Preble County, Ohio - Chapter 19, 1881 (part 3 of 3)

The cemetrey is located between the village and the site of Fort St. Clair. It is bounded upon the west by the bluff banks of the Garrison branch, has a large frontage upon the maple-lined West road, and contains about twenty-five acres. Originally there was laid out a small burying-ground in the northeastern part of the town; but William Bruce, the proprietor, very soon afterwards donated four acres now included in Mound cemetery, and nerly all of the early burials wete made within this piece of ground - the portion nearest the road, in which the old marble slabs and weathered freestones stand most

As the years passed it was found that the original limits of the cemetery were too circumscribed, and an addition was made which rendered the ground ample euough until recent years, when the boundaries were again extended. The whole has been tastefully laid out in walks and drives which follow, for the most part, graceful curves over the undulating surface. The beauty of the cemetery is enhanced by the presence of a variety of native forest trees and evergreens judiciously introduced.

The peculiar and distinctive feature of this burial place and the one most interesting to the stranger, is the Lowerey monument. This stone, which surmounts one of the beautiful and symmetrical mounds left as the memorials of an unknown race, and within are buried the bones of fifteen soldiers of Wayne's army, among them, Lieutenant Lowerey and Ensign Boyd, who sacrificed their lives in wresting this country from the Indians. They were killed October 17, 1793, a short distance from where Zion's church now stands, and near the forty foot pitch, on Lowerey's branch, about four miles from Eaton.* On the next day they were buried side by side near Fort St. Clair. On the Fourth of July, 1822, the remains of Lieutenant Lowerey were disintered and buried in the northwest corner of the cemetery, and on the seventeenth of October, 1847, the fiftieth anniversary of their fall, the remains of all the soldiers were deposited in the mound where they now lie and will, probably,. remain. An appopriate funeral oration was delivered by Abner Haines, esq., and the late Rev. Charles W. Swain acted as chairman. The monument which marks the resting place of these brave soldiers was erected on the occasion of their final burial by the contributions from a number of generous and public-spirited citizens of Eaton. It bears on one side the inscription to that effect; upon the other the Latin words "Dulce et decorum est pro patrie more," and upon the front the following inscription:

Lieutenant John Lowerey. of the Second sub-legion, and Ensign Boyd, of the First, and thirteen non-commissioned officers and privates, who fell about five miles north of this place, in an obstinate engagement with the Indians, on the seventeenth day of October, 1793. Lieutenant Lowerey was from New Jersey, and had served with reputation in the levies of 1791, under General St. Clair. Ensign Boyd was a young man of much promise; they were in command of an escort of ninety men, having in charge twenty wagons loaded with stores and provisions for the army of General Wayne."

A severely plain but massive sandstone monument marks the burial place of William Bruce, the pioneer and proprietor of Eaton. Very appropriately the monument rests upon a base composed of two mill-stones - they are the buhrs made by John Banfill, and long did service in the second mill built by Mr. Bruce, the one now standing, which was the first merchant's mill in Eaton. It is probable that some of the furrows were chiseled by the hand that is now in ashes beneath them. 'The monument bears a simple inscription to the memory of the " good, kind miller," setting forth the facts in regard to his laying out the town in 1806, and his practical liberality in providing for churches, schools, and donating public grounds. He died February 25, 1830, at the age of sixty-seven years and six months.

Some of the newer monuments are very striking in workmanship and massiveness, notably those of granite, which bear the names of Van Ausdal, Van Doren, Donohue, Campbell and Hoffman, as also the older marble monument which marks the burial place of the Brooke family. 'The remains of that stalwart pioneer of Methodism, the Rev. James B. Finley, lie in the vicinity of the last mentioned. Near by is the grave of the Rev. J. G. Brooke, and at a little distance - designated by a simple memorial marble, is the resting-place of another worthy man of God, who has left in Eaton in his works a far grander monument than any which could be reared by hands above his grave. The Van Ausdal monument isa fit memorial to the pioneer mérchant of Eaton.

One of the older gravestones which is an object of interest to all visitors, is that which stands on the grave of Fergus Holderman, who died in 1838. Itis an unusually large slab of freestone, and only differs from others in the superiority of its carving. It was the work of Clevenger, the sculptor, who, in after years, went to Italy, to study and there made himself famous. The stone bears alarge medallion, on which the inscription is cut, and around it are wreaths of roses and oak leaves, myrtle and ivy, with cherubs, and the emblems ever present upon old mortuary suclptures, the urn and weeping willows. 'The workmanship shows marked excellence, and it is cherished by those who knew Clevenger as one of the first indications of a genius which was afterwards highly developed. Clevenger, who was brought up in Eaton, lost his life on the ocean when returning to his native land from the old world.

Just at the right of the most eastern entrance of the cemetery is a small monument, which stands over the grave of a stranger who died in Eaton many years ago. The grave remained for twenty years unmarked save by a decaying wooden post, from which the inscription has been obliterated by the weather. The present stone was erected by the young men of Eaton in 1853. It is inscribed: a native of Ontario county, New York, died September ro, 1832, aged about thirty years. Whilst sojourning in the village he was taken ill and died among strangers, who, in the hour of affliction, administered unto him, and as a token of their esteem have erected this monument to his memory."

The older portion of the cemetery is thickly crowded with stones, which mark the graves of old and young. The pioneer residents of Eaton who have gone down to the grave ripe with years, and revered by all surviv- 'ors, and children of tender age, whose untimely death made fond parents mourn. By each of these graves of fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, lovers, and sweethearts, bitter tears have been shed, and life hopes have gone out.

The Centennial Fourth Of July

An event so recent as the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the birth of the Republic is, of course, fresh in the minds of all men of to-day, but as years from now the young and those yet unborn will read the pages of this volume, we give a brief statement of the observance in Eaton of the Fourth of July, 1876.

The celebration of the Nation's one hundredth birthday began on Sunday in the churches. Each house of worship was decorated with flowers and garlands of evergreens, and the several ministers of the town in their discourses on that day blended patriotism with piety, and gave thanks to God for the century of progress which had passed since the dark days amidst the throes of which liberty was born.

On the following Monday the town was the scene of busy preparation, and on the morning of the Fourth Eaton was bright and beautiful in her gala day attire. Day was ushered in with the firing of a salute of one hundred guns and the ringing of church bells, followed by the inspiring music of the national airs, played by the band. As the day advanced crowds of people thronged the highways leading into the village, and every township was represented by as large a proportion of its people as could through any possibility leave their homes. Jackson and Harrison sent in regularly organized delegations, that of the latter being a very extraordinary and striking turn-out. At the head of the long procession was the Lewisburgh band, and next came one hundred horses harnessed together, each bearing a rider, and drawing an immense flag-covered wagon, occupied by young girls. Jackson township sent in a wagon of huge proportions, in which rode just a hundred children.

A vast concourse of people moved to the fair grounds. Arrived at the place for holding the exercises John H. Boyce was elected president, and the venerable Albert Haines delivered an able, eloquent and highly valuable historical address. Afterthis short speeches were made by Elder James Neal, Hon. William J. Gilmore, and 'Squire "Thompson, an old and honored resident of Montgomery county sang a number of the songs of early times. The day was concluded with a fine pyrotechnical display, and the crowd dispersed late in the evening, after a celebration unmarred by a single accident or disagreeable occurence.

Mineral Springs

Preble county abounds in mineral springs and flowing wells. The most noted in Eaton and its immediate vicinity are the Court House well and the group of group of springs or flowing wells just northeast of the village, at Mr. Jonathan Flora's and his neighbors. These springs have attracted general attention, are much talked about, and as they possess undoubted medicinal virtues, we present the reader with analysis of their waters, carefully made by F. M. Michael, M. D. Ofthe water of the Court House well the doctor gives the following analysis: $

The water is very strong in sulphuretted hydrogen, the odor of which can be retained for a long time if the water is securely bottled. One of the peculiar- characteristics of this water is that it does not deposit any trace of organic matter or mineral substance, the solution of the mineral salts being perfect. Part of the carbonic acid escapes when exposed to the air, but the larger portion is held in solution. Many persons have obtained relief from various disorders by the use of this water, and the well is regularly visited by many of the townspeople.

The peculiar group of springs adjoining the corporation upon the northeast afford a copious supply of apparently pure and very refreshing water, and are visited to almost as great an extent as the Court House well. The water is tonic in its qualities, and what is known as a chaleybeate water.

The spring on the premises, now owned by Robert Pryor and formerly by Judge Curry, was discovered by Peter Fleming about sixty years ago. He was digging a well for the purpose of securing water to be used in the process of making brick, and a very few feet below the surface tapped a small stream of water which has flowed continuously ever since, although of late years its volume has been considerably diminished. The water flowing from this spring, and the others in the neighborhood, if confined in pipes, will rise to a considerable height, an evidence, though not a conclusive one, that it has its source in a higher level than that at which the springs occur. Beside the spring on the Pryor place, there are others of almost exactly similar nature, at Nathaniel Haywood's at the home of Jonathan Flora, upon the Chambers lot, and one farther east. At Mr. Flora's a handsome stone fountain and basin has been constructed, and it is there that the water can most conveniently be examined and partaken of. Dr. Michael furnishes the following analysis of the waters which flow from the spring upon the Chambers lot, which is exactly like that at the Flora spring about four rods distant:

This township occupies the central part of Preble county, and is the largest of the twelve townships in the county. It is bounded on the north by Monroe township, on the east by Twin and Lanier, on the south by Gasper, and on the west by Dixon and Jackson. Besides being of the regulation width of six miles, it has a length of eight miles, being two miles longer than any other township in the county. This extra length it gains at the expense of Gasper township on the south, the latter being only four miles in extent from north to south. Washington township extended originally from Monroe to Somers, a distance of twelve miles, but at the time of the organization of Gasper township the lower portion, four miles from Somers township line, was severed to form this new township. The reason for making the new township smaller than the rest was that had Gasper been made six miles in extent from north to south, that part of Eaton, south of Main street, would be in Gasper, and the citizens residing there would have been obliged to go three miles to attend the township elections. For this reason the township was made smaller, to accommodate these citizens and those residing in the vicinity of Eaton, on the south.

The appearance of the township is that of a prosperous and well managed one. Good pike roads extend from Eaton as a center in all directions, rendering communication with the several townships a comparatively easy matter. The soil of the townships is good, although not equal to that of some of the other townships. By a continued system of thorough cultivation the agriculturalists have succeeded in giving to their farms a prosperous and pleasing appearance. The greater part of the land has been cleared, although extensive woods are still found. Beech is the prevailing growth, the primitive growth of poplar and walnut having almost entirely disappeared.

Several large streams flow through the township, the prevailing course being somewhat east of south. Of these the most noteworthy are Banta's fork of Twin and Seven Mile. The latter skirts the western edge of Eaton, and is noted for the excellence of the stone which is quarried from the bed of the stream.

The history of Eaton, which is given at length, embraces almost everything that can be said of the township. Being the only place of any importance in the township it is there that the history of the several businesses of the ecclesiastical and educational interests will be found.

Originally the whole of the second range of townships in Preble county was constituted for civil and judicial purpose. One township was given the name of Somers.

Washington township was established by order of the county commissioners, May 7, 1809, but not as now constituted. It contained ninety-six square miles of land, originally, that is in addition to its present territory, all of Monroe township, and the northern half of the present township of Gasper, being sixteen miles in length from north to south. It was ordered that the.

On June 5, 1815, Washington township was enlarged to include all of the territory now in Gasper, Somers being curtailed to its present size. As then constituted, Washington township was eighteen miles in length, and contained one hundred and eight square miles.

In 1817 this township was diminished by the establishment of Monroe. It was then twelve miles in length, and contained seventy-two square miles.

Subsequently the township of Washington was reduced to its present limits by the establishment of Gasper. It is now eight miles in length from north to south, and contains two tiers of sections, or twelve square miles more of land than the other townships of the county.

The first election held within the present territory of Washington township was in 1808, while it was an integral portion of Somers. The officers elected that year and in the year following we give below. The annexed extract is from the township record :

'"' Be it remembered that on the fourth day of April, in the year of Christ, one thousand eight hundred and eight, the following persons were returned as having been duly elected as township officers in this township, to-wit: Daniel Heaton, clerk; Isaac Enoch, John Mills, and Abraham Heaton, trustees; John Spacht and James Black, constables ; James Brannon, Dennis Pottenger, John Goldsmith and Henry Johnston, supervisors of the highway ; William Bruce, treasurer; Moses Dooley and John Ward, overseers of the poor; Joseph C. Hawkins, lister; William Sellers, appraiser; George Harlan and Samuel Holliday, fence viewers.

Very little business was transacted the first year besides the division of the township into road districts and ordering a township tax levy for the purpose of opening and keeping in order the necessary roads; said levy to be equal to that imposed for county purposes.

In 1809 the officers elected were as follows: Daniel Heaton, clerk; David Sherer, Samuel Holliday, and Samuel Pogue, constables; William Steele, William Sellers, and George Shidler, trustees ; John Spacht, lister; William Steele, appraiser; John Aukerman and John Spacht, fence viewers ; Moses Dooley and John Ward, overseers of the poor; Andrew House, treasurer; John Banfill, Dewalt Bonebrake, Alexander C. Lanier, George Harlan, and Silas Dooley, Andrew House resigned the office of treasurer, and John Spacht was appointed to fill the vacancy. Daniel Heaton resigned and William Shippin was appointed clerk in his place. This year three justices of the peace were also elected, viz: Jacob Roman, James Crawford, and George Shidler. David E. Hendricks was qualified as justice of the peace January 25, 1810. The next justice of the peace elected was Alexander Mitchell His term, and that of David E. Hendricks having expired, Moses Dooley, and Joseph Wasson were elected in 1813 to fill their places - James Butler was elected in 1814. Later than this date the names of justices are not regularly ` made a matter of record, and rather than give a very incomplete list we refrain from mentioning them. When the election of all the minor officers is each year made a matter of record, and considerable space taken to chronicle the fact that Little Berry Blackley is appointed con- stable, Peter so-and-so, and Moses such a one, and Aaron somebody, elected fence viewers or supervisors, it is difficult to tell why the election of magistrates should not be mentioned, but such is the fact.

The number of voters at the first election in Washington township is not recorded, but the poll book of the election of 1814 is given, and it may be a matter of interest to some readers to know who and how many were the electors at that time in the township, or at least how many cast votes. Just forty votes were cast this year, and the names which appear upon the record are the following: "Thomas Ramsey, George Hardy, Alexander Mitchell, John Day, Richard Leeson, John Stevens, Andrew Frick, Abner Dooley, Nathan Sellers, James Crawford, Robert Rhea, Moses Dooley, Elisha Sutton, David Stevens, George Crous, George Maxwell, James White, William Custer, Phillip Largue, Thomas Harris, James C. McCamey, Walter Buell, Charles Hand, Daniel Washam, John Spacht, William Crane, William Sellers, Alexander C. Lanier, James Crawford, Daniel McCoy, William Salle, James Cuttler, John Hawkins, Jonathan Lyons, Samuel Ward, Jonathan Deniston and John Ward.

'The first settlement in what is now Washington township was made in the year 1805. Several entries of land were made the year previous, but no permanent settlements were made until that year. In 1804 there were no buildings standing within the limits of the township. Entries had been made, but the owners of these had not yet arrived. In 1805 several settlers arrived and proceeded to erect cabins. William Bruce, the proprietor of Eaton, a sketch of whose life and settlement will be found in the history of that city, is believed to have built the first house. In the same year, 1805, John Goldsmith emigrated into the township and settled on the northwestern quarter of section four, township seven.

John Meroney, a North Carolinaan, came into the county and settled on section thirty-four, in the same Both Goldsmith and Meroney, however, were later settlers than Bruce.

In the following year, 1806, as many as twenty cabins were built in different parts of the township. Several entries had been made in the year previous, and their owners came in 1806. A few of those whose names can be ascertained are given below.

John Ward and his son Samuel came to Ohio from New Jersey in 1806, and settled in Washington township. Samuel entered land on the east side of Rocky creek. His wife was Phcebe Sutton, originally from New Jersey, who had moved to Pennsylvania, and from there to Ohio. Nine children were born to him, of whom four survive, viz: Elizabeth (Sellers), in Indiana;

Samuel Ward was third sheriff of this county, and was at one time county treasurer. He moved to Indiana in 1829, and died in Logansport, of that State, in the year 1856.

In the following year, 1807, Christian Shuey settled in this township. The land he entered was in section twenty-seven, where the county infirmary now stands.

Henry Whitesell, a North Carolinaan, came to Preble in 1805, and settled in Twin township. After two years' stay he moved to Eaton, where he lived for one year, and finally, in 1808, he removed to section seventeen.

John Aukerman settled on the farm where Jacob Gideon now lives, east of Eaton, in 1806. He was born in Frederick county, Maryland, and about the year 1789 removed with his parents from Virginia to the vicinity of Columbia, Hamilton county, Ohio. About ten years afterwards the family settled in Montgomery county, near Williamsburgh. There, in 1801, John was married to Mary Hole, and in 1804 came to what is now Lanier township, Preble county, and settle on the stream since called Aukerman creek. He resided there two years, and in 1806 sold out to Samuel Teal, and moved to the place before mentioned, near Eaton. Here he resided more than sixty years and until his death in 1867. He had the first "corn cracker mill," a hand concern, in this vicinity, and farmers came for several miles around to get their corn ground. Of his family of thirteen children, only three are now living, viz: Frederick, in Darke county; Solomon, in Indiana, and John on a part of the old homestead, near Eaton: John was born on this farm in 1818. He has been twice married; first to Mary Overholzer, and after her death to Hannah Wysong, who is still living.

John J. Sherer was born in Pennsylvania in 1760. He afterwards moved to North Carolina, where he married Catharine Smith, born in 1762. She died in the year 1826. Ten children were born to them, of whom Jesse is the only survivor. John J. Sherer died in 1845. Jesse Sherer, sr., son of the above, was born in North Carolina in the year 1799. He came to Ohio with his parents in 1806, and settled on section seven. In the year 1824 he married Mary Jane, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Strader, born in 1804. The Straders came to Ohio in 1809, and settled on section eighteen. In 1830 Mr. Jesse Sherer moved to the farm he now owns, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres. Mrs. Sherer died in 1873, leaving six children - Jacob, who lives in Washington township; Elizabeth (Irick}, in Illinois; Mary Jane (Pense), in Monroe township; David, in Jefferson township; Amanda (Harshman), in Washington township, and Jesse in Jackson township. Jesse Sherer owns thirty acres in section six of Washington township. Jacob Sherer, eldest son of Jesse, was born in 1825. In 1847 he married Rosa Ann Gephart, who was born in Jackson township in 1827. They have had ten children, four of whom still survive. Mr. Sherer owns a fine farm of some seven hundred acres.

David Bloomfield came from Kentucky to Ohio in 1806, and settled in Butler county in the spring of that year. After raising one crop he left, and in the fall of the same year settled in Preble county, on the farm now owned by his son, Reuben. His wife was Rachel Barclay. He had seven children when he came to this State. On his entrance into this county he entered one hundred and fifty-four acres, in-conjunction with James Westerfield, whom he afterwards bought out, and, at the time ef his (Mr. Bloomfield's) death, he was the sole owner of the farm. Nine children were born to him, two of whom survive, viz.: David, who is living in Illinois, and Reuben. The latter was born in Preble county in the year 1809, and in 1832 married Ann M., daughter of Elihu Hopkins, born in 1808. He had four children by this marriage - Sylvester B., Edmund M., John W., and Ann (Plummer). His first wife died in 1845, and in the following year he married Amanda, daughter of Andrew Harbison ; she was born in 1822. He had five children by his second marriage, all of whom are now living, Mr. Bloomfield owns a farm of one hundred and thirty-nine acres, His three sons were in the war of the Rebellion, Sylvester and Edmund in the hundred days' service, and John W. during the entire war.

Henry Duggins was born in 1787, and in 1806 he moved to Ohio. In 1811 he married Jane Sellers, born in 1781. He first settled in Gasper township, and afterwards came to Washington township, where he settled in 1811, the same year as his marriage. His brother, William A., came to Ohio in the same year that he did. Mr. Henry Duggins had six children - Cornelius V., John F., Nathan, William, W. P., and Caroline (Miller), who lives in Eaton. The first four of these are deceased. Cornelius V. was born in Preble county in 1812. In 1834 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry M. Monfort, of Eaton, born in 1814. Five children were born to them, four of whom are still living. Mr. Duggins died in 1849 on the old homestead where his wife now resides. He left a farm of one hundred and sixteen acres. During his lifetime he had a printing office in Eaton, where the Register office is now located. His son, John F., was in the war, in the Seventy-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and while in Florida was taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville, where he stayed for six months. W. P. Duggins was born in 1820, and in 1844 married Mary, daughter of Alexander Lugar, born about 1826. He has nine children. His farm contains about sixty-five acres.

Benjamin Neal and wife, Mary (Sellers), came from Bourbon county, Kentucky, to this township in the year 1806, and settled in section two of township seven. After residing here for a few years, he moved to New Lexington where he died in the year 1818. His wife survived him for more than forty years, dying in 1858. at the age of eighty-seven. They had four children born to them in Kentucky, viz: Sarah, Nathan, James and Jane. Of these only Nathan and James survive. After their arrival in this county, their family further was increased by the births of Benjamin, John and Mary Ann. Benjamin married Ann Kerlin, now living. He has been associate judge, and has held the office of postmaster at Eaton since the year 1871.

Some time before the War of 1812 Colonel Thomas Woolverton came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, and settled near the Shidler farm. He was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and became a noted character in his neighborhood. He is said to have been a large, blond man, whose weight was close on four hundred. He lived and died in this township; Colonel William Woolverton and others in Jackson township are his descendants.

Adam Frase was born in Preble county, Ohio, in the year 1810, and died in 1838. Hemarried Sarah Williams, born in Kentucky in 1801, and who died in 1872. Five children were born them, three of whom are still living - Mary, Margaret.and Jesse. The latter was born in Preble county in 1830, and in 1857, married Melissa C. Shaw, born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1839. Five children have been born to them, of whom four are living.

Christian Siler came to Preble county before 1812, from Virginia. His wife was Margaret Groover. Ten children were born them, one only of whom is now living. Christian Siler, sr., the only surviving child of the above, was born in 1794, and in 1822 he married Hannah, daughter of John Niecum, an early settler of Dixon township. She was born in the year 1801. Eight children were born them, six of whom are now living. Mr. Siler owns a farm of eighty-one acres, about three miles east of Eaton, where he is living at the age of eighty-six years.

John Kincaid came to Ohio from Kentucky about 1812. He was married in 1810 to Mary, daughter of Edmund Moody. Ten children were born them, seven of whom are still living, viz: Sarah (Gauger) lives in Somers township, Samuel in Israel, Cynthia (Runyon) in California, John M. in Eaton, Mary Kesling in Winchester, Finley in Kansas, and Barthenia (Fudge) in Gratis. Mr. Kincaid served in the War of 1812. His son John M. was born in Gasper township in the year 1821, and in 1860 married Sarah D., daughter of William and Sarah Duggins. He has two children. Mr. J. M. Kincaid owns a farm of two hundred and forty acres, about a mile south of Eaton, which he purchased in 1863. He resides in Eaton.

John Kayler was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1776: In 1799 he married Catharine Haynes, born in 1782. He emigrated to Ohio in 1814. He was almost poverty stricken at the time of his arrival, but by dint of hard labor he acquired six hundred and forty acres. He died in 1859. His wife survived him three years, dying in 1862. Three sons were born to them - John Frederick, Benjamin and William. John Frederick was born in 18or, and married Barbara Christman, a

1837 he married Rebecca Delawter, who had come to Ohio from Maryland in 1822. He died in 1876, on the farm where his widow and three children still live. He has eight children born to him. John J. Kayler, his youngest son, has purchased the principal part of his father's estate. He is the owner of four hundred acres. He was born in 1849, and in 1875 married Sarah V. Dalrymple. They have one son, who is the only great-grandson of the pioneer, John Kayler.

John Stephens came to Preble county from Kentucky in 1817, He was born in 1790. In 1810 he married Margaret Fisher, who was born in 1792. John Stephens died in 1827. His wife is still living. He was the owner of eighty acres in this township, one hundred and sixty in Gasper, and eighty in Camden. He had nine children, five of whom are living, namely: Thomas, living in Gasper; John W., in Eaton; B. M. (Acton) and N. B. also in Eaton; M. F., in Greenville. N. B. Stephens was born in 1825. In 1858 he married Miss R. F. Conger, born in 1838. He is in the grocery business in Eaton, and also owns one hundred and sixty-nine acres. John Stephens, the pioneer, served during the War of 1812, for two terms of six months.

John Risinger moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky in 1798, and afterwards to Montgomery county. In 1819 he settled in Preble county. His wife was Sarah Ann Pauley, a Pennsylvanian. His death occurred in Lewisburgh, in the year 1857, having survived his wife one year. Seven children were born to them, only tweaof whom are living, namely: Catharine (Horr), living in Lewisburgh, and Elizabeth (Sayler), in Indiana. His son Abel was born in 1803, and in 1825 married Elizabeth Sayler. He had six children, five of whom are now living - Sarah Ann (Taylor) in Washington township, Melinda (Deem), in Eaton, Caroline (Shurkey), in Washington township, Levi, in Eaton, and William in Washington township. Mr. Risinger owned six hundred and sixty-five acres of land in this township. William Risinger was born in in 1826. In 1844 he married Lucinda Pense, born in 1821. She was a daughter of Henry Pense. Three children have been born to them. Mr. William Risinger ownes a farm of four hundred acres. He was county commissioner for three terms, from 1861 to 1870. He has lived on his present farm since the year 1848.

William McGriff was born in 1793. He came to Ohio in the year 1820 and settled near Eaton. His wife, Elizabeth Hole, was born in 1792, and died in 1875. Fourteen children were born to them, of whom ten are still living, namely: James, Ellen, Lucretia, Mary, Effie Ann, Matilda, Sarah, Margaret, Charles and John R. William, Elizabeth, Catharine and Hannah are deceased.

George Peters was born in Franklin county, Virginia, in the year 1817, and in 1828 he moved to Ohio and settled in Gasper township on the farm now owned by Aaron Brower. His wife, Sophia, daughter of William Smith, was born in the year 1815; seven children were born to him, all of whom are now living. Mr. Peters is

Lewis Marker cameto Preble county in the year 1839. He was born in Maryland in the year 1807. His settlement was made in the southwestern part of Twin township, where he purchased two hundred and forty-seven acres of land. His wife, Nancy Curtain, was born in the year 1809. He has had eight children born to him. He is now living on his farm, about two miles east of Eaton, on the Eaton and Dayton pike. Ephraim Marker, his son, was born in 1841 in Twin township. He married, in 1864, Rebecca J., daughter of John and Mary Craig, born in 1843. to Preble county in 1837, and settled in Washington township. John Craig died in 1873; his wife is still living and resides with Ephraim Marker. Mr. Marker came to Washington township in 1878. He has had four children born to him; all of whom are living. He has a farm of two hundred and three acres in Washington township, and twenty acres in Twin.

Ezra Creager was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, November 13, 1813, his father having emigrated from Maryland to that county the year previous. In 1834 he married Delilah Ford, who was born in Kentucky, July, 1814, and in March, 1837, moved to Preble and settled on one hurdred and twenty-five acres where he now lives. He started in life poor, and his subsequent prosperity has been due to his industry and prudence. He has raised a family of nine children, six boys and three girls, and it is a somewhat singular circumstance that death has not yet broken the family circle. The children are Elizabeth Ann (Risinger), residing in Eaton; Lydia Ann (House), Mary Ann (Disher) and Levi A., in Monroe township; John R., Catharine (Fudge), Angeline (Risinger), and Joseph F., in this, township, and Sarah Jane (Christman) in Iowa.

Joseph F. Creager was born in Washington township, in 1847. He is the third son of Ezra and Delila C. Creager, who were early settlers of Preble county. In 1870 he married Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Buckner and Mary Ann Deem; by whom he had one child. He has a farm of one hundred and three acres of land in section ten, township eight, of Washington township; about five miles north of Eaton.

Samuel Weist was born in Camden, in 1849, where his parents now reside. In 1875 he was married to Elizabeth Lewellen, born in 1858. They have had no children. Mr. Weist lives on the farm in Washington township now owned by his father. His wife's parents reside in Dixon township.

John Tyler Sloan was born in Preble county, in 1840, and in 1871 married Hannah Woodring, who died soon after her marriage, leaving no children. Mr. Sloan has since remained a widower. He is a huckster by trade, and is extensively engaged in buying butter, eggs, etc., which he ships to Cincinnati.

Jonathan Switzer was born in Virginia, in the year 1808. He afterwards came to Ohio, and in 1839 married Nancy H. Dooley. Four children were born to him by his first marriage, three of whom are still living. Hi- wife dying in 1849, he married in 1852, Susan, daughter of John Fisher, born in 1820. By this marriage he had four children, all of whom are living. Mr. Switzer has a farm of one hundred and thirty acres in this township, which he purchased in 1861. He has held several offices in the township. His son, George H., was in the war of the Rebellion, during the hundred days service.

Marks Deem, son of W. T. and Susan Deem, was born in 1846. He married Alvina Flora, who was born in 1851, and whose parents were old settlers of Jackson township. To Mr. and Mrs. Deem have been born two children, both living. Mr. Deem owns fifty acres of land and resides about three and a half miles west of Eaton, in Washington township. j

M. B. Keely came to Preble county about 1830, from Butler county. His wife, Nancy S., was from Campbell county, Kentucky. Nine children were born to them, seven of whom are still living: Sarah H. (Winters), in Eaton, J. C., in Washington township ; Jeremiah D., in Gasper; Francis M., in Dixon; Nancy S. (Campbell), in Gasper; George H., in Eaton, and Mary A. (White), in Gasper.

J. Keely was born in the year 1833. His wife was Barbara Jane, daughter of Jonas Crumbaker, born in 1836, and whom he married in 1856. "They have no children. Mr. Keely owns a farm of one hundred and fifty-nine acres.

Robert Myler was borr in Virginia in 1799, and came to Ohio in 1835, where he settled on section nine, township seven, of Washington township. When he came to Preble county his only possessions were a pair of horses. He entered the service of John Gardner as a teamster, and by saving what he could out of his wages of three dollars a day, he finally was able to purchasea farm. In 1825 he married Deby Athens, who was born in Maryland in 1800. Five children were born them, four of whom are now living in Preble county. His farm contains over sixty-three acres, and is situated two miles southwest of Eaton.

John L, son of William and Mary Bailey, was born in Pennsylvania, in the year 1807, and from that State emigrated with his parents to Ohio. In 1840 they moved from Perry county to Preble county. In 1843 he married Marry Ann Lehmer, daughter of Henry and Catharine Lehmer, natives of Pennsylvania, both of whom are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were born ten children, nine of whom are still living. Mrs. Bailey is the owner of over one hundred and sixty acres in section nine, of Washington township. She is now a widow, her husband's death occurring in 18 - .

Arthur Riggs, son of E. and Jane (Homan) Riggs, was born in Warren county in 1833, and in 1844 moved to Preble county, where he settled on section twentyone, of Washington township. His wife was Eliza, daughter of Jacob and Julia Chrisman, early settlers of Preble county. Two children have been born them, both of whom are now living. He owns a farm of one hundred and thirty one acres on section six, township seven, of Washington township, about two and a half miles west of Eaton.

Jacob Franklin Ridenour was born in Union county, Indiana, in 1841, and in 1842 came to Preble county with his parents, who located near College corner. In 1861 he enlisted in the Eighty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until 1864, at which time he was discharged, on account of a wound in the left arm, received while in Georgia in 1864. His arm was amputated, and he left for home. In 1866 he was married to Miss Mary Ann Cotterman, who was born in this county in 1847. Elmer Ellsworth and Franklin Otto are their children's names. Mr. Ridenour owns sixty-six acres of land in section twenty-one.

Charles Collins was born in Wales in the year 1793. In 1812 he came to America and settled in Washington county, Ohio. In 1841 he moved to Preble county and settled in Dixon township. His wife was Mary Gavin, born in Ireland, 'who came to America with her parents in 1812, and settled in Butler county, Ohio. Four children were born them, all of whom are living in Preble county. Mr. and Mrs. Collinsare both dead. He died in 1880, having outlived his wife three years.

Absalom G. Collins was born in the year 1835, and in 1869 he married Martha Harvey, who was born in 1848. In the year 1866 Mr. Collins served a term as township assessor of Dixon. During the war of the Rebellion he served two years in Ohio volunteer infantry and one in the cavalry. He was wounded in action in the right leg. He owns a farm of eighty-six and a half acres, in section twenty-nine of Washington township.

John Halderman, now residing in Eaton, came to Preble (then Montgomery) county with his parents from Virginia in 1806. The family settled in Lanier township, in section thirty-two, and a sketch of their settlement may be found in the history of that township. Mr. Halderman was born in Virginia in 1805, and consequently was only about one year old when his parents removed to this county, which was then inhabited principally by Indians and wild animals. He married, in 1829, Jemima, daughter of Jacob Shidler, who settled about fourteen miles north of Eaton about the same time as the Haldermans. Mrs. Halderman was born in 1811, and is the only survivor of twelve children. Of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Halderman, only three are living, viz: Furguson, in Wabash county, Indiana; Mrs. Emanuel Lick, in Fayette county, Indiana; and Mrs. Dayton Kelley, on the old farm in this township.

Henry Young moved from Maryland to Ohio about the year 1805, and settled on Aukerman's creek. His wife was Elizabeth Woods. His death occurred in 1844. Eight children were born to him, of whom two only survive, viz: Henry, living in Gasper township, and Mary (Hickman), in Lanier. His son, Adam Young died about the year 1865. He was born in 1803, and married Catharine Brubaker. Seven children were born to them, of whom six are living. Levi Young his son, was born in 1824, and in 1843 married Huldah Barnhart. He had eleven children, ten of whom survive. Mr. Young owns three hundred and forty acres, part of which

The earliest church of which we have any information was one located in the Shidler neighborhood, in 1823, by the Christian denomination, but made a free church, because assistance was solicited and received from people of all faiths and people of none. An interesting relic of this church has been preserved, and we here present it It isa subscription paper circulated to secure the completion of the church edifice, and reads as follows:

'" We, the undersigned subscribers, obligate ourselves to pay David V. Stephens the sum annexed to our names, in wheat, rye, corn, and pork, if paid by the tenth of January next ; or in good sugar, to be paid after sugar-making, at the cash price, delivered in Eaton; or in good whiskey, to be paid by the first of February next, at cash price, delivered at the place above mentioned, in payment to aid said Stephens for a job of joiner work done by him, amounting to twenty-five dollars, in a meeting house on a certain lot of land obtained from George Shidler and Thomas Woolverton. Said house to be free for all Christians to worship God in, - December 3, 1823:

Although whiskey was one of the articles which the paper stated would be received, it will be observed that not one of the subscriptions was paid with it. Some progress has been made since those days, for now no church would agree to take whiskey in payment for subscriptions or other obligations.

The active men in this church were Jacob Spacht, after whom the building was called "the Spacht meeting house;" George Shidler, and Thomas Woolverton.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

This church, located about five miles north of Eaton, was organized by Rev. Lewis Morgan, in the year 1819. A small log cabin answered the needs of the congregation a portion of the time for some years. Services seem, however, to have been more frequently held in private houses and barns than in this little cabin. The first trustees were John Kayler and Henry Kisling, both of whom have gone to their heavenly reward. There is no account of the organization having any other church officers than the two named above. Neither have we any account of the length of time this little band of believers was served by Rev. Morgan, but after his resignation, services were occasionally held by Revs. Man and Espich, both of whom, of course, were Lutheran ministers.

The next regular supply we meet with is in the person of Rev. Jacob Gruber, who, to the best of our knowledge, is yet living on his farm near Ottawa, in the State of Illinois. He took charge of Zion congregation about the year 1829, and closed his pastoral duties in the year 1855, since which time it has been under the care of the present encumbent, Rev. George Baughman, with the exception of two years and five months, namely, from July 1861, to December, 1863, during which time it was served by Rev. George W. Busby.

In 1840, during the pastorate of Rev. Jacob Gruber, this congregation erected a small brick church, then considered a large one, being, in the order of time, the third brick church in the county. On the second day of October, 1875, the congregation resolved to supplant it by the erection of the present large and commodious church building.

The German Baptist church in the western part of this township was built in 1868. It is popularly known as the Beech Grove church. No facts concerning its first organization can be ascertained.

Besides the cemetery at Eaton there are three burial places in the township, some of which are under the charge of the trustees, and are open to the public. They are named and located as follows!' The Sherer cemetery which was used as early as the year 1810 or 1812, is located near the center of section seven in township eight. It is in charge of the township trustees. Zion cemetery is situated near the Lutheran church of that name, in section eleven. It is under the charge of the Lutheran church, and is used by that body exclusively, unless special permission is given for burial. The Bonebrake cemetery, which is under the charge of the township trustees, is located in the northwestern quarter of section nineteen. It is open to the public.

The first burials in the township are currently reported to be somewhere in the northeastern part of the town of Eaton. At an early date some interments were made there. These were forgotten as the town increased until at present only a few of the oldest citizens can recollect anything about them. The names of the persons buried there cannot be obtained, and even the exact locality is a matter of doubt. It is supposed that they were two children of some early settler, whose absence from the township caused the name to be forgotten.