Union Township

Union Township

who was accidentally shot by a man w ho was firing at a hawk. Mr. and Mrs. Vann are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He has served his township as justice of the peace for twenty-five years. He became a member of a temperance society in 1847, and has ever since been a total abstainer.

Union township was organized May 10, 1S19. It lies in the southwest corner of the county, and is really at times an island, being surrounded b}' the bayou and the Ohio river. Here the river makes a bend like a horseshoe, there being one place where it js scarcely three miles across the township. Its surface is very low, being almost entirely composed of " river bottom " lands. In 18S4 the entire township was submerged, with the exception of two or three very small spots of land. The soil in the lower part of the township is sand}' and very productive. Its yield of corn, tobacco and potatoes is exceeding!}- great. In the northern part there is more of a clay soil, and wheat, hay, and clover are more generally grown. Its surface, as is usual in the alluvial lands along the river, is much cut up by ponds and sloughs. When cleared and drained, the beds of these water reservoirs furnish the richest and most productive soil to be found.

Early Settlers. - Being on the river border, and thus easy of access. Union township was one of the first to invite the adventurous pioneer. As early as 1806 or 1807, a number of settlers had invaded its limits. The settlement most widely known in early times, and probably among the first in the township, was that of William Anthony, opposite Henderson or Red Banks, as it was then called. William Anthony was a sturdy, independent, manly character, a farmer, hunter and ferrj-man. For years his place was known as Anthony's ferry.

His sons, James and Frank, were honorable men. James went to the front with the Union armies in 1861, rose to the rank of captain, made a bright record, and died in the service. The Anthonys were Kentuckians, possessed some means, and became influential in local political matters.

Another of the earlier settlements was that made in section 15 and thereabouts, some five miles below Evansville, by George Sirkle, Nicholas Long, Jonathan Jones, and others. George Edmond and John Stoner afterward, but in early times, came into this neighborhood from the adjoining township of Perry. George Sirkle, a Virginian, was a man of character and influence. He had proved his patriotism in the country's early wars, and became a valuable citizen. He served on the first board of commissioners for Vanderburgh count}', and occupied other positions of trust and honor in the community, always with credit to himself and profit to the public, whose confidence he had won. His sons, Lewis and Andrew, were useful citizens in their day. Nicholas Long was a German, who came to the west from Virginia. He was industrious and thrifty, and accumulated considerable property, considering the limited advantages of his times. His family, large in numbers, was eminently respectable, and his sons attained local prominence. Jonathan Jones, an upright, sterling character, was the father of Judge James G. Jones, a brilliant lawyer and prominent man in his day. George Edmond was a sturdy pioneer, who raised a respectable family, one of whom, Michael, still lives in Union township, and is, perhaps, the oldest resident native born citizen in the county.

Between the Sirkle and Anthony settlements there were many cabins. Along the old Red Bank trail many favorite spots for the building of a cabin presented themselves to the pioneers. The Kings, Neals, and

Early Settlement

Chapmans were tolerably early settlers, though not among the first. Subsequently these names represented large and influential families. Jacob Sprinkle came into the township before 1817, and afterward became well-known.

One of the most prominent and most widely known of the earh' settlers in this neighborhood was Joseph M. McDowell. He lived about four miles above Henderson, and his house early became a favorite stopping place for the wear\- hunter or traveler. It became a public tavern, and the genuine hospitality found there gave the host an enviable reputation in all the country round. His sons, Joseph P. and William G., became well-known and useful citizens.

Below Henderson ferr\-, the Strouds, Damons, Gerards, Aliens, Chisenhalls, Wrights, and Williamsons were among the early settlers. These people of simple habits and manners were never drawn aside from the pioneer customs. They dealt fairly with their fellow men, lived uneventful lives, but were good and valuable citizens. In this same strip of territory lived in early times, Fred Ensle}', of German descent, a thrifty, economical, God-Iearing man, who gave to the communit}' a good famiU^, supporters of the church and one a Baptist minister. By great industry this pioneer cleared a farm, and accumulated a very comfortable estate. Still further up on the western side of the township, following the river in its curve, in or near section 20, lived William Greathouse, whose name was well-known in early days though now, his descendants having gone to other lands, it is unknown in these parts.

The farmers of Union and other townships immediately on the river had a better source of revenue than the ordinary work of the farmer. The as yet almost unbroken forests were in demand for the fuel of the steamers then passing up and down at frequent intervals. The use of coal had not then been commenced. Manv farmers engaged in chopping w'ood, and the wood yards established along the river were wellknown points. That of William Greathouse was the chief factor in his property accumulations. Another industry common among the farmers of that day, and engaged in prominently by Mr. Greathouse, was ; pork-raising. The mast furnished excellent : food, and at times the woods were full of hogs. Many of the Union township farmers ! got their start on the road to wealth by the ! prosecution of these industries, and not by a strict application to tilling the soil.

Among the first settlers in the interior of ' the township were Chapman Carter, Lewis F. Ragar, and the Chapmans. Owing to ; the low and at times inundated nature of this localit}', there were no particularly large settlements. A single cabin on some high point was generally surrounded for miles by an unbroken forest. This condition remained until long after the entire settlement of the other more favorable parts of the township. A sturdy settler who came as early as 1818 or 1819, was John Shaffner, a hardworking, honest German, who was not known out of his township, but was respected by all his neighbors as a quiet, good man. He was industrious enough to buy his land; there he lived and died; his sons, worthy people, grew to manhood, lived and died on the same place; but there are now no survivors of the name in the township. Among the early settlers not elsewhere mentioned, were Lewis Rouse, the head of a large family of eleven people, the Darnels, Asas, Slovers, and Harmons. James J. Sanders was an old settler, a farmer and blacksmith. He had a shop in early times about a mile from the Henderson road and three miles from Henderson, which was a

The early settlers used the mortar and pestle for crushing corn, and later went to mill at Red Banks, or that favorite place, Neglej-'s, on Pigeon creek. Andrew Sirkle built a horse-mill about 1830, and operated it for ten or twelve years. William Grayson, of Kentuckj', bought the mill and moved it over the river. There were no saw-mills in the township until thirty or thirty-five years ago. Mat Burns constructed the first stationary mill, though previously many portable mills had worked in the township, and in early days many logs were taken from here to Audubon's mill at Red Banks. As late as 1840, it was common to use the whip-saw. The logs were first hewed to the desired size, lines were struck, it was elevated to a scaffold and with one man above and another below, the saw was slowly worked through it.

Thus brief mention has been made of the earliest settlement of the various parts of the township. Tiie names of man}' of the pioneers, well worth}- of honorable mention, are forever lost. The development of this township - its growth following the settlement - was very gradual. In 1828 there were but twenty-three voters in the township. There was never an}' rush of foreigners or colonists. The lands were taken by settlers that drifted in singly, mostly from Kentucky, and by the descendants of the first settlers. Much of the land in the township is held by non-residents, who purchased it from the government or from the unfortunate or reckless descendants of the pioneers. Of those who came in afterward, not as earliest settlers, but still what may now be called an early day, there were the Asterholts, the father and his sons Frank and Joseph, Andrew Hoppe, Charles Kamp, Christian Schneller, John Gerloch, John

Roth, and many other well-to-do, good citizens. Carroll Saunders and his descendants and relatives have occupied a leading place in the township. Samuel Barker, one of the wealthiest and most prominent men of the county, has been since 1832 a resident of the township. He is a man of great worth, intellect, character and influence. He served the public as county commissioner, and in all the walks of life has commanded the esteem of his cotemporaries.

A Squatter. - One of the most typical representatives of that class of easy-going, free-from-care pioneers, who rejoiced in the excitement of the chase, and ever loved to recount their exploits, was " old man Flat, the yarn-teller," as the settlers often spoke of him. His chief delight was to pass away time in spinning yarns, many of which had not a grain of truth in them. He was a hunter in the woods most of the time, and the owner of a vivid imagination. He kept many a fire-side circle laughing with good humor at his unreasonable stories, and thus served a useful purpose. To this day the young folks of Union township are amused at the stories of old Flat, which have lost nothing in all these years, though told so often. Some of them surpass, in their portrayal of desperate hunts, and the wonderful achievements of the narrator, the most thrilling recitals of Baron Munchausen. There were many of these squatters who lived in the woods and went away when the game was thinned out. They lived for the day, and did nothing to perpetuate their names. A generation passed and they were forgotten.

Incidents. - The trying experience of Philip Cheaney and Harvey Wheeler during the high water of 1884, was ecjual to any which might have beset the path of the pioneer. In that year the water was higher than it had been since 1S32, and caused great destruction to property and stock as well as much suffering among the families in the low lands. These two men were in a house dangerously situated, and making up their minds that the house was bound to be swept from its foundation and probably dashed to pieces by the swift current, the the wind and waves, they put out in a skiff in the darkness and storm, and at length reached a small pine tree into which they climbed for safety. Here they remained all night through intense suffering. The night was so cold that hogs in some parts of the township were frozen to death. Though almost exhausted they were rescued soon after the dawn of the day following their terrible exposure. Their miraculous escape was attributed in part to the fact that the rolling waves frequently dashed entirely over them and kept them so activel}' engaged that freezing was avoided. About the same time three men saved themselves from death by climbing into a pecan tree near the Henderson ferry, and remaining over night.

Churches. - In early times the Baptists and Methodists predominated in this township. Earlj^ meetings were held at the houses of members, and such men as John Schraeder, Richard and Joseph Wheeler, Robert Parrett, for the Methodists, and Benoni Stinson, for the Baptists, preached to the people. As results of the faithful labors of these men, two churches were built. Zion Baptist church was near the Henderson ferry, and flourished for a number of 3'ears, doing much good, being the scene of many large meetings and good revivals. It has long since passed away. Victor chapel, a Methodist Episcopal church, was a mile or more above Zion. It continued from early times, until swept away by the high water of 1884, to be a favorite meeting place. It was supported by circuit riders, had a good congregation, among whom as its chief supporters, perhaps, were Samuel Barker and John Walden. About three miles below the Henderson ferry there were a Baptist church and a Methodist church. The high water of 1884 swept both of these awaj'. Since the disasters wrought b)' this high water, there has not been a church kept up by these old-time denominations. The people worship at various places outside of the township.

About fifteen years ago a neat frame church 25x15 feet, and comfortably furnished, was built on section 16, on the old Sirkle farm, by the Catholics of that neighborhood. There were about fifteen families under charge of Father Sondermann, and services were held regularly, though in late years the congregation has been without a priest. The membership is not large, but efforts are now being made to have frequent service and to build up the church. Joseph Shenck, Adam Shenck, and Andrew Hoppe have been among tlie faithful and influential supporters of this church. The church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart and blessed in June, 1874, ^J R^v. P. McDermott, of Evans ville.

The German Lutherans about ten years ago, built a neat country church on the old Schaffner place, afterward the Kamp farm. Leopold Kamp, Conrad Burgdorf, John Garloch, and John Roth, and their wives, were among the most active in bringing the church into existence. There is a large congregation now under the charge of Rev. Veay, of Henderson, Ky., and a prosperous Sabbath school, with Leopold Kamp, as superintendent.

Tuzviis. - There is not a town worthy of that name in Union township. Cypress has a postoffice, a blacksmith shop, and a small store. Joseph Shenck' is postmaster and proprietor of the store. At two or three of the road-crossings there are a few shops, and places of refreshment, but none boast of themselves as towns. On March i, 1820, Joseph M. McDowell laid out a town in the southeast quarter of section 21, township 7 south, range 11 west, and called it Unionville. The village passed out of existence before the coming of the present generation.

Biographical

Samuel Barker, ex-commissioner of Vanderburgh county, and one among its most prominent and substantial citizens, was born in Charleston, S. C, July 22, 1820, the son of William Rogers and Ann Maria (Johnson) Barker. His father was born in Newburyport about the 3'ear 1790, and was the son of Samuel and Betsy (Rogers) Barker, who settled in Massachusetts about twenty years previous, and served through the revolutionary war. Miss Betsy Rogers was the daughter of Capt. Rogers, of the continental arm}-, in whose company Samuel Barker served, and at the close of 'the war the young soldier won the hand of his captain's daughter. While in the service, he was one of the sentinels who guarded Major Andre, the British spy. Samuel Barker was a farmer by occupation, and spent nearly his entire life in the state of Massachusetts. He died in that state in about the year 1828. William R. Barker, the father of our subject, spent his boyhood and youth on a farm in the vicinity of Newburyport, Mass. At the age of twenty-one he left home and went to Boston, where for several years he inspected mackerel. From Boston he went to Charleston, S. C, where for some ten or twelve j'ears he was successfully engaged in the grocery business. In Charleston he formed the ac(juaintance of Miss Ann Maria Johnson, to whom he was married in about 1816. She was born in Georgia, and was about four 3'ears younger than her husband. Her paternal ancestry was Scotch. In the meantime, before going to Charleston, Mr. Barker had served his country as a soldier in the war of 181 2. In Charleston he was doing a successful business, but after a residence of a few years, there arose an insurrection which partly determined him to remove from the place. The slaves had formed a conspiracy to murder all the whites, and a night was set for" their bloody deed. Fortunately the plot was discovered before the night arrived. Twenty-two of the ringleaders were convicted, and all were hanged on the same gallows. William R. Barker was a member of the military company that was detailed to guard the convicted negroes, and he was a witness to their execution. He then entertained a belief which he frequently expressed, that the slavery question would bring about a civil war, and he preferred to have his family without its domain. Accordingly, in the year 1826, in a two-horse carriage, he removed his wife and six children across the mountains to Cincinnati. One of these children, a brother of Samuel, afterward became the well-known Dr. William S. Barker, of Boonville, for forty 3-ears a practitioner there, and during the war surgeon of the One Hundred and Twentieth Indiana. For four 3'ears after liis arrival, William R. Barker was enjjaoed in the drv coods business. In 1S30, he removed to Lawrenceburg, Ind., w'here Samuel Barker was a school-mate of ex-Gov. Albert G. Porter. In November, 1832, he removed to this count}', and settled in Union township, where both he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. SliortI}' after his locating in this countv, he was appointed one of the count3' commissioners. He died in Juh', 1837, and his wife survived him until about 1852. Samuel Barker spent but a few years at his native city of Charleston, but while there, at the age of five, he saw General Lafayette at the reception tendered him by that city in 1825. He was twelve years of age when his parents came to this county. The first settlement was made on the farm he now occupies and it has been his residence for fifty-six years. In early manhood he chose the vocation of a farmer, and aside from public service this pursuit has been his sole occupation. His Hfe has been one of industry, and he now has a rank among the most wealthy farmers of Vanderburgh county, and is one of her most extensive free-holders. While his long citizenship would naturally have given him a wide acquaintance, it has been in the capacity of a public man that he has become so familiar to the people of Vanderburgh county. In i860 he was elected treasurer of his township, and served one year. In 1868 he was elected to the office of township trustee, which he resigned in 1869 ^'^ accept an appointment as a member of the board of county commissioners. He served out the unexpired term, and also served during the two terms which followed, being elected to the office in 1870, and reelected in 1872. In 1880 he was a^ain re-elected and served one term. During his incumbenc}', which covered a period of nine years, some of the most important events in the history of the county occurred. He helped to build the first gravel road in the county, and besides wielding an influence which led to the construction and improvement of many other roads of this class, he was the originator of the project which led to the removal of the Evansville and Henderson gravel road from the river bank to its present location. While he was county commissioner, by the authority of the entire board, Mr. Barker purchased the present orphan asylum, and it was while he was a member of the board that the site of the old infirmary building was sold and the present new building constructed. Among the bridges built were the one at the salt well, one over Pigeon creek, and the iron bridge on the First avenue road. But perhaps by far the most important of all his official acts was the one which led to the construction of the new state hospital for the insane, that is now the pride of every citizen of Vanderburgh county. While president of the board, Mr. Barker drafted, introduced, 'and secured the adoption of a set of resolutions in which he eloquently set forth the great need of an institution for the incurably insane of the state, and setting forth reasons why Evansville should be selected as the site of such institution. While much credit is due to the county's representatives in the state legislature for their diligent efforts in behalf of the measure and to the citizens generally for the gallant manner in which they strengthened the movement, the credit of originating it belongs entirely to Mr. Barker. On the 2d da}' of July, 1847, Mr-. Barker was married to Mary A. King, daughter of James and Susan King. Her parents were natives of Virginia, in which state she was born November 25, 1824. She came with her parents to Union township in the year 1 83 1. Their marriage has resulted in the birth of three children, William R., Francis A., and Ann Maria, of whom the eldest and joungest are deceased. Francis A. Barker was born December 2, 1850, and is the onl}' child living. The daughter, Anna Maria Barker, was married to Dr. Henry S. Bell, at eighteen years of age, and some four or five years later she and her husband settled at Paris, 111. Mrs. Bell died September 20, 1887, at Pasadena, Cal., whither she had gone for her health. Her father, mother and, brother Francis, were with her when she died, and her husband, who arrived a few hours later, brought her remains to this county, and interred them in Oakhill cemetery. She left two children, Samuel B. and RobertN. Mrs. Barkerjoined the Methodist Episcopal church at eighteen years of age, and has been a member ever since. Mr. Barker has been a devoted member of the same church since the twent3--seventh year of his age. He was formerly a whig in politics, but since 1856 he has ardently supported the principles of the republican party. Durinjr the war of the rebellion he was a member of the compan}' of home guards that was commanded by Capt. B. F. Williamson. Mr. Barker's record for honesty, integrity and uprightness is one which posterity can well emulate and admire.

LEoroLD A. Ka.mp was born in »Pru£sia, January 9, 1831, and is the son of Christopher L. and Renetta Kamp. In jouth he was employed in his father's flouring mill, and was in the service of the government two years, guarding the government's woodlands. Since coming to the United States he has been farming, but has also taught German school two years. He was married May 2, 1864, ^*^ Sarah Lauer, who was born in Perry township, December 19, 1845, a sister of James H. Lauer, postmaster at Evansville. She died March 10, 1865. August 28, 1867, Mr. Kamp was married to Elizabeth Bauer. She was born in German township, July 10, 1846, and died Januarj' 13, 187 1. On July 29, 1880, he married Mrs. Louisa Gaertner, who was born in Prussia, March 11, 1840, the daughter of Adolph Pepmiller. She immigrated with her parents by way of New Orleans, and while on the Mississippi river her mother died with cholera. Her father settled at Newburgh. September 18, 1858, Miss Pepmiller married Peter Gaertner, a native of Hesse, Germany, who died March 31, 1873. By his wife, Louisa, Mr. Kamp had two children, Katie B. A. and Louis W. (deceased). B_v her first husband Mrs. Kamp had eight children: George (deceased), John, Louis, Caroline (deceased), Louisa (deceased), Augusta E. (deceased), and Catharine. Mr. and Mrs. Kamp are members of the German Lutheran church. He is a member of the D. O. H. lodge. He was elected assessor in 1876, and served four years. He was again elected in 1886. He. has been an active member of his church, and has labored with the children in the Sabbath school almost every Sunday for many years.

James L. King, member of the board of countv commissioners, was born in this township February 17, 1844, the son of John F. and Judith B. (Neale) King. All his earh- life was spent on the old King homestead, where he was born. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army in Company H, Eighth Kentucky cavalr}', with which he served nearly two months. February 6, 1864, he entered Company F, One Hundred and Twentieth Indiana, and served with this until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Raleigh, N. C, Januarj^ 8, 1866, and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis a few days later. He was in the battles of Resaca, Peach Tree Creek an

John Robertson was born in Union township, November 21, 1826, son of Anthony and Sarah (Kazy) Robertson. His boyhood and youth were spent in Union and Perr}' townships. April, 1846, he became a soldier in the Me.xican war, in Company K, Second Indiana volunteer infantr}', commanded by Capt. Walker, who was killed in the battle of Buena Vista. He was discharged at New Orleans, in July, 1S47. October, 1853, he was married to Willie Isabel Miller. She was born in Union township, and was the dauohter of John and Willie Miller. She died March 11, 1857. On the 14th of February, i860, Mr. Robertson was married to Elizabeth Gerard. She was born near Lawrenceburg, this state, and was the daughter of William and Lovina (Reneau) Gerard. Mrs. Elizabeth Robertson died August 13, 1880. By his first wife, Mr. Robertson became the father of two children : John P. and James A., of whom the former is deceased. By his second wife he had four children : Willie, Olive, Rit, and Thomas, all deceased. Mr. Robertson is an honorable, upright man and one of the county's most worthy pioneers.

Mrs. Anna B. Roth was born in Germany, March 10, 1S37, the daughter of Heinrich and Eve Elizabeth (Bonner) Maenshaen. She. was married to John Roth, March 6, 1858. He was a native of Germany, born February 19, 1834, ''^"-^^ '^^^ the son of Adam Roth. In June, i860, Mr. and Mrs. Roth emigrated to America. They took up their residence in Union township, in which Mr. Roth pursued the vocation of a farmer until his death, on the 9th day of December, 1884. Mr. Roth was successful as a farmer, and when he died he owned 267 acres of land. He was a mem- ! bar of the German Lutheran church. Mrs. j Roth has had a family of nine children:, Elizabeth, Caroline, John B., Anna, Mar- 1 garet, Henrietta, Adam, Wilhelmina and Anna. Mrs. Roth is a member of the German Lutheran church, in which all her children have a membership.

J.\MEs F. Saunders, a citizen of Union township, was born in Perry township, this county, April 15, 1S39. He was the son of William C. and Lydia E. (Fauquher) Saunders, the former of whom was a native of Vanderburgh county, and the latter of Kentucky. His father was born September 22, 1815, and was the son of Ezekiel and Isabel (WilHs) Saunders, who were among the first settlers of Vanderburgh county. William C. Saunders was married to L3dia E. Fauquher September 10, 1834. ^'^"^ ^^'^^ born March 12, 1814, and was the daughter of James F. and Margaret Fauquher, who were early settlers of German township, this county. James F. Saunders spent his boyhood and youth on a farm in his native township. At twenty years of age he went to Union township, where he has resided since and engaged in agriculture for himself, and he has since given his undivided attention to farming. He- began life for himself without means, and nearly all of his property' is the product of hard work and good management. He owns 300 acres of excellent land, all in Union township. He was married March 9, 1870, to Haidee Upfield. She was born in Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, January 22, 1850, and is the daughter of William and Martha (Wilson) Upfield. Mrs. and Mrs. Saunders have had four children: Ida M., George, Ruth, and one that died in infancy unnamed. In politics, Mr. Saunders is a democrat, and has served his township as assessor, and two terms as trustee, and was county commissioner three years, in all of which he was a faithful and judicious public servant.

1835, and is the son of Andrew and Nancy (Long) Sirkle, both of whom were natives of Virginia. His father and mother were among the earliest settlers of Union township, in which both spent the last years of their lives. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the old Sirkle homestead, of a part of which he is now in possession. From 1875 to 18S0, he was a resident of Posey count}'. His life occupation is farming, and his efforts have been liberally rewarded. He owns 444 acres of land. Mr. Sirkle was married June 8, 1865, to Kate E. Deusner. She was born in the city of Evansville, April 4, 1847, and was the daughter of Philip and Amelia Deusner, both of whom were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Sirkle have had ten children, as follows: Philip (deceased) and Amelia, twins, Andrew J., Lula A., William, Luke (deceased) and Lois E., twins, Joseph (deceased) and Fred, twins, and Walter. The wife of Mr. Sirkle is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a prosperous farmer and a man in whom the public has full confidence.

Calvin H. Stroud, late of Union township, was born near Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, Ind., September 28, 1822, and was the son of Joshua and Mary (Gaw) Stroud. Joshua Stroud was born in South Carolina, January 5, 1780, and his wife, Mary Gaw, was born in North Carolina, April 23, 1784. They were married November 5, 1801, and became the parents of fourteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the ele\enth. Calvin H. Stroud, who spent his j'outh on the old homestead which his father entered in Union township. He spent a considerable portion of his life on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. There was probabh' no flat-boatman on the river, better or more favorably known than Mr. Stroud. He was married September

28, 1852, to Emeline Cox. Mrs. Stroud died October 15, 1855, leaving one child, Mary F., who was born September 11, 1853. On the 1 2th day of April, i860, Mr. Stroud was married to Miss Helen M. Kelse3^ She was born in Knight township, this county, January 20, 1839, and is the daughter of Loren A. and Mary M. (Williams) Kelsey, the former of whom was born in Genesee county, N. Y., March 31, 1816. Her paternal grandparents were Ambrose and Maria (Marsh) Kelsey, both of whom died in this county. Loren A. Kelsey was married to Mary M. Williams, February 4, 1838. She was born in Knight township, March 2, 1817, and was the daughter of Oliver H. and Delight (Cumstock) Williams. Mrs. Mary I M. Kelsey died July 31, 1843. Mr. Kelsey died July 9, 1870. The second marriage of Mr. Stroud resulted in the birth of six children: Robert J., born June 14, 1861; Emeline, born September 20, 1863; two daughters that died unnamed; Helen A., born June 18, 1883, died February 28, 1883; and Mary, born June 12, 1875. Mr. Stroud died Ma}' 7, 1884. His widow and three children who survive him, still occupy the old homestead. Mrs. Stroud owns 105 acres of land. Her only son, Robert J. Stroud, owns in all, 295 acres of land.

Perry township. - The daring exploit of Commodore Perr}', by which he achieved one of the most brilliant victories known to the early history of the nation, caused this township to be named in his honor. The township was organized September 10, 1840. Prior to this time it formed a part of the ancient township of Pigeon. The surface of the township is rolling, and in parts hilly ; the soil is fairly productive ; no streams of importance traverse it. It is bounded on the north by German towmship, on the east by Center and Pigeon townships and the Ohio river, on the south by Union town-