Brown Township (part 3 of 5)

«ons by the purchase P aU ^rovemente' and added to his possesapd is one of the entemriafv?^ farm,' tbat now be owns 180 acres of good land, vision for all the comforts offife' ^jvp'0/ L<>8* Creek T10wnshiP> with excellent proof 1 0. 0. F., of Addiso^Ohl!f ' k M u Lon? 18 a member of Social Lodge, No. 139, tteut, having bLnampmWf J fhas ?een. through all the chairs and the Encamp- MOSES FTnvS?b for twenty-nine years. r

David S. Lomr whoraT0!* to,^.lami. ^°* an(l settled on the farm now owned by Sarah, depart^ thi^lif6 tl1 i o!f death' which Aug. 3, 1860, his wife was madfa M^ter Mr James Lon8 was born July 24, 1770 ; degrees May 13 1 7Q 3' 1790 5 received the Chapter and Encampment 90 years of aoi J ^d dec ared °if " the same day ; when he died, he was over the oldest i«ni5°r leventjr ye&T9 a Mason> being at his death perhaps a in Ohio ; he was the father of twelve children, of whom four are living - Samuel H., David S., Moses E. and Elizabeth J. (now Widow Overton), living in Addison, Ohio. Moses E. Long was married July 6, 1837, to Martha Howell, daughter of Daniel and Phoebe Howell, natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio at an early day, but during the Indian troubles were driven out, taking refuge again in Virginia ; after a time they returned, locating in Miami Co., where they lived and died ; they were parents of nine children, of whom five are living - Martha, Andrew, Huldah, Naomi (now Mrs. Bowers, living in Ohio,) and Daniel C. Daniel Howell was strictty a pioneer, opening out in the wilderness, and living in a log cabin, when there was but one road - the old State road opened by Gen. Wayne in the early campaigns - their neighbors being five to six miles distant at Casstown ; they went to mill on horseback many miles to Mad River, following "blazed paths" through the woods ;* the present generation know but lit le of the hardships these first settlers endured, and future generations can have but a faint conception ; the blessings received from their labors will ever deserve their most grateful praise and remembrance. Moses E. and wife were parents of nine children, of whom five are living - Isabel E. (now Mrs. J. Johnson), Laura L. (now Mrs. Williams), Phoebe A. (now Mrs. Kennedy), Sarah J. and Volney D.; Mr. Long lived with his father till 1842, removing to the "Thomas farm" for ten years, coming back to the home farm for two years, thence going to Addison for eleven years, where he engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business ; in 1865, he settled on the farm where he has since resided ; this farm consists of 80 acres of good land, which he has improved, and erected good buildings, so that he has a very pleasant and comfortable farm residence. Mr. Long is a member of Social Lodjg, No. 139, 1. 0. 0. F., of Addison, Ohio ; has been through all the chairs and Encampment, having been a member for thirty years.

- ioa^^ W* kONG, farmer ; P. 0. Christiansburg. He was bora in Tennessee in 1807, and is a son of William and Mary Long ; Mr. William Long was born in

- im coming 40 this country with his brother James, who is mentioned in the sketch of Moses E. Long ; they left Ireland, at the time of the rebellion, for e satety of their lives ; Mary, the mother, was bom in Pennsylvania, her ancestry coming from Scotland. They were married in Virginia, and in 1804 removed to -Tennessee s ; they removed to Ohio in 1816, at what is now Cumminsville, en going, in 1826, to Miami Co., on to the farm where John now resides ; there and died: ^parting this life May 16, 1857, his wife Mary dying April 3, Vs \ Plo?eer of this section, striking the first blow with the ax in the Tormooo D greats, where he made a home. He was one of the volunteers from East - . . 66 *n war of 1812, and served four months for the protection of the

^ntier settlements ; they were the parents of six children, of whom four are living, Ma!?a?t An?> now Widow Fordyce, living in Piqua ; Isabella, now William w d er' Wlt^ her children, in Cincinnati and Evansville ; and Francis E. ; ler - Mr q^wMary ?hldl?r March 4> 1832, daughter of John and Susanna Shidthev were Daivnts^ m Pennsylvania, his ancestry coming from Germany ; Susanna now Widow W^t 6 c^! dren' three now living - Aaron, living in Indiana ; cinnati John and wWlnter®« llving in Chattanooga, Tehn. ; and Isaac, living in Cm- Sarah Bell - Susanna tbe P®jents of six children, of whom four are living--

Hill, ofAd^Shr^1^ Jennie HiU SePt 30> 1869» daughter of Harry on the horne1L«0hWilliamT h°m *5 Piqua> in 1852 - they "^de with the father River, in the war* of Pu ason> deceased, lost his life in the battle of Stone Mr. Long lost h£ t ' he was a member Co. A, 2d 0. V. I.

two yehrs and is political^^p1' J*2'. 28, 1874* He has been Township Trusty having been connected with it J^P^hcan- He is a member of the Baptist Church, GEORGE G. McDOWPt t r/°rty years> and Deacon for thirty-five years.

the early setde " he^^ rivhT n Z ^Wn9hip in March- being one of ber, built a log ^bin and oommL^ WOods' and c,ut out *he first stick of tim- Do;ell farm "I Se^ri? seXment^ " P'°?etr "Sle; at the of the Mcof the families of the iSdSSSS^.SSKJSr^fl^T* W0**"*"*1^ foT the protection here for sixty-two years constitiitirur^'1181 th® i *>e has been a resident land to Loudoun Co Va -Ha I^ Maim,n& who removed from Maryafter their arri^al thlv' jS? f °h"' their was about 6 or 7 years of age ; soon orphans - thev were rhfn leav,,,g John and a younger brother, Edmund, at majority were amomr the ? and.raised V 8 Mr. Hutcheson, and, when arriving ejlvania here John wf P'°neer settlere of Red Stone country, in Pennfour or flvechildren marnage with Sarah Shauhan, by whom he had was a teamster n Gen W»v " °" *'Ved to F°w to maturitJ 5 the eldest, Amos, died at Greenville in 1 7<uT 7n V* ca"Pai^ aSa,n8t the Indians ; was taken sick and John, having Tost °ther child> was married to Bethuel Covault i

Dills ; Nathaniel mS' aEdTa?J.' married Mai7 Hanford ; Amos, married Rachel first mentioned were ^arlh Lme/ and Elias> married Sarah Frost The four ritorv." Mriw i ln ,?eiln®ylv ania, and the others in the " Northwest Tertime, to Elizahpt^w^i1?8^ bl® 8econd by death> and was married the third to womanhood ^bom he had one child, viz., Margaret, who grew up of the " Mason and ^medT' J,; Ear8h> of .PrebIe Co., Ohio ; in the establishment tinir through i Dtxon .^il1nei ^r- Manning was employed, as an axman, in cutobservatiomi nf ^lmbered lands, and, while performing this duty, took time followi no- ?18 Stone country on the Monongahela River, where, a short furs and <n no * mottled as above related ; for some time he dealt extensively in which hp'von erected a grist-mill, which was the first one ever in that country, then known*1 8"9ce"fb^y till 1789, when he sold out, and removed to what was place called Territory, locating at the mouth of the Miami, at a about ei<rhf .Jumbla i bere be remained about three years, then went up the river which wfo .e8 to a PIace called Round Bottom ; here he erected a grist-mill, when he ^ret miH on the Little Miami ; this mill he ran till 1799, from this T d -?Ut *^obn Smith, who was one of the first delegates to Congress bere he H//ernt°ry ; afterward, he located at what is now Piqua, in Miami Co., and Co. - in fk*11 erec!ed a 8aw and grist mill, being the first mill in what is now Miami - ' me erection of this mill, the stone was hewn out of a bowlder, and the spindles made from old iron hinges- taken from the fort at Greenville, after its reduction ; the bolting-cloths he obtained by riding to Lexington, Ky., on horseback ; under all these disadvantages to obtain materials for the building of the mill, through the enterprise and energy of this pioneer, the work was accomplished, which proved so great a blessing and convenience to this new settlement ; their appreciation of the benefits of this mill in the settlement was evidenced by the anxiety manifested for its preservation during the great freshet of 1805, which threatened its destruction, as it was surrounded by water from the overflow of the river; Squire Caldwell, the first Justice of the Peace of Washington Township, recommended passing a cable around the mill and making it fast, to secure its safety ; but the mill stood unscathed, and remained for many years to serve the community ; Mr. Manning, with the assistance of Armstrong Brandon, in 1807, platted and laid out the town of Piqua, Mr. Brandon receiving, for his sendees in this work, each alternate lot ; in April, 1817, Mr. Manning's labors were finished, and he was called from works to rewards. Here ended the life of one of the most enterprising pioneers of Miami Co., whose whole life was made up of the greatest activity , and who, not satisfied with the slow routine of old settlements, continually sought wider fields for activity and usefulness ; in the opening-out and establishing usiness m pioneer settlements, like Washington, his name will be handed down to iuture generations for praise and admiration. Enos, the father of our subject, came U 10 with his father when only 2 years of age, and to Piqua when about 13 ; here he remained with his father till the war of 1812, when he f jJ1? a teamster, and was in active service as such during the war ; ftfvJr fK i w«lcb be afterward received remuneration from the Government; vZ v!,tC r of tbe war' he engaged in the mercantile trade in Piqua for several off in info f£ailAxia Proved unsuccessful ; he was one of the proprietors, and laid busineflQ ho lne8S ?an' and seemed to possess the same proclivities for the milling though nnt - dnring his life, erected three mills in the vicinity of Piqua ; Danif or *TiaUy noting the same success as his father, he lived through the had an pnpraIU 8!??8 tbe war times, never wholly prostrated financially, as he was united FI .bu8llJ?88 ^t which enabled him to overcome all obstacles. He Cox a native 16, 18.16, witb ^ra98el Cox, daughter of Benjamin S.

are now livincr - Maryland ; by this union they had nine children, of whom two SL'tot1 Z 'til ^ ^W,a,a and S. (now living in Dayton, Ohio) ; Mr. ManrtgonT momen^ 1 1840' and- 0ct 2i' 18^> he- P^sed away, with-

Piqua March 23 1 oi ^ a stroke of palsy. Lewis C. Manning was bornin hewas united in 11!17,and remuamed with his father till his death. In June, 1855, and Elizabeth W1fb Mrs. Elizabeth Williamson, daughter of William they h^ two CWldr«n U' were settlers of this county ; by this union by death ^ WlUl.am and Harry ; in October, 1870, he lost his wife and Elizabeth Rossiter ^ man2e£ Mrs. Melvina Beamer, daughter of Thomas this work. After Mr if 10.an? *blly mentioned in the sketch of B. V. Rossiter in father and grandfather «S»^1I?i8*fir8.t mal*riage> be located in Piqua, and, like bi® then going to Shelhv ru ga?ed tbe milling business ; this mill he ran till 1864, back to Piqua, wherc/he ra? a g^st and saw mill for four years ; then on the farm upon which ho ^ 63 fnstice of the Peace for six years, finally settling old Rossiter homestead formal/681?68 ' tb*8 ®arm consists of 120 acres, and is the agricultural pursuits lookin J here "f. anticipates passing the balance of his life in and pleasant pursuits matT? U^°n tbls °ccupation as one of the most independent obtained but a limited edneaf.11 en&a8>e in- Mr. Manning, in his childhood days, intellect, through apnlicaHon 33 J1* Possessed a naturally quick and perceptive general knowledge of busiLaa^i^?111?' quite weU read in law, and possessing a qmte an extended sketch of th^°ilrlCal and civd government. We have here made U of the Manning family, because, as a pioneer family of here he continued until his advnnnori 5 °°in a^er the close of the war of 1812 - hard work and active life that be retire & his son John, living with him, Ld toe^thw chHdmn^"'^'"^"4 °f the fann with nff at N°vember, 1863, he died beine- nearl v^s ' du"nS the remainder of his hi! March, 1864, aged 85 year* WK g neary 88 years of age, and his wife livino- .ton of Jesse Me^ ; they were p^toTf i? in famdy cemetery^n £S Jn1^' VIZ > Jesse, David and Dr. ?«,.«.<. '"f -£ldre{?' of whom three are now daughter of Benjamin and EiizaMhljIS^m^ m.arria8e with Sarah M. Dye, ma, and came to Ohio, beoonST Imo^Te V F' Were bora in pennsylva "temporaries of the Knoons TIT J 5® ly 8ett!ere of Miami Co. : were by this marriage Mr Meek and w'ifo ^rtm8'etc-> of pioneer notoriety of Miami whom five are nowlving,' viz Dtoi now W'^r parents of "me jamin Dye (livimr in T^r \ a1!* ^now Wldow Moms, residing in Trov^

Mr. Meek and wife are memkre of the RanrTpn "? !ives with him on the pfe-e. five years. re 01 the Baptist Church, having been such for forty-

Vnle> Marion Co° W* yaS ***% Ts'a'R^ Vp ?' CpStown-' in Booths- (Hayhurst) Nixon, who were^hm horn' in v 9°n°f Robert P. and Catharine Caroline the same State, the ancestrv nS r V,Igmlla> the grandparents coming from is still living, at the advanced oee England ' the grandfather (Hayhurst) Passed through many conflict ^liPT j,.he wa5 *" the war of 1812, and still residents of West7 Vir-rini^- ^ th® ; Robert and Catharine are rebellion, through its iT*8 theu Un,on anny in the war of the whom ten are now living IT h®£ W,®? ,th® parents of thirteen children, of "ms, a minister of the (franei^Wm*'4" P5,US' Harman A. (residing in Dliyiiginia), John S. (also of^st^v- A' ¥ij C' (now Mrs- Robinson, of West C. and Harvw R t* Vlrgm,at' Addie M. (living in West Virginia) h ; Rev. Nixon lived with hu® JE°Wt '"TS 1" West Virginia) and Wayland n the occupation of farm i no- - hnvi^*1^8 - tlI years of age; he engaged and one year's course at thesis g °^'lled a g°°d common-school education "o University, .S ohto®my a' he now entered the Denim & he was obliged to d^ist remamed ,three yeara> when his health to Miami Co., engaged iZthTZ* fr°m further prosecution of his studies ; he came year, and durin^fti " ""cupation of teaching, which he followed about one m the Baptist Church at 6,1 toPrea^b the Gospel, making his first effort and were parents of fJf -?{ B. and Mary Barnes, who were bom in Ohio, mer and Sarah Alii t°lu ""''dren of whom two are now living, viz., William Crowhere, from e\-noo..l tmmuel T., now deceased, was in the war of the rebellion, death five months after his return from the army ; his was one of the many lives sacrificed in the defense of our country. Rev. Nixon and wife have had one child, viz., Mamie Pearl, now deceased. Soon after their marriage, they removed to Chicago, and he took a course of study in the Theological Seminary, being engaged there one year. Having retained his pastorate in the church at Casstown and also at Lena, he returned to Casstown and took charge of these churches, remaining their pastor to the present time ; during his pastorate here the membership of the Casstown Church has increased from sixty-eight to one hundred and forty members, and that of the Lena Church from seventy to two hundred and fifty members, showing a remarkable progress, and we may hope that as he is still a young man in the Master's vineyard, that, as a watchman upon the walls of Zion, the great and good work he has done may be but the beginning of a greater work in the future, and at the last great day he may have " many stars in his crown of rejoicing."

ANDREW RALSTON, farmer ; P. 0. Fletcher ; born in Miami Co. Jan. 26, 1839 ; is son of Barnabas and Melinda (Welchhans) Ralston. He was born in this county Aug 9, 1807, being probably one of the oldest men now living who was bom in Miami Co. His wife, Melinda, was bom in Warren Co., Ohio. The grandfather, Allen Ralston, was born in Scotland, and came to this country with his parents when only 3 years of age, arriving in the last ship which was permitted to come over prior to the Revolutionary war. The mother of Barnabas was a daughter of Barnabas Blue, of pioneer history in the early settlement of this county. Barnabas and Melinda were the parents of five children, viz., Jacob, David, Catharine, deceased ; Mary, deceased, and Andrew. Barnabas, the father, has always from his birth lived upon the same section of land, Sec. 22, and after ms marriage he settled, cleared and cultivated the farm from its native woods.

our subject, has lived with his father most of his life, being unmarned, and having taken charge of and carried on the farm for several years. Pplitically he is a Democrat. In August, 1862, during the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in the 110th O. V. I., and served till the close of the war ; he was in the Dattles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and several engagements under Gen. Sheridan in his Shenandoah Valley camp 'Kus or 1864 ; he was sent back to the Potomac army, with which he remained, ti Par^ in the many engagements that occurred up to the close of the war ; in na ®nSaSeiuont at Petersburg it was their 6th Corps, as declared in a speech j en' ea^* that broke the rebel lines and caused the evacuation of Petersburg, mid consequently, of Richmond ; then followed the surrender of Gen. Lee, which g 77? gIadly and fully witnessed by Mr. Ralston,

StratC and OHvp?J«mi wF ' Caroline V- EliJah> Ea^a C., now Mrs. James H. portion cleared with?' iW^" they located on this farm there was but a small and making imnr ^ buildings, in which they lived for several years, clearing by trade he as1t'me an(J means would permit ; being a blacksmit greater portion of h* °u ess at fcbat in connection with farming during th this life Auff 27 1 S°"fortable and convenient buildings. The father departed Christian wofkersinthanid th,e mother Aug- 16, 1876 ; they had been active Baptist Church of c l^rcb for many years, having united with the Valley united with the Lo^T^IiP^ P?.nn'in September, 1832 ; when, locating here, years of age went to i«£ree^i?*aptl8t Church by letter. Mr. Elijah Rapp, at 18 served one year, then withhi^f trade with James Long, with whom he

1862Mri,R088itcr '-ved with his narc^rn ^'6''' liv'ng inIowa i and Bainbridge 862, when he was united to rtrh®^' hls marr,age. which occurred May 20, who were bora in PenSvanEu tn^.^ <]aug^rof Samuel and Esther Eyer winsyivama, but located in this county at an early day. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four are living, viz., Sarah, now Mrs. Levi Simmons ; David, living in Iowa ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. William Howell, also in Iowa, and Henry. May 20, 1864, the second anniversary of their marriage, his wife Catharine was taken away by death. In April, 1867, Mr. Rossiterwas united in marriage with Harriet Deweese, daughter of William and Susannah Deweese, who were natives of Virginia, but settled in this county at an early day. They were parents of ten children, of whom three are living, viz., John, Mary A., and Harriet. By this union they have three children - Elmer B., bom May 26, 1868 ; Harry 6., bom Sept 9, 1871 ; and Marvin T., bom Nov. 4, 1876. Thomas, the father of our subject, was a carpenter by trade, which he followed more or less for many years, in conjunction with farming ; but later in life he took up the practice of medicine, which he followed several years, till, his health failing him, he retired from all active business. He was a very active Christian worker ; organized the first Sabbath school ever held in Lost Creek Township, of which he was Superintendent for many years. Mr. Rossiter, our subject, after his marriage, located upon the farm where he now resides, comprising 135 acres with two good houses, bams and other buildings. Politically, Mr. Rossiter is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church ; he having been a member for twenty years, and she for eleven years.

BYRON P. ROSSITER, farmer ; P. O. Casstown. Byron P. Rossiter, son of Thomas W . and Elizabeth Rossiter, was bom on the banks of the Schuylkill River, in Chester Co., Penn. ; settled with his parents in this county in 1835, in Lost Creek Township, Sec. 14!

JOSHUA ROUTZAHN, farmer ; P. O. Casstown ; bora in Maryland Oct. 31, 1832 ; is a son of Adam and Mary (Poffenberger) Routzahn, who were also born in Maryland and still reside there. They are the parents of seven children, viz., Isaiah, Joshua, Elizabeth M., Catharine R., Carlton C., David B. and Manzella 8. The grandparents came from Germany. Our subject lived with his father till his majority, then came West to Ohio, and located in this county and township ; he worked a few months for Henry Yates, then went to John Odaffer's, where be remmned about fifteen years, working the farm on shares, at the expiration of which time he bought the farm where he now resides. On Sept. 16, 1857, he was married to Harriet Odaffer, daughter of John and Mary (Swords) Odaffer, both bom KL^e^^u V^niaVr They were Parents of eight children, viz., David (deceased), Llizaoetn tathanne, Harriet, Mary (married to D. Whitmore, but now deceased), SaraH, mniline and Almeda. The family of Odaffers were early pioneers in this county, coming here in about 1826. Mr. Routzahn and wife are parents of one child, viz., mme Iv. He has a farm consisting of 80 acres, good buildings and everything n ea to make a pleasant home. He is one who has the confidence of the commumty in which lie lives ; has been Township Trustee three years, and Assessor Houtzahn has been a member of the Lutheran Church for thirty twenty years 6 *** 1)6611 * member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly father'8 8ide came to Ohio and located in Hamilton Co. m S if "ved and died; on the mother's side they came and first in Hamilton Po 1^.a!X)Ut 1830. Orange and Isabella, the parents, located Miami Co and locating*110' wI?ere they lived about ten years, going thence to dreTfive orlZ a^ the farm now ^ed by John ; they had nine chil- M. (now Mrs. John F w ***** ^ames H., De Witt Clinton, Huldah y6ar% J? August> 1862, lie enlisted In' the 20th^ a fann, where. he remained two war of the rebellion ; was in the battle of v^t *k Wa V',1' 4111(3 served through the «nd at the taking of Ft Morgan Md other » Urg' when that Place was token he received an honorable diS^id^t,SmeBt8 ; at ^ cloae °f the wai^ home ph« with his parentoH^w^uS h°me ; -he then located «P« the Jennie A. Walker, daughter of Un /»W ln marna&e, Dec. 13, 1866 with Pennsylvania, and 3o thfs ^unH .t^o^ WaIk(*> who were nat^Tof

Stitt60' °f,whom three are now Uvfol viz 1 Jorikh^YiT61* th* parents of aix Stratton and wife by this union have^LT r Jos,a.h> John and Jennie A. Mr

Casstown, and one of the most^romhien^^10^' . . ^mon^ tke business men of Stuart, who was bom in Armstrong Cn fcp of the town, is James M. James and Hannah (Moore) S^^n^^w4^nn,^^a^Ci^n^, 1834 J he ^ a son of father came from Scotland nn^ *» * who were natives of Pennsylvania : the granddreTif "J80 «» from S^rmttdXnn^ *" Penn8Jrlva"3a- b^t her dren, of whom five are living - WillialT? r - were parents of nine chil- two years of bufthl £fc?6 ^ ^lng whe" Jala(18 was onjy James was twelve yean, ofage when hi tookeare of hia children, till he lived till sixteen yllrs of Le r??.?laced "ltb bia married sister, with smiths trade with Henrv Crumb of Kyti * ?h,8I?8e he went to learn the blackticeship of four years thenle ItfaJ?"ln&Pelm., where he served anapprencoeety, and carried on'hU fa^eT^ J° °^°' l°Ca,ted in Brown Township, this five years of farming had exntod h« ® ?' Lee and Bessie B After Mr Stuartfs about one year Autr TifSTT' h' B..a«am went to his trade, which he followed -he war, being wito Gen "i'- -'? the 94th O. V. I. and served through wm spared/and at the dose nf t^ °f AOanta and in otber battles ; bis life and friends. He then l.vatJi* ^,4" he was permitted to return to his home at his trade two years - th^'0 Add,s^n' Champaign Co., Ohio, where he worked to the present time - he has paafitown, where he has carried on business

a son of Francis and ^ blacksmnh, Casstown ; bom in England, April 28, 1830 ; wven children viz. Fannie wnr*' who were bom in England, and were parents of hliza, all residing in Wnnin ,1 d lam' JJjfJT Ann, Elizabeth, Emma, George and America. He hfi serv.S '1 excc'Pt William, who, in May, 1852, emigrated to kther, accordimr , seven^ -years apprenticeship at blacksmithing under hig forked at his aDC cu®tom of that country. He located at Kenton, Ohio, at borse-shoeinp- ovnin? m?ntJj8' tfien went. to Springfield Ohio, where he worked forked two to tSppvAQU81KeI^ f°r about weeks; removed to Dayton, and years, being employed in every shop but one in Dayton, his object being to learn all the ways and modes of the trade in this country, and to become thoroughly acquainted with the wants of the people, and the trade as it exists here. He located at Pleasant Hill, this county, thence' goipg to Preble Co., thence to Troy, afterward to Wisconsin, finally to Cass town, where he has carried on the business fourteen years. About the year 1858 he was united in marriage with Miss Effle, daughter of Peter Banta, by whom he has had four children, of whom three are now living, viz., Caroline, George and Charles. Mr. Tyler has, during his many years of trade in this town, done a good business ; his efficiency, by the length and thoroughness of his apprenticeship in England, constitutes him a master workman at his profession ; he has accumulated a competency and is prepared to live and enjoy the fruits of his labors ; he still works and carries on a good business, preferring work to idleness.

GEN. JOHN WEBB, farmer ; P. 0. Casstown. Gen. John Webb, who was born in Mason Co., Ky., May 7, 1793, is son of John and Rachel (Davis) Webb, he being a native of Virginia, and she of Pennsylvania ; the ancestry on the fathers side were from England, and on the mother's side from Wales. The father, John, removed from Kentucky in 1797, and located near Dayton, Ohio, where he resided till 1811, when he started on horseback to come to Miami Co., to view and purchase some land ; his horse becoming frightened, he was thrown to the ground and killed, right in sight of his family, Nov. 28, 1811. Gen. Webb, the subject of our sketch, located in this county in lf}07, and engaged in teaching a school, which was the first in Lost Creek region ; the school-room was a small log house with windows made by holes cut through the logs, and sticks placed perpendicularly, with greased paper pasted over them, through which they received Le light ; the seats were hewed timbers with legs put into them, constituting nches for the pupils. In this kind of schoolhouses our subject, John, attended, ftn education qualifying him for his work of teaching, and acquired j prior to 16 years of age, at which time he taught the above-mentioned » be, tbe occupation of teaching for seven or eight years. In the

Pnn*<* !"12' be bought 128 acres of land, where he now lives, residing in the t 8 J?*en ?n 1813, he enlisted in the war, expecting to go to Detroit, k An<*lans became so dangerous through this section that they had to build oiocK-nouses, and reserve a great portion of the soldiers for the home defense.

1A iQK ? bis farm and mother, who resided with him till her death. On Nov. and pio' if his marriage with Priscilla Knight, daughter of William thpv ho/i ? (Corblj) Knight, who were natives of Pennsylvania. By this union John h^iteT\uhLldren' viz*» Lewis R., William K., Thomas, Benjamin F. and Anna IN - decea8ed> dying in California; Jabez S., dying in infancy; liZ'in Sfr atL.10 ?ears of Elvira, now Mrs. Jacob Weatherhead, wife^PH -ii by 0o., Ohio ; Ellen Maria, deceased, and Julia Ann, deceased. His Webb ha« *' this bfe fron]i a 8tr<>be of palsy, in January, 1870. Gen.

have been ^ ,tbr?^b all the trying ordeals of a pioneer life, but his labors life comfortahiJ116^ 8Uccess 1 be has a good farm and everything to make 5 he has been 8Pared to the advanced age of 87 years, soldier to a^VTn JL' a® P^sed through all the grades of offices from a common Appraiser ' .In civil life he bas held the offices of Assessor, he held for thirtv If' ^owasbiP Trustee and Justice of the Peace; the latter office for fifty-three vearJ6**!* ' -?e Jj83 been an active member of the Baptist Church Association for about* fort^yearek f°r f<>rt'V year8' also Clerk of the Mad RlVeF is a son <y( Elisha *3 r^?red i - O- Casstown ; born in this township and county ; Maryland, whose an tx***?^ ^ebb» be being a' native of Pennsylvania, she of Elisha, the father is mentioned in the sketch of John Webb, in this work ; and brother John at thp rlrn,^aa- 1778, and came to Miami Co. with his mother aeers ; he located on a 8tatfd, in J°bn's sketch, being among the early P10* tome Zbiis* fij ^"ry^ndinSs fT' w" Webb Was a man of pecu home interests and his farX . dhe£l°"®' Ahard'work'ng man, very devoted tohis miles ; the canal having then been built twen? WeDt ^ Troy' a distance of four e day> hy great coaxing of some of hie 7ear9; he had never seen it until them and see it ; he was iltiouX IrJd ""fr he was Induced to go w"th hwr^ yet never attended church but ereAjta^r kn°wi?S the Bible almost by tew, bringing up his family to be constant 2 "? hl! hospitality to the mini* later years he became possessed of mnoin attendants of church services ; in his h« neighbors, but iTa^ ""T' "f ofte" '°aned money to word was not good neither wm Us note f ht therefor- believinS 'hat if a min" ?e w"f of undoubted character an excellent *6 **11 30me of hls Peculiarities, but and Elisha Oct. 13 IS73 iu' 21 departed this life March 17 1873 while young ; at this' Se £ Sn'X ** 'TT* the ~StS he became a dealer in nnraorc * ming he spent most of his life, until 1867 - then which he has lived in £L!^Ck' W "°2 b"siness he followed for nine years Sept 21, 1876, he wal .mitL - " m°a'Y, retired from active businessm en

5'., 1831 ; is a so^of '*P' Conover ; boro in Warren Co., Ohio, Oot 'his work. KKiT (Hunt) Wilgus, whose sketch appears in »h'ch event occur^' M bved ^'h his father till his marriage,

John Franklin Rr».» *ne children, of whom six are now living, viz., Lewis F., l°' "Cuaseau, Thomas, Ralph and William. After Us marriage, Mr.

Wilgira first located on the F razee farm, where they lived till about 1864, when he came to his present location, where he has since resided ; he has 152 acres of excellent land, upon which he has erected .a fine brick house, constituting a beautiful farmer's residence. Politically, Mr. Wilgus is a Republican ; he has been Township Trustee and held several other offices.

THOMAS WILGUS, farmer; P. 0. Conover; bom in New Jersey Sept 18, 1807 ; is a son of William and Mary (Wright) Wilgus, natives of New Jersey ; the grandfather, John, was from England, and the grandmother, McCabe, was of Irish descent; William was bora Feb. 29, 1776; he and his wife removed from New Jersey, and landed at Cincinnati June 9, 1815, locating in Warren Co., where they hyed and died, he departing this life March 9, 1866, being 90 years of age, and his wife , in September, 1843 ; they were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are living, viz., Thomas, William, James, Daniel (living in Xenia, Ohio), Maiy (now Mrs. Joseph Nedry, living in Warren Co.), Lydia (now Widow Dunham, living in Illinois) and Harriet (now Mrs. Sabin, living in Warren Co.). Mr. Wilgus, our subject, was united in marriage Oct 29, 1830, with Anna Hunt, daughter of John and k a^e (puillips) Hunt, natives of South Carolina and early settlers of Ohio; they had three children, now all deceased, Anna, the wife of Mr. Wilgus, departing this i e Oct. 29, 1834 ; Mr. Wilgus and wife had two children - John H. and Mary (now Mrs J. Babb). June 16, 1836, he was united in marriage with Hannah Ivobmson, daughter of Richard and Lydia Robinson, natives of New Jersey ; they m w-fr C^1^Lren' .°** whom three are living - William, Michael R. and Thomas, r. ugus, after his first marriage, lived in Warren Co. two years, then in Miami «0, '' place where he now resides ; this farm, upon which only 25 acres were

8 . w\en k® located, with a log cabin, in which they lived for several years, acr(* ln cultivation ; in 1855, he erected a large frame house, which , . em to live in comfort ; in 1862, his fine house was destroyed by fire, but, Lo/i or l9^C^8tomed energy and industry, he went to work, and, in a short time, nf - - Prf?ent large house ; about the same time, he purchased 250 acres is a son Af i?? YPUNG, tailor, Casstown ; bora in Maryland May 20, 1 829 ; where thAxr is e?r Charlotte (Geisinger) Young, both natives of Maryland, the ancestrv ^he grandparents were also natives of Maryland, but

Young our RiihiA/^t^r^j °f Middletown and Catoctin Districts, of Maiyland. Mr. time^arned the tailoH^ k"-*1 his father.until 21 years of age, and during this the most of his lifA - h ln8 kU81ue88, at which profession he has devoted himself to Springfield Ohio' thpl010^6^^8 trade in MaiYland till 1864, when he removed two years ; back to MiamTp0 M,a"i Co> then back to Springfield, remaining some trade, ^vinTco^im,^ .K °K ag.ain' where he b*> since raided, following his Young was uni^ in^. th? bosi,?e8B here *» sixteen years. Jan. 13, 1870, Mr. Mary Webb who are .w^ pamelia P. Webb, daughter of Elisha and men in the countv having oii*u'rade' and is now considered one of the best workcustom work for Kunfmon « Vn? work l*e can attend to, doing a large amount of and has been Justice of the Mr- Young is a stanch Republican,

20, 1821 ; is a son of John nnHffwifr i ^ *-*- Casstown ; bom in Maryland Jan. Maryland, the ancestrv oriffinliPatbar!ne ^outeey. who were probably bom in removed from Marvland ly oommg from Germany. John and Catharine ary land to Miami Co. in 1831, and located upon the farm where

*nally removing to Miami Co whero There he lived ashort time^ He was oneof the first of Nanoleon WM* 'Ved ^*d d'?d at the advanced age of 89. nnder that distinguished waSri^«^ ld ,'a"d 'v"1" several severe engagements be opened out and cleared conqueror. When he came to thm county,

CYRUS T. BROWN, farmer j P. 0. Troy ; was born in Miami Co., June 13, 1844, is a son of Daniel and Eliza H. (Telford) Brown ; Mr. Brown was bom in Rhode Island May 9, 1809, and his wife in this county Dec. 10, 1816 ; the grandfather, Arnold Brown, was also born in Rhode Island, emigrating to Ohio in 1834, and locating in Hamilton Co., where he remained about four years, then going to Miami Co., on the farm where Cyrus now lives ; the farm was nearly all in the woods, with a log cabin on it He was father of six children ; here he and his son Daniel commenced to clear up and make a home. They started from the commencement in the dairy business, making butter and cheese, some of which they marketed near home and some in Cincinnati ; there being no railroads, they had to go through with teams. Daniel, the son, was married June 13, 1843 ; by this union they had six children, viz., Cyrus T., Cornelia J., Mary B., now a physician in New York City ; Rebecca 0., now deceased ; Arnold O. and Harry W. Mr- Brown, the father, always remained upon the home place with his father till his death, which occurred April 13, 1869, he being about 83 years of age, after which he still continued upon the farm till Dec. 24, 1877, when he, too, was called away by death. His sons now have the management of the place, which their fathers have improved and brought into a fine state of cultivation, with good buildings and many conveniences. Mr. Brown, the father, first bought 160 acres, and from time to time added more to it, by purchase, till he became owner of 1,000 acres ; at various times portions were sold, until now they have 500 acres, one of the largest farms in Staunton Township. Mr. Daniel Brown was one of the moving spirits in the leading business enterprises, and one of the originators of the First National Bank of Troy, holding some $20,000 of stock in the same ; was also one of the organizers of the Gas Company. He erected the " Beehive Corner," or Brown s Block, as it is usually known in Troy ; during the building of this block, Mr. Brown met with an accident, from which his life was miraculously saved ; he fell from the third story to the pavement below, striking on his feet and sliding into the cellar. The fall was caused by some mismanagement of the derrick in raising material to the top of the building at which he was working ; he was thrown head foremost over the walls of the building, but catching by the ropes, turned himself, striking upon his feet; although badly hurt and jarred, his life was saved. Daniel Browns mother departed this life Sept, 21, 1862. The death of Mr. Daniel Brown was a great loss to the community, he being one of its most public-spirited men.

J. D. COUNTS, farmer ; P. O. Troy ; was born Aug. 17, 1816, in Miami Co-, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Frame) Counts, who were bom in Kentucky, coming to this county in June, 1816, and locating upon the farm now owned y John. Jacob, the father, was in the war of 1812, and was with Gen. Harrisons army when he passed all through this section of the eountrv ; he formed sue a favorable impression of this valley and dislike to the institution of slavery, then existing m Kentucky, that he resolved to come and locate in this county ; ^&en Be settled here, there was but little cleared land, with a log cabin upon it ; he built a new log house, cleared up the farm, and erected a good bam, and making other improvements, living here the remainder of his life ; he died in December, 187A being in his eighty-third year. The grandfather, Jacob, also located on this farm man "bis son' in 1816 ; he was bora in Maryland, butwhile a young

UaifiT YirFma and 6,0111 there to Kentucky, where he lived till abovd date wid1 on Jkf hfu1°?at^d in Miami Co- The great-grandfather came from Germany, of onr £LTthr 8 8lde the ancestry came from Ireland. Mr. Counts, the subject **?"«*** with his father till his death. He was united m Marshall ' who Y^iL1843, wltb ^"7 Marshall, daughter of Martin and Blean taJrS rlY-ere honi ? Pennsylvania ; by this union they have had two chil- M? TLMr8' 150111118 of Troy, and Walter, still living at home. ativeftom8 this ?®Pablican> hke his father before him, who was so connected withTh^f ^°unts family exhibits lives replete with activity, an e early settlers of this county, that it stands forth with gre*

Source changes here: from The History of Miami County, Ohio : Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of Miami County; Constitution of the United States; Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc, by W.H. Beers & Co, Publisher, published 1880; 37,041 words in this source stream.

Brown Township

Brown Township, in the extreme northeastern corner of Miami County, is bounded on the north b}r Shelby County, on the east by Champaign County, on the south by Lost Creek Township and west by Spring Creek Township, in Miami County. The country round about is watered by several streams of considerable importance ; of these, Spring Creek flows through the two northwest sections in the township, and passes from them into Spring Creek Township. Lost Creek, the most important water-course in the township, rises by three heads in the northern part of the township, and flows in a southwesterly direction to the central part of the western portion of the township, when it takes a course directly south, and enters Lost Creek Township at its northwestern section. Leatherwood Creek rises in the eastern part of the township, and flows in a northwesterly direction into Shelby County. It was so called from the great amount of that species of timber which skirted its banks. Ramp Run, another small stream in Brown Township, received its name on account of the great abundance of ramps, a vegetable production resembling Indian turnips, which grew along its course. The township contains some thirty sections, making about 19,200 acres of tillable land. At present, there are not more than ten miles of mud road in the township, which presents a cobwebbed appearance of free pikes, which have been built at an average cost of between $1,200 and $1,600 per mile.

The first white man who located himself permanently within the present limits of Brown Township was John Kiser, who emigrated from Virginia in the early days of the nineteenth century, and came immediately to Ohio. He settled first near Dayton, but, in 1806, came to this township and purchased the northeast quarter of Section 30, where he built his rude cabin and began life in this section of Miami County as a bachelor ; but, soon growing weary of a " life in the forest alone," he took to himself a wife, and began in earnest the work of clearing his farm and making a pleasant home for his family. This, for one man, was no small undertaking, requiring not only a great expenditure of muscular force, but also a will so determined as not to be thwarted by any common difficulty. Mr. Kiser, however, proved equal to the emergency, and soon had cleared a few acres of ground, from which he raised the first crop of corn and vegetables in the township. Isaac Kiser, the oldest child of this family, was born in the fall of 1810, and was the first white child who had his nativity in Brown Township ; besides him, two other sons and two daughters were born to Mr. Kiser. Isaac, the eldest, still lives near the spot of his birth, the oldest resident in the township. He is a man greatty respected bjT all, who, by his untiring industry, has succeeded in accumulating a goodly portion of this world's goods, which he does not hesitate to use for any laudable and benevolent purpose that may come under his observation. His sons, two of whom carry on the mercantile business in Fletcher, are wide-awake citizens. Mrs. Kiser has in her possession one of the coats worn by the Britishers during the Revolutionary war ; it is a sleeveless red jacket, and was taken during the war by a relative of Mrs. Kiser, from whom she received it. This is, without doubt, the oldest article of apparel in the township, the sight of which reminds one not only of the futile attempts of Great Britain to rule the United Colonies, but also of the grand work accomplished by our forefathers, when they obtained for themselves and their descendants such desirable homes as are to be found not only in Brown, but in every township, almost, throughout the United States.

The second settler in the township was John Simmons, a native of Pennsylvania, who immigrated here in 1807, with his family of ten children, and located himself on Section 36 ; he, shortly after liis arrival, entered several hundred acres of land in the vicinity, and was for many years the largest land-holder in the township. Upon his arrival here he found the neighborhood sparsely settled, the Kisers being the only white settlers for miles around ; nothing daunted, however, by the gloominess of the external surroundings, he went to work with a will to build for himself a home and name in the place he had chosen to live, the initiatory steps to which proceeding was the erection of a cabin of round logs, which contained two rooms, being what was known as a double log house, and the first of its kind in the township, as the house inhabited by Kiser contained but one room and a little loft, to which access was had by means of a small ladder. The Simmons residence was for the time a rather pretentious structure. A porch extended the length of the house, and in summer this served as a dining-room ; the roof was of clap-boards manufactured by Mr. Simmons. The floors and doors were of puncheonplank ; the latter, swung upon the old-time wooden hinges, made a screeching noise on being opened, not calculated to be particularly soothing to persons of a nervous temperament. Patent locks and modern bolts were not used in the construction of this dwelling ; instead, a wooden catch answered every purpose. This was attached to the inside of the door by wooden pins, and was opened from the outside by a leather string which protruded through a gimlet hole and was fasened to the latch inside. At nights the house was locked by merely pulling in the string, thus making it impossible to open the door from the outside. The principal feature of this house was its window, which was of real glass - a substance by no means commonly used to admit light in those primitive dwellings. The cabin of Mr. Simmons, however, was illuminated during the day by a small glass window, about 10x12 inches in size, and thus the use of greased paper for that purpose was dispensed with in that household.

The first year of his arrival here, Mr. Simmons, after building his house, succeeded in clearing two or three acres of land, from which he raised corn enough for family use during the next year. In a few years subsequent to his settling here, he managed to clear more than fifty acres of his wooded homestead, from which he raised good crops of corn and a little wheat. There being no market near at hand, and farm products being exceedingly low, the inducements to farm extensively were not great, even had it been possible ; all grain, beyond what was necessary for home consumption, had to be carried to the neighboring towns for a market ; and there being no regular roads at this time, and wagons not being yet in use, it will readily be seen that the means and modes of transportation were neither numerous nor convenient. Most of the surplus grain in this township was for many years taken to Dayton for sale, till Piqua became a town, after which the narrow pathway through the woods to that place was frequented more than that which led to the more remote market, and hence the first sale of grain in Piqua from this township was made by a son of Mr. Simmons, who carried to that place a few bushels of corn on the back of the old family horse, which he disposed of after some trouble, for the then enormous price of 9 cents per bushel, which he received in cash. On so small a scale as this began the sale of grain in this township, which has since assumed, in comparison, proportions almost gigantic.

The third settler in Brown Township was William Concannon, who emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1807 and entered a farm in the western part of Section 36. He had, upon his arrival here, a large family of sons and daughters, so that, in the work of clearing, he was not single-handed, as his children were, some of them, old enough to lend a helping hand in the arduous struggle for a living, which was to be obtained from the farm, which contained plenty of nothing but wood, water and wild animals. However, by the united exertions of himself and famity, Mr. C. soon caused his immediate surroundings to assume a more agreeable aspect. While himself and boys did the chopping, the girls piled and burned the brush, so that, the spring of their arrival here, not only did they build their cabin, but also succeeded in redeeming two or three acres of the surrounding forest from its original worthless condition, which they converted into a cornfield, from which they obtained grain enough to provide them with bread during the following winter. Mr. C. resided upon this place until his death, many years afterward. This family, with the two preceding ones, constituted, for some time, the whole popula- tion of the township. Mr. C. was a prominent man in the little colony, and, after the township was organized, figured conspicuously in its affairs till his death.

John Adney immigrated here from Pennsylvania, of which State he was a native, in 1807. Upon arriving in this township, he entered the southwest quarter of Section 31 and erected his cabin and put up a rude barn, as preliminaries to the more extensive operations which he expected to carry on afterward. He was accompanied to this township by his family, consisting, at that time, of several sons and daughters. Mr. A. worked upon this place seven years, and succeeded in clearing quite a large portion of his farm, when he disposed of his property here to Nicholas Platter, in 1815, and Mr. A., with his family, swelled the mighty stream of emigration -^pouring westward, and sought a home where such an abundance of wood and water was not to be contended against. Mr. Platter moved upon the place immediately after the removal of Mr. A., where he remained for fifteen years, when he disposed of his property to a Mr. Hamilton, in 1830. As will be seen hereafter, Platter was among the first of those who took the initiatory steps in establishing what was, at that time, one of the most important branches of the manufacturing pursuits then being carried on in the township.

Alexander Oliver emigrated from Pennsylvania, with his family of three boys and two girls, in about 1808. He entered the northwest quarter of Section 30, upon which he built the first cabin and felled the first tree in that part of the section. Mr. Oliver remained upon this place till 1823, when, growing tired of the immense quantities of wood and water, the only redundant articles that might be made subservient to the use of man in this vicinity, he sold his farm and moved farther west, and procured a home among the prairies. At about this time in the history of this township, rumors became rife in the neighborhood concerning the fearful depredations of the Indians, not only in the State at large, but in the neighboring townships in particular. The terrible tragedy that has made the names of Dillbone and Gerard household words throughout Miami County, plunged the inhabitants of their respective neighborhoods into such a state of feverish excitement as was not to be allayed for the space of several years. Blockhouses were built, firearms procured, constant watch was kept, and all signs of danger rapidly reported from settlement to settlement. Brown Township, like the others, became submerged in a sea of feverish excitement, and preparations were made here to protect themselves and families from the fiendish cruelty of the red man. The few families in the neighborhood met at the house of Mr. Kiser in January, 1812, and decided to build a house where the inhabitants might meet and spend the nights free from danger. Accordingly, the blockhouse was built on Kiser's place early in the summer of 1812, and this was the common rendezvous in all times of apprehended danger. Nothing occurred, however, to mar the peace of the little colony, and, their fears gradually subsiding, the old fort was finally abandoned as a place of refuge, and, instead, was used by Mr. Kiser as a stable and general storehouse for many years ; but a quarter of a century has passed away since the old house has fallen a prey to Time's destroying finger, and to-day not a vestige of the building remains to remind the dweller in this peaceful community of the turbulent scenes that were hourly expected to be enacted in the da}'S when the old blockhouse was built. After the war was declared ended and comparative peace again restored, the stream of immigration, which had ceased during the war, again began to pour westward, and quite a large portion of its surplus waters reached Miami County. Owing, however, to the fact that Brown Township is situated in a remote part of the county from the principal business centers, it was several years before the tributaries of the before-mentioned stream reached this vicinit}'. Among the first families to come to Brown Township after* the war was that of the Munsells. Asa Munsell accompanied by his family, emigrated from Massachusetts, their native State, in 1818. They settled near Marietta upon their arrival in Ohio, but, two years later, came to this township and located themselves permanently. Leander Munsell, a son of Asa, entered a quarter-section of land, which was situated some distance east from the present site of Fletcher. Mr. M. was a man of energy,.

and noted for the uprightness of his character and unflinching integrity, and was always deeply interested in all improvements necessary for the comfort and welfare of the neighborhood in which he lived. He built the first frame house in the township in 1820. He is also noted as having been the only inhabitant of Brown who ever occupied a seat in the Legislature of the State, to which he was elected, and filled to the satisfaction of all his constituents. He also took a prominent part in affairs pertaining to his county, for the good of which he was an indefatigable worker till his death.

John L. Malloy settled on Section 25, near the present site of Fletcher, in 1821. He purchased his farm of eighty acres of John Simmons, and built his logcabin, the floor of which was of sawed boards, instead of the puncheons usually used for that purpose. Mr. Malloy, in conjunction with John P. Davis, engaged in the lumbering business, and they were the only two men in this township who took advantage of the transporting facilities offered b}^ the river, in carrying their lumber to the south. They made many successful trips to New Orleans, and some of them are reported as having been exceedingly hazardous. On one occasion, they had waited several weeks for the river to rise, that they might push off with an unusually large cargo of fine cherry lumber. The}r had grown somewhat weary and careless with the long delay, and, consequently, were not prepared for the emergency which came upon them, by the water rising unexpectedly, and without previous indications of so doing, in the middle of the night, and it carried the boat, with all on board, rapidly down the stream as far as Troy, where, becoming entangled among the " Ninetj^-nine islands," it was found impossible to extricate themselves. Toward morning, the boat grounded, and shortly went to pieces, the lumber being carried off by the swift current, while the proprietors, with difficulty reached the shore. Such were some of the difficulties experienced by those who attempted to carry on commercial relations with the South by navigation, in the early days of our history. Mr. Malloy was engaged in this work many years, and was, for the most part, eminently successful in all his operations. He subsequently, however, removed from Brown Township, with his family, to California, where he became a bonanza king, and died years ago, possessed of a large estate.

John H. Wolcott, a native of New Jersey, emigrated with his family to Butler County, Ohio, in 1807, where he remained till 1820, when he came to Miami County, and located, first, in Lost Creek Township, where he remained one year, removing to Brown Township, in the spring of 1821, when he entered the north half of Section 5. Mr. Wolcott's family besides himself and wife, consisted of six boys and one girl, and, with the assistance of his boys, he soon caused the wilderness to disappear, in a great measure, from the spot he had chosen for his home. The first residence of this family did not differ materially from the dwellings of a majority of the first settlers in the township. The cabin consisted of a single room, with floor of puncheon-plank ; the greater part of one side of the house was taken up by the huge fireplace, which answered the triple purpose of furnace, grate and range. The sun sent its gladdening, cheerful rays into this humble home, through a window made of real glass, instead of the greased paper then commonly used, the size of which did not exceed 10x12 inches. Mr. Wolcott was, by profession, a surveyor, and was the first regular operator in that profession who became a permanent resident of Brown Township, and most of the land in the township was first surveyed by him. As a citizen, he was one among the most prominent in the township, and always took great interest in all affairs of a public character, pertaining to the well-being of his neighborhood. His sons, some of them, now live near the old homestead, and are among the most prosperous and influential meil in that part of the township.

Giles Johnson, from Virginia, immigrated to Brown Township in 1820 and entered the southeast quarter of Section 6, and built the first cabin on that section. This family consisted of five boys and two girls, who all took part in clearing the farm, as well as bearing their share of all other duties necessary to be performed in the early days of our settlement. Upon their arrival here, there was no cleared land in this part of the township, neither was there any regularly laid out wagon road, but all produce, beyond that necessary to meet the demands of home consumption, was conveyed to Troy on the back of the old family horse, which picked its wray through the brush and briers, which skirted the pathway between the farm and town, with difficulty ; and when, at last, a market-town was reached, the greater part of the work was yet to do, for, instead of driving the horse with its load of grain to a grain warehouse, and at once disposing of the load for a good price, it was necessary to go from house to house, and from store to store, selling a little here and a little there, and even then the producer considered himself fortunate if he was so lucky as to dispose of his products by evening, when he returned home with a few cents in his pocket, satisfied with having sold his corn even for the pitiable sum of 7^ cents per bushel.

Michael Sills emigrated from Pennsylvania in an early day, and coming to Ohio, settled first in Champaign County, where he remained till 1820, when he moved with his large family of boys and girls to Brown Township, Miami County. He took a lease for the southwest quarter of Section 6, and, with the assistance of his boys, cleared the farm on which he located, for one-half. The second log-cabin on this section was built by Mr. Sills, which, as to size and comfort, was as unpretentious as any in that neighborhood. After living in this humble home for about fourteen years, this family decided to remove to a countiy where such a superabundance of forest was not to be found, and consequently, in the spring of 1834, Mr. Sills started, with his family and all his household goods, in search of a more desirable location farther West. They finally settled permanently in Indiana, where members of the family still reside, having become the possessors of fine farms in the most productive part of the State.

John Oliver, who settled in the northern part of Section 6, was a native of Pennsylvania, from which State he emigrated in an earl}7 day, coming immediately to Brown Township, where he entered land of which he had cleared a considerable portion, when he disposed of it to Azel Griffith, who, with his family of three boys and one girl, moved upon this place in the spring of 1820, where he remained for four years, when he sold the property to George W. Dobbins, who moved here in 1824, and was the first keeper of a public-house in this part of the township. His tavern-stand was by no means an immense structure, or, at least, would not be considered such at the present day, but at that time it was considered a rather pretentious building, and certainly was as large as the limited amount of traveling at that time and in this part of the country would justify in building. In height it boasted a single story, in the loft of which beds were sometimes hastily set up, or rather laid down, for they boasted no bedstead in cases of emergency. There were only two regular rooms in the house, and these answered the purposes of kitchen, bedrooms, parlor, drawing-room and bar.

The northwest quarter of Section 6 was entered by William Graham, who was a native of Maryland, from which State he emigrated in 1818 and came immediately to this county, settling on the farm before mentioned. He erected the third cabin on this section, and was one of the most industrious, energetic men in the community in which he resided. Upon locating here, Mr. G. applied himself assiduously to the labor of clearing his farm, of which he had cleared considerable when he disposed of his property here and moved to Illinois.

William Cox, a native of Pennsylvania, immigrated to Brown Township in 1815, and entered the southwest quarter of Section 1, llange 12. He had a large family of sons and daughters, who all assisted in the clearing of the farm. Some years subsequent to his settling here, he disposed of his property in this township to Sylvanus Allen, who moved here from Montgomery County, and still lives on the farm he purchased from Mr. Cox.

Joseph Jackson emigrated from New Jersey in 1826, and entered the north half of Section 11, Range 11, in this township, where he built his cabin of one

Fred Gray, from New Jersey, settled on the southeast quarter of Section 5, in Brown Township, in 1828. His family consisted of four boys and three girls one of the former lost his life in the service of his country. Mr. Gray sold his farm in this township, after living upon it many years, and purchased another in Lost Creek Township, this county. At the present time, he resides in Lena, this, township, being among the oldest residents of the place.

Maj. Manning emigrated from New Jersey, in 1818, and, coming to this township, entered his farm on Section 3. He built a house of round logs, the size of which was 18x20 feet. The hands who assisted in the raising of this house came a distance of six miles. So thinly was the township settled at that date, that men could not be procured for such purposes without calling upon all the inhabitants of the community for several miles around. In 1824, Mr. Manning built a hewed-log house, which, at that time, was considered the second best dwelling in the township, being judged of sufficient importance to justify the authorities in imposing a tax upon it.

John D. Corcy, a brother-in-law of Maj. Manning, with whom he came to this township, was a native of New Jersey, from which place he emigrated in 1818, and, reaching Ohio, stopped in Dayton the 4th day of July of the same year. Mr. Corry was the first merchant in this part of the township, having purchased a small stock of goods, which he sold at his house as early as 1825. After having been engaged in this business for three or four years, he sold his property here and removed to Shelby County, subsequently moving on to Illinois, where he located permanently.

Joseph Shanks emigrated with his family of five boys and four girls, from Pennsylvania, in 1794. He reached Ohio the same year and located near Cincinnati. His son Peter, hearing of the wonderful fertility of the Miami Valley, came to this county and settled on Section 29 in Brown Township, in 1821. The roof of his cabin was made of good shingles instead of clapboards, and the floor of smooth puncheon, so that this house was considered among the most elegant in the township at that time. He occupied this house till 1837, when he built his present residence. Mr. Shanks arrived here in the fall, and consequently was not overstocked with provisions., He spent the winter in working wherever he could find employment, and by his industry, managed to keep the wolf from the door till the spring of 1822, when he had cleared about four acres of his farm, on which he raised that summer a good crop of corn. He also, the same y ear > put out quite a number of fruit trees, from which, in a few years, he obtained a plentiful supply of good fruit.

William Manson, a native of Pennsylvania, immigrated to this township with his family of three girls and one boy, in 1819. He entered a quarter-section of land, on which he built the first cabin. There had been a log schoolhouse built on this section the year previous to the arrival of Mr. Manson in the township. It was made of round logs, the benches of split logs, and the outlet to the fireplace was by a "cat and clay " chimney, an inartistic structure of mud, straw and sticks. «

Besides the pioneer settlers already mentioned, the names of John Wilson, William Walkup, David Newcomb, Thomas McClure, Benjamin Sims, Joseph Bollinsr etc., are known as having been among those who sought to subdue the wildernessr and who, by their industry, became important factors in all things pertaining to the well-being of the new country.

The township was organized and the first officers, of which an}T record can be found, were elected in 1819, and were as follows, viz.: Trustees, Alexander Oliver,. William Walkup and William Manson ; Clerk, Joseph Bollins ; Treasurer, Levi Munsell ; Justice of the Peace, John Wilson ; Supervisors, John Oliver and Daniel Newcomb ; Lister, Jacob Simmons ; Fence Viewer, Benjamin Sims ; House Appraiser, Thomas McClure ; Overseers of Poor, John Simmons and Peter Kiser.

The present officers are : Trustees, David Manson, Charles Simmons and D. S. Carmony ; Clerk, A. McClintock : Treasurer, W. I. Kiser ; Constables, C. H. Lane and C. M. Williams ; Assessors, J. M. Frazier and John Duncan ; Supervisors, Frank Sayers, Benjamin Wolcott, James Coddington, S. Worthington and W. E. Myers.

The only railroad in the township is the Cincinnati, Columbus & Indiana Central, now leased and operated by the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, passing east and west through the center of Sections 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36, and on which line are located the stations of Conover and Fletcher.

Conover , one of the three in the township, is a small station on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway, containing scarcely a dozen houses. The land on which the village is situated was first entered by a Mr. Jones, from whom Solomon G. Brecount, the founder of the place, purchased it and laid out nineteen lots, in April, 1856. It was named in honor of A. G. Conover, of Piqua. The original plat has been increased by a single addition, which was annexed in June. 1863. The lots are 150x50 feet in size, and the streets are sixty feet wide. The first house in the place was built by Brecount & White, and was used as a miscellaneous store-room. The grain store of the Brecount Bros, has been in operation in this place man}' years, and is doing a thriving business. This store, and the steam saw-mill near it, are the more important enterprises in the place. Besides these there are a blacksmith-shop, dry-goods store and shoe-shop in the place, as also one church, of which an account will be given in its proper place.

Lena was laid out by Levi N. Robbins, in 1830, and was first called Elizabethtown, in honor of his wife, but, there being another town of that name in the State, in order to prevent all irregularities in postal matters, it was deemed proper to change the name of the village, which was accordingly called Lena. But, after the place had been named some time, there wras found to be another place of the same name in Ohio, making the new name no better than the old. However, despairing of finding any name not already appropriated by some Ohio village, they concluded not to make another attempt in that direction, but the post office was called, as it is to this day, Allen's Post Office, in honor of Sylvanus Allen, who was the first Postmaster in the township, having had the office as early as 1830, at which time the Postmaster, for his labor, received and sent his own mail free, and got $2 per year in cash. Mr. Allen, also, was instrumental in establishing the second post office in Brown Township, in Fletcher, in 1832, which was first kept by old Squire Malloy. At the time Lena was laid out, there was nothing on the spot but woods, so that the only recommendation the place had was its abundance of shade. The first store was built by Joseph Beck, who cleared off a spot of ground large enough for his cabin, which he erected in 1830. and used as a store-room, the first in the place. He occupied this room several years, when he put up a small frame, in which he carried on his business, till he was burned out a few years later. Before the village was laid out Elah Hay hurst had built a little log shop, as early as 1824, in which he did all the black smithing for the neighborhood ; but after Lena was laid out the first blacksmith was William Graham, who had emigrated from Pennsylvania and located here shortly after the first settlements were made in this place. The wants of the community are nowr attended to, and the business of the place carried on in Lena, by two dry-goods stores, one grocery store, three blacksmiths, one wagon-shop, three physicians, one millinery-shop, one agricultural implement store, one tailor and three carpenters, while the spiritual development of the citizens is attended to by one resident minister.

Fletcher , a station on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, is the largest and most important village in the township, and was laid out in 1830, by John L. Malloy. The original plat consisted of forty-six full, and four fractional, lots, the size of the former being 66x90 feet. In the old plat, twenty-eight full lots lie north of Main street, and eighteen full, and four fractional, lots south of the same street, which is sixty feet wide, as is also Railroad street, the cross streets being only fort}^ feet wide. Since the date of its foundation, the place has been enlarged by five additions, viz. : Parrot's Addition. Moses' Addition, Clark's Addition, Eichelbarger's Addition, and Council's Addition. The first place of business in the village was in a little log-cabin, built by Samuel Dougherty, in 1830. He kept a miscellaneous stock of goods, embracing almost everything necessary to meet the demands of his customers, from the stimulating liquid down to a paper of pins. The cabin in which he carried on his business, has been weather-boarded, and is, to-day, in a good state of preservation. Samuel Crane, who was about the second merchant in Fletcher, sold goods as early as 1835 ; after carrying on the business for some time, he was burned out. The third merchant here, was Isaac Dukemineer, who erected a brick, and began business about 1850. After doing a good business for many years, he disposed of his property to Alonzo Montgomery. Isaac Kiser, Michael Duncan, and Solomon Brecount were also among the earliest merchants in this place.

The various branches of commerce are carried on here by two dr}r-goods stores, one drug store, one grocer}' store, four blacksmith-shops, two shoeshops, one furniture store, two milliner-shops, one hotel, one tin and stove store, one barber, two grain warehouses, two physicians, one dentist, one dealer in patent medicines, two stock dealers, and one harness-shop.

The officers of the corporation are, Mayor and J ustice of the Peace, Michael Duncan ; Clerk, J. Gr. Simmons ; Treasurer, W. A. Lewis ; Marshal and Supervisor, John Robbins ; Councilmen, A. McClintock, C. W. Crebors and J. P. Coffield.

Probably the first distillery in the township was built and operated by Nicholas Platter, who erected a copper still in 1820, which he worked for about ten years, and is said to have manufactured a superior article of whisky. He disposed of his place, which was on the southwest quarter of Section 31, to a Mr. Hamilton, in 1830, who carried on the business in his stead. The second distillery in the township, was built on Section 25, by Daniel Newcomb, in about 1821. His business in this line was not very extensive, but he did considerable work for his neighbors, for many years, and is said to have produced an excellent quality of whisky. The first blacksmith-shop in the township, was kept by Benjamin Bowersock, as early as 1814. It was situated on the southeast quarter of Section 19, on land entered by Benjamin's brother David. Benjamin Bowersock subsequently purchased eighty acres of land for himself, and then built the second smithy in the township.

The third blacksmith-shop in the township was built in 1828, by Joshua Duer, who operated it several years. Owing to the fact that not much work in this line was done in those days, those who worked at this trade found it necessary to combine it with farming, in order to make both ends meet at the end of the year.

The first saw-mill in the township was built by John L. Malloy, on the banks of a small run which passed through Section 25, where the mill was built. This was about 1821, and, at that date, people in the vicinity began using sawed boards, instead of roughly-split puncheon, for flooring purposes. Mr. Mallo}' also connected with the saw-mill a corn-cracker, at the same date, which was the first and only grist-mill in the township till steam mills were introduced. He devoted himself to these industries very successfully for many years, when he disposed of them and removed to California, where he died years ago.

The second saw-mill in the township was built and worked by David Gra}' & Porter, in 1830. It was situated on Big Lost Creek. They had operated this but a few months when John D. Hendley built the third saw-mill in Brown Township, on the same stream, about half a mile east from Dray & Porter's mill. However, there was plenty of work for each mill to do, and the whirr of the saws, as they

The first steam saw-mill in the township was the one owned by Harrison Loudenback, near Conover, which he began operating about the time the railroad was completed through the place ; after operating it some time, he disposed of the property, since which time it has passed through several hands, and is now owned by J. W. White, who is doing quite an extensive business in that line.

The first steam grist-mill in the township was the property of Benjamin F. Shattuck, who erected it in Fletcher in 1849. He operated it successfully about four years, when it was destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt.

In about 1857, Mr. Shattuck put up another mill near Fletcher, at the railroad, but, in a short time, this also was destroyed by fire and was not rebuilt.

The Coppock Bros., who have been dealing in grain a good while, and have been doing a large business, which is constantly increasing, this year added a steam grist-mill to their business, which will, doubtless, not only prove advantageos to them from a financial point of view, but will also prove a factor of no small importance in making Fletcher the business center for all the surrounding country.

The grain warehouse near Lena has been in operation about twenty-five years. It is now the property of L. W. Colvin, who, being a man of good business ability and unswerving honesty, is almost constantly handling large quantities of grain.

The only tile factory in the township is the property of H. S. Carmony, who has been running it since 1872. The work is done by a Penfield machine, which was purchased by the proprietor for $450. The buildings are substantial and commodious, the pressing shed being forty feet square ; the drying room is 180x18 feet. A third room, made wholly of iron, is 17x24 feet. The kiln, 12x15 feet, is the second largest in Miami County. Two kilns, containing 700 rods of tile, are burned every two weeks. Eight different sizes of tile are manufactured here, and three men employed in the work, which is all disposed of near home, the demand for the article up to the present time exceeding the supply.

The first regular congregation in Brown Township, was the Methodists. They built their first church in Fletcher, in 1 8 20, on land donated by Alexander Oliver ; it was a brick building, and the first brick house of any kind in the township. Owing to the fact that the records of the church have been lost, nothing can be said of its early history, save that its members have always been forward in good works. Among the first ministers, James B. Findley may be mentioned. The old church has been torn down many years, and some of the lumber used in the making ot the pulpit in 1820 is now in the possession of a lady imFletcher, who has had it converted into cupboard doors, in which capacity it has served, and promises to serve, many years. The church was rebuilt some twenty-five or thirty years ago, and at the present time the property is worth about $3,000. Services are held every two weeks. Sunday school is held ever}' Sabbath morning, the average attendance being sixty -five. G. W. Gillmore is the Superintendent. The Methodists also have a church in Lena, worth about $2,500, which is in a prosperous condition. George Malloy is remembered as having been one of the pioneers who preached for this congregation in its infancy here.

The Baptists are as old a denomination as any in the township. Traveling ministers preached for this branch of the church in the house of Mr. Kiser as early as 1809. Their first brick church was built on the farm of Edmund Yates, in 1830. This has ceased to exist long ago. The Baptist, in Fletcher, was organized Tuesday, January 29, 1861, at which time there were fifteen members in the congregation. David E. Thomas, from Piqua, served as minister here till his death, in 1864. E. D. Thomas, of Illinois, was then called to the pastorate, over which he presided one year, and was succeeded by Elder Daniel Bryant, who served three years, when J. W. Weatherby, from New York, took charge of the congregation for a single year. George VV. Taylor, the next minister, preached two years, after which

William S. Kent, from Virginia, served the same length of time. Joseph N. Scott from Pennsylvania, then took charge of the congregation, over which he has presided ever since. The church, a frame structure, 36x46 feet, was completed in 1862, at a cost of $1,500. In the winter of 1867-68, Rev. Daniel Bryant, assisted by Elder Shepardson, of Piqua, had quite a revival, thirty-two persons uniting with the church. Other revivals, conducted by different ministers, have taken place at different times. Since the call of Rev. Scott, the congregation has been increased by thirty-one persons uniting with the church. The present membership is ninetynine. Church propertjOs valued at about $2,000. Wilber Higgins is Superintendent of the Sunday school, which has an average attendance of sixty persons.

The Presbyterian Church in Fletcher was organized in the fall of 1837 by Revs. James Coe and Samuel Cleland, who were deputed to act in that capacity by the Presbytery at Sidney. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Cleland, from Romans, eighth chapter and first verse, and the congregation was named the " Newton Presbyterian Church." Previous to the organization of the church here, Rev. F. A. Hemper, a licentiate minister, had preached for the people here. The congregation at first consisted of twenty members. The first ruling elder was William Brown. Matthew Dinsmore and James McQuillen were ordained elders, by Rev. Coe, at William Brown's schoolhouse, January 27, 1838. Rev. D. H. Green, formerly of Delaware, Ohio, the present pastor, resides in New Paris, and preaches for the people here every two weeks. Robert Scott is Superintendent of the Sunday school, which has an average attendance of forty. The church edifice is of brick, the whole property being worth about $4,500.

The Baptist Church at Lena is a branch of that denomination at Honey Creek, and was organized as a separate congregation June 23, 1855, with fortj' -four members, all of whom had applied for and received letters of dismissal from the Honey Creek Church. The first officers of the organization were : Moderator, William Fusan ; Clerk, William J. Wolcott ; Deacons, Jeremiah McKee and James Wilson ; Singing Clerks, John R. West and William J. Wolcott. The first sermon after organization was preached by Rev. Matthews, on Juty 21, 1855. Rev. David Scott, the first minister, served the church six years, and Rev. William Matthews the same length of time ; T. N. Frazee served during the war two years, and was succeeded by T. J. Price, who preached here four years ; James Randle then took the charge for three years, after which James Simpson served the congregation six months, till the arrival of the Rev. Nixon, the present pastor, during whose time of service about one hundred and fifty persons have united with the church. B. B. Wheaton, George L. Wolcott and A. L. Brecount have labored as volunteer ministers at different times. The church property is valued at about $3,000.

The Universalist Church at Conover was organized at Lena, by Rev. E. Moore and T. S. Guthrie, the first Sunda}^ in February, 1868, with a membership of thirtytwo persons. First officers were, Trustees Dr. W. S. Cox, J. A. Hill and J. Abott : Treasurer, Dr. Cox ; Clerk N. W. Cady ; first Deacons were, Calvin Hill and Moses Benham. Rev. E. Moore, the first pastor, served three years, and during that time received thirty-seven members into the church. J. D. Lauer succeeded him, in 1871, at which time, the church at Conover being completed, services were subsequent^ held there, and the name of the organization changed from Lena to Conover. Rev. Lauer preached for the congregation till the 1st of March, 1879, having during that time received one hundred and five persons into the church. J. H. Blackford, the present minister, has been preaching for this people since the spring of 1879. Besides these regular Ministers the church has been favored at different times by the presence and assistance of Revs. S. P. Carlton, I. B. Grandy, T. S. Guthrie, H. F. Miller, E. Dick, C. N. Dutton and W. Woodley. One hundred and seventy- two persons in all have united with the church since its organization. Between 75 and 80 members now compose the congregation. The present brick edifice was erected in Conover in 1870-71, at a cost of $3,700. Present officers are, Trustees, Dr. W. S. Cox, B. H. White, and A. L. Brecount : Treasurer, Alfred Morris ; Clerk, Joseph Johnson ; Deacons, J. Abott and W. S. Cox, M. D.

The first schoolkouse in Brown Township was built in 1810, on Section 36. It was of round logs, and so low that a tall person found it necessary to bow the head in entering this place of learning. The seats were of split logs with wooden pins for legs. The door was made of a split slab, and was so narrow that only one could pass through it at a time. The window was a nicely greased paper pasted over a hole sawed in the logs. The first teacher in this old style academy was " Aunt Sallie Tucker," a spinster, who made it her business to teach the young idea how to shoot. The second teacher in the township was old " Aunt" Patty McQuillen. The third was probably Aras Denman and the fourth G-eorge Layman. The second schoolhouse in Brown Township was on William Manson's farm, and was built in 1818. Joseph Rollins was the first teacher in this school. Scholars came here to school through mud and snow a distance of four or five miles. Probably the third schoolhouse in the township was on Section 11. John Dinsmore taught here as early as 1828.

The special district of Fletcher was organized in 1874, when, the old house having been sold for $90, the present building of two rooms was built, at a cost of $4,500, the whole property is now worth $5,000. The enumeration of the district 1879 was 163. The teachers have been as follows, viz., 1874, N. W. Cady Principal ; Rebecca Wharton Assistant ; 1875 the same teachers were emplo}Ted ; 1876, William McFarland, Principal ; Rebecca Wharton, Assistant ; 1877, A. McClintock, Principal ; Ella White, Assistant ; 1878, the same ; 1879, D. B. Earhart, Principal ; Mrs. Ella Brown, Assistant part of the year, and Albert Lane the remainder of the year. They have school during nine months of each year, and pay the Principal for his services $50 and the Assistant $30 per month.

Secret Societies

I. 0. 0. F. at Lena. - Industry Lodge, No. 256, received its charter from the Grand Lodge at Zanesville, Ohio, February 23, 1854. The charter members were James Griffis, Joseph Eichelbarger, Joseph Beeder, John Miller and G. P. Holloway. There are now thirty -nine members, of which the following are the present officers : S. S. Yates, N. G.; E. H. Stith, Y. G.; John M. Stith, Secretary ; Caleb Williams, Per. Secretary ; James M. Griffis, Treasurer ; Jared Wolcott, W.; David F. Lane, C.; Noah B. Wells, I. G.; J. W. Domyre, 0. G.; W. Williams, B. S. N. G.; W. Boberts, L. S. N. G.; John G. Wolcott, B. S. V. G.; Scott L. Allen, L. S. Y. G.; Thomas Wheaton, B. S. S.; Isaac J. Merritt, L. S. S. They built their first hall in 1854. This was sold in 1876, and the present hall, thirty by fifty feet, was completed in the summer of 1877. The property is worth $1,000, for which amount it is insured. The oldest member of the lodge is E. W. Yates, who joined the 13th of December, 1856. James Carter is the oldest person in the lodge, and Jared Wolcott the youngest.

I. 0. 0. F. in Fletcher. - Taylor Lodge, No. 322, received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, convened at Mansfield May 14, 1857, the officers of the Grand Lodge at that time being W. Chidsey, M. W. G. M.; Hiram Viele, M. W. G. D. M. ; C. J. Pardee, B. W. G. W.; Alexander E. Glenn, B. W. G. Sec.; William F. Slater, B. W. G. Treas. The charter members were James Griffis, T. M. Beamer, I. M. Jackson, Joseph Beeder, Oliver Toms, Emanuel Toms, Daniel Brelsford and N. I. Finch. The present officers are A. McClintock, N. G.; G. F. Fryling, Y. G.; B. F. Simmons, B. S.; W. A. Lewis, P. S.; E. F. Drake, Treasurer; Dr. J. B. Beamer, C.; J. H. Newman, W.; W. T. Shanks, B. S. S.; H. G. Kemp, L. S. S.; W. I. Kiser, B. S. N. G.; Y. B. Sanders, Y. G. B. S.; J. C. Wones, Y. G. L. S.; W. B. Luce, G.; L. Davis, S. Y. G. At this date there are sixty active members in the lodge. J. Sanders and Charles Search are the oldest living members of the lodge, both being upward of sixty. The latter is the second oldest in membership of any member of any secret organization in Browm Township. The building in which they meet is the property of the society. The lower floor is rented to the Kiser Brothers, who carry on the mercantile business here. The whole property is probably worth about $1,200.

The wheel of time has made some eighty annual revolutions since the first permanent white settler entered within the limits of what is now Spring Creek Township. To the youth eighty years seems a long time, but to him who has reached the age of four-score years the scenes of his boyhood's days seem but as those of yesterday, and it is difficult to realize that in so short a space of time such great and important changes have taken place.

Spring Creek Township is bounded on the north by Shelby County, on the east by Brown Township, on the south by Staunton Township, and on the west by Washington Township.

The superabundance of wood and water in this township were circumstances by no means inviting to the early settlers ; but they had heard the story of the first settlers in our county and had seen the forest disappear before the woodman's ax, and knew that in order to make homes as pleasant as any in the older States, required only a determined will and muscular activity. Those natures that had in their composition a liberal allowance of these essential elements, were the proper persons to lay the foundations of new settlements and to begin developing the immeasurable resources of wealth to be found in the West. Accordingly, as the tide of immigration poured into Miami County, it is not to be wondered at that Spring Creek Township, situated, as it is, in the most productive part of the Miami Valley, should have been chosen as the abode of the first permanent white settler in the county. The township receives its name from the most important stream within its boundaries, which in its turn was so called because it has its source in, and all its additions to its waters are made by, the numerous springs along its route. It enters the township at the northeast quarter of Section 3, and, deflecting southeast in its course, makes its exit at the southwest quarter of Section 11. The most considerable branch of Spring Creek in the township is Bee Run, so named by the pioneer settlers on account of the numerous and wellfilled bee-trees formerly found upon its banks. It has its source in the northwest quarter of Section 12, and, taking a generally southerly course, adds its waters to those of Spring Creek just before it enters Staunton Township, at the northwest quarter of Section 10.

Several other tributaries of minor importance flow southeast and increase Spring Creek by their waters ; two of the most important have their source in Sections 2 and 7 respectively.