Brown Township (part 2 of 2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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