Darby Township (part 1 of 2)

Darby Township

Darby Township was formed as a part of Franklin County May 10, 1803, at ameeting of the Associate Judges of that county, held at Franklinton. The boundaries as originally established were as follows: "Beginning on the west bank of the Scioto River, one mile in a direct line above the mouth of Roaring Run; from thence on a direct line to the junction of Treacle's Creek with Darby Creek, which is frequently called the Forks of Darby; thence south into the line between the counties of Ross and Franklin; thence west with said line until it intersects the county line of Greene; thence with the last-mentioned line north, and from the point of beginning up the Scioto to the north- ern boundary of Franklin County." The point of beginning was neur what is now Dublin, Franklin County, and the stream then called Roaring Run is now Hayden's Run. Treacle's Creek enters Darby in what isnow Union Township, Union County. The name of Darby Township was derived from the stream which courses through its territory as now defined. Darby is consequently the oldest township in what is now Union. It was one of the three townships which formed Union County the first year of its existence, and by the successive erection of new townships inroads were made upon its once expanded limits until reduced to its present size. After its organization asa part of Union County, in 1820, the first election was held October 10 of that year, for State and county officers. Frederick Sager, Samuel Robinson and James Boal were the Judges; Clark Provin and Aaron Fossey, Clerks. Fortynine votes were cast. James Ewing received 47 for Sheriff; James Kennedy 42 for Coroner; Robert Nelson 44 for Commissioner; Ethan Brown 44 for Governor; Nicholas Hathaway 45 for Representative; Joseph Foos 40 for Senator, and Joseph Vance 31 for Congressman. Darby is the central one of the three southern townships of Union County. On the east is Jerome and a corner of Mill Creek, and on the west Union; Paris on the north; Madison County bounds it on the south. Its outlines, which are made to conform to survey lines, are very irregular. The surface may be described as slightly undulating. Big Darby Creek enters from the west and flows southeasterly, leaving the township near its southeast corner. Buck Run, astream of some size, flows south along the northwestern line of the township till it reaches Big Darby. Robinson's Run is north of and nearly parallel with Big Darby. It enters that stream in Jerome Township. Little Darby Creek forms the boundary line for a short distance in the southwestern corner. The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad crosses the township in a north. westerly and southeasterly course.

South of Big Darby, most of the land in this township is a part of what was known as Darby Plains. The plains extended far down into Madison County, and were so named from the scanty forest growths that were found here. Small patches of timber of various sizes, consisting principally of burr oak and young hickory, covered perhaps one-half the surface. Thickets of wild plum trees, which produced a luscious variety of fruit, were clustered in places, with hazel bushes, jack oak and various other species of undergrowth. The prairie or open land was believed by the early settlers to be worthless for agricultural purposes and was the last to be entered and occupied. It was also low and wet, and the malaria engendered caused it to be shunned. The soil, however, was black and rich. Corn and hay were the only crops raised until thorough systematic drainage was introduced. Since then wheat has been produced in goodly quantities. This land was valued at from 50 cents to $2 an acre, while wild land north of the creek commanded $3. It was thought by the first settlers that this land could be used by them for pasture for a life time, as they supposed farmers must shun it as they had heretofore done. It now comprises the best land in the township. The northern part of the township was densely wooded with sugar, white ash, elm, walnut, white oak, hickory, and a profuse growth of underbrush, iron and dog wood, sassafras, hazel, etc. The soil here is a limestone clay. The surface is usually level, butslightly broken along the streams.

_ At the time the earliest settlers took possession of their farms in this region, Indians were numerous. They lived farther north and only descended to Big Darby to engage in hunting and fishing. They encamped here and often remained for several months ata time. The site of North Liberty was one of their favorite tenting grounds. When the war of 1812 opened, apprehensions of trouble with these Indians were entertained, but they remained friendly and no hostilities or difficulties arose to mar their peaceful relations. Some of the rougher class of settlers were on intimate terms with the Indians and would go to their camps and join in the convivial feasts that were held there. The children of the earliest pioneer were for a time in mortal dread of them, and it required a long time before they could become accustomed to their presence.

James Robinson had one of the earliest orchards in the vicinity,and after the trees approached the age of bearing, he was greatly annoyed by the birds that had a strong liking for his choice fruit and manifested the design of indulging their appetite before it was ripe enough to pluck. Some Indian lads, belonging to several families encamped near by, were very expert in shooting birds with their small bows and arrows, and Mr. Robinson agreed with them, by mean of signs, that for each bird they would shoot in the orchard he would give an apple. It happened that the following day was Sunday, and as Mr. Robinson, who was a devout and God-fearing Presbyterian, was engaged in the usual morning prayers, the Indian lads rushed in with a bird they had killed. The conscientious pioneer could not tolerate the idea of profaning the Sabbath by this unhallowed sport and by shaking his head and gestiluating, intimated to them that they must not engage in it that day. They departed highly incensed, thinking he had withdrawn from his agreement, and after the old folks had gone to church that day the Indian youths amused themselves by pointing their weapons at the children left at home, who fled to the house for protection and remained within with bolted doors till their parents' return.

When the troubles of 1812 had commenced, it was several times rumored that the Indians had taken up arms and were preparing to make a raid upon the settlement. Many families, panic-stricken, deserted their homes and fled farther south. At one time,a party of the settlers, including Moses Mitchell, then a lad of sixteen years, fearlessly marched to the Indian villages far to the north to ascertain if they had concluded to put on the war paint and make the rumored attack. They found the Indians sitting in council, but with no hostile intent. The band of whites remained with them all night, then returned to their friends and quieted their fears. Game of various kinds abounded in the forests for many years after the work of clearing and tilling farms began. A favorite mode of hunting deer was the following: In the low country along Big Darby, mosquitoes were as great a pest to beast as to man, and in warm weather, to escape them, the deer descended into the water after nightfall, and remained there for hours at a time with only the nose above the water. The hunter approached in a canoe, a torch or candle fastened to his hat and by bark so placed as to light up the surrounding gloom but conceal himself and his canoe from sight. He thus approached within a few feet of the deer, dazed by the light, and easily killed it.

Early Settlers

From its somewhat diversified topography, the settlements of the township may be divided into certain tolerably well-defined limits and periods. The earliest pioneers here, as elsewhere in other parts of this and surrounding counties, were chiefly immigrants from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. They settled in the valley of Big Darby, as this was deemed the most valuable land. These settlements began in 1798, and continued till about 1812. The plains to the south, extending far into Madison, were peopled chiefly by New Englanders, most of whom hailed from Vermont. They began to arrive about

1810, and the following decade was the strongest period of their emigration. The rolling land in the northern portion of the township was occupied very largely by a class of squatters and hunters who depended chiefly upon the gun for support. The land here was not very productive, and land purchasers were not strongly attracted to it. Shortly before 1840, a German element gained a foothold, and. by successive arrivals almost the entire northern portion of the township is now owned and occupied by citizens of this nationality.

The first settlement in Darby Township was of brief duration. It was made by James and Joshua Ewing in 1798, on the site of the village of North Liberty, which had been recently laid out in thesoutheastern part of the township. Joshua Ewing purchased a lot and built a cabin, and it is probable that James, his brother, lived here with him for a short time. As no effort was made by the proprietor of the village, Lucas Sullivant, to improve the to wn, the Ewings soon abandoned their home here and settled in Jerome Township.

The next settlement in Darby, after the transient stay of the Ewings, was made by the Mitchells in 1799. This little colony consisted of an aged farmer, Samuel Mitchell, his wife, Margaret, four children - -two sons and two daughters - and their families. A third daughter came also, but died unmarried. The four younger families were those of Samuel Mitchell, Jr., who, however, came several years later than the others. David Mitchell, Samuel McCullough and Samuel Kirkpatrick. They purchased the Lucas Sullivant survey, of 1,000 acres, No. 2,879, north of and bordering on Big Darby, in the western part of the township. 'Mr. McCullough occupied the northwestern part of the survey, now the farm of Lewis Strange: Samuel Kirkpatrick owned and lived on the adjacent tract on the southeast, now the property of Sextus Kendall and J. S. Kliber; Samuel Mitchell, Jr., possessed the next farm, recently owned by Rebecca McDowell and Philip Rausch; David Mitchell's place was still southeast of this, and has for many years been the homestead of John C. Mitchell. : Samuel Mitchell was too far advanced in life, when he came, to engage very actively in labor. He built and occupied a little cab in, located between the farms of his two sons, where he lived until the decease of his wife. He then made his home for the remainder of his life with the Kirkpatricks. These pioneers all came from Pennsylvania. They had first determined on settling in Kentucky, and the young men made a trip to that territory to make a suitable location. They were dissatisfied with the land there and happily fell in with Lucas Sullivant, who gave them a glowing description of Central Ohio, and offered them a choice of location on Darby Creek or the Scioto. They visited this region in the summer of 1799, selected Survey 2,879, made a little clearing and planted corn. They then returned home, and in the fall of the same year brought their families by a long and tedious journey to their new home. Their worldly effects were placed in three large wagons, and from Deer to Darby Creek they were obliged to cut a roadway through the thick, tangled forest.

David Mitchell was not only one of the first but one of the most prominent citizens of Darby during its formative period. He was a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church, served his township for many yearsas Justice of the Peace, and under the old State Constitution was one of the Associate Judges of Union County. He was intelligent and well educated, and was universally known as Judge Mitchell. He wasthrice married. His first partner was Martha Black, and by this marriage he had ten children, who, in the order of their ages, were, Moses, Samuel, George, David, Margaret, Martha, Jesse, Elizabeth, Dixon and Aaron. Martha became the wife of Robert Nelson; Margaret of James Boal; and Elizabeth married John Robinson. The seventh child, Jesse, was the first white child born in what is now Union

Darby Townsiid

County. The date of his birth was November +. 1790, A brief sketch of him may be found in the history of Jerome Township, where he settled upon attaining maturity. The second wife of Judge Mitchell was Rebecca Nelson, who died soon after her marriage. By the third marriage, to Hannah Caldwell, there were two children - John C., now residing on the home place, and Alexander R., who died in California. Samuel Mitchell. Jr., bad married Elizabeth Roninson in York County, Penn.. and removed to Darby with his family a few years after his relatives settled heve. After his emigration, he continued his residence upon the place until his death, which occurred about 1820. He built the first wool carding machine within the bounds of Union County, and operated it in connection with farming. He was an earnest Covenanter in his religious belief. His children were Sarah, who married Robert Maze; Margaret, who was the wife of John Crawford; Samuel, who removed to Towa; James, an old bachelor, and David, both of Washington, Iowa; Jane, Betsy and Eleanor, married and residing in Iowa.

Samuel Kirkpatrick was a stanch Presbyterian and an active. industrious farmer; he remained on his farm in Darby until his death, which oceurred about 1824, His wife, Jane Mitchell, survived him several years. They had two daughters, Peggy and Betsy. The latter married John S. Irwin,

Samuel McCullough did not long survive his settlement in this new and wild country. He died in the spring of the year 1800, and his was the first death of a white person in the territory now comprising Union County, Scarcely more than a half-dozen families then lived here. Mr. McCullough was, at the time of his decease, a young man, who had been married only two or three years. His two children were Alexander, who died recently in Paulding County, and Samuel, a posthumous child, who died a wealthy and respected citizen of Jerome Township. Mrs. Elizabeth (Mitchell) McCullough, the widow of Samuel McCullough, Sr., afterward married John Taylor, one of the earliest settlers of Madison County,

The Robinson family, now widely connected in Darby and other townships, was one of the earliest to acquire and possess a heritage in this new, rich land. A temporary settlement was effected in the year 1800, though it was five years later before the Robinsons became permanently identitied with this iocality. Samuel and James Robinson, the sons of James Robinson, were born and raised on their father's farm of several hundred acres,in York County, Penn., a few miles distant from the Susquehanna. James had acquired the cooper trade, and Samuel was equally proficient as a carpenter. They possessed the pioneer element strongly, in their natures, and when young men came West to seek their fortunes. They reached Tennessee, and there met Lucas Sullivant, a surveyor, who wished them to join his surveying party. With a view to selecting a good iocation for their future homes, they entered his employ - James as a chain carrier and Samuel as marker - and came to Ohio. The party consisted of five men, the sole business of one of them being to provide the company with game. For six weeks they were busily at work, and during the time they saw no white men. The Robinson boys selected the Samuel Robinson survey of 600 acres, No, 2,977, located in the southeastern part of Darby, and early ir the spring of 1800, cleared a small piece of land and planted it in corn. During their stay, they boarded with Joshua Ewing. They remained until fall, then returned to their home in York County, Penn. Both were unmarried, but James was betrothed to Jane Morrison, the daughter of a York County farmer, and soon after his return married her.

In the spring of 1805, James and his family, Samuel and another brother, Thomas, again bade adieu to Pennsylvania and started on their pioneer journey to Darby Township. Samuel and James had divided between them the survey they had purchased, James taking the northwestern half. He sold this to two brothers, Thomas and John, and purchased from Lucas Sullivant 330 acres adjoining it on the northwest, the fractions of Surveys 3,482, 3,682 and 3,881. Upon his arrival, James built a cabin on this new land, where the residence of William H. Wolford now is, and lived here till his death in September. 1823, at the age of forty-nine years. He had been a man of unusual activity and energ,, and was an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church. A family of eight children survived him. They were Anna, the wife of James Reed; Sarah, wife of Stephenson Curry; William M., of Marysville; Eleanor. wife of Robert Snodgrass; James, of Jerome Township; Jane, wife of Thomas Reed; Samuel, residence on the homestead; and Nancy, wife of Perry Buck.

. 4 Samuel Robinson, in 1805, did not conclude the journey with his brothers, James and Thomas, the entire distance to their property. When they reached Franklinton, Franklin County, Ohio, this little village was growing vigorously, and the demand for carpenters induced him to remain and work at his trade. He purchased a lot and built for himself a large frame house, which he valued at $1,000). Columbus, however, just across the Scioto River. was soon after laid out and began to grow with such rapidity that proverty in Franklinton depreciated greatly in value. Mr. Robinson disposed of his property tinally for a three-year-old colt and cow, their value being about $60. While here, he married Martha Hunter, the daughter of Joseph Hunter, who then lived on the site of North Columbus. About 1809, he removed his family to his forest farm in Darby, and until his death, in 1849, at the age of seventy-seven years, was one of the foremost men of the township. He was for many years Justice of the Peace. He was a member of the Seceder or United Presbyterian Church, and in politics was in earlier life a Whig, but afterward an Abolitionist. His farm of 300 acres of excellent land, favorably located on the north bank of Big Darby, is still held in the Robinson name. His children are as follows: Margaret, wife of Samael McCullough; Sarah, wife of William Snolgrass; Joseph H., of Hardin County; James, deceased; Samuel D. and William H., of Darby; Martha, wife of William Beard; John, and Alexander, deceased.

Thomas Robinson was born in 1776. - His farin consisted of the south. west pact of the upper half of Survey 2,977, now owned by John Funk. He dwelt in ths old cabin on the place, which was erected in 1300 by James.and Samuel, until he could build a larga, hewed-log house. He came unmarried, bat soon after returned to Pennsylvania and married Sarah Modderwell, who lived in Lancaster County, across the Susquehanna from his old home. He at once brought his young wife to his own home, and remained a resident of Darby Township until his decease, aged about seventy-seven years. He had always been a farmer by occupation. In politics, he was at first a Whig, then an Abolitionist, and his religious preferences made him a member of the United Presbyterian Church. His children were Sarah J., wife of George Pollock; Jamas D., of Jeroma Township; Thomas, of Columbus; John M, of Jerome; Alexander, deceased. [ JT ren. ffe ©. g

John (Robinson, the brother of the precoding, took possession of his land in Survey 2,977. in 1810. He had received a collegiate education at Cannonsburg, Penn., with the intention of entering the ministry of the United Presbyterian Church, but for some reason he abandoned this calling and adopted farm- Ing as his life pursuit. His first wife, Elizabeth Fink, died a few years after his emigration to Darby, and he re-united in marriage with Jane Mitchell. Their children were Charles M., of Marysville; Eliza J., of Marysville, widow of William Taylor; Sarah Jane, of Marysville, wife of James Woodburn; and J hn, of Darby Township. Like his. brothers, Mr. Robinson was an ardent

Another brother, Alexander Robinson, removed to Darby Township, in 1818. He, toc, had received a liberal education. His farm of 100 acres was in survey 3,687, now owned by G. Hegenderfer and P. S. Blummenschein. Besides attending to agricultural duties, Alexander devoted considerable time to surveying and school teaching. He was the first Treasurer of Union County. His wife was Nancy Caldwell. Mr. Robinson died childless, several years ago at the age of ninety-two years.

The exact date of the settlement of the Sagers is not known. It was about 1805. This family was not only one of the earliest, but probably the largest in the vicinity. It consisted of George Sager, Sr., and his children - George, Christian, Frederick, Jacob, Henry, Samuel, Abraham and Barbara. The children were grown, and some of the sons were married when they came. Within a few years after they arrived, the cubins of the various members of the Sager family dotted the valley of Big Darby from Union to Jerome Township. They were Germans and emigrated from Loudoun County, Va. The farmj upon which they first settled was in Survey 3,272, on the south bauk of Darby, about a half mile below Unionville, where Michael Sager now resides. Until they had erected their cabin, the family took up their abode in the cabin of James Robinson, across the creek. In early days, they were all Jackson Democrats. Few members of this once extensive family now remain in Union County. Michael, the scn of Samuel,now occupies the old homestead, and J. F. Sager, of Marysville, the County Surveyor, is the grandson of Christian Sager.

George Sager, Jr., settled in the western part of the township on the farm now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Reed. He had four children and died upon tbis farm, where he had engaged in farming and gunsmithing.

Christian settled on the site of Unionville. He had married Elizabeth Shover, raised a e family of children and died a farmer of Darby Township, in January, 1866, aged ninety-gix and one-half years. He had been a church member for sixty-eight years. Most of his children removed West, and his descendants are now widely scattered. He pussessed a strong constitution and temperate habits, and by industry and close economy accumulated considerable property.

Samuel Sager settled on the farm now owned by Michael, his con east of Unionville, and died here after a long and faithful career as a farmer. He was bonest and possessed good judgment, and though he had enjoyed few educaticnal advantages, he was careful that his children received as thorough education as the times afforded. He bad married Elizabeth Sanbower, and - his six children were Susanna. who died young; Joseph, who died in Darby; Ann, wife of James M. Andrews, of this township; Michael; Sarah, who married Gregory Hawley, of Paris Township; and Lydia, who died young.

Jacob settled in the southeast corner of the townsbip, where he farmed and operated a still house. Later in life, he removed with his large family to Carroll County, Ind.

The "Post road" crosses the township, east and west, near its southern line. This road was so called frcm the fact that over it were transported the military stores to Ft. Defiance on the Maumee from Franklinton, which was then a small military post. The plains on either side of this road were occuied mainly by Yankees. bi Dudley Bridges, from Vermont, came about 1815, and occupied for a few years the land George Stevens now owns. He did not acquire the title to it, and about 1820 he removed with his family to Illinois.

Elihu Knapp was one of the first settlers on the plains. He came from Vermont and purchased a farm iu Survey 10,793, about a mile south of Unionville, some time prior to 1810. He was a shoe-maker and followed that occupation besides farming. Afterward he removed to Madison County.

Ahira. Petty, probably in 1814,emigrated from Vermont and settled on the farm in the southern part of Darby which is now occupied by G. W. Stevens. He subsequently moved West, and when last heard of was living in Indiana. `

Clark Provin was a Yankee who was very migratory and often changed his place of abode. He lived for a time on the farm now owned by George Stevens; was once elected Justice of the Peace in Jerome Township, and at Plain City was an inn keeper for many years. He taught school a considerable portion of his time, and had a sufficient knowledge of law, it is said, to get people into trouble without being able td extricate them. He ultimately removed to Illinois.

In Survey 1,716, near the southwest corner of the township, where John W. Smith now resides, Charles McCloud, a Yankee, settled in 1814. He was born in New Hampshire September 2, 1769, married Sallie Taylor, of Massachusetts in 1797, and in 1810 emigrated with his family from Montpelier, Vt., to Franklin County, Ohio, four years later coming to Darby. His children by his first wife were Batsy, Curtis, Harriet (Newton), Miriam (Bigelow), Sally (Mason), Charles, Lucy, Polly and Thankful (Converse). The last was born in Darby in the fall of 1814. Mrs. McCloud died in 18 17, and Charles united in marriage with Anna Benjamin, by whom he had two children - Rodney and Anna (Marine). His second wife also preceded him to the grave, and Mr. McCloud selected as his third companion in matrimony Polly Andrews. Of their two children, Almira died young; Rosella married Mr. Chapin. Mr. Me- Cloud was an untiring farmer. He possessed strong religious convictions, and was an exhorter in the Methodist Church during hisstay in Darby. In 1831, he removed to Michigan, but returned to Madison County, Ohio, in 1843, and died the following spring.

- Samuel Tyler, a Pennsylvanian of German descent, purchased the small survey of fifty-five acres, No. 12,075, about a mile southwest from Unionville, and settled there at an early day. He afterward removed to Pike Township, Madison County, where he died ab a good old age.

Orson Smith, from Vermont, owned and occupied in early times the large farm in the southwestern part of the township, where his son, John W., now di Mr. Smith still survives at this writing, and resides in Union Township.

Benjamin Tinkham was born in Connecticut June 23, 1795, and came to Ohio about 1817, stopping for a time in Franklin County. A year or two later, he removed to this county, and he and his brother Noah took the contract for making the brick and building for Samuel Robinson tho first brick house in Union County. While thus engaged, Benjamin became acquainted with and courted Jàae Slone, a girl who had come from York County, Penn., with the Robinsons. He married her February 19, 1820, and immediately thereafter he purchased a little place of about fifty acres in Survey 6,602, on the plains; removed to it and remained there till his death, March 29, 1880, aged "early eighty-five years. His wife died about 1876, having borne him two sons and two daughters. After her death,he résided at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James'McCloud. He was a man of more than ordinary enterprise, and his mind ran largely to the inventlon of machinery, perpetual motion, etc. He wrote his own funeral sermon, which was read at his funeral.

Ld Dodge, Sr., in 1812, journeyed from Vermont, his native State, to the E. C. Smith place on the post road, and there engaged in agricultural

Judah Dodge, his son, was born in 1796, and in 1816 married Elizabeth Kilgore. In 1867, he removed from Darby to Marysville, where he died Ep 23, 1870. Hiram Dodge, another son, died, a farmer, in Jerome Town. ship. à

James Russel, from Loudoun County, Va.,was a comparatively early settler on the J. S. Smith place near the southern line of the township. He continued his residence here to the time of his death. Amasa Payne owned and occupied the E. D. Smith place in the southeastern part of the township.

Josiah Harrington, a Vermonter, about 1814, came to the land now owned 24 David Holyeross, on the post road, and farmed it to the day of his

James Snodgrass, about 1815, came with his family from York County, Penn., and settled on Robinson Run in the lower part ef Survey 3,687. His wife was Agnes Morrison; their children were William, James, Jane Ann, Nan"y, Hannah, Samuel aud Polly. Mr. Snodgrass was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a good-natured, upright farmer. He died about 1825; his wife survived him a few years.

James Marquis settled about 1812 on the farm now owned by Caleb Converse, located just south of Unionville. He had married Barbara Sager, and their children were Elizabeth (Smith), Nancy (Cutler), Martha (Ford), James B., George G. and Harvey. He was a farmer and a Methodist; in after life he removed to Illinois. None of his posterity now reside in this vicinity.

James Boles, as early as 1810 or 1812, purchased and settled on the farm just north of Big Darby, in Survey 2,671, now owned by John Knock. 'He came from Greene County and married Margaret, the daughter of Judge David Mitchell. He followed farming and reared a large family of children. His religion was the faith of the Segeders. In 1828 or 1830, he removed with family to Indiana, where he died.

Lucas Low occupied for a few years in early times, the place now owned by James Martin, just south of the Darby. His two brothers, John and Clark, and his father, who was a native of Germany, came with him. Lucas removed to near Newton, and died there about 1825.

John Jolly was a North Carolinian. His family was of the Quaker persuasion, and he, imbued with the principies of that sect, left his native State

"from an abborrence of the institution of slavery and sought a home in Ohio. a S18, with his wife, Hannah (Cook), and three children, he settled upon a tract of wild land he had purchased in the southern part of Survey 7,218, now the home of CharlesWicol. Here he cleared the laud and tilled the soil, engaging also. to some extent, in shoe-making. He was an earnest supporter of the Methodist Church. His children by his first marriage were Elias, who removed to Kansas; Michel, who married Frederick Sager; Rachel; Joel; Mary, who married Adam Brown: John; Jeremiah, of Kansas; and Lewis, of Iowa. . His second wife was Margaret Croy, who still lives with her daughter Eleanor, wife of A. J. Ferguson. By this marriage there were six children - Betsy, who married David and is now deceased; Eli, Eleanor, Margaret and two who died young. Mr. Jolly died July 31, 1860, at Unionville, aged seventy-eight years. $ John W. Robinson was one of the most prominent of the carly settlers, though he was not among the earliest. He was born in Washington County, Penn., in February, 1803. In the fall of 1808, his father, Rev. James Robinson, of the Presbyterian Church, removed with his family to Pickaway County, and in 1821 to near Milford, to accept the pastorate of Lower and

Upper Liberty Churches. John W. pursued faming as his vocation, and in August, 1823, was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth daughter of Judge David Mitchell. The young couple at once settled on a small farm of fifty acres, part of the Mitchell farm, but in a short time Mr. Robinson purchased the farm south of the Darby, now occupied by David M. Robinson, and removed to it.

He resided upon this place, engaged extensively in stock-raising and farming until his death, which occurred about 1853, from typhoid fever. His wife survived him many years. Their family consisted of ten children - David M., residing on the home farm; James M., of Marysville; Henry M., who died young; John, of Paris Township; Aaron B, and Robert N., of Marysville; Joseph S, who died in youth; Martha, wife of William H. Robinson, of Marysville; Mury, who died in childhood; and Emma J., wife of Hon. Beriah Wilkins, of Uhrichsville, Ohio. Mr. Robinson had been an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for many years, a Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner. He was mild but firm in address, upright in character, unswerving in his adherence to principles of truth and justice, and was universally esteemed and respected by the large acquaintanceship which his public life gave him.

Among other settlers who arrived prior to 1830, some of them many years before that date, may be mentioned Gideon B. Cutler, Garret Harris, Thomas Parr, William Orr, Thomas Andrew, Thomas Ally, John Bartholomew, William Cooperider, John W. Goldberry, John S. Irwin, Stephen Johnston, John and Jacob King, William Leeper, Robert Maze and Samuel Patch.

Gideon B. Cutler owned fifty acres in Survey 8,167. He resided for awhile on the site of Unionville, and later removed to Illinois. Garret Harris owned seventy acres in Survey 5,008, northern part of township, came prior to 1825 and died in the township. Thomas Parr removed to Jackson Township. Thomas Andrew was a Pennsylvanian; lived for a time in Survey 3,482, then removed to Indiana, Thomas Ally was a blacksmith, owned ninety-nine acres in Survey 3,687, and removed to Chicago. John Bartholomew was a cooper from Jefferson County; he married Rosanna, daughter of Christian Sager, occupied the now Thomas West farm in Survey 5,005, for a time, then emigrated to the West. James Cooperider and William Orr were from Licking County; both lived in the northern part of the township. John S. Irwin lived on the western part on the J. S. Kliber farm; he was from Pennsylvania. Stephen Johnston was from Madison County. John King occupied Survey 4,982, in the western part of the township, with his father, Bolser King, who entered the survey. Samuel, John and William Leeper were early settlers from Pennsylvania. Robert Maze lived with George Sager until his marriage, when he settled on Mill Creek. Samuel Patch was a Yankee, and as early as 1816 or 1818, settled on a large farm just south of Unionville, now owned by Adam Brown and others. He had six children - Samuel, Stephen, Harmon, Caroline, Charity and one whose name is forgotten.

The Sickly Seasons

During the years 1822-23, a terrible epidemic visited Darby plains and scarcely a family escaped its ravages. As the greater portion of the plains lie in Madison County, the loss there was greater, but Union County suffered its full share in proportion to its area of prairie land. To Dr. Jeremiah Converse, of Madison County, is due the following account of the dread disease: "There was scarcely a family but what had its sick or dying. The few, who were not prostrated with the diseasa were soon down with constant watching, yet these messengers of mercy visited each day all the sick that were assigned to their division. No tongue can describe nor pen portray the scenes of suffering, witnessed and experienced by these early settlers. All business transactions ceased, gloom brooded over the minds of the people and many a stout heart was made to tremble over the impending doom, which seemed to await him. Men and women who were not prostrated with disease, were busy night and day administering to the wants of the needy, mitigating the suffering of the sick and consoling the bereaved. There were a few instances where the father was compelled to construct the rude coffin, dig the grave and denosit beneath the clods of the valley the loved form of his child. The territory invaded by this epidemic extended from a short distance east of Big Darby to perhaps the same distance west of Little Darby." The cause of the disease was supposed to arise from the decomposition of vegetable matter and the malaria, which would ensue. .The tall, luxurious growth of grass on the prairie lands was at first burned every autumn, but after the settlers began to occupy this land this habit was abandoned through fear of setting fire to the grain and buildings of the pioneer. During the few years that then elapsed before the land was mostly occupied and cultivated, this rank, native growth of yrasses became a wet, thick mass of decay and breeded the germs of disease. The symptoms of the disease were various. Usually a general lassitude, nausea and thirst would continue several days, when the disease would be announce d by a severe rigor or chill. The skin would become livid and purple; the pulse quick and feeble; the respiration accelerated. Subsequently severe heat would ensue, the pulse becoming full and frequent, accompanied by thirst, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, and sometimes delirium. In children, there were convulsions generally. The patient. would sink into an inflammatory type of fever, which ran its course in from seven to fifteen days; most frequently death occurred about the eighth or ninth day of the inflammatory stage.

First Schools

John Robinson was one of the earliest school teachers in the Mitchell settlement. When he first came to the township he lived for a short time on Mr. Mitchell's farm, and while there held one term of school for the benefit of the few children in that vicinity. The house occupied for this purpose stood near the graveyard. The schoolhouse was afterward built near by, where Alexander Robinson taught.: The first schoolhouse' erected in the Robinson neighbor - hood stood within thirty rods of James Robinson's cabin. It was built by the Robinsons and the Sagers. Miss Henrietta Millington was the first teacher here, about 1820. Her successors were Misses Narcissa and Helen Topping, daughters of Dr. Topping, of Jerome Township, Jeptha Peasley, a Yankee pedagogue, Alexander Robinson and Charles McCloud.

On the north side of Big Darby, on the Mitchell farm, is an extensive burying ground which has been used for this sacred parpose for eighty-three years - even longer, for previous to the settlement of white men it had heen a burial place for the dusky Indians who frequented the hunting grounds on Big Darby. It is a sandy knoll, rising above the surrounding land, and located near the stream. It is the oldest cemetery in the county. Samuel Mo- Cullough, who died in the spriug of 1800, was buried here. Undertaking establishments were not then within access, and nowhere near the settlement was there even a foot of lumber with which to fashion a rude coffin. A walnut tree was felled, and from its trunk rough slabs were split, and with this material a coffin was made. In it the mortal remains of Mr. McCullough were encased and consigned to their resting place. In Mitchell's cemetery most of the early settlers of Darby Township lie buried. It is still used as a cemetery.

The cemetery at Unionville, formerly Sager's graveyard, is now under the care of the township authorities, and is used more extensively than any other in the township. In the northeastern part, at one time the Brown graveyard was the only burying place for the settlers in that region. It is now a neglected spot.

North Liberty

The first town platted in the territory now comprised within Union County, and one of the first in the State, was located in the southeastern part of Darby Township, on the southern bank of the stream. It was laid out by Lucas Sullivant in 1797, and called North Liberty. Sullivant was a young Kentuckian surveyor, who was engaged in surveying lands and locating warrants in the Virginia Military District, and while thus engaged he traveled over much of Southwestern Ohio. Deeming this location in Darby Township a favorable location for a future city, he made and recorded in Ross County the plat of an extensive town, with several hundred lots and spacious streets. Big Darby he prenounced navigable as far as his village, North Liberty. The town came to naught, however, for Mr. Sullivant seems to have abandoned it soon alter he gave it an existence on paper. He laid out Franklinton, opposite Columbus, the same year, and apparently gave his energies to the development of that town. Different citizens differ as to size that North Liberty attained, but the highest estimates place the number of cabins it contained at the modest number of three. The Ewings are the only settlers who are now known to have occupied the site of this ephemeral village.

Darby Township, on the south bank of Big Darby. It was laid out February 8, 1847, by William B. Irwin, County Surveyor, for Jobn, Frederick and David Sager. The original plat contained only fifteen lots and two streets - Main and Cross. The public square, twelve poles and twelve feet square, was situated in the northeast corner of the plat. An addition was made to the village February 10, 1852, by Christian, Frederick, John and David Sager. It consisted of thirty-three lots, 16 to 48 inclusive, lying mostly south of the original plat. First, Second, Third and Railroad streets were the new thoroughfares established by this addition. Another addition of sixteen lots was subsequently made which does not appear to be on record. _ À petition was filed with the County Commissioners March 3, 1879, praying for the organization of a village of the territory, comprising the village of Unionville and certain contiguous territory, signed by M. P. Rice and forty other residents of the proposed village. The petition states the supposed number of inhabitants to be 229, prays that the name may be Unionville Center and name M. P. Rice and J oseph E. Fouke their representatives in the prem. ises. The petition was granted and the village duly incorporated after the necessary preliminary steps were taken.

1880 - Mayor, W. J. Dunfee; Marshal, J. C. Larue; Clerk, J. A. Miller; Treasurer, J. P .Kritliue; Councilmen, N. P. Gilliland, Philip Maddex, H. H. Marshall, S. W. Dunfee, A. M. Holycross and M. P. Rice.

, 1 882 - Mayor, C. A. Ferguson; Clerk, M. P. Wetzel; Treasurar, J. P. Kritline; Councilmen, Philip Maddex, Charles McCune and S. M. Dockum; C. M. Knock, Marshal, by appointment.

The first house on the site of Unionvilie was built several years before the platting of the village by Benjamin Cutler. He was a shoe-maker and fol. lowed his irade here. He also kept a scanty stock of pioneer commodities, which he dispensed among his neighbors for cash, and hence might be regarded as the first merchant of the place, unless. perhaps, his stock in trade was too small to warrant this title. The extent of his wares may be inferred by the following: Just after he opened his store, a sturdy settler, who had attained to the dignity of a "biled shirt," wanted a little indigo and called for a small quantity. Mr. Cutler desired him to curtail his order one-half, and on inquiring it was learned that he had just enough to fill the order and did not wish to be without the article in the store.

John Sager was the principal proprietor of the village. He built a two-story frame building, the first erected after the village was laid out, and kept a store here for several years. He was the first Postmaster. A tannery was started at Unionville and operated successfully for many years by John and Jeremiah Jolly, its builders, and afterward by James W alker and Alexander Snodgrass. John and Frederick Sager built a saw mill on Big Darby about 1835, and a few years later added a corn cracker. Both mills have been maintained most of the time since. Michael Sager was the next owner. Ho operated the mills four or five years, when David Holycross became the owner. William B. Dunfee afterward purchased them, and while in his possession they were partially destroyed by fire, but he at once repaired them. The Wetzel

"brothers now operate them. In 1881, they erected a steam flour mill, containing twogun of buhrs and both steam and water power are now employed in operating them. Another saw mill and tile factory is owned by John Dunfee and John Brown.

Dy. John Beach was the first practicing physician, coming soon after the village was founded. He was fresh from medical school and remained only a few years. He is now practicing in Jefferson, Madison County. His brother, W. Morrow Beach, succeeded him at Unionville and practiced for a short time. He is now a prominent physician and politician at London, Ohio. Physicians have not remained long at Unionville in the past. Quite a number have opened offices here, but all of them took down their "shingles" and removed to other parts in a few years. Among the practitioners was Dr. I. N. Hamilton, now of Marysville. Dr. Charles McCune, the only physician now practicing in Unionville, located here in 1880.

The business houses consist of a .dry goods store, owned by William B. Dunfee, and three groceries conducted by L. A. Dockum, Wetzel & Ferguson, and Joseph E. Fouke, respectively. The latter is the present Postmaster. There is also here an extensive wagon und carriage manufactory, which was started many years ago by Jackson Harper, and is now operated by Harper & Son and two blacksmith shops. The schoolhouse is a two story frame, in which there are two departments. It is believed that a new building will be erected in 1883.

The cemetery at Unionville comprises an acre in extent, and is what was formerly known as the Sager burying ground. It is under the supervision of the Township Trustees, who have recently built a substantial stone and brick vault.

Just north of the village, on the farm of Maria Robinson, is a magnetic spring. The water is said to possess strong, curative qualities, and is much used and highly prized by many residing in the vicinity. Its powers have been known for several years, but no attempt has been made to develop it until quite recently. George Wilcox has purchased four acres, including the spring site, and erected a large windmill pump at the spring. The village is now hoping for the erection of a large hotel, which it is believed will make the place a popular resort.

The only mill in the township, besides those already mentioned in Unionville, of which there is any knowledge, was a horse flouring mill operated in early times for a few years by a Mr. Hill. It was nota financial success, hence its permanent suspension.

The Methodist Church at Unionville was built, as nearly as has been ascertained, about 1856 or 1858. It is a frame building, about 30x40 in size, and cost about $600. Thechurch was dedicated by Rev. Uriah Heath, Rev. Lloyd being pastor in charge atthe time. The class that worships here was organized as early as 1820, at the house of Charles McCloud, in the southern part of the township. Rev. George Maley was an early minister. The McCloud family, the Finkhams, Amos McNier and wife, C. H. Converse and wife Lovisa, Betsy Cutler, Frederick Sager and wife Michel, John Jolly and wife Margaret, David Sager and wife Elizabeth, and others were early members. Services were afterward held at the cabin of James Marquis, just south of the site of Unionville, at Christian Sagers, and elsewhere. The frame schoolhouse which stood just east of the site of Unionville was next used as a place of worship, and after the village was started the services were conducted in the hall on the second floor of John Sager's building, This hall was occupied by the society until the church was built. Bishop S. M. Merrill was one of the pastors in, charge when the meetings were held in the Sager room. Other early ministers were Revs. Sharp, James Finley and James Gilruth. This society is inciuded in Milford Circuit, which occupies four charges - Unionville, Irvin's Station, Lewis Chapel and Milford. The present pastor is Rev. C. A. Naylor. The membership is about fifty. The Sunday school connected with this church dates its origin in the time when the services were held in the schoolhouse. Until within a few years the school was maintained only in summer, but now it is conducted during the entire year. Benjamin Robinson is the presont Superintendent, and the attendance is excellent.

Darby Seceder Church, now the Unionville United Presbyterian, was orgauized as early as 1824. The earliest records not being within the county, it is impossible to fix the date with absclute certainty. At this time, the county was very sparsely settled, and the improvements very few. The original membership did not number more than twelve or fifteen. Among the earliest members were Robert Nelson, Samuel Robinson, Thomas Robinson, James Boles, John Porter and Samuel Mitchell, Jr. The earliest meetings were held during pleasant weather in the sugar grove on Judge Mitchell's farm, east of and near his cabin and close to the banks of Big Darby. It was here that the first communion service was held. Another early administration of the sacrament occurred in a large, new barn, belonging to Samuel Robinson. The congregation was orgauized by a minister of the Xenia Presbytery, and Rev. James Wallace became the first settled pastor. He was called in 1830 to take charge of three congregations, this one, one at Reynoldsburg, Franklin County, and one at Cherokee, Logan County. His salary from the three churches amounted to about $300. In 1839, or near that time, he was called to take charge of the Cherokee Church alone,and for three years Darby Church was supplied by Rev. Robert Forester, of Franklin County, and others. Rey. I. N. Lawhead then became pastor and continued in this relation twenty -two years, until 1864. He preached to Darby and New California Churches, and these two congregations have ever since been associated in one pastorate. Serv- ices are now held every Sunday at 3 o'clock P. M.; formerly each alternate Sunday. After a short vacancy, Rev. J. W. Taylor was installed pastor in the spring of 1865, and remained with the church three years. Until 1871, the church was variously supplied, when Rev. John Gilmore entered upon a ministry which continued three years. A vacancy of one year intervened before Rev. D. M. D. Gordon became the settled pastor. He was succeeded in 1878 by Rev. E. E. Cleland, now in charge. The first meeting house wasa frame building, probably 30x40 feet in size, erected not later than 1835 on a lot, donated to the purpose, from the farm of Judge David Mitchell. northwest from Unionville. This church was used until the present frame edifice was built in Unionville in 1856-57. It cost about $1,400, is about 30x45 in size, and was dedicated in August, 1857, by Rev. Lawhead. In June, 1858, the general union of the Associate or Seceder, andthe Associate Reform Churches took place, and the name United Presbyterian Church adopted, by which it has since been known. The membership of the New California congregation was drawn largely from this church, which in consequence is now much smaller than formerly. The membership is about thirty. A Sunday school was organized about 1810,and conducted regularly since during summers. The old Seceder Church was exceedingly strict in enforcing its closely drawn creed. As an illustration of this, the church records contain the proceedings of the trial of a member charged with singing a Methodist hymn. Another member was tried before the church authorities for kneeling in the meeting house of a sister society. It is not so, now, however. The spirit of liberality has pervaded this as well as all other religious denominations.

The first Elders were Robert Nelson and Samuel Robinson, the former holding the office until his death in 1848 or 1849; the latter until February, 1849. Subsequent Elders, with terms of service, have been Alexander Pollock, from 1830 to 1852; William McCampbell, from 1836 to 1839; James Martin from 1836 to 1859; Joseph H. Robinson from 1848 to 1867; George Pollock, from 1848 to 1854; Samuel McCullough, from 1859 to his death in 1870; S. D. Robinson and H. P. Woods are the present Elders. The former was elected in 1867, the latter in 1873.

St. Johns (German) Evangelical Lutheran Church, located in the northern part of Darby Township, on the Marysville pike, is the largest and handsomest religious edifice in the township and oné of the best in the county. The congregation was organized soon after the German settlement began, near the line of Paris and Darby Townships. In 1843, an organization was effected and ministers from Delaware, Columbus and other points supplied the church until 1846, when Rev. Adam Ernst became the regular pastor. The first members were Jacob Vandereau, Blasins, Bentel, Barnhard Bischoff, George Boehm, . John Bunsold, Michael Eirich, Adam Ell, Melchior Goess, Gunderman, George Hegendorfer, George Rausch, Philip Ruppreight, Gottlieb Ruppreight, George Stephen, Martin and Casper Scheiderer and George Zwerner. In 1846, a small log church was built about a mile northwest of the present church in and close to the southern line of Paris Township. Two years later, a division arose in the church and it separated into two district congregations, each of which retained the original name - St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. The question of dispute was whether or not a crucifix should be placed within the sanctuary. One faction retained possession of the old house; the other during the same year, built a small brick church one-half mile south in Darby Township, and occupied it until 1859, when the present brick building was erected. It was dedicated July 22, 1860, by Rev. Lindeman, of Cleveland. A service in English was delivered in the afternoon of the same day by Rev. P. Eirich, of Lithopolis. The building was pronounced at this time the finest and costliest in the nty. A bell, weighing 609 pounds and costing $209 was hung upon it. Rov. aa Ernst remained es this division of the church until 1850. He was succeeded by Rev Jacob Seidel, who remained until 1858. Rev. Fred. erick Metzel then assumed charge and was pastor until 1868. In that year, Rev. Louis Knief was called. He was succeeded in 1879 by the present pastor, Rev. Henry Werfelman.

The northern division were ministered to by Revs. John Bunderthal, George Krane, R. Herbst, William Lembke, and perhaps others. This congregation built a brick meeting house adjoining the site of the original church, and worshiped there until the two congregations united in 1878. The original cause of dissention had long before disappeared, but a general division in the German Lutheran Church had arisen, and to each of the divisions a branch of the St. John's Church had united. The southern, or Darby branch, belonged to the Missouri Synod; the northern, or Paris branch, to the Ohio Synod. These two synods had united shortly before the reconciliation, in St. John's Church, and it was through the intervention of the Presidents of the two synods, Prof. William Lehmann, of Columbus, and Rev. H. C. Schwan, of Cleveland, and of Rev. W. Stubnatzy, of Ft. Wayne, Ind., that St. John's Church became a unit. Since then the synods have again separated on the question of predestination, but the entire congregation now clings to the Missouri Synod. The membership is 120.

Two cemeteries are the property of this church. One is in Paris Township and one near the present church in Darby. None but members of the congregation are allowed to be buried here.

A congregational school has been maintained for twenty or more years. It is held about nine months a year, from March to November or December. It was customary for the early ministers to teach the youth of the church during the week, but as the congregation increased in number, teachers were em- ` ployed for this purpose. Mr. Rolf was the first, Mr. Fechtman the second and Conrad Steege the third and present instructor. He has had charge of the schools for eleven years, and now has an assistant teacher. In 1880, a goodly sized two-story brick schoolhouse was built, adjoining the church. Formerly a small brick schoolhouse was used. About 110 pupils are now in attendance. The common branches are taught in English and the religion of the church in German.

Mt. Olive Church, of the Christian or "New Light" denomination, stands in the eastern part of the township on the Marysville and Plain City road, in Survey 5,139. The society that worships here was organized in the old Harris schoolhouse. According to arrangements made at a preliminary meeting two weeks previous, a meeting was held here December 11, 1869, and an organization effected. 'The congregation began its existence with a large membership, in which were included the names of J. Q. Adams, Warren Harris, Jacob Brown, Amos Brown, Isaiah Brown, Silas and Solomon Brown, Joel C. Conklin, George W. Debolt, Eli MeNier, David Reece, their families and many young people. The meetings were held in the schoolhouse until the church building, a neat and commodious frame structure, costing $1,100, was erected. It was dedicated December 25, 1870, by Elder A. Hanger. The first officers elected were: Deacons, J. Q. Adams and Warren Harris; Charles H. Adams, Clerk: J. Q. Adams, Treasurer; Warren Harris, J. Q. Adams and Jacob Brown, 2d, Trustees. Rev. William Webb organized the church. He was pastor in charge for four years. His successors have been Elder William Fuller, two years; Elder Samuel Horn, two years; Elder C. L. Winget, fractions of two years; Elder B. H. Crisman, part of one year, and Elder William Fuller, again the present pastor. Intervals have occurred when the church was without a pastor. Within a year after the organization, the membership was seventyfive; it increased to more than one hundred, but owing to many removals from this vicinity and to deaths, it is now only about fifty. Formerly a flourishing Sunday school was in operation, but for a year or two there has been none. Lewis Chapel is the title bestowed upon a Methodist Church located on Little Darby in the extreme southwestern corner of the township. It received its name in honor of Rey. F. F. Lewis, who organized the society, and by his own manual labor assisted in rearing this modest temple of worship. The building is a substantial frame, nicely furnished, and was erected soon after the class was organized, probably twenty-five years ago. The membership was quite small originally, including Elihu Bigelow and wife Miriam, and Mrs. Hiram Kent. James McCloud and Joel Fairbanks have been prominent members more recently. 'The society is still small numerically. It is connected with the Milford Circuit. ELECTIONS.

Darby Township contains a greater number of surveys than most townships in the county. Many of them are for small quantities of land. Only a few are for 1,000 acres or more, and a large proportion are for 100 acres or less. Those located north of Big Darby are generally larger and were mostly surveyed earlier than those south. Darby Plains, which included most of the township south of the creek, was not deemed desirable land and consequently not entered as long as better was still not located. The following is a list of the original proprietors of the surveys, their numbers; areas, surveyors and dates of survey:

Biographical Sketches

JOHN W. ADAMS, deceased. Our subject, John W. Adams came of New England stock, but was born in Madison Couuty, Ohio, where his father, Charles H., who was a native of Connecticut, settled when that county was a wilderness, and lived to the close of his life. John W. subsequently moved and settled on the farm now occupied by Warren Harris in Darby Township, Union County, where he resided until his death. His wife, Miss Etha Delp, to whom he was married in this county, was a native of Germany, and a daughter of George H. Delp. of a pioneer family of Union County. Of the six children born to this union, five are living as follows: Charles H., who married Mary Harris, of this county ; Albert married Sarah J. Harris, of this county; David, Edward and William. The two latter at home, and David, at this time, July, 1882, is largely engaged in banking business at O'Neil City, Neb., where he has been a-sociated the past two years. The present generation of the Adams family represent the descendants of one of the oldest and respected pioneer connections of Madison and Union Counties.

J. Q. ADAMS, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center. The Adams and Eastman families were of New England stock. Charles H. Adams and Maluthia, his wife, the grandparents, were among the first arrival of pioneers in Madison County, Ohio, where they both died. A. P. and Betty R. (Converse) Adams, the parents of our subject, were both born and reared on Darby Plains. They raised a family of six children, but two of whom survive, viz., J. Q. and the youngest sister, now the wife of S. MeNeir, of Hardin County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch was born on the homestead in Madison County, in 1841. He was married in 1861 to Miss Mar, Mc-

Neir, of this county. Heserved the three months' call for volunteers in Company K, Ohio National Guards, in 1864,and in 1866 settled upon his present estate, consisting of 123 acres. Ie is School Director at the present time, and a member of the Christian Church. His living children are Flora and Elizabeth U. J. M. ANDREWS, farmer, P, O. Unionville Center, was born in Montpelier. Vt., February - 24, 1814, and is a son of Charles Andrews, He with his family settled in this county in 1814, purchasing at the time a large tract of land. He died in 1823, and she in either 1818 or 1819. Seven children were born to them, two daughters and five sons. He married for his second wife Elizabeth Hurlburt, by whom be- had two children. Our subject learned the blacksmith trade when a young man, and when of age he had only $35 in money. In 1841, he bought 160 acres of land, to which he has since added by purchase, and owns at present 361 acres. January 21, 184], he was married to Ann, daughter of Samuel Sager, who bore him twelve children, four of whom are living, viz., Elizabeth, Ira, Alvira and Sarah. A son, Anson P., enlisted, in 1861, in the Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; he died at Sutton, W. Va., September 13, 1861. Mr. A. has served as Township Trustee a number of terms, and is an exemplary member of the Methodist Church. May 9, 1871, his residence was burned to the ground, and the following year he erected a commodious house which for design and finish has few equals. He is also interested in fish culture and his fish pool is stocked with imported German carp.

RUFUS ANDREWS, farmer, P. O. Plain City, is the youngest son of Charles and Alvira (Hubbard) Andrews, of Connecticut, who settled in this county in 1814, purchasing at the time a large tract of land. Afterward he bought a tract of land in Franklin County, Ohio. He died in 1823, his wife died in 1819. Our subject was bound out at the age of fourteen years, and four years later went to Madison County, Ohio. May 27, 1840, he was married to Sophia C., daughter of C. Smith, by whom he had six children, one of whom is living, viz., Frank E. Our subject owns 100 acres of the homestead farm and in all he is the possessor of 276 acres of valuable land. His son, Charles C., enlisted in 1863, in the three months' service, and re-enlisted in the Eighteenth United States Regulars, for three years, but on account of sickness was discharged. After recovering he again enlisted in the Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served till the close of the war. Our subject married for his second wife Sarah N., daughter of H. Wheeler, who was born September 3, 1826. Mr. Andrews was born August 13, 1817. s

ADDISON BIDWELL, farmer, P. O. Plain City, is a son of Elisha and Doratha (Willey) Bidwell, both natives of Vermont. The family moved to Madison County, Ohio, in 1812, and settled upon 160 acres of military land now embraced in the limits of Canaan Township. He subsequently located on the Little Darby in Pike Township, where he put up the first saw mill erected in this part of the country, which he operated for many years. While felling a tree from the forest to complete the erection of bis log cabin in Canaan Township, his right arm was caught and terribly crushed, which left that member a cripple for life. There being no surgeons at that time, his arm was bandaged by the settlers, and all aid extended which willing hearts could bestow. He subsequently became one of the largest and most extensive stock-dealers of the times. He cut and sold timber that built many of the first houses of that county. The first cattle sale in Madison County was made by him. He was the father of seventeen children, fifteen of whom lived to be men and women. The subject of this sketch was born on the homestead in Madison County, Ohio, June 18, 1822. He was married in the same county September 14, 1843, to Miss Mary A., daughter of John Kennedy, a pioneer family of Madison, where she was born. Seven children born to this union are all living, viz.: Elizabeth, wife of S. Holycross, Jasper N., John Q., Alvina, wife of George Fenner, Rosena, wife of M. Guy, Howard, and William NE residing with his parents at home. Mr. Bidwell is connected with the Church Universal of Plain City, and is one of the oldest and respected pioneers of the county. en M

JOHN BLAND, farmer, P. U. Milford Center, was born in Rutledge County, Va., in 1825, and is a son of Samuel and Abigal (Pherris) Bland, of Virginia. They settled in this county in 1839, and he died in Milford Center in 1877. His estimable wife is yet living at the age of seventy-seven years. Twelve children were born to them, nine of whom are living. Our subject learned the cooper's trade, which he followed seven years. His present estate consists in 194 acres, on which he located in 1874. In 1848, he was married to Margaret, daughter of Edward Kennedy. Mrs. Bland died July 7,1873. Thirteen children were born to them, six of whom are living, viz.: Robert, John L., Emma, John J., Maggie and Joah.

PETER BLUMENSHINE farmer, P. O. Marysville, is a son of Adam a native of Germany, who, emigrating with his family to the United States, settled in this township, and was one of its early pioneers. He was the father of twelve children, six of whom survive, The subject of this sketch was born in Union County in 1836. He was married in 1857 to Miss Margaret Colabaken, a native of Germany, who died leaving two children. His present wife was Miss Barbara Klieber, was born in Union County, and isa daughter of John Klieber. This union has borne two children, both of whom are living. Mr. Blumenshine began the struggle of life with nothing but a strong arm, a willing heart, and the energies of his nature. er ne application and perseverance he has accumulated: a handsome property and home. He settle on his present estate in 1857, consisting of ninety-six acres, upon which is & commodious residence, and is rich and productive land. His living children are Annie, John, Effie E. and Louis G. The family are connected with the German Lutheran Church.

ADAM BROWN, deceased. This esteemed pioneer whose demise occurred after securing this sketch, was born in Fayette County, Penn., September 2, 1813; he was the eldest son of John and Martha (Clark) Brown, both of whom were natives of Fayette County, Penn. ; they were among the pioneers to Darby Township in the spring of 1834, settling on the banks of the Big Darby; the homestead purchase covered 256 acres, but subsequent additions in Darby and York Townships, gave him upward of 700 acres, 600 of which were within the boundaries of Darby Township. John Brown was one of the active men of his time, and figured extensively in the various setilements of the county. He died at his home during the Presidential term of President Tyler. He raised a family of twelve children, two sons and three daughters of whom are living. The subject of this sketch was raised on the homestead farm, and on December 11, 1834, was married to Miss Mary, daughter of John Jolly, who died in July, 1860, leaving one son, Andrew, whose sketch appears in this work. He was again married in October, 1861, to Mrs. Mary A. Price, a widow of William Price, a native of Richland County Ohio, and a daughter of Samuel Berryhill, who was a Representative to the Legislature from that and surrounding counties, at the first session ever held at Columbus. He was among the early pioneers of the West, and a man of prominence and ability. Adam Brown occupied his cozy home at Unionville Center in 1867, where he resided until his death in the fall of 1882. He was a man of exemplary habits, refined character, and was widely known and highly esteemed throughout the county. For years he was connected with the Presbyterian Church at Milford Center, and in the distribution of his abundant means, he gave freely to benevolent purposes, assisting public enterprises and improvements; with his death passed away a worthy citizen, a good father and devoted husband.

ANDREW BROWN, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center, was born on the old homestead near Unionville in 1841. Heis the only living child of Adam Brown, 2d. His farm, which embraces the homestead, contains 115 acres. He was married in 1863 to Nancy Valentine, a native of Union County, and a daughter of James Valentine. Five children were born to them; of these four are living, viz.: Addie L., Fred F., Ruby W. and Laurena, Mattie is deceased. Mr. Brown filled the office of Assessor five years, and Land Appraiser one term - 1880. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is identified with the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of the Masonic order. Politically, he is Democratic.

H. A. CHAPMAN, farmer, P. O. Plain City, is a son of Abner and Relief (Baldwin) Chapman, natives of Vermont. He, with his youngest brother, David, came on foot to this State in 1810, and located in Franklin County, Ohio, and the following year removed to this county and engaged in teaching school near Plain City, having taught first at his own house, and was the first educator in this whole section of country; he taught off and on for twenty years. During the time he was thus engaged, he done surveying, the most of which was performed in Logan County, Ohio. He also served in the capacity of Justice of the Peace, and was Captain at one time of a company of Home Guards. Six of his children grew to manhood and womanhood, but the following only are living: Annis, Samuel D. and H. Amasa, He died in 1864, at the age of seventy-four years. She died in 1878. In early life, he kept a hotel and sold whisky, and, becoming imbued with the principles of temperance, he burst his barrels and let the vile stuff escape. The subject of this sketch was born in Jerome Township in 1825. In 1862, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war. In 1852, he was married to Elizabeth H., daughter of Charles H. Chapman, who bore him five children, two of whom are living, viz.: Darius A. and Fred F. Mrs. C. died in 18 - . His second marriage was celebrated April 16, 1868, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Wesley Hicks, who bore him two children, one living, viz., Earnest. She died in February, 1882. She was a graduate of Oberlin College, and taught school twenty-six years, having begun when only sixteen years old. She was an active worker in the church, and during the late war she labored incessantly for the comfort and welfare of our soldiers, Mr. C. and his deceased wife belonged to the Presbyterian Church, to which he has been connected many years.

JASPER CONVERSE, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center, is a grandson of Squire Converse, and a son of Edwin G. and Louisa (Ketch) Converse. His father was a native of Vermont, and came with his father to Ohio in an early day, settling in Madison County, where the Squire died. The subject of this sketch was born in Jerome Township, this county, in 1840; his parents died when he was eleven years of age, and he was put under the care of L. M. Fairbanks, by whom he was raised. When the call for troops was made in 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Eighteenth United States Infantry, regular service, in which he served until one month after the battle of Stone River. The regiment was then consolidated into battalions, and he was transferred to Company F, First Battalion, in which he served the balance of his three years' term of enlistment. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Perryville, siege of Corinth, Winchester, Tenn., Resaca, and, lastly, at Pumpkin Vine Creek, where he was taken sick and sent to the hospital, where he remained until the close of his term of service; he was discharged near Jonesboro, Ga. In 1864, he married Melissa, a daughter of Perry Douglas, and a native

C., Elta M. and Ada I. Mr. Converse settled on his present farm of MIR one 'acres in 188%, and has since made it his home. He had two brothers in the war; Henry G. enlisted in the same company and regiment, and died at Louisville while in the service; Ammon P. enlisted in December, 1861, in the Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battles at Shiloh and Vicksburg, and with Sherman in the march to the is from sickness, but remained with his command until the close of his term

CALEB H. CONVERSE, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center. Rev. Jeremiah Converse, the grandparent of Caleb, was a native of New Hampshire. He joined the Colonial army when sixteen years of age, and was sent out with a company of scouts who were decoyed by the Indians, and but three of the command returned. He was wounded in the shoulder, but escaped, and soon after the close of the war in 1814 moved with his family and settled on Darby Plains, in Madison County, Ohio. He was a cripple for life from the wound, but lived to attain the advanced age of eighty-two years, dying in 1837. Parley Converse, father of Caleb, was the second son, born in Vermont. He was a minuteman drafted in the war of 1812, but did not serve. He was a mechanic, and held the office of Justice of the Peace many years. His wife, whose maiden name was Arpe Hemenway, was a native of Vermont, who bore him five children, all of whom lived te maturity. They occupied a pioneer home in Madison County, in 1819, when she died in 1823. His death occurred at the home of his son Caleb, in this county, and was in eighty-sixth year of his age. The subject of this sketch'was born in Addison County, Vt., in 1810. He was married in 1830 to Miss Lovica L. Ketch, a native of Madison County, Ohio. After his removal to Union County, he settled in Champaign County, but returned in 1846 and occupied his present estate consisting of 227 acres, valued at $65 per acre. He was Justice of the Peace for a time, and served the county as Clerk and Treasurer in its primitive days. Seven children born to him, are all living, viz.: Nathan W., Obel B., Sarah, wife of G. D. Mitchell; Orson P. and John L., both served in the Union army during the , rebellion; Bushrod W., and Orinda J., wife of Elon Smith. Family are connected with the M. E, Church of Unionville Center.

S. M. DOCKUM, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center, is a grandson of James C. and Polly Dockum, natives of New Hampshire, from which point they entered Canada, and were residents of Dunham ten years. In 1813, they moved and settled on the Little Darby in this township; thence to Madison County, Ohio, where he founded a home on Barron Run and passed the remainder of life's journey, dying in the seventy-second year of his age. The subject of this sketch was born in Madison County, Ohio, August 7, 1840, and is the seventh son of James and Betsy (Clement) Dockum. His father was first married to Miss Phebe, daughter of Jacob Jones. April 16, 1819; she died July 29, 1822, aged twenty-two years. Three children, the fruits of this union, are all deceased. His second marriage was to Miss Betsy Clement, which occurred April 18, 1826; eight sons were born to this union, three of whom are living, viz.: Maskel, Marium and Lester. Mr. Dockum was reared on the homestead farm and has always followed that occupation. He served in the three months' call for volunteers in 1862, enlisting in Company E, Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was married in 1865, to Miss Maggie, daughter of David Sager, and a native of Darby Township. Mr. Dockum is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a representative branch of one of the oldest gnd respected families. Minnie is their only living child.

LESTER A. DOCKUM, merchant, Unionville Center, is a grandson of James C. and Polly Dockum, natives of New Hampshire, from which point they entered Canada, where they resided until 1818, when they moved and occupied a pioneer home on the Little Darby in this township; subsequently he moved to Madison County, where he lived to the close of his life, aged seventytwo years. The subject of this sketch was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1845, and is a son of James and Betsy (Clement) Dockum, natives of Vermont and New York respectively. Mr. Dockum was reared on the homestead. He served the three months' call for volunteers in the Union army, enlisting in Company K, One Hundred and Ninety-siath Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, but the regiment did not go into active service until 1864, He was married in 1866 to Miss Hattie V., daughter of John Russell, and a native of this county. In 1879, Mr. Dockum succeeded Fouke & Co., in a general stock of goods at Unionville Center, where he has since been actively engaged, and is conducting a good trade. He carries a complete stock of goods, and is widely and favorably known. He isa member of the City Council, the Masonic fraternity, and politically is a thorough Republican, His living children are Ettie B. and Adelbert H.

JOHN DOUGLASS, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center, is the youngest son of David, Jr., and Sarah (Mathews) Douglass, the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of Kentucky, where they were married. He, David, Jr., was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his father, David, served in the Revolutionary war. Father and son were early settlers of Madison County, where they raised families and died. David, Jr., raised a family of twelve children, all but one of whom are living. ` The subject of this sketch was born in Madison County, Ohio, in April, 1880. He was raised on the homestead farm, and was married in his native county to Miss Anna Converse March 9, 1852. She was born in Madison County, Ohio, July 24, 1880. Her father, Charles Converse, was born January 22, 1794, and died in Madison County, Ohio, October 8, 1879. His wife, Phebe, (Nortom) Converse, was born December 10, 1803, and died January J4,1870. John and Anna Douglass had born to them four children, two of whom are living, viz.: Emma J., wife of L. H. Miller, and David M. Mr. Douglass settled on his present farm in 1858, at that time consisting of ninety-seven acres, covered with a dense wood. Tnis land he has worked energetically in clearing, and now has a fine farm of 103 acres, valued at $65 per acre, the original purchase being $124 per acre. Mr. Douglass enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Ohio National Guards, three months' service, in 1864, and served the call. The Douglas family are noted for longevity and robust constitution. They are among the oldest pioneer families of the county, and are members of the Church Universal at Plain City.

JOHN M. EIRICH, farmer, P. O. Marysville, was born in Darby Township, Union County, in 1837, and is the oldest son of his parents born in this county. His father's name was George, and his mother's maiden name was Barbara Rupprecht, and both were natives of Germany. He was born in Bavaria, where he was married, and with his wife and five children embarked to the United States in 1837, and made a temporary location in this township, where he resided through the winter, and in the spring of 1838 purchased the farm now occupied by his son, the subject of our sketch, then consisting of eighty acres. During the latter year he erected a log house, and occupied the premises in the spring of 1839. He resided upon the farm during his life, and raised on the homestead farm two children, our subject and a younger brother, Gottlieo, who resides in Van Wert County, Ohio His father died in 1817. He was a consistent church member all his life, and a worthy and esteemed citizen. The wife and widow who survives him is residing with her children in the eighty-sixth year of her age. Subsequent additions to the homestead farm has increased it 150 acres. The subject of this sketch was brought up on the homestead farm, and was married in 1866 to Miss Caroline Burger, a native of Marion County, Ohio. To this union three children have been born, all of whom are living, viz: John V., Mary B. and Emanuel P. Mr. E. has filled the office of Assessor two years, and Township Trustee two years, and prior to his marriage engaged in teaching district school for four consecutive winters, from which time he has been an invalid, after a severe attack of typhus fever. This has prohibited him from labor, and confined him to his home. He has always been connected with the Lutheran Church, and an officer of the church here for some time.

L. M. FAIRBANKS, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center, came to this State in 1837. He was born in Windsor County, Vt., in 1824, and is ason of Luther and Lucy (Lewis) Fairbanks, both natives of that State. They came to Ohio at the date above written, and settled on the Darby, in Union Township. Luther was a farmer, and worked at farming some years, after which he returned to Massachusetts and remained six or eight years, but subsequently returned to Ohio, and died at the residence of his son, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife preceded him to the grave. The subject of this sketch was raised on the homestead farm in Union Township, and afterward returned to the Eastern States and remained three or four years. He then settled on his present farm of 220 acres of valuable and productive land. He followed his trade of wagon-maker from 1844 to 1850, in Union Township. . He is largely engaged in stock and grain dealing at the present time; has been Trustee of the township, and a member of the Agricultural Board eight years. He is one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of the county, and in politics a Republican. In 1846, he married Miss Mary A. Smith, a native of New York State, a history of whose ancestry is hereto appended. This union was blest with ten children, of whom seven survive, viz.: Charles W., Luther M., William D., Newton H., Jennie, Nellie and Harry.

; WILLIAM DE FOREST SMITH and family settled on the Darby Plains, four miles south of Milford, in 1835. He and a brother-in-law, Dr. Benjamin Davenport - a famous physician, still held in grateiul remembrance by old residents of Union and Champaign Counties - started from Columbia County, State of New York, early in 1834, forthe West. Not having determined on the location, the families of the two young men were left in charge of Mr. Smith at Wilkesbarre, in the picturesque valley of Lehigh, while Dr. Davenport surveyed the promised land. He selected the Darby Plains, where cousins of his, James Millerand the Culvers, were already residing on extensive farms. The next year the families followed, crossing the mountains in wagons, the only mode of conveyance in those times. Here Mr. Smith opened a carriage shop, and in later years added to the diversity of his employment by farming. Besides the land on the plains, he purchased jointly with his son-in-law, L. M. Fairbanks, a farm cut out of the Virginia military tract on the Big Darby, near the Madison County line. P

William De Forest Smith was born in Litchfield County, Conn., April 3, 1805. He wasa descendent of the Rev. Henry Smith, a Congregational clergyman, active in affairs in the early times of that colony. His grandfather, Bethel Smith, a farmer, who resided at Kent, on the Housatonic River, was born in 1728, and lived to be about a century old. His father, Lyman Smith, also a farmer, married Elizabeth De Forest. Soon after his birth his mother died, and Lyman went to the Green River Valley, Columbia County, N. Y., where he had afarm, to reside. He survived his wife only about five years, dying at the early age of thirty. The orphan child William was en with an uncle near Great Barrington, Mass., where he was educated and instructed as

William De Forest Smith married a daughter of Deacon Story Gott, of Green River - Almira Gott, who was born May 21, 1809. The Gott family is also one of the oldest ofthe Connecticut families. Story Gott was a direct descendant of the Daniel Gott who was among the emigrants who arrived in New England prior to 1690, and settled in the valley of the Connecticut. The family was Dutch, and had been driven out of the Netherlands by Spanish Catholic persecutions; and again left England to seek perfect religious freedom in America. Story Gott, the father of Almira Gott, served as a Lieutenant throughout the Revolutionary war, thus testifying the willingness of the blood to fight for civil as well as religious liberty. After the close of the war, he built a residence on a farm he owned in the Green River Valley, midway between Green River and Spencertown, where he raised a large family, and was known to be as zealous a Presbyterian and Freemason as he had been a soldier. The family were Federalist, then Whig, and then Republican in politics, and very active. Story Gott's brother Daniel was a Member of Congress, and for many years a Judge of the Court of Appeals. Both of the brothers were personal friends as well as political associates of Horace Greeley. William De Forest Smith died in October, 1849. Almira, his wife, survived him about twelve years. They were buried in the cemetery at Milford.

The children of William De Forest and Almira Gott Smith who survive, are Aun Elizabeth, born 1828; Mary Adelaide, born 1829 ; Charles Warren, born 1831; William Henry, born 1833 ; and Celia J., born 1841. All are married and have families of their own. The eldest daughter married W. W. Norton; the second, L. M. Fairbanks, and the third, Clark Ritchie.

The elder son, C. W. Smith adopted and has followed the railroad business, and is to-day one of the most prominent and successful railroad officers in the United States. He is the General Manager of the Chesapeake and Ohio system which extends from Newport News at the confluence of the James River and Chesapeake Bay to Memphis, Tenn., and which is soon to be united with the Southern Pacific at Shreveport, La. His headquarters are at Richmond, Va.

The second son, William Henry Smith, graduated at a Quaker College near Richmond, Ind., and adopted ihe profession of a journalist. When twenty-one years of age, he edited at Cincinnati a literary monthly called the Casket and Review, and a weekly called The Type of the Times. Subsequently he became connected with the daily press of Cincinnati, and when the war broke out was on the editorial staff of the Gazette. In 1863, he was invited by John Brough, Ohio's great war Governor, became his private secretary, and while holding that position was nominated and elected Secretary of State on the Union ticket in 1864, and was reelected in 1866. He resigned this office in January, 1868, to return to journalism. He established the Cincinnati Chronicle, and on that being merged into the Times, accepted the appointment of General Manager of the Western Associated Press, the largest news organization in the world, with headquarters at Chicago. This was in January, 1870. When Rutherford B. Hayes was elected President, he appointed Mr. Smith Collector of Customs for the port of Chicago, which office he held until after the death of President Garfield, when his commission having expired, he declined to permit his name to be used longer in connection with the office. Mr. Smith has written a great deal, his largest literary work being " The St. Clair Papers," two volumes, octavo, which covers the years of the Revolutionary war, Government under the Confederation, and the Government of the Northwestern Territory before Ohio was admitted as a State.

GEORGE FENNER, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center, eldest son of Hezekiah and Lucinda (Kimball) Fenner, was born in Union County, in October, 1846; his grandfather, Benjamin Fenner, came to near Liverpool, Madison County, at an early day, and purchased a farm of sixty acres. The subject of this sketch was reared in Union County, and educated in the common schools of his native place. In 1871, he was married to Celia Morse, daughter of Jason Morse. Mrs. Fenner died in 1874, and left one son - Alfred E. Mr. F. married for his second wife Alvira Bidwell, a native of this county, and a daughter of Addison Bidwell, an early settler of the county. Two children were born to this union - Howard N. and Oscar A. Fen. ner settled on his present farm in 1871, y is engaged in agriculture and stock-raising. His farm eo^ SERGUSOS, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., June 17, 1827, and is a son of William and Anna (Robbins) Ferguson. He was born in Scotland and she ia New Jersey ; he died in Peansylvania in 1844. The widow with her eldest son, Wesley, came to this county in 1855; she died May 18, 1862. Our subject purchased N present estate in 1858. January 1, 1854, he was married to Eleanor, daughter of John and } ER ret Jolly, who has borne him eight children, six of whom are living - Flton W., Andrew, A a Clellan, Mertie, Hattie M. and Nettie. April 25, 1861, Mr. Ferguson enlisted in Pa F, Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry - three months' service; he re-enlisted November 21, j A Company K, Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and one ET as assed through many of the hard-fought battles of the war, twenty-three in number; he Fromóted February 16, 1862, to Second Lieutenant, and again to the First Lieutenancy HE the battle of Shiloh, and was made Captain of Company C after the Laer eas He has served in the capacity of Township Clerk for nearly twenty years, an E : township in 1880, and the same year took the census of Darby Township. In 1 P $ e ree land appraiser; he is also a member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons, and also o Grand Army of the Republic, of which latter he is a Vice Commandant.

JOHN GUY, farmer, P. O. Plain City, is a son of James and Mary (carey) Guy, and a grandson of Jacob and Hannah (Bean) Guy, who was born in Caledonia County, Vt. He removed to Canada in which he lived till the war of 1812, when he returned to the States and settled in Franklin County, Ohio, and some years later he returned to Canada, where his wife died ; he afterward returned and died in Madison County, Ohio. James Guy was born in Vermont, and his wife in Madison County, Ohio. He settled in this county in 1845, and afterward dealt largely in stock. Nine children were born to them, eight of whom are living - Ann, Rhoda, Harriet, Mary, John, James H., Marshall P. and Lucy; Eliza M., the oldest, deceased. Our subject enlisted in 1868, in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment, one hundred day service. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

MARSHALL P. GUY, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in 1845, on the old homestead farm in Darby Township, upon which he has always resided. The original purchase of 146 acres has received subsequent additions, and now consists of 552 acres, of which he owns onehalf. He was raised as a farmer, and in 1872 married Miss Rosa Bidwell, a daughter of Addison and Mary A. Bidwell, early pioneers of this township, where she was born and raised. This union has been blest with four children, three surviving, viz.: Alice, Rodney and Effie. During the rebellion Mr. Guy served as a private in 1864, in the one hundred days' service, with Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Ohio National Guards. He isa believer in the doctrine of universal salvation and a member of the Universalist Church at Plain City. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity and one of the substantial freeholders of this township.