Gordon, Ohio

The Methodists, progressing with the van of civilization, were here, as elsewhere, early promulgators of the Scriptures in Twin Township. The first organization was effected at Ithaca, in 1840, with forty-two members, and two years subsequently, their present house of worship was erected, the first in the township. They now have three societies - one at Ithaca, one at Gordon, and the third at Arcanum. Four other organizations, two of them Lutherans, one German Reformed and one Baptist, complete the list of the religious associations in Twin Township.

Passage source: The History of Darke County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men;, published 1880.

THOMAS McCOWEN, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Arcanum ; was born in Darke Co., Ohio, Nov. 7, 1828, and is a son of John McCowen, a native of Bellbrook Ireland, who came to North America when but 3 years old, and was one of the patriots of 1812 ; came to Darke Co. in 1826, being one of the pioneers of this county, where he died in 1850. Our subject spent his boyhood days on a farm in summer, and in winter devoted his time to school, as much as time and convenience would admit, which at that time were limited. In 1850, he united in marriage with Sarah J. Mears, and by this union they have three children, viz.: Mary A., now Mrs. 0. B. Pierce; Catherine and Irvin. When Mr McCowen commenced for himself, he had no money by which to assist him in life ; he has since, by industry and economy, become the possessor of 233 acres of valuable land in Sees. 17. 19 and 20, twin Township ; is located on the Ithaca and Ft. Jefferson free turnpike. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity for thirty-two years ; the oldest member of the Ithaca Lodge, also a member of the I. 0. 0. F. for a number of years ; has been an active member of the Darke Co. Agricultural Association ; at present is President of the same ; has held the office of Twin Township Trustee four years. ANNA M. MARSHALL, retired, Gordon. The lady whose name heads this sketch was born in the State of New York Dec. 2, 1813, and removed in infancy with her parents to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1815 ; her father, Lewis Mundhenk. was born in Wittenberg. Germany, in 1784 ; her mother, Mary A. Feit, was born in Botterburn, Germany, in 1789 ; they were married in New York June 4, 1811 : Mr. Mundhenk departed this life at the age of 74 years ; Mrs. Mundhenk is living at the advanced age of 90 years, and is still hale and hearty. Our subject was united in marriage with Philip Marshall, April 17, 1834 ; he was a son of Henry and Mary Marshall, who were natives of New Jersey, afterward residents of Montgomery Co., Ohio ; Mr. Marshall departed this life March 10, 1838, aged 26 years : she still bears the name of her departed husband, and was 67 years of age the day this sketch was written. Two children were given to this short but happy union, of whom only one survives, viz. : Mary A., born Jan. 12, 1835 ; Philip L., March 28, 1838, died May 19, 1838 ; Mary A.'s first marriage was consummated with John Mills ; her second marriage was celebrated with Mr. Troxall, Nov. 3, 1864 ; to their union three children have been given, viz. : Watson E., born Sept. 5, 1865 ; John D., Oct. 18, 1868 ; Letta N., Dec. 11, 1870. Mr. Troxall had been previously married to Susan Heater; four children were the fruits of their union, viz. : Emma B., born July 27, 1858 ; Martha A., Jan. 25, 1860 ; Mary E., July 3, 1861 ; Mrs. Troxall departed this life April 15, 1864, aged 29 years 6 months and 25 days : he was a son of David Troxall, a native of Pennsylvania, who departed this life in 1840 - his wife removed to Ohio in 1847, and died in July, 1861.

Passage source: The History of Darke County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men;, published 1880.

Gr. W. SIGERFOOS, deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in the State of Maryland Dec. 13, 1825 ; he emigrated to Montgomery, Ohio, when 9 years of age, his early life being devoted to farming and teaching^ Upon the 28th of July, 1850, he was united in marriage with Nancy Shanck, a daughter of Peter Shanck, whose biography appears among the sketches of Monroe Township, in another part of this work ; she was born in Montgomery Co. Oct. 2, 1830 ; upon the marriage of Mr. S., he followed brickmaking and school-teaching some five years in Phillipsburg ; in 1855, he engaged in the dry -goods trade at Georgetown, Miami Co., continuing the same ten years ; he then devoted six years to farming, then came to Gordon and again engaged in the dry-goods trade, and in 1872 came to Arcanum and engaged in the dry-goods trade, continuing the same until his death, which occurred Oct. 16, 1875. The children of G. W. and Nancy (Shanck) Singerfoos were six in number, viz.: Lorin, born Aug. 25, 1851, died Nov. 28, 1870 ; Orrin, born March 22, 1853. died Aug. 12, 1870 ; Arrabella, born Oct. 22, 1856 ; Ella B., Jan. 26, 1863 ; Charles P., May 4, 1865, and Edward, Dec. 14, 1868. It will be seen by the above that the family circle remained unbroken until Aug. 12, 1870, when the death messenger entered and claimed Orrin as its first victim, and the November following again made his appearance, this time laying his cold, icy hands upon the first-born : thus within the short space of about three months two of the members of this happy family were removed from earth to Heaven, followed five years later by the death of a kind husband and father.

Passage source: The History of Darke County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men;, published 1880.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Twin Township - it names this place 2 more 2 times.