Cardington Township (part 25 of 26)

CYRUS CRAVEN, farmer; P. O., Woodview; son of Beckley W. nnd Elizabeth (Balse) Craven. He was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, near Short Creek, Nov. 15, 1816. The family moved on this section when he was only four years old, and he grew up in the woods, varied by occasional visits to the old cabin school house, situated one-half mile south of his home. His first teacher was Jesse Downer, from the mountains, and very severe. The house was illuminated by what sunlight could pass through its long windows of greased paper. The fire-place filled one end of the house, and the floors and furniture were alike made of puncheon. The teacher's position was not even honored by the presence of a chair. Mr. Craven went only about three terms in all. He worked for John Shauck in the saw-mill when he was 19, and broke his shoulder while turning a log. His father was a carpenter, and he worked with him at the trade until he reached his majority, after which he followed the same calling until 1852, putting up several large barns in the neighborhood. He purchased his present home of fortv acres at $10 per acre in 1850. He married Nancy Bell July 7, 1852. She is a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Lash) Bell, born in Bellville, Ohio, May 17, 1817. Her grandfather came from Belmont Co., Ohio, about 1815, and laid out the town of Bellville on his farm. The great grandfather of our subject, Thomas Craven, came from London, England, in 1729; he landed at Wilmington, and journeyed from there to Philadelphia, and near the site ot old Philadelphia he was hotly pursued by wolves, and sought refuge by climbing a sycamore tree, where he remained all night. He settled near Princeton, where he taught school, and raised four sons, one of whom was Thomas Craven, Jr., grandfather of Cyrus. He came to Cincinnati, Ohio, about 1805, leaving Beckley W., his second son, in Pennsylvania. He emigrated from Sussex Co. of that State about 1810, intending to join his father at Cincinnati, Ohio; but when he reached Harrison Co., Ohio, the danger of an outbreak Irom the Indians seemed to threaten imminent peril, so he stopped there with his family about ten years. He then gave up his first intention of joining his father, who died at Cincinnati; he came about 1821 or 1822 to this township, and settled on forty acres of school land, all in woods. He was born in Trenton, N. J., and was a member of the Episcopal Church. He followed the occupation of carpenter. He first wedded Elisabeth Carpenter by whom he had five children - Nancy, Hiram, Martha, John and Sally. She died, and he afterwards married Elizabeth Balse. Ten children were born to them - Lewis; Mahala, Anson, Cyrus, Fanny, Eliza, Emily A., Lucinda, Beckley and Elias. The father passed away peacefully about 1855. Cyrus, our subject, is of the true type of a self-made, self-educated, whole-souled gentleman; a fine marksman and skillful hunter. In early days he killed thirty-six deer in one fall, and the records of Crawford Co. show that he killed an old she-wolf and her five cubs where Gabon, Ohio, now stands. He voted the Democratic ticket, until 1879, when he identified himself with the National Reform and Greenback party.

| P. O., Shaucks; is the fourth son of Alben and Ruth (Nickols) Coe; he was born in Chester Tp., Morrow Co., O., Nov. 21, 1834; passed his boyhood on the farm, and went to district school in winter. At twenty-two he rented his father's farm for two years; then purchased 75 acres of the present place, about 1858. He has since added, at one time 85 and at another time 94 acres, until his estate now covers 254 acres of fine farming lands. He erected a large house in 1879 on the site of a similar structure, which was built in 1874 and burned in 1878. His present elegant frame residence of ten handsomely finished rooms he erected in 1878. Thus has our farmer-boy, who started in life with no capital but three dollars in money, two strong hands and a willing heart, surrounded himself and family with a beautiful home and handsome competence. He has been interested for some time in the raising of draft horses, having some very fine specimens of the Clydesdale stock. He has dealt in stock quite extensively for the last nine years. He takes an active interest in the

Agricultural Society, having been a member of its Board for six years. At the call of his country Mr. Coe enlisted Sept., 1861, for three years, in the 64th Reg., Co. C, of the O. V. I., commanded by Capt. Brown and Col. Forscythe. He participated in the fortunes of that regiment until it reached Stevenson, Ala., when he was sent home to recruit the ranks. During the five months in which he was thus eno-ao-ed he took to the front at one time men who were assigned to the "11th" O. V. C., and at another time he enlisted eighteen men. He entered the old 9th O. V. C. as First Lieutenant, but was soon promoted to the office of Captain. He led his company in the engagements of Decatur, Alabama and Center Star. They started on a raid, and were in a continual fight with the Rebel, General T'orrest, for sixteen days. He was at the siege of Atlanta. At one time Forrest ditched the train in which they were riding, and his men disengaged themselves from the debris and formed in line of battle on the opposite side of the cars, completely routing the Rebels. At Lawrenceburg Capt. Coe's company charged on the 3rd Georgia Reg., gaining a signal victory and killing eighteen. They also fought in the Charge of Waynesboro, and all the engagements of that memorable "March to the Sea." He was mustered out Aug. 5, 1865. He was married Sept. 18, 1856, to Rebecca H. Shauck, daughter of Elah Shauck, born Jan. 31, 1834, in this township. Ten children have been born to them of which there are but five living - Alva L., born June 23, 1857; Laura E., July 6, 1863; Claude E., Sept. 3, 1868; Glenn H., Nov. 7, 1869; Nevada, Aug. 8, 1877. Five died when young. Mr. Coe votes the Republican ticket. He has a relic of by-gone days in the shape of an ancient wooden clock whose history extends back to 1780. It was brought from Pennsylvania by the Lemmon family. Alben Coe, father of our subject came from Lancaster Co., Penn., and settled on what is now known as the Russell Farm; the land was first entered by Nathan Nichols. At the time of his settlement - probably about 1817, there was no one living on the site of Mt. Gilead. Allen Kelley was his nearest neighbor. Here he built a cabin on the banks of the Whetstone and followed the trade of black-smith - no doubt the first of his craft in that region. He helped to cut and carry the logs and raise the first cabin ever erected in Mt. Gilead. At' that time deer were very plenty, and one day a pack of dogs pursued one to the banks of the stream, and as it came out on the opposite side, Mrs. Coe struck it with a stick just back of the ears and killed it. The family lived in different parts of Morrow Co. for some years, then removed to Delaware Co., where they lived some three years. They settled on the farm where our subject lives in 1856; where they lived two years then removed to Richland Co. where they lived some three years, when they settled in Gilead Tp., where the father died April 6, 1870. His wife, Ruth Coe, died about 1840, and he subsequently wedded Mary Conway of Sparta, Ohio. Of the first marriage seven children were born - Nathan N., who married Letitia Blakely of Mt. Gilead. He lives there now, having retired from the farm. Sarah, now Mrs. Joseph Patton of this county; William married Ann Smith, and is a farmer in Gilead Tp.; John R. married Sarah Friend of Tipton, Iowa; he now lives in Nappa Co., Cal.; Marth J., deceased, was wife of Orange McDonald; Alben, subject of this sketch; Emma R. mar-, ried William Logan of Richland Co., Ohio. They now live at Spring Green, Wis.

ANSON CRAVEN, farmer; P. O., Woodview; son of Beckley W. and Elizabeth (Balse) Craven; was born in April, 1812, in Washington Co., Penn. The family came to Ohio when he was only two years old, and lived in Eastern Ohio some eight years, when they settled on the " school section." Anson was about ten years old, and the family being in somewhat limited circumstances, his labor was required at home, so he had only about four months schooling in all; he worked by the month for John Shauck in the saw-mill for some time; he chopped in the "beech woods," removing all the timber at $4 per acre; in this way, he purchased forty acres on the school section, besides caring for and supporting his aged parents until their death; his present farm embraces eighty acres of good land, the fruit of his own labor and manage merit; when he was twenty-four - just in the prime of manhood - he cut a deep gash in his knee-joint, which stiffened it and made him a cripple for life; he now lives on the old

Susquehanna Co., Penn. He lived on a farm and received the rudiments of an English education until he was fifteen, when he entered a general store as clerk, where he remained until he reached his majority. In 1858 he left the store and engaged in lumbering and farming for three years, at the expiration of which time he entered upon the study of the profession, for which nature has so eminently fitted him, in the office of Dr. T. C. Denison, of Mehoopeny, Wyoming Co., Penn. Here he remained one year, making careful preparation for the course of lectures which he attended in the Medical Department of Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, in the fall of 1862. He returned to Mehoopeny, and practiced with success until September, 1865, when he came to Johnsville, and practiced until November of that year, at which time he entered the Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated Feb. 26, 1867. He returned to Johnsville, where he has built up an extensive practice in Morrow, Richland and Knox counties. Dr. Denison has gathered a fine collection of Professional Works, of which he is a close student. He began life with few of this world's goods, and has gained a handsome competence. His success in practice is largely due to his comprehensive reading, quick perception and sound judgment. He united his fortunes with Mary J. Ross, Sept. 2, 1867. She is a daughter of Benjamin Ross, of Mehoopeny, Penn. They have one son - Adam B., born May 29, 1868. The Doctor's father, Benjamin Denison, was a Physician; died in February, 1837, leaving a family of nine children - John W., now a Physician at Mehoopeny; Elizabeth, deceased, w7as wife of R. T. Stevens, and leaves a family; George M., died in 1866, in Pennsylvania; C. G., a merchant at Corning, New York; Eunice, now Mrs. R.T. Stevens; T. C., a Physician at Mehoopeny; Lewis B., died at the age of 18; Ann, died when young, and A. B., subject of these lines. Dr. Denison is a member of Mansfield Lodge, F. A. M.; also the Mt. Gilead Chapter.

Dk. J. W. DAVIS, physician; Shaucks; is the only son of John and Sarah J. (Wickersham) Davis. He was horn in Adams Co. Ohio, April 15, 1855. He assisted his father in agricultural pursuits, going to the public schools of his neighborhood until he was eighteen years old, when he became a clerk in a store at Locust Grdve, where he remained about two years. In the fall of 1873, he entered the Commercial Department of the West Geneva College at Logan Co. Ohio, where he graduated in the spring of 1874, when he began reading medicine in the office of Dr. J. L. Wright, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, attending lectures at the College of Indiana located at Indianapolis; on his return he became a partner with Dr. Wright, which lasted until the fall of 1875, when Dr. Davis retired to enter the P. M. College of Cincinnati, from whence he graduated Feb. 20, 1876 ; he first located at Carey, Wyandott Co., O., where he remained about one year, and afterwards for a brief period at Mexico, O.; he located in his present office at Johnsville, in Oct., 1877, where he has a good practice in Morrow and adjoining counties ; June 5, 1877, he was married to Laura A. .Meckley, a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Hosier) Meckley, born Jan. 16, 1859, in Troy Tp., of this comity. Dr. Davis and his wife are both members of the Evangelical Association at Haldemans ; his parents were both natives of Adams Co., O.; they were married Feb. 17, 1852, by Rev. Huston ; his mother, Sarah J. Davis, departed this life Jan. 22, 1855, aged 20 years and 6 months, leaving our subject, the only child ; his father again married Elizabeth Sharp, Nov. 18, 1856; of this marriage seven children have been born - Edwin, Sarah Belle, Rhoda, Mary, William, Miiton and Leonidas ; they lived in the path of John Morgan's raid, in 1863, and the Doctor, then a lad of ten years, was out plowing when three rebels came up and demanded the team; but our subject not willing to be interrupted, said to the near horse, " a-et uo Joe," but when a revolver was presented he reconsidered their request, and said : " Whoa ! Joe;" they took three horses, which were never recovered, and when his father came home and found them gone he was very indignant, and snatching his gun he followed them to his father's porch, when two of the "raiders" came up, leading a valuable grey horse ; they preparations in starting out, he filled one of his pockets loosely with powder, and now, as he lay prone in a rut filled with water, the powder in his pocket became thoroughly saturated.

MATTHIAS DEISCH, harness manufacturer; is the son of Matthias and Anna (Rapp) Deisch. The name of Matthias Deisch has been handed down from father to son for five generations. Our subject was born in the town of Fluorn, Wurtemberg, Germany, Oct. 24, 1818; he was carefully educated in the schools of his native Kingdom from his sixth to his fourteenth year, being catechised in the Old Lutheran Church. His father died when he was fifteen years old, and he was hired out by his guardian to work on a farm for one year; he was then apprenticed to learn harness-making, giving two and a half years' labor and $55 m money besides. The " boss" under whom he served was very exacting, and required his apprentice to work from fouro'clock in the morning until ten and sometimes one o'clock at night. He sailed from Bremen May 20, 1837, and after a prosperous voyage of seventy days, he arrived at New York in August; His passage cost $34; he remained in the metropolis only three days, when he went to Schenectady and found employment on the Erie Canal, where he worked about one month; he next worked on a farm near Moorsville, New York, about two months; from there he next found work on the railroad near Catskill about six weeks; then he worked at his trade in Cairo something over a year, when he went to Butler Co., Penn., and sojourned about eighteen months; Mr. Deisch came to Belleville, Ohio, in the fall of 1839, and Sept. 19 he began work in the shop of Ephraim Walter, where he worked until 1842; he was married to Naomi Hill, of Belleville, Dec. 3, 1840; he carried on a shop of his own in for some time; in the fall of 1843 he came to Johnsville, where he has resided ever since, Jan. 20, 1849, his shop burnt in the night with a total loss of contents and all; by his energy and perseverance it was soon rebuilt. Jan. 1, 1860, he was appointed Postmaster at Johnsville, phich position he held until May 10, 1875. At twelve o'clock, June 14, 1865, he left his home in America for a visit to the scenes of his childhood; his route lay from New York to Queenstown, Ireland, which was accomplished in eleven days; from there to Liverpool, London, Paris, Strasbourg, and reached Fluorn, his native town, at ten o'clock p. m., July 4. Thus our traveler, after an absence of twenty-eight years beheld his native home when his loved and adopted land was celebrating its independence, and at last in glad paeans of joy, proclaiming all men free and equal. After remaining about six weeks to settle up his father's estate, he returned by the way of Harvre, and reached New York after an ocean voyage of seventeen days; he is a devoted member of the United Brethern in Christ, in which he has held the offices of Trustee, and is Steward at present; he has performed the duties of Sexton for twenty-four years. His wife, Naomi Deisch, was born in Fredericktown, Sept. 1, 1821; she died April 5, 1873. Six children were born to them - Martha A. was born Dec. 28, 1843; Amanda, Feb. 2, 1848; James S., Jan. 9, 1852; E. Clark, Oct. 22,1859; Sarah E., Jan. 15, 1842, died Feb. 3, 1877; Laura A. died in infancy. Mr. Deisch was married to Elizabeth Starter, Oct. 1, 1875; he still does a thriving business at harness-making, and is able to furnish from his stock the finest and most durable kinds of work at most reasonable rates.

ELAH DENNIS, farmer, and dealer in agricultural implements; P. O., Woodview; is the third son of Samuel and Catherine (Crack) Dennis. He was born on his present place, Sept. 17, 1824. He passed his youth here, and went to the old school house near where Joshua Singrey lives. It had a large fire-place in one end, and was furnished with slat seats, desks on pins around the wall. His first teacher was Abram Stevens. He often went but two weeks during the year, on account of the time required for threshing out the grain. At nineteen he began to learn wagon-making with his brother in North Woodbury. He worked at the same business with Samuel Hoffman, and after learning the trade he formed a partnership with his brother Emanuel, which lasted some eighteen months, when he quit wagon-making, and took charge of the farm of George Rule, and farmed it for two years. He next went to the homestead, where he farmed about ten years; from there he removed near N. Woodbury, and worked in a steam saw-mill one year. Subsequently he bought an interest in the " Fish Farm,'' and lived on that two years. He next bought the 80 acres where Gabriel McWilliams lives, and sojourned there some two years; he then sold his farm and engaged in merchandising in North Woodbury for two years; then retired from the store and purchased the Gantz farm of 60 acres, where he lived ten years, when he sold, and bought the homestead of 83 acres of Samuel Hoffman, in the spring of 1875. He married Eliza J. Rule, Sept. 17, 1845, being just 21. She is a daughter of George and Mary Rule, born March 29, 1829, just south of Woodbury. Of this marriage two children have been bom - Leander, born April 25, 1851. He has a good education, and has followed the occupation of farmer. He is now farming the home place in partnership with his father. He has a fine stock of Poland-China hogs and Shorthorn cattle. He united his fortunes with Elizabeth E. Krout, Apr. 7, 1872. She is a daughter of Jacob and Lovina (Rule) Krout, born July 12, 1852, in Baltimore Co., Md. Leander has two children - Ora A., born May 10, 1873; Mary A., Sept. 5, 1876. Mary II. (see sketch of John Krout.) Samuel Dennis, father of our subject, was born in Juniata, Md., May 3, 1787. He lived in his native State 34 years, dividing his attention between the farm and the distillery. He married Catherine Crack, of Maryland, Apr. 12, 1812. In the fall of 1821 they set out with a two horse wagon for Ohio, and owing to the inclement weather and bad roads they were six weeks on the way. They arrived during'the holidays and passed the winter with George Rule on the Frcdericktown Road. In the spring he moved into the house vacated by Adam

Lucas, where he lived till fall; in meantime he built a shanty on the present eighty, which he had purchased of George Rinehart, a brother-in-law, about 1820. They lived in this shanty two years without fire-place, floors, door or windows. They built a fire in the middle of the house, and fashioned a bed and table by driving pins in the wall. The wolves would approach within two rods, and keep a dismal howling until almost sunrise; and the Red Skins would pass through the woods almost daily. When he arrived, he had but fifty cents in money, and he often worked at clearing all day for a bushel of corn. He would chop in the woods all day and make shoes by fire-light at night. He cleai'ed fifty acres of his own farm and about five acres each year for others, for many years. His cattle would often stray away, and he would find them five miles distant. He went to raisings and log-rollings seven miles distant in early times. He helped to cut the first roads that were opened through this vicinity. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, and was class-leader. His faithful wife died Feb. 15. 1861, aged 72 years, and he lived with subject, who cared for him nineteen years. He departed this life March 25, 1880, aged ninety-two years, 10 months and 20 days. His mental and physical powers seemed but little impaired until the last. In 1879 he mowed the door-yard four times. He raised seven children, and one died in infancy - Elizabeth, now Mrs. Edward Murray of Marion Co., Iowa; Uriah, carpenter and stock dealer at North Woodbury; Emanuel, wagonmaker at Woodbury; Lucinda, now Mrs. Samuel Hoffman of this township; Elah (subject); Samuel, blacksmith in Nebraska; Jacob, deceased; Franklin, died when eighteen months old. George Rule, the father of Mrs. Dennis, came with his family from Baltimore Co., Maryland, in 1828, and settled on a quarter section where Norman Merwine lives. It was all in woods then, and he erected a cabin with a puncheon floor, in which he lived for some time, he cleared up the farm and erected the present building before he left. He sold eight lots from his farm for the Village of Woodlnfry, and donated the one on which the United Brethren Church stands; he lived on that place until 1863, when he engaged in trade at different places, first at West Point, then Galion, Ohio, and from thence to Bourbon, Ind. He now lives at Argus, Marshall Co., Ind. He was much respected by his fellow7 citizens, and was chosen Justice of the Peace many years, he was also Assessor and Trustee of his township. He was one of the first members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and he'd the office of Elder. He raised eight children to manhood and womanhood - Catherine, now Mrs. Adam Grove of Kosciusko Co., Ind.; Eliza J., wife of subject; Josiah, farmer, near Bourbon, Ind.; Eliza, the wife of our subject; Henry R., farmer in Kansas; Margaret, now Mrs. John Gautz of Argus, Ind.; Levi, farmer at Argus, Ind.; Jacob, farmer in this township; George lives in Indiana.

ENOS GREEN, retired farmer and merchant; P. O., Levering, Waterford; is the third son of a w7ell known and highly respected family - the children of Elder Benjamin Green. He was born on the old homestead where William Addlesperger lives, June 14, 1826. He went through the woods to the Rinehart district, a mile and three-quarters distant. Lawrence VanBuskirk, a Pennsylvanian, w7as his first teacher in the old log school house. As soon as he grew up he rode the horses to thresh* and cleared with the men in the woods, living at home until twentythree. He united in marriage with Rachel Clark May 15, 1849. She is a daughter of William and Ab'giil (Owen) Clark, born July 7, 1829, in Knox, Co., O. Her parents were from Vermont, and the Owen family came very early and settled in Middleburg Tp. William Clark came some time later, an orphan. They raised two daughters, Rachel and Ruth, now Mrs. William Penn, of Waterford. After marriage our subject farmed on William Clark's place some eighteen months, when he moved on forty acres, where his residence stands, on which at that time two acres were cleared, and a small cabin. By his energy and toil Mr. Green has been eminently successful in business. He now owns two hundred acres of fine farming lands, of which he cleared a large portion and erected handsome and substantial buildings. Rachel Green bore him three sons - William R., George O. and Levi C., who all died in youth. His wife Rachel departed this life Jan. 1, 1855. He married Margaret Merwin March

22, 1857. She is a daughter of John and Amelia (Campbell) Merwin, born September, 1835, in Pennsylvania. The Merwin family came to this county in 1839, where they have since lived, raising a family of eight children, as follows - Jacob, a farmer in Illinois; Elizabeth, widow of Ira Dewitt, of Gilead Tp.; William, farmer in Congress Tp.; Julia A., now Mrs. James Muncie, of Iowa City ; Rebecca, now Mrs. Peter Syphers, of Missouri; Peter, decease!; Norman, of Perry Tp.; Margaret, wife of subject- Of the last marriage one son and two daughters are living; Norman D., born May 15, 1859; Sarah J., born Oct. 29, 1862, married John Hough of Knox Co., Feb. 26, 1880; Ada, born Oct.

25, 1869. Two died when young. Mr. Green formed a partnership with F. V. Gwen, of Waterford, for the transaction of a general merchandise and produce business at that place, under the firm name of Green and Owen. This partnership was formed in Sept.,

1879, and the high social standing of these gentlemen, together with an extended acquaintance, has brought the new firm an extensive trade. Mr. F. V. Owen is a nephew of Mr. Green, and a graduate of the Ohio Central Normal School. He was formerly principal of the Schools at Waterford, and is now Postmaster and Justice of the Peace. The firm carry a large stock of dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots and shoes, and everything needed by a farming community, and are doing a prosperous business, on the principle of large sales and small profits. Mr. Green moved his family to AVaterford April,

1880. He is a Democrat of the old-fashioned type, and was Trustee of his township for six years. He united with the Harmony Regular Baptist Church some twelve years ago, under the administration of Elder L. B. Sherwood. He stands as the representative of a worthy family, which may point with pride to its examples of a sturdy, self-reliant Christian manhood. Elder Benjamin Green, the father of Enos, was born in Baltimore Co., Md., June 15, 1778. In his youth he learned the tailor's trade, and worked for some time tn the city of Baltimore. He united with the Regular Baptists in early life, and began preaching when about thirty years of age. He traveled among the churches in the East quite extensively. Some of his preaching tours even extended to the brethren beyond the mountains. He came, with wife and two children, in the fall of 1£17, and settled in Perry Tp. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land, which cost $200, and purchased eighty acres of Henry Sams, which had a cabin and small improvements, which cost him $800. Here he worked at his trade most of his time, employing men to clear his land. Custom came from Mt. Vernon and other distant points. He engaged here in the regular work of the ministry, and during life had the pastoral care of four churches in this State - Salem, Mohican, Harmony and Wayne churches. He wedded Charon Caples, of Maryland, and five sons and four daughters were born to them, as follows - Isabel, widow of Abram Ackerman ; Robert, deceased, leaves two children; Susan, now Mrs. Jacob Burkebile (see sketch); Joseph, farmer, of this township; Alice Ann, now deceased, was wife of William Addlesperger (see his biography); Enos, subject of this sketch; Jephtha, now farmer and stock-raiser, at Yamhdl Co., Oregon; Elizabeth, was wife of the late Gilbert Owen, and is now wife of Benjamin Spitler, a merchant at Bloomville, O.; Joshua, farmer and blacksmith, at Bourbon Co., Kan.

G. R. HOSLER, merchant; Shaucks (.Tohnsville); is the fourth son of George B. and Catherine (Rorbaugh) Hosier. He was born in this township, Oct. 3, 1834; he lived on the farm until 18 years old, when he went to Mt. Gilead as clerk in the general store of J. D. Rigor & Co. Severing this engagement at the end of a year he became salesman in the establishment of Cooper, Eichelberger & Co. of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, for two years. He then came home, where he remained in charge of the farm until 1860. Then he came to Johnsville in the employ of J. J. Cover & Co., serving in the capacity of clerk until the spring of 1866, at wdiich time he commenced business in the present room under the firm name of Hosier, Morgan & Dise. This partnership lasted ten years, during which they did a large business. In 1876 Morgan and Dise retired, and Mr. Hosier continues under the firm name of G. R. Hosier & Sons. They do an extensive business in dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots and shoes, and drugs; they also deal largely in produce. An experience of nearly thirty years in buying and sellin" goods, enables .Mr. Hosier to give satisfaction to bis many customers in both style and prices. He was married to Elizabeth Shell, a daughter of Christian and Margaret (Weaver) Shell. She was born in Nassau, Germany, Sept. 28, 1834, and came with her parents, when six years old, to America, alter a voyage oY forty-two days. They settled in this township. Mr. Hosier has a family of nine children - Ella M. was' born Aug. 25, 1855;. lames N., Sept. 10, 1856; Elmira E., Dec. 27, 1857; L. Roy, March 30, 185!); Frank C., Dec. 31, 1861;. Alverda J., Aug. 23, 1864; M. Foye, Feb. 22, 1867; Clement L. V., April 27, 1871; C. Marshall, Oct, 21, 1873. Our subject has been closely identified with the public interests of his township since he reached his majority; he has been Clerk eleven years, Assessor for thirteen years, and Justice of the Peace for fifteen years; also Trustee, and Enumerator for 1880. In every position his honesty of purpose and purity of character has won the confidence of his fellow citizens, and placed his official life above reproach. His parents caine from York Co., Penn., in the month of May, 1832, and made their settlement one-half mile northwest of the site of North Woodbury, which only contained three log huts at that time. Here his father, George B. Hosier, bought sixty acres of land of Jacob Baker, and built a cabin. He followed the double occupation of carpenter and cabinetmaker. And as the early pioneer, becoming weary with the burden of years and toil, passed into that dreamless sleep that knows no waking, his handi-work furnished the burial casket, and with his four-horse ; wagon, instead of the plumed hearse of today, they wended their sorrowful way to the silent cities of the dead. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 under Captain May and Ma- I jor Shauck. He was Trustee of his township and an influential member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, being one of its founders, and for many years Deacon and Elder. He and George Rule taught singing in English and German, often attending these concerts on Sabbath barefooted. He raised six children - Henry, Abram, Samuel, Leah, Catherine and G. R. He died Sept. 23, 1863, aged 69 years, and the mother still lives with our subject, aged 84 years.

Among the successful and reliable business men of Johnsville, Mr. Held deserves more than a passing notice. He is the son of. John M. and Barbara Held (her maiden name wasDuld); he was born Feb. 16, 1827, in the town of Tuttl ingen Wurtemberg, Germany. The laws of that country compel the attendance at school of all children from the age of six to fourteen ; accordingly he attended the school in his native town eight years; on the Die completion of his studies, Mr. Held, then a youth not yet fourt en, entered the shoe shop of Peter Kuntz, for an apprenticeship of three years; here he toiled from four in the. morning until twelve at night, boarding himself the first year and lodging at home during the entire period, besides paying twenty-eight dollars, all for the sake of learning a trade. At the end of the third year, Mr. Held was employed for eighteen months as journeyman in the shop of Jacob Reichle, when the shoemakers formed a combination, agreeing to cut down prices to ten cents for making a pair of sewed boots. Then he left the bench to work in his father's bakery until his emigration to this country. In the meantime, he was drafted into the army, but owing to the fact that his father, who had served his country under Napoleon Bonaparte, was getting old and feeble, and the support of the family resting largely on John M., he was exempt from service. In 1849 he learned that a neighbor was going to the United States, whereupon he at once resolved to accompany him; accordingly they sailed from Havre, April 11, 1849, and after a stormy voyage of 1'orty-three days, they reached New York. He found employment at his trade in Philadelphia for two years. During that period he formed a matrimonial alliance with Barbara Miller, a tailoress, who was born in Bornheim, Kingdom of Bavaria, on Feb. 20, 1821. She came across the ocean with her brother in October, 1849, and they settled in Philadelphia. After marriage, each remained in the employer's family through the day, lodging in a room which they rented. Some time after they removed to Mansfield, Ohio, where Mr. Held opened a shop of his own, but he only worked here eight months, removing to Johnsville in 1852, where they rented the building now used as the Miracle House, which served as shop and dwelling. Here Mr. Held and his wife worked night after night during the first until twelve o'clock at night, she binding shoes. In 1854 he purchased the present shop and residence fronting on Delaware Street, west of Main Street, in which he has worked at making and repairing boots and shoes for twenty-six years, building up a large trade in every kind of wear. There you will at present find a full stock of every variety, and two competent workmen, whose long experience and well known skill gives a perfect guarantee of satisfaction, at reasonable prices. Mr. Held has three children - John, born Oct. 23, 1851; Sarah, Dec. 8, 1857; Frank, Feb. 5, 1866; George died when nine months oid. He has also raised in his family a nephew - Frederick Myers, now a workman in his shop. Mr. Held and wife hold a membership in the Lutheran Reformed Church; his business relations have been such that he never had a suit in court or before a Justice. Mr. Held came to Johnsville with nothing but a strong will and skillful hands, and through his own energy and management has attained a position among the substantial business men of the place.

WILLIAM HUNTSMAN, farmer; P. O., Woodview; is the oldest son of Jonathan and Nancy (Wherry) Huntsman. He was born January 25, 1817, on his present farm, where he spent his boyhood and youth amid the busy and exciting scenes of a half a century ago. To these pioneer sons learning yielded her scantiest gifts for brief periods in winter amid the confusion of an unclassified school, but poorly taught in most cases. Here our lad thumbed his English Reader and dog's eared spelling book before the blazing log heap, while his back was freezing. At twenty he began learning the carpenter trade, which he followed some three years. June 25, 1840, he united his fortunes with Catherine Bechtel, a daughter of Martin Bechtel. She was born January 2, 1819 in Pennsylvania, where her parents died and she came with her brother to Ohio in about 1833. After marriage, Mr. Huntsman purchased eighty acres of his present home of his father to which he moved in June, 1840. During his residence here he has cleared a large portion of it, and adorned it with handsome and substantial buildings. He has a family of one son and four daughters - Nancy J., born July 14, 1844; Mary E.,

March 11, 1847; Clancy, December 6, 1848; Lydia A., May 18, 1851; Minerva C., March 9, 1855. Mr. Huntsman has been tendered positions of trust in his township, having served four terms as Trustee, and various other offices. He early united with the Protestant Methodist Church, but in later years he united with the Evangelical Lutheran church of which he is now a devoted member, and an efficient Superintendent of the Sabbath School. He takes a deep interest in the temperance cause, and believes the time has come for prohibiting the Rum Traffic. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and came from Washington Co. of that State, and settled here in the Spring of 1816, raising his first cabin on the 4th of July. He had entered a quarter-section of land here in 1815; they had lived with the grandfather of our subject until his cabin was raised, when they moved in, without floors, doors or chinking; they went to Zanesville for salt and leather, and below Mt. Vernon for breadstuff's. The wolves were plenty, and their howling at night made sleep difficult at first; he would shoot off' his gun to frighten them away. The dusky sons of the bow and arrow chased their game through the woods. His mother often assisted in clearing, and at such times would take William, her first born, and lull him to sleep in a sugar trough. Eight children were born to them - William, subject of this sketch; Israel married Elizabeth Wilhelm, and is now a carriage trimmer at Mansfield, O.; Josiah married Nancy Garver, a farmer of Richland Co.; James W. married Catharine Baker, lives in Richland Co.; Noah married Rachel Rule of Polk Co., Mo., where he died in 1879; Amariah C. married Mary Culp of Richland Co., farmer on the Old Homestead; Mary J. (deceased), was wife of Peter Wirick (deceased); Sarah died at the age of twenty-two. Four of the brothers were in the army during the late war - Josiah, Amariah C., James W. and Noah. The father was one of the eleven who helped to organize this township in 1817, and was elected its first Clerk, and afterwards held the offices of Trustee and Treasurer. He taught school atHanawalt's Mills, among the first in old Perry Tp. He died about 1866; and his wife, mother, of our subject, died about 1859. William Huntsman owns three hundred acres of well im- proved land, the- fruit of his labor. He is breeding a fine herd of short-horn cattle from a full-blooded animal; has also a fine fiock of sheep.

FRANK HALFERTY, farmer; P. ()., Wood view} oldest son ot John and Annie E. (Woodrow) Hal ferty; was born in this township, Aug. 1 U, 1853; he is the representative of an old and honored family, whose history we will now trace as far as the information could be obtained. The great-grandfather of our subject, James Lowther, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1771, and united in marriage with Margaret Filloon, Sept. 15, 1795. She was born in Pennsylvania, April, 1776. After marriage they settled on forty acres of land in Westmoreland Co., near the old turnpike leading from Pittsburg to Philadelphia; here he followed the occupation of wagon maker, by which he supported his family; he owned another tract of sixty acres; he divided his time somewhat between the wagon-shop and farm, on which he reared log cabins. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and raised a family of three sons and seven daughters, of which Elizabeth, grandmother of our subject, who is still living, was one. She was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa., Sept. 26, 1796, and united her fortunes with William Halferty, of the same county, April 12, 1814. He wTas a son of Edward and Margaret (Fleck) Halferty, born about 1788. They lived in the Keystone State until about 1822, when he emigrated, with a family of five children, to this township, settling on the present half section, which his father had entered before. They drove a three-horse team and two cows, and were about two weeks on the road; they stopped with relatives, near Independence, Ohio, about six weeks, owing to the sickness of the children; during this period Mr. Halferty worked on his cabin, into which they moved in the fall; some five acres had been underbrushed, but not understanding where the boundary lines were, a portion of it proved to be on the wrong place. Their cabin had puncheon floors, and paper window lights. At the time of their settlement only five families lived on the school section, and during the following winter, feed being so scarce, they took their cattle to the woods, cutting down elm and linn trees, on which they browsed. William Halferty died April

21, 1828, leaving Mrs. Halferty with nine small children, the oldest being but fourteen years old, almost in the wilderness, with few resources, but an indomitable courage, and an energy that knew nothing of failure. She was possessed of remarkable physical powers, being able to pick up two bushels of wheat and put it on a horse. They were favored with remarkable health, and paid no doctor bills in the family. They all worked together to clear up the farm and put out crops, and as the boys grew up she held them firmly to the principles of right. If, perchance, either of the big boys did not obey her word, his size did not prevent her from administering a wholesome lesson of correction. They cleaned wheat by fanning with a sheet, and went to mill at Mt. Vernon. Of the family five were born in Pennsylvania, and four in this township. James L., who married Mary Lamb, and she died, and he subsequently married Rachel Sherman, also deceased; he lives in Noble Co., Ind. Edward married Henrietta Carr, and lives in Noble Co., Ind. Margaret, now widow of Martin Buchner, and lives in North Woodbury; Isabel, still at home; John, father of our subject, (see sketch); William, died July 28, 1875, in Noble Co., Ind., leaves wife and two children; Mary lives with her mother; Robert married Sophia Waltman, of Richland Co., O., now lives in Noble Co., Ind.; Jane, now Mrs. William lines, who lives in Noble Co., Ind. The father of our subject, John Halferty, was born in Fairfield Tp., Westmoreland Co., Penn., Oct. 10, 1820; he was eighteen months old when the family came to Ohio in the spring of 1822. He attended the subscription school a short time for six winters, probably not more than nine months in all. June 24, 1837, he began learning the trade of carpenter and joiner with Daniel Bowman, serving an apprenticeship of two years; he erected some buildings on the home place, and worked as journeyman for one year. About 1840 he employed hands and began building by contract, which he continued for a period of about fourteen years, generally employing about three hands. He built several fine residences, churches and school-houses in this and Richland counties. In 1854 he purchased forty acres of section sixteen and rented the homestead on which he began farm operations. His labors were attended with success, and he now owns a large interest in the homestead, and his first purchases. He united in marriage with Ann E. Woodrow, June 24, 1851. She is a daughter of John and Hester (Sills) Woodrow, born in Cumberland Co., Pa., Oct. 12, 1829 ; five children have been born to them- - Frank, born Aug. 10, 1853; Mary J., Oct. 22, 1855, married John Green of this township; Martha E., born Dec. 14, 1861; Almeda, Jan. 15, 1864; John Halferty, Jr., April 18, 1871. Mr. Halferty is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in which he has held the office of Trustee; he is a member of Johnsville Grange, No. 802 ; he supports the measures of the Democratic party, and has been elected Trustee a number of terms ; he has also held the positions of Assessor and Land- Appraiser. Thus have we traced through four generations, the fortunes of a family whose history is a part of the country's heritage.

GEORGE HARMAN, blacksmith; Woodview; he is the second son of John and Queen Anne (Smith) Harman; born Nov. 3, 1837, in the town of Nimburg, Kingdom of Bavaria, of the German Empire. When he was seven years old, the family sailed from Bremen, and after a voyage of nine weeks, reached Baltimore; they settled on a farm about seven miles from the city, where they lived for some time, when they removed to Baltimore and lived there until his parents died, the father in 1869, and the mother in 1867, leaving three sons and one daughter - John, George, Joseph and Mary. Our subject went to school, but in his youth he worked at different kinds of employment until he reached his eighteenth year, when he served a threeyears' apprenticeship at blacksmithing with Abraham Oeligrath, of Middletown, Md. ; he worked as journeyman some four years, part of the time in Baltimore; he united his fortunes with Miss Louisa Oeligrath, Jan. 20, 1863. She is the third daughter of Abraham and Amelia (Marsailles) Oeligrath; born in Middletown, Md., Oct. 8, 1842. Her father came from Prussia to America in 1834, beingtwenty- five years old; he has followed blacksmithing in Middletown since 1835, buildingup a good business; he was well educated in Prussia, and served in the army three years; he takes a deep interest in politics, and has been Justice of the Peace for many years; in 1837, he married Amelia Marsailles. Of this marriage nine children were born - Amelia, Sarah, Louise, William, Elnora, Rosina, Emma, Ferdinand and Lillian. The mother was born in Prussia, of French parentage, her father being a captain of fifty in the French army under Napoleon, and met and married her mother during one of the campaigns. After marriage, Mr. Harman started a shop of his own in Carroll Co., Md., where he worked about ten years; he then set out for Ohio, arriving at Mansfield April 15, 1873, where he worked some six months; in the following fall, he came to Johnsville, Ohio, where he worked about sixteen months as the partner of Charles Parsons; he purchased the present residence and shop in North Woodbury in April, 1875, where he does an extensive business in general blacksmithing and the manufacture of buggies and wagons of the most substantial and attractive varieties; he has but three children living - George G., born July 22, 1867; Ina Rosabelle, Jan. 13, 1874; Pearl Lilian, Sept. 20, 1877. Four are dead - Elmer, Bertha J., J. Elwood and Amelia E.

WILLIAM IRELAND, farmer; P. O., Shaucks. Among the "new settlers " of this township, the above named gentleman is worthy of more than a passing notice as a representative ex-soldier and a worthy citizen. He is a son of Andrew and Nancy (Goben) Ireland; born in Danville, Knox Co., Ohio, May 14, 1844. He passed his boyhood in the village, and assisted his father in the hotel until he was 15. He then engaged to work for his grandfather two years for two colts - one of which died before the time was up, and William, being a lad of 17, enlisted in the 30th Regiment, Company A, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Hayes and Col. Hugh Ewing. This regiment formed a part of the illustrious 15th Army Corps. Our subject enlisted July 1, 1861, for three years, and fought in the battles of the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Black River, Manassas Junction, Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, siege of Atlanta, and with Sherman in his " march to the sea." He re-enlisted in 1863, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war, being mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas. He was never off' duty from wounds or sickness. He was taken prisoner at Atlanta, but escaped the same day. In the last battle in which he fought at Goldsboro', a musket ball passed through his cartridge box, which he keeps as a trophy of his narrow escape. Out of twenty-two who enlisted in his regiment from Knox Co., he was the only one who returned at the close of the war. On his return he lived with his grandfather Ireland one year, when he united his fortunes with Sarah Cutler. Their marriage ceremony was celebrated July 4, 1866. She is the only daughter of Robert and Esther (Evarts) Cutler, born in Schuyler Co., HI., Oct. 15, 1842. Her father, Robert. Cutler, was born August, 1808, in Wheatacre Parish, County of Norfolk, England. His father was a farmer, and he was well educated. In 1826 he left " Merry England" for the island of Jamaica, where he became a bookkeeper on the Chiswick estate, situated in St. Thomas, in the East, for about two years. He next became bookkeeper on the Surge Island estate, and was promoted to the position of overseer at the end of a year, but he soon became disgusted with the negroes and the business, and going to Kingston, took shipping for New York, arriving in the spring of 1 832. He at once journeyed to Mansfield, O., and bought eighty acres of land in Richland Co. He then made a trip to England in 1833, and returned, settling on his land for eight years, when he sold out and emigrated to Iowa, and for three years became a squatter on land situated on the Des Moines river. He then returned to Belleville, O., where he united in marriage with Esther Evarts, and they removed to Schuyler Co., 111., where he remained until 1854, when his wife died, leaving him with one child - Sarah. We will now follow the fortunes of our subject. At the time of his marriage he had only one hundred dollars capital. He farmed near Palmyria two years, making a trip to Kansas the following winter. After his return he engaged in farming in Knox Co., O., some two years, then emigrated with his family to Mason Co., 111., where he remained two years, visiting various points of interest in Iowa in the meantime. Then leaving his family in Illinois, he started with team and wagon, March 5, 1872, and traveled through Kansas and Nebraska to the Colorado line. He selected Jewell Co., Kan., as a home, where he lived the life of a pioneer in its truest sense. He owned 255 acres of land here, in which he plowed the first furrow ever plowed in the county. He sent for his family, and they lived four miles from any white settler. The nearest town, of a few huts, then was Edgar, forty-five miles distant. For two years he went one hundred and ten miles to mill and for groceries, leaving his family alone. As the country began to settle up, he kept a ranch, selling the products of his farm to the emigrants, and giving to those who were not able to buy. He was Justice of the Peace there, and married nine couple, yet he had never seen any one married but himself. At the expiration of four years he returned to Knox Co., O., and settled on the present place of fifty-three acres, March 1, 1879; also owns eighty-one acres in this township, all made by his own labor. He is a member of Johnsville Lodge, No. 469, I. O. O. F. Has five children living - Robert, born April 18, 1867; Lewis, March 18, 1869; M. Esther, June 27, 1873; Ida B., Aug. 15, 1875, died when six months old; Charley, born Dec. 27, 1877. Infant daughter, April 7, 1880.

ABEL JAMES, farmer; P. O., Andrews; is the second son of Henry W. and Hannah (Jones) James; he was born in Chester Tp., of this county, Sept. 8, 1819. He was eight years old when his father removed to the woods of Congress Tp., where he was engaged in clearing. He went to subscription school but a short time, his services being required at home for the support of a large family. At 21 he went to South B oomfield Tp., where he cleared land for three crops on the same, and at the expiration of three years he married Rebecca McClain, March 23, 1843. He their returned to his father's, taking charge of the farm for six years. He next removed to Wright Tp., Ottawa Co., Mich. Here he owned 83 acres in the green woods. He cleared 37 acres of his own land, and slashed 53 acres into windrows for others; his skill and endurance enabled him to split six hundred rails in a day. He was here nine years and four months, and in the meantime his wife died, leaving him with four little children. Archibald, born Oct. 2, 1844, married Lovina Furston, and was in the army three years and wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness; he now lives in Muskegon Co., Michigan;

Charity J., born Jan. 2, 1846, now Mrs. Levi Myers, and lives in Northern Michigan; Adalbert J., born June 27, 1850; Mary, April 3, 1855, died when nine months old. He united in marriage with Eliza McClain, June 16, 1855. She is a daughter of John Harris, of South Bloomfield Tp., and widow of the late Evan McClain, Of this marriage two daughters were born - Rebecca, July 6, 1857 ; Hannah R., Oct. 24, 1859, died at the age of five years and twenty-two days. Mr. James returned to this township in September, 1858, and during the same month he purchased the home place, where he has lived ever since. He united with the Free Will Baptist Church about 1852, but withdrew from that church, and with others formed a Regular Baptist Church while in Michigan. He is now a member the Harmony Baptist Church. His father, Henry W. James, was born in September, 1781, in Pemrockshire, South Wales; his father died when he was six years old, and he went to live with an uncle by the name of Henry David, where he was employed in carting coal and lime until his eighteenth year. In Sept., 1799, he took shipping for America. The ship was carried by a head wind far to the south, and prolonged their voyage to nine weeks and three days. They Ended at Philadelphia, where he engaged in sawing and dressing marble for some time; from there he went to New York, and tarrying but a short time in the city, he went to Steubenville New York, and there learned the double trade of miller, and millwright. He remained here about eight years, and owned a small farm. His brother, Elder David James, who had emigrated some fifteen months before Henry, lived here, and they both concluded to emigrate to Pennsylvania. They settled in Alexandria Co., where Henry found employment with a wealthy miller, by the name of Lowry. He united in marriage with Miss Hannah Jones, Oct. 30, 1807. She was born in Cardiganshire, South Wales in December 1788. She came over in 1801, after a journey on the ocean of six weeks and three days, and the family settled in Alexandria Co., Pa. After marriage, Mr. James remained in the mill until 1811, except for a short period in 1809, when he and a relative, by the name of Elder John D. Thomas, set out on foot for Ohio. They journeyed across the mountains and swam the Ohio river, and entered land in Chester Tp. While they were thus wandering in the wilderness of Knox Co., strange and sad events were transpiring at home. Before setting out Mr. James had moved his family, and household goods in the house of Mr. Thomas, where the two ladies lived together. One Sabbath they made preparations for going to church, carefully securing the smouldering embers in the fire-place, as they supposed; but on their return from church, the house was in flames, and everything was lost, including over three hundred dollars in silver, for which Mr. James had sold his land in New York; all that remained was sixty dollars, which he had loaned, As the silver could not be found in the ashes, it is supposed that the house was robbed, then burned to conceal the crime. On his return, Mr. James labored in Pennsylvania, until the fall of 1811; when he, with his wife and two little girls, set out for Ohio, with an ox team. They landed at Licking Co., O. in September, where his brother, Elder David .Tames, had preceded him some months ; they remained here two and a half years ; while here the Indians became very troublesome, an 1 at one time fired at his cabin in the night, and he returned their fire-, aiming where he saw the flash of their guns, while his wife guarded the door with a large knife, and the Indians finally dispersed ; he served in the war of 1812, under General Meigs, he and six others being detailed as scouts ; they captured two hostile Indians, which were sent as prisoners to Delaware, O. At one time during this campaign, the soldiers' rations were reduced to one pint of meal to three men, and Mr. James came home nearly starved, and his wife was obliged to give him food in small quantities at first ; during his absence the wife often took her little ones and hid out to avoid the scalping-knife of the savages. After the war, probably about the spring of 1814, he removed forty miles west, to the fifty acres of land which he had entered in 1809, in what was then Chester Tp., Knox Co., O.; hardly had surrounded his little family with a few of the necessaries of life, when the devourum element swept away all again. It was in 1815, when he lived in a log cabin whose " bat and ''lay" chimney was built up but a short distance, and to prevent fire from blowing across the floor, it was covered each night with boards; on this particular morning he had gone to a log rolling, while the mother had gone to a neighbor's with her babe, leaving four little -rirls, the oldest being six, at home ; by some means the clap-boards had not been removed, and when the children built a fire, they caught and communicated a blaze to the roof ; the youngest child was sleeping on the bed, and the other three heard the roaring of the flames and were bewildered, not knowing what to do; they were leaving when they suddenly remembered their little sister ; the flames were creeping around the bed, when they went in and dragged her, sleeping, from the bed, out of the door, just as the roof fell in with a crash; they went to the woods, sobbing and frightened ; they hid, and the little one, not conscious of her great danger, went to sleep again near the foot of a large tree; in the meantime, the news of the fire was borne to the men at the log-rolling, and the distracted father, wild with grief at not finding his little ones, would have rushed into the flames, saying, "Let me find my children's bones," but they restrained him, and diligent search was made, and there was great rejoicing when the little wanderers were found. Men came seven miles to raise them a cabin, and in three weeks they had another house, and received many contributions from the large-heai ted settlers of that day. He attended ten log rollings with his ox team on ten succeeding days. In every community in that early day, some means of grinding their grain was the most pressing need; hence, his services as millwright were sought far and near. In the absence of any other material, he used tne common country stone or " Nigger Head" for burrs, which required great labor and patience to dress them. He built or repaired many of the earliest mills in the country, among which may be mentioned Joseph Coles of Delaware Co., Judge Young near Lucerne, Kesslers of Marion Co., and the Waterford Mills; also many others in Knox and Richland counties. He rented his farm and was away from his family most of his time. He purchased two lots in Mt. Gilead, and erected the first frame ever built in that place about 1824; he moved his family there in April 1825, and took charge of Mr. Eustick's mill for two years. He then removed to the new land in Congress

Tp., where he lived until March 183(3, when he moved to the present place of eighty acres, where he lived out the remainder of his days. He was a stone mason and brick-layer, and built many chimneys in this country. In constructing mills he was often required to work' in the water, and this, with the many other hardships he underwent, began to manifest itself in broken health during the last thirty years of his life, in which he suffered very much. He and his faithful wife were both consistent and devoted members of the Regular Baptist Church during their lives. He united with the church in Wales at sixteen. He served the church as deacon for thirty-one years, to the full satisfaction of all. The companion of his joys and griefs, departed this life Sept. 20, 1855, and he passed away in the triumphs of a living faith .July 2, 1864, at the ripe old age of eighty-three. On his death bed he said: " Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Twelve children were born to them, but two, Henry and John died young, while ten grew up to manhood and womanhood - Frances, widow of Hiram A. Hilliard, and resides in Harmony Tp.; Mary, widow of Thomas J. Hilliard, now resides in Ottawa Co., Mich.; Rachel, from whom this sketch was obtained, was born in Licking Co. O., Nov. 19, 1811. She lived in her father's family until his death, caring for him in his declining years. She has always had delicate health, and her father secured her a life interest in the homestead, where she now lives, with her brother Abel. In her fifteenth year she was received into the Bryn Zion Baptist Church, by her uncle David James. She had been previously carried to the water for baptism, and even amid her infirmities, rejoiced in a Savior's love. The church met at her father's in Mt. Gilead, on account of her ill health, and five candidates received the right hand of fellowship. Phebe, wife of James M. Hilliard of Knox Co.; Anna, now Mrs. Nelson Smith, of Knox Co., O. David now resides in Ottawa Co. Mich. Abel, subject of this sketch; Abigail, widow of John Parks, and lives in Crawford Co. O.; Samuel, (see sketch, among those of Franklin Township); Daniel T. farmer, of Congress Tp.

view; is the oldest son of Jacob and Sarah L. (Rule) Krout, was born Aug. 24,1850, inYork Co., Penn. He lived upon a farm and went to the district schools of his neighborhood until twelve years of age when the family moved to North Woodbury, and upon examination he was admitted to the higher department of its schools, where he studied until eighteen, when he assumed the duties of teacher. His success is attested by the fact that he taught thirteen terms in one school. He has taught twenty-tree terms in all, only missing one term since he began. He has been Principal of the Woodbury schools, where he was formerly a pupil. He has been a member of the Teachers' Institute of this county for many years, and has served on its Executive Committee, with efficiency and ability. March 16, 1875, a large competitive Spelling Match was held in the Court House of Mt. Gilead. Mr. Krout secured the first prize over a large number of competitors - a large Unabridged Dictionary - as the best speller of the county. He has gathered quite a collection of valuable books. Mr. Krout is a member of the New School Baptist Church. He united his fortunes with Mary Dennis, Dec. 6, 1870. She is a daughter of Elah Dennis (see sketch); was born April 4, 1853, in this township. Three children have been born to them - Emma was born May 9, 1872; Clinton, Oct. 15, 1874; Clara, June 6, 1876. By frugality and careful management Mr. Krout has purchased a valuable house and lot in Woodbury, and 80 acres of farming larid in Kanses, all the fruit of his own labor. The parents of Mr. Krout are of German origin; his father, Jacob Krout, was born in Baltimore Co., Md., June 18, 1824, and his mother whose maiden name was Sarah L. Rule, was born Jan. 20, 1827. They were united in marriage June 18, 1847, in Pennsylvania, where they lived a part of the time until March 1858, when they emigrated to Ohio, settling near West Point, where he lived two years, working at the carpenter trade in meantime. He then purchased a farm of 70 acres in North Bloomfield Tp., which he cultivated until 1862. Ho came to North Woodbury in March of that year, and engaged in milling for about ten years, and has since worked at carpentering. They have a family of nine children - Mary A., now widow of the

~rlate Rev. Thomas W. Dye of this township. She had five children - Lua E., Elzy A., Clement C., Zila L. and Raleigh B.; John N., subject of this sketch; Elizabeth E., now Mrs. Leander Dennis of this township; Jacob B., was born in Baltimore Co., Md., July 27, 1856. He came with his parents to this county in 1858. He attended the higher department of the school at North Woodbury, and began teaching at eighteen; he has taught thirteen terms in all, seven of which he taught in the same district. He removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where he is still engaged in teaching, and bids fair to stand at the head of his profession. Charles A., was born March 12, 1862, in North Bloomfield Tp., of this county. He completed a course of study in the North Woodbury Schools; subsequently he entered the Union Schools of Chesterville . O., under the instruction of Prof. William Morrow. He went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he began teaching at 17 years of age, and is now bringing to a successful close his "third" term in the district where he was first employed; George F. was born in this county, March 31, 1859. He received a good education in the Graded School of North Woodbury. He chose the avocation of farming. He united his fortunes with Miss Ella Kelly, a daughter of Samuel Kelly, of Gilead Tp., where he is now employed in tilling the soil. The remaining members of the family still at home are Hiram E., Vincent D. and Ida F. Krout; one died in infancy.

JACOB KING, retired farmer; P. O., Shauck's (Johnsville). Among the old and influential citizens who settled in the vicinity ere this county was born, stands the worthy gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is the son of George and Mary (Blasser) King; was born in York Co., Penn., Jan. 30, 1805. He lived on the farm until he was sixteen, enjoying but few advantages for education; he then worked at milling in his father's mill about six years. He married Mary Winters March 27, 1827; she was born in York Co., Penn., June 18, 1809. After marriage he rented land in York Co. for about two years, when he formed a desire to come to Ohio. He enlisted the sympathy of his father in the movement, which resulted in their selling out, and ere long two heavily loaded wagons were bearing the King family across the mountains to the Buckeye State.

The family stopped with a brother-in-law in Wayne Co., while Jacob and his father came to Troy Tp., then Richland Co., where they selected three hundred acres of laud, on which some small improvements had been made. Jacob bought 120 acres of .John Mitchell in t'he spring of 1833, on which he built and run a saw-mill some ten or twelve years. Here he lived and made many improvements on his farm until 1864, when he sold his farm and came to Johnsville to enjoy the rest and quiet which his abundant labors had so richly won. Here he owns four lots and eight acres of land south of town. When Morrow Co. was organized, the line dividing Troy Tp. passed through Mr. King's farm, leaving his residence in the new county. He was a member of the first Democratic Convention, which lasted all night, and was solicited to be a car. di date for Commissioner, but declined. He has ably filled the offices of Trustee and Justice of the Peace a number of times during his residence in both counties. It will be seen by reference to the map of the county that a portion has been severed from the western part of Troy Tp. In this area Mr. King lived, and desiring to be set back into Richland Co., for sufficient reasons, he quietly raised a petition of twelve men in his school district, and through the influence of Barnabas Burns, a friend of his then in the State Senate, two sections of Troy Tp. were set back into Richland Co. He was Trustee at the time, and so neatly had the work been done, that they waited until about ten o'clock for him toopen the election, not knowing of the change. Mr. King is a Democrat of the " old time" type - a faithful and efficient worker in its ranks. He raised a family of four children - Leah was born April 8, 1828, in Pennsylvania; married Henry L. Shauck, by whom she has four children living; she died Sept. 26, 1874; Catherine, Sept. 20, 1833, now Mrs. Jason J. Cover (see sketch); Jane, Nov. 8, 1838, was wife of Charles Dise; she died March 21, 1872, leaving three sons; Jerome J., May 4, 1812, and united in marriage with Mary Miller, a daughter of Dr. Miller, of Mansfield, Ohio, where Jerome is engaged in the grocery business at present.

(Meister) Keifer, was born Dec. 30, 1846, in this township; he lived at home until 28; he then united his fortunes with Louisa Portlier, April 18, 1875. She is the oldest daughter of David and Margaret (Noward) Portlier; born .Tan. 17, 1852. David Portner was born in Switzerland about 1824, and came across the ocean with his parents when about two years old. His parents settled in Clinton Co., Penn., about 1826, where they lived until 1S33, when they moved to Troy Tp., of this county, on 74 acres of land. David wedded Margaret Noward, Oct. 31, 1849. She was a daughter of George and Margaret (Radal) Noward. Both of her parents (grand-parents of Mrs. Keifer) were born in Bavaria, Germany, and came across the ocean in the same vessel in 1819, and settled at Lebanon, Penn., where they were married, and came to Troy Tp. in 1833. Mr. No ward was born Sept. 2, 1799, and is now eighty-one years old, hale and hearty. David Partner raised six children - Louisa, Jacob M., Samuel S., Mary C., Chrissie A. and Hattie B. After marriage, our subject settled on the present place, where he rents 80 acres of his father's farm; he votes with the time-honored party of Jefferson and Jackson. One daughter has blessed this union - Emma I. Keifer; born Jan. 16, 1876. His father, Peter Keifer, son of David Keifer, was born Dec. 9, 1804, in Bavaria, Germany; he was sent to school about three years; at the age of thirteen he hired out to work on a farm by the year, which he continued for fourteen years; for the first year's work he received three dollars, and the highest wages received during that period was eighteen dollars per year; he left home for the United States, May 11, 1834, sailing from the port of Havre, and after an ocean voyage of six weeks, he arrived at New York July 14; he went by rail and steamboat to Philadelphia, and from there to Lebanon Co., Penn., where he worked on the farm some eight months; in the spring of 1835, he joined his uncle, Philip Keifer, who was journeying to Ohio; he walked the most of the way. They settled in Trov Tp., of this county. Although unused to chopping, on his arrival he began clearing land at from three to five dollars per acre; in this way he cleared some eighty acres for others; about 1836, he purchased twenty-five acres where his present residence stands; by his own energy and frugality, he now possesses the entire quarter section, on which he has cleared sixty acres and erected substantial buildings; he married Susan Meister, April 28, 1844. She was born in Switzerland, Aug. 22, 1812, and came over with her parents during the same year as Mr. Keifer. Her parents settled at first in Wayne Co., Ohio, and afterwards removed to Fulton Co. Of this marriage three children have been born - John, born April 23, 1845; Benjamin, Dec. 30, 1846; Sarah, Feb. 22, 1853. Peter Keifer and wife are members of the Menonite Church, in which he holds the office of Deacon.

;; DANIEL LEVERING, farmer; P. O., Levering; is the representative of one of the oldest and most highly respected families in the township of Perry. A genealogical account of the Levering family, embracing 193 pages, was published in 1858, which gives an account of two brothers, Wigard and Gerhard Levering, who emigrated from Germany about 1685 and settled in Roxborough, Philadelphia Co., Pa. It is thought that their father, Rosier Levering, came from France, as the name has a French sound. This account includes ten generations, and up to 1858 enumerates 2,091 descendants of that name. Daniel Levering, son of Nathan and Mary (Kearney) Levering, was born May 9, 1833, on this farm, where he passed his boyhood and youth; attended school on the hill near by, about three months per year until he reached his majority, his first teacher being Charlotte Gregg. He then worked for his father until

1857, when he took a three months' tour through the West, visiting various places of interest in Iowa and other States. He united in ' marriage with Sarah K. Iden, March 4,

1858. She was born July 31, 1833; her parents were both natives of Loudoun Co., Virginia. John Iden was born in 1806, and Dorcas Furr was born in 1812. They were married April 22, 1830, and emigrated to Knox Co., in 1835, where they lived three years, settling permanently in Congress Tp. of this county, where they raised a family of nine children - Martha J., Sarah K., George W., Francis M., John A., Susan E., Thomas T., Lovd D. and Melville M. After marriage Mr. Leverin g settled on a quarter section of land in Congress Tp., where he tilled the soil for eight years; then moved to an eighty- acre lot which he purchased in the same township; remaining here six and a' half years, he sold out and purchased 130 acres of the old homestead, to which he came in 1873. He has cleared a portion of the place since then, realizing 100,000 feet of walnut lumber from the timber removed. They have" three children - Martha I. was born May 8, 1859; Clint, Sept. 12, 1863; Addie M., April 9, 1872. Daniel Levering, grandfather of our subject, came on horseback in 1812, and entered a half section of land, near the present site of Waterford, O.; he then went back to Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1813, he and a family of seven children, together with William Rambo, who married his daughter Grace, in Pennsylvania. The names of the family are as follows- - Grace, Henry, Charles Nathan, John, Noah and Joseph ; they drove two five-horse teams and four head of cattle, on the old wagon road from Bedfoi'dCo.. Pa., one hundred miles this side of Baltimore; they were twenty-one days performing the journey ; he purchased another half section of one of the Mitchells on his arrival, and built a grist and saw mill. The town of Waterford was laid out on a part of his land, and the post office was named " Levering," in honor of John Levering, his son, who was the first Postmaster. The family settled in the woods, and lived on corn-bread at first ; they sowed some buckwheat, probably the first raised in this vicinity, and it attracted large numbers of wild turkeys, which they killed ; it was on his farm that the block house spoken of in the sketch of Stephen Cook, was built, and it was connected with the residence by a protected passage-way. Daniel Levering was born Feb. 3, 1764, in New Jersey, and died Dec. 31, 1820, leaving Nathan, the third son and father of our subject, to settle up his large estate. We will now trace the fortunes of Nathan Levering. He was born Oct. 14, 1795; he was eighteen years old when he came to this State. Possessing a fair education, obtained in the schools of Pennsylvania, he attended school two terms in the old log school house on his father's farm, then began teaching, which he soon abandoned for the more- congenial employment of farming. He received 160 acres of the present site from his father's estate, to which he added fifty acres more, clearing a large portion. He united in marriage with Mary Kerney, April 17, 1S27. She was a daughter of William and Sarah (Mackey) Kornev, and was born Sept. 4, 1800. They lived in a double hewed log house just east of this until 1845, when Mr. Levering burnt two hundred thousand brick and built the present substantial residence of nine large rooms and a hall, using one hundred thousand briek in its construction. The building is therefore thirty-five years old, yet in a state of good preservation. Nathan Levering raised a family of eisjht children - Sarah A., deceased, was wife of John McAnall; Mary J., now Mrs. Robert Moffet, of Congress Tp.; Esther, died at the age of twenty; Daniel, William W., now in Philadelphia; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Jacob (). Talmage; Martha, now Mrs. T. Mc- Kee; Samuel, died at about twenty-five, leaving two children. Nathan Levering died in December, 1872. He was a man of sterling integrity and irreproachable character; he was justice of the peace in this township for a number of years. He was delegated by this section to influence the legislature in behalf of the organization of the county at two different sessions of that body. He and wife were members of the Harmony Presbyterian Church, and he assisted in building the old lo<£ and also the frame building which stands at present.

BYRAM LEVERING, farmer; P. O., Woodview; son of Morgan and Mary (Bell) Levering; was born June 9, 1842, in North Woodbury. He spent his youth attending the village school, and working on the farm, near by, during the vacations. At 21 he had a good education, and began the struggle of life, for himself. He purchased the quarter section of land here, and began farming, and stock raising quite extensively. At 23 he wooed and won the hand of Leah Ruhl daughter of Henry H., and Catherine (Patterson) Ruhl. She was born Dec. 15, 1840, in this township. Their marriage was celebrated April 6, 1865. Five children have been born to them; four are living, and one died in infancy. Nora, Orpheus, Alfred II., and Hylas Allen. After marriage he settled on his present home, where he erected an elegant brick Mansion of fifteen rooms, at a cost of $5000, in 1872. By his energy and management he has added another farm of 160 acres to his estate, and now owns some 320 acres of fine farming lands, with, with handsome and substantial buildings on the same. Mr. Leverina: has given close attenion to the im- provement of cattle, and has at present a herd of 27 fine grades of the short horn stock. He was formerly interested largely in sheep. Mr. Levering, wife and daughter, are all members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. His father, Morgan Levering, was the second son of William and Ruth (Bryson) Levering, (See sketch of Milton Levering). He passed his boyhood on the old homestead in Franklin Tp. At 21 he became a clerk in the store of John Markey, at Belleville, Richland Co. O., where he remained about four years. - He then came to North Woodbury when there was only four houses in the village. A partnership was formed for general merchandise and produce business about 1836, consisting of four partners - Morgan Levering, John Rule, John Markey, and Elkanah Van Buskirk. The two latter soon retired, and Rule and Levering continued in partnership until 1851. They harried away produce and goods with a six-horse team to the lakes, and across the mountains to Baltimore, and other eastern cities. They raised three sons - Allen, Byram and Robert; two died young. The father died Jan. 25, 1860.

SHANNON LEVERING, farmer; P. O., Levering ; son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Blair) Levering, was born near Waterford, O., March 25, 1842. He received a good education in the Waterford schools, and at 21 rented his father's farm, where he continued to farm some five years. He began farming on the present place in 1868, where he owned a one-half interest. In the fall of 1871* he purchased the remaining onehalf interest of his brother Charles. He now owns 107 acres of fertile land, known as the Old Van Buskirk Property. The old brick house, yet in good presevation, was built about 1825, and is a marvel of endurance against the " tooth of time." Mr. Levering united in marriage with Lydia Ogle, Nov. 11, 1869. She is a daughter of John Ogle, born in this township Nov. 29, 1850. (See township history for Ogle family.) Mr. Levering and wife are both members of the Disciple Church, and he is a Democrat in politics. His father, Joseph Levering, was born in Bedford

Biogra Phical Sic Etches

Co., Pa., Nov., 1805; he was eight years old when the family moved to Ohio, and the youngest one, by the na*me of William, having died in Pennsylvania. They came in 1813, when the Indian troubles were most appalling, and the settlers rushed together and built a block-house, and connected it with the residence which is still standing on the hill near the village, but the blockhouse has been removed long since. Joseph grew amid these stirring scenes of pioneer life, and went to the first schools of the settlement. According to an ancient custom, he being the youngest son living, he received the homestead of 168 acres at the death of his father. This he cleared up and improved. He married Elizabeth Blair, May 21, 1833. She was a daughter of William Blair, born in Bedford Co., Pa., May 7, 1806, and came with her family to Ohio in 1811. (See sketch of Calvin Blair.) He and his faithful wife were members of the Presbyterian Church; he held the office of Elder. He died a triumphant death May 26, 1871, in the sixty-sixth year of his age, exclaiming on his death-bed: "I feel that 1 am dead, and my life is hid with Christ in God." His wife soon followed him, passing away Aug. 26, 1877. They leave five children living and two dead - Edwin, at the age of three; Lurane, now Mrs. E. W. Brown, near Waterford ; Charlotte died in youth ; Charles, farmer, near Chesterville, O.; Shannon, subject; Edward and Calvin, both farming on the old homestead near Waterford, O.

A. A. LUCAS, dealer in boots and shoes; Shaucks (Johnsville); son of Adam and Maddalena (Emig) Lucas, was born in Perry Tp., Jan. 22, 1838; he lived at home on the farm until 22, when he was employed one year by Mr. Cover; he next formed a partnership with I. N. Lewis in the grocery business at North Woodbury, which lasted about one year, when Lewis retired, and Mr. Lucas continued for a number of years, keeping a post office and store; he worked for Levering & Rule five years, when he sold his property in North Woodbury, and moved his family to Johnsville; he then purchased the right of eight counties in Indiana for Owen's patent fence, selling farm, township and county rights for one year; he traded one county for a lot in -* Indianapolis, which he still owns; lie then acted as traveling salesman for II. M. Weaver & Company, selling boots and shoes, by sample, for one year. He opened his present shop and store-room in the spring of 1878, where he keeps a full stock of boots and shoes of every variety of styles and prices. He united in marriage with Susan N. Magill, of North Woodbury, Aug. 25, 1864. Of this marriage one child was born - Arita O. His wife died June 8, 1865. He married Mary A. Pittman, of Pulaskiville, Ohio, in December of 1866. Two children were born to them - Clement L., born Sept. 24, 1867, died Aug. 16, 1868; Alvicktus G., born June 14, 1869, died Sept. 14, 1870. Mary A., his wife, died Sept. 28, 1870. March 26, 1872, he united his fortunes with Lottie R. Edwards, of Homer, Ohio, with whom he has two children - Doda G., born Jan. 7, 1875, died April 14, 1875; Mamie J., born May 18, 1878. In addition to this record of sorrow, Mr. Lucas has had many accidents; when 4 years old he fell into a kettle of hot water; at 12 a horse on which he was riding, fell, throwing him beneath the feet of another horse, breaking his arm; at another time his arm was broken by falling from a sled, and his limb was broken by an accident, when riding in a sleigh. He is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he has held the office of Clerk for a number of years. Adam Lucas, father of our subject, was born in York Co., Pa., May 2, 1795; he was drafted in the army in the war of 1812, but being only 18, his father employed a substitute; he worked some six years in a stillhouse; he then married Elizabeth Evets in 1820, and in October of that year he came on J horseback to Ohio, and entered a quarter section of land in this township. In the spring of 1821 he drove through in a wagon, being on the road from April 9 to May 2. They lived in the wagon in the woods until July 4, while the wolves howled around at night. He reared a cabin and made a small clearing, when his wife died Dec. 30, 1821. He remained in his lonely cabin until the following spring; he started back to Pennsylvania, Feb. 11, 1822, where he arrived March 30. He united in marriage with Magdalena Emig, Nov. 9, 1823, and they started to Ohio in April, 1824; and again he settled in the little cabin where he lived for nearly half a century, replacing the rude domicile of 1821 with large j and handsome buildings; in later years he purchased another 80-acre farm, on which he lived until his retirement from active life. Thirteen children were born to them - Rebecca, Levi, Isaac, Leah, Caroline, Elizabeth, Magdalena, Adam A., Susan, John, Abraham A., are living, while Jacob died in Missouri, at the age of 23, and Charles died at 13.

BARTON LEWIS, farmer; P. O., Woodview; is the oldest son of John and Mary (Ackerman) Lewis; he was born Dec. 29, 1830, in Knox Co., O.; his father was the second in a family of four sons and four daughters, who left New Jersey for Ohio in 1812, but hearing of the Indian troubles here, they remained one year in Pennsylvania, coming to what is known as the " Jersey Settlement" of Knox Co., in 1813. It is said that a company of these settlers, before reaching their destination, camped on the banks of a small creek, and started in the morning in search of the land which they had entered. They wandered about all day, coming at night to the same spot; when James Bryant, one of the party, said, " Here we are at Granny Creek," and it retains that name to this day. There were but few families in Wayne Tp. then - the Douglass, Bonar and Bryant families were among the first. They fled to the fort at Fredericktown during the war. Two sisters of John Lewis could shoot a rifle with great accuracy and skill. The marriage ceremony of John Lewis and Mary Ackerman was celebrated at her father's, Oct. 20, 1829. After marriage they removed to the old Lewis farm in Jersey Settlement for two years, when his father died suddenly, before a sufficient title had been secured to the land. He passed about one year on Ackerman's farm, then entered a quarter section of land in this township on which he settled about 1833, in the woods. The steady blows of his ax rang through the forest until the sunlight greeted field after field of his farm; this was a time when a fraternal spirit reigned supreme among the early settlers, and John Lewis attended the log-rolling or the raising almost every day for a month, every spring burning his own brush-heaps at night, after a hard day's work. He raised a family of five sons, all of whom are living - Barton, William, Thomas, I. Newton and Bvran. He was a devoted member of the Old School Baptist Church, in which he for many years held the office of Deacon. He was chosen at different times to fill various positions of trust in the township - such as Assessor and Trustee. After a life of toil and hardships, he passed away in January, 1879, at the age of seventythree; respected by all for his sterling integrity and purity of character. Barton Lewis grew up on the farm in Perry Tp., getting a limited education, until he was twenty-one, when he worked by the month for William Lewis, at $10 a month for four years. Subsequently he purchased land in this township on which he lived until 1873, when he purchased the present quarter section on the Johnstown Road. Oct. I, 1857, he united in marriage with Martha Acton; she was a daughter of Gabriel and Catherine' (Vanbuskerk) Acton, and was born Feb. 4, 1838, in this township; she died July 13, 1874, leaving a family of six children - Alwilda, Milton, Orii 11a, Kate, Jane and Weems, all living. Mr. Lewis has been chosen to fill the offices of Assessor and Township Trustee; he was a member of the Old School Baptist Church for eight years.

JACOB I. MILLER, farmer; P.O., Woodview; is the third son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Winters) Miller; he was born in New York Co., Penn., April 30, 1833. When he was five years old, the family settled in this township, and Jacob was sent to district school when he could be spared at home; often he was required to ride horses while they were tramping out wheat on the barn floor for four weeks in winter. He was married to Sarah Cyphers June 5, 1856; she is a daughter of James and Keziah (Baughart) Cyphers; was born Oct. 7, 1832. Mr. Miller purchased sixty acres of land in Congress Tp., and lived upon it about four years, then sold this, and farmed on rented land for the next six years. He purchased his present home of 110 acres in 1866, and has made considerable improvement. In 1875 he bought the old homestead of 80 acres, in this township; his township has made an almost continuous draft upon him for service. For six years he was Trustee, and nine yearsFe assessed the township, and is Land Appraiser for 1880. To these positions he has been called almost without opposition, and his ability and unswerving integrity have gained the confi lence of all. Mr. Miller and wife are both active members of the Evangelical

Lutheran Church, in which he is Treasurer. Seven children have been born to them, five of whom are living - Joanna, Elwood C., William L ., Charley C. and Ardella, Clement, and an infant. His parents came from York Co., Penn., in 1838, and settled on 80 acres in this township, known as the " Miller Farm;" when they came, there was only a cabin and a small deal ing, and by his energy he cleared it up and erected substantial buildings upon it. They raised a family of seven children - Aquilla, Abram, John, Jacob I., Catherine, Samuel and Sarah; four of whom are living; John was killed in the army ; Samuel Miller, the father of Jacob, died in Jan., 1872, and his mother is yet living. He was a prominent worker in the United Brethern Church, in which he held a membership until his death. He was a man of great industry and integrity, and was esteemed and revered by all who knew him.