Butler County, Ohio - The whole text, 1882 (part 38 of 39)

There is also a Methodist Episcopal Church, of whose history we are not informed, but which dates back sixty years; and an Episcopalian Church, organized since the war.

The First Baptist Church in Middletown was organized at the house of David Heaton, August 9, 1808. It first bore the title of Salem Church, and its original officers were James Dewise, deacon, and Nathan Canfield, clerk. In June following they extended a call to Elder R. Stapleton and Samuel Dewise to preach to them on the first Sunday in each month, attending at the house of Elisha Wade. The Church was received in the Miami Association in the Fall of 1809. On the 26th of June, 1811, they resolved to build a house of worship, and appointed a committee, consisting of David Enoch, E. Heaton, Isaac Robbins, Jacob Deardorf, and Daniel McDonald, to select the site. They discharged this duty, choosing a place on the road from Middletown to Franklin, a mile from the former place. The contractor made the following agreement:

"T agree to build a meeting-house twenty-four by thirty feet, and thirteen feet high, and to weatherboard the same, and put on a lap-shingle, or sawed-shingle roof, one double door and windows, with sleepers, and two beams for a gallery, and find the nails, for one hundred and sixty dollars, payable in whisky and wheat that is merchantable, delivered at Abner Enoch's mill, on the first day of October next, at the market price it sells for in Franklin, and to have the said house finished by the first of next October."

The congregation worshiped in this house till October, 1826, when they removed their meetings to Middletown, and met at the house of Thomas Royal. The old frame building after that was converted into a school-house, and occupied as such till 1848. In October, 1826, the Rev. Jacob Mulford was called to preach one Sabbath in each month. On the 9th of August, 1828, the name of the Church was changed to the First Baptist Church of Middletown. All this time there was no house of worship in Middletown of any denomination. There were three Church organizations - Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist. Each held their meetings alternately in a brick school-house about twenty-four by thirty. The Baptists held about this time some of their meetings in the upper part of a cooper-shop. In the Winter of 1828, however, the Church resolved to build a house, and obtained an act of incorporation, with Jacob Deardorf, Thomas Royal, and David Taylor as trustees. They bought a lot, and in the Spring of 1829 erected a house of forty by eighty feet. It was not finished till the Spring of 1832, its total cost being about $3,000. This building remained in use till the Spring of 1854, when it was taken down and a handsome structure put up on the same foundation. It was ready to worship in on the 1st of September.

Twelve years after this the Church found themselves very much in need of more room for their Sabbathschool. In the Fall of 1867 it added a building sixtyfour by twenty-five feet to the rear of the former house, which makes the whole church cruciform in shape, and added fully one-third to its capacity. The church is arranged with especial reference to the Sunday-schools, and is arranged so that all the rooms, six in number, can be thrown into one. The cost of this addition was about $10,000. This left the Church with a debt of about $2,500, which annoyed them for a number of years.

They paid it off during the centennial year. In the Fall of 1861 the Church resolved to build a parsonage on the lot they had purchased adjoining their church lot, and in 1862 completed a handsome residence at a cost of about $3,000. The church and parsonage lot is one hundred and forty feet in front, and runs back two hundred feet.

In 1836 the delegates from this Church to the Miami Association were rejected by the majority of that body. The Middletown Church, the Sixth Street Church, of Cincinnati, and the Dayton and Lebanon Churches were thrown out for 'aiding and supporting Sunday-schools, Bible, missionary, tract, and temperance societies." These four Churches then met elsewhere and organized themselves as the true association. The next year they met in Middletown. The Church there then consisted of seyenty-seven members. About this time six women, members of the association, handed in the following letter

''We, whose names are hereunto set, being met together to consult on matters pertaining to the First Baptist Church in Middletown, and now being of one mind, that we have been burdened with many things in the Church not according to the Word, this we present you because of your departure from the faith and practice of the regular Baptist Church, and following many ways and things burdensome to us, we intend to walk separate from all who will thus continue to walk, and we invite all our brethren and sisters to sit with us who will renounce them. Our meeting will be on Saturday, before the second Sunday in November, next, and we invite all our brothers and sisters who are of the same mind to join with us."

The members who thus protested were promptly excluded, and no further trouble was afterwards experienced from them or from others. The association has since met in Middletown seven times.

The pastors of the Church since 1828 have been twelve in number. Six of them are dead. Jacob Mulford was pastor on October 14, 1826; Daniel Bryant, August 21, 1830; William T. Boynton, January 26, 1839; John Finlay, July 27, 1844; J. Blodgett, January, 1847; J. A. Ballard, March 1, 1848; J. G. Bowen, October, 1849; Albert Guy, November, 1853; D. S. Watson, October 9, 1860; F. L. Chapell, July, 1864; J. W. T. Booth, December 10, 1871; Thomas Cull, May 17, 1874, and Edward A. Ince, December 12, 1880. Only one member is now living who was connected with the Church when it assumed its present name, and that is Francis J. Tytus, and to him we are indebted for the historical sketch from which we have drawn the above.

A difficulty occurring in the Methodist Episcopal Church, resulted in about thirty members leaving the Church, who were Methodists in doctrine and usages. They met to consult on what was best for them to do the meeting, determined, if possible, to influence them to organize a Methodist Protestant Church, which he and a Mr. Hardesty, a minister of that Church, prevailed on them to do. Mr. Hardesty recommended the Rev. W. B. Warrington, residing in Cincinnati, as a suitable person to minister to them until the meeting of the annual conference. Mr. James Butler, being the only one of their number acquainted with Mr. Warrington, was requested by them to go to the city and secure his services, which he did. A meeting was called in Mr. Jacob Leibee's hall, on Sunday, March 4, 1855, at which Mr. Warrington, assisted by the Rey. J. B. Walker, then pastor of the George Street Methodist Protestant Church, Cincinnati, succeeded in organizing a society, consisting of thirty-eight members. <A hall, belonging to Mr. Leibee, was rented and fitted up suitably, and religious services held regularly every Sunday morning and evening. <A Sunday-school was organized also, holding its sessions every Sunday morning.

At the session of the annual conference Mr. Warrington was appointed by that body as pastor for the following year, and entered heartily into the work, being determined to succeed in building a permanent Church. In December he commenced a meeting, which was protracted for eleven weeks. This resulted in ninety-seven members being added to the Church. At its close the subject of building a house of worship was agitated, and resulted in one being put up, forty feet front by sixty-five feet deep, of brick, two stories and basement above ground; and also a parsonage, eighteen feet front by thirty-four feet deep, with kitchen, the main part two stories. This also is of brick. The audience-room is finished with white walnut varnished. The basement was opened for divine service in December, 1856, and the auditorium in the Fall of 1858. Mr. Warrington was stationed here for four consecutive years. During his 'pastorate over three hundred persons were received into the Church. The Rev. R. Rose succeeded him as pastor in 1859, remaining two years. The following named ministers have since served the Church: J. B. Walker, E. J. Winans, T. T. Kendrick, T. J. Evans, J. W. Ellis, J. J. White, J. McFarland, R. Rose, T. B. Graham, W. G. Roberts, N. G. Oglesby, W. R. Parsons, and J. H. Dalbey, the present pastor.

Jefferson Lodge, F. and A. M., was instituted January 18, 1827, and its charter by the Grand Lodge is dated January 15, 1828. The charter is signed by Thomas Corwin, grand master. The first meeting was held at Mark Dixon's tavern, on the south-east corner of Main and Third Streets. The installation ceremonies were performed by Mr. Corwin. David S. Davies was the worshipful master; Israel T, Gibson, the senior warden ; John Crane, junior warden; Charles Starr, senior deacon; John P. Reynolds, junior deacon; John A. Gano, secretary; Carlton Waldo, treasurer; John Yopst, first steward and tyler, and Francis Griffin, second steward. Be- sides these there were five other charter members, Squier Littell and Joseph Taylor being two of them. other prominent men who have belonged to this society are Vincent D. Enyart, George Dickey, Pliny M. Crume, James Bowman, James Heaton, Byron Kilbourn, Dr. Peter Van Derveer, Colonel H. Dunn, John H. Gordon, D. H. Peck, Richard H. Hendrickson, Dr. W. W. Caldwell, David Heaton, Isaac Robertson, L. D. Harlan, Dr. W. Webster, John L. Martin, Rev. D. 8. Watson, and W. W. Phares. The third meeting, and all after that date until 1842, were held in a building which had been put up by John P. Reynolds. It is on the northeast corner of Third and Broadway, and is now occupied by Mr. Buehner and Mr. Wagner. Here, in the attic, the Masons met in secrecy during the Morgan excitement. In those times the tyler, sitting at the door with his drawn sword, was the cause of great dismay and terror to the woman servants and children of the Reynolds family, who were afraid to go to bed until the dangerous specter had disappeared for the night. The society has increased in strength and usefulness with its years, and is doing a good work.

The town of Monroe was laid out by John H. Piatt and Nathaniel Sackett in 1817. The house now owned by Dr. E. Kimball stands on the original ground upon which John Baker, the pioneer adventurer, built his logcabin prior to 1800. It was a double log-house, with an old-fashioned porch between. Baker kept the farm some years and then sold to Nathaniel Sackett, a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and this house often became the place of worship previous to the erection of their church building. Mr. Sackett planted an orchard, and a pear tree is still standing in the yard that bears very nice, large Bartlett pears yet each year. "Dr. Kimball built the new brick that stands on these grounds in 1860. The old log-house had gone to ruin, and the whole ground was thrown into cultivation years previous to the erection of his residence. John Baker died January 4, 1852, seventy-seven years old, and was buried in the old United Presbyterian Church grave-yard, just north of town. The plan of the town is shown by the following: The main road running through the town from Cincinnati to Dayton, called Main Street, was laid off four poles wide. The cross streets were three poles wide, and were called Elm, Church, and Lebanon. The three alleys running east and west were one pole wide each. An addition was laid off in January, 1819.

The town of Monroe is two hundred feet above the valley, and consequently towers above the malarial portions of the country. It had a gradual growth and a good country surrounding to support it, and naturally became a center of trade for a few miles around. The earliest settlers, John P. Williamson, Nathan Sackett, and Mr, Conover soon opened up stores to supply the trade,

Sackett and Williamson probably began the first. They kept together on the corner of Lebanon and Main Streets, and subsequently Williamson kept on Main Street, south of Conover's. Sackett quit the business in 1840. Caldwell now keeps the drug-store and post-office.

Monroe is on the old Dayton and Cincinnati turnpike road, and just half way. The travel between these points at an early day was considerable, and to accommodate the traveling public, Mr. McClure opened up a hotel on Main Street, on property now owned by Michael Scheik. He established his business as early as the year 1825, and kept tavern until he died, when Colonel Clarkson opened a hotel on Main Street, just in front of where John P. Carson now owns. He kept a number of years after McClure, and after he died John Clark was in the same business. Elias came between the years 1830 and 1840, and erected a large house on Pike Street, called the Half-way House. It was a two-story frame, in which he entertained travelers twelve or fifteen years. The present brick hotel was built by Daniel Boggs in 1850. It was carried on a few years by him, and then rented to Joseph Boggs, who ran it a while, and since that time has run through a great many hands. Mr. Simpson built just on the opposite corner in 1845, and carried it on until 1855.

During the early period, and after the pike was built, Monroe had the most travel. Then the mail coaches ran between the two cities, while hotels and places of entertainment were scattered all along the road. This town was one of the principal stopping points. The travel was so great competition soon sprang up, and there were three and four lines of coaches running, all at the same time. Peter and John Voorhes owned the mail-coach line, and Mr. Rucker the stage line. The usual fare from Dayton to Cincinnati was two dollars and a half, but Voorhes put on opposition coaches to the opposition rates offered by others, and the through fare at one time became reduced to fifty cents, and it was rumored that for a while a good dinner was given besides. The mail and stage coaches had usually four horses, sometimes six, and left Dayton at half-past two o'clock in the afternoon, reaching Monroe for early supper, and from there run to Cincinnati by nine o'clock that night. At one time Messrs. Voorhes, Rucker, and Stevenson had five lines, all at one time. They then had mail twice a week, but now since the railroad has come into operation Monroe receives hers once each day.

Among the manufacturers of Monroe was Peter Jotter, who was here as early as 1840, and made wagons. This business was carried on by him for many years, and subsequently by William Jotter, his son, now the oldest citizen in Monroe, who took his place about 1872. He employs from three to five hands, and manufactures the Edgar patent gate, and also a furrowing sled or The Paragon Double Plow Works, owned by Charles Warner, have been in operation six years.

The blacksmith's shop was sold as early as 1859 by Peter Jotter, who built it, and it was afterwards rented and then bought by Warner, who uses it in connection with his wood-shop in the manufacture of his plows. He manufactures the one-horse and the double-horse corn plow, a patent of his own, which he is selling in quantities, doing a business of over four thousand dollars yearly, working seven hands about four months each year. He does general custom work also. The buggy factory of C. M. Hiteshue was started by him in 1875, and was bought of Frank Wilson, who built the shops about 1870. He has a paint-shop, wood-working shop, and also a blacksmith's shop, which is carried on the year round, giving employment to about five men and doing a business of five thousand dollars a year. He also does custom work.

The oldest cemetery in Monroe is just north of town, and is called the Monroe Cemetery, and was organized into an association in 1860. Its first officers were Colonel Irwin, Thomas Matson, Mr. Kyle, and Mr. Robinson. It consists of seven acres of ground, and its present officers are William Vanskike, president, and Dr. Kimball, secretary. In this yard were buried some of the earliest settlers.

James Steward, who was killed by a tree fallimg upon him, his wife, and another lady, while on their way in a two-horse wagon to Cincinnati for carpets.and other furniture for their new church, was buried here. He was killed May 4, 1835, and at that time was sixty-one years of age. He was a ruling elder of the United Presby- - terian Church, of which he had been an active member many years.

The Mound Cemetery, just south of Monroe, but bordering on the town, is a beautiful, well laid out yard, consisting of ten acres of ground, incorporated into an association in 1859. They have, as yet, no vault, but contemplate putting in one this year. The executive officers of this association are Ayers McCreary, president; William Linn, vice-president; Charles Warner, treasurer and secretary.

Methodist preaching was had in Monroe as early as 1823. There was at that time no organized society, but a few of the early members petitioned to have appointments. It was then in the Miami Circuit, and preaching was had on nights once every two weeks. Father Sackett's house was then the preachers' home, and during the first year a Church was organized. Among the -early members of the Methodist Episcopal Church may be mentioned Isaac Conover and wife, now Mrs. Kyle, John Younk and wife, Mrs. Ulm, Mrs. Floyd, Joseph Alexander, and G. P. Williamson. At first they worshiped and had class-meetings wherever they could find a place to meet.

The first appointments were filled by the Rev. Messrs. Baker and W. H. Taylor; after which Taylor, Davidson, Crum, Adam Poe, A. Eddy, and others followed. When the membership had increased to thirty-five, they determined to build a house, and in this had some opposition, mostly from the New-Lights. The house, however, was built, and the dedication sermon was preached by Dr. Baker. His text was: ''The glory of the latter shall be greater than the former house." And well has this prediction been fulfilled. The Church increased rapidly after this. 'There were many earnest, devoted Christians connected with this congregation, The sainted Eliza Williams was one of the shining lights of this society, and all was harmony in the early history of the Church. Among the pioneer preachers that deserve honorable mention was W. H. Raper. He devoted his whole soul to the cause for which he labored, and his work was greatly blessed. The new brick church building was erected in 1860. The membership is now one hundred and twenty, having the Rev. James P. Shultz as pastor. The stewards are James Macready, M. D., William Gallagher, J. T. Caldwell, and A. McCreary.

The Mount Pleasant United Presbyterian Church is located in the village of Monroe. The exact date of its organization is not known, but must have been prior to the year 1802, for a subscription paper of that date comes down to us, carefully preserved by Mrs. John McLain, of Bethany, O., whose grandfather, Mr. John Beaty, was the first or one of the first treasurers. As this paper is the oldest record we have, and furnishes a partial list

Swamp Creek Brancu, October 6, 1802. We, the subscribers, do promise to pay the several sums annexed to our names yearly, for our equal part for the onethird of Mr. Craig's ministerial service, the year to commence when our call is accepted. N. B. - The place, or places, of worship to be fixed in the most convenient place for subscribers:

This shows that they were an organized congregation in 1802. If they had not been they could not have called a pastor. Two years later a similar paper was prepared, having the same names and thirteen more. In this they speak of themselves as members of Swamp Creek congregation. As many of them were heads of families or represented others within the fold of Christ, it indicates that the young congregation possessed considerable strength. We do not know the exact time when the name was changed, but since 1807 it was called Mount Pleasant Associate Reformed Church, and from 1858 Mount Pleasant United Presbyterian Church.

It is thought that there was no settled pastor until 1808. Before this time the Church was supplied with preaching, and had the sacraments administered by a number of ministers sent to them by the Associate Reformed Presbytery of Kentucky, among whom were Adam Rankin, the first Presbyterian pastor of Lexington, Kentucky (who was ordained in 1784), Matthew Henderson, David Proudfit, Robert Warwick, John Steele, and Robert H. Bishop. The first settled pastor was Rev. David Risk, 1808 to 1812 or 1813, who gave one-third of his time to Mill Creek (Sycamore) and onethird to Clear Creek congregation at Springborough, Warren County, Ohio. Mr. Risk died in 1818. The second pastor was Rey. 8. P. McGaw, April 9, 1818, to March 18, 1840. He gave half his time to Clear Creek Church until 1858, when it was given up, and his whole time was devoted to Mount Pleasant. Death dissolved his relation with this Church. Although Monroe had always been the. place of his residence, he was buried at Springborough, near the church where he had preached so long. There were added to Mount Pleasant during his pastorate one hundred and fifty-five members, principally on profession of their faith in Christ. But owing to a decrease by death and other causes, the membership now was one hundred and twelve.

In the year 1841 the Church made an unsuccessful call for the pastoral services of Rev. J. M. Gordon. The third pastor was Rev. John M. Graham, who was ordained and installed June 22, 1842. The relation of pastor and people was dissolved June, 1847, making a pastorate of five years, during which twenty-eight persons were received into membership, ,all on examination, except seven. The number of members was now one hundred. The fourth pastor was Rev. Sam. P. Berry, October, 1849, to December 9, 1850. Death soon removed this pastor. The fifth pastor was Rev. J. S. Robertson, April 6, 1852, to April 3, 1866. The sixth pastor was Rev. Samuel R. Frazier, who was ordained and installed June 11, 1867. The pastoral relation was dissolved January 1, 1872. An unsuccessful call for the pastoral services of Rev. J. Calhoun was presented to presbytery April 8, 1873. The seventh pastor is Rev. A. F. Ashton, who commenced his labors here February 14, 1874. The number added to the Church under his services is thirty-two; but death and removals have reduced the membership to ninety.

The present ruling elders are J. N. Robeson and J. W. D. Stewart, and the following is a partial list of those who have held this office: James Piper, John Mor-

The first church was built of logs, but in what year is not known. The second was a frame, larger and more comfortable, but the date of its erection is unknown. The third was brick, and larger than the second, erected in 1833 or 1834. These were all about half a mile north of the village of Monroe, in. what is now known as Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The present house was erected in 1854. It is not as large as the former one. In 1870 or 1871 the congregation built a fine parsonage, at a cost of almost three thousand dollars. The society is free from debt.

The First Presbyterian Church of Monroe was organized in 1831. It was first called the Harmony Church. The Rey. Matthew G. Wallace and the Rev. J. L. Bellville were appointed a committee by the presbytery to visit the neighborhood of Monroe, and organize a Church, should they deem it expedient. At the meeting of the presbytery, on the 18th of May, it was resolved to organize such a congregation, and Messrs. Wallace and Weaver were appointed a committee for that purpose. The organization took place on the 29th of June, the constituting members being David Williamson and wife Mary, Peter Van Dyke and his wife Anna, Mary Ann Van Dyke, Peter Williamson and wife Christiana, Garret Peterson and wife Margaret, John Williamson and wife Christiana, Christiana Stevens, Peter Bennett and his wife Mary - in all sixteen. David Williamson and John Monfort were chosen elders, having formerly been ordained at Unity.

The record of the session is: Elders - John Monfort, David Williamson, Garret Peterson, John Williamson, D. H. Tullis, Lawrence Monfort, Silas Williamson, P. P. La Tourrette, W. W. Caldwell, B. K. McElheny, Isaac Perrine, T. J. Conover, Firman Probasco, David Monfort, John K. Voorhees, John 8S. Todd, W. W. Compton, of whom seven are dead. The membership by certificate is one hundred and sixty-two, and on profession of faith, two hundred and twenty-four, making three hundred and eighty-six names. It celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last year. For a long time an academy was sustained in connection with the Church.

Delaneys, Foleys, Conoleys, O'Brians, and Quinlisles. The pastors have been Messrs. T. J. Boulger, Bowe, Mallon, and W. F. M. O'Rourke, the. last of whom is the present pastor. There are about fifty families in this society.

Dr. Samuel S. Stewart, who resided in Indiana, but who was born and reared to manhood one mile north of Monroe, wished to visit the place of his birth and early manhood and wrote to Mr. Israel B. Carr, one of his earliest and most intimate associates, in April, 1871, requesting him to call a meeting at the home of some of those of their old boyhood companions for a day that Spring, and bring together all their old associates and he would attend. Mr. Carr called a meeting for the evening of May 5, 1871, at Monroe, of all who favored such a union, which was well attended; And they determined to have such.a gathering, but to hold it in some grove near Monroe, as a basket-meeting, and publish it, inviting all the early settlers of Butler and Warren Counties, with all others who favored it.

On that day, the 19th of May, 1871, the first public or groye-meeting was held, and was a complete success. Fifteen hundred at least were present. The officers were as follows, having been elected that morning in the grove: President, Dr. Otho Evans, Sen.; treasurer, A. Corson; secretaries, J. W. O'Neal and J. 8S. Marshall. The main address of the day was by Major J. M. Millikin, but many short ones of scenes and incidents of the early settlement of the beautiful and prolific Miami Valley were made by the oldest persons present, to the edification and amusement of all who attended. At this meeting a permanent organization was begun; this one having been held as a union of Butler and Warren they adopted the name of '' Butler and Warren County Pioneer Association of Monroe, Ohio," and adopted a constitution, and resolved thereafter to hold reunions annually, the latter part of May or forepart of June. They have since been so held.

At this meeting officers for 1872 were elected as follows: President, Rudolph Flenner; treasurer, Andrew Corson; recording and corresponding secretary, Edward Kimball.

They also have five vice-presidents. They have no initiation, monthly or yearly fees or dues, and the society is supported by voluntary contributions by those present at the annual feasts and the proceeds from renting of refreshment stands. No alcoholic, malt, or vinous liquors, or even cider, is allowed on or near the grounds. These reunions have been held regularly for ten years, and the yearly attendance ranges from five to seven thousand, and has been some years estimated at over ten thousand. Their regular annual day was the last Thursday of May or the first of June, until 1878, when they changed to August to accommodate the society of Butler County Pioneers, who claimed the Spring time as theirs. They have a membership, including those who have passed away, of over six hundred.

The following is a list of most but not all of those deceased from Butler County: Judge Fergus Anderson, Judge Nehemiah Wade, Rev. Adrian Aten, Rev. J. B. Morton, Dr. Samuel S. Stewart, Thomas C. Reed, Sen., Mrs. Betsey Boyd, Matilda Dunn, William McChecknie, Samuel Davis, Colonel Joseph Barnett, Isaac Bennett, Joanna Bennett, Jane Chambers, Captain William Davison and his wife, Milo W. Ammons and wife Mary C., Firman Probasco, Stephen Scudder, William Smith and wife' Rachel, William Culbertson, John Beaty, James Beaty and wife, David McChesney, Sarah Avery, Christopher Hughes, Elias Simpson, John D. Todhunter, David Boggs and wife Mary, Mrs. Rebecca Lynn, Joseph Boggs, Noah C. Bennett, Smith Nox, William Shafor, Sen., and wife Eliza, John Chamberlain, Sallie Beaty, Catherine Torbet, Samuel Dickey, Dr. Alfred Ayres, Benjamin Potter, James R. Stewart and wife Ann, Joseph F. Stewart and wife Prudence, John Matson and wife, Naomi Bowman, William Greinner, Aaron Longstreet, Sen., Uzel Clark.

All early comers, with their descendants, and all born or permanent settlers within Butler and Warren Coun. ties, Ohio, in or previous to 1820, of good morals, by registering their names, etc., can become members of the society.

Blue Ball

3 ; This name originated from a tavern sign. The place became one of the principal station-posts for the different lines of mail and stage coaches running between Dayton and Cincinnati, but the size of the town never increased beyond that of a hamlet. It lies partly in Warren County, the Presbyterian Church in Blue Ball being Sanford Young keeps a general store, Red Buck was

The early occupant on these grounds was Abraham Freeman, of Pennsylvania, who was probably the first citizen of this part of the county. We hear of him being snugly placed, and living in a frame house, prior to 1800. He built himself a saw-mill on his land, of which he had considerable. The saw-mill was one of the first in the township, and went down as early as 1815. His house stood about where the toll-gate now is. He had four sons, John, Abraham, one who was a physician, and one other who was killed. John Freeman built the Red Buck Tavern of Lesourdsville about the year 1815. It lasted for some time.

Abraham Freeman had a half-brother, whose name was Thomas, known as Colonel Thomas Freeman. He went from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, where he settled first; then moved to Lemon Township, and settled on Dick's Creek, on the farm afterward owned by Abraham Shaefer. He raised a family of eight children. John, the oldest, was killed on the Moselle, a steamer plying between Cincinnati and New Orleans, that was blown up April 28, 1838. His body was brought to Middletown, and now lies in the beautiful cemetery of that place. The other children were Julia Ann, Alexander, Thomas, and Archibald C. The youngest and the oldest only are now living. Julia A., the oldest, was born in 1808. Archibald C. was born in 1824, and is now a grocer on Third Street, in Middletown. Colonel Thomas Freeman was a captain of a company in the Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, commanded by Colonel Zumalt, in the War of 1812. He went to Detroit at the close of the war only.

There were other settlers in this vicinity who were early comers, and of whom may be mentioned the Hugheses, Wards, Shafors, Clarks, and others. Durbin Ward, the well-known, lawyer, of Cincinnati, was an orphan boy well known in: this vicinity. His uncle, Thomas Ward, lived near Lesourdsville. Durbin Ward taught school in this part of the township in his early life, and afterward attended school at Lebanon, Ohio. After he had studied law he assisted Tom Corwin in looking up matters pertaining to the correct titles of much of this land, formerly owned by A. Freeman and now by Daniel Hughes.

Benjamin Lesourd, of French descent, came from Baltimore, Maryland, to this place, and purchased considerable land from Freeman for the purpose of laying out a town. He bought sixty acres on the east side of the road, and thirty-five acres on the west side of the road. His effort, however, to build up a great city failed. His attempt in running a big store broke him up, and in two or three years he closed out to Thomas Ward. His store was kept afterwards by Peter Wright,

The first house in Lesourdsville was the Red Buck tavern kept by John Freeman, and the first house other than this was one built by Thomas Ward. William Ward, a brother of Thomas, lived a little distance below, and after the town was laid out William Hedding purchased some of the lots, and to hurry up matters bought log houses and moved them in town. One of these log houses bought of Peter Shepherd is still standing. Benjamin Lesourd afterwards owned the tavern. There is a frame building still standing one-half mile below this tavern, that was built by Colonel Ayers, just after John Freeman built his, and was used as a hotel also. We see by a deed of Abram Freeman, made March 19, 1814, H. Hageman came into possession of fifty acres of the original tract, and that he deeded the same to Thomas Ward, May 25, 1816. The town was not laid out until about the time the canal was built.

Lesourdsville never had but one church building, which was erected just previous to the war. It was intended for any and all denominations, but the Rev., Mr. Maple, the first pastor, coming into the place during the war, produced a great excitement on the political questions of the time, and the organization broke up. In 1876 the Presbyterian Church came into possession of the property, established a society, and have had preaching in the place ever since. The Rev. S. C. Palmer occupied the pulpit from 1876 to 1878, since which time the Rey. S._F. Sharpless, of Monroe, has been the ru The membership consists of twenty- -four persons.

was known as the pin-mill, about two miles above Lesourdsville. It consisted of a saw-mill and a woolenmill originally, the saw mill being built first. The boards were sawed and pinned on, there being over two thousand wooden pins used to fasten on the weatherboarding. It was very early put into use, but the building of the canal ended its day of usefulness. Adam Dickey also had a mill built very early. It was on Dick's Creek, and was used until the canal was built. He also had a still-house above Amanda, where the old house of John Dickey now stands.

The Shafors, Dickeys, Balls, Reeds, and others were the early settlers of this part of the township. The town was duly laid off by Robert Coddington and Samuel Dickey in 1827. John Dickey afterwards added to it. It was formerly a very important grain center, owing probably to the energy of A. E. Johnston, who established this business, and gave the trade an impetus by successful management. He was succeeded by Curtis & Boyd, who operated many years. J. B. Jacoby, grocer of this place, now buys the grain. Amanda was built in this place by Ebenezer Johnston, in 1844. He also helped to build the church. The first blacksmith shop was built by Maranda Shafor. He sold out to Ellison Harkrader in 1840, who sold to William Bailey. Robert Maginety bought out Bailey in July, 1847.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Amanda was built about 1840. It was a good, substantial frame building and still stands. The leading members of the society who contributed to the Church in its infancy were A. Longstreet, John Shepherd, Charles Starr, John Waldo, William Bailey, and John Fleming. John Dickey donated the lot. The pastors have been the Rev. Messrs. Maley, Swain, Kemper, White, Wheat, and Elsworth. The Rev. William Shultz is the present pastor, and preaching is had every other Sabbath. The trustees of the Church are William Bailey, John Kyle, Luman Whitesell, Robert Maginety, and Henry Fisher. Robert Maginety has been an official member in various capacities since its organization.

William Shafor was one of the first settlers in this part of the township, and at his death one of the oldest citizens in the county. He was born in Somerset County, New Jersey, in 1783. He died in Middletown in October, 1880, in the ninety-eighth year of his age. When six years of age he came with his father to Lexington, Kentucky, and in 1803 with him to Ohio. He resided in Lemon Township seventy-eight years. He settled on a farm near Amanda, and lived on it during the entire portion of his active life. In 1859 he removed to Middletown, where he resided up to the time of his death. In the twenty-eighth year of his age he married Miss Jane Ryerson, who died in 1859. In 1860 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Hill. When ninety-one years of age he joined the Presbyterian Church. He was remarkable in longevity of life, in being a useful member of society, and in retaining the sprightliness and activity of his youth up to nearly the time of his death.

Among the veteran pioneers who settled near Amanda was Adam Dickey. His family became numerous and children very prosperous. Adam Dickey came from Ireland when sixteen years of age, and in 1801 went to Cincinnati, where he manufactured the first brick used in that place. He then came to Lemon Township, where he died in 1828, at sixty-two years of age. The oldest son of Adam Dickey was Samuel, who assisted his father in one of the first mills on the Miami River, near Amanda, which his father had built. His father also owned a distillery, which consumed the corn raised on about four hundred acres of their land. In 1827 he built the large flouring-mill now owned by Archibald Jewell. This mill has been in the hands of the family since its erection, and has a capacity of seventy-five barrels a day.

Had its origin in the building of the Excello Paper-mill by Haydn Erwin & Co. in 1865. The village is small and the inhabitants are largely employed at the papera mill. It has no hotels, but an excellent boarding-house is carried on under the management of Mrs. Susan Anderson. The firm of Harding, Erwin & Co. was dissolved in 1873, and the Harding Paper Company organized. There is a Church of Latter -Day Saints, commonly called Mormons, at Excello. Their pastor is M. B. Williams. This is not a part of the Mormon theoeracy which rules at Salt Lake, but followers of Joseph Smith, as he first promulgated the doctrine. They are not oieoaiae, and are an orderly and well-behaved people. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

William M. Armstrong was "born in this county November 19, 1843, his father being James Martin Armstrong, and his mother Elizabeth Patterson. They came to this county in 1830. Mr. Armstrong enlisted in 1862 as a private, remaining until the end of the war. He was also captain of the Tytus Guards, Company D, Fourth Regiment Ohio National Guards, taking command August 9, 1877. He has been mayor for a year, councilman two years, captain of the fire department six years under the Holly system, and five years under the old Miami volunteers. He was married in Middletown

Daniel Leibee and Sarah Enyart, who came here in 1820. She was born in Middletown, March 4, 1840. They have four children: Harry B., Fred M., Paul, and Ada.

John Auer was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 7, 1834, and landed in the United States in 1844. He went to work in a tobacco factory at the age of twelve, and worked in it till 1864, beginning a manufactory in that year in Cincinnati. His place of business was moved in 1869 to Middletown, Ohio, where he still remains, conducting a large and extensive business.

Mrs. Susan Anderson, of Excello, was born in Maryland in 1833. When but an infant her grandfather, Samuel Hughes, and her father, Vincent Hughes, with their families and a few others, came to Butler County, where she has lived since that time. Mrs. Anderson obtained a good education when young, and spent eleven years of her life in teaching in public schools, mostly in Butler County. Her father was a farmer and died in 1849. In 1855 she was married to Benjamin F. Harrison, and in 1861 he entered Co. D, Thirty-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and spent three years in the war; afterwards was in the government service, but went to Illinois, where he was injured, by a fall, and died from its effects May, 1867. Mollie Anderson, her daughter, is a teacher also, and at this time has charge of a school in Butler County.

Frank J. Barnard, superintendent of schools in Middletown, was born in Medina, Ohio, March 26, 1852. He is the son of Judge 8. G. Barnard and Malvina M. His great-grandfather, Samuel Barnard, served He prepared for college at the age of fourteen, then entering Cornell University, at Ithaca, New York, at sixteen years of age. In the beginning he was in the classical course, but changed this to the course of philosophy, graduating in 1874. After his return to this State he began teaching in country schools in Medina County, boarding around among those who sent their children to him, afterwards being engaged as superintendent of schools in Brooklyn Village, Cuyahoga County, for two years. At Celina, Ohio, he acted as superintendent the next two years. He has now completed his fourth year as superintendent of schools in Middletown, and by a unanimous vote of the board of education has been elected for three years longer. He was married in Cleveland, November 28, 1877, to Anna L. Fish, daughter of Bethuel and Lucy Fish, of that place. Mr. Fish is now dead. His daughter was born in Brooklyn Village, September 30, 1852, and has given her husband one child, Clem T. Barnard, born July 10, 1880.

S. A. Bowman, confectioner, was born in Cincinnati, August 20, 1853, and settled in this county in 1874. He is the son of John Bowman and Kate Elias. He was married in 1875, in Cincinnati, to Hattie Linehart, daughter of Jacob Linehart and Rosa Wolf, who was born April 3, 1856. They have three children. Blanche was born November 10, 1876; Sidney S., April 30, 1879, and Ralph 8., February 10, 1881. Mr. Bowman was reared in Cincinnati, where he remained with his parents until he was eleven years old, then going to Nashville, Tenn. Then he lived with his grandmother four years, when he came back to Cincinnati, where he obtained a situation in a wholesale candy manufactory. In this employment he remained for three years, until his employer closed up his business, then coming to Middletown, where he was in the store of his brother as a dry-goods clerk. He was with him for three years, when he went to Crawfordsville, being in the notion business for eleven months. On his return he engaged in his present occupation.

C. H. Bundy, attorney and proprietor of the Middletown Telephone Exchange, was born in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, June 11, 1852. His parents were George J. Bundy and Rebecca Hoover. His mother died when he was six years old, and then he lived with his father and grandfather until he was thirteen years old. At that time his father hired him to a man named Samuel Wolwages, where he stayed four years at ten dollars per month, his wages being taken by his guardian. He also worked for several other men in the vicinity of Red Lion. He went to school at intervals during his minority, and saved seventy-five dollars between seventeen and twenty-one. With this money, and what else he earned, he went to school for two years, finally obtaining a certificate authorizing him to teach. He taught for two years in the Jersey settlement, near Carlisle. With the money thus obtained he went to Mont- in at the district court in Hamilton, and on June Ist removed to Middletown, where he opened an office in the Leibee building. He has been very successful in his practice. In the Spring of 1879 he moved into the Merchants' National Bank Building, which he is now occupying. Mr. Bundy was the ofiginator of the telephone exchange in this neighborhood. He opened an exchange in Middletown, and next began exchanges at Lebanon and Franklin. He owns all those in Warren County and a part of Butler County. This method of communicating ideas has proved very popular here. He was married September I, 1881, to Emma A. Jones, daughter of Edward and Emma Jones.

John D. Breeding, builder and contractor, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, May 19, 1819. His father, Thomas H. Breeding, and his mother, Mary Hutchinson, were residents of that county. Mr. Breeding was a soldier during the War of 1812, and after his death his widow received a pension. John D. Breeding was reared on a farm owned by his father until he was sixteen years of age, when his father died. At the age of eighteen he went to Goshen, in the same county, to learn the trade of mason and bricklayer. He remained at this occupation until he was married, when he came to Hamilton, living here three years, and then going to Warren County. He kept a general country store there at Twenty-Mile Stand for about three years, where he succeeded very well. After this he moved to Monroe, in this county, keeping a country store there also for about three years. About this time the war broke out, and he sold his stock, going to Middletown, where he went in the grocery line. For a brief time he was transportation clerk in the foraging department in Cincinnati. Two years and a half after he disposed of his interest to his partner and commenced to take contracts for building, an occupation he is following at present. He joined the Masonic fraternity about thirty-five years ago, and a few years later was admitted to the Odd Fellows. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since about 1850. His wife was a member before she was married, and the children are also members. Josephine H. Breeding, his daughter, has been a teacher in the high school for about twelve years. She has one sister, Deborah Jane

McAdams. Their mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Harper, was born in Hamilton in 1827. Her parents were William Harper and Jane Rowen. Mr. and

William Bailey was born near Westchester, in this county, January 3, 1817. His father came from Pennsylvania in the year 1816, and settled in the southern part of this county, where he taught school. His mother died when he was ten years of age, and he was put to the blacksmith trade, which he followed until the year

1847, since which time he has been farming. He was married February 21, 1840, near Perryopolis, Pennsylvania, to Eliza Ann Maginety, who was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1821. They have had as children Mary Jane, born December 7, 1843; William, December 3, 1852, died August 16, 1854; Sallie E., August 19, 1855, and Joseph H., July 27, 1857, died September 22, 1859. Besides these there was an infant son, born January 21, 1842, and dying the same day. Mr. Bailey's parents were Israel and Catherine Bailey, and Mrs. Bailey's were John and Eleanor Maginety. He connected himself with the Methodists in the year 1844, .but is friendly with all Evangelical Churches, believing that on our Churches and schools depend the advancement of our morals and the stability of our country.

Metcalf Bradley Hatch was born in Genesee County, New York, March 5, 1835. His father, Timothy Hatch, died March 27, 1844, and his mother, Lucretia Buell, died in 1865. Daniel Buell, an uncle, was a captain of infantry in the War of 1812, and was killed in the battle of Chippewa. His remains were never found. Mr. Hatch settled in this county in 1858, and was married December 30, 1862, to Martha A. Sutphin, daughter of John Sutphin and Jane Potter. Mr. and Mrs. Hatch have three children, Harry S., Metcalf B., and Jennie R. He has been township trustee, being first elected in the Spring of 1877, and -continued till 1878, and was re-elected in 1880 for one year. His brother, Hobart Henry Hatch, went out in the war, and was promoted to captain. A nephew was out in the war as general, and is still in the service.

George C. Barnitz, banker, was born in Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1812. His parents were Charles Barnitz and Rebecca Swope, both natives of that State. Jacob Barnitz, the grandfather, was in the Revolutionary War, and carried a ball in his leg for twenty-one years, when he had his leg amputated, afterwards wearing a false one. When George C. Barnitz first came to this town in 1838, he kept store for Jacob Leibee for two years; in 1840 he commenced with William Young for himself, where the United States Hotel now stands, where he remained for two years. In 1842, with William B. Oglesby, he began where the bank now is in general merchandise, which they carried on for seven or eight years, then buying grain and being in the milling business. In 1862 he and Mr. Oglesby began the banking business, which they are still carrying on. Mr. Barnitz is the active manager. He has-been twice married. Barbara Mumma was the first wife. She was the daughter of John Mumma and Susan Bare. She bore her husband two children - Charles S., born in 1843, died in 1847, and George Henry, born in 1848, still living. The second wife, Elizabeth Bittinger, was the daughter of Henry Bittinger and Julia Shafer. He . was married to her October 1, 1856, at York Springs,

Pennsylvania, of which place she is a native, and has had five children: Louisa A., born in 1857; John &., born 1859; Harry D., born 1866; William O., born 1868, and Ella K., born 1872. The first two are dead.

Frank Cunningham was born in Springfield, Clarke County, Ohio, March 10, 1846. He is the son of John Cunningham and Bridget Doud, who came here in 1856. Mr. Cunningham, the father, built the Montezuma reservoir, about forty-five years ago. He traveled through a large portion of the Northern States and Canada, making contracts for it. It is the largest artificial lake in the United States. He made the deepest cut on the Miami and Erie Canal, when the country was a wilderness, the wolves coming up to the very door. Frank Cunningham, at about eighteen, embarked in the manufacture of cigars, and continued at this for seven or eight years, when he began his present business, that of a dealer in clothing, hats, caps, and gentlemen's furnishing goods. He was city treasurer in 1876. -

Horace P. Clough was born in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1825. His parents, John P. Clough and Minerva Pratt, came to Clermont County, from Vermont, in 1820, and to this county in 1837. He was married in 1845 to Mary Leibee, born in Middletown in 1827, the daughter of Daniel Leibee and Sarah Enyart. Mr. Enyart emigrated from New Jersey in 1802, and was in the War of 1812. There are three children to this union - Sarah M., Charles H., and BD. L. A. Clough. Two members of the Clough family went out in the late war, Hannibal and William A., both serving in the Fourth Cavalry throughout the struggle.. Horace P. Clough is a contractor. He was elected mayor in 1853, and member of the council in 1877, in both of which positions he served with credit to himself and the town. Having gained a reputation as a man of business, and being well acquainted with the workings of our canals, he was honored at the convention of 1876 by the Democratic party as its nominee on the State ticket for the board of public works. In 1877 he was elected as one of the representatives from Butler County to the General Assembly. He was chairman of the standing committee on public works, and from long . experience and practical knowledge of the workings of the canals of the State he was able to lead the committee to the adoption of such means as would add to their business as well as enlarge the trade done upon them. He is an efficient legislator, and was held in high esteem by all his brother members. In 1878 he was appointed by Governor Bishop to adjust all the claims of the State against the general government.

William Culbertson was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and came to this county in 1843. His parents were Joseph Culbertson and Nancy Dickson. He was twice married. By the first marriage he had seven children. James Coe was born December 19, 1840; Joseph W., July 18, 1848; Eliza A. Mitchell,

April 23, 1846; Mary B. Hunt, November 19, 1849; Anna M., March 21, 1851, died July 10, 1854; Fanny J. Eudaly, November 5, 1853; William A., November 19, 1856. He was again married on the 7th of May, 1859, at Blue Ball, to Miss Mary Ann Coe, and by her had one child, Ettie M., born February 16, 1861. The Rev. James Coe was among the first preachers in Miami County, Ohio, where he labored for eighteen and a halt years, when he moved to Blue Ball, where and about Monroe he was for a good number of years. For many years he married the people in Darke, Shelby, Greene, Miami, and Butler Counties. His denomination was Presbyterian. Mr. Culbertson has been an elder in the Church for about fifteen years, and has been a member since 1857. His wife has been a member since she was ten years old. Her mother was Eliza Todd, coming here with her husband in 1859. Mr. Culbertson was a contractor on the canal, and was very successful, although he had some of the hardest work on the whole line. He would take a contract and make money when others failed. He also put up several locks. He was a man of great perseverance. His oldest son, James C. Culbertson, was in the military service during the war and was discharged on account of ill health, afterwards enlisting, however, again.

Joseph D. Collins, son of Thomas Collins and Mary Ann Bowen, both natives of Virginia, was born in Franklin, Kentucky, October 14, 1815. He was brought up on a farm near Frankfort until he had attained the age of eighteen, when he went to learn the carpenter's trade, following it until 1865, since that time having been engaged in the trade in ice, lime, wood and coal, and in transferring of freights. He has been a resident of this county since 1839. While employed at his trade he did a great deal of traveling, having traveled in three years about five thousand miles in the South, and sometimes going by sea. He was married in December, 1837, at Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, to Margaret Jackson, who was born in New Jersey, March 9, 1821. She died on the 8th of November, 1876. Her parents were Benjamin and Catherine Jackson. They also became residents of this county, moving here in 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have had twelve children. Their names were Thomas B., Henry H., Elizabeth Pullian, Charbes E., Catherine P. Kemp, Margaret A., James 8., Ida, Joseph J., Anna G., Charles F., and Albert G. Six of these children are dead. Charles E. died May 14, 1844; Catherine P. Kemp, August 6, 1871; Joseph J., January 14, 1856; Anna G., January 28, 1875; Charles F., February 1, 1862, and Albert G., March 24, 1863. Mr. Collins has been a councilman in Middletown for about four years. Both his grandfathers, Robert Collins and William Bowen, were in the Reyolutionary War. An uncle, Robert Collins, was in the War of 1812, being at the battle of Orleans and at Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Samuel Cox was born in this county, June 2, 1835, and was married December 25, 1862, to Mary Ann Paullin, born October 13, 1839. His parents were John M. Cox and Nancy Hilt, and hers were Henry Paullin and Eleanor Williamson. They were all born in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cox have been the parents of four children. Ira E. was born August 23, 1869; Samuel F., November 25, 1875; Mary Elizabeth, June 9, 1877; and an infant, now dead, born May, 1866. Three of his brothers-in-law were in the hundred-day service in Virginia - Henry Paullin, Clinton Bat and Jacob W. Paullin. Mr. Cox is a farmer.

Stephen V. Curtis, late president of the First Seren Bank, was born January 7, 1826, in Liberty Township. He left school at the age of fourteen, but worked at home on the farm until eighteen. He then entered a store in Hamilton, and was with his brother Joseph about five years. During the meantime he was in Louisiana, and afterwards went to Cincinnati. In 1849 he was given an interest in a store in Hamilton with N. G. Curtis, on account of his ability. In 1850 he went on a farm in Lemon Township of two hundred and fifty-five acres, of which he bought one hundred and ten. He conducted farming until 1860. In 1855 he began auctioneering, which he followed till 1875, when he abandoned it on account of poor health. He went into banking in 1865, and except one year has been a director, and for eleven years, up to 1882, was the president of the bank.

Edwin Ruthven Campbell was born in Franklin, Warren County, April 27, 1818, and after going to school at that place went to Middletown, living with his brother, Dr. Andrew Campbell, and attended the academy established there by Nathaniel Furman. Having substituted for an active life on his father's farm, near Franklin, one indoors, without the exercise requisite for health, in the course of a year he realized the injurious effects of such neglect. About that time one of the old citizens of Middletown built an old-fashioned flat-boat, which was launched in the Miami Canal, taking aboard a full cargo .of provisions and country produce, some of the neighboring farmers joining in the enterprise, for the purpose of trading along the shores of the Ohio and Mississippi, between Cincinnati and New Orleans, and Campbell joined the expedition. While the days when this voyage was made differed very materially from those that preceded them, when the flat-boatmen, manning the historic '*broad-horn" of earlier times, were of the '' half-horse and half-alligator" type, they were at the same time composed of rougher, though none the less warm-hearted and loyal material than that to be found navigating the Western waters to-day.

Returning with health restored by his several months' roughing it, he commenced reading law with Corwin & Campbell, in Hamilton, the firm being composed of Jesse Corwin and Lewis D. Campbell, being admitted to prac- tice at the April term of the Supreme Court, held in Warren County in 1840. Upon the commencement of the publication of the Cincinnati Daily Times, in the Spring of 1840, having had some experience as a writer upon the Hamilton Intelligencer, he was offered the position of editor, and accepted it, and continued in that capacity for near two years, when failing health compelled its relinquishment. Some years after he again assumed the editorship of a daily paper in Cincinnati, and subsequently, in connection with other parties, commenced the publication of the Cincinnati Daily Dispatch, which, in the course of a few years, achieved a high reputation and standing in the ranks of the newspaper press, but during the general suspension of business attendant upon the fearful devastation caused by the prevalence of the epidemic of 1849, was forced to suecumb to the pressure. Losing his wife and child the year after, he made his arrangements to go to California, and arrived in San Francisco in April, 1852. With the exception of the mining experiences, common to the majority of adventurers to the Pacific coast, and two years' service at the California capital, while holding the office of State registrar, he has resided in San Francisco the greater portion of the time, engaged in the profession of journalism. Mr. Campbell early began the writing of verse, and attained a high reputation as a poet long before leaving for the western slope.

Aretas Doty, brick manufacturer, was born in Lemon Township, Butler County, October 13, 1835. He is a son of Daniel C. Doty and Catherine Crane. Mrs. Doty was born near Newark, New Jersey, but Mr. Doty was a native, being the sort of Daniel Doty, the pioneer. The grandmother of Aretas Doty had a brother in the battle of Trenton. She was often heard to tell how her brother shot an English trooper in that deadly conflict. With the exception of seven years that he lived in Rock Island, Aretas Doty has always lived in this county. He has been a member of the Masonic order for about twelve years, and is still a member in good standing.

Daniel D. Denise, farmer, was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, in 1805. His father, Wiiliam Denise, died in 1839, and his mother, Eleanor Schenck, died in 1852. They came to Butler County in 1814, from New Jersey. Daniel D. Denise was married in 1829, in this county, to Eliza J. Schenck, also a native of New Jersey, where she was born in 1810. Her parents were James Schenck, who died in 1834, and Anna who died in 1868. They migrated to this section in 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Denise had eight children, four sons and four daughters. John Schenck, the grandfather, was in the Revolutionary War.

Edmund B. DuBois, M. D., was born in Franklin, Warren County, April 3, 1854, and was married September 3, 1877, at Newport, Kentucky, to Anna L.

Samuel R. Evans, M. D., was born in Hillsboro, Highland County, April 21, 1819. His parents were Isaac Evans and Jane Morton. Isaac Evans was out in the War of 1812. The son was brought up on a farm until he was twenty-five, studying at home in part. After leaving the farm he went to a medical school. He practiced some time before he obtained his diploma, having to take charge not only of his own but his brother's business, which delayed him a good deal. a large practice for a great many years, but has had a good deal of opposition to work against. He was brigade surgeon during the late war at Covington Heights. He was married in 1851 to Emma Gaunt, daughter of John Gaunt and Eliza Deeds. She is now dead, having departed this life March 14, 1857. He has one son, John Gaunt Evans, M. D., born February 26, 1857.

John J. Eichhorn, manufacturer and dealer in cigars and tobacco, was born in Cincinnati, August 13, 1859. He is the son of John Eichhorn and Louisa Grogs, who came here in 1866. John Eichhorn was in the military service of the United States for three years. John J. Eichhorn, at eleven years of age, went to learn the cigar maker's trade, and at twenty-one' years entered into business for himself. He was married on the 27th of April, at Middletown, to Florence McClure, daughter of Jackson McClure and Rachael McGill, who came here in 1860.

Isaac C. Faries was born in Middletown, December 29, 1816. His father and mother, Joseph Clark Faries and Nancy Fisher, were married in Lemon Township, March 13, 1813. The family came West in 1792. Joseph C. Faries was a wagon-maker, and learned his trade in Franklin. He was in the War of 1812, and came very near being included in the surrender of Hull, but being delayed on the road turned back home. Isaac C. Faries has a day-book which was kept by his grandfather at an early day, in which the amounts are entered in pounds, shillings, and pence, in which appears an account against a governor of this State for a great number of different articles. Isaac C. Faries was married on the 29th of January, 1842, to Mary Selby, daughter of Zachariah and Cassandra Semple, natives of Maryland. By her he had four children. Mary Y., born January 28, 1843; Malinda Hedding, November 24, 1844; J. C., April 7, 1847; and Eliza Ann, January 8, 1849. His second marriage was to Martha Garrett, on the 27th of March, 1854. By her he has had six children. Charlie M. was born July 24, 1855; Kate Swaim, August 22, 1856; Joseph T., March 18, 1858; Lizzie, May 9, 1859; Frank M., July 18, 1861; and Cary Heath. Mr. Faries was town treasurer two years; councilman, fourteen years; member of the school board, nine years; treasurer of the Jefferson Masonié Lodge for twenty-one years; and treasurer of the fire department for twenty years.

and manufacturer of fly and fish nets, was born February 12, 1824, in Middletown. He is the son of Thomas J. Freeman and Ruth Campbell. The father was in the second war with Great Britain as a captain. He went out in the Fall of 1813. He went from here to Detroit, and was detailed to do guard duty there. Captain Ross came home sick, and Captain Freeman took command of both companies, keeping that command until discharged. He was in the Second Ohio Regiment and Fourth Brigade. The following is a copy of a receipt given to him:

Received of Captain Thomas Freeman, of the Second Regiment of Ohio Militia, in the United States service, two camp kettles as returned property of the United States, and for which I hold his return. Received by me, at Detroit, this fourth day of November, 1813.

Copy Of Discharge

Sir, - Your manly conduct, strict attention to orders, and duty as an officer, are deserving honor, and are worthy of bearing the name of an officer, wherefore you are honorably discharged the service, and are entitled to credit for a six months' tour of duty. Given under my hand and seal, this day and year above written. Tuomas Irwin,

Mr. Freeman has been township treasurer two terms, and was once elected mayor of Middletown, but did not serve. He had indicated his unwillingness previous to the election.

Harvey Nelson Gallaher, retired merchant, was born in Warren County, Ohio, August 4, 1816. His father, John Gallaher, is still living in that county, aged ninetyfour, but his mother, Elizabeth Nye, died January 1, 1866, aged seventy-six. Mr. John Gallaher was drafted in the War of 1812, and made all his preparations to depart, but as Hull surrendered just then he did not go. Harvey N. Gallaher was brought up in Warren County on a farm, working for his father until he was twentytwo years of age, when Mr. Gallaher gave him a farm of twenty-two acres, which he went on and improved. In three or four years more he bought another eighty-three acres, thus filling out the quarter section, where he lived until 1870. In the early part of March of that year he settled in Middletown, going into the packing business, which he continued for five years. Since then he has not been engaged in any occupation. He was married at Red Lion, Warren County, February 17, 1842, to Klizabeth Todd, daughter of John Todd and Elizabeth Snodgrass, who was born in Dauphin County, Pennsy]- vania, May 17, 1821. They have had two children. Hattie E. was born July 11, 1848, and Francis L. was born May 15, 1846, dying November 27, 1866.

Peter Gebhart was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1800, and came out here with his parents when only four years old. He is the son of John Gebhart and

Catherine Geeseman. Mr. Gebhart was in the War of 1812, at Detroit. Peter Gebhart has been twice married. His first union was to Elizabeth Selby, and his second to Nancy Hinkle. The parents of the latter were Joseph Hinkle and Elizabeth Debolt. Mr. Gebhart has had ten children - Susannah, Christiana, Wolverton, Isaac, Andrew J., Peter, Elizabeth Selby, Harriet Wagoner, Catherine Long, Eliza McGee, and Gustavus.

George H. L. Gebhart is a native of Madison Township in this county, as is his wife. Her name was Caroline H. Williamson, daughter of David Williamson and Rachel Compton, and his parents were Daniel Gebhart and Christina Linge. Miss Williamson was married to Mr. Gebhart December 23, 1867, and they have been the parents of six children. Rachel A. was born November 26, 1868; Edwin D., July 20, 1870; Lavina Jane, November 20, 1871; Bertha, December 29, 1873; Daniel, November 8, 1875; and Emma Gertrude, September 1, 1877. Mr. Gebhart was a member of the Home Guards in the last war.

John Graft was born in Holland, September 10, 1826, and came to this county in 1870, although he landed in this country long before. He was married February 15, 1853, in Red Lion, Warren County, to Anna Barnett, daughter of James Barnett and Sarah Lyons. Mr. Barnett died September 25, 1854, and Mrs. Barnett May 12, 1864. They were buried in Reading cemetery, Hamilton County. They came to this county in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Graft have had ten children. John was born February 13, 1854; James, August 27, 1855; Moses, April 20, 1857; William H., January 27, 1859; Sarah Ann, August 29, 1860; Martha Jane, August 9, 1861; Samuel B., October 31, 1864; Maggie Ann, June 11, 1866 ; Frances Elizabeth, August 16, 1868; and Emma Jane, 1871. James died July 10, 1856, and Sarah Ann September 7, 1860. Maggie Ann and Emma are also dead. Samuel Barnett, a brother of Mr. Graft's wife, was killed at Selma, Alabama, during the last war. He was promoted just before the battle for his bravery.

Daniel Gebhart was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1798, and was brought here by his parents, John Gebhart and Catherine Gesamon, in 1810. They got aboard a flat-boat at Pittsburg, and came down the Ohio River, it being so low that they would run on a sand-bar occasionally. They finally arrived at Cincinnati, however. From there they footed it all the way to Middletown, where Mr. Gebhart remained until the day of his death. John Gebhart was drafted in the War of 1812, and served as a private for two years. He took the cold plague and was brought home, but recovered again. Daniel Gebhart was married on the third day of November, 1821, to Christina Lingle, daughter of Leonard Lingle and Mary Gowker, who was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1804, and came out here in 1810. Of this marriage ten children were the fruits. Levi was born December 24, 1822; Catherine, October

Charles F. Gunckel, president of the Merchants' National Bank, and a lawyer by profession, was born in Germantown, Montgomery County, Ohio, January 4, 1837. Philip and Mary (Loehr) Gunckel, his parents, were both born in Ohio. The Gunckels are associated with the earliest history of Germantown. Philip Gunckel, the grandfather of our subject, was the founder of that village, and named it after Germantown, Pennsylvania, his native State. It was laid out by him in 1814, though he had previously built a saw and grist-mill on Twin Creek, and opened a store at the same place.

Philip Gunckel was a member of the Fifth General Assembly of the State in 1806 and 1807, and also in 1808 and 1809. He was also for many years associate judge and a prominent business man. He died in Germantown, possessed of a large property. Philip Gunckel, a soldier of 1812, the father of Charles F., was a merchant of Germantown, though of retired habits, his father having left his children a considerable estate. His wife died in 1877, at the age of seventy-five. After attending the usual time in the common schools, Mr. Gunckel spent two years in a private academy at Middletown, closing his school period at the age of eighteen. He entered the law office of Mr. L. D. Doty, with whom he remained during two years, and was admitted to the bar in 1862, and began practicing in connection with Mr. Doty, remaining in partnership with him until 1871. Mr. Gunckel has gained an enviable prominence for his shrewdness in the conduct of his cases.

In 1872 Mr. Gunckel organized the Merchants' National Bank of Middletown, of which he has been president ever since. He has been able to attend to the duties connected with this position, and at the same time keep up his law practice, though lately he pays more attention to his banking interests. The original capital of the bank was $50,000, It was afterwards increased to $75,000, and subsequently to $150,000, its present capital, with $30,000 surplus. It is now carrying 'upward of $200,000 deposits. The history of this bank has been one of uniform prosperity.

In 1879 Mr. Gunckel built the street railway of Middletown, of which he has since been president, and in connection with the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad, is the principal stockholder. The road is in excellent condition, and compares favorably with those in large cities. He has laid out several large additions to Middletown, the largest of which consists of forty acres. Mr. Gunckel has for years been: largely interested in real estate in and about Middletown. It is worthy of note, that the chief portion of Middletown has been laid out by the members of one family, that of ©

Stephen Vail, who made the first plat of the town, Hugh Vail, his son, who continued the work afterwards, and lastly, Mr. Gunckel, son-in-law of the latter, who has performed the supplementary work.

On the 21st of May, 1859, Mr. Gunckel was married to Miss Ida A., daughter of Hugh and Jane Vail. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gunckel. Ernest M., born March 17, 1860; Lula, born April, 1867; Anna, born December, 1877.

John Eddy, the son of Alvansy and Nancy Eddy, was born in Knox County, this State, April 7, 1838. He was married December 24, 1859, to the daughter of Henry and Mary Kauffman, who was born June 10, 1841. Mr. Eddy served three years in the war, being a member of two different regiments, and came to this county in 1866. He has one child, Minnie, born July 1861. He has been road supervisor, and by occupation is a scale repairer, house-painter, and furniture dresser. His grandfather was in the War of 1812.

J. W. A. Gillespie was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, February 19, 1837, and is the son of James and Catherine Gillespie. He came to this county in 1870. He was married January 11, 1863, at Franklin, Ohio, to Henrietta Wilkinson, daughter of Richard and Mary Jane Wilkinson, who was born April 26, 1842, in Franklin. They have five children. Edwin W. was born June 9, 1864; Frank P., December 5, 1865; Jennie T., October 22, 1869; Willie F., November 2, 1871, and Robert Y., May 3, 1878. Mr. Gillespie was in the service from April 19, 1861, to January 1, 1865. His elder brother, William C. B. Gillespie, was a captain and major in the Forty-first [linois Regiment, and was afterward on staff duty with General Pugh and General Custer. George, another brother, served in the Ninth Ohio Cavalry. J. W. A. Gillespie was United States store-keeper in 1868 for six months in Montgomery County, and resigned because of an utter dislike to the business. He is now sergeant-at-arms in Columbus, and represents the Gazette and Enquirer.

George H. Henkel was born in Madison Township, Butler County, August 28, 1841. He is the son of Hiram L. Henkel and Amanda Mumma, who came to this county about 1832. He was married in Boone County, Kentucky, near Union, July 24, 1867, to Ellen Foster, daughter of Jedediah Foster and Nancy Wynn, born in that county January 23, 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Henkel have had three sons and two daughters. Hiram J. was born April 24, 1869; Nannie' A., December 31, 1871; Anna B., June 18, 1873; John J., October 14, 1876; Paul F., December 10, 1878. Mr. Henkel is the editor of the Jowrnal, and engineer and superintendent of the water-works. He was the assessor of Lemon Township in 1866 for one year, is a member of the school board at present, and for three years from April, 1881, and clerk of the board for one year from that date.

Elizabeth Hinkle, was born in Madison Township, December 24, 1827. He was married September 26, 1850, to Nancy Selby, daughter of Middleton and Rachel Selby, who came here in 1803. They have had seven children. Mary E. was born July 3, 1854; Rebecca A., July 21, 1856; George L., June 12, 1858; Louisa, September 10, 1862; Bertha, October 12, 1864; Benjamin, March 12, 1868; Clara B., March 13, 1870. Mr. Hinkle has been trustee of Madison Township for three years. His people came here in 1807, and his mother is now dead. Four of his father's brothers were in the War of 1812. His step-grandfather, Gabriel Hutchins, was in the Reyolutionary War seven years and six months. Mr. Hinkle's occupation is that of a farmer and stock-raiser.

Thomas Hetzler was born in Kentucky, February 22, 1852. His father, David Hetzler, and his mother, Mary Ann Thornell, live in Hamilton County, this State. His father's grandparents, on both sides of the house, were in the Revolutionary War, and his great-great-grandfather and two sons were in the battle of Brandywine. Mr. Thomas Hetzler was brought up in the town of Lockland, going to work at the age of thirteen in a paper-mill as a cutter boy. After one year he went in George Fox's starch factory, in Lockland, where he served an apprenticeship of six years, and while there learned telegraphing. At the age of twenty he took a night office on the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railroad, in Cincinnati, at the Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Lafayette Junction, where he stayed fifteen months, when the office was closed. He applied for a place on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis Railroad on November 27, 1872, and obtained the place two weeks after the application. He worked eight months as night operator at Osborn, and then was transferred to Franklin as day operator. Shortly after he was transferred to Miamisburg, Montgomery County, where he stayed two years, and then was promoted to the agency at Sharon, Hamilton County, being there three years and seven months. He then took the Lockland agency, being there for a year and a half, and then coming to Middletown, where he is still as the agent of the Short Line Railway. He has been a member of the Masons since March, 1872, belonging to Pleasant Ridge Lodge, No. 282, in Hamilton County. He was married October 29, 1874, to Emma Kauffman, daughter of John Kauffman and Susan Mittman, of Greene County, who was born September 26, 1852. They have one child, Grace B., born September 25, 1875.

Isaac T. Hand was born in Essex County, New Jersey, in 1814, and settled in this county in May, 1837. His parents, Ira Hand and Rhoda Crowell, are. still living in Newark, New Jersey. His grandfather, David Hand, was in the Revolutionary War, and did some prodigious marching. Ira Hand was in the War of 1812, and Isaac's wife's father, James Littell. Mr. Littell was married early in life to Mary N. Wynan, and_ his daughter, Caroline, was married to Mr. Hand on the 24th of June, 1844. They have two children, Mary Hand and Ella Skillman. He is a retired merchant. He is now treasurer of Lemon Township, to which office he was elected April 4, 1881, having previously held the same position for four or five years. He was a charter member of the lodge of Odd Fellows, which was organized in 1842, being one out of five or six, and has continued a member ever since. He was elected a trustee of this society for two years, on the 1st of January, 1880. His brother, Ira Hand, Jr., was in the late war until its close. He now lives in Newark, New Jersey.°

Jeremiah Marston Hunt, physician and farmer, at Blue Ball, is a native of this county, where he was born January 18, 1849. He is a son of Nathaniel Pearson Hunt and Joanna Marston Hunt, who were both natives of this county. His grandmother came into Ohio in 1802 or 1803, and his grandfather at an early date. His father was born in Butler County, near Miltonville, and lived in that neighborhood all his life, as did the mother, who died near Miltonville, at fifty-two years of age. The grandfather was a tanner, and bought skins of the Indians. Dr. Hunt was married, at Blue Ball, April 9, 1874, to Mary Belle Culbertson, daughter of William and Mary Ann Culbertson, and has had by her three children, William Nathaniel, Mary Bessie, and Robert Culbertson.

John Hoagland, retired farmer, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, April 29, 1807. He is the son of Levi Hoagland, who died April 27, 1856, and Lucy Mallory, who died February 20, 1861. They came to this county in 1818. John Hoagland had very poor school privileges. He was the main support of his family, and was obliged to stay and work at home. At the age of twentyone he went to learn the shoemaker's trade, and worked at it and farming for twenty years. With his savings he bought land - at\ first ten acres, then thirteen, and then fifty. These tracts he sold out, buying seventy-two acres, which he improved. After several changes he became the owner of one hundred and seventeen acres and a half, on which he lived for sixteen or seventeen years, when his health became poor. He sold again, and came to Middletown to live, buying real estate and loaning money. Mr. Hoagland has belonged to the Baptist Church for upward of thirty years. His wife is also a member of -the same Church, she having joined in the Spring of 1841, both enjoying the confidence and esteem of all who know them. There is only one house now standing in Middletown which Mr. Hoagland remembers as being erected when he first came to this county. He was married in Lemon Township in 1840 to Sarah Pierce, who was born in West Virginia, July 22, 1819. Her father was Joseph Pierce, and her mother was Polly Surter. They came here in November, 1831.

John H. Jones was born in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, Great Britain, in 1818, and came to this county in 1845. His parents were Richard and Ann Jones. Mr. Jones is a tailor by occupation. He was married March 25, 1847, in Middletown, to Caroline M. Green, daughter of Peter Davis Green and Mary Stockton, and born in Middletown in 1821. They have four children. Charles John was born April 9, 1848; Robert Green, May 5, 1850; Joseph Ray, May 11, 1853; and Nicholas Edward, in 1861.

IF. A. Kennel, who is an agent for all kinds of farming implements at Madison City, was born in the township where he now lives on the 7th of April, 1846. He is the son of John Kennel, Sen., and Anna Augspurger, his father coming to this county in 1842, and his mother being born here. They are members of the Mennonite Church, and are of German descent. He was married on the 25th of March, 1878, to Bertha Kennel, daughter of Peter Kennel and Susannah Iutzi, who came here about 1832. They have had two children, - Alma M. M. Kennel, born August 25, 1874, and Peter F. Kennel, born June 9, 1880. Mr. Kennel was brought up on a farm in Madison Township, staying there until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Illinois, where he stayed three years, teaching school and acting as clerk in a store. After coming back to Ohio he taught school for two years, then going into the grain business. In December, 1876, he embarked in his present employment. He has been president of the school board in Madison City for two years, being elected in the Spring of 1880. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Honor.

Jacob Kemp, farmer and attorney-at-law, was born April 5, 1819. His parents, Jacob and Mary Magdalena Kemp, came here early in the present century. Jacob Kemp, the father, came to this county and entered a section and part of a section of land, upon which his son now lives. It was all in woods, and inhabited along the Great Miami River by Indians. On the farm where Mr. Kemp, Jr., now lives were at that time wild animals, such as bears, deer, and wolves. There were no roads or markets. Mr. Kemp was a minister in the United Brethren Church, and in addition was a farmer. He practiced medicine also for some years before his decease, which was in 1851, at the age of sixty-two. In 1812 he and his team of four horses were pressed into the service. They were taken north to the lake, where he lost the horses, mostly for want of food, for which he never received any compensation. He and his wife were born and reared in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and were married there. The fruit of this marriage was four children, two sons and two daughters. The oldest, a daughter, was born in Pennsylvania, and is now dead, and the other three in Ohio, all now living. Mrs. Kemp was a member of the United Brethren Church, in which she took a great interest. The meetings then were held in Mr. Kemp's house and barn, and others in the neighborhood. His wife took great delight in providing food and lodging for ministers and members of her Church. She died in 1840, aged about fifty. The present Mr. Jacob Kemp has been twice married. His first was to Mary A. Zahring, daughter of Philip and Barbara Zahring, a native of Montgomery County, and his second was to Mary M. Miltonburger, daughter of William and Mary Ann Miltonburger, born in Warren County. By these wives he had six children - Leonidas Lycurgus, Emma, Charles Edwin, Horace William, John H., and Bertha Brown. Mr. Kemp was elected a justice of the peace in 1854, and served till 1875 - twenty-one years; township clerk in 1855, and served till 1875 - twenty years; and in 1874 was elected a representative to the Legislature, serving till 1878, making two terms.

Joshua Kemp, son of Joseph and Mary Magdalene Kemp, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1810. His grandfather, Frederick Kemp, of the same county, served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary War. Joshua Kemp settled on a farm bordering on Elk Creek, in Madison Township, where he lived until 1860, during the Spring of that year removing to Middletown. He was married in 1830, in this county, to Elizabeth Kemp, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Ann Kemp, who was born in this county in 1808. They had eight children. Abram Kemp was born April 14, 1831, and died May 16, 1849; Mary Ann Dingler, May 15, 1833; Elizabeth Ann Eckert, April 28, 1835; Joseph Kemp, July 11, 1837; Samuel D. Kemp, June 29, 1839; Francis M. Kemp, August 12, 1841; Maria Louisa McKechnie, August 26, 1845; Laura Alice Morris, August 25, 1847. Francis M. Kemp served for three years in the late war, fighting as a private soldier in the battle of Chickamauga and many other battles of less importance, never receiving a single wound.

Charles A. Keller, jeweler, of Middletown, was born in Hamilton, April 17, 1854. He is the son of Frank and Mary Keller. At the age of sixteen he began learning the jeweler's trade with S. W. Brock, of Hamilton, going into the business himself in Middletown in 1875, now doing excellently. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and also of the Masons. He was married in Newport, Kentucky, on the 22d of October, 1879, to Louisa M. Sebald, daughter of William and Mary Sebald. They came to Hamilton in 1851, where their daughter was born May 23, 1861.

Adam Lamb was born in Germany, January 1, 1820, and came to this county in 1848. He was married in 1851 at Hamilton, to Barbara Waller, also born in Germany, in Bavaria, in 1815. They have had six children. Mary Huffman was born September 14, 1852; Emilia Smitley, September 27, 1853; Frank, February 15, 1854; August, September 24, 1855; Lena, June 2, 1858, and an infant. The latter is dead, together with were Charles Lamb and Charlotte Synder, and Mrs. Lamb's John Waller and Mary Ann Flagler. None of them ever came to this country. Mr. Lamb was born on the banks of the River Rhine, and went to school until he was fourteen years of age, and staying home with his father until he was drafted in the cavalry at twenty-one. He served two years, when he ran away, with twenty-five other men, and came to.the United States, landing in New York, June 1, 1845. He then went to the country and worked in a garden for two years, afterwards going to Easton, Pennsylvania. He worked at the stonemason's trade in this place for one Summer, and then in a large hotel as hostler.. In the Summer of 1848 he came to Cincinnati, where he remained a week or ten days, then coming to Hamilton, where he remained until 1854. In that year he went to Middletown. He began in the grocery business, which he has since sold out to his sons. He has a very pretty garden, about a quarter of a mile from the town, of about twenty acres. He has retired from business now, and rents his land. He has always belonged to the Presbyterian Church, and his children are of the same faith. His wife is a Roman Catholic.

George C. Lamb was born in Bavaria, August 20, 1822. He is the son of Charles Lamb and Charlotte Kramer, who both lived and died in Germany. At the age of fifteen he was bound out by his father to learn the shoemaker's trade, the term being for two years. When half of this time had expired he went traveling from city to city, until he was nearly twenty-one years of age. Then he was drafted into the army, in the cayalry arm, but before the time came for him to report at head-quarters he came to New York city, where he landed on the 1st of July, 1844, and went to work at his trade. He worked there for ten years, and at the expiration of this time came West, stopping at Cincinnati for four or five weeks. Middletown was his next place, where he made a visit to his brother, returning for some seven months to Cincinnati, and then coming back to Middletown. Here he acted as clerk for his brother, remaining half a year. At the end of this time he bought out a store, and went into business for himself, buying a neat home about eighteen months afterward. He brought to Middletown the first billiard-table that was ever seen there. He is a member of the Middletown Maennerchor, and is also a member of the St. Paul Church. He has been a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church all his life, and to it his wife and children also belong.

James G. Lummis was born in Lemon Township in 1830, being the son of John Lummis and Ann Bridge. They were both born in Middletown. Joseph Lummis, his grandfather, who was one of the pioneers in this county, was an old Revolutionary soldier, as was also James G. Lummis's great-grandfather, on his mother's side, the Rey. James Grimes, the pioneer preacher and eabinet-maker. Mr. Lummis was married in 1859, at Middletown, to Mary F. Deardorff, daughter of Jacob Deardorff and Mary Kennedy. The latter is still living at Dayton. . Mrs. Lummis was born in Middletown in 1840. They have had six children. Frank K. Lummis was born June 30, 1860; an infant was born April 22, 1862, dying the same day; George D. was born May 10, 1863; Charles A., May 15, 1865; John H., August 21, 1874; and Harry M., November 29, 1875. The latter died November 6, 1879. Mr. Lummis was treasurer of Middletown for two years, beginning in 1871, and is also a member of the school board, commencing in 1877, and serving three years. He was not a member in 1880, but was re-elected in the Spring of 1881. His wife's brother, Captain J. K. Deardorff, of the Thirty-fifth Ohio, was killed in the battle of Chickamauga. Mr. Lummis is a merchant.

D. J. McMahon, editor and publisher of the Weekly News, was born on the 6th of May, 1846, in Middletown. He is the son of Cornelius McMahon and Mary A. MceGehan. Mr. McMahon was brought up in Middletown, and learned the printer's business nine years ago. He is now publishing a weekly paper, begun February 12, 1881, and has succeeded beyond his expectations. Three of his family were out in the last war - his uncle Richard McMahon, Matthew McMahon, and Daniel McMahon.

William Magie was born in Liberty Township, Butler County, in 1815, on the 12th of September. His parents were Benjamin Magie and Sarah Brown, the father coming here in 1813, and the mother in the same year. He is a farmer and stock dealer. He was married on the 25th of March, 1840, to Rachael A. Slade, daughter of Micajah Slade and Temperance Elliott, the former arriving in this county in 1819, and the latter in 1812. Mrs. Magie was born June 3, 1821. Her father was in the War of 1812, from the beginning to the end. With two other brothers he-was present at the surrender of Hull's army. He was trustee of Liberty Township for nineteen years in succession, having the charge of the poor of the township and the widows and orphans. Mr. Magie was brought up on a farm, being forty-one years in one place. He then came to Middletown to live, where he has a fine place. Although his improvements on his farm are of the best in the county, he has three hundred and fifty acres here, besides an improved farm in Kansas, two and a half miles from Beloit, Mitchell County, of eighty acres, with a splendid orchard.