Darke County, Ohio - The whole text, 1880 (part 30 of 31)

JOHN II. CORWIN, farmer; 1*. 0. Arcanum ; was born in Warren Co., Ohio, in 1819 ; he was the son of Mathias and Margaret Corwin ; Mathias was born in Kentucky ; his father's name was Joseph Corwin, who was a native of Pennsylvania : Margaret's father's name was Shnorf, and he was a native of Germany. Mr. Corwin. the subject of this sketch, was united in marriage in 1842, with Maria Weaver. daughter of Larken and Susan Weaver, who arc further spoken of in the sketch of William Weaver ; they first settled in Preble Co., Ohio, but moved from there to this county in 1855, and located upon the place on which he now lives; they have had born to them six children, five of whom are now living, viz.: Mary Jane, born Jan. 30, 1843 ; Mathias, born April 24, 1847 ; Abigail, born April 13, 1849 ; Susan M., born Nov. Ill, 1853, and William 0., born June 28, 1860 : and all are married and settled in life except the youngest, who is still single and living at home. When Mr. Corwin located in 1855 upon his present farm, there was but very little cleared up; he had to commence and clear up and improve, and in doing so, of course went through all the hardships incident to the opening of a farm in a new country, and particularly so, as he started with the small capital of 80 acres of unimproved land ; but by Lard labor and diligently attending to business, he has increased in property and wealth, until now he is the owner of 535 acres of land, with good buildings, and everything for the convenience and comfort of life ; and, in connection with this, he has paid $2,100 for free pikes, and $1,600 for ditching and draining ; this has all been accomplished since 1855, which has certainly been sufficient to declare Mr. Corwin a model farmer and business man ; Mr. Corwin has always taken an active part in political matters, being a stanch Republican, but has never desired or held office ; we feel justified, in summing up this brief sketch of Mr. Corwin, to say that he is most truly a representative man of Van Buren Township, and one worthy of imitation by all young men, for all generations in future, and desire thus to place his record upon the pages of this history, there to remain for all time to come.

WILLIAM DAVIS, carpenter, Arcanum ; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, in 1821 ; he is the son of Hugh and Christi Ann Davis ; Hugh was born in South Carolina, and his wife in Virginia ; they came to Ohio, with their parents, in a very early day, so early that at that time they could enter Government land, near Cincinnati, at $1.25 per acre. Mr. Davis, the subject of this sketch, came to Darke Co. in 1856 ; he was married in 1849, to Mary Ann Shaffer, daughter of David and Susannah Shaffer, who were born in Pennsylvania ; Mary Ann came with her parents to Ohio in an early day ; they are the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, viz., John W., David, Susanna. William H., Pharan. Mary Jane and Thomas. When Mr. Davis fii*st came to this county, he located in Butler Township, where he remained one year, and then moved to Van Buren Township ; he located at his present place of residence in 1861 ; when he came here, he opened out in the woods, and built a small house, and, in order to move into it, had to cut a road through the woods to get to his house ; he has 1 acre of land, and since he came there has cleared it up and built a comfortable house and barn, so that he has a pleasant little home. He has always followed the trade of a carpenter, and has had the pleasure of seeing the country improve around him, and the old log buildings of the early settlers disappear, and fine frame and brick buildings take their place ; and he, as a good mechanic, has had a goodlv share of the work to do.

WILLIAM DREW, farmer ; P. 0. Delisle ; was born in Van Buren Township in 1834, and is the son of Robert Drew, who was born in New Jersey, March 29, 1807, and moved to Darke Co. about 1825, and located here when there were but few settlers in the township. Mr. Drew, the subject of our sketch, was the third of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, nine of whom are now living. Mr. Drew was united in marriage to Mary Bitner, daughter of John Bitner ; she was born in Darke Co. March 9. 1837; they first settled at Delisle. on the place now owned by S. W. AUread, where they remained two yeai'S ; then moved to a farm in the neighborhood for a short time, then back again, and engaged in merchandising about six months; then sold out and moved to present place of residence, where they have since resided and followed farming, except two years, in which he was in mercantile trade in Delisle. They are parents of nine children, six of wrnom are now living, viz., Rosetta, Abraham. Franklin, Elmer, Nora and Edward. Mr. Drew has gained a good competency, being owner of 280 acres of excellent land, all except 80 acres of which were made by his own energy and industry. Mr. Drew is at present Township Treasurer, thus showing not only that with his industry and perseverance he has accumulated quite a property, but also has the confidence of the community in which he lives, by the trust they have placed in his hands ; this being another example to the rising generation of what indefatigable industry, together with honorable dealings with his fellow-men. may accomplish.

POLLY FORD ; P. 0. Jaysville ; Polly Ford was the wife of Mordecai 8. Ford, who was born in Kentucky in 1807, and came to this county with his mother when quite young, his father having died while in the Indian war. Mr. Ford remained with his mother until the year 1820, when he was united in marriage with Polly Tillman, daughter of John Tillman, and located near her father's, just over the line in Preble Co., where they lived about two years, then bought the land upon which she now resides ; they moved hei'e into a little, log house, and just a few trees cleared away, so as to give a foot-hold for future labor in clearing up a farm ; Mr. Ford took hold with an indomitable will to make a home and to try to gain some of the comforts of life ; and coupled with this, and during the most of his life, while struggling for the temporal interests of his family. he was not unmindful of his spiritual interests, and those of his family and the community in which he mingled, having given his life early to Christ, and taking upon himself as his disciple to preach the Gospel to his dying fellow-men. in which work he remained until his death ; he also realized the importance of education, and was engaged more or less as a teacher in the public schools ; he educated and qualified each and every one of his children, who all became teachers. During all these labors, Mr. Ford brought his farm of 100 acres most of it into good cultivation, erected a good brick house, barn and other buildings convenient and comfortable ; all this was done by indefatigable toil and industry ; and finally, his labors being done, at the call of his Divine Master, whom he had served so long and faithfully, he departed this life Nov. 23, 1867, to reap the reward of his labors in that better land ''from whose bourn no traveler returns," and where no* toils or cares ever come. They were the parents of fourteen children, nine of whom are now living, viz.; John, Henry, Delilah, Nancy, Worley, Martha, Ro}rston, Mary and Lydia A. M.; all married and settled in life except John, Mary and Lydia, the two latter remaining at home with their mother; four of the sons became practicing physicians. Mrs. Ford is now 70 years of age, enjoying very good health, and may live many years yet to enjoy the fruits of their united labors, and the society of her kind and loving children.

LEVI FOURMAN, farmer ; P. 0. Arcanum ; was born in Darke Co., in 1852 ; is a son of John and Sarah Fourman ; John was born in Pennsylvania and Sarah in Montgomery Co., Ohio ; they came to this county in an early day, as given in sketch of John Fourman in this book. Levi Fourman was married in 1876 to Sarah Reichard, daughter of William and Nanc}r C. Reichard, who were from Preble Co., Ohio ; they have one child, viz., Lily Florence ; Levi is the fifth child of John Fourman, who when married, located where he now lives, upon 80 acres of fine land given him by his father, and upon which he has built a good twostory frame house, and a large barn and other buildings for convenience and comfort, and is now as well fixed to live comfortable and happy as many who have toiled for years to make their home ; and, if he follows the footsteps of his father in industry and good management, he will in all probability become a wealthy and prominent citizen of his township.

JOHN FOURMAN, farmer ; P. O. Arcanum ; was born in Pennsylvania in 1820 ; his parents were John and Catharine Fourman, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Fourman came to this county with his parents, where they lived and died : he was the second in a family of eight children, all of whom are living. He was married in 1845 to Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Raker, both born in Pennsylvania. John and Sarah Fourman have had born to them fifteen children, twelve of whom are now living, viz., Susannah, Jacob, Henry, Levi, Sarah, Samuel, Ananias. David, John. Allen, Emanuel and Elizabeth. They located on the farm, where they now live, in 1846 : they cut the first stick of timber, made an opening, and built a small frame house with lumber sawed from a mill of their own put up" when the}T first entered the county ; from this beginning they toiled on enduring the hardships and deprivations, gradually making improvements, till now he has 241 acres of land ; he at one time had 1,000 acres of land, but has given to his children, to settle on, all but the 241 acres, which he still owns ; thus showino- what an immense amount of labor has been performed, what an amount of property accumulated, and what a fine start he has given his children in life. This industrious and useful life of theirs will stand upon record on the pages of this history as a memorial for their children and their children's children, for all

GEORGE MARKER, farmer and gunsmith ; P. 0. Gettysburg ; was born in 1830 in Montgomery Co., Ohio ; his parents were Jacob and Sarah Marker ; Jacob was born in Maryland in 1803, and Sarah in Montgomery Co., Ohio ; her maiden name was Shively, and she was born in 1809 ; they came to this county in 1835. Mr Marker the subject of this sketch, was married, in 1852, to Lydia Ebert, who was born in 1835 ; she was the daughter of William and Mary Ebert, who came from Pennsylvania at an early day ; they have had born to them eleven children, ei<dit of whom are now living, viz., Isaac, Luther, Mary Elizabeth, Anna Jane, George Calvin, Dora Margaret, Jacob Wm. and Lewis Hiram. They located upon the farm where they now reside, containing 55 acres of land, with not a stick of timber cut ; cleared out a small piece of land, put up a log cabin, and thus made a foothold to what is now their home, and then continued to work on, clearing up and improving, as time and means would permit, till now they have a good farmhouse, a large^'fine barn, and other buildings convenient and comfortable, 40 acres cleared and^well cultivated. When he commenced life, he had about $700, and from this start he has accumulated a handsome property by hard labor and industry, which we can place upon the pages of this book as a worthy example to the voung and rising generation.

J. B. MEHAFFIE, farmer; P. 0. Delisle ; was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., May 27, 1826, being the eldest of seven children, three boys and four girls, the brothers dying shortly after reaching their manhood, unmarried, and leaving no heirs ; but the four listers are all living ; his parents were John and Elizabeth Mehaffie ; they are natives of Pennsylvania, the former was born in 1800, the latter in 1803 ; his grandparents were John and Martha Mehaffie ; the grandfather was a cosmopolite, beino- born upon the Atlantic Ocean, his parents being then on their way from Ireland to America, he being one of four children ; the grandmother was born in Juniata Co., Penn.; her maiden name was Hoag ; the grandfather was born about 1763, and the grandmother about 1770 ; the grandfather dying about 1838, and the grandmother in 1846 ; the father of the subject of this sketch, died in October, 1854 ; his mother is still living. Mr. Mehaffie came to Preble Co., Ohio, in 1851 ; remained about three years, then returned to Pennsylvania, where he was united in marriage, in the same year, to Eleanor, daughter of John and Margaret Vanasdlen, both natives of Pennsylvania ; her mother was the daughter of William and Rebecca Steele, who emigrated from Ireland in an early day, and came to this county with one child ; Rebecca Steele was the daughter of Taggart ; Mr. Mehaffie returned with his wife to Preble Co., Ohio, where they lived about three years ; then moved to Montgomery Co., where they remained till August, 1872, when they came to Darke Co., on the farm on which they now reside ; Mr. Mehaffie was favored with a good education, and before he was of age he took the honorable and useful occupation of teaching school, which occupation he has followed every year for thirty years, not missing one winter during that time, but what he was in the school-room ; during this time, when not engaged in teaching, was raising tobacco and farming ; the farm upon which he now lives, consisting of 80 acres, he purchased of John Smith, of Arcauum, at a cost of $5,000. in 1872, with no buildings except a small log- house ; Mehaffie has since built a large addition to the house, and has built a fine large barn and other outbuildings for convenience and coinfort ; has greatly improved and cleared up the land, till now he has a fine farm, with 65 acres in good cultivation; they have had born co them six children, all now living, viz., Horace W., William C, Margaretta, Elizabeth, Clara E. and Myrta, the oldest. Horace, being married and settled in life, and the others yet single and at home ; Mr. Mehaffie has never desired or taken any active part in political matters ; he is now, however, Township Clerk ; Mr. Mehaffie and wife are active members of the United Brethren Church, having been members of the same for twenty years.

JOSEPH GORDON MILLER, carpenter and farmer, Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Poplar Ridge ; son of John Phillips Miller and Rachel Baldwin, was born about five miles northwest from Taneytown, Carroll Co., Md., July 12, 1824, and settled in Adams Township, September, 1845. Was united in marriage with Rachel Trowbridge, in Van Buren Township, Sept. 20, 1840 ; children's names - John W. T., David B.T Albert F., Eleonor J., Simon F., James H., Rachael M. J. In the fall of 1845, was examined by David Beers, John W harry and Dr. Briggs and from them received a certificate to teach school ; was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace August, 1 859, and served six terms ; served five or six terms as Trustee of this township ; when the militia was organized, was elected Captain for this township, and received his commission. Has been a resident of Sec. 2, Van Buren Township, since 1822.

JOHN J. OSWALT, farmer ; P. O. Arcanum ; a native of Germany ; was born in 1836 ; he is the son of Martin and Anna M. Oswalt. Mr. Oswalt came to America in 1852, when 16 years of age ; after being here about eighteen months, he returned to Germany for his mother and two sisters, his father being dead ; brought them here and located in Franklin Township, this county, in 1854. He was united in marriage in 1862, to Elizabeth, daughter of Elias and Mary Baker, who were both natives of Montgomery Co., Ohio ; they have had eleven children, all living, viz., Delilah, Elias, Sarah, Anna Magdalene, Mary Ellen, John Henry. Morton, Lydia, Elizabeth, Charles Ellsworth and William David ; they located upon the farm upon which they now live, the next spring after they were married, having at that time bought 80 acres all in the woods; this was the beginning in clearing up the land to make a home, and by industry and hard labor they have now a fine farm, having bought 80 acres more, making in all 160 acres of good land, and about 115 acres in a good state of cultivation ; this has all been accomplished, together with raising a large family of children, by diligent and earnest labor, coupled with good management and frugality ; and we are pleased to place this record upon the pages of this history, as a bright and shining example which may be read by his children's children, and all future generations, in all time to come.

ALLEN PEARSON, farmer ; P. 0. Jaysville ; one of the old pioneers of Darke Co.; was born in South Carolina in 1806, and when about 6 years of age, came with his mother (his father having died when he was but an infant), to Ohio and settled in Warren Co., where he remained till about 15 years of age, when they settled in Darke Co.; at the time Mr. Pearson came here, it was a perfect wilderness ; in most directions there were no settlers within twelve to fifteen miles of him, and many Indians roamed through the forests ; at that time, they would pack their corn to mill for a distance of twenty miles or more. Mr. Pearson was united in marriage in 1827, to Mary, daughter of Moses Arnold, also from South Carolina, who came here prior to Mr. Pearson, hence making them among the very oldest settlers of Darke Co. ; to them eleven children have been born, of whom only four are now living, viz., Maria. Mary Ann, Edney and Westley ; the children are married and settled in life, the three daughters in this county, and Westley in Illinois. Mr. Pearson and wife are among those industrious old pioneers, who came here poor and endured all the hardships incident to such life, in fact, endured perhaps more than most of other residents ; as an illustration - when they came here they constructed a little log hut, with an opening to answer for an entrance, and hung up an old quilt for a door ; this was early in the summer of 1818 ; the floor of the house was the "mother earth ;" they had no chimney, but built their fire on the ground, in the middle of the room ; in this manner, they lived till fall, when some little improvements were made ; from this commencement, step by step, they advanced along life's journey, gradually making such improvements as their wants and means demanded and would justify, till, at the present time, they have 200 acres of land, and about three-quarters of it under cultivation, a good brick house, good barns, etc., with all necessary comforts of life, thus being an example to rising generations of what industry, coupled with frugality, will accomplish.

WILLIAM ROBESON, farmer ; P. 0. Jaysville ; was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., in 1817 ; came with his father to Ohio in the same year, being only 2 months old ; his father, David Robeson, located first on the Miami River, about eight miles below Dayton, where he remained about sixteen years, when, in 1833. he° moved to Darke Co. and located in Butler Township, where he lived till his death, which occurred three years after, or in 1836. Mr. Robeson, the subject of this sketch, resided on the home place about seventeen years. He was married to Esther Don^an in 1849 ; she was the daughter of Isaac Dongan and was born in Butler Co. in 1828. In 1852, Mr. Robeson bought the farm upon which he now resides and moved on to it the same year, there being about 30 acres cleared and a small cabin erected upon the same ; by hard labor and industry, he now has a fine farm of 140 acres, 85 acres being under cultivation. There have been thirteen children born to them, and only four of them now living, viz., Isaac D., Eliza D.r Mary Ann and Ida Ellen May ; two are married, and two remain single at home. His wife died in May, 1874, since which time his daughters have taken charge of his household affairs. Mr. Robeson has accumulated all his present wealth by dint of his own exertion, with the exception of 40 acres, which he received from his father ; he gave his only son a start in life by giving him 44 acres of land ; he is now married and settled upon the same. Mr. Robeson is now past 62 years of age, and enjoying good health, and may live many years to enjoy the fruits of his labors, and, perhaps, to add to his possessions.

PATRICK SHIELDS, farmer ; P. 0. Delisle ; was born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1831 ; his parents, Isaac and Elizabeth Shields, had born unto them thirteen children, of whom ten are now living ; his father and mother were natives of Preble County. Mr. Shields was the second child of his parents, and came with them to Darke County in 1838, and located in Van Buren Township, where he has lived to the present time, with the exception of three years, in which he lived north of here about fifteen miles. In 1853, Mr. Shields was united in marriage with Mary J., daughter of Caleb and Mary Brown ; to them have been born eight children, all of whom are now living, three boys and five girls, viz., Nancy, Mary Alice, Caleb, Elizabeth, William L., Laura May, Ada and Donovan F. Mr. Shields, though not one of the oldest, but yet an early settler, says he remembers well of the many hunts after wolves, bears and various kinds of game, which were then so plentiful ; Mr. Shields commenced farming twenty-seven years ago, with a capital of $80, one cow and half a dozen chickens, and from this small beginning has, by industry, frugality, skill and management, advanced step by step toward success, till now he is the owner of 221 acres of land, all under cultivation, and as good land as any in the township ; has a good, two-story frame house, nearly new, and everything convenient and comfortable. During all this labor, Mr. Shields paid in support of the war of the rebellion about $1,600 ; he is still a man in middle age, and. with the fine competency he has obtained, the ability with which he handles his means, the industrious habits, and interesting family he has to help him on, he will in _ all probability arise to a prominence among the residents of the county ; he is a living example in correct business habits for his children and future generations in time to come.

ISAAC M. SHIELDS, farmer ; P. O. Arcanum ; was born in this county and township in 1846 ; his parents were Isaac and Elizabeth Shields, natives of Preble County, further record of whom is made in sketch of Patrick Shields. Mr. Shields was married in 1864 to Ellen, daughter of Mathias and Amanda Weaver, further record of whom is made in sketch of Amanda Weaver. Mr. Shields has always followed farming, having bought and sold several farms, upon which he lived for longer or shorter times, until, in the spring of 1874, he bought the farm where he now lives, and moved on to it in spring of 1875, since which he has built a large brick house, a very tine barn and made other improvements, and has now one of the finest residences in the township. When Mr. Shields started in life, he had no capital of any amount ; he is now owner of 280 acres of land, 220 now under good cultivation ; this large property with all improvements he has become owner of by hisown activity, industry and shrewd management, and is still a young man of 33 years of age, just in the prime of life ; and, should his health be spared, he has every prospect of becoming one of the wealthiest men of the township. He is the father of seven children, six being now living, viz., Amanda E., Isaac Mathias, Susanna. Minnie llosella, Elva Mariah and William Ray. He was one of those who, at the call of his country during the rebellion, allowed his patriotism to carry him forward to its defense ; he enlisted early in the war in 1862, in the 110th Regiment, in Company B, 0. V. I., and served through the war, returning safely to his loved ones at home. In this sketch, we are pleased to put upon the pages of the history of Darke County one of its citizens, a young man whose record shall stand a bright and shining light of industry, success and true patriotism to his children and children's children, and all future generations, as a worthy example to follow ; and if they do follow it, it will lead to the sure road to success and prosperity.

WILLIAM TOWNSEND, farmer; P. 0. Jaysville ; was born in Neave Township in 1830 : his father, James Townsend, was born in South Carolina, and emigrated to Ohio in an early day, and located in Greene County, where he remained a few years, then moved to Darke Co., Neave Township, where he lived until his death ; his settlement in the county was in the days of the pioneers, there being but few settlements in the neighborhood ; he was the father of six children, four of whom are now living. William Townsend, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of the family ; he lived with his father till his death, which occurred when he was about 17 years of age ; then he remained with his mother till after her death. He was united in marriage in 1854, with Elizabeth, daughter of Jonas Hartzell ; she was born in Pennsylvania, and came to this county with her father when she was about 2 years of age ; since their marriage, they have been blessed with six children, all of whom are now living ; Mr. Townsend has followed the honest and honorable occupation of farming during his life, with the exception of about three years, in which he was engaged in the milling business ; he has, by his own labor and industry, with a small inheritance from his father, obtained a competency, having a fine quarter-section of land, mostly under cultivation. He is a prominent and active member of the United Brethren Church, with which he has been connected for five years, and has had the pleasure of seeing the three oldest of his children become worthy members of the church. Thus, while working and accumulating this world's goods, he is also in the higher and uobler work of trying to lay up treasures in heaven, and training up those under his charge in the -: nurture and admonition of the Lord."

A LFRED TOWNSEND, farmer ; P. O. Jaysville ; was born in Van Buren Township in 1834. on the place now owned by William Townsend ; his parents were Jonathan and Susanna Townsend. He was married in 1856, to Mary A., danghter of Isaac and Elizabeth Shields ; she was born in 1833 in Preble Co., Ohio, and moved with her parents to this county in 1836, being then about 3 years of age ; she is the third in a family of ten children. Mr. Townsend was of a family of four children, having two sisters and a half-brother, he being the youngest of the three first born. After Mr. Townsend was married, he followed farming on rented farms till 1868, when he bought 80 acres, on which he now lives ; he added 40 acres to it in 1875, making him now owner of 120 acres. They are the parents often children, four boys and six girls, all of whom are living, and ranging from 3 to 23 years of age, viz., Sarah E., Andrew J., William H, Ida May, Mary Bell,

Isaac Edward, Josephine, J]ffaretta, George Alfred and Martha Ford. Mr. Townsend is one of those who has had his " ups and downs ; " he was early thrown upon his own resources, but had been favored with a good education ; has followed teaching school nearly every winter ; he first taught school before he was 16 years of age ; he has now a good farm of 85 acres in cultivation, with good buildings, very comfortable and convenient ; he has held several township offices, such as Assessor. Clerk and Trustee, thus showing that not only has he been successful in life, but has the confidence of the community in which he lives by the trusts confided in him. Mr. Townsend is one of those who, during the late war - the rebellion - took up arms in the defense of his country's rights and its flag, having enlisted in the 152d 0. V. I., Co. I., entering as Orderly Sergeant, in which capacity he served four months : he was then promoted to First Lieutenant in the O. N. Cr., in which he served till honorably discharged, thus proving himself a true soldier and a patriot in time of his country's danger.

AMANDA WALKER ; P. O. Arcanum ; was the wife of Mathias Weaver, who was born in Preble Co., Ohio, in 1821, and Amanda Weaver was born in Butler Co.. Ohio, in 1828 ; his father, Larkin Weaver, was a native of Virginia ; Mrs. Weaver's father, Lewis Blackmail, was a native of England, who came to this country at an early day. Mathias Weaver was married to Amanda Blackman in 1844, and moved to Darke Co., Van Buren Township, about 1845, and located on the place upon which she now lives ; the land was then all a wilderness ; they cut away the timber and built a little log house, so as to shelter them from the weather, with a few boards up in the loft, where they kept their meat and provisions, etc ; from this beginning, they labored on until 1873 ; they then had a good farm of about 100 acres, nearly all in cultivation. Mr. Weaver was taken sick, and died Oct. 20. 1873 ; since which time she has remained a widow, and carried on farming with industry and ability, which has enabled her to keep her family together with her, and to enjoy the home and comforts which they had by their united efforts and industry obtained prior to his death. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom are living, viz., Ellen, Emma, Maria, Mary Jane, Susan, Lydia Ann, Lucinda Josephine, Lewis Edward and William Harve}' ; four are married and settled in life ; the other five single and at home with their mother, to cheer her on her way through the journey of life. We should mention that they had accumulated 180 acres of land prior to Mr. Weaver's death, 80 acres of which has been divided among the four married children - thus giving them a capital on which to begin their business life.

WILLIAM WEAVER, farmer ; P. 0. Arcanum ; was born in Madison Co.. Va., in 1812 ; his parents were Larkin and Susannah Weaver. Mr. Weaver came to Preble Co., Ohio, with his parents in 1820, and then moved to Darke Co., Van Buren Township, and entered 80 acres of land, where he now lives. He was married in 1835 to Maiy, daughter of Charles and Jemima Harriman, natives of Scioto, Ohio ; when they came to Darke Co. upon their land, there was not a stick of timber cut ; they made the first opening and built a small log house ; worked and toiled on from year to year, enduring all the hardships incident to that day ; from year to year they were enabled to see the forests disappear and the various improvements take their place ; plenty and comfort take the place of want anil scarcity, till now he is owner of 100 acres of excellent land, for which at one time he was offered $100 per acre. They are the parents of eight children, four boys and four girls, six of whom are now living, viz., Daniel, Eliza Jane. Jemima Ann, Susan Etta, John H. and William Allen, all being married and settled in life, except Susan Etta, who, having lost her husband, is at home keeping house for her father, Mr. Weaver's wife having been dead thirty-two years, dying in 1848. Mr. Weaver is now 68 years of age, is enjoying good health, has been a widower, as stated above, for thirty-two years ; he is a very popular auctioneer and cries a great many sales through his neighborhood ; he is one of those jovial and jolly old pioneers, who is kind hearted, notwithstanding his mam- odd ways ; in fact has been too kiml and accommodating for his own good, having had to pay $800 security money, and would warn his children and future generations to be guarded on these points, and to take him as an example as to industry, frugality and honorable way of providing for life's interests.

EL I 111 WEAVER, farmer, See. 2 ; P. 0. Gettysburg ; a son of Henry and Susan Weaver : was born in Adams Township. Darke Co.. in the year 1832 ; was united in marriage with Sarah Weaver, of Adams Township, Darke Co., 1807 \ they have two children - Edward and Harry.

WM. ARCHARP, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Union City. The subject of this memoir was born in County Limerick, Ireland, Nov. 12, 1835 ; when 7 years of age, he was left an orphan, and at 10 years of age, he came to America with his uncle. Thomas Hoar, who located in Cincinnati, and placed William at school, where he remained two years. At 12 years of age, he obtained employment in the grocery trade, and followed the same for several years ; in 1851, he went to Piqua, and, after clerking there some four years, he associated with his employer as partner, and located in Union City in 1855. This partnership continued some seven years, when Mr. Archard disposed of his interest and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed, owning 325 acres of land adjacent to Union City ; in 1874, he laid out 40 acres of his farm, now7 known as Archard's Addition to Union City ; in 1877, he was elected and served one term as Trustee of Jackon Township, and in 1878 was elected County Commissioner, which office he now holds ; he is one of the self-made men of DarkeCo.; he commenced life without capital ; upon arriving in Piqua, in 1851, his capital consisted of 25 cents, but he has. since, by his own hard labor and correct business habits, placed himself among the large landholders and successful farmer's of Darke Co. His marriage with Maiy A. Mauzy was celebrated in Union Cit}T in 1857 ; they have one child by thisunion - Josephine, now Mrs. Webster Brandon.

JACOB BEERY, retired farmer ; residence Sec. 15 ; P. O. Union City ; one of the oldest settlers of Jackson Township ; born in Fairfield Co. Oct. 16, 1816 ; at 18 years of age, he commenced in life for himself, and learned and worked at the cabinet and carpenter's trade until 1855, when he came to Darke Co., Ohio, and located in Neave Township, and in 1865 came to Jackson Township and purchased 160 acres of land upon Sec. 13, where he has since lived ; he has now rented his old homestead and is erecting a residence upon Sec. 15, which he intends making his future home ; he is Democratic in politics, but has never been an aspirant for office, and has held none, save the office of Township Trustee ; for three years, he has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been a member of the German Baptist Church for upward of thirty years. His marriage with Esther Voght was celebrated in Fairfield Co. in 1838 ; she was born in the above county ; ten children were the fruits of this union, of whom six are now living, viz., Aaron, Mary, Simeon, Absalom, Jacob F. and Almeda. The deceased were Jemima, Leah, Sarah C. and Isabella.

AMOS COOK, farmer. Sec 3:5 : P. O. Union City ; one of the early pioneers of Darke Co. ; born in Chester Co.. Penn., in 1800 : came to Darke Co., Ohio, in 1849, and purchased his present place of 120 acres, where he has since lived lor a period of upward of thirty years ; upon locating here, his present wellimproved place was a wilderness ; he has since, by his own hard labor, cleared 90 acres, which he lias placed under a good state of cultivation ; at the above date, deer, wolves, bears, wild turkeys and other game was here in abundance ; he hauled his productions to Pickaway, where he disposed of his wheat at 50 cents per bushel.

and loaded back with groceries, salt, etc. He has been twice married, his first wife was Elizabeth Knofsinger ; she was born in Preble Co. ; nine children were the fruits of this union, of whom six are now living, viz., Henry, Eli, Daniel, Amos, John and Mary ; his second wife was Jane Davidson, also a native of Preble Co. ; they have two children by this union, Harvey and Noah. Mr. Cook was a son of Henry Cook, who was born in Germany, and married Catharine Fouch. also of German descent ; they both died in Pennsylvania ; Mr. Cook now owns 200 acres of land in Jackson Township ; commencing with a capital of $35, he has since accumulated all of the above by his own exertions ; the energy and perseverance displayed by Mr. Cook are well worthy of example 1)}- the young men of the present day.

JOSEPH EICHELBERGER, farmer and Justice of the Peace, Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Union City. The subject of this memoir was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., Feb. 22, 1820 ; at 13 years of age, he engaged as clerk in the hardware trade at Harrisburg. which position he filled until lie attained his majority ; he then followed farming in Pennsylvania until 1869, at which date he emigrated to Ohio, and located upon Sec. 15, Jackson Township, where he now lives ; he owns 160 acres of land with good farm buildings, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor and correct business habits. Of township and school offices, he has had his full share, having held the office of Township Trustee two years, School Director nine years and Justice of the Peace three years, which office he now holds. His marriage with Caroline Brenizer was celebrated in Cumberland Co., Penn., upon the 12th of November. 1843 ; she was born in the above count}* ; they were the parents of nine children, of whom seven are now living, viz., Mary M., Joseph E., Washington L., Jane A., James B., Laura V. and Cora A.

DR. BENJAMIN W. EVANS, farmer and physician. Sec. 3; P. O. Union City ; one of the early pioneers of Darke Co. ; born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Feb. 28, 1815 ; his father, Montgomery Evans, removed with his family from Delaware to Williams, now Defiance Co., Ohio, in 1817, and was the first white family that settled in the Maumee Valley, and here he took up land, upon which he lived until his decease, which occurred in 1847 ; he suffered all the privations and hardships of frontier life ; his milling at first was done at Pickaway, a distance of upward of 100 miles ; his marketing being done in the same place ; the Doctor lived with his parents until 1843, when he removed to Miami Co., and in 1847 came to Darke Co., and is consequently one of the old settlers of this count}7. In 1846. Mr. Evans commenced the study of medicine in Shelby Co., and was one of the first physicians in the north part of that county, and has always followed his profession, and has not yet given it up ; he was one of the organizers of the first Medical Board of Darke Co., and remained a member for many years. Upon Nov. 14, 1863, he enlisted as a private in the 124th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; after serving as private a short time, he was promoted to hospital steward, which position he held until the close of the war ; during his term of service, he was never absent from duty nor received a furlough ; he served in the Atlanta campaign, under Sherman, and was with the above General in North Carolina at the surrender of Johnston ; he, with his sons, are strong Republicans, and, to use the Doctor's expression, he always votes as he fought ; his first vote for President, was for William H. Harrison. His marriage, with Rebecca E. Peters was celebrated May 11. 1848 ; she was born in Hawkins Co., Ohio. Dec. 26, 1826 ; they were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living, viz., Zeletta F., Ida Z., Segisamar L., Aaron L., Mahlon O. ; the deceased, Ella E., died at 3 years of age. The Doctor is a very genial gentleman, and manifested toward the writer a very liberal spirit of hospitality, which is characteristic of his nature as well as of frontier life.

DR. JAMES H. FAHNESTOCK, physician and surgeon, Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Union City. The subject of this memoir was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Feb. 14, 1842 ; he was the son of Ephraim Fahnestock, who was born in Perry Co., Penn., in 1812,

738 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHESand came to Ohio with his parents when quite young, and is now retired from active labor, with a residence at Dayton ; he married Elizabeth Billingsby Jan. 6, 1836 ; she died July 29, 1873. Dr. James H. obtained a common-school education, and. at 13 years of age, commenced the study of medicine, to which he gave his attention for six years ; at 19 years of age, he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, and graduated from the same in 18G3, and, in 1865, he graduated from the Southern Medical Institute, at Memphis, Tenn. ; he then gave his attention to farming until 1874, when he located in Darke County, and, in 1877, commenced the practice of medicine, which profession he has since followed, with a rapidly increasing practice ; the Doctor called the attention of the writer to a curiosity in the shape of an old-fashioned clock, manufactured in Germany in 1753, which has been handed down from generation to generation, until it now has become the property of the Doctor, who places great value upon the same as an heirloom. His marriage with Margaret Benson was celebrated in Randolph Co., Ind., in 1868 ; she was a native of Maryland ; they have six children, viz., Clare E , Dona M., Charles B., Elizabeth A., George W. and Carl.

WILLIAM R. HAND, farmer, Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Union City ; one of the early pioneers of Jackson Township ; born in Somerset Co., N. J., Dec. 6, 1820 ; about the year 1840, he, with his father, Gilbert R. Hand, emigrated to Ohio and located upon Sec. 33, Jackson Township, where he has had a continuous residence of nearly forty years, and is consequently one of the oldest settlers ; about the year 1862. the decease of his father occurred, since which time the subject of this sketch has lived upon the old farm and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He married Mary Bolin, and they have two sons - William, born Sept. 29, 1864, and Joseph, Nov. 30, 1868 ; he now owns upward of 60 acres of land, under a wood state of cultivation.

' ROBERT S. HARTMAN, farmer, Sec. 3 ; P. O. Union City ; born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Dec. 2, 1824; his father, Samuel Hartman, was born in Middlesex Co. N. J., March 19, 1790 ; in 1795, he emigrated with his parents to Kentucky, and in 1801, came to the Territory of Ohio and located in Clermont County ; he died May 13, 1862, upon the old homestead, where he located sixty-one years previous- his first wife was Sarah Dunham ; she died in Brown Co., Ohio, in 1841, leaving eight children, of whom two now survive. The subject of this sketch was raised to farm labor until 1 8 years of age ; the following six years he devoted to farming and carpentering ; in February, 1856, he came to Darke County, and is classed among the old settlers, having been a resident for nearly a quarter of a century. He married Abigail Jones in 1849 ; she died in 1860, leaving one child- Franklin D. His marriage with Mary E. Marsh was celebrated in Darke County Jan. 23, 1862 ; she came to Darke County with her father, William Marsh, in 1853, where her father died after a residence of ten months. The children of Robert S. and Mary E. (Marsh) Hartman were eight in number, of whom four are deceased ; the living are William T., Nancy E., Robert M. and George W. The great-grandmother of Robert S. Hartman, Ann Hutchinson, born March 16, 1700 (old style), was the mother of William Hutchinson, whose daughter Mary married Christopher Hartman in April, 1777 ; William Hutchinson was born Dec. 13, 1724; Catherine (Vohn) Hutchinson, his wife, was born May 17, 1731 ; their children were Mary, born March 24, 1755 ; William, March 12, 1757 ; Hannah, Aug. 9, 1759 ; Robert, July 26, 1763 ; Sylvester, April 20, 1765 ; Aaron. May 17. 1767 ; Ezekiel, Oct. 18, 1769: Ann, July 8, 1772 ; Catherine, Jan. 3, 1775. The grandfather of Robert S. Hartman was Christopher Hartman, born May 6, 1750 ; Mary Hutchinson, his wife was born March 24, 1755 ; they were the parents of eight children - William, born Feb. 17, 1778 ; Isaac, Sept. 2, 1779 ; Rebecca, June 3, 1781 ; Elizabeth, May 22, 1783 ; Katharine, Sept. 27, 1785 ; Samuel, March 19, 1790 ; Fanny. March 5, 1793 - Rachael, Dec. 29, 1796. Samuel Hartman, the father of Robert S. Hartman, was twice married ; his first wife was Sarah Dunham, who was the mother of Robert S. ; she died in Brown Co., Ohio, in 1841 ; of eight children, only two now

JACOB HUNCHBERGER, merchant blacksmith and farmer, Sec. 14; P. 0. Union City ; the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Feb. 8, 1824 ; his father, Jacob Hunchberger, Sr.. was born in the same county in 1784, and is now living in Montgomery Co., Ohio, at the advanced age of 95 years ; he married Mary Dravenstadt who was born in the above county, and died in Fayette Co., 111., at 60 years of age. The subject of this sketch followed farming in Pennsylvania until 19 years of age, when he learned and worked at the blacksmith trade in Wayne Co., Ohio, three years ; he then followed the blacksmith trade for himself in Ashland Co., until 1858, at which date he came to Darke Co., Ohio ; in 1870, he located upon his present place, where he has 66 acres of land, with blacksmith-shop, store and farm buildings ; in 1874, he connected the merchandise trade with his other business, devoting his personal attention largely to this branch of his business, while his son, who is a first-class blacksmith, attends to that branch of his business. He was married in 1851, in Ashland Co., Ohio, to Mary Crouse. They Avere the parents of nine children, of whom three daughters and one son are now living, viz., Cornelius D., Florence, now Mrs. J. C. Boze ; Loa D. and Hattie.

CHARLES NEGLEY, farmer ; P. 0. Union City ; the subject of this memoir is one of the representative men of Darke Co.; he was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1839 ; he came to Ohio when 6 years of age and located in Jackson Township, Darke Co., and after a residence of two years removed to Preble Co., where he was engaged in the stone-cutting business until he attained his majority ; in 1861, he returned to this county and located in Union City, where he was engaged in various mercantile and real estate speculations until 1875 ; he was then elected by the Senate, Assistant Sergeant at Arms of the State Senate, serving 1874 and 1875 ; he was re-elected to the same office and served through the term of 1877 and 1878 ; in 1877, he was elected Mayor of Union City, Ind., and in 1879 was elected representative to the State Legislatui'e of Ohio, which office he now holds. His marriage with Margaret Gard was celebrated in 1861. in Union City ; they have eight children - Iuka, Frank, Rockey C. Kerby R,, Katie. Charles Webber, Clara. Casshie.

WILLIAM PARENT, farmer,' Sec. 32 ; P, O. Union City. Ind ; one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.; born in Monmouth Co.. N. J., Nov. 15, 1804 ; he emigrated to Ohio, with his parents, about the year 1812, and located in German Township, Darke Co.; in 1824, he entered 120 and purchased 160 acres of land at Hill Grove, in Washington Township ; in April, 1858, he came to Jackson Township and purchased 116 acres of land, where he has since lived. Mr. Parent commenced in life without means ; he purchased his first land from the proceeds of his labor at cutting and splitting rails at 25 cents per hundred ; he now owns upward of 350 acres of land, with good farm buildings, secured by his own exertions ; he has suffered all the hardships and privations of frontier life, has frequently hauled oats, wheat, and pork to Cincinnati, selling oats at 10 and wheat at 60 cents per bushel, and pork at $1.25 per one hundred pounds, loading back with groceries, salt, etc. His marriage with Hannah Elsten was celebrated Feb. 18, 1829 ; she was born in Orange Co.. N. J. and died Oct. 22, 1875, at the advanced age of 64 years 10 months and 22 days ; they were the parents of eight children, of whom seven now survive, viz., John, George, Sarah, Elizabeth. Samuel. Harrison and Ameiy ; the deceased, Accha. lived to grow up and become the mother of three children.

FREDERICK C. SCHNEIDER, car inspector of the G, C, C. &I. R. R. ; Union City, Ohio ; born in Hamburg, Germany, Jan. 30, 1826 ; when 14 years of age, he commenced the carpenter's trade, and followed the same until 1 853. when he emigrated to America, landing in Quebec, thence to Buffalo and Cleveland, where he was employed in the car shops of the L. S. & M. S. R. R. for several months, then to Galion for two years, manufacturing cars, and in 1855, he came to Union City, Ind., and has since been Car Inspector of the C, C, C. & I. R. R. for upward of a quarter of a century ; he attends to the inspection of all of the cars of the above road with the assistance of eight men under his charge. He married Elizabeth Jacoby in October 1855 ; she was born in Prussia Jan. 10, 1837 ; they have two children by this union - Charles, born Dec. G, 1856, now conductor on the Bee Line, and William, born April 21, 1859, now brakeman on the D. & U. passenger. Mr. Schneider was a son of Frederick H. Schneider, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany ; was a baker and grain dealer, died in 1869, in Hamburg; he married Anna Gotshe, born in Altona, near Hamburg ; she died in 1848 in Hamburg ; they had four sons and two daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch was the oldest son.

DAVID W. SIGLER, Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Union City ; firm of Sigler, Fahnestock & Co., proprietors of the Buck Horn Saw-Mill. The subject of this sketch, though a young man, may be considered an old settler ; he was born in Iowa, near Iowa City, upon the 19th of October, 1840 ; when less than 2 years of age, his father died, and he, with his mother, removed to Preble Co., Ohio, residing seven years. In 1849, they came to Darke Co., his mother died two years later, and he was left an orphan, to carve out his own way in life ; his first employment was at a hotel at Hill Grove, where he remained three }'ears ; he then obtained employment upon a farm until 1863, at which date he was employed in the above mill, and two years later he purchased an interest, and in 1876, the above firm was formed with Mr. Sigler as superintendent ; their mill is one of the oldest steam saw-mills in the county, and has a wide reputation. He married Jarusha L. Benson, in 1865, in Jackson Township, she was born in Maryland, and came to Ohio, with her parents, at an early day ; they have four children now living, having lost one by death ; the living are Effie V., Mordecai 0., Jarusha J. and Mary ; the deceased, Mary, died in infancy.

J. H. SNOOK, brick, tile and wagon stock manufacturer ; Union City ; born in Frederick Co., Md., Jul}' 2, 1829 ; at 19 years of age, he learned the tanner's trade, which he followed for seventeen years in Washington Co., Md. ; he then followed farming several years, and in the spring of 1875 he emigrated to Ohio and located in Union City, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick, and the first two years made upward of 700,000, for which he found a ready sale ; in 1877, he purchased the tile factory of George Dutro and connected the same with his other business ; the quality of his tile is equal to any manufactured in Darke Co., his sales amounting to $5,000 yearly, of tile alone ; he has also erected a building 30x80. two stories high, for the purpose of manufacturing wagon stock, to which he has added an engine room 30x40, with an engine of fifty-horsepower. Mr. Snook is one of the most enterprising and active business men of Union City and gives employment in his brick and tile factories to thirteen men. which will be largely increased when his factory for the manufacture of wagon stock is in full operation. In 1853, he married Sylvia Keyser ; she died in 1803 ; his second wife was Lydia Dutro, a native of .Maryland ; eight children by each union, of whom nine sons and two daughters are now living, all of whom are living at home, except the second son, who is a blacksmith at Hill (irove.

ELIAS !!. STRAIT, farmer and stock raiser. Sec. 13 ; P. O. Ansonia ; one of the old settlers ; horn in Jackson Township. Darke Co.. Ohio. Aug. 1, 1839 ; his father. Richard Strait, was born in Bedford Co., Penn.. Sept. :S. L796, and in 1829 he came to Darke Co. and located upon the very place where Elias now lives and where tie entered land, upon which he lived for nearly fifty years, until his decease, which occurred Oct. 15. 1878; he married Kachael Jennings ; she was horn in Bedford Co., Penn., and died Deed. 1878 ; they were the parents of ten children. The subject of this sketch continued to live with his parents until he attained his majority, and kindly eared and provided for them until their death ; he now lives upon the same place where he was horn, upon which he has just completed a new frame residence ; he also owns 120 acres three-fourths of a mile from his home farm, now rented to a son-in-law. He married Mary Peters in 1859 ; she died in 1865, leaving three daughters - Rachael, Martha and Ellen. In 1866, he married Sarah Boerstler ; they have four sons and one daughter by this union, viz., Ira. George, Amy, Harry and Levi. Mr. S. is a Republican ; has been Township Trustee two years ; has been a member of the Christian Church twenty years ; his wife and three elder children are also members of the same church.

JOEL STRAIT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Hetslerville. Among the early pioneers of Jackson Township we find the names of Richard and Joel Strait, who loeated here in 1829. Richard Strait was the father of the subject of this sketch, and was born in Pennsylvania in September, 1796. He married Rachael Jennings in Pennsylvania, and at the early day above mentioned, located in Darke County, where he took up Congress land upon which he lived until his death, which occurred Oct. 15, 1878, aged upward of 82 years. Joel Strait was born in Perry Co., Ohio, upon the 6th of October, 1823; he lived upon the farm of his father until after his marriage, when he located upon Sec. 13, Jackson Township, where he has lived for a period of thirty-seven years ; he now owns 110 acres of well-improved land, with good farm buildings ; his fine brick residence was erected in 1874 ; he is probably the oldest continuous resident of Jackson Township, having lived here for upward of half a century. He is a strong Republican ; has never been an aspirant for office, but has held the offices of School Director, Constable and Township Trustee ; has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been member of the Christian Church for twenty-two years, and has been a Deacon of the same for twenty years. His marriage with Hannah Teeter was celebrated in 1843 in Randolph Co., Ind. ; nine children, of whom five are now living, viz., Francis M., Richard W., Milton 0., Joel F. and Alfred ; of the deceased three died in infancy, and Harvey enlisted in the 94th O. V. I. for three years, and lost his life at Bowling Green while in defense of his countr}' .

MARTIN YANDEN, retired manufacturer, merchant and farmer; P. O. Union City, Ind. ; residence, Union City. Ind. ; one of the old settlers of Darke Go. ; born in Gallia Co., Ohio, Feb. 23, 1809 ; at the age of 18, he commenced to learn the trade of wagon and plow maker, and, after working at the same until 1833. he engaged in the above business on his own account, and continued the same for a period of thirteen years ; in 1846, he engaged in the mercantile trade at Gallipolis, continuing the same until 1858, when he emigrated to Ohio and located at Union City, Darke Co., and has been a continuous resident of Darke Co. for upward of twenty-one years. When Mr. V. located here, there were only two buildings upon Elm street ; he has witnessed the marvelous change of seeing the same become the business street of the place, and his own residence and store are built upon a part of his purchase of four lots, for which he at that time paid $30, now worth $1,000 : at the time of the purchase, however, they were located in a pond of water. Upon the 1st of August, 1833, he was united in marriage with Rebecca Guy ; she was born in Virginia Aug. 3, 1806 ; six children were the fruits of this union, of whom three are deceased ; the living are Margaret A., Sarah J. and Julia M.

THOMAS B. WENRICK, farmer and minister ; P. 0. Union City ; residence Sec. 26. This gentleman was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., upon the 26th of March. 1818 ; at 2 years of age, he removed with his parents to Cumberland Co., Penn.: in 1836, he came to Montgomerj- Co., Ohio, and in 1838 located in Miami Co. ; in 1841, he came to Darke Co., and, after a residence of six years, came to Darke Co. and located in Jackson Township in the year 1847, where he has lived thirty-two years within a distance of three-fourths of a mile ; in 1853, he commenced preaching, and has since continued the same in connection with farming ; he now has 220 acres of land, with good farm buildings. Mr. Wenrick was a son of Thomas and Esther (Brant) Wenrick ; his father was born in Pennsylvania, and died in

SOLOMON yOUNGr, farmer, grain merchant and ice dealer; P.O.Union City j tnd. ; one of the old settlers of Darke Co. ; born in Maryland Feb. 12, 1827. his lather. Joseph Young, emigrated from Maryland to Pennsylvania in 1829, and in 1834 came to Darke Co., Ohio, and located some three miles east of Gettysburg; at 16 years of age Solomon Young obtained employment in the woolenmills in Miami Co.. continuing the same seven years ; in 1852, he built a house in Union City, placing the four corners of the same upon stumps ; he opened the first butcher shop in Union City, Ohio, which he run for several years, a portion of which time he also conducted the grocery and baker trade ; in 1868, he located upon his present place, and for three years engaged in the saw-mill business, in connection with farming ; he has cleared 240 acres of land during the past eleven years ; his home farm consists of 80 acres of well-improved land, with good farm buildings, one-half mile from Union City ; he has held the office of Assessor, and is now Land Appraiser. In 1864, he enlisted in the 152d 0. N. C, under the call for 100-days men ; was elected and served as Second Lieutenant for the full term of service of four months ; in 1877, he connected the ice business, and is now also largely engaged in buying and shipping grain to the Eastern markets, his warehouse being located between the tracks of the C, C, C. & I. and the P. C. & St. L. R. R.'s. He was united in marriage with Hulda Reed, at Versailles, Darke Co. ; she was the daughter of Allen Reed, one of the early pioneers ; they were the parents of nine children, of whom Amanda, William T., Gertrude, Lincoln, Petulia and Solomon F., are now living ; the deceased were John, Mary E. and one who died in infancy.

JAMES RAILEY, retired farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Stelvidio . was born in Bedford Co., Penn., June 16, 1814; his father, William Bailey, was born in Pennsylvania June 20, 1776. and married Mary Imel ; she was born in Maryland June 20, 1782, and now resides in Preble Co., Ohio ; he died April 13, 1861. James, the subject of this sketch, moved to Darke Co. in the fall of 1839, and lived in Brown Township until he moved to where he now resides, in Richland Township, and has always followed his present avocation. He married Mary Ann

ALEXANDER B. BRANDON, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 27 ; P. O. Versailles ; was born in Wayne Township, Darke Co., Dec. 14, 1820 ; his father. James R..

was born in West Virginia April 14, 1792, and married Anna Hole, Sept. 15, 1818 ; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1798 ; he came to Darke Co. with his sister Elizabeth in 1818. Mrs. J. R. Brandon's father, Zachariah Hole, moved to this county the same year. Mrs. Anna (Hole) Brandon died near Hill Grove, in 1857, and J. R. Brandon died Feb. 24, 1876, in this township. Alexander, the subject of this sketch, has always worked hard to dig out a home for himself and family ; since 1846, he has cleared, almost lone-handed, upward of 60 acres of heavily timbered land ; by his untiring industry, aided by his good wife, he is blessed with a good home, and a favorable promise of comfort in their declining years. He married Anna Shafer, April 9, 1846, daughter of John Shafer (see Job M. Shaffer's biography in this work) ; she was born in Bedford Co., Penn, April 30. 1826; they have had ten children, viz.: John T., born March 24, 1847, and died while in the service of his country, at Cumberland, Aug. 22, 1864 ; Rilev M.. born March 18, 1849 ; Job S., born Aug. 25. 1851, and died Aug. 8, 1866 ; Dorothy A., born Jan. 29, 1854, and married Nathaniel Kershner ; Eugene, born Nov. 29, 1856 ; Aaron, April 20, 1859 ; James Oct. 9, 1861 ; Noah. Feb. 2, 1864 : Arthur M., born July 12, 1866, and Retha Belle, born April 7, 1872 ; he owns 212 acres of good land and a fine home.

JOHN E. BREADEN, farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Greenville ; was born near Glendale, Hamilton Co., Ohio, June 17, 1828 ; his father, Jeremiah Breaden, was born in Ireland, and married Epenetus Sorter in New Jersey, where she was born ; both died in Springfield, Ohio. John E. Breaden, the subject of this sketch, learned the profession of druggist with his brother William, in Hamilton, Ohio ; their father was an educated physician, and practiced medicine and surgery during his lifetime. John E. came to Greenville in 1850, and engaged in the drug business on his own account for three years, then moved to Brown Township, and engaged in farming ; he returned to Greenville in 1862, and engaged in clerking for John Hufnagle, Esq., in his dry -goods store ; in March. 1865, he removed to the farm where he now resides. He married Anjumila Hufnagle May 29, 1851 ; she was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., May 19, 1832, and is a daughter of John Hufnagle, Esq., President of the Greenville Bank, also merchandising in Greenville. Mr. and Mrs. Breaden have had three children, viz.. John Edward, born July 28, 1852 ; he is an attorney at law in Greenville, and obtained his education mainly at the Chickering Institute, in Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1873 ; he read law with Calderwood & Cole, in Greenville, and was admitted to the bar in 1870 ; Maria Evie, born Feb. 8, 1854 (deceased) ; and Lillian Vincincia, born Dec. 30, 1861, now at "St. Mary of the Springs Convent.' near Columbus. Ohio, completing her education.

SAMUEL S. COLLINS, wagon-maker and farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Dawn : was born in Warren Co., Ohio, June 26, 1819, his father, Levi Collins, was born in Lewis Co., Va., in 1795, and married Elizabeth Snell in Warren Co. Ohio : they she died in Troy. Miami Co.. in 1830. The subject of this sketch served an apprenticeship of two years in Morristown, Ind., then returned to Miami Co.. Ohio, and made his first lumber wagon, and sold it for $5, not on account of the beauty of its workmanship : he followed the business twenty-five years, and has the reputation of doing first-class work ; he settled permanently where he now resides in 1855, and bought land in 1865 ; he erected for himself a good brick residence. Last September, he had the misfortune to lose his left arm by accident. He married Jane M. Cairns March 7, 1844 ; she was born in Ireland Aug. 14, 1818, and died in August 1850 ; they had four children, viz.. Jennet E., born April 23. 1845. deceased ; Laura L., born Oct. 3. 1846 ; she married John Lehman ; Albert M., born July 6, 1848, died May 3, 1872, and Geo. A., born July 10, 1850 ; his second marriage was with Mrs. Elizabeth McDowell, Nov. 27, 1851, widow of William McDowell, who died June 10, 1849, in Brown Co., Ohio : they had one daughter, Lucinda J., born Jan. 7, 1850, and died June 24, 1865 ; by this union they have had five children, viz., John W.. born Jan. 23, 1853, died Sept. 30, 1854 ; Charles F., born Oct. 11, 1856 ; Jason H., Sept. 12, 1859 ; Franklin E., Sept. 6. 1863, and Joseph C, Dec. 17, 1868. Mrs. Collins' father, Adam Ulery, was born in Prussia. Germany, March 24, 1787. and married Mary C. Witty in 1819 ; she was born in 1798 ; in 1811) hi- was drafted into the army, and served nine years under Napoleon. I, they came to Baltimore, Md., in 1820, in 1826 the family, consisting of himself wife and four children, and all their earthly effects in a one-horse wagon left Pennsylvania for a new home in Miami Co., Ohio ; his cash assets all told were $13. lie died March 7, 1876, and she died March 14. following, and at their decease they had accumulated a handsome fortune worth $15,000. Mr. and Mrs. Collins are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; he owns 366 acres bordering on the village of Dawn ; in politics, is a Republican.

REBECCA G. DAVISON, widow of Edwin R. Davison, deceased ; Sec. 24, P. 0. Ansonia. Edwin R. Davison was born in Greene Co., Ohio, Aug. 6. 1830 ; and died in Richland Township July 30, 1878, after several months of suffering with cancer. His father, Robert Davison, was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., April 8, 1798, and married Mary Stratton, March 26, 1829 ; she was born May 23, 1807, and died March 22, 1847 ; he now resides in York Township, Darke Co., with his daughter, Louisa Oliver ; he moved to Darke Co., in 1831 ; by trade was a tanner and currier ; he bought land in this township in 1830 and settled here, and engaged in farming, which he has ever since followed ; he now owns 117 acres of his original purchase, and other lands in Brown Township. He married the second time, Aug. 8, 1847, Mary Brown ; she died Aug. 16, 1865, leaving no issue ; but by his first union were seven children, viz., Edwin R., the subject of this sketch; Louisa, present wife of David Oliver ; Mary A. and Sarah A., twins ; Mary A. deceased ; she married James Deardoff, Sarah A. married Adam Coppess ; Oscar A., Amanda F., who married Isaac Deardoff ; Emily, married Irvin Warvel, both are deceased ; and Mortimer, deceased ; Edwin Davison, deceased, was raised a farmer, and always followed it ; he married Rebecca G. Warvel, Jan. 27, 1853 ; she was born in Rockingham Co., Va., May 4, 1832, is a daughter of John Warvel (See George H. Warvel's biography in this work. ) Mr. and Mrs. Davison have had six children, viz.: Sarah J., born June 28, 1853. she married Riley Brandon ; William H., born Sept. 4, 1855 ; Robert, Nov. 4, 1860 ; Iola M., Nov. 7, 1862 ; Luella, Jan. 17, 1866, died Oct. 4, 1867 ; Seymour, born Oct. 17, 1868. She owns 146 acres of land and a good home.

OSCAR, F. DAVISON, tile manufacturer at Nevada, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Dawn ; born in Richland Township Oct. 16, 1837 ; his father, Robert, was born in Bourbon Co., Ky.. and married Mary Stratton, of Greene Co., Ohio, and moved to Darke Co. in 1829. The subject of this sketch was raised a farmer ; he engaged in merchandising during the year 1866, but sold out before he had been in business a, year, and returned to farming and dealing in live stock ; has been Township Assessor of personal property. Supervisor, Trustee, etc.; in 1877, he erected tile works, and now gives his attention to this business. He married Sirena Plessinger, daughter of David Plessinger, in March. 1861 ; she was born Jan. 28, 1838, and died Nov. 29, 1865, leaving no issue; his second marriage was celebrated with Sarah .lane Plessinger, daughter of G-eorge Plessinger, whose biography appears in this work, Feb. 20, 1868 ; she was born Dec. 20, 1847 : they have had five children, viz. . George R., born Jan. 4, 1869, died Sept. 19, following ; Tepa H, born Oct. 5. 1872: Mary (',.. July 8, 1874 : Claude E., Jan. 6, 1877. and Cora May, Oct. 21. 1878. lie owns 1 13 acres of land, two good houses and his tile works, which arc extensive.

JOHN W. DICK WALL, merchant and grain-dealer. Nevada; P. (). Dawn; was born in Montgomery Co.. Ohio. Sept, 27. 1840; his father. Win. Duckwall, was born in Virginia Aug. 15, 1808, and married Caroline Bruner ; she was born in Virginia Jan. 27. 1820 ; they moved to Montgomery Co., Ohio, where they now reside ; on his 70th birthday, the family had a very gratifying surprise, six sons and two daughters with their families, by pre-arrahgement, came together under the old roof-tree to congratulate the old people. John W., the subject of this sketch, at the age of 19 commenced teaching school ; this he continued up to 1878, though at times engaging in other business, receiving at Oberlin much of his education. In August. 1862, he enlisted in the 112th 0. V. I., which consolidated with the 63d Regiment, and served until the close of the war ; he participated in the battles of Resaca, Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain, and many others ; on Sherman's march to the sea, he was never captured, or received a wound ; entered as Sergeant, and was Orderly Sergeant at the close, and was so familiar with the names of his company that, he could always call the roll without the " roster ; " he engaged in merchandising in this place in Ma}7, 1878, also in the grain business. He married Jennie Maxwell, July 15, 1869, daughter of Samuel and Jane M. (Furguson) Maxwell, who reside in Frederick Co., Md. ; she was born May 25, 1841 ; they have three children, viz.: Carrie J., born June 10, 1870 ; Samuel W., born Oct. 6, 1873, and Francis C, born May 14, 1876.

PHILLIP HARTZELL, farmer, stock-raiser, steam thrasher and corn-sheller, Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Beamsville ; was born in Adams Township, this County, May 23, 1843 ; his father, John J. Hartzell, was born in Pennsylvania Dec. 1, 1815, and married Nancy Westfall ; he died in September, 1852, and she died in 1865, in Richland Township ; they were among the earliest settlers of Darke Co. The subject of this sketch was raised a farmer ; in 1864, he traveled West, and followed teaming between Omaha, Neb., and Denver City, for about a year and a half ; then returned to where he resides, on the homestead of his father ; last year, he erected for himself a fine residence ; has only one brother, David, who lives in Rossville, Kan. Phillip Hartzell married Caroline Dill in October, 1868 ; she was born in Beamsville Sept. 14, 1851 ; her father, John H. C. Dill, was born in Germany, and came to this country in 1832 ; he married Martha C. Siegmunt, in 1834, in Butler Co., Ohio ; she died March 7. 1858. in this county. In Germany he learned harness-making, and followed it awhile in Trenton, Ohio ; afterward in Beamsville, where at the same time he kept a hotel, also engaged in merchandising ; he moved to Dallas and engaged in merchandising, but at the decease of his wife, was farming, but was in the mercantile business at the time of his death, in April, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell have two children, viz., Rosetta, born Aug. 3, 1869, and Charles D., born May 22, 1875 ; he owns a fine farm of 115 acres, part of which was the homestead.

JESSE B. JOHN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Dawn ; was born in Montgomeiy County, Ohio, March 2, 1833 ; his father, Jacob B. John, was born in Franklin County, Penn., May 7, 1789, and married Eleanor Phillips, of the same county ; she was born June 2, 1791 ; in the spring of 1810. moved to Montgomery County, Ohio ; he served in the war of 1812, and was honorably discharged ; afterward served two years as Captain of militia company ; moved to Darke County in 1837 ; there he served two years as Township Trustee, and was Justice of the Peace six \rears ; he died Feb. 19, 1868, and she died June 28, 1871, in this township ; the following extract from an obituary was published on the demise of Mrs. Elenor John, relict of David John, the grandmother and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, at her decease, June 22, 1848. aged 81 years 4 months and 12 days : " She was the second of a family of eight children of the Rev. Joseph Powell (Baptist), settled in Bedford County. Penn., being the only clergyman in those parts then ; solemnized 845 marriages up to 1804, the time of his death ; on the 25th of January, 1785, she married David John, of Little Cove, Franklin Co., Penn., and became the mother of thirteen children ; in the spring of 1810, they emigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio, where she died ; her husband died Nov. 10, 1812, leaving her in a new country, with the charge of a large family, to encounter the privations of such a situation as she best could : but being a woman hale and industrious and with a confiding trust in God, she was enabled to bring up her family respectably and to see them settled in life ; at the time of her death her children numbered thirteen, her grandchildren seventy -one, her great-grandchildren thirty-seven, making her descendants 121." Jesse B. John, with his parents, moved to Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1810, and to Darke County in 1837 ; he was raised a farmer and has always followed the business ; he has been Township Trustee, Supervisor, and eight years School Director. He married Abbie J. K:i\ lor Oct. 4, I860 ; she was born April 29, 1835, in Logan County, Ohio ; her father, Reuben Kaylor, was born Oct. 31, 1805, in Rockingham County, Va., and married Elizabeth Warvel ; she was born June 19, 1807, and died March 25, 1876, in Bellefontaine, Logan Co., Ohio, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse B. John have three children, viz., Bowen Wesley, born Aug. 4, 1861 ; Lillie Dale, June 29. 1864 ; and Willie Barnett, Sept. 3, 1868. Mr. John owns a farm of 80 acres, the old homestead ; his mother died with cancer after long and terrible siiflerinu;.

HENRY C. KESTER, tanner and stock- raiser, Sec. 30 ; P. O. Beamsville ; was born in Hesse Shaumburg, Germany, Oct. 12, 1826 ; his father, Henry F. Kester, was born in the same place June 16, 1800, and married Justina Meyer ; she was born in 1802 ; his father and mother were Frederick and Leonora (Meyer) Kester. Henry C., the subject of this sketch, landed in New York July 6, 1852. and arrived in Darke County July 14 following, with his parents ; his mother died Aug. 11, 1862, and his father is living with him on the farm, where the}' moved in the fall of 1852 on the banks of Stillwater Creek, near Beansville ; in 1849r Henry C. was drafted into the German army ; he served three years, but was granted a government passport to leave before his time expired ; he is Township Trustee, has been Supervisor, also School Director ; he had two sisters and one brother, viz. : Willmena, born Jan. 26, 1829 ; she married a Henry Kester ; Caroline married Louis Kuckenberg, and Ferdinand ; the last two are deceased. Henry C. married Christina W. C. Schulte July 16, 1851 ; she was born in the same place as himself Feb. 7, 1826. They have had eight children, viz. : Caroline W. C, born April 25, 1852. deceased ; Charlotte, born Aug. 3, 1855 ; Willmena. May 15. 1857 ; Christian H., Aug. 12, 1859 ; Henry F., March 2, 1861 ; Fredrick C. L.. Oct. 24, 1864 ; Harmon F., June 20, 1869, and a twin to Charlotte died unnamed. He owns a fine farm of 180 acres, where he resides.

ISAAC N. McFARLAND, carriage trimmer, carriage and wagon maker, blacksmithing and general repairing, under the firm name of McFarland & Bro.. Nevada ; P. 0. Dawn ; Sec. 20. * Was born in Richland Township, Nov. 7, 1849 ; is a son of James McFarland, whose biography appears in this work ; he learned his trade in Dayton, Ohio, mostly ; in 1871, engaged in business on his own account, in Versailles, Darke Co.; in 1876, he located where he now resides, and is now copartner with his brother, James A. He married Mary J. Bashiain March, 1872. in Darke Co.; she is a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann Bashia ; her father was born in France and her mother in Indiana, and now reside near Versailles, in this county ; Mrs. McF. was born July 30, 1854 ; they have three children, viz.: Tracey <i . bom April 22, 1874 ; Rachel A., born Sept, 7, 1876, and Genevieve, born July 14. 1879. He is the leader of McFarland's Brass Band, of Dawn.

JAM ES MfFARLAND, blacksmith and wagon-maker, also general repairing ; Sec 20; P. O. Dawn. Was born in Greene Co., Ohio, May 8. 1822; his father,' Isaac McFarland. married Susanna Stephenson, May 29, 1817; she was born in Boone Co., Ky.. Nov. 18, 1798 ; he died in Greene Co., and she moved to Darke Co. in 1837 ; they had two sons, viz.. William, born in May, 1818, and James, the subject of this sketch ; William was always highly respected and honored for his generous, pious and gentlemanly qualities ; he died in September, 1874 ; lie served through the late rebellion in a regimental band. James, the subject of this sketch, was bound apprentice to the blacksmith's trade in Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio, at the age of 13. and served until he attained his majority, getting six months' schooling in the mean time ; he then moved to Beamsville and started business on his own account ; in 1844, he bought 80 acres, and in 1850, 80 more, where he now resides, and on which is a part of the village of Dawn (Nevada) ; he has been honored with all the offices of Richland Township, and is now Assessor of real estate ; Aug 25 1863 he was elected Colonel and commissioned by Gov. lod, ot the 6a Regiment O M., of Darke Co.; he holds this office, also that of Regimental Drum Maior which he has held thirty-five years ; he has in his possession a cavalry sword' an epaulet, and an English knife, owned and used by his grandfather James McFarland, during the Revolutionary war of 1776. He married Rachel John Jan 2, 1845 ; she was born Nov. 25, 1823, in Montgomery Co., Ohio ; they have had nine children, viz.: William, born April 6, 1846 ; Isaac N born Nov. 7, 1849 - Susan E.. born April 22, 1852, she married Charles Beadle ; James A born Julv 20 1854 ; one unnamed, born Sept. 8, 1856 ; Thomas H.; born Jan. 11, 1858 ; John C. born June 28, 1860 ; Jacob born Aug. 8, 1865, and Dora Belle born Sept 28 1867 Six of the boys and the father constitute the McFarland Brass Band. Mr. McFarland is a member of the order of A, F. & A. M., and has filled all the subordinate offices of his lodge.

AUGUSTUS W McNIGHT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 19 ; P. O. Dawn. Was born in Bracken Co, Ky., March 20, 1817. His father, Alexander McNight married Sarah Lemon, of Pennsylvania ; he served as a private during the war ot 1812 - they moved to Cincinnati in 1830 ; he was a blacksmith and worked at his trade'there about a year ; the family, being too poor to hire a conveyance, walked all the way to Connersville, Ind, where they stayed until 1833, then moved to Butler Co' Ohio, but moved to Darke County and settled in 1835, where he died iu 1843 she died in 1846. in Van Buren Township ; they had managed by the time they came here to save enough money to buy 80 acres in the wilderness but that was all, and for years they had a hard struggle to gain a livelihood ; the first winter they lived in a little log cabin, the floor was the earth ; the woods were full of wild animals and game. The subject of this sketch killed a noble buck with his ax. one of a drove of twenty-seven ; at the age of 13, he got employment at five bushels of corn per month ; he worked out for wages until he was 22 for his parents- after that for himself; at the age of 26, he learned to make half-bushel measures, and made money enough to buy two lots in Sampson ; he sold them and bought 3 acres, improved, near the town ; he sold this in 1851, for $150 ; he then traded for 80 acres in Jay Co, Ind.; that he traded for 25 acres m Neave Township, this county ; that he sold, and bought 42 acres in Richland Township; this he sold for $1,300; he then bought 84 acres m Wayne Township ; sold this and bought 80 acres improved in the same township ; this he sold for $2,600 in 186d ; then he bought 70 acres in Neave Township, and paid $1,700 ; sold this the next year for $2 500 he then bought 102 acres improved, with a brick house, near Versailles ;' sold that in 1873 for $6,200 ; then he bought 40 acres improved m Adams Township ; sold that in 1877, and bought where he now resides and owns 126 acres of as fine farming land as lies in the county, and worth at least $8,000, all this from hard digging ; and he has raised and educated a large family, but he himself never learnedVread or write his own name, even, and he don't owe ; any man a dollar. He married Sarah Shevidecker, of Preble Co, Ohio, Sept. 16, 1841, where she was born in 1823 ; she died in Darke County in 1846 ; by this union were three children, viz.: Alfred, born July 4, 1842, and died Feb 21, 1862 ; Sarah born May 20, 1843 - she married Leonard Shoutz ; she died in Lllmois, and Catherine A born Feb. 8, 1845. His second marriage was with Susanna Nysonger, of Greene Co., Penn, Feb 2, 1848 ; she was born Sept. 29, 1826 ; by tins union were twelve children, three of whom died young - James A, bom Nov^ 1., 1848, deceased; Margaret E, born Oct. 7, 1850; Anna E Dec 4 1852 ; Mary J Sept 24 1855; Lydia, March 16, 1858 ; Lucinda, Oct. 12, 1860 ; Isabelle, May 20 1863 ; Evarilla M, Oct. 7, 1866, and John C, Oct, 11, 1871.

ROBERT A. MORRISON, M. D, Beamsville ; was born in Franklin Co, Penn March 28 1832 ; his father, Aaron Morrison, married Nancy McClintock ; she resides in Piqua, Miami Co, Ohio ; he died in Darke Co, Dr. R. A. Morrison read medicine in Covington, Ohio, and in Gettysburg, Ohio, and graduated in Cincinnati, in the Ohio Medical College, in 1850; commenced the practice of medicine in Gettysburg, this county, where he practiced five years; moved to Laura, .Miami Co.; remained there two years; he then returned to Gettysburg ;; moved to Horatio, 1866, and to Stelvidio in 1868; on the 11th of June, 1872, he was thrown accidentally from his sulky, receiving almost fatal injury, causing paraplegia of his left side, from which he has not. nor will he recover, though in full possession of mind and memory, and good practice, having the confidence of the community and fraternity, and is in full membership in the Darke County Medical Society. He married Sarah A. Shade. March 15, 1859, at New Harrison ; she was born Jan. 27. 1 S:i7 ; by this union were six children, three of whom are deceased ; the living are Mary Alice, Robert Sheridan and Jim ; his second marriage was with Sarah liartel, Aug. 21, 1879 ; she was born April 2, 1844 ; her father, Jacob Hartel. Jr.. was born in Pennsylvania Aug. 14, 1802, and married Elizabeth Curtner ; she was born -June 24, 1802 ; he died Oct. 2, 1873 ; his father, Jacob Hartel, Sr., was born Oct. 5, 1770, and his wife, Elizabeth (Snavely), was born Oct. 18, 1778; his second wife was Catherine Spade ; she was born June 6, 1702 ; his third wife was Susanna Cooley, born April 12. 1701. This family was among the earliest settlers of Richland Township. See George Plessinger's biography, which appears in this work

ELLEN PECK, widow of Charles L. Peck, M. D., deceased ; Sec. 32 ; P. (). Beamsville; he was born near Brighton, Aug. 25, 1837, and was a son of Lewis and Electa (Kelsey) Peck, who reside in Bloomfield, Conn.; Dr. Charles L. Peck, soon after he graduated, moved to Beamsville, Darke Co., and commenced the practice of medicine, which profession he followed with eminent success, and in all the walks of life, he was loved and esteemed for his gentlemanly deportment, kind and generous acts and energetic business enterprise, bj' which, in his short life, he accumulated and left to his devoted family a handsome competency ; he read medicine in Hartford, Conn., where he graduated May 11, 1857 ; besides his medical practice, he engaged in merchandising and farming ; he died Feb. 10, 1876, leaving for his family 200 acres of fine farming land, with good farm buildings, 40 acres of which are adjoining the village of Beamsville, wherein he also owned two dwellings ; he married Ellen Brown, Aug. 21, 1850 ; she was born in Brownhelm. Loraine Co., Ohio, Sept. 9, 1841 ; her father, Jeremiah Brown, was born in New- York State, and married Bridget R, McLaughlin, daughter of Robert and Ellen McLaughlin, who came from Pennsylvania in 1824 ; Jeremiah Brown died April 13, 1844 ; his widow, Ellen, married William Kelsey ; they reside in Richland Township; Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Peck have had three children by their union, viz.: Clifford Lewis, born Nov. 12, 1860 ; Rachael Edith, born June 19, 1865, and Franklin Orator. Nov. 16, 1871.

GEORGE PLESSINGER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22; P. O. Dawn; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Dec. 15, 1815 ; his father, Philip, was born in Maryland, near Harper's Ferry, Feb. 18, 1784, and married Faith Fish ; she was born in New Jersey March 16, 1781 ; they moved to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in the fall of 1817. and to Darke Co. in March, 1820, and settled in Richland Township ; he died July 4, 1861 ; she died in January, 1860. The subject of this sketch came here with his parents ; when they came there were but three white settlers in the township, viz., James Stephenson, David Riffle and Jacob Hartle. Mr. Plessinger's family endured all the privations and hardships of frontier pioneer life for many years ; wild animals and game were numerous and troublesome ; Mr. Plessinger was a successful hunter ; killed but one bear, but hundreds of deer, wild turkeys, etc. He has had his share of township offices. He married Mary Harmon Nov. 1. 1842 ; she was born in May, 1821, in Adams Co., Penn., and came to Darke Co. with her uncle, Philip Hartzell. in 1836 ; they have had twelve children, viz.: Joseph IL, born Nov. 10, 1843, and died March' 1. 1849 ; Faith, born Sept. 20, 1845, married George H. Winbigler ; Sarah J., born Dec. 20. 1847, married Oscar Davison ; Emma, born Dec. 18, 1849, married Walter Snyder; Anna M.,