Defiance County, Ohio - Chapter 30: Tiffjn Townshir-Ealtly Voteus-\qlr.age of Evanspout-Evansport Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 511 - Personal Reminiscences, 1883 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 30: Tiffjn Townshir-Ealtly Voteus-\qlr.age of Evanspout-Evansport Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 511 - Personal Reminiscences

THIS township was organized in 3832. The first election was hekl at the house of Ephraim Doty, and the following are remembered as first voters: Ephraim Doty, EnoH Pm-tee, Lewis Purtee, Samuel Russell, Oliver Conrad, Peter Knipe, Jacob and George Hall, Jacob, John and Adam Coy, John and Thomas Holmes and John Snider. The officers elected were Jacob Coy and Ephraim Doty, Justices of the Peace; John Snider, Constable and Treasurer ; James Guthrie, Clerk; Jacob Coy, Ephraim Doty and probably Enos Purtee, Trustees.

The first school in Tiffin was taught by Ephraim Doty, in a double log cabin, which stood on his farm in the northwest quarter of Section 21. Hester Ann, George and William Partee, Caleb, Andrew and Polly Coy and Houston Russell and Kitty, Rachel and Abner Doty were the pupils. One end of this double cabin was used for a blacksmith shop. The first schoolhouso was afterward built near the old Evansport Cemetery. John Arnold and John Cameron were early teachers in that shop. There are now ten schoolhouses in the towDship, six of them brick. Ephraim Doty was the first settler in the township, coming about 1825 and settling on Tiffin River, then called Bean Creek. Enos Purtee followed soon after; also Lewis Purtee and William Graham. Samuel Russell and John Acus came in the spring of 1831, and ia the fall of the same year the Coys, Sniders, Halls and Mrs. Conrad. Mr. Hollingshead and James Guthrio settled soon after, but did not remain long.

The first sermon was delivered at the cabin of Enos Purtee by Rov. Prior. There are now six churcheH in the township, two at Evansport, a Methodist Episcopal Church on Section 33, which cost over 11,000, a German Methodist Episcopal Church on Section 15, which cost about $700, a United Br^hren Charch on Section 15, which cost over $800, and a Catholic Church on Section 31, which cost over $3,000,

Tiffin River was the only pablic highway open to the first settlers, and canoes and pirogues the only means of conveyance or transportation. About 1847, a boat called the Experiment plied between Evans port and Brunersburg; its capacity was 600 bushels of wheat.

Ephraim Doty, the first settler, died in 1845. He built the first saw mill in the township, on Doty Run, on the old up and down style; he also had the first brick kiln in the township, from which the settlers got their brick to build the chimneys of their cabins. About the year 1834 or 1835, Lewis Partee buiH a saw mill on Webb Run in Section 34, and had a small run of stone to grind corn for the early set* tiers, but it has long since passed away. Mr. John Plummer, an old hunter, trapped in the township several years liefore any settlement was made, and settled in the township about 1835. Mr. Frederick Von Beron erected a tannery about 1842, in Section 16, and carried on quite extensively until about 1866, when he sold his farm and moved to Iowa. About the year 1847. there was a small distillery carried on by Jacob Kintigh, which dis'appeared about 1855. About the year 1852, a great wolf hunter named Skiver came through the township, and was so well skilled in hunting wolves that he rid them all out so they have troubled nothing since. He could track them better than a dog. About the year 1837, came the Toberons, Hockmans, Biderwells, Shermans, Rumkeys, Wisemiller and Miers; all German families, and settled on the east side of Tiffin River, forming what is called the German settlement, but now mostly English.

The soil of Tiffin Township along the river was covered with walnut, poplar, beech, sugar, white ash, huckleberry, dogwood, wild cherry, white and red oak, making farms when brought under cultivation equal to gardens. Away from the river, the timber was mostly burr oak, white oak, black ash, elm and hickory, with some beech and sugar ridges, making it more difficult to bring under cultivation, but with proper drainage it brings good wheat and corn, clover and timothy, all kinds of fruit do well, but apples and pears do the best. As an agricultural township, Tiffin is second in the county in wheat and corn, with plenty of good pasture land to rear horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, there being some fine stock in the township.

Eakly Voters

The following were the voters of Tiffin Township in October, 1845: Reuben Brown, Permenus Kibble, Frederick Ingle, Henry Graham, Wesley Brown,

The town was laid out by Jacob Coy and Albert G. and Amos Evans, December 1-1, 1835. The original plat consisted of 122 lots. It has a population of about obi). It has two churches, one Methodist Episcopal, brick, built in 187-1, and cost $2,800 and one United Brethren Church, frame, cost about |800, and built in 187G. There is one Masonic and one organized Odd Fellows hall. The Masonic hall was built in 1875, The Odd Fellows built in 1871. They have about fifty members each. The school buildings are frame, but have two departments, with about eighty scholars in attendance. There are two dry goods stores, one drag store, one hardware store, five cooper shops, two blacksmith shops, two shoe-maker shops, one wagon shop, thi'ee millinery and dre.ss-iuaking shops, one harness shop and one post office and two hotels. The gi'ist mill at Evansport is the only one in the township. It was built in 1836-37 by Jacob and John Coy and John Snider. The saw mill was built about the 'Bamo time and by the same parties. Both have been running continuously up to the present time Tlie mill is now owned by F''ribley & Kimball, the latter [lurchasing an interest in Decemijer, 1882. It has lieen ]-emodeled and rebTiilt by Fribley & Co. , and does an extensive business. This lirst mill was built hj Coys & Snider, and ceased to grind in 1868. In 1872, Daniel Fribley and Abram Coy built the present

Evanspoet Lodge, P. & A. M., No. 511

This lodge was organized under a charter granted by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, October 17, 1875, the charter members being as follows : Enos Kimble, Abram Coy, William B. Showman, John S. Cameron, Samuel Donaldson, Robert B. Cameron and George W. Scott, John M. Welker, of Bryan, Ohio, being appointed first W. M. At the first election of officers held under the charter, the following were chosen: Robert

C. Sandford, J. D. ; William, B.* Showman, Tiler. At the time of its organization, the financial conditions of the people in its jurisdiction, \^s such as to prevent many from making application for membership, but as money began to be more plentiful, in consequence of which times got better, men good and trne began to inquire the way, and the growth of the lodge from that time to the present has been a steady one, the membership at present numbering sixty. - Present officers for 1883 are John

-S. Cameron, W. M. ; Judson McCord, S. W. ; Frank W. Ury, J. W. ; Abram Coy, Treasurer: J. H. Hockman, Secretary; Robert B. Cameron, S. D. ; Sandford Posey, J. D.; and Robert C. Hall, Tiler. Stated meetings are held on the first and thirdFriday evenings of each month, hour of meeting, 7 o'clock, P. M. All Masons in good and regular standing are cordially invited to meet with the brethren of said lodge.

Personal Reminiscenses

The Coy B'amily. Jacob Coy, Sr., and his wife were natives of Germany who immigrated to Beaver County, Penn., in 1857. They were married March 8, 1776, and had a family of five sons and three daughters. John Coy, son of Jacob Coy, Sr., about 1800 settled in Greene County, Ohio, and in 1804 married Mary Jones, and they had six sons and three daughters. John Coy died November 8, 1823, aged forty-one years, his widow and all his family moving to Tiffin Township in the fall of 1831. All the members of the family entered Government land. Mary (Jones) Coy, the widow of John, was born in Kentucky August i3, 1787. Her father, John Jones, born in Wales in 1752, came at an early age to America. His wife (m'e Nancy Powers) was born in Scotland in 1756, and came when but a child to America. They were married in 1776 and had four sons and five daughters.

January 7, 1830, Mary Shank, and immigrated to what is now Tiffin Township in the fall of 1831. He entered 109 acres of land in Section 3. and commenced his improvements whore Evansport now stands. The village of Evansport was laid out in 1835 by Jacob Coy, Albert Evans and Amos Evans. The first copartnership was formed by Jacob and John Coy and John Snider, in the spring of 1835, for the piirpose of building a grist and saw mill. The latter was completed September, 1835, and the former April, 1837. This firm, under tlie style of Coy & Snider, remained in business up to 18r)7, Jacob and Mary Coy still survive at a ripe old age, having raised a family of eleven sons and two daughters. Abram Coy, son of Jacob and Mary Coy, was born January 18, 1833, in Evansport, and still resides within a few feet of where he was born. He remained at home until twenty-four years old, helping clear up the farm. February 19, 1857, he married Mai'garet. daughter of John M. and Margaret (Johnson) Donaldson, born August 13, 1830, in Lycoming County, Penn., and her parents were natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a millwright, and assisted in putting up the first mill at Evansport and settled on Section 3. They had six sons and four daughters - David (dead), John, Rachel (Mrs. C. A. Skinner, and living on the old Donaldson homestead), Mary (wife of Judge J. J. Greene, of Defiance), Margaret (Mrs. Abram Coy), Susan and James (both dead), Samuel, Jacob C. and William. Mr. Donaldson was in the war of 1812 as Captain, and had four sons, all commissioned officers, in the late war. One son, James, died in the service; the rest completed their services at the close of hostilities. The families who " pitched their tents " together when they - first came to Tiffin Township were those of Jacob, Mary, John and Adam Coy, and John Snider and Jacob and George Hall. We are enabled to give the following sketch of Mary Conrad, whose maide^ name was Mary Jones, and whoso first husband was John Coy and second husband Oliver Conrad. She was born on the present site of Booneboro, Ky., in the early days of Indian hostilities, and experienced the privations of that era. She sought refuge in Boone's fort, and soon after located in Greene County, where she married John Coy, by whom she had nine children. Mr. Coy died in 1823, and after eight years, she, with the old spirit of frontier life, moved into what is now Tiffin Township, when there were but seven families residing therein, who all pitched one tent on the banks of Tiffin Eiver near the present residence of Thomas Rethmel. Mrs. Coy, after remaining a widow for years, married Oliver Conrad. She was a fine shot, and found the accomplishment of service 'in protecting her crops. She was energetic and firm as adamant, and beloved by all who knew her. She died in the faith of Jesus Christ at the age of eighty-three. She died December IB, 1870, at her daughter Nancy's (Mrs. John Snider), and was buried at Evansport.

Joseph Collins. William Collins came to this coiinty from Lycoming County, Penn., in March, 1837, aged about seventy -seven years; purchased land, and lived in Tiffin Township eleven years; died in 1848, aged eighy-eight years. Joseph Collins, son of William Collins, was born in Lycoming County, Penn., in 1808; was married to Matilda Tallman in 1831. They bought 200 acres in Sectioa 11, in Tiffin Township, where they moved in 1835. They endured many hardships, in common with those who moved into the thick woods. Their land was cleared by him. Malarial fevers and ague were frequent; supplies often gave out before their crops came in, then long journeys had to bo made to got provisions. An incident: Once Mr. Collins was ve?y sick; the flour was all gone; Mrs. Collins must get some. Early in the morning, after leaving the sick man, unable to leave his bed, with their two little girls, aged two and four years; she had to go two miles to the river, through the woods, with no path through the deep snow except a " blazed way," that is, a chip taken off from trees, marking them so that the marks could be seen from one large tree to another; thon, after crossing the river, to tho farm now occupied by Thomas Kethmel, where J. Leisure lived, she found they had gone to mill the day before; Mrs. Leisure was sick, the man gone, and would not be back before night, and they had nothing in the house to eat; if she went home she would have to come back, and that would take all day; so, with an anxious heart, she stayed, doing what she could for Mrs. Leisure in the meantime, who needed her. Mr. Leisure came with his meal after dark, too tired to go any further. She took what meal she could carry ; it took her a long time to get home; she heard the wolves howl on her way. When she got home, Mr. Collins was making efforts to get out, but could not stand alone; the children were crying. Before she could make gruel, she had to go out in the cold, and grope around to cut wood. Mr. Collins died March, 1859, aged about fifty years, having lived here twenty-four years. His wife. Ma'tilda Collins, remained a widow for sixteen years. She died January, 1875, aged sixty three years, having lived here forty years. They both were respected by all of their neighbors. _ The children of Joseph and Matilda Collins were Elizabeth, born May 9, 1832, married to David Justus, July, 1849, deceased; Mary Ann Collins was born March 22, 1834, died July 15, 1857, aged twenty-three years; Martha M. Collins, born October, 1849, married to Louis

Kucal; llache] 11., bora September, ISol, married to Daniel Allison; Trypliena - Collins, born December, 18.37, married to Oliver Allison; Joseph Collins, born 1859.

Abram Tallman Collins, oldest son of Joseph Collins, was born July 19, 1837, in Tiffin Township. Married to Magdalena Kindigh April, 1865. Their children were Etta C, died aged fourteen months; Charles T., born April, 1870. ]\Ii-. A. Collins enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Vohuiteer Infantry, under first call for troops; enlisted again in Company F, One Hundred and Eighty -second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was in service till the close of the war. [n 1865, moved to Stryker, ^\'illiams County, where his business of livery has since been conducted.

John Cameron. The subject of this sketch, and the eldest son of Mordecai and Nancy (Isaacs) Cameron, was born in Donegal Township, Lancaster Co. , Penn., June 24. 1807. On the 19th of November, 1829, he was married to Miss Lydia Stenger, of Wayne County, Ohio. Soon after his marriage, he moved to Mohican, in Wayne County, Ohio, where he lived about three years; then moved to Woostev, Wayne County; remained there but a short time, when he returned to his father's, whdre he left his family and determined to go \V est and obtain a home for himself and family in Western Ohio. In 1833, he started, alone, with no one to bear him company save the rifle aud the compass, and after several days' travel over roads and through swamps almost impassable, he came to where Toledo is now situated. Only a few huts then marked the place of this now beautiful city. Remaining there a short time, and after painting a schooner belonging to Capt. Piatt, he resumed his journey, passing several Indian tribes on his way up the Maumee River. After reaching "Fort Defiance, " he changed his course, aad came up Tiffin River as far as Mr. John AVissler's, where he remained a short time looking at the country arou^nd Lick Creek, when he returned to his family, yet in Wayne County, Ohio. This was his first visit to Defiance (then Williams) County. Bight more round trips were made by him, all of which were accomplished on foot. In the spring of 1834, in company with his brother, Samuel P. he returned again, and bought land on Lick Creek. In the fall of the same year, he moved his family to their newly adopted home. For many years the log cabin was their castle and he shared bountifully in the hardships incident to those early days of pioneer life. He took an active part in showing land to the early settlers, and thus became acquainted with the location of the most valuable lands throughout the county, as well as with the early settlers, by whom he was highly respected. He was elected Treasurer of Williams County, then including Defiance, in 1841, which office he Held two terms, serving with honor a-d credit, after which he returned to his farm on Lick Creek, was immediately elected Justice of the Peace, serving fifteen years. In 1865, he moved to Evansport, Defiance County; was appointed Postmaster, which position he held at the time of his death, August 4, 1875, In 1870, he was appointed Assistant Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, and officiated in taking the census of that year. In politics, he was a Democrat, until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he identified himself with the Republican party. He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at an early age, and continued therein an active and devoted member until his death. He was a kinsman of the Hon. Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania. The family of John and Lydffi, Cameron consisted of the following children: Nancy Jane, born May 11, 1831, in Perry Township, Wayne Co., Ohio; married to R. B. Olmstead May 25, 1852; agaiQ married on the 10th day of October, 1864, to Tunis Stirers; Harriet Bostater, born August 29, 1833, in Wayne County, died June 25, 1848; John Stenger, born January 30, 1836, in Tiffin, Ohio, married to Elizabeth Snider August 26, 1858; Lucretia Ann, born January 27, 1838, in Tiffin Township, Ohio, married to Amos Snider November 5, 1857; Simon Mordecai, born in Tiffin Township, married to Miss Martha A. Lingle November 21, 1865, married to Miss Susan M. Bennett in 1882; William Wallace, born January 25, 1843, in Pulaski Township, Williams County, died at Lebanon, Ky., March 9, 1862; he was a private in Company D, Thirty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Robert Bruce, born in Bryan, Pulaski Township, December 13, 1845, mar- . ried to Miss Isabella C. Christy October 15, 1876; Edwin Ruthvin, born October 3, 1848, in Tiffin Town- * ship, died July 24, 1849; John P. Cameron, born March 29, 1851, in Tiffin Township.

Lydia (Stenger) Cameron was born in Lycoming County on the 18th day of September, 1810. Her parents, John and Nancy Ann Stenger, moved from Pennsylvania to Wayne County, Ohio in 1817, at which time she was but six years old. On the 19th of November, 1829, she was married to John Cameron. In the Eall of 1834, in company with her husband and other members of his father's family, she came to Williams County (now Defiance County). She was just twenty-four years of age on the day of their arrival here. In a new and wilderness country, surrounded with the trials and burdened with the hardships incident to pioneer life, she and her husband commenced to make for themselves a home. WiLhJthe exception of four years, she lived on the farm until

1865, a period of about tweaty-seven years. But hard work, long continiied toil, care and anxiety had done their work, and the once vigorous constitution bad become impaired and broken. In 1865, she, with her husband, moved for the last time, to the country village of Evansport, to spend the evening of life within its quiet and peaceful limits. At the early age of seventeen years, she became a member of and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and re taiuedjtheroin a u unbroken membership until the time of her death, a period of nearly tifty-four yeai-s. She died at the residence of her son, Simon M. Cameron, in Evansporr., on the '2Uth day of April, 1881, in the seventy-first year of her age. She was the mother of ten children, of whom mention is made in the sketch of the life of John Cameron herein.

John P. Cameron, youngest son of John and Lydia Cameron, was born in Tiffin Township on the 29th of March. 1851. He remained with his parents on the farm until the fall of 1865, when he accompanied them to their new home in Evansport. Here he attended the district school during the winter sessions, and worked on the farm diiring the summer vacations, until 1809, when he entered the Bryan Normal Academy, and received therein an academic education. In March, 1S73, he began the study of law, and in the fall of the same year entered the law department of the university at Ann Arbor, Mich., where he remained two years, graduating therefrom in the spring of 1875. In the spring of 1876, he was admiLted to practice law, and on the 5th day of July of the same year came to Defiance, and commenced the practice of his profession, having his office with Hon. W. D. Hill and Gilbert D. Myers. On the 5th of November, 1877, he formed a partnership with ihe above-named firm, and continued a member thereof imtil about Mai-ch 1, 1879, when the firm was dissolved by mutual consent. On the 9th day of March of the same year, he entered into copartnership, for the practice of law at Defiance, with Benjamin F. Enos, which partnership terminated on the Jst of January, 1880 (Mr. Enos having been elected Prosecuting Attorney of Defiance County). Immediately thereafter, on the same day, he associated himself with and became the partner of Hemy B. Harris, in the practice of law in the same place, which partnership continued until February 1, 1SS2, when, by mutual consent, it was dissolved. In tlie fall of 188 1, he received the nomination for, and in October, of the same year* was elected to, the office of Clerk of Courts of Defiance County, being the first Republican Clerk ever elected in Defiance County, and on the 9th of February, 1882. he entered upon the duties of his office, which he has faithfully di.scharged to the satisfaction of his numerous friends in both pai'ties,

Robert B. Cameron, the fourth son of John and Lydta (Stenger) Cameron, was born in Bryan, Williams Co., Ohio, December 13, 1845. From thence he accompanied the family to his father's farm on Lick Creek, in Defiance County, where he remained, working on the farm, until the fall of 1865, at which time he and his brother, John P. Cameron, together with their father and mother, moved to the village of Evansport. In the winter of 1865-66, he attended school in the village, George W. Ury being teacher. In the spring following, he entered the Bryan Normal Academy, at Bryan, Ohio, under the tutorship of Prof. C. W. Mykranz, where he remained four terms, of three months each. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Houston Russell, April 1, 1869, at Evansport, Ohio; attended medical lectures at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), in the class of 1S70 and 1871, and of Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, in the class of 1872 and 1873, graduating at the latter school February 22, 1873, since which time he has been practicing medicine in Evansport. He was married to Miss Isabella Christy, daughter of John and Fanny Christy, of AVilliams County, Ohio, October 15, 1876. Their family, by this union, is as follows : Lillian May, Robert Clayton and Roy Belt. Dr. Cameron was appointed Postmaster at Evansport in 1875, serving in that capacity until 1881, when he resigned. He was once appointed and twice elected Trustee of Tiffin Township, which office he now holds. He assisted his father . in prepai'ing the census reports for the district comprising the townships of Adams, Tiffin. Washington and Delaware, in 1870, and was himself appointed Enumerator of Census for the township of Tiffin in the year 1880, which position he filled with such neatness and accuracy as to . receive the highest commendation from the Supervisor of Census for the Northern District of Ohio. He is a member "of Northwest Chapter, No. 45, R. & A. M., Bryan, Obio; of Evansport Lodge, No. 511, F. & A. M. , and of Evansport Lodge, No 489, I. O. O. F. ; was elected W. M. of Lodse 511, and setved in that office, bv the nnanimous voice of said lodge, from 1876 to 1882. He has been thrice elected Secretary of Lodge 489, I. O. O. F. , which position he now holds.

Christopher Kuhu was born in Germany June 8, 1808; immigrated to Tiffin Township in 1844, having been previously married (August, 1835) in Germany to Miss Ann Mary Barbara Borea. They had a fam ily of seven children - Barbara (dead), Ann Mary. Henry, John, Peter, Christopher and one who died in infancy, ili-s. Kuhn departed this life September 14, 1875, and Mr. Kuhn still continues to reside on his farm in Section 33 of this township.

Obadiali Purteo, sou of Lawrence and Rebecca (Webb) Purtee. was born July 29, 1833, in Tiffin Township, on the farm entered by his father on Section 8'.^. His father was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1801, and the latter (he thinks) near Dayton, Ohio. They were married in 1827, and died on the farm they entered here. Their children were Rachel (dead), Hannah, Obadiah, Louisa, Lucretia, Geori;o, Joseph and Catharine (the latter died in infancy). Hannah and Louisa reside in Missouri, the rest are residents of this county. Obadiah married, September 26, 1860, Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick and Anna (Wissler) Engle, born June 26, 1839. Of this union tiie fruits are tVee children - Anna, born February 9, 1862, died February 13, 1865; Horatio E., born September 21, 1864, and Esther J., born October 24, 1866. The father of Mrs. Purtee was born in Pennsylvania, her mother in Pickaway County, Ohio, and was daughter of the old pioneers, John and Catharine Wissler, and she is still living on the old farm entered by Mr. Engle in 1835, after he came from Dayton, Ohio, whither he moved from Carlisle, Penn., in 1829.

Jacob Hall was born in Pennsylvania January 15, 1803, and married Susannah Coy in 1822. Mrs. Hall was born July 2, 1805, in Greene County, Ohio. They came to Defiance County in the fall of 1831, and settled in Section 15, Tiffin Township. Mr. Hall died April 5, 1851, and Mrs. Hall died October 23, 1870. Their family consisted of Rebecca, born January 11, 1823, and married Thomas Robinson, she died February 15, 1848; John born January 8, 1825, died July 10, 1845; Sarah Ann, born in 1827, and married William Churchman October 22, 1847; George C, bom June 23, 1830; Jacob, born August 30, 1882; Jesse Hall, born January 17, 1835; Oliver Hall was born February 7, 1838; Adam, born March 14, 1841; William, born April 10, 1843. George Hall, a brother of Jacob Hall, accompanied him when he moved to this township.

George C. Hall, the son of Jacob and Susannah (Coy) Hall, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, June 23, 1830. The next year he was brought by his parents to Tiffin Tovmship, where he has resided ever since. His parents were among the few earliest pioneers, who opened up the wilderness of Tiffin Township, and George was raised amidst the privations and hardships of frontier life. He was married, October 13, 1852, to Mary Ann Bailor, who was born March 10, 1882, the daughter of John and Nancy (Lantz) Bailor. Her mother was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 6, 1818, and married John Bailor in the spring of 1831. Mrs. Hall was the only child by this marriage; John Bailor died in August, 1832 and his widow married, for a second husband, Solomon Snider, by whom she had the following children: Amos, Samuel, Elizabeth and Louisa. They emigrated to Defiance County in 1842, where Mrs. Saider died December 81, 1852. The children of George C. and Mary Ann Hall were Rosina A., born in 1854, married James M. Phillips Jiine 14, 1876, and died September 5, 1881; Clarissa A. , who married John Ermine June 14, 1878; Francis M., married to Phoebe Kellermire. January 12, 1881; Archibald A., Amos J., Wesley A. (deceased) and Elmer. Mr. Hall is a prosperous, successful farmer of Tiffin Township, and owns the old homestead of his father in Section 15, which was wrested, with his assistance, from its primitive wilderness and converted into one of the best improved and finest farms of Tiffin Township.

Jacob Hall, son of Jacob and Susannah Hall, was born August 30, 1882, in the old log cabin in Tiffin Township, which his father built and removed to in 1831. He was reared in Tiffin, and married Margaret Christy January 5, 1854. She was born in Washington County, Penn., April 12, 1832. Their family consisted of Emma (deceased), Cora (deceased), Robert C, who married Mary Fribley in February, 1881; John, married September 14, 1882, to Fannie May Russell; Freddie (deceased), Anna and Maggie. Mr. Hall volunteered in the service in 1861, but sickness prevented him from taking the field. June 21, 1863, he enrolled his name in -Company E, Eighty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged, by reason of expiration of term of enlistment, February 10, 1864. He resided in Williams County in 1855, and from 1860 to 1871 was Constable of Tiffin Township. He now owns and occupies a farm in Section 3, adjoining Evansport. He also owns a brick-yard, which was started in 1878, and is now supplying the village and surrou.nding country.

Adam Hall, another son of Jacob Hall, was born March 14, 1841, on his father's homestead, where he remained till eighteen years of age, when he began doing for himself. He commenced working at his trade, carpentering, in the spring of 1861, and continued till his enlistment in Company E, Fourteenth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, February 8, 1864. He remained in service till the close of July, 1865. He returned home and was married, September 14, 1865, to Elizabeth Dieden, daughter of Jacob and Hannah Dieden. She was born in Tiffin Township January 24, 1847. After marriage, they settled in Stryker, Williams County, and resided five years, then returned to Defiance County, eventually settling on the farm they now occupy, in Section 9. Their children are Henry H. , born June 4, 1866; Otto A., born December 21, 1867; Ernest A., born May 24, 1871; Jennie M., born September 26, 1875, and Western M., born August 1, 1877.

William Hall was boi'ii in Tillln Township April 10, 1843 ; is Uie hou of Jacob and Susanna Hall, pioneers of Tidui. lie was raised in his native township, and learned the cooper trade. He was married, April 2(i, ISGtl, to Laura A.' Ury, dau<;hter oC George W. Ury, of Wasliington Township. Their cliildrcn are Flora C, liorn August 15, 1867; Edwin E., born March 10, 18G1) ; Alice I!., bcu'n Se[)teinbcr 27, 1870; George F., born July 31, 1872; Grace M., born December 30, 1S7G; and Kranklin F., born January 0, 1H80. Mr. Hall enlisted in Company K, Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, February 23, 1861, and sewed to the close of the war, receiving his discharge at Camp Dennison May 2H, 1805. After his marriage he moved to Stryker, Williams County, wliere he lived about eight ^ear.s, when he removed to this township. In February, 1873, he purchased 120 acres in the woods, which he lias cleared and now occupies.

Jesse Hall, son <jf Jacob and Susanna (Coj') Hall, was born June 17, 183."), and married Mrs. Christiana B. Ilethmcl, in .\pril, 1857. She had two children by her lirst husband ; Joseph CuUen (deceased) and John H., who married Maria Ackerman. Mr, Hall's children l)y this marriage were Leander, who married Sarah Jane Myers, in December, 1879 ; Willard (deceased), Clement L., Maude L., Kate B., Willie C. and Jesse G. Mr. Hall is a prominent farmer of Tillln, and his nearest post offlce is Evansport.

Oliver Hall, son of Jacob and Susanna Hall, was horn February 7, 1838, at the old pioneer home. He receix'cd a common school education, and spent his time on a farm, and is still farming eighty acres in^ this township, which he took when covered with woods and cleared up. Ho married Ann Maria, daughter of John A. and Catharine (Winters) Cnirber, who was born December 14, 1842, in Tillin Township. They have had six children, viz., Florence, born Dcceuiber 27, 1861, died January 0, 1865 ; IMinnie A., born August 13, 1864 ; Thomas B., born .Vugust 13, 1866 ; Dora A., Iiorn I'cbruary 24, 186S ; John H., born October 13, 1S71 ; Mclvin D., born .Vugust 25, 1876.

Frank Hall, youngest child of Jacob and Susanna Hall, was born November 16, 1845, on the old pioneer farm, and rc^ccived a common school education. He learned the cari)entcr trade, but now has sixteen acres of the weslerly part ol' the old home farm, on which he Wiis raised. He was manned, December 25, 1873, to Mi.ss Sarah C, daughter of John and Catharine (Williman) Buck, of Williams Countv, Ohio, who was born January 10, 1854. They have one child, Charlie, born October 15, 1874.

(George Hall, Sr., son ot I'cti'r and Catharine (Harshargar) Hall, was born December 22, 1804, in Bradford County, Penn., and came with his parents to Dayton, Ohio, at the age of sixteen. His father died there aged about eighty two years. His mother died in Indiana, a«ed eighty }ears. fllr. Hall was married, Febriuiry 4,

1833, po Miss Catliarine Carroll, who died in July, 1878. They had eleven children - Peter, Susan (dead), Jacob C, William C, Adam C, John S., Elizabeth, Solomon, Martin G., Sarah (dead) and Delilah A. Mr. Hall was among the first to settle in Tillin Township, north of Tillin River, coming in the fall of 1831, and being one of the seven families who came together, being Coys', Snidor's and Hall's. Mr. Hall has been famous foibuilding 'log cabins, having built sixteen in the township of Tilfln, and lived in all of them ; some upon lands upon which he squatted, and others upon which he bought and had made a start, and then sold out and built again. He built a frame house in Evansport, his present home, which he now occupies in his seventyninth year.

Adam C. Hall, son of George and Catharine (Carroll) Hall, was born in Tiffin Township, August l(i, 1842 ; grew up on farm, attending district schools in winter until he was seventeen years of age. He then went to to learn the coopering business, and continued at this until he was twenty-one years of age, when he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August 22, 1861 ; was engaged in skirmishing ; was at Wildcat Mountain and was victorious over Zollikoffer, and at the battle of Mill Springs, Ky. Was then taken sick, sent to the hospital, and from there discharged July, 1862, and sent home on account of disability. He was married, February 7, 1863, to Mary, daughter of John and Martha (Reed) Dunn, the former born in Dublin, Ireland, A. D. 1820, died in Medina Count}', Ohio ; the latter, born Medina County, Ohio, in 1826, died October 22, 1863, in Evansport, aged thirtyseven years. Mr. Dunn came to this -county while a young man an! settled in Pennsylvania, and from there to this State to Medina County, where he married. His cliildren were Sarah (dead), Mary, Blaurice and Ella. Mr. Dunn died and Mrs. Dunn married a Mr. Murry, by whom she had several children, but one living, a daughter, Elsie. Mr. Hall resumed the coopering business after coming out of the army, and has continued ever since, and started in connection thor-ewith the hotel business in Evansport, in the summer of 1882, and continues both at the present time.

John Snider, born in Perry County, Ohio, ]\Iarch 12, 1807, is a son of Daniel and Mary (Harshburgcr) Snider, who were born and n arried in Pennsylvania, and came to Perry County in 1806. Their children were Rebecca, George, Jacob, Mary, Susan and Catharine (twins), Daniel and Betsy (twins), Solomon and Samuel (twins), John, Joseph, Sally and Fanny. Mr, Snider was married twice, chosing for his second wife Betsy Patterson, and by her has two children, David and Eli. The subject of this sketch labored on a farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he went to learn the carpenter and cabinet-making trades. He was married, December 29, 1830, to Miss Nancy Coy. They came to Defiance County in 1831, slailiug from (ireciie I'ounly September 6, and ari'lving in TifliQ Tovvnsliip September 18, 1831. He was one of the numlief wlio organized the township in 1832. On arriving in tliis town.ship, they camped out at Ephraim Doty's, and again wliere Tliomas Rethmel's house now stands. The Coys and the Halls accompanied them to this county. Tliey were the first whites who crossed the Tiflin Ri\ er. xXorth of Doty's the banks had to be cut down so they could cross. In April, 1831, Mv. Snider entered the land ho now lives on in Section 3. They came to this county ijy way of Fort Amanda and St. Marys, and the country was mostly wilderness. Mr. and Mrs. Snider and eleven of their children are alive, and live near to each other. The}- are truly a remarkable family. Their children are Daniel C. Snider, born October 25, 1831 (married Sarah C. Bohn, daughter of (k'orge and Catharine - Spangler - Bohn, April 9, 1857. Their children are George H., John W., Minnie C. and Hattie M. ^h: Snider was a school teacher from 1851 to 1859, and lives in Section 10, Tiffin Township) ; Mary ^V Snider, born November 6, 1833 (married Tomas Yeager May 5, 1853) ; Sarah E. Snider, born January 7, 1836 (married William Kintigh, and lives in Stryker) ; 3Iartha Snider, born June 27, 1838, and married Samuel Yeager ; Abigail Snider, born December 22, 1840, and married Samuel Shuter ; Solomon Snider, born February 22, 1843 (killed at the siege of Atlanta August 1, 1864) ; Rebecca Snider, born Februaiy 6, 1845, and married Bricc H. Garber ; Samantha Snider, born November 28, 1847; Ruhama A. Snider, born May 19, 18.J0 (married James N. Replogle) ; Joseph Snider, born September 18, 1852 (died September 21, 1852) ; John W. Snider, born September 18, 1852 (married Sercpta Lingle, April 30, 1874 (they have one child - Flora E., born June 15, 1875) ; Thomas C. Snider, born January 16, 1856, and married Clara Buck, November 28, 1878 (they have one child - Myrtle May, born April 14, 1882); Jacob Emery Snider, born May 8,1858, and married Clara Spangler October 21, 1880 (they have one child - Nellie, born August 6, 1881).

Thomas Yeager was born November 9, 1828, in Butler County, Penn. His parents were John and Mary K. (Duke) Yeager, who had a family of fifteen children - Daniel, died at the age of two years ; Catharine; Jacob, died in 1857 ; Mary, died in 1865 ; Francis, was in the army in the late war and had his leg shot off, (amputated), and died from the wound at Alexandria. He had enlisted in a Michigan regiment ; Elizabeth, John, Rebcc(^a J., Absalom, Thomas, Susan, Andrew, Amelia, Samuel, who married Martha, daughter of John and Nancj- Snider, who were old pioneers ; and Sarah. Ills father was of German descent, his mother Scotch. They moxed from Butler County, Penn., when the subject of this sketch was about four years of age, and located in Stark County, in Union Township ; from there to Portage County, near the place now known as Kent; from there to Perrysburg, Wood County, in 1842; then to Henry County, in 1844. His mother died there in 1845, aged flfty-four years. His father then moved to Prairie Duemasque, and married Widow Shasteen ; he then moved to La Grange County, Ind. The subject of this sketch then left home at the age of nineteen years, coming to Evansport in October, 1847, penniless. He received his first schooling by working nights and mornings for board, thereafter he taught the district school six years, in which he has received his education ; married Mary T. Snider, oldest daughter of John and Nancy Snider, May 5, 1853, by whom he had five children, of whom the two following are living - John A. , born December 25, 1856 ; Nancy E., born June 13, 1858. After marriage, he farmed for three years, then engaged in the mercantile business, at which he still continues at Evansport, keeping an excellent general store. He enlisted in the army in the late war ; in June, 1863, raised a company for the service (Company E, Eighty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry), and went out as Captain of said company on the six months' call. He served his time, then returned and resumed the mercantile business ; he has been very successful, having set up bis son, John A., and his son-in-law, A. C. Cameron, in the same business in Evansport. Mr. Yeager taught the school in Evansport in which he received his education, also his son, J. A., and his wife, Ella M. Ashbrook ,^ also his son-in-law, A. C. Cameron, and his wife, Nancy -^ E., have all taught the same school in Evansport, in which they all attended school. Mr. Yeager's wife was a school teacher also, and has taught in this county, but not at Evansport.

John A. Yeager, the first child and eldest son of Thomas Yeager, was born December 25, 1856. He had the advantages ef a common school education, and graduated at Valparaiso, Ind. He taught the district school in his native town (Evansport) several terms, then entered the store of his father as clerk for a time, and then entered into partnership in same business with his brother-in law, A. C. Cameron, and still continues in the same. He was married, March 23, 1879, to Miss Ella M., daughter of Thomas and Susan (Deraorest) Ash brookjjthowas born March 16, 185S. They havQ oiifi child - MattioBelle, born January 15, 1881. (Mrs. Yeager was born near Columbus, Ohio ; attended school at Delaware, Delaware County. Her father was in the ' late war ; was wounded and died from the eflfects at Vicksburg. Her mother afterward came to Defiance County, and married S. P. Cameron in the fall of 1866, I and died August 31, 1880.

Samuel Shuter was born December 8, 1834, in Montgomery County, near Dayton, Ohio. His parents, Peter and Barbara (Honsinger) Shuter, were bora in Lancaster County, Penn. They have had twelve children - Elizabeth, Mary, Andrew W., Sarah, Samuel, Daniel, Catharine, Christiana, Barbara, Peter (deceased), George and William. All living but Peter, who was killed in a steam saw mill by an explosion, in Montgomery

County, Ohio. His i^raiKUalhor, Chnstiaii Sliutor, caiiio to Montgomery County when the father of our subjcet was twelve years old, being among the, first settlers of Montgomery County. Here the subject of this sketch gre v to manhood ; attended district school ; remained at home until twenty-one years of awe, then starting out in life worked at the cooper business, also at carpenter work. In the spring of 1857, he came to Defiance County, and in tlic spring of 1858 lie entered into copartnership with Thomas Yeager, in tlie mercantile business, in Evansport, in which he continued a short time. During this time he married Miss Abigail, daughter of old pioneers, John and Nancy Snider; she was the fifth child born in Evansport, A. D. 1840. Four children have been born to them - Mary 0., born Octob.'r 1 8, 1850, died November 5, 1861: ; Thomas E .. ,JmrmjouQmbov il, 1867; John W., horn Decpmber 19, 1869, and Charles R, born December 1, 1877. Mr. ~ Shuter enlisted in service August 15, 1861, as private in Company D, Thirty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; served a little over two years, veteranized on the 10th day of December, 1863, served till close July 23, 1865 ; commenced the mercantile business in September of 1865 ; continued in it till 1877, then retired- Solomon Snider, a brother of John Snider, was born in Perry County, Ohio, in March, 1811, and was married in Fairfield County, Ohio, lo Mrs. Nancy Bailor. The fruits of this marriage were four children - Amos, Samuel, Elizabeth and Louisa, all ' born in Fairfield County, Ohio. In the fall of 1841, Mr. Suider came to Evansport, put up a tannery and continued in the business about twenty j'ears, when he sold out to his son Amos, and removed to Fulton County, Ohio.

Amos Snider, a son of Solomon and Nancy Snider, was born December 16, 1834, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and came with hiy parents to Evansport in 1841. Here lie received a common school education, and worked several years at the harness-making business. At the age of twenty-tiiroe years, he engaged in tlie tanning business with his father, and finally bought him out and continued the business about fifteen years. In 1875, ho engaged in agricultural and hardware business, which has been a success, and which business he still follows. He was married, November 5, 1857, to MissLucrctia A. Cameron, of Tiffin Township, who was born January 27, 1838. She was the daughter of John and Lydia Cameron. The fruit of this marriage has been the following children : Harriet L., born August 12, 1858 ; Lydia J., born December 3, 1862 ; Mary L., born May 12, 1864 ; Martha C, l)orn January 23, 1867, and died March 5, same year ; Frank M., born October 3, 1868 ; Clyde C, born" October 18, 1871 ; Lake R., born May 12, 1874 ; Cclia A., born July 8, 1880. Harriet L., the oldea|fi,'raamedClarence Betts, and are living in Williams County.^:^ ''*'"^^ T^&^i!^ Samuel Snider, son of Solomon and Mary Snider, was born November 1, 1836, in Fairfield County, Ohio.

His parents came to Evansport, Defiance County, when Samuel was about five years old. His father being a tanner b}' trade, he went into the business at Evansport, Samuel working at the business until about twenty-two years of age, when he struck out in life for himself, and is now carrying on the harness-making business, in Evansport. He was married April 21, 1859, to Miss Lorinda E. Fuller, daughter of John and Sarah (Thayer) Fuller, the former born in Vermont, in 1790, the latter born in Massachusetts, in 1799. Mrs. Snider was born April 17, 1839. The fruit of this marriage is, William R., born January 24,1860 ; Arthur S., born October 18, 1863 ; George H.,. born September 29, 1865 ; Alma E., born February 9, 1868; James C, born January 9, 1874 ; Charles, born November 3, 1876.

Greorge Purtee was born in Kentucky near the Blue Licks. B}' his first marriage he had four children - Aquilla, Polly, Betsy and another son whose name is forgotten. He was again married to Rachel Hague, with whom he had seven children - Enos, George, Phebe, Hetty, Sarah and Nancy. He died, and Mrs. Purtee married George Nichols, by whom she had two children. He di^d and she married Dennis Downing. She died about the year 1866, aged over ninety years.

Enos Purtee was born in Virginia June 2, 1794. The date he came to Highland County, Ohio, with his father's family is unknown. He was married in Highland County, Ohio, to Phebe Dunkius, in the year 1816 ; they had nine children - Hester Ann, George, William, James, Milton, Lovina, Phebe, John Evans and Sarah. Enos Purtee came to Defiance County (then Williams) in the spring of 1826, and assisted in building the dam across Tiffin River, at Brunersburg. John Perkins had a grist mill at Brunersburg; at that time William Buck lived near Brunnersburg. In the fall of 1824, Mr. Purtee moved his family to Defiance County, arriving at Brunersburg Christmas Eve, 1824 His sixth child, Lovina Purtee, was the first white child born in Tiffin Township. He remained over winter at Brunersburg, and in the spring moved on John Lawrence's place, in Noble Township, stayed there one summer, and in the fall of 1825 moved on Doty's Run, remaining there two years, g,nd in the fall of 1827 entered 110 acres of land in Section 20, built his house and lived on this farm when he died. When he moved to this county, there were plenty of Indians, white people being scarcely ever seen. He saw Occonoxee Shane (who was born under the old apple-tree at Defiance), CofTee-Pot, and other noted chiefs, "medicinemen" and warriors. Mr. Purtee and Ephraim Doty lived near to each other, and their closest neighbor lived three miles away, John Purtee, Sr., in Noble Township. Mr. Purtee hunted wild game, such as wolves, bears, turkeys, deer, otter, foxes, etc., for money to pay for his farm. He raised his family almost wholly on wild game. If it had not been for the wild game, TiflOin Township would not have been settled.

Epliraim Doty's was the only family living in the township when Jlr. Purtec came here. Mrs. Phebe Purtee died June 10, 1855. aged sixty-one years. He was again married to Mrs. Catharine Jones, May, 1856. Mr. Purtee died April 5, 1876, aged eighty-one years ten months and three days. j\lrs. Purtee died February 22, 1878, aged sixty-nine years. Hester Ann Purtee was born Juno 2, 1817, and was married to Henry Brown, August 2S, 18-12. They had four children. Mrs. Brown died December 10, 1879, and Mr. Brown died December 1 1 , 1 87 9. George Purtee was born April 5, 1 81 9, and was niarricd to Nancy Gusler, February, 1839. They had one son, Enos, dead. Mrs. Purtee died, and he was again married to Anna K. Gurwell, November 30, 1841, Rev. Thomas Winters, officiating. They have ten children - Mary, dead. Phebe Ann, married to William Stailey, May 6, 1866. They had two children. Mrs. Stailey died March 12, 1879 ; an infant son, dead. Elizabeth Marie, married to George Johnstone, February 22, 1871. Again married to John Hanna, June 17, IHSd. Addie Emeline, married to Lewis P. Carter, September 15, 1881. John William, married to Lilly Kimble, November 30, 1881. Lcretta Victorine, married to George Keller, July 4, 1875. They had two children - Clyde and Donald G. (deceased). Henry G. (deceased), Jacob Monroe and Frank S. George Purtec lives in Section 25. William Purtee was born January 23, 1821, and was married to Sarah Wisler, December 11, 1852. They have one son - Elmore Forrest. Lives in Section 32. James Purtee was born in the year 1823, and was married to Rebecca Benner, November 11,' 1849. They had seven children - Enos, Lizzie, Frank, Jacob, Martin, Jaaies, and an infant son, dead. Li\'cs in [Michigan. Milton Purtee, born in the year 1S25, married to Margaret Justice. December 19j 1852. They have five children - Harriet M. Tryphenai

Purtee, born in the year 1827, married to William Rath, June 8, 1851. Thoy had seven children. Mrs. Rath is dead. Phebe Purtee, l)orn in the j-ear 1829, married to Wellington Anson. They have no family. John Evans Purtee, born in the year 1831, married to Sarah Ingle, IMay 18, 1852. They have five children - Ellon, married to Alexander Mattock. They have two children. Orlando Benton, married to Hattie J. Ury, Deceinher 5, 1876. They have two children. Alexander B., married to Louisa J. Hatfield, 187 - . They have one child. Frank (dead) and Charles. John E. Purtec lives in Bryan, Ohio. Sarah Pnrtee, born in the year 1833, married to Franklin Winans. They have

William Purtec owns the old homestead in Section 20. John W. Wissler was born March 27, 1830, in Pickaway County, Ohio. He was the youngest son of John Wissler and Catherine (Weldty) Wissler, who were the parents of nine children, ahz.: Elizabeth, Anna, Mary, Solomon, David, Sarah, Henry, John W. and Lydia.

John Wissler, with his family, came to Defiance County, and settled on the banks of Tiffin River, in Tiflin Township, in 1833. At that time, there were only two other families in that part of the county. There was no cleared land and the woods were filled with bears and wolves. But the family set to work with that earnestness which is always destined to bring success. And indeed it did, for before many years they had one of the finest farms in Northwestern Ohio. He became County Surveyor, and among many of the important grounds that he surveyed was the Defiance Cemeterj'. He was not thoroughly educated, but was a natural-born genius. He made chairs, clocks, compasses, and in fact almost everything that could be made by hand out of wood and brass. He retired from farm labor at about the age of sixty years, and died in 1882 at the remarkable age of ninety years. John W. married Caroline Brininger in the year 1855. She was the oldest daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Nagle) Brininger. The former was born in Baden, Germany, and the latter in Stuttgart, near Wurtemberg. They came to America before an acquaintance was formed between them; met, and were united in marriage in Easton, Penn., at which place they lived about ten years; then the family moved to Defiance County, Ohio, and became wealthy farmers. They were blessed with six children, viz.: Caroline, Freddie, Louise, Sophia, Sarah and Helen, all dead except the oldest. In 1870, they retired from farm life and moved to Brunersburg to enjoy their old age free from toil, where Mr. Brininger died in 1880 at the age of seventy years, and his wife is still living with her only remaining daughter, Caroline. For twenty years after the marriage of John W. Wissler and Caroline Brininger, they were well-to-do farmers. They became parents of four children - Fanny, born July 6, 1857; Dora, born on January 9, 1861, died May 2, 1873; Hittie, born September 23, 1865; MoUie, born August 21, 1879. In 1875, they purchased a home in the city of Defiance and moved there for the purpose of living an easier life, and mainly to obtain better educational advantages for their three remaining children. At the present writing, the familj' arc all togetlier, and at the spring election of 1882 Mr. Wissler was elected as first Republican Street Commissioner, and successfully performed his duty as such.

David Wissler was born August - , 1827, in Pickaway Count3', Ohio; was brought up a farmer, and still continues the business in Section 21, Tiffin Township, where he now lives, being a portion of the farm entered by his father in 1833, by deed dated October 7, 1835, from President A. "Jackson. He married Miss Martha Elizabeth Carr, daughter of Robert and Hannah (Creely) Carr, November 20, 1853; her father, a Pennsylvanian by birth and Irish descent, was in the war of 1812; was born in 1775 ; her mother was of French descent, and was born in Vincennes, Ind., A. D. 1800. They had six children - Robert, John N., Julia A., Will- iam H., Martha E., llannali M. (dead). David Wissler's family consist of Jolin F., born December 19,1854; Florence M., born December 27, ISfiO , Willis W., born January 8, 18G0 ; Elmer E. (dead), born June 14, 1802: Frances M. (dead), i)orn October 0, 1865 ; Edwin G.^ born February 2!), 1808 ; Leonora, born May 0, 1870; Freeman W., born April 4, 1S72 ; Vallorous (dead), born January 4, 1874; Dora (dead), born February 11,1870. David Miller, one of the most extensive farmers in Tiffin Township, was born April IS, 1825, in Holmes County, Ohio, his ancestors being from Germany, who settled first near Baltimore, Md., then removed to Pennsylvania and thence to Ohio in 18(12. His grandfather's name was Jacobs, his grandmother's name Hartman. On his mother's side, his grandparents were David Weaver, and his grandmother he thinks was a Coonrad. The parents of our subject, Abraham and Elizabeth (Weaver) Miller, were Pennsylvanians, the former born October 1, 1801, died in Richland Township November 9, 1847 ; the latter died on Section 35, Tiflin 'iownship, at the home of David, her son, February 18, 1808, aged sixty-seven years. Their children were David, Jacob (dead), Barbara (dead), Daniel, John (ilead), Coonrad, John B. Philip, Catharine (dead) and Mary. Daniel and J. B. Philip live in Coshocton Count}'. Our subject married, February 13, 1857, Marj- A., eldest daughter of Lewis and Diana (Webb) Purtee, born iVugust 22, 1828. Their cliildren were Lewis, born May 1, 1852 ; Franklin L., born July 30, 1854; Orlando, born February 25,1857, died January 31, 1860; John, born October 31, 1860 ; Allen, born May 11, 1S05 ; Sophia, born February 29, 1868 ; Malinda, born December 10, 1870 ; Charlotte, born January 4, 1874. Lewis Muntee, who was a soldier in the late war, was married to Catharine Miller, sister of the subject of this sketch, but died in 1865 at the close of the war. His wife died April 13, 1865, leaving three children, viz.: Clara E., born May 10, 1863 ; Sarah and Amanda, twins, born April 13, 1805. Mr. Miller had no advantages of school, attending but eighteen days in all. Spent . his boyhood daj's in Holmes County. Came to Defiance in fall of 1857, and entered 160 acres in Tiffin, Section 25, at $1.00^ per acre, and part at $1.33^ per acre. Mr. Miller is serving in the capacity of Township Trustee, which position he has occupied for a number of years. He now owns 400 acres of land, probably the largest farm in the township.

Charles A. Skinner was born in Harwinton, Litchfield Co., Conn., September 21, 1812. Lived there till he was seventeen and had the advantages of common school and academy. At the age of seventeen, ho started out as a peddler of silverware and jewelry, visiting the States of New York, Ohio and Kentucky. He was married to Elizabeth Hamilton, of Goshen, Conn., and settled down in Montville, Geauga Co., Ohio, at which place his wife died. Mr. Skinner then came to Williams County, Ohio, where he married the daughter of Col.

William B. Sprague, bjr whom he had two children - Charlotte and Corintha. Charlotte married James Turner, of Williams County. Mrs. Skinner died May 11, 1854. After her death, Mr, Skinner spent several years in traveling through the Southern States. In 1861, was married again, to Rachel, daughter of John and Margaret Donaldson, who were early settlers at Evansport and died here. Of this union, one child was born to them, Mary J., born in 1862, Mrs. Skinner came to Evan.sport when about eight years old, with her parents, from Pennsylvania, whore she was born. Settled in Evansport, on Section 3, May 8, 1S30, where they now live and wheru her parents died. Mr. Skinner's parents, Zimri and Sally (Bartholomew) Skinner, were born in Litchfield County, Conn.

William Rath was born in the town of Carlisle, Cumberland Co,, Penn,, Jlay 8, 1826, and came to Defiance County in September, 1846, Worked the first year near Brunersburg, part of the time with William Travis, now deceased, one of the oldest settlers in the county. In May, 1848, William Rath commenced working at blacksmithing in Tiffin Township, on the banks of Bean Creek, and worked at his trade until 1852. Since that time has worked at farming, by first clearing up the forest, which was covered at that time with a very heavj- growth of timber. He was married, in 1851, to Miss Lavina M., daughter of Enos Purtee, who, with Bphraim Doty, settled in the township in 1826, they being the first white settlers. Miss Lavina M. Purtee was born June 3, 1827, being the first child bom of white parents in Tiffin Township. By the marriage of William Rath and Miss Lavina M. Purtee, they had seven children, five sons and two daughters, who are all living. William Rath's wife died in 1870, when he afterward married Mrs. Caroline Hockman, b}' whom he has had two children, a son and a daughter, the son being deceased.

Francis L. Key, born at Miamisburg, Jloutgoraery Co., Ohio, January 11, 1836, is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Gephart) Key, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania. They had ten children - Celestia, Francis L., Edward (deceased), Mary, Albert, William H., Flavins, Edna and Hobart, The parents came to Montgomerj^ Count}', where they marrieil and spent their days. At the age of twelve, Francis L. entered a cigar shop to learn the trade. In 1858, came to Evansport, where he engaged in his trade and farming, and is now engaged in the manufacture of brick, in company with Jacob Hall. He was married, Juno 5, 1863, to Weltha A,, daughter of John Garber, an old pioneer. They have nine children, as follows : Mary, Maurice, John (deceased), Francis, Charles, Millie, ]<]dward (deceased), Dewitt, Ahin. Sirs. Key was born November 25, 1845.

Frederick Speicer was born February 17, 1845, in Wurtemberg, Germany. His father was born in the same place, in 1804, and his mother in 1805, The father died at the age of fift3'-seven, and in April, 1866, Mrs. Speicer came to America, and died in Noble Township, aged sixty-three. Their children were Christopher, born May. 1835; Gottfried, October, 1836; Charles, October, 1842 ; Frederick, February, 1845 ; Frederica, November. 1846, and two who died infants. Frederick, our subject, landed in New York September 27, 1865 ; then came to Defiance, entering Adam Minsel's shoe shop, learning the trade. He was married, November 15, 1868, to Miss Louisa Hayes, daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Ackerman) Hayes, who was also born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Februarj' 21, 1848. Children, eight, viz.: Amelia, born August 20, 1869 ; William, born September 16, 1870 ; Minnie, born October 8, 1871 ; Clara, born April 4, 1873; Ritta, born January 31, 1875 ; Lewis, born March 18, 1876 ; Eleanora, born August 19, 1878, and Lillian, born September 25, 1880. William F. Andrews, was born August 18, 1846, at Hamilton, Ontario ; was son of Israel and Marj' (Blanchllower) Andrews. Tiie former was born in Lower Canada, the latter in England, and came to this country at the age of twelve years. Grandfather Andrews was formerly from Spain. The familj' of Israel Andrews were Joseph P., William F., Amelia and Eliza (twins), John and Susan. Mr. Andrews remained at home till eleven years of age, and then worked out on (arm till the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in Company B, Ninth Michigan Volunteer Infantry-, and went into camp at what was then Fort Wayne, Mich. He then got a furlough home and about three days thereafter, while at home, broke out with small-pox, and was tLien discharged on this account. He re-enlisted Jul^- 31, 1862, in Company C, Twentysecond Michigan Regiment, and was honorably' discharged June 26, 1865, at the close of the war. He was at the siege of> Chattanooga all through that campaign, till Sherman started for the sea. He came to Ohio and was married, on March 27, 1866, to Miss Kate E., daughter of Emanuel and Susan Hoover, who was born November 3, 1849, in Covington, Ohio. They have six children, as follows - Fanny B., boru April 26,1867, died February 3, 1869 ; Lillie G., born December 3, 1870 ; Ilarman G., born September 11, 1872 ; Tacy D., born December 26, 1874 Le ah P., born November 18, 1876 ; Emmet G.. born January 6, 1881, and Emma A., born January 2, 1883. Mr. Andrews started out in 1SG7, and learned the stone mason's trade and followed this up by learning the brick-laying and stone-cutting, mastering each branch of the business, at which he continued till December, 1882, when he went to Evansport and engaged temporaril3 in keeping hotel and restaurant.

Daniel Fribley was born April 22, 1824, in Stark Count}', Ohio. He had no advantages for education, and is a self-made man. Having received but three mouths' sfliooling, wiiich was duriiig the first year of his apprenticeship at the milling business, at the age of about sixteen years, in the fall of 1840. After spending two years in Stark County at the business, he went to Holmes County, and spent about four years in milling there, and from Holmes he went to Florida in Henry County, in 1845, and ran a mill for David Harley two j'ears ; then he bought him out and united with Dr. Parry and one Gibbon in building a new mill, which he afterward purchased, and then sold out to John Brown, and bought a farm in Richland Township, occupying the same for about two years, during which time, 1872, he and Abraham Coy built the present grist mill at Evansport, at a cost of $13,000, on the old site, or nearly so, of the old Pioneer Mill, built by Coys & Snider, which ceased to grind in 1868. In the fall of 1872, Mr. Fribley purchased Coy's interest in the mill. In December, 1882, he sold a half-interest to Enos Kimble. Mr. Fribley was married, July 4, 1850, to Miss Jane Scott, of Henry County, Ohio, who was born in Piqna County, Ohio. Of this marriage, three children were born - John H., who died in infancy ; Caroline, born November 2, 1852 ; Frank C, born September 24, 1854. Mrs. Fribley died May 18, 1858. Mr. Fribley then married Adeline Braucher, September 4, 1859. Two children were born of this union - Isaac A. and Mary A. (twins), born August 14, 1860. Mrs. Fribley died November 23, 1861. Mr. Fribley, for his third wife, married Frederica, daughter of Frederick Rothenburger. She was born May 17, 1839, in Wurtemberg, German3'. Seven children bless this union - Jane (dead), born January 22, 1864 ; Elsie, born July 24, 1866 ; Lulie, born June 12, 1868 ; Bessie G., March 5, 1872 ; Fannie 0. (dead), born April 25, 1874 ; Daniel R. (dead), born December 20, 1876 ; DoUie L., born May 27, 1878. Mr. Fribley's parents were born in Pennsylvania, but came to Stark County, Ohio, where they died.

Frank C. Fribley, a son of Daniel and Jane (Scott) Fribley, was born September 24, 1854, in Florida, Henry Co., Ohio ; spent his boyhood days in the district school, and assisted his father about the mill. At the age of about eighteen years, he came with his father to Evansport, and continued with him in the milling business till the fall of 1882, when he went to Hicksville, and purchased a third interest in the Anchor Mills, of that place, where he now resides.

Dr. Houston Russell, son of Samuel and Margaret (Gnsler) Russell, was born in Hampshire County, Va., November 9, 1823. His grandfather, Jonathan Russell, was of English, and his grandmother of Irish descent. His maternal grandfather, Nicholas Gusler, was from Germany, and his grandmother Gusler was a Vermont lady. They settled on the banks of the Potomac River, on the Maryland side, opposite Hampshire County, Va. In 1824, Samuel Russell, accompanied by his brother-inlaw, John Acus, left Hampshire County for Ohio, and settled down in Madison County, where they suffered much with the disease commonly called " milk sickness." Here they remained until the fall of 1830, when they sold their farms at a great sacrifice, and moved to Williams (now Defiance) Count}', Ohio, and spent the winter at what is now Brunersburg. In the spring of 1831, as soon as the ice was out of the river, Bean Creelf or Tiffin River, the}' moved up the rivei' in pirogues, and settled on what is now Section 20 of Tiffin Township, where thej', with their wives, Sarah (Russell) Acus, and Margaret (Gusler) Russell, quietly repose in what is called the McCauley Cemetery. The children of Samuel Russell were Houston, Joiui J., William, Amanda (deceased), James K., David (deceased), Nancy J. and Elmira (deceased). Dr. Houston Russell, the subject of this sketch, spent his early life in helping to clear up the farm on which his father settled in the wilds of Tiffin Township, with the Indian boys as his chief playmates in childhood, there l>oing ten Indians at that time to one white. In the fall of 1850, after three years' study of medicine under Dr. William C. Porter, of Evansport, he began practice as a physician, and is still in practice at the same place, having located at Evansport in 1850. From the fall of 1 848 to the fall of 1 850, Mr. Russell acted as Deputy Treasurer of Defiance County, John Tuttle being Treasurer. Mr. Russell was married to Miss Lucretia Ann Cameron, Rev. Ebenezer Lindsey officiating. They have one adopted daughter, Fanny May Russell. In the fall of 1860, Mr. Russell was elected Justice of the Peace in Tiffin Township, and served until the fall of 1866. During the six years he served as Justice, not one case brought up before him was appealed to a higher court.

Alexander Bohn, son of George and Catharine (Spangler) Bohn, was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Tiffin Township with his parents about 1855, who bought of Thomas Churchman what is known as the Doty farm, where the parents died, leaving the farm to their two children - Alexander and Sarah C, now the wife of Daniel C. Snider. Alexander remained on the farm for some time, then sold out to Andrew Jackson Lewis, who now owns and occupies the old pioneer Dot}' farm, of which mention is made in several instances of the Tiffin Township history, on the banks of the Tiffin River. Mr. Bohn then moved to the village of Evansport, where he now resides. He married Miss Elmira Dawson, daughter of William and Hannah (Acus) Dawson. To them has been born one daughter.

Samuel P. Cameron was born September 1, 1815, in Kingwood, Preston Co., Va., and is the only living son of ten children of Mordecai and Nancy (Isaacs) Cameron. The elder Cameron was a tanner in Pennsylvania. In 1817, he removed with his family to Wayne County, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until 1834, when he came to Tiffin Township, then a part of Williams County. Here he entered eighty acres of land, built a cabin and began clearing, residing thereon until his death, February, 1860, aged eighty-seven years. He was a half uncle of the Hon. Simon Cameron. Samuel P. Cameron worked with his father until his majority.

He was married, October 17, 1838, to Eliza Mullen, of Wayne County, Ohio. Six children were born to them, three of whom are living. Mrs. Cameron died October 18, 1865. Mr. Cameron was afterward married, October 27, 1866, to Mrs. Susan Ashbrook. By this union there followed one son. Mrs. Cameron died August 31, 1881. In 1842, Mr. Cameron purchased eighty acres of land in Washington Township, Defiance County, which he sold in 1852, and again purchased 160 acres. This he also sold in 1804, and came to Springfield Township, and purchased 300 acres on Tiffin River, now his home. Mr. Cameron was Justice of the Peace, and has been Township Trustee for several years. He has some of the finest cattle to be found. He is a Universalist, a stanch Republican and prominent citizen.

John A. Garber, eldest son of Henry and Susanna (Arglebright) Garber, was born Novemlier 29, 1811, in Augusta, Va. His parents had a family of five children, viz : John A., Abraham, Frederick, Sarah and Susan. They came to Preble County, Ohio, in 1816. John A. Garber was a tanner by trade, and carried on the business for a number of years in Preble County till 1841, when he came to Defiance County and settled in Tiffin Township. He was one of the first Commissioners of the county, after it became Defiance County in 1845 and served in that capacity for twelve years, and was Treasurer of the county for some years. Mr. Garber was married, December 25, 1832, to Miss Catharine Winters, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Winters, of Montgomery County, Ohio, with whom he has lived over half a century. They had a family of sixteen children, viz.: Christiana B., Sarah J. (dead), James W. (dead), Susan M. (dead), Thomas J. (dead), Ann M., Brice H., Welthy A., Frances A. R. (dead), John W. (dead), Amelia M., Frank P., Charles R. (dead), DeWitt C, Mahlon E. and Cora M. (dead). Mr. Garber died June 25, 1883, and was buried from the Methodist Church at Evansport, Rev. I. N. Brackney preaching the sermon.

Brice H. Garber, son of John A. and Catharine (Winters) Garber was born March 15, 1844, in Tiffin Township. He had the advantages of the district schools in winter, and farmed in summer, and is now farming in Section 9, fifty acres. He was married, January 25, 1866, to Rebecca A. Snider, daughter of John Snider, the early pioneer of Tiffin Township. They had three children born to them, viz.: John W., born April 11, 1869 ; George H., born September 3, 1872 ; Clarence M., born February 17, 1877.

DeWitt Clinton Garber, son of John A. Garber, was born November 15, 1855, on the old homestead, on Section 9, Tiffin Township. He grew up on the farm until about seventeen years of age, when he went to E\ansport to learn the blacksmith trade with Benjamin F. Corwin, after which he started a shop of his own in the same town, where he still continues the business. He married Miss Mary C. Spangler, daughter of John and Elizabeth Spangler, of Tiffin Township. They have

Jacob Moon, Jr., was born xYugust 12, 1803, in Old Winchester, Va. His father, Jacob, Sr., was born in (lermaay, and came to America when a boy to Virginia, and from there moved to Alleghany County, Md., where he died, aged ninety-five years. His mother, Rebecca (Gray) Moon, also died at the age of ninety^five years in Maryland. They had sis children, four sons - Thomas, Jacob, Jr., William, John, and two daughters. Jacob. Jr., worked at home, farming till twenty-six years of age, then married Elizabeth A. Wiles, daughter of William and Sarah (Bowman) Wiles. Her parents were of Dutch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Moon have eight children - Eugene J., Norman, Isaiah G., Ann, Perry, Caroline, John, Harriet. Eugene married Katie Oxenrider, of Tiffln Township ; Norman went to ' Missouri, and is still unmarried ; Isaiah married Sarah Moon and lives in Tiffin Township ; Perry married Lydia Figley, of Washington Township; Ann married John G. Wheelan and lives on the homestead with her parents ; Caroline married John .Meek, of Bryan ; Harriet married Lewis Sugar, who lives in Stryker; John married Betsey Wieland. Mr. Moon came to Ohio in 1829, near Steuben ville, then came to Tiffln Township in 1833 with his wife and one child. Wiien he came to Ohio, he had 50 cents in cash and a mare on which his wife and child and his effects were carried. This was his condition when he came. He prospered afterward and got a farm of 200 acres. He is now retired and lives happily with his son-in-law in Tiffln Township.

John G. Wieland, born November 5, 1823, in Wnrtemberg, Germany; was son of Gottlieb and Prederica Wieland, also natives of Wurtemberg, who had a family of ten children, of whom but two, our subject and his si.ster, Barbara C, grew up to adult age, and the sister who married Theobold Fisher died in New York j\Iarch, 1873. The father died in 185K, the mother in 1851. They immigrated to America in 1831, settling in Erie County, N. Y. John G., our subject, came to Tiffln Township in 1850, taking up 188 acres. His first marriage was with Rosina C. Kurtz, on April 9, 1849; she also came from Wurtemberg. She bore him six children - John A., Emma L., Sophia, Barbara, Lueinda and Wesley J. Mrs. W. died December 9, 1861, and on May 20, 1802, Jli-. W. again married Sarah Moon, by whom he has six children - Evaline, Christopher B,, George B., Harriet, C<jra A. and Fannie. The present i\lrs. W. is the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Moon, and was born in this township in July, 1838. Mr. Wieland is a skilled carpenter as well as farmer.

John J. Russell was born July 13, 1825, in Madison County, Ohio, and December 9, 1847, married Catharine, widow of Hiram Acus, who had four children by her first husband - Delilah, Elizabeth, John and Ilirani (deceased). Mrs. Russell was a daughter of Stephen Wiuans and Charlotte Mash, of New Jersej', who had eleven children - Samuel, William, Sarah, Hannah, Fan nie and Richard (died young), Stephen, Prazy, Charlotte and Susan (twins) and Catharine A. All of these are dead except Charlotte, who resides at Wasseon, Stephen W. in Nevada,and Catharine (Mrs. Russell). Mrs. Russell's parents came to Miami County in 1824, and died there. Her grandfather, Samuel Winans, fought in the Revolutionary war, and her brother, Prazy, raised a company for the Mexican war, rose to be a General, enlisted in the last war, took his company to Washington, D. C, where he took sick, and returned home to die. Mr. and Mrs. Russell had six children - Samuel A., Sarah E. (dead), William H., Phebe E., William P. and James P.

Solomon Bergman, born February 21, 1834, in Licking Couutj^, Ohio ; is son of John and Elizabeth (Polk) Bergman, natives of Maryland, who came successively to Fairfield, Licking and Hancock Counties, in which last place they died, having had thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters, of whom twelve grew to maturity. Solomon remained at home until 1862 ; moved, to Defiance Township and built a cabin on eighty acres purchased in 1857. He married, March 18, 1855, Caroline, daughter of Asa and Elizabeth (Moore) Cheney, a native of Hancock County, by whom he has four children - Samantha E. was born January 10, 1856 ; E. Douglas, born October 30, 1859 ; Sarah E., born March 8, 1863, died -October 7, 1869 ; Minnie M. E., born October 15, 1866.

Samuel Schlosser, born January 13, 1807, near Harper's Perry, Md., is the son of Andrew and Catherine (Poflfenberger) Schlosser, of German descent, who came to Mansfield, Ohio, where they died. Samuel learned the tanner's trade ; came to Ohio over half a centurj' ago, and married Nancy Mays, daughter of John and Nancy Mays, who was born January 2, 1811, in Center County, Penn. They had ten children, seven of whom survive. Thej' were Andrew, Elizabeth, Catherine, Lueinda, John, Ezra, Samuel, George, Isaiah and William ; Ezra enlisted in the late war, at Mansfield; was taken prisoner, and died at Danville. Mr. Schlosser came to Tiffln Township in 1846, settling on the farm where he now lives, consisting of eighty acres in Section 4, and of 160 acres in section across the road. Mrs Schlosser, although seventy-two years old, still enjoys comfortable health as well as her aged spouse.

George Black, farmer and carpenter on Section 18, Tiffln Township, was bora February 21, 1837, in Pickaway County, Ohio, and received his education at the common schools, and taught school for four terms. He came to TitBn Township, September 12, 1842, locating on Lick, or Otter Creek. He married, October 30, 1860, Elizabeth A., daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Spangler, who was born November, 1840. Their children are Ada R., Charles D., Jennie G., Mary, Nellie G., George H., Harriet E., Margie and John C.

Augustus Skiver

Township, Ashland Countj-, Ohio, was the son of Abraham* and Elizabeth (Fisle) Spanglev, who were born in Pennsylvania, the former in 1796, the latter about 1800. The subject of this sketch remained at home until twenty-three years of age ; he was married February 24, 1859, to Sarah, daughter of William and Hannah (Acus) Dawson, who was born at Brunersburg Februarj' 16, 1837. Soon after marriage they came on to their farm of sixty acres, of which fifty are cleared, on Section 17. Mr. Spangler has worked at the carpenter trade off and on for nineteen years. His parents were born in York County, Penn., and were of German descent ; his grandfather Spangler was a minister of the Gospel, and was one of the first settlers of York County ; his parents came to Ashland County about 1834, and to Defiance County about 1853, and died here.

Peter Spangler, born in Adams County, Penn., February 20, 1821, was son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Fisle) Spangler, who had nine children, viz. : Susan, Peter, Michael (dead), Mary, Henry, Elizabeth, John, Abraham and Rudolph. Peter, our subject, remained at home, received his education only up to his tenth year in the district schools, and assiste.d on the farm until twenty-seven years old, when he started for the West, coming to Highland Township, and purchasing, in 1850, a farm of 160 acres on Section 28 ; thence he came to Tiffin Township, locating on Section 6, on a place of which ten acres was cleared, 'but there was no road as yet cut out. He was married November 14, 1849, to Ann M., daughter of John and Elizabeth Cory, of Ashland County, who was born October 9, 1830. Their children were nine in number - John M., Elizabeth ,M., Mary E., Edmond B., lola M., Alice L., Cora, Kate and Frank. Of these, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Tola and Alice are deceased. Mr. Spangler's parents came to this township in 1854 and died here. Mrs. Spangler's parents moved to Morrow County, where they died ; her brother William served in the late war.

' Philip McCauley was born March 22, 1823, in Carlisle City, Cumberland Co., Penn. His grandfather, Philip McCauley, was a native of Ireland, but, on account of rebellion, was obliged to come to America, settling in Bucks County, Penn., where he married his wife, Mary, a native of Pennsylvania. They had three children, all now dead. Their names were Mary, Patrick and Susan. The grandfather, aged one hundred and one, foBght in the war of 1812, died in Pennsylvania, and the grandmother, in Tiffin Township, aged ninety-one. His grandparents on his mother's side were of German origin, but came to Pennsylvania and died there. His father, Patrick, was born in Bucks County, Penn., in 1802, was a shoe-maker by trade, carrying on business in Carlisle, Penn., for nine years, spending about twentyfive years at his trade. He was married April, 1822, to Elizabeth Engle, by whom he had twelve children - Philip, Henry, John G., Mary A., Julia (deceased), Andrew J., Nathaniel, Susan, Elizabeth, Charles (deceased),

Patrick (deceased) and Caroline. The first five were born in Pennsylvania, the rest in Ohio. He moved to the town of Union, Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1830, working there at his trade until 1863, when he came to Tiffin Township, and entered a farm on Section 21, in the dense wilderness, but after clearing up his farm, etc., he died in comfortable circumstances, at the age of sixtynine. His wife still survives him, at the house of her son-in-law, Orlando B. Porter, in her eighty -first year. Philip, the subject of this sketch, at nineteen years of age, left the farm, and in 1840 worked on the State dam. Again, in 1841, he worked three years at shoe-making, when he bought the farm where he now resides, on Section 32, from E. Phelps and W. S. Brown, and in 1844-45, taught the school in the German district, with twenty scholars on the roll, and fourteen who could- not speak English; teacher'ssalary $13 a month. On April 2, 1846, he married Mary, daughter of John and Catharine Wissler, who was born in Pickaway County November 20, 1819. Their children are Jolm C, born June 16, 1847 ; Orlando T., born May 11, 1850, married Caroline Lehman, residing near Hicksville ; Sarah C, born July 19, 1857, married Peter Kuhn, of Defiance ; William H., born September 28, 1852, married Ida Spangler and lives in Tifflu Township; Harriet M., born April 25, 1854 ; Freeman, born January 18, 1857, died March 10, 1851. Mr. McCauley has now a fine 160-acre farm, with good house and outbuildings, and Mud Creek flows through the farm. He has served his township for over ten years as Trustee and Sphool Director, and three years as Justice of the Peace.

William Churchman, born September 29, 1825, in Preble County, Ohio, was son of Thomas and Susanna (Argerbrigiit) Churchman, the former born June 22, 1794, in Virginia, and died March 21, 1867, at Evansport ; the latter, who was the widow of Mr. Garber when she married Mr. Churchman, was also a native of Virginia, and died in Tiffin Township in 1846, aged fiftyseven years. They came from Preble Count}- to Tiffin Township in October, 1845, buying out Doty, first settler in Tiffin, on Tiffin River, the place now owned by William Lewis. Mr. Churchman was in the war of 1812, and married for his second wife Mrs. Sullivan ; he had one son, Walter, now deceased, by this wife. By his first wife he had nine children - Amelia, Elias (dead), George, Lucy A., Abaline (dead), William, Thomas, Sarah (dead), Malinda. Our subject remained with his parents until of age, when his mother died, and he rented the farm for three years, and took care of the family. He married, October 22, 1847, Sarah Ann, daughter of Jacob and Susanna Hall, by whom he has had seven children - Francis M. (dead), Urias and Lester (twins), William S. (dead), Susanna M. and Edward (twins, the latter dead), and William G. Our subject remained on the, old farm until the fall of 1853, when he bought a farm on Sections 6 and 7 of this township, cutting a road two miles through the woods. His nearest neighbor was one aiKl a half miles off. For milling, be usually went lo La Favetto (now Pulaski) with oxen and a two-wheeled L-art. eleven miles through woods. He enlisted in the hite war in August, 1861, in Company D, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,, served fifteen months, and was discharged for disability. Init re-enlisted in Company K, Fourteenth Regiment in the following February, serving until the close of the war.

Jacob Erman was born in Rockingham County, Va., ] February 4, 1820, His grandfather, George Erman, was a Hessian, horn in Prussia, whose wife was born in Switzerland. He came to America, was married, and settled in York County, Penn., and served in the Revolution under Gen. Washington. George Erman, father of our subject, was born in York County, Penn., and, in 1806, married Sarah Argabright, a native of Rockingliam County, Ya. They have ten children - John, Polly, Malinda, Delilah, .\,nn, Jacob, George, Elijah, Caroline and Amanda Jane. February 1, 1844, Jacob man-led Lucy A. Churchman, daughter of Thomas and Susan Churchman. She was born in Preble County, Ohio, October 12, 1822. Her grandfatiier, Thomas Churchman, was born in London, England. Mahlon 0. Erman, the only child of Jacob and Lucy Erman, was born April 3, 1848, married Serena J. Purtee, daughter of Capt. John and Nancy (Brown) Purfee, and resides in Section 28, this township. Jacob Erman resides on his farm, in Section 20, He came to this countr}- in 1853.

Alexander Rogers, Jr., born January 23, 1824, in Delaware County, Ohio, was son of Alexander and Martha Taylor Rogers, of Pennsylvania, and parents of a family of five sons and seven daughters. Our subject worked on his father's farm in his youth, and married, February 10, 1853, Alley, daughter of Eli and Rachel (Nichols) Sherman, born September 29, 1834, They have lieeii blessed with ten cliildren, as follows : Laviua, born January 1 1 , LS54 ; Carmine Y., born May 18, 1855 ; Lal'avclte, born December 27,1856; Andrew J., born August 28, 1S5S; Cyrus E., born September 8, 1860; Franklin E., l)oru October 16, 1862, died, aged four years and eight n onths ; Harvey F., born Septemlier 24, 1864 ; Alfred A., born May 1, 1867 ; Willie F., born March 4, lSi;9; Hiram W., born March 19, 1871. Lavina married John Figloy, and resides in this township. Lafayette married Josephine Bidlack, and also resides in Tiffin. Mr. Rogers enlisted as a private in Company E, Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, February 28, ISIM, and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged from the service July 11, 1865, at Louisville, Ky. His maternal grandfather, Taylor, fought in the Revolutionary arm}', and his paternal grandfather, Rogers, died at the advanced age of one hundred and three years, in Cumberland County, Peini. Peter Gares, born December 22, 1836; in Bavaria, <.ierraany, was eldest son of Jacob and Mary E. (Drum) (iares, also Bavarian.?, who immigrated in September, 1830, landing in New York, with Peter, their only child.

During their three weeks' stay in New York, their next child, Charles, was born. After a' short stay in Williamsport, Penn., they came to Rome, Richland Co., Ohio, where the father worked at his trade of wagon-making till the fall of 1841, when they removed to Brady Township, Williams County, where they remained until his death, on November 25, 1876, at the age of seventy-six years. Mrs. Gares survives him on the old homestead in Williams County. They had five daughters and three sons : Peter, Charles and John R. (who enlisted in Company E, One Hundredth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, died in Cincinnati Hospital), Catharine, Sarah, Mary E, (dead), Caroline (dead), Louisa (dead). Grandmother Drum came to this country about 1850, and lived at her daughter's (Mrs. Mary Gares), until she died, aged eighty -nine. Grandfather Drum died iij Germany. Peter Gares married, December 2, 1858, Christiania, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Beederwell) Toberen, born April 5, 1838, Her parents were Prussians, who came to New York in 1833, thence to Massilion, Ohio, and thence to Tiffin in 1835. They had a son, Asa, born November 5, 1840. He died in 1856, and she February 20, 1878. Mr. Gares had a family of nine children - Sarah E., born February 24, 1860, and died January 4, 1867 ; John W., born March 22, 1862 ; Charles E., born January 14, 1865, died November 30, 1866 ; Jacob H., born July 4, 1807 ; Orestus P,, born April 27, 1870 ; Clara 0, born July 16, 1873, and died April 23, 1875 ; Emerson W., born October 14, 1876, and died 22d of same month ; Mary E., born October 20, 1877 ; Frederick W., born July 3, 1881, the day following the shooting of President Garfield. Mr. Gares bought out the old Toberen homestead, entered by Henry Hockman and Frederick Toberen, and has now a farm of 147 acres. Mr. Gares has been elected to most of the township, as well as some of the county, offices. In the spring of 1859, he was elected Township Trustee, and served five years ; Assessor in 1866, and re-elected in 1867 ; Infirmary Director at the organization in 1869, one 3'ear, and re-elected in 1870 for three years, to the fall of 1872. During this time, in 1871, he was elected Township Treasurer, and served in this capacity two years. "In the fall of 1873, he was elected Countj' Commissioner, and re-elected in 1876, serving six j-ears in all. During this time (in 1877) he was again elected Township Ti'easurer, and at each annual election has been chosen ])y the people of his township as its Treasurer, and at this writing, 1883, is still in this honorable position, Mr. (iares has one of the finest farms in Tiffin, in Section 15, it being in a fine state of cultivation. His residence and farm buildings are also notable objects in the township.

John Strawser, son of David and Rachel (Smith) Strawser, was born September 21, 1839. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and came to Ross County, Ohio, in 1849. Remaining there but a short time, they c.ime to Defiance County and settled in Tiffin Township, where they remained till 18G6, wheii'tbej- removed to Williams Count}-. Their children were Mary (deceased), (leorge W., John, Phillip, David (who died in the service, war of 18Gl-(!5, at Camp Chase, in the fall of 18(54), William A., Anna C, Albert and Riifus. John Straw ser, the subjeetof this sketch, enlisted in the service of his country August 15, 18G1, in the Thlrtyoiohih Regiment Oliio Volunteer Infantry, in Companj' D. and was honorably disrhargod September 13, 1864, having passed through the hardships and exposure of throe years all right, except a heavy sun stroke, which came near ending his days, and from which he still suffers severely at times. He was married, October 8, 1S6S, to Sophia C. Kleine, daughter of John G. and Catharine '(Klotz) Kleine, who was born September 3, 1851. Of this marriage two children have been bom ; the lirst died in infancy, the second child, Cora E., was born June 5, 1S73. Jlr. S. has eighty acres good land, is an excellent farmer.

John H. Rethmel, son of Joseph and Christiania B. (^Cfarber) Rethmel, was born, October 20, 1852, in Tiffin Township, Deliance Co., Oliio. He learned the cooper business, but has always been a farmer. He was married, April 24, 1873. to Maria L. Ackerraan, daughter of Hi>nry P. and Clara (Mapes) Ackerman, who was born in .Montgomery County, Ohio. The fruit of this marriage has been six children, viz.: Charles C, Cora B., Wade H., Grace X., Alviu R. and Gola 0.

3Irs. Martha Baruhart was the daughter of William Collins and aunt of Thomas Rethmel, and grand-aunt of John Rethmel, was born in Lj-coming County, Penn. 1794. She moved to Defiance Count}' in the fall of 183!', her name then being Mrs. Pidcoe. She was married to Jacob Barnhart in 1843. He died 1852. Her hospitable table was ever welcome to the ' circuit preacher." Aunt PaUy, as she was familiarly called, had been a member of the Methodist Church sixty-two years, and was acquainted with all the old Methodists of her dav. She was a resident of this vicinity (Evansport) tliirty-six years. She died June 15, 1875, at Evansport, aged eighty-one years.