871; William sks born September 2,\1872, and George F., born July 24, 1880, are natives of this county. By occupation Mr. Emrick has been alternately a wheelwright and a. stonemason, but latterly he has devoted all of his attention to his farm and stock-raising. He had two brothers, Philip and Jacob, in the late war, serving for four years.

Henry Gailey was born in Ross Township, August 2, 1840, He is the son of Baltzer Gailey and Mary Yeakle, who came to this county about 1830. His father was a native of Germany, emigrating to Pennsylvania at an early day. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, but came to this county a few years prior to her husband. He died July 31, 1870, aged seventy-three years, six months, and thirteen days, and the mother died July 31,

1874, aged seventy-four years, six months, and four days. Henry Gailey was married November 26, 1878, to Catherine Schmidler, daughter of Conradt Schmidler and Rosa Schein. They came to this county about 1850. Mrs. Schmidler is still living in this county, but Mr. Schmidler is in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Gailey have but one child, John W., who was born October 12, 1879. Mr. Gailey was supervisor in 1866, and has been school director.for seven years. He had a brother Jacob in the late war, a member of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, who died of disease contracted in the service. Mr. Gailey is a farmer, in that following his father, who was also a distiller, although for the last few years of his life paying all his attention to the farm. That now belongs jointly to Henry Gailey and his nephew, Baltzer J. Sarver, the 161 acres being equally divided between them. Mr. Sarver was also born in this county, near Amanda, his mother having died when he was a baby. After this his grandfather adopted him as his own.

Joseph Garver was born in St. Clair Township, November 28, 1812, and is the youngest son of Samuel Garver, who died on the 26th of November, 1869, aged eighty-one years and seven days. Catharine Lingle, his mother, who was married March 7, 1808, died in 1813. Samuel Garver married for his second wife Catharine Lippert, July 21, 1814. He came to this county in 1804, and was drafted in the War of 1812. His brother took his place, and, according to the law, his youngest son should have received eighty acres of land, but has never made any effort to obtain it. Joseph Garver was married on the 20th of March, 1833, in the township of St. Clair, to Miss Hannah Beeler, who has borne him six children. Mrs. Garver is the daughter of George J. Beeler, who died January 3, 1847, aged seventy-five years, and Elizabeth Shafer, who died March 8, 1847, aged seventy-five years. They came to this county about 1821 or 1822. Mr. Garver has followed farming all his life and has met with success. His children are William J., who was born November 10, 1835; Mary E., born September 9, 1837; Sarah C., born October 9, 1840; Samuel B., born September 7, 1843; Joseph J., born August 4, 1850 - died December 30, 1850; Emma P., born January 22, 1854.

Mr. Garver has been a school director for fifgeen years, and in other places has filled important trusts. He remembers the first wagon his father brought to this country, and also when he and his father had to carry one hundred bushels of wheat to mill on horseback, where they sold it. At one time, desiring to buy a plow, he was compelled to go to Cincinnati three times with grain before he could obtain enough money to make the purchase, and his means were still so small, that had he not goods to bring back he could not have accomplished it. The price of the plow was nine dollars. Mr. Garver built his own wagon, and borrowed a horse from' his father, which gave him a full team. Several of his children are now married. William J. married Elizabeth Seals, February 15, 1878; Sarah C. first married William Starette, October 30, 1862. He died in the service during the late war. She afterwards married, on the 15th of February, 1867, James Mitchell. Samuel married Catharine Riley, February 14, 1866; Emma J. married Millard F. Ritter, December 26, 1878. Mr. Garver has seven grandchildren living; one, Hannah Jane Starette, died October 27, 1860, aged five years, three months and fourteen days. Four of Mr. Garver's children were born in the same house as their father. All the buildings on this place were built by him, he being an excellent mechanic, brick or stone mason, carpenter, blacksmith, and wagon-maker. Mr. Garver has never served as an apprentice. His wife has now a pair of shoes he made for her more than twenty years ago, and they are still good ones. He is also a first-class cabinet-maker, and his tools are all of his own make.

Alfred Hancock, M. D., was born in Reily Township, November 27, 1820. His father was a farmer, and he remained with him until the age of sixteen, attending school and helping him on the farm. After that date he attended and taught school until 1844, when he began the study of medicine under Doctor McAlister, of Oxford, there remaining about a year. He went to Cincinnati and attended the Ohio Medical College, then under the supervision of Professor Harrison, until his graduation. He then returned to Butler County, beginning practice, and has been here ever since, with the exception of a year and a half. His father was Joel Hancock, and his mother Sarah Lintner. He is the second child of his father's first wife, his father being married twice. They came to this county about 1805. His grandfather, John Hancock, was in the Revolutionary War, and his father in the War of 1812.

Doctor Hancock was married on the 23d of January, 1845, to Emeline DeCamp, daughter of Walter DeCamp and Sarah Bird, who came to this county in 1812 from New Jersey, and are still living. She was born in 1828. Doctor and Mrs. Hancock have had three children. Walter was born May 25, 1847; Joel, February 26, 1849; and James, October 5, 1854.

His son, Walter DeCamp Hancock, was born in Hanover Township, Butler County. His early education was liberal, and completed at the Miami University in 1869. He then began the study of medicine under the direction of his father until the Fall of 1870, when he became an office-student of Professor W. H. Mussey, of Cincinnati, remaining under his direction until his diploma was received from the Miami Medical College, on the 29th of February, 1872. He held an appointment as assistant physician to Rose Hill city branch hospital during the small-pox epidemic of 1871 and 1872. He then engaged in general practice with his father, at Millville. Tn the Summer of 1875 he spent most of his time in Vienna, Austria,-attending the clinies and receiving pri- vate instruction. He also spent more or less of his time in the medical department of the universities at Munich, Tubingen, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, and Paris, and in a number of the hospitals in London, England. Returning to his home, after a year's absence, his field of general practice has been much extended. He has much skill, and has had success as a physician and surgeon.

John Holle, of this township, was born in Germany on the 9th of January, 1836. His father was Jerome and his mother Leuria Holle, both of whom are dead. John Holle learned the carpenter's trade, and generally follows that as his business, but for the past five or six years he has paid all his attention to the farm on which he resides. In January, 1856, he married, in Cincinnati, Frances, daughter of Jacob and Frances (Irencup) Schwartz, both of whom live in Hamilton County. Mr. Holle came to this county in 1870. He is the father of nine children: William, born July 24, 1867; Jacob, born September 28, 1869; Henry, born November 3, 1870; Joseph, born January 10, 1872; Clara, born May 29, 1873; Peter, born January 2, 1875; Augusta, born July 28, 1876; George, born December 1, 1878; Leuria E., born February 1, 1880. Joseph died January 22, 1872; Peter, January 11, 1875, and George, February 10, 1879.

Dr. Charles C. Hoover was born near Felicity, Clermont County, Ohio, February 21, 1851. When two years old his father, Daniel R. Hoover, removed to Lebanon, the former home of his wife, Susan (Corwin) Hoover, a cousin of Governor Thomas Corwin. Dr. Hoover is a graduate of the National Normal School of Lebanon, Ohio, and read medicine with Dr. J. M. Hunt, of Blue Ball. He attended the lectures of the Ohio Medical College during the Winters of 1875 and 1876, and also of 1877 and 1878, graduating in the latter year, and a few weeks after removing to Venice, there beginning practice. He married, January 1, 1880, Carrie E. Boal, the daughter of Isaac A. Boal, born in Ross Township, September 8, 1857. They have one child, Clarence Boal Hoover. The Hoover family were originally from Pennsylvania, and were among the earliest settlers of Clermont County. The Boal family were old settlers in this county. James Boal came here from Dauphin County, where he was born in 1787, and was married in this county to Susan Anderson, daughter of Isaac Anderson. She and two of her children, Mary and Robert, and a young lady residing with them, were killed by lightning April 5, 1826. There were seven persons in the room at the time. Mr. Boal was a hatter by trade, and started the first hat factory in Hamilton, on the corner of Second and Basin, in 1812. He died very suddenly near Sharon.

Benjamin Hawk was born June 16, 1824. His parents came to this county in 1802, and are now both dead. They were Philip Hawk and Catherine Stonebreaker. Mr. Hawk was twice married. His first wife was Clarissa

Ann Turner, who bore him three children, James, Alfred T., and Noah H. James was born May 30, 1846, and married Catherine Garner in 1870. Alfred was born April 10, 1848, and married Mary Regan in 1868. Noah H. was born October 17, 1850, and died February 5, 1851. His second marriage was to Mahala Wetsel, the daughter of Jacob Wetsel and Magdalena Geidner, April 15, 1852. They came to the county in 1836, and are now both dead. She was born in Milford, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1832. By this wife he had eight children. Lewis C. was born April 20, 1855, and was married to Tillie Barklet in 1880. Edith L. was born August 22, 1854, and was married in 1876 to James Longfellow. Charles H. was born August 26, 1858; he lives in Richmond, Indiana. George E. was born August 28, 1860. Mary V. was born May 26, 1856, and died September 25, 1858. Franklin A. was born December 31, 1863. Harry M. was born November 18, 1867, and died June 28, 1868. Joseph C. was born August 14, 1868. Two of Mr. Hawk's sons were in the War of the Rebellion. James was in for eighteen months, and Alfred T. in the hundred days' service. Mr. Hawk was a school director for two terms, and clerk of the board. Mrs. Hawk had several uncles in the Revolutionary War. He died April 10, 1880.

Andrew J. Lewis, son of James Lewis and Maria Marshall, was born in Hanover Township, February 11, 1833. His parents came to the county in 1808. The father died July 3, 1864, but the mother is still living in Hamilton. His grandfather was in St. Clair's defeat. Andrew J. Lewis was married, January 22, 1834, to Martha J. Dick, daughter of James Dick and Martha T. Gillespie, who was born January 22, 1834. Mr. Dick was born in 1809, in Ross Township, and his wife in the same year. The latter died August 4, 1841, and the former, December 4, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have had seven children. Harry was born May 10, 1857; James D., March 3, 1859; Rosa, October 10, 1864; Martha E., May 10, 1865; Anna M., May 25, 1869; Charles G., October 8, 1872; David E., January 5, 1874. Rosa died June 4, 1865. Mr. Lewis was captain of Company I, Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving nearly three years, then being honorably discharged on account of wounds received in the battle at Chattanooga, Tenn. He is nowa pensioner. His brother Robert was a member of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, and served about one year at the close of the war. Mr. Lewis has generally followed the occupation of a farmer, but has controlling interests in the Blanche mine, Colorado, and owns and controls four other mines, the Don Pedro, Silver Lake, Divide, and Premier, and spends a portion of his time in that country.

medicine at Brownsville. His parents died when he was very young, and he was adopted at eight years of age by an aunt, and taken to Springfield, Illinois, where he was educated. He attended lectures in the University of Pennsylvania, and in Cleveland, and graduated at the Rush Medical College at Chicago, under Dr. Brainard Davis, February 7, 1850. He began the practice of medicine in Springfield, Illinois, but after his marriage there in 1855, he removed to Venice, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, which he continued till his death, which occurred February 27, 1867. He was extensively known throughout the county as a faithful, patient, and steadfast friend, and by his death the community suffered a severe loss. He was married on the 20th of October, 1852, to Mary H. Johnson, daughter of. Anthony Ludlow Hedges and Hannah A. Johnson. Her father died when she was young, and she was adopted by her uncle, Andrew Johnson, and took the name of Johnson. The Johnson and Hedges families came from New Jersey at a very early date, settling in Cincinnati, and have long been identified with both Hamilton and Butler Counties. She was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, January 26, 1828, and at present resides at Venice.

T. B. Morris was born in Ross Township, Butler County, March 4, 1838. His father, William C. Morris, was born in this county, in 1800, and is still living. He had seven children, six of whom survive, the one who died being forty years old. T. B. Morris was married in Cincinnati, on the 16th of October, 1862, to Angelina H. Harrod. She is the youngest daughter of a family of nine children, of whom four are living. She was born in Hamilton County, September 10, 1842, her parents being John Harrod and Margaret Conway. Mr. Harrod died August 14, 1872; he was born in 1800. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have had nine children. Rosamond EK. is the eldest; she was born July 22, 1863; Harry M. was born February 9, 1865; Julia W., December 22, 1867; Arthur B. and Walter 8., October 3, 1869; Luella, September 29, 1871; Gertrude, June 23, 1873; Samuel J. and Mary A., December 16, 1876. Mr. Morris is a school director, and has been for the last two years, and has also been supervisor. He has from boyhood followed farming as his vocation, as his father did before him. He has held various offices of trust, and is also vice-president of the temperance society called the Millville Christian Union Temperance Society. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, together with his wife. They exert all their energies in behalf of temperance and the cause of Christianity. Mr. Morris's mother is not now living. Her maiden name was Esther Tullis, and she died April 10, 1881, aged seventy-nine years. His grandfather, William Morris, was in the War of 1812.

parents were John Niederman, who died August 12, 1877, and Barbara Lydner, who died January 31, 1881. He settled in this county in 1837, and four years after, or on the 30th of December, 1841, he was married to Mary M. Schalk, daughter of John Schalk and Anna Dora Shore, born November 30, 1820. He has been blessed with twelve children. John was born September 26, 1842; Jacob S., January 6, 1844; Abraham, October 6, 1845; David, May 5, 1847; Mary E., February 5, 1849; Lydia B., January 13, 1851; Michael, February 28, 1853; Isaac, February 5, 1855; Wilhelmina Carolina, October 7, 1856; William H., January 17, 1859; Samuel, September 27, 1860; Philippina Catherina, January 7, 1864. Of these only Isaac is dead. This happened on the 14th of August, 1856.

John married Rickey Cowell February, 1876; Jacob married Elizabeth Ruoff in 1867; Abraham married Martha Jane Smith in 1870; David married Mary Lyndner in 1875; Mary E. married J. F. Swain, April, 1867; Lydia B. married Michael Zoller in 1869; and Michael married Elizabeth F. C. Ruoff, December, 1878. Mr. Niederman has now living twenty-one grandchildren. He is a distiller by trade, as well as a butcher. The latter he worked at prior to his coming to this country. He engaged in distilling for eight years after he first came to the United States, but now gives all his attention to his farm.

X. Locker is a native of Germany. He is the son of Benedict and Barbara Locker. By occupation he is now a farmer, but claims that he can wield the ax equal to any one. He was born in March, 1824, and came to . this country in 1854. Shortly after coming here in March, 1857, he was married at Hamilton to Barbara Reik, a native of Germany, and daughter of H. and Catherine Bandoler. January 8, 1858, they had a child born to them, Mary, who is married to Henry Fisher. The date of their union was June 11, 1875. She has three children, Frankie, Frances, and Katy, all lively and healthy.

James Riley is a native of Jefferson County, Virginia, where he was born on the 20th of April, 1794. He is the son of James Riley and Temperance Yircus. His father was in the Revolutionary War, and was a pensioner ; he was also in the War of 1812. One of his sons was in the War of 1812. The present Mr. James Riley came to this-county in 1821, and settled in Ross Township. He was married December 17, 1818, in Warren County, to Christina Fox, daughter of Bonham Fox. She was a native of Pennsylvania. One of their children, Eliza Ann, was born December 6, 1819, before they left Warren County. The next two are dead. Levia was born May 8, 1822, and died June 20, 1879, and Mary was born October 13, 1824, and died October 29, 1824. Bonham F., who was born July 25, 1826, is still living. Temperance was born J anuary 2, 1829, and died October 10, 1830. The next three are all living.

Ruth was born March 6, 1831, Martha J., October 21, 1833, and Ophelia E., May 17, 1836. All of his children that are living are married. He has twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His wife died in March, 1860. Mr. Riley has been a farmer all his life, but has now retired. His son-in-law, J. W. Anderson, carries on the farm.

John L. Schalk, son of John Schalk and Anna Dora Shore, was born in Germany, November 26, 1826. He came to this country with his parents in 1835, while still a small boy, and has ever since lived on the farm he now owns and controls. He has never lived away from the place, and all his children were born in the same house, a building erected by his father in 1852. He has had eleven children. John L. was born September 8, 1859; Mary Ann, October 12, 1863; Elizabeth B., April 6, 1866; Lydia Ann, March 20, 1867; Catherine, October 18, 1868; David G., October 19, 1870; Phebe, November 21, 1871; Jacob L., September 4, 1874; Anna L., July 15, 1876; William 8., September 15, 1877; and Arthur F., June 20, 1880. His wife was Anna Barbara Eichler. She was born June 6, 1837, and was the daughter of Michael Eichler and Cormy Hinlein, both natives of Germany, as was their daughter. They were married June 20, 1857, in Hamilton. The father of Mr. Schalk, John Schalk, died August 12, 1877, and his mother died January 31, 1881.

Melancthon S. Wade, son of General Melancthon Wade and Eliza (Armstrong) Wade, was born in Cincinnati, April 4, 1833, and was married October 2, 1858, to Julia H. Stewart, daughter of Alexander Stewart and Eliza P. Shaeffer. She was born in Cincinnati, March 22, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Wade had three children. Melancthon Smith Wade was born May 5, 1860, and died July 1, 1864. Eliza was born March 27, 1863; and Melancthon Armstrong was born October 10, 1865. Mr. Wade first came to Butler County in 1856, and settled in Ross Township on two hundred and twenty-one acres of land deeded him by his father. He was a man of prominence during his brief stay in this county. He died from the effects of an accident caused in felling a tree. The tree crushed his hand, and he died of lockjaw in Cincinnati, January 15, 1866.

The Rey. George P. Warvel, a farmer and retired minister, was born in Warren County, Ohio, November 23, 1825. His father, Christopher Warvel, was born in Virginia, as also was Charlotte Lilly, his mother. He settled in this county in 1856. He was first married to Margaret Ann Oliver. They were united May 16, 1849, and she died November 15, 1851. They had one child, Margaret E., who was born July 12, 1851. He was married September 9, 1853, in Hamilton County, to Eliza Ann Pottenger, born in that county, November 14, 1826. Her father was John Pottenger, and her mother, Sarah Cormick. Mr. and Mrs. Warvel have had five children. John C. was born July 20, 1854; Oren C.,

Mr. Warvel has been a minister of the Gospel for a period of thirty-five years, of the denomination of United Brethren in Christ, and paid all his attention to his profession for thirty-three years. For the past two years, however, he has devoted his energies to his farm, together with his son, Oren C., finding that the labors connected with the ministry are too much for his physical frame to endure. He has not, though, entirely ceased preaching. His first experience as a minister was at Greenville, Darke County, where he was two years. Next, he was on the Miami cireuit for two years. Then in succession he was at Bluffton, Messina, and Wapakoneta circuit, one year each, and the Dayton and Springfield circuit two years. Mt. Pleasant circuit, Lockington circuit, Seven-Mile circuit were each served two years, and Blanchester circuit one year. Thence he went to Germantown two years, and Millville one year. He was then made presiding elder of the Cincinnati district for one year, afterwards taking the New Haven circuit for one year, and the Cincinnati station for two years. At Millville he labored two years. Next he was at Union City, Liberty circuit, and Colerain circuit one year each, this ending his active exertions. During his labors as a minister, he added twelve hundred members to the Church. He was agent of Otterbein University, Franklin County, one year. He was also at West Elkton three years, New Hope circuit one year, and Mt. Pleasant one year more.

Mr. Warvel did service in the late war. He was captain of Company E, One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Thomas Moore's, and aso officiated as chaplain. His son, Oren C., is with him on his farm. He has one of the finest collections of Indian relies to be seen anywhere in this section of the State, and the most of them are gathered by himself from their own farm.

Samuel Zegler was born in Hanover Township April 7, 1841. His parents were John and Julia Ann Zegler. He was married in Preble County April 12, 1876, to Florence E. Zegler, born in Preble County, Ohio, August 2, 1850. He has three children. John A. was born March 20, 1874; Major W. Q., May 23, 1877; and Ada J., November 14, 1879. Mr. Zegler is a farmer.

As stated elsewhere, the Court of Quarter Sessions, at their meeting, on Tuesday, May 10, 1803, established Fairfield as one of the original townships. It lies wholly within Symmes's purchase, and is bounded on the north and west by the Miami River; on the east by Liberty and Union Townships; and on the south by Hamilton County. All the boundary-lines of Fairfield are irregular, except the eastern.

The history of Fairfield Township is very intimately connected with the city of Hamilton, which place, until a few years ago, was a part of the township proper. - All the first settlers naturally made Hamilton a trading-point for small supplies, and when provisions or dry-goods were needed in larger quantities, Cincinnati was visited. A load of whisky, corn, wheat, or any other commodity, was always sure to bring a good price in the Queen City.

The north-western corner, or that portion of the township lying along the Miami, is somewhat elevated in places. For a distance of two miles and a half from Pinney's mill, going north-east, the hills follow the river, so as to leave-very narrow bottoms. From near Grahfm's mill the face of the country is level, extending in wide, spreading bottoms, and affording excellent farming facilities. These bottoms, in early times, turned off large crops of corn and wheat.

The north-eastern portion of the township is somewhat broken, but when tilled properly produces good crops. The soil is a loam of from six inches to three feet in depth. From the neighborhood of Flenner's Corner southward the surface is gently undulating. Fine buildings are very noticeable, which are indications of a prosperous community. The country round about Jones's Station, Schenck's Station, and Symmes's Corner is well adapted to all kinds of agricultural pursuits. Barley, corn, and wheat is grown in large quantities, and the acreage is steadily increasing. In the region of the 'Big Pond" a deep, black, heavy soil, almost inexhaustible, extends for three miles east and west, and very nearly the same distance from north to south. This, now the richest portion of the township, was once thought the poorest, but has been drained and cultivated, until it now brings a very high price.

Bridle-paths, in the early history of Fairfield Township, took the place of roads. After some clearing was done, and settlers had become more numerous, county and State roads were laid out. The first road. of any importance led from Hamilton to Cincinnati via Springdale. The Symmes's Corner road was also of considerable consequence at an early day. The River road, as it was called, follows down the Miami on the east side, from Hamilton to the Colerain pike, with which it unites near the Venice bridge. The Miami Canal, treated in detail elsewhere, is the most important thoroughfare in the township excepting the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad. It passes through a fertile tract of country.

No creeks of any considerable size flow through Fairfield, yet it is well drained by natural streams, artificial ditches, and tiling. The lack of large creeks prevented any mills in the interior of the township from running regularly by water power, though along the Miami excellent mill sites were found and utilized. Above Pinney's mill, at the mouth of Bank Lick Creek, a stream which takes its rise in Colerain Township, Hamilton County, and which is very rapid in its current, an ''old stone mill" was built as early as 1810. Joel Williams, a Yankee mill-wright from the East, acted as the builder. This stream takes its name from the fact that in the early settlement of the country deer frequented it to drink the peculiar water which in some places flows from its banks. The mill was a stone building about thirty by thirty-five feet, one story high. The grinding machinery was propelled by an undershot or breast wheel; a race carried the water from some distance above. The walls were about twelve feet high and eighteen inches thick; the stone were taken from the bed of the stream. For years this mill called together many of the people in the township. It finally ceased to be a profitable establishment, and for years thereafter stood idle. Some fifteen years ago the building was torn away and now the mill site can hardly be found.

In 1833 Thomas Alston owned and operated a fullingmill of considerable importance, also a carding-machine, about one-half mile below Graham's grist-mill on the Miami, or rather on a race from the Miami, in Section 15. Pike Alston, his grandfather, had, in 1836, a gristmill, what in subsequent history was called Graham's mill, on the same race. At the death of Thomas Alston, in 1837 or 1838, the fulling-mill ceased to go on, except in cases of extreme necessity. All traces of the establishment have disappeared.

Graham's mill was built in 1810, or thereabouts, by Jeptha Garrigus. It was subsequently known as Jackson's mill, and then in 1834 or 1835 became generally known as Graham's mill or mills. Mr. Graham at about the same date erected a large paper-mill on the race, which he carried on successfully for a number of years. In 1856 or 1857, Major John M. Millikin bought the mill seat and buildings at sheriff's sale, and one year thereafter sold to M. P. Alston. The grist-mill continued to run up to 1870. The Alston fulling-mill and carding-machine, the Graham paper and grist-mill, were all on the same race. The latter ceased to exist about

John and Henry Traber built about 1818 a two-story frame grist-mill one mile below Hamilton, on the Miami, which continued to run up to 1835. Both of the Trabers were mill-wrights and men of large acquaintance. Peregrine Orndorff had a grist-mill in St. Clair Township, opposite Traber's mill, which, in 1836, belonged also to the Traber brothers. The same dam answered for both establishments, though the St. Clair mill was fed by a race, and was in partial operation in 1855. Both of these mills were built about the same time.

Bigham's mill was built about seventy years ago by some unknown mill-wright, though the father of Thomas McCullough, now of Oxford, was perhaps the original owner. For many years it was the only mill of considerable importance in the north-east corner of Fairfield. Settlers came a distance of ten and fifteen miles frequently to have their cofm ground at this pioneer mill ; and many of them relate how the half bushel of corn was put in one end of a sack and a large stone in the other, to make it balance. Many customers remained over night at McCullough's (or Bigham's) mill in order to be on time in the morning, or to save a ride through the woods of half a dozen or more miles before sunrise. This establishment stood in the north-west corner of Section 26.

Moody Davis owned a grist and saw mill on the Big Miami in 1815, where the water enters the hydraulic, but the mill-wright is unknown. This mill continued to run up to the time the hydraulic was built. The present is a part of the original dam.

Below Bigham's grist-mill a short distance a saw-mill was: in operation at one time, about 1835. It was built by the Bighams, but lasted for only a few years.

In 1812 or 1815, John Allen built a grist-mill on the Big Miami, in the south-west corner of the township. This mill continued to run up to about 1840. Moody Davis and William Dye were among the millers, though not owners. Mr. Allen sold the property to Peter Springer, who partly rebuilt it, and did a good business for about fifteen years. There are a few remnants of the old mill left.

There were no mills in Butler County before 1804 of which there is any accurate knowledge. When it was necessary to have corn ground the hand-mill was resorted to, which in most cases answered the purpose very well. The mortar and pestle were common implements among many of the pioneers, especially those who came from the South. The grater was also found in many a household. It was made by perforating a piece of semicircular tin from the concave side, and nailing its edges to a block of wood. The soft corn was rubbed against the rough edges of the holes, while the meal fell through them on a slanting board and down into a bowl or cloth placed there for its reception. The hand-mill was never used a

Some of the water-mills were of that description denominated tub-mills. They consisted of a perpendicular shaft, to the lower end of which a horizontal wheel of about four or five feet was attached. The upper end passed through the bed stone and carried the runner after the manner of a trundle-head.

Still-houses were numerous in early times. In 1817 Thomas Hunter owned one of these establishments a quarter of a mile east of Symmes's Corner, which he carried on four or five years. The capacity of this still-house was one barrel per day, or one hundred and twenty-five bushels of corn for the same length of time. Hunter's meal was ground at Alston's mill; the whisky was hauled to Cincinnati by ox-teams, four or six to a wagon. On Major Millikin's farm, sixty rods from the north-west corner of his place, the Sheeleys built a still-house about 1810, near a spring, which they carried on successfully for eight or ten years. Daniel Millikin had another on the island above Hamilton (which he bought in 1816 or 1817, of the St. Clair heirs), which he opened in 1817 and continued to run up to 1825. The house was a frame building.

Bank Lick is the largest creek, in volume, in the township. It flows through the south-west corner to about the distance of three-quarters of a mile. Pleasant Run is a stream of some size. It takes its head partly in Hamilton County; its current is tortuous and winding; its principal tributary, Pond Run. Symmes's Run enters the Miami just below Hamilton. Two-Mile Run unites with the Miami at the old site of Bigham's mill. The waters in the region of the '' Big Pond" flow southward into Mill Creek and empty into the Ohio. On the head branch of Mill Creek, Isaac K. Davis had a saw-mill exactly on the line dividing Fairfield and Liberty Townships, in 1836. There were also two saw-mills in Section 32, one owned by George Kline, the other by William Hall, both in 1836; At the same time there was a steam-mill on the canal where it crosses the line dividing Sections Nos. 35 and 36, owned by M. Brennan. Indian murders were committed on these creeks.

Probably the first educational institution in the northeast corner of the township was a subscription school, about 1820. It was known as the Buckeye school-house, as buckeye logs had something to do with the building. "very thing was patterned after the houses of those days - greased brown paper for window-glass, and clapboard roof, held down by weight-poles. This house stood a quarter of a mile east of Major Millikin's present resi-

In 1807, a log dwelling-house, which stood a quarter of a mile east of Alston's mill, was converted into a school building. The fire-place extended entirely across one end of the house, and accommodated a_back-log eighteen feet in length. Nearly all the back-sticks were burned off in the middle, and then pushed towards the center of the fire-place for the finishing process. This house disappeared many years ago. Mr. Fag was among the first teachers. He had a way of punishing the scholars by splitting a stick and then placing the culprit's ear in the middle to have it pinched. The scholars took delight in fastening the teacher out in those days. This building was supplemented by a frame, which occupied a site a little south-east of the log-house, erected in 1819 or 1820. This house was used until the present brick took its place, some ten years ago.

Two hundred yards south-east of the Auburn Methodist Episcopal Church, a log school-house was erected in 1820, or thereabouts. It was consumed by fire in 1825. Joseph Work was an early teacher; also Mr. Aikens. There have been two houses at this place. The first stood near the second, and was erected about five years before it.

The Auburn Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1835 or 1836. For the leading members there were Solomon and Rudolph Flenner, brothers ; Alexander McDaniel, David Randolph, and their wives. At the time of its organization it belonged to the Westchester circuit. Before the house was built there were two regular preaching places in the neighborhood. One was at the residence of Solomon Flenner, the other at Mr. Bullion's, who lived on the Randolph farm, one-fourth of a mile north-west of Flenner's Corner. The Rey. John Baughman, a man who figured largely in Methodism in Butler County, was the first regular preacher. The house, with many changes, is yet standing. It is a brick building, and will comfortably seat three hundred people. The mason was Ezekiel Squires. The land was given for this purpose by John Rudolph and Solomon Flenner, men who are among the best of all the early settlers. The Sunday-school was organized as many as forty years ago. This Church has now a membership of about forty, although it suspended for some time. It is in a flourishing condition.

The Fairfield Baptist Church was in operation in 1800, being the earliest church in the township, and the next to the earliest in the county. It was a hewed log-house, capable of seating about two hundred persons, and was placed in the south-west corner of the yard. The land on which the church stood was taken from Moses Lyons's farm and comprised about two acres. Mr. Lyons and James Clawson were among the members half a century ago. The former has been dead these many years.

At one time a division took place in the Church, in common with nearly all other Baptist congregations, which resulted in a New School Baptist Church. This new organization held their services for a good while in the house where John Flenner now lives, but they never built a regular place of worship. After some losses in membership by deaths and removals, another house, a frame, was built on James Clawson's farm. This resulted in the abandonment of the old hewed log-house except for funeral purposes. Mr. Childers, Wilson Thompson, and Mr. Mott were among the early preachers.

Flenner's Corner took its name from John Flenner, who, about 1850, opened a store at this point, began to deal in grain, and in other ways increase the importance of the place. of Flenner & Hughes. They were succeeded by Mr. Gardner, who is now at McGonigle's, having left some ten years ago, but who bought the store of Mr. Hughes, Flenner having previously sold out to his partner.

Eli Stickle was the first blacksmith in the village, and was here in 1836. He was followed by George Weaver, David Thompson, Wm. Miller, the latter being in business during the late war. The house in which these men carried on their trade now belongs to the founder of the village.

Among the first landholders in this neighborhood were Moses Line, who, in 1836, owned one hundred and ninety acres in the western half of Section No. 15, upon part of which the Fairfield Baptist Church stood; Henry Line fifty acres in the southern part of the same section. Sarah Randolph, James Davis, and Benjamin F. Randolph each owned over one hundred acres in Section 15, in 1836. Fractional Section No. 15 was owned by John Allen, Benjamin F. Randolph, Vincent Davis, and Nathan Woodruff. These men altogether owned a little over two hundred and nine acres.

Section 10, in Liberty Township, was settled by David Flenner, who owned two hundred and sixty acres; Leonard Swingler, who owned eighty acres; Vincent Davis, who owned eighty, and John Smalley, who owned one hundred and sixty acres. These latter three owned the eastern half of the section. Where the Hamilton and Middletown road crosses the township line, Thomas Clayton owned forty acres, north-west corner of Section 9; east of him was Henry Herr, with one hundred acres, and Sarah Cummings, with one hundred acres. The middle portion of the same section was owned by William Dye, one hundred and fifty acres; Absalom Cummings, fifty acres, and Nathan M. Miller, fifty acres. William Dye, John Line, Levi. Moore, Sen., and Levi Moore, Jr., owned the remaining portion of Section 9. These men made up the settlers in the neighborhood of Flenner's Corner in 1836. The Corner is on the county road dividing Fairfield from Liberty Township, which follows the line from Allen's old mill on the Miami, with the exception of about a third of a mile, to Davis's steam saw-mill on the head branch of Mill Creek.

Section 29, of Fairfield Township, was set aside as the ministerial section. It was owned in 1836 as follows: M. Brennan, forty acres; John Woods, forty acres; O. Moudy, eighty acres; John Derrough, one hundred and sixty - all the western half. The eastern half of the section was owned by M. Brennan, eighty; John Gilmore, eighty; Aaron L. Schenck, one hundred and sixty acres. The Miami Canal passes through Section No. 29 from west to east.

Fair Play

A village was laid out about 1850, at Alston's mill, on the north of the road that leads directly west from Symmes's Corner to the ferry on the Miami, near Isaac Anderson's old residence across the river, in Ross Township. It was known as Fair Play. There are no traces of the village left. There were thirteen lots. At the time Graham's paper-mill was in operation at this point, a store, containing all the knickknacks peculiar to a pioneer people, was carried on successfully. The business was considerable, but when the mills ceased to run the store failed to prosper.

About the time the paper-mills were in full operation a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized near the proposed village. The exact date of its organization is not precisely known, but the best evidence places the time at 1843. There were only a few male members, Joseph Lashorn being the most prominent. It was a branch of the Methodist Church in Hamilton. Five or six years after the society was established, Lashorn removed: to Hamilton, from which time the Church began to lose its influences David Brant was also an early male member. Both he and Lashorn are dead. The house, a handsome brick, was built by the members and by the contributions of the neighbors. John Hageman gave about one acre of land for the church site and burial purposes. In 1876 Rev. F. G. Grigsby, a United Brethren clergyman of the Mt. Pleasant circuit, began to preach at this point. A Church was organized, and the building, which was becoming very much dilapidated, was repaired. The Methodist society has ceased to exist.

Immediately after the Methodists organized a Church at Fair Play, or Black Bottom, a Sunday-school was opened up under the management of Alexander Hunter, who was at that time not a member of the Church. His wife, Nancy, also rendered much valuable assistance. She was a Methodist. Her husband subsequently became one, however. There is a good Sabbath-school carried on at this point at present, and Church services are held with considerable regularity.

Among the owners of land near Black Bottom in 1836 were Michael Hageman, John Hart, Prudence Cook, William Maxwell, Mary Ann Maxwell, Cornelius

Swim, Jane Piatt, James Cornelius, John Spear, the latter three owning the land between the bayou and the river; Thomas Cooper, David Brant, Philip H. Howard, Joseph Grooms, Robert Cooper, and Benjamin Alston.

Jones'S Station

Jones's Station, on the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad, was so called because the land on which the station originally stood was owned by John D. Jones, a large dry-goods merchant of Cincinnati. Immediately after the railroad was built, Thomas Kirk opened and carried on a country store here. He was also the first station-master. On account of some difficulty, in 1861 he removed across the street, where Louis Huber's saloon now is. He continued the store-keeping business at this place for about five years, selling out to Joel House. He was succeeded by his brother, Jacob House, but the store by this time had become more of a saloon than any thing else. Mr. Bernhardt is the present store-keeper.

For the first school-house, Jones's Station had an oldfashioned frame building, which occupied a site on the ground used at the present time for school purposes. It was there more than fifty years ago. Joseph Walker gave one-fourth of an acre for the school. The house was about twenty-two by thirty feet. It has since been removed, and is now the property of Enoch Chambers, but is occupied as a tenant house.

The second school building was a brick, erected in 1850, or thereabouts, and occupied the same site as the old frame. This house was very nearly the same size as the frame. About nine years ago this building was divided into two rooms, in order to have two teachers, and more thoroughly to advance the village education. It was soon found necessary, however, to build a new house. The present building was therefore erected in 1875, at a cost of $4,500. The accommodations are excellent, and the instruction as good as any in the county.

Mr. Long, a man who was much beloved by the pupils, was, perhaps, the most noted teacher in the old frame. William Mack, a distinguished lawyer and politician of Terre Haute, Indiana, was, in his youth, a scholar in the same building. Many a prosperous farmer and business man 'and their wives, now of the county, obtained their early education here.

The Valley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church at Jones's Station was begun about 1840 by ministers of dif. ferent denominations holding meetings in the old schoolhouse. These meetings continued without any decided improvement until in February, 1866, when a protracted effort was made by the Rev. Daniel Griffis, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, then assigned to what is now called Port Union circuit. Twenty members were added to the Church at this meeting. These, with others, at once made an effort to erect a church building, which was attended with such success that in September following a house was dedicated which cost $1,750.

Two years before this time, under the inspiration of Miss Jennie Cooper (now Mrs. Joseph Mach), a Sundayschool, which proved very prosperous, had been organized.

The large contributors in the building-fund were Enoch Chambers, Thomas Slade, William and Thomas Wall, Jacob Shafer, and others with equally benevolent hearts. The original trustees were Enoch Chambers, 8. D. Spellman, William Whitlock, Thomas Slade, and William Wall. ss TOE

The ministers who have been assigned to this circuit (Port Union) have been as follows: 1. Levi White, in 1859, for two years, at a salary of $450, assisted by Mr. Keck for one year and by Daniel Griffis for one year; 2. G. W. Fee, for two years, at a salary of $470, assisted by William Hartley for one year and D. J. Starr for one year; 3. A. Murphy, for two. years, at a salary of $470 per

$400; 5. A. Bowers, for two years; 6. Rev. Mr. Pierce, R. M. Thompson, H. Lawton, W. B. Jackson, three years, at a salary of $700. Rev. W. H. Black served for three years, at a salary of $800; J. S. Wetherby served for one year, at a salary of $800; J. Pierson, for one year, and the same pay. EE. Burdsall met the wants of the Church for three years, at $800 per year.

Doctor R. C. S. Reed says: ''The teachers in our common schools who have been most appreciated in the busy long-ago were a Mr. Lake, here in about 1840 for four years; D. B. Coates, who continued for: about the same length of time; George Winder, for about five years; S. Land, for about four years. Those here for short terms were E. Chase, 8. Chase, D. Rogers, and P. Winder."

The Pleasant View United Brethren Church was organized in 1850. Isaac and Joseph Morris and others were among the organizers. The house, a brick, was erected in 1857. This society takes its name from the fact that the church occupies one of the handsomest sites in the county. Revs. Eli Huffman and Wm. Nicholas were the first preachers. Among the early members were Joseph K. Morris and wife, Isaac K. Morris and wife, Aaron Lewis and wife, John Nixon and wife, Mary Byers, Thomas Woods, and Daniel Coleman. There are at present standing over forty members. The Sundayschool was organized in 1852, and has since been a means of much good in the community.

The first school-house was built of logs, about. 1835. The second house was built in 1851. The third was built in 1870, and stands just across the road from where the others were.

The greater part of Section 15, upon which Jones's Station stands, in 1836 was owned by a few persons. John F. Carmichael owned two hundred and twentynine acres, extending through the central portion of the secfion from east to west; Sarah Walker owned one hundred acres on the south; Jesse Hunt owned two hundred and twenty-nine acres in the north-western corner; the north-western corner was divided among Margaret Vannatta, Mary Tolbert, Elisha Carr, and Aaron Vannatta. There were two large springs on this section at the time of the above ownership.

This village lies four miles south of Hamilton, on the pike leading to Cincinnati via Mt. Pleasant and College Hill, in Hamilton County. Its population in 1855 was one hundred and fifteen, but it now numbers about one hundred and fifty. Celadon Symmes, a nephew of the Judge, purchased the land now known as Section No.

The land on which Symmes's Corners now stands was owned in 1836 by Celadon Symmes, James Galbreath, and James L. Beaty. The Corners is situated in Sections 3, 4, 33, and 34. Beaty's land was in Sections 3 and 4; Galbreath's in 33, and Symmes's in 34. William Hunter owned the north-west corner of Section 33 in 1855, and Lucinda Pottenger the north-east corner of Section 3. Section 4 was divided among the Symmeses, or that portion of it which is now a part of the village.

The first house in the town was made of logs. It was built by the contractors of the turnpike for the accommodation of their hands. It stood in the south-western corner of the town, on the Widow Pottenger's farm.

Joseph R. Symmes was the first village store-keeper. His house stood on the site where Benjamin Symmes now lives. This store building was destroyed by fire. Benjamin Symmes erected the brick which he now occupies, and opened the first tavern, or rather house of private entertainment.

Creyton Wilcox was the second man who began to entertain the public, in a frame house in the south-west corner of the village. At that time there was an immense travel passing this way toward Cincinnati. Hogdrivers, whisky teams, four and six horse loads of flour and other merchandise, passed constantly from the neighborhood of Richmond, Eaton, Oxford, and all the interior country beyond.

Daniel Rosebone was a blacksmith where the village now is in 1831. John Hughes was here in 1832. were the first two mechanics in this vicinity.

The Old School Presbyterian Church, which now stands immediately south of the line which divides Sections Nos. 32 and 26, and in Hamilton County, was organized in Symmes's Corners about forty-five years ago, with Benjamin Symmes, Abram Huston, and John Mesler as leaders in the organization. Rey. Mr. Patterson, who preached here four or five years after the Church was organized, and Celadon Symmes were also active in placing the Church upon a firm foundation. This Church was the outgrowth of the Venice, Springdale, and Hamilton Presbyterian Churches, and was built at the Corners to accommodate a sprinkling of all these societies. The old or first house is now standing. It cost one thousand one hundred and eighty dollars, and was built shortly after the organization of the society. Benjamin Symmes gave the land - one acre - in the village for church purposes. In its best days this Church had some eighty odd members.

In the fifties the church in Hamilton County was built, in order more thoroughly to meet the wants of a majority of the members who lived in this vicinity. It is now used with regularity.

The Sunday-school in the first house was organized by William N. Hunter, now dead, who was the first superintendent. Freeman G. Cary was also an active man in the same cause and office.

Joseph Walker, an early settler on Section 5, two miles and a half south of Hamilton, on the River road, gave the first land for burial purposes at this point. There was about half an acre in the lot. This ground was opened as early as 1805, a child of Mr. Walker's having died and being the first interment. At present there are some forty graves; the yard is seldom used, and is overgrown with briars and bushes.

In 1797 Celadon Symmes and Judge Burnett, of Cincinnati, gave half an acre of land each for burial purposes, half a mile east of the Corners. An infant child of Mr. Symmes was the first interment here. About twelve years ago an addition of three-fourths of an acre was made. There are about one hundred and twenty-five burials in the ground at this time; the yard is not much used now.

Matthew Hueston was the first tavern-keeper in the southern side of Fairfield Township. He purchased the land on which he lived of Judge Symmes. Hueston's tavern was half a mile below Schenck's Station. Obadiah Schenck was in the same business at the same place in 1818, on the Springdale turnpike. In 1825 John G. Redsaker opened, and for a good many years carried on, the tavern-keeping business a mile below Schenck's, on the same road, in a frame house.

Benjamin Moore shot the last black bear in the southern side of the township in 1833 or 1834. The animal had been chased from the east side of the county for a distance of about ten miles, and, having escaped from its pursuers, thought itself safe. It was seen, however, by some one, and the alarm was immediately given, whereupon the entire neighborhood turned out. Bruin took to a tree and was shot there by Mr. Moore, assisted by Wilkinson Beaty.

Two of the oldest dwelling-houses in the neighborhood of Symmes's Corners are the John Walker house and the Joseph Walker house. They were built in 1801. They are now weatherboarded and have the appearance of frame buildings. The former of these stands in Hamilton County, on the farm of William Hill; the latter in Fairfield, on the property of John Garver.

The Walker brothers were originally from Virginia, and when they came to Ohio were three in number. At their first settlement in the Miami Valley, near the mouth of the river, one of them was killed by the Indiuns. The perpetrators of the crime were not discovered until some years afterwards. It happened at a barnraising near North Bend, in Hamilton County. The Indians were at this time on terms of comparative friendship with the whites. At this gathering of the people of the neighborhood, the Indians made it convenient to be present. In the drunken orgies which followed, they unsuspectingly told what a face Walker made and how he acted when he was killed. He was, they said, shot and then tomahawked. John and Joseph, after hearing the story, immediately left the raising for home. They secured their guns, and, while the Indians were leaving the country, dispatched two of them with balls from their rifles. It was said that these men avenged the death of their brother near the spot where he fell.

The killing of the Indians caused some measures to be taken for the arrest of the Walkers. In order to escape, they came to the neighborhood of Symmes's Corners, changed their name to Wilson instead of Walker, and after a few months erected the houses we have described as now standing. Joseph Walker's house is tolerably well preserved. These brothers had a fine hunting dog which they called Walker. They were great hunters and took delight in the chase. After remaining in this neighborhood for a few years they returned again to their old name, by which they were known up to the time of their death. Their descendants are now no longer in this section.

Another village which has existed here for years is Furmandale, more commonly known by the name of Snaptown. It was formerly the seat of a large boardingschool, carried on by Mr. Furman, and at one time there was a distillery here. There is a union Sunday-school, presided over by Thomas Slade.

The swampy region which lies south and east of Hamilton was for along time a great injury to the surrounding country. This formed the head source of Mill Creek. Many years ago, however, under the direction of John W. Erwin, ditches were dug, and the country drained, enhancing its value tenfold. Many ice-ponds are located in this neighborhood, and the cutting and sale of ice has caused the investment of much money.

Symmes's Corners. - Thomas R. Waterson, April 10, 1843 ; Benjamin R. Symmes, April 29, 1844. The name was changed to Union Corners May 31, 1861, and restored to Symmes's Corners January 28, 1864. Robert H. Cook, January 28, 1864; Samuel Krider, January 8, 1866; John H. Mesler, January 11, 1869; John J, Linn,

The justices of the peace in Fairfield Township have been Celadon Symmes, Jacob Lewis, Isaac Stanley, Joseph Hunter, John Vinnedge, Matthew. Hueston, John Cassiday, Joseph Gaston, James Heaton, William Patton, Joseph Latta, Samuel Kennedy, Obadiah Schenck, Ezekiel McConnell, Dennis Ball, James O'Connor, John Burk, Jonathan Pierson, Thomas Mitchell, William Hunter, Stephen Millikin, Richard Easton, Moore Vinnedge, John Hunter, Benjamin R. Symmes, William Sheeley, Jacob Piatt, M. P. Alston, Milton Cooper. ;

Joseph E. McDonald, late Senator from Indiana, was born in Fairfield Township, on the 29th of August, 1819. His father, John McDonald, was of Scotch extraction, a native of Pennsylvania, and by occupation a farmer. He was a man of sterling worth, determined, industrious, and self-sacrificing. He died when his son was still in infancy. His mother, Eleanor (Piatt) McDonald, was a Pennsylvanian. Her ancestors were French Huguenots, who located first in New Jersey, and afterwards settled permanently in Ohio. She was a woman of a superior order of intellect. She was a woman of refined tastes, a pleasant writer, and, for the amusement and advancement of her children, wrote many sketches and scraps of song. She and her husband were both earnest members of the United Presbyterian Church.

Several years after the death of John McDonald she was married to John Kerr, of Fairfield Township. Mr. Kerr was a native of Ireland, a frugal, industrious farmer always out of debt, a just and courteous neighbor, a firm but kind parent, and the father of seven children, four sons and three daughters. He moved with his family to Montgomery County, Indiana, in the Fall of 1826, entered land and opened a farm. He was a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church. He died in 1856.

Joseph was seven years of age when, in 1826, his parents located in Montgomery County, then an almost unbroken forest. He remained on the place until the age of twelve, excepting two years spent at Crawfordsville attending school. Such spare time as he could command from his labors on the farm was occupied in pursuing a course of study which aided mueh in laying the foundation for the eventful future in store for him. At an early age he conceived a strong love for the law, and when ten years old he had determined upon making that profession his life work, at the cost of any personal hardship or sacrifice. In his twelfth year the ambitious aspirant for future honors at the bar became an apprentice at the saddler's trade at Lafayette, Indiana. In that capacity he served five years and nine* months, except three months spent in attending school. For fidelity to their interests his employers released him from the last three months of his apprenticeship, which time he spent in prosecuting his studies.

Following the resolution made before going to learn a trade, he pursued his studies with vigor at such times as he could snatch from work or rest. He had already become quite proficient in the English branches and rudiments of learning. His favorite study was history, in which he became well versed. During his apprenticeship he had access to the extensive and well selected library public moneys of the land office at Crawfordsville, Indiana. This opportunity was well improved, and he was prepared when leaving there, in 1838, to enter upon advanced fields of knowledge.

mainly by plying his trade at such times as it was possible to do so. He continued his studies at college till the Spring of 1840, except for a short period in the Spring of 1839, when he acted with the engineer corps of the State of Indiana, who were then surveying the bed for the Wabash and Erie Canal. In 1840 he entered Asbury University, at Greencastle, Indiana, and remained six months, returning to Crawfordsville, where he was the rest of the year, and taught school one term. In the Spring of 1841, he went to Williamsport, Indiana, taking a position as clerk in the store of James McDonald, his brother, being there one year.

In the Spring of 1842 he began the study of law at Lafayette, Indiana, with Zebulon Beard, one of the first lawyers in the State, as his preceptor. He advanced with rapid strides, his quick and firm grasp of its principles being remarkable. He was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Indiana, consisting of Judges Blackford, Dewey, and Sullivan, in the Spring of 1848. He was nominated for the office of prosecuting attorney before he received his license to practice, and was elected to that position at the August election following, over Robert Jones, a Whig, and a prominent member of the Lafayette bar. This was the first election of that class of officers by the people, they having formerly been chosen by the Legislature.

On the 25th of December, 1844, he was married to Nancy Ruth Buell, at Williamsport, Indiana. She was the daughter of Doctor Buell, a practicing physician and surgeon. The issue of this union was Ezekiel M., Malcolm A., Frank B., and Annie M. McDonald, afterwards Mrs. Caldwell, who died June 2, 1877.

He was re-elected prosecuting attorney over Robert Evans, a prominent lawyer and _ politician, in August, 1845, serving in all a period of four years. In the Fall of 1847 he moved to Crawfordsville and entered on the practice of the law, where he lived until 1859. He was elected to the Thirty-first Congress from the old Eighth District in August, 1849, and served one term. In 1856 he was elected attorney-general of Indiana, being the first chosen to this office by the people, and was re-elected in 1858, serving in all four years. He was not a candidate for a third term.

In the Spring of 1859 he removed to Indianapolis, forming a partnership with Addison L. Roach, ex-judge of the Supreme Court of Indiana. In 1864 McDonald was nominated for Governor of Indiana by the Democratic State Convention, and made a joint canvas with Oliver P. Morton, the Republican nominee. At the election he received six thousand more votes for Governor than the Democratic State ticket did in 1862, when the entire Democratic State ticket, together with a majority in both branches of the General Assembly, was elected. Mr. Morton was elected, however, by nearly twenty thousand votes.

In 1868 E. M. McDonald became the law partner of his father, and the next year Addison L. Roach retired from the firm. KE. M. McDonald died January 1, 1873. Frank B. McDonald, his youngest son, has since become the law partner of Mr. McDonald.

Senator McDonald's wife died on September 7, 1872. On the 15th of September, 1874, he married Araminta W. Vance, of Crawfordsville, who died February 2, 1875. He has lately been married for a third time.

Throughout his entire life he has strictly adhered to his resolution to follow the law and make a success of his profession. He has been engaged in some of the most important cases that have been tried in the State since his admission to the bar. He was of counsel for the defendants in the celebrated case of the United States vs. Bowles, ,Milligan, and Horsey, tried for conspiracy and treason by a military commission at Indianapolis, and sentenced to be hung. The case was taken to the Supreme Court of the United States, where several important constitutional questions arose as to the relation of the general government to the States, the war power of the government, and the rights of the citizen. The defendants were released by the Supreme Court. He was of counsel for defendants in the noted case of Bebee vs. The State, in which the Supreme Court decided that the enactment which was known as the Maine liquor law was unconstitutional. He was one of the attorneys for the parties who assailed the constitutionality of what was known as the Baxter liquor law. In the Supreme Court of the State and the federal court he has taken an active part in many important cases, one of the most important being the case of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and St. Louis Railroad Company vs. The Columbus, Chicago, and Indiana Central Railway Company, in which was involved a network of railroad interests and large sums of money, depending upon the validity and construction of a ninety- nine years' lease. He made the principal argument for the objectors in the count of the electoral vote of Louisiana before the Electoral Commission appointed to determine the result of the Presidential election of 1876. Mr. McDonald thinks that the creation of this commission was the exercise of a doubtful power in a case of apparent necessity.

Joseph Ewing McDonald was elected to the United States Senate for six years, to succeed Daniel D. Pratt, and took his seat March 5, 1875. He was chairman of the Committee on Public Lands, and the second member of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate, and ranked as one of the best lawyers of that body. He is, and has always been, a, firm, consistent Democrat, of the Jefferson school, as personified in the political life of Andrew Jackson. He was a member of the Senate committee which visited New Orleans to investigate the count of the vote of Louisiana in the contest of 1876. He was also on the Teller-Wallace committee to investigate frauds in elections in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He was chairman of the Democratic State Convention in 1868, and of the Democratic State Central Committee during the campaigns of 1868 and 1874.

As an orator, both at the bar and on the hustings, he is cool, logical, and forcible; as a citizen, he has the confidence and respect of all who know him, regardless of political creeds: He has traveled extensively in his own country, and is thoroughly acquainted with its institutions and people. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. He is regarded by all parties as a statesman of acknowledged merit. His views are broad and comprehensive on all questions of public interest; not a man of expedients, but stating his views clearly and boldly, leaving the result to the candid judgment of the people. The opinions of his most bitter opponents are never treated with disdain. Few men have enjoyed the uniform confidence of their fellow-citizens to the extent that he has.

Elbert Armstrong, M. D., was born August 22, 1849, in Franklin County, Indiana. He studied medicine in Cincinnati under his brother, Clinton L. Armstrong, police surgeon, and 'graduated at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, in 1875, practicing in Sandborn, Knox County, Indiana, for one year. In 1876 he came to Butler County, settling at Symmes's Corners, where he still remains. His great-grandfather on his mother's side, Henry Case, and his two brothers, were soldiers in the Revolution, Henry being wounded in the thigh. He died in Springdale, Hamilton County, years afterwards. John Armstrong, his grandfather on his father's side, was in the War of 1812. His brother, Clinton L., was in the war of the Rebellion, in the Eighty-second Indiana Regiment, Company D, and was wounded in the thigh at the assault on Vicksburg, while placing the ladders for the scaling.

James Beard, farmer, was born in Pennsylvania in 1777. He was married in 1798, and had four children: John Beard, born December 21, 1810; Jane Sample, born October 9, 1806; Jacob Beard, December 14, 1802; Perry Beard, July 11, 1821. He moved to this county in 1807. His wife's name was Peggy, and she was a native of Virginia. John, Jacob, and Perry live on the same farm that their father originally entered, and have been fortunate in life. W. L. Beard was in the military service, both in the Mexican War and during the Rebellion.

James Blackburn, first sheriff of the county, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1757, and was married to Sarah Lytle, born in the same State, in 1784. They came out to this country in 1800. Mrs. Blackburn's father was Sanderson Lytle, and her mother Margaret. Mr. Blackburn had five children. Alexander lives in Fairfield ; Margaret is the wife of James Buchanan, and lives in Indianapolis; Sarah lives in Fairfield; Mary Ann Hamilton lives in Fairfield, as does Rachel, the widow of Israel Lake. Mr. Blackburn was one of the leading members of the community. He held the office of sheriff and served on the school-board. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, being for seven years in the transport service. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. By occupation he was a farmer, owning three hundred and twenty acres of land in this county. He died in 1842, and his wife died in 1856.

Hector Basson was born in France in 1817, settling in this county in 1865. His wife, to whom he was married in Hamburg, Germany, in 1844, is a native of Hanover, where she was born in 1817. Her maiden name was Caroline Luike, and her parents were William and Louisa (Ludeike) Luike. They have had six children. Charles is married and lives in Liberty Township; Joseph lives in Richmond, Indiana; Hector is in Moline, Illinois; Antoinette is the wife of Aaron Symmes, of Fairfield Township, and Caroline and Hortense are at home. Mr. Basson has held the office of township trustee in Cumminsville, and also in Fairfield. He was elected Captain in a company of Texas Rangers during the Mexican War, but owing to sickness was prevented from going out. His parents were Frédéric Christophe and Antoinette (née Lepaux) Basson. When he first came to the United States he settled in Galveston, Texas, and remained four years, coming in 1848 to Ohio; and settling in Mount Pleasant, Hamilton County, where he began business as general store-keeper. In 1865 he moved to Symmes's Corners, where he kept a store, and in 1876 moved to his present residence in Furmandale, following the same business. Frédéric Christophe Basson, his father, was the oldest officer in the British army at the time of his decease, being a major of infantry, commanding a battalion of French legitimists at the battle of Waterloo. He was also a colonel of cavalry during the Peninsular War. His father was a French Protestant,

James Clawson was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1795, and was married for the first time in 1816. His wife was Rebecca Vail, born in Pennsylvania in 1798, and dying in Butler County in 1869. He had twelve children, eight of whom reached maturity and married, and four of whom are still living. Stephen V. is married and lives in Liberty Township. He was born December 26, 1819. Jephthah is married and lives in Fairfield Township. He was born June 3, 1823. Wilson T. is married and lives in Liberty Township. He was born November 21, 1829. Frederick D. is married and lives in Hamilton. He was born in 1841. Mary, wife of James Hancock, lives in Hamilton, and was born in 1843. Henderson is married and lives in Hamilton. He was born in 1846. John is single and lives at home. He was born in 1852. Jennie, widow of Frank Hair, was born August 17, 1855, and lives at home. Deziah, wife of Salem Pocock, was born April 13, 1857, and lives in Hanover Township. Mr. Clawson was married a second time in 1869. His wife was Eliza Weaver, born in Butler County, in 1812, and dying in 1870. He was married the third time in 1871 to Mary A. Devou, widow of George W. Louthan, born in Hamilton September 17, 1819. She is still living. Mr. Clawson came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1802, and settled in Lemon Township with his father. He is a self-made man, having nothing when he began but a horse. He rented for the first three years, and bought a lot in Middletown, which he built on, and afterwards traded for twenty-five acres in Liberty Township, which was his first farm. He has steadily added to this till now he owns six hundred and fifteen acres in Butler County, besides other property to a large amount. He has also assisted his children much. He is a member of the Baptist Church, having been so since the year 1812.

Freeman Grant Cary was born in Cincinnati April 7, 1810. His father, William Cary, emigrated to the Northwest Territory in 1803, and settled on a farm he had purchased at the lead of Main Street, Cincinnati, where he resided until 1814, when he removed to College Hill. His thirty-two acres in Cincinnati were sold, and he bought Section 30, in Mill Creek Township, now College Hill, where he resided until his death, March 25, 1862.

In this place Freeman G. Cary, with his two brothers, William Woodward and Samuel Fenton, received his early education. He afterwards attended college at Miami University, and graduated with honor in the class of 1831. This was more than fifty years ago, and since that time Mr. Cary has left a marked impress of his character for good, which, in the history of the times, is inerasable. He has devoted more than thirty years of his life to teaching. He established Cary's Academy and originated Farmers' College, into which the academy was merged ; also originated for females what afterwards be- came the Ohio Female College. These institutions were eminently successful until after he resigned the presidency, the Farmers' College at that time numbering three hundred students. The Female College was likewise successful.

Mr. Cary's strong point was in government, and he was also a successful teacher. During his presidency he associated with him men of ability in the various departments of his institution. In the first period of its existence under him, he educated, to a greater or less extent, some three thousand young men, many of them occupying distinguished positions North and South, in the ministry, the bar, or as physicians or business men. Mr. Cary's character is marked by a combination of striking traits; being possessed of a strong constitution, temperate habits, and good health, giving him physical ability to accomplish successfully whatever he attempts.

He has made his own place in society, and is known to be persistent and energetic in all he undertakes. He has filled all the duties that have fallen to his charge with ability and tact. He is thoroughly conversant with all the branches of natural science, especially those appertaining to agriculture and horticulture, of which he has acquired both a practical and theoretical knowledge. He has connected with his residence an admirably arranged conservatory and greenhouse, on his own plan, in which he spends much of his time in experimenting for his own gratification. He established and edited an agricultural periodical, the Cincinnatus, which for five years had a wide circulation, and only ceased by reason of the Rebellion. He was one of the distinguished early leaders and supporters of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, being several times its honored president. Mr. Cary is not only an adept in the natural sciences, but is also a good classical and mathematical scholar, his education and ability eminently fitting him for marked prominence. He was selected as one of two to represent the great State of Ohio, under Buchanan's administration, in a congress of the States for the promotion of agriculture, with Marshall P. Wilder at its head. After over a quarter of a century's labors in the schools originated

County, where, with his wonted zeal and industry, he devoted himself to rural pursuits, leading a quiet and retired life. His residence, planned by himself, is a model of taste and fine architecture, combining as many conveniences as any structure in the world. His place is set with the choicest fruits grown in the climate, and his house is completely encircled by evergreens and deciduous trees, all being in keeping with the intelligence of the man. He has been an elder in the Presbyterian Church for over forty years, and its active, zealous supporter.

- His first wife was Malvina McCan. He was married to her on the 4th of April, 1833. She was a native of Chillicothe, and the daughter of an old pioneer, who was a man of fine education and was an extensive surveyor. She died in the month of January, 1872. By her he had eight children, five of whom survive. His second wife was the widow of Dr. James Richardson, and daughter of Clark Bates, one of the earliest pioneers of the West. He was married to her March 6, 1873. His mother, Mrs. William Cary, now ninety-one years of age, intelligent and still active, lives with him. Notwithstanding her advanced years she enjoys all her faculties of mind. William Woodward, named after William Woodward, the founder of Woodward College, died in 1847. He was a farmer, a man of sound judgment and mathematical education. General S. F. Cary, of world-wide renown as a lecturer and popular author, is the youngest of the three brothers. The Cary sisters, the celebrated writers, were his cousins, and were greatly aided in their first efforts by the subject of this sketch. Few men, in an independent and unaided life, and on their own resources, have exerted a more extended influence than F, G. Cary.

Thomas Cooper was born in Liverpool, England, about 1785, and died in Fairfield, in 1858. He married in England and had seven children, one only surviving - Robert, born in 1812 in England. Mr. Cooper came to the United States about 1815, and settled in the South, near Natchez, but in 1820 moved to Ohio. In 1823 he moved to Fairfield, in this county, where he resided till his death. He was educated for a surveyor, and followed it for a few years. He taught in a high school in Cincinnati before he settled in Butler County. His son, Robert, married Eliza Jane Howard, born in Hamilton County in 1821. They had eleven children, eight of them being living. Mary Belle is the wife of Calvin Burridge; William is married; Electa is the wife of Richard Applegate, M. D.; George; Jennie, wife of George Vandergriff; Anne Eliza, wife of Isaac B. Rice; Benton, and

Jessie. Mr. Cooper is a farmer, and one of the representative men of Butler County, owning over eleven hundred acres of land, all of which he made himself, commencing life with nothing.

born in Maryland, on the 21st of July, 1805. His parents were Henry\and Perslia Chambers, who came to this county in 1812. He was married March 16, 1839, to Mary Ann Moore. They lived together until 1864, when Mrs. Chambers died. They had seven children. Francis Marion was born November 10, 1839; Harriet Moore, November 26, 1840; Orpha Trender, April 28, 1843; Emma Rebecca Duson, May 30, 1845; Lydia Ann Mills, December 5, 1847; Sarah Jane Miller, May 17, 1850; and Laura Cornelia Sweet, April 17, 1850. The the death of his wife, Mr. Chambers has remained on the farm with his daughter, who is assiduous in his care. He has a fine farm of one hundred acres, with every thing convenient. His first vote for President was cast for Andrew Jackson, remaining with the Democratic party until the Kansas imbroglio, since when he has voted the Republican ticket. When he bought the place he now lives on, only thirty acres were cleared. Mrs. Chambers was the daughter of William and Ruth Moore, who came out here in 1830.

Vincent Davis, son of Joshua, was born in New Jersey, about+1785, and died in 1872. He married Anna Smalley, born in New Jersey in 1788, who died in 1875, They had twelve children, six of whom are still living. Mary, the widow of Mark Moore, lives in Indiana. Joshua, born June 7, 1808, is married, and lives in Fairfield; Jemima, wife of William Sleith, is in Indiana; Amy and Emma Jane are single, and live in Fairfield Township. Francis is married and lives in Missouri. He came to Ohio in 1805 with his father, and settled in Middletown, where he worked in the Middletown grist-mill, owned by his father. He married about 1806, and settled in Monroe, where he recommenced farming. He purchased land, and about 1813 moved to Liberty Township, where his father-in-law gave him sixty acres in the woods, which he cleared and lived on till his death. He was drafted in the War of 1812, but sent a substitute. His son Francis was captain of a cavalry company during the late war. His son Joshua was born January 7, 1808, and was married the first time in 1839, to Mary Cummins, born in Butler County in 1800. She died in 1873, leaving no family. He was married the second time in 1875, to Emma Bellchambers, born in Sussex, England, September 28, 1847. They have one child, Joshua Dunham, born February 19, 1881. He has been township trustee for one term, director of the school board, and lieutenant of the Butler County Light Horse.

William 8. Gilmore was born on Long Island, in the State of New York, January 8, 1808, and was married the first time about 1833. His wife was Jane Brogden, born in Springdale, Ohio, about 1818, and dying in September, 1870. By her he had six children, five of whom are living. One died in infancy. John is married and lives in Hanover Township; Margaret, widow of Elva Spellman, lives in Hamilton; Jeremiah is married and lives in Fairfield Township; Mary is the wife of Jacob Bonnell, and lives in Columbus, Pennsylvania; and Laura is the wife of Ross Lockwood, and lives in Franklin, Ohio. Mr. Gilmore came to Cincinnati with his parents about 1824, where his father started in business as an auctioneer, the first in Cincinnati. He removed to Pittsburg.after three years, remaining there four years. About 1830 he returned to Cincinnati, where his father and uncle Gordon had established a banking business, and he acted as clerk in their office. About 1833 he was married, and went on a farm, now part of the corporation of Cincinnati, which his father and uncle had purchased. \ He remained there until 1840, when he moved to Butler County, where he settled in Union by his father. He received at his father's death four hundred and fifty acres, and on this ground he has spent the best part of his life. He was married again on the 22d of December, 1871. His wife was Elizabeth Boyd, widow of Charles Moore, born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, September 15, 1815. He is a stockholder and director of the Sharon pike, owning one-half of it, and has always been one of the prominent citizens of Butler County.

Gottlieb Gressle, now deceased, was born in France. Coming to this country he was married June 13, 1856, in Hamilton, to Mary F. Custer, daughter of Frederick Custer and Maria Bolter. She was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1838. They had four children. Edward was born December 22, 1862; Esther E. was born January 24, 1865; Eugene, August 13, 1867, and Bertha M., May 5, 1871. Esther E. died March 17, 1866, and Mr. Gressle March 24, 1881.

John Garber was born in Lorraine, on the borders of France and Germany, about 1799. He was married the first time to Barbara Springer, born in Lorraine in 1797, and dying December 13, 1867. By her he had three children, of whom two are living. John was born April, 1838; Magdalen in 1835, dying in 1859, and the other child was Christopher. Mr. Garber emigrated to America about 1825, settling in this county. He was first at Trenton, working for Christian Augspurger, and then rented a farm near that place, afterwards going to Fairfield Township, and renting the Wurmzer farm. About 1836 he bought sixty-six acres of land in that township, the same now owned by his son John, for which he paid thirty dollars an acre. He came to this country with sixty dollars, and by dint of his own industry and_perseverance accumulated a large property, becoming one of the wealthiest men in Butler County. He owned, at the time of his death, twelve hundred acres in this county, and six hundred and forty in Missouri. He was married a second time in 1868, to Barbara Engel, a native of Lorraine, and had two children, both deceased. Mr. Garber died in 1875. His property was divided among his children at his death. They live in Fairfield Township. John was married to Rake Garber, born in Champagne, in France, in 1843. They have two children, Mary and Amy. He owns four hundred and fifty acres in Butler County, and six hundred and forty in Missouri. _ Robert Gray was born in Ireland in 1744, and died in 1843 in Fayette County, Indiana. He came to the American colonies in 1763. He joined the American army in the war of the Revolution, having taken the oath of allegiance, and was in several engagements. He served under General Putnam, first in the militia, and afterwards in the regulars at Sandy Hook. -He also served under General Watts in Captain Jonathan Robinson's company, and received his discharge from General Putnam. After his discharge he settled in Pennsylvania, where he married Agnes Gray, born in' Pennsylvania in 1753, who died in 1851, in Fairfield Township, in this county. He had eleven children. James, who died in infancy, was born March 13, 1776; James, the second, was born March 1, 1777; William, July 20, 1778; Richard, October 29, 1780; Robert, April 17, 1783; Mary, April 10, 1785; James, the third, May 7, 1787; John G., August, 1789; Hugh, May, 1792; Jonathan, January 14, 1794; Martin, November 4, 1796. Mr. Gray came to this State about 1814, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fairfield Township, where he lived till the time of his death. He taught school for some years, his sons carrying on the farm. Of his children, Jonathan was the only one who remained in. Butler County. He was born in Pennsylvania, January 14, 1794, and was married in 1825 to Mary Woods, born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1803. They had six children, of whom four are living. Alexander and Marilla are dead; William is married and lives in Chicago; Mary H. is the wife of Andrew Ritchie and lives in Cincinnati; Johanna lives in Fairfield; and John is married, living in Fairfield. Jonathan Gray was a member of the Presbyterian Church at the time of his death, and

Manning Hathaway was born in New Jersey on the 6th of April, 1788, and died in Butler County, March 29, 1861. He married, December 7, 1812, Sarah Beach, born in New Jersey, August 26, 1793, who died June 9, 1868. They had seven children, of whom two are living. John, born April 23, 1814, died May 2, 1844; Eliza, September 25, 1815, died September 22, 1819; Catherine, widow of James Graham, October 2, 1817, lives in St. Louis, Mo.; Calvin, born January 10, 1819, died October 27, 1819; Alpheus, July 24, 1821, died June 6, 1822; Amanda, April 12, 1824, died December 16, 1850; and Silas, February 8, 1832, lives single in Fairfield. Manning Hathaway moved to Ohio about 1812, and settled in Fairfield Township. He was a millwright, and followed this vocation as long as he was able. He began with nothing, but saved enough to buy sixty-eight acres, which was divided among his children, and which is now owned by his son Silas. The latter is a member of the Butler County Grange, and has held the office of secretary to the Grange for three years.

Ezekiel C. Hamilton was born in Portland, Maine, in 1812. He came out here in 1842, and settled in Fairfield Township, being married in 1848 to Mary A. Blackburn, born in 1821, and daughter of James Blackburn and Sarah Lytle. They had nine children. Sarah Augusta is the wife of Albert Huston, who lives in Hamilton County ; Charles is married, and lives in Fairfield Township; Arthur is dead, and the others are Albert, Kittie, Ida, Kate, James, and Lillie. Mr. Hamilton was Justice of the peace, real estate assessor, personal prop-

Johnson B. Haythorne was born in Hamilton County, December 17, 1842, and was married in 1867 to Rachel A. Divley, a native of this State, where she was born December 30, 1845. They had four children, of whom three are living. Lulu S. was born October 30, 1868 ; Clifford P., May 11, 1873; Melvin and Milton, twins, January 2, 1875. The latter is dead. Mr. Haythorne came to Butler County in 1876, and leased the farm of William Beatty, one hundred and twelve acres. Previous to this he lived in Newton, Hamilton County. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is the superintendent of the Sunday-school at Furmandale, of which he was one of the founders. The school was organized in April, 1881, and at present averages about seventy attendants. During his residence in Hamilton County he was secretary of the Sabbath-school for several years. His wife is also a member of the Baptist Church.