Dayton City (part 44 of 50)

^VACOB KNECHT, farmer and fruit grower, of Harrison township, living 1 just north of the city of Dayton, was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 23, 1835. He is a son of Jacob and Susanna (Goelder)Knecht, both of whom were natives of Germany and died in that country. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Jacob; Elizabeth, deceased; Christian; Charles and Michael. The four sons came to the United States. Michael served in the Union army during the late Civil war, as a member of the Fourth Ohio cavalry. He was shot and killed at Stone river while doing guard duty. Charles was a soldier in the war, from the beginning to the close, and was slightly wounded. Christian was also a Union soldier, but on account of sickness was discharged in 1862. Jacob and Christian now live side by side, and Charles lives in Madison township. Jacob Knecht, their father, was a farmer in Germany, and died there in 1852, aged thirtynine. His wife died in 1849. Both were members of the Lutheran church. The paternal grandfather, Christoph Knecht, was also a farmer, reared a family of one son and five daughters, and died at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather, John Jacob Goelder, was also a farmer, was mayor of the town of Talfroeshn for thirty-two years, reared a large family and died at seventy years of age.

home until after the death of his parents, and then, in 1853, came to the United States, being at the time eighteen years of age. Landing in New York he went thence to Philadelphia, where he visited relatives for a short time, and came thence direct to Dayton. Here he lived for a time with his uncle, Christian Miller, who had sent him the money with which to pay his passage to this country. Mr. Miller lived on the Stoddard farm as a tenant, and Jacob lived with him seven months. He then went to work for George A. Mumma, and remained in his employ five years, engaged in the nursery and on the farm. January 15, 1857, he was married to Miss Magdalena Simons, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Pollarst) Simons. To this marriage there were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, as follows: George, Christian, John

Jacob, Charles M., Jacob J., Elizabeth, Katie and Julia. George, Christian, Julia and Jacob J. are dead. John Jacob married Theresa Handwerger. Charles M. married Elizabeth Zeisert, by whom he has had two children, one of whom is dead; the other, Carrie, is still living. Mrs. Chas. W. Knecht died in February, 1891. Elizabeth married Frank Martindale, and has two children, Mamie and George. Katie is living at home.

Mrs. Magdalena Knecht, the mother of the above-named eight children, died in 1888, at the age of fifty-three years. She was a most exemplary woman, and a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Knecht married June 21, 1891, for his second wife, Miss Anna Rausch, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Koch) Rausch, of Mischelstadt, Germany, both of whom are deceased. To this second marriage there has been born one child, Susanna. Mr. and Mrs. Knecht are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Knecht is an Odd Fellow and a United Workman, and politically is a democrat.

ime carried on farming on shares with Mr. dumma. He then rented a large farm, which le afterward purchased. At that time it conained ninety-six acres, and to this he has idded until the tract now includes 155 acres )f land. After remaining on his ninety-sixicre farm one year he removed to the Stodiard farm, in i860, and remained there three /ears. In the spring of 1863 he sold most of his implements and stock and rented a smaller farm, upon which he lived two years, after which he entered upon gardening and tobacco raising. In 1865 he purchased the property where he now lives, comprising eight acres, and in 1872 he erected his present residence. On this small place Mr. Knecht raises fruits and berries. His farm of 155 acres he farms as well, his son Charles residing upon it and having charge of the farm operations. Mr. Knecht has by his industry and energy accumulated quite a handsome estate, showing what can be done by a determined and persistently industrious man.

ENRY KLEPINGER is a son of one of the pioneers of Montgomery county, and a successful farmer of Madison township. His father, George Klepinger, was born in 1800, in Westmoreland county, Pa., and came of Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry. The father of George Klepinger came from Pennsylvania to Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1815, settling on a farm, which he cleared and improved, and upon which he lived for some time, when he removed to Indiana with his family, his children at that time being John, George and Mary. The Montgomery county farm was in Madison township, and not long after leaving this farm for Indiana, the father of these children, whose name was Henry, died. His entire family consisted of the following children: Jacob, Henry,

George Klepinger was but fifteen years of age when he came with his father from Pennsylvania to Montgomery county, Ohio, and upon reaching his maturity he married Maria Loutzenhizer, settling on a farm in Randolph township. Upon this farm he remained until 1840, when he removed to the farm on which Henry Klepinger now lives, which farm contains 172 acres of excellent land. Mr. and Mrs. Klepinger reared the following children: Susan, Henry, John, William, Aaron and Maria, and had several that died while yet young. Politically Mr. Klepinger was an oldline whig, and in religious belief a German Baptist. While on a visit to Westmoreland county, Pa., he died, in 1858.

Henry Klepinger, the subject of this sketch, was born August 11, 1832, in Randolph township, and was thus eight years old when he came with his father to the present homestead, upon which he has lived ever since except for a short time when he was a young man. Early in life he learned the carpenter trade in Dayton, and remained there about four years, working at his trade, however, in all about eight years. On October 22, 1857, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Miller, who was born in Harrison township, November 6, 1836, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Bowser) Miller, the former of whom was the son of Daniel Miller, the well-known pioneer of Wolf creek. Daniel Miller was born in Pennsylvania, May 5, 1776. His old family Bible, printed in German)', is still in existence, and according to its title page was published MDCCLXXVIII. It is bound in wooden covers, with leather back and brass clasps, and contains the family record. It was valued highly by grandmother Miller, who was a native of Pennsylvania and whose maiden name was Bowman.

Daniel Miller and his family were the first settlers on Wolf creek, cutting their way through the woods to their place of settlement. At that time Dayton had but a few log houses and only one house with a shingle roof. Daniel Miller took up government land and became a very prosperous man, because of his industry and excellent management. When he started in life he was very poor, so much so that his wife worked with him in the field. She also made her own bedclothing of flax. From such humble beginnings did Daniel Miller and his most excellent wife acquire all their property, and become possessed of a large body of land. Mrs. Miller was born in Pennsylvania January 1 8, 1769, and she and her husband were married May 25, 1 790.

Benjamin Miller, the father of Mrs. Klepinger, was born in Pennsylvania, March 20, 1791, and came with his father, Daniel, to Ohio, locating in Montgomery county, as above narrated. He was at the time between twelve and thirteen years of age. The date of his birth is given from the records in the old family Bible above described, but the date of removal to Ohio is a matter of tradition. Benjamin Miller married Elizabeth Bowser, and they settled on the farm on which David Miller now lives, Mr. Miller clearing up the land from the woods. They at first had 160 acres, Mr. Miller, however, buying more land as he became able to do so, and so successful was he in the management of his affairs that at the time of his death he had property of large value. In his religious views he was a German Baptist, and was in every respect an excellent man and citizen. He and his wife reared the following children: Susan, George, farm, and in 1861 removed to the Klepinger | p homestead, upon which they still live. This ii Cal farm Mr. Klepinger has developed in every ! it; way, increasing its fertility and greatly im- 1) proving the buildings upon it. The first brick - house in Madison township was erected on this ® farm by Adam Rodabaugh, one of the original II pioneers of Montgomery county. To Mr. and I Mrs. Klepinger were born the following chil- j dren: David, Alfred, Ellsworth H., Charles, ;

Llewellyn, Edwin and Howard. The parents ' : of these children are members of the German J Baptist church, and Mr. Klepinger has been a I deacon for thirty years. Politically he is a 0 republican, and is a worthy and honorable j citizen. His son Alfred, who was for some j years a school-teacher in Montgomery county, ( married Olive Miller. David married twice, i first Laura Wampler, by whom he had one j child, and for his second wife he married Ida ? Stowcher, by whom he has no children. Ells- ' worth H. married Lizzie Denlinger. Charles married Mary Anderson, lives in Dayton and j has one child, and is a member of the Dayton Leather Collar company. Mr. Klepinger has 228 acres of land and also own a considerable portion of the stock of the Dayton Leather Collar company, two of his sons also being : members of this company.

AVID LANDIS, retired farmer, re- ! siding at Salem, Montgomery county, Ohio, is a native of Lancaster coun- ! ty, Pa., was born March 18, 1816, and is a son of David and Annie (Springer) 'j Landis, of German descent.

David Landis, the father, was also a native I of Lancaster county, Pa., born April 10, 1780, and was a farmer, carpenter and wind-mill : maker. He married Miss Annie Springer, who was born July 25, 1781, a daughter of Peter Springer, the marriage resulting in the birth of six children, who were named John, Martha, Catherine, Annie, David and Elizabeth. In 1837 Mr. Landis brought his family to Ohio, making the journey with a team of four horses and a large covered wagon or wain, and consuming twenty-three days' time on the route, j The party comprised four families, the other | three being those of John Landis, son of David ;

George Utsley, son-in-law of David, and Abra- ; ham Stoner, another son-in-law of David. This ifl party reached Montgomery county and all settled near Salem, May 3, of the same year. Here David Landis bought four tracts of land, comprising, respectively, forty, sixty, seventyeight and 100 acres, and bought and entered, beside, 500 or 600 acres in Darke county, Ohio. He settled on the 100-acre tract, which he subsequently cleared, improved and occupied until his retirement from active labor, j when he located on a few acres near Salem, lived to his ninety-first year, and died July 17, 1870. Mr. Landis was a preacher in the pioneer Brethren church, was very active in the cause of religion, and his house was always the home of the preacher who visited his neighborhood in the early days. He was strictly upright, and his death was deeply mourned by the whole community, who held him in the highest esteem. Mrs. Annie (Springer) Landis died November 17, 1841.

David Landis, the subject of this memoir, was reared on the home farm until fourteen years of age, when he began working in his father's carpenter shop, and at the age of twenty-one years drove the four-horse team from Pennsylvania to Ohio, as narrated above. After reaching Ohio, he assisted on his father's farm until 1839, but was married October 25, 1838, to Miss Rachel Wellbourn, who was born December 20, 1820, in Brookville, Perry township, Montgomery county, a daughter of Christian and Sarah (Frouty) Wellbourn. Mr. and Mrs. Landis soon began housekeeping on the farm which David Landis, the elder, had settled in Randolph township, and here made their home for fifty-three years, prospering through unceasing industry and a wise economy, united with a practical knowledge of agriculture. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Landis have been born ten children, in the order here given: John, Jacob H., Sarah A.,

Josiah (deceased), William (deceased), Lucinda (deceased), Catherine (deceased), Theodore, Harvey A. and Dora E. The parents are consistent members of the Dunkard church, and in politics Mr. Landis was formerly a whig, but since the formation of the republican party has affiliated with the latter. His living children are of the same religious faith with himself, and it may be added that his sons agreed with him in his political affiliations. Two of them, Josiah and Jacob, served in the 100-day enlistment in the late Civil war. Mr. Landis has shared liberally, from his hardearned accumulations, with his children, and is now enjoying in retirement that ease to which his long life of industry and thrift fully entitles him.

aYRUS WALTER LAUGHLIN, grocer, of Dayton, Ohio, was born in Sunbury, Montgomery county, Ohio, September 1, 1855. He is a son of Samuel and Eliza (Walters) Laughlin, both natives of Westermoreland county, Pa. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living, as follows: Elemina, wife of

Washington Eby, of Sunbury, Ohio; Francis M., a farmer, of Brown Run, Montgomery county; Philip, of Aspen, Colo.; Cyrus W., and Charles, also a resident of Colorado.

Samuel Laughlin was a farmer by occupation, came to Ohio about 1850, and located near Germantown, Montgomery county, where he followed farming for some years, and then opened a grocery at Sunbury, which he kept until the death of his wife, which occurred September 13, 1884, in her sixty-eighth year. After this he lived among his children and grandchildren until his death, which occurred while he was living with his son, Cyrus W., in Dayton, Ohio, March 29, 1895, he being then in his eighty-first year. Both Samuel Laughlin and Jiis wife were members of the United Brethren church.

The paternal grandfather of Cyrus W. , James Laughlin, died June 12, 1861, when he was seventy-three years of age, and his wife, Barbara, died October 19, 1872, at the age of eighty-three years. She and her husband were the parents of fifteen children. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Walters, was a native of Pennsylvania, in which state he kept what was termed in his day a tavern or inn.

Cyrus W. Laughlin was reared in Montgomery county, and was educated in Sunbury, remaining there until he was eighteen years of age. On February 1, 1877, he married Emma Florence Cox, daughter of John A. and Ellen (Crider) Cox. John A. Cox was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1837, and his wife, Ellen Crider, in Indiana, in 1840. They had a family of four children, three of whom are now living, namely: Emma Florence, wife of Mr.

John M. Cox, the grandfather of Mrs. Laughlin, was of German descent, and was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1805, and died in that county in 1877. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Hilt, was born in Kentucky in 1802, and died in Butler county, Ohio, in 1879. They had a family of seven children, six of whom are still living, as follows: Elizabeth, widow of Frank Banker,

Keister, a farmer of Butler county; John A., who is a carpenter by trade and lives in Preble county, Ohio, and Drusilla, wife of Alpheus McElwain, of Darke county, Ohio. Mary died in infancy.

The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Laughlin, Philip Crider, descended from German ancestors. He was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1803, and died in Preble county, Ohio, in 1874. The trades of carpenter and millwright he followed for some years, and lived on Second street in Dayton, Ohio, in 1846. His wife, Nancy Wright, was born in Ireland in 1799, and died in Preble county, Ohio, in 1876. To this couple nine children were born, but only the following are now living: Ellen, wife of John A. Cox; Susanna, now Mrs. Cooper, of Indiana; Mary Ann, wife of George W. Catrow, of Miamisburg, Ohio; George W. , a farmer of Tennessee, and James Henry, who is a merchant of Oklahoma, and surveyor of that city.

To Mr. and Mrs. Laughlin have been born five children, two sons and three daughters, as follows: Elsie C., J. Raymond, Clifford L., Ruth E., and one that died in infancy. Mr. Laughlin is a trustee in the United Brethren church, of which both he and his wife are members. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters and of the Patriotic Order of Sons of America. Politically he favors the laboring man, and sustains that party which, in his opinion, will do most for this class of citizens. When Mr. Laughlin came to Dayton in October, 1884, he was employed by the Dayton Malleable Iron company, remaining with them three years; then going to work in D. O. Kimmel's grocery, he remained there until 1891, when he opened a grocery and meat market at his present location, Nos. 1170 and 1172 Germantown street. Here he has ever since conducted a remarkably successful business.

^ ENRY MECKLEY, of Germantown, one of the most successful and sub- | ^ stantial farmers of Jackson township, sprang from Pennsylvania -Dutch stock. Henry Meckley was born December 6, 1837, on the farm upon which he now lives. Receiving a good common-school education, he was reared a farmer, beginning to work on the farm as soon as old enough and strong enough to be of use.

When he was thirty years of age he married, in Miamisburg, Ohio, February 27, 1868, Susannah Stonner, who was born December 22, 1844, and is a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Hostetter) Stonner. Andrew Stonner came from Pennsylvania to Ohio, locating in Wayne county among the first settlers there. His children were John, Levina, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah and Susannah. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and lived to be seventy-nine years of age, dying in Montgomery county in 1887, when on a visit to his relatives.

Henry Meckley and wife soon after their marriage settled on the old Meckley homestead, of which he bought 150 acres of his father, and cared for his parents during their old age. To Mr. and Mrs. Meckley there were born two children, viz: Sarah A. and Mary C. Mr.

Meckley is a member of the German Reformed church, and served on the building committee of Slyfer church. He is an honored citizen of his community, and can always be relied upon to aid worthy religious, moral and educational enterprises. Hiswife died December 19, 1888, at the age of forty-four years. She was a member of the Lutheran church, and a woman of many excellent traits of character.

Mr. Meckley is a democrat in politics, and during the recent presidential campaign, resulting in the election of Maj. McKinley, he was an advocate of the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1.

ENJAMIN METZGER, a farmer of Jackson township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in Madison township, in the same county, on his father's farm, his parents being Henry and Susannah (Ullery) Metzger. The father of Henry, John Metzger, came to America before the war of the Revolution, from Wurtemberg, Germany. He was a Dunkard in religion, and was married near Bedford, Pa., settled on a farm in the vicinity of that city, lived there until eighty-six years of age, and died at the home of his son-in-law, John Brumbaugh. His children were named John, Henry, Jacob and Andrew, and of these, Henry, the father of Benjamin, was born on the original farm near Bedford, Pa., about 1778, and was there married, June 15, 1800, to Susannah Ullery. In 18 1 1 he brought his family to Ohio and located in Jefferson township, Montgomery county, on a tract of 160 acres, but six months later removed to Madison township and bought 154 acres, all in the deep woods. Here he erected a log house, by hard work and incessant industry cleared up his land and developed a fine farm, and here passed the remainder of his days, an honored pioneer and useful citizen, passing away September 11, 1859 - his death taking place in Perry township. He was a minister in the German Baptist church, and at his decease was able to give each of his children a start in the world, with either land or money. These children were born and named in the following order: John, January 24,

1 803 ; Stephen, November 15, 1804; Elizabeth, October 19, 1806; Samuel, August 24, 1808; Henry, November 24, 1810; Susannah, March 10, 1813; Mary, January 7, 1816; Isaac, September 22, 1817, and Benjamin, September 7, 1825. The first five of these children were born in Bedford county, Pa., and the others in Madison township, Montgomery county, Ohio.

available in the common schools of his youthful days, and worked on the home farm until twenty years of age, when he married, in Jackson township, December 1 8 , 1845, Miss Annie Trissel, who was born in Rockingham county, Va., April 16, 1821, a daughter of David and Mary (Bowman) Trissel. Her father, David, was of German extraction, was a farmer, and moved from Rockingham county, Va., to Montgomery county, Ohio, in the fall of 1831, and bought a tract of 170 acres in Jackson township, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying March n, 1854, at the age of about sixty-two years, in the faith of the German Baptist church. He was the father of three children - Hettie, Annie and Samuel.

After marriage, Benjamin Metzger lived on his father's farm four years, and in 1850 purchased fifty acres of his present homestead, to which he has added until he now owns 1 1 5 acres of well-cleared land and a most comfortable home. To Mr. and Mrs. Metzger no children were born, but they reared from childhood Lucinda Brown, who was married to Alexander Powell, of Preble county, Ohio; they also reared another young girl - Ellen Shaner, who was married to David Repp. Mrs. Annie Metzger was called to rest, in the faith of the German Baptist church, September 20,

1 893 - a woman of kind heart and many virtues, and a true Christian. Mr. Metzger has been a deacon in this church for thirty-three years, has done much in aid of its progress and its work for the good of the people, and is recognized as a worthy citizen and a man of strict integrity.

ICHAEL MEYER, a retired farmer of Clay township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in the kingdom of Bavaria (now a part of United Germany), August 18, 1838, and came with his parents to America at the age of fourteen years. John Jacob Meyer, father of Michael, was born near Landau, Bavaria, in 1806 or 1807, was reared a farmer, and married Margaret Hale, the union resulting in the birth of the following children, in Bavaria: Daniel, Michael, John (deceased), Jacob, Charles and Margaret, and Sarah, born in America. The father owned a farm of twenty acres in the old country, but, with the expectation of bettering his fortune, sailed from Havre, with his family, for the United States in 1853 or 1854, and after a passage of thirty-two days, during which the vessel lost 100 passengers from cholera, owing to a supply of bad water, they landed in the city of New York. They came at once to Ohio and settled on a farm of 142 acres two miles from Phillipsburg, in Montgomery county, and here Mr. Meyer died, at the age of sixty-four years, in 1870, a member of the German Reformed church.

Michael Meyer, the subject of this biography. was reared on his father's farm, which he assisted in clearing and improving and in making one of the best of its size in Montgomery county. November 10, 1865, he married Susannah Shank, who was born November 15, 1844, in Darke county, Ohio, a daughter of Peter and Barbara (Kener) Shank.

Peter Shank, father of Mrs. Meyer, came from Lancaster county, Pa., and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Darke county, Ohio, where he made a good home and died at the age of eighty-four years, a respected and substantial farmer. His children were named Henry, John, Nancy, Lydia, Elizabeth, Katie, Maggie and Susannah.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Meyer made their home in West Milton, Miami county, Ohio, where Mr. Meyer had an interest in a flouring-mill. He next bought a farm of eighty acres near Georgetown, Miami county, on which he lived twelve years, and then moved to his present excellent farm of 142 acres. From this, however, he retired, in 1892, to Phillipsburg, where he bought a home of sixteen acres, on which he built a comfortable modern residence, in which to pass his remaining days. His children, to whose welfare Mr. Meyer is devoting himself, are named John, Millie, Eva and Lydia. They and their father are consistent members of the German Reform church. Mrs. Meyer died September 5, 1885, at the age of fort}' years and twenty days, a member of the Mennonite church.

ENRY CLAY MUMMA, a prominent farmer and fruit grower of Harrison township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in this township, April 8, 1838. He is a son of Jacob H. and Susan (Brumbaugh) Mumma, the former of whom was a native of Maryland. Jacob H. and Susan Mumma were the parents of five children, all sons, three of whom are still living, as follows: Henry Clay, David H. and George W.

Jacob H. Mumma came to Ohio with his parents in 1827. They located in Harrison township, and in this county Mr. Mumma lived most of his life, but spent some two years in Clarke county. From 1845 t° 1875 he lived in Madison township, and after a few months in Champaign county he returned to Harrison township, where he lived with his son, Henry Clay, until the spring of 1881. He then went to Miami county, and died there in the spring of 1879, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife died December 25, 1873, at the age of fifty-six, and he then married Barbara Rowe, widow of John Hess. She died in December, 1894. Both were members of the German Baptist church.

he located in Harrison township, living there until his death, which occurred in 1853. He had a family of three sons and two daughters. The maternal grandfather, William Brumbaugh, was an early settler in Ohio, but later removed to Kosciusko county, Ind., where he died at an advanced age. He and his wife reared a family of ten children.

Henry Clay Mumma has been a resident of Harrison township' most of his life. His education was received in Madison township, in the district schools, and though quite limited, because of the inferior facilities of the day, has been supplemented by his own subsequent study until now he is among the best-informed men of his county.

On September 30, i860, Mr. Mumma married Miss Ann Black, daughter of Thomas Black. To this marriage there have been born fourteen children, as follows: Arthur V.,

Belle, Sarah, Martha, Thomas, Amanda, Cora, John, Eve, Leo, Effie, Walter and two that died in infancy. Sasah, Amanda, Effie and Walter are also now dead. Arthur V. married Amanda Neiswinger, who is now deceased. He afterward married Amanda Minnick, by whom he has two children, viz: Wilbur and Willard. Belle married Thomas Nichol, and has four children, viz: Joseph, William, Ivy and Walter. Martha married William Ehrbaugh, and has three children, Clarence, Ethel and Bertha. Cora married Augustus Haines, and has three children, Harlan, Maizyand Howard H.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clay Mumma are members of the German Baptist church. After his marriage Mr. Mumma moved upon his father's farm, which he managed for four years on shares, and at the end of this time he bought the place, which now contains 144 acres. While during most of his life on the farm he was engaged in general agriculture, he has of late given considerable attention to the raising of fruit and to gardening. He is a member of one of the oldest and best families in the county, and by his honorable and upright career, is most creditably sustaining its reputation.

a LINTON MYERS, a farmer and nurseryman of Jefferson township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born on the farm he now owns and occupies, July io, 1842, a son of Emanuel and Elizabeth (Furner) Myers, natives of Maryland and Juniata county, Pa., respectively, and of German descent.

Michael Myers, a native of Strassburg, Germany, and grandfather of Clinton Myers, came from Maryland to Ohio in 1803, and purchased a section of land in Jefferson township, on a portion of which Clinton still resides. His wife bore the maiden name of Billmyer, and their male children were named Moses, Martin, Michael, Emanuel and Menassah, beside whom they were the parents of three daughters. Michael Myers was a man of considerable wealth in his day, lived to see his section of land in Montgomery county cleared up and improved, and on this land he died, a respected pioneer, at a good old age.

Emanuel Myers, father of Clinton Myers, was reared in Jefferson township, on the paternal homestead, where he passed all his life, and died in 1853, aged fifty-seven years.

Clinton Myers, only child born to Emanuel Myers and wife, was reared to farming on the old Myers homestead, where, with the exception of five years passed in Miami township, Montgomery county, he has always resided. The common schools of his native township afforded him a plain education, and general farming, in connection with the growing of nursery stock, has always been his occupation. In 1866 Mr. Myers married Miss Phebe J. Holderman, of Jefferson township, and to this

Billman), Howard M. and Musetta E. In his politics Mr. Myers is a democrat, and has served as a member of the board of agriculture for two terms; he is a Knight of Pythias in his fraternal relations, and being a member of one of the oldest families of Jefferson township and an upright and useful citizen, is held in high estimation by the community in which he lives.

ENHART ORTMAN, a successful agriculturist of Clay township, Montgomery county, Ohio, is a native of Hanover, Germany, born August 31, 1847, and is a son of Henry and Ricky (Pansing) Ortman, natives of the same country, where their marriage took place.

Henry Ortman was born October 18, 1817, was reared a farmer, and to his marriage were born twelve children, eight of whom reached years of maturity, viz: Benhart, Mary, John,

Frederick, Minnie, Lizzie, Henry and Ricky. In 1848 Henry Ortman, with his wife and child, Benhart, sailed from Bremen for America, and after a voyage of seven weeks landed in New Orleans, whence he came direct to Miamisburg, Montgomery county, Ohio. There he worked as a miller, and also as foreman in an oil factory, until 1861, when he settled on the farm of ninety-five acres in Clay township, now occupied by his son Frederick, and where he died November 19, 1875, a member of the Lutheran church. He was in politics a democrat, and a man of moral life and greatly respected in his neighborhood. He brought up with careful training those of his children who grew to maturity, all of whom were born in Montgomery county with the exception of Benhart, who was but an infant when he was brought to the United States by his parents. Mrs. Ortman, mother of Ben-

Benhart Ortman received a good commonschool education, and was trained as a farmer and carpenter. August 2, 1873, he married Annie Cook, who was born April 9, 1847, 'n Hanover, Germany, a daughter of John and Catherine (Deilts) Cook, or Koch, as it was spelled in German.

John Cook was born in Hanover, Germany, October 18, 1817, a son of Henry and Annie (Benhart) Cook, who were the owners of a farm of twenty acres, were quite well-to-do, and were the parents of the following named children: John, Henry, Klass Henry, Cort

Henry, Paul and Mary. The father was a soldier in the German army for five years and with Napoleon I in the campaign against Moscow, and, like all the rest in that famous retreat, nearly perished with cold and hunger. He died in Germany at the age of fifty-one years, a member of the Evangelical church. John, his son, the father of Mrs. Ortman, was a blacksmith by trade, and to his marriage with Catherine Deilts, who was born July 5, 1815, in the same German village with himself, and was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Blotner) Deilts, there were born, in the old country, two children, Annie and Catherine. Mr. Cook came to America in 1851, landed in New York in July, after a passage across the ocean lasting seven weeks, came to Montgomery county, moved thence to Darke county, and there cleared up a farm of fifty acres. Later he sold this farm and came to Clay township, Montgomery county, bought a farm of eighty acres, and here passed the remainder of his life.

Mr. and Mrs. Ortman, after their marriage, lived for two years on the Cook farm, and in 1877 bought thirty acres of the Cook homestead, whereon Mr. Ortman erected a handsome residence and a number of other good buildings. In 1890 he took up his residence on his present place of fifty-two acres, which he has also converted into a fruitful and most pleasant farm and delightful home. In politics Mr. Ortman is a democrat, but has never been an office-seeker. By diligence and attention to his calling he has gained a comfortable competency, and has won for himself and family a well-deserved respect.

HILEMON W. PEIRSON, a resident of Wengerlawn, Montgomery county, Ohio, and one of the old settlers of this county, is a son of a pioneer of Clay township. Jonathan Peirson, his grandfather, was born near Trenton, N. J., and married Sarah Lalon, who was born January 27, 1767. Both the Peirson and Lalon families were of Irish descent. Of the Lalon brothers ten were in the Revolutionary war.

Jonathan Lalon and his wife were the parents of the following children, beside Sarah: Millicent, born October 22, 1787; Elizabeth, born June 30, 1790; Rachel H., born May 12, 1796; Edward B., born June 28, 1801, and Sarah V., born April 15, 1806.

Jonathan Peirson, father of Philemon W., was born in New Jersey, July 2, 1793, and in 1816 married Mary Hart, born in New Jersey, June 27, 1794. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was engaged in a fight off Sandy Hook. To Mr. and Mrs. Peirson there were born the following children: George \V., born February 3, 1817; Sarah, born June 22, 1819; Jonathan J., born September 6, 1821; Mary A., born December 9, 1823; Philemon W., born January 14, 1826; Samuel F. , born April 23, 1828; Andrew J., born July 1 1, 1832; and Elizabeth A., born May 29, 1837. Jonathan Peirson, the father of these children, removed with his family to Ohio in 1816, making the journey with horses and wagon, and, upon ar- riving in this state, settled in Warren county, and there bought land. After living there until 1829, he removed to Montgomery county and entered land just west of Mr. Carmony, and cleared up about ten acres. After living on this land about one year he settled on 160 acres, upon which his son Philemon now lives. At that time it was all woods, but he built a log cabin, and by dint of hard and persistent labor cleared up his farm and made a good home. Both he and his wife were members of the Old School Baptist church, and in politics he was a democrat. He was a sturdy pioneer, and everywhere noted for his honesty, high character and sterling worth. He lived to be sixty-four years old, dying October 2, 1857.

Philemon W. Peirson, the subject of this sketch, was born in Warren county, Ohio, and received but a limited education, that being received in the old-fashioned subscription school. He was reared a pioneer among the early pioneers of Montgomery county, on his father's farm, and on September 6, 1846, married Elizabeth Myers, daughter of Martin and Eva (Besecker) Myers. Mr. and Mrs. Peirson settled on the old homestead, and upon this farm they still live. They are members of the German Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Peirson is a democrat. He is a well-known citizen, and has been a hard working and industrious man, and enjoys the respect and confidence of all. The Peirson family is one of the old pioneer families of Montgomery county, and is descended from the best of ancestry. Mr. Peirson has a good farm of 100 acres, with valuable improvements upon it, including a most pleasant residence.

Mr. and Mrs. Peirson adopted Rachael A. Smith when she was three years old, rearing her as if she were their own child. She married John Eisner, and they had a son named Henry Weslay. Mr. Eisner died, and his widow then married Cyrus Palmer, and by him aHARLES F. POWELL, M. D. , regular physician and surgeon of Mad River township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in Wayne township, same county, September 23, 1857. He is a son of John C. and Hester A. M. (Wells) Powell, the former a native of England, the latter of Virginia. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, six of whom are now living, as follows: Jennie, wife

John C. Powell was brought to this country by his parents when he was a boy. They landed at Wilmington, Del., and afterward lived in Pennsylvania until about 1832, when they removed to Dayton, Ohio, and here Mr. Powell engaged in mechanical work. He cast his first vote in 1836, in the brick building which stood where the old court house now stands. After reaching Dayton Mr. Powell learned the trade of millwright, which he followed for a number of years. He tnen married and engaged in farming. His marriage took place in 1839, and in 1889 he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding. They are now living in Wayne township, where they have lived for more than fifty years. Mr. Powell has always been an industrious man, and has accumulated a competency, and at the present time has a finely improved farm. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Powell was for many years a member of the school board, has served also as constable and justice of the peace, and has always been much esteemed in the community.

advanced age. He and his wife reared a family of six children. While living in England he served as a soldier in the British army. The maternal grandfather lived in Miami county, on a farm near Tippecanoe, and was one of the eariy settlers there, having come from Virginia, his native state. He was a slaveholder, but becoming satisfied that slavery was wrong he emigrated to Ohio, freeing his slaves. He died in Miami county, at a ripe old age, highly respected by all that knew him, for his sense of right and justice and for the blameless character of his life.

Charles F. Powell, M. D., was reared on the farm in Wayne township, and received his education in the district schools. Then, attending Miami Medical college, he graduated from that institution in 1880. After completing his medical studies he began the practice of his profession in Osborn, Greene county, Ohio, and after seven years of laborious practice was obliged to abandon that calling on account of ill health. Going to California and remaining there for some months, he returned much improved in health, and resumed the practice of medicine in Osborn, but shortly afterward was again compelled to abandon it, for the same reason as before. Selling his home, he removed to Montgomery county in 1887, purchasing a part of the farm on which he is at present living, and entered upon farming for his health, with very beneficial results.

Dr. Powell was married June 9, 1881, to Miss Alla Eaton, daughter of Amos and Susan (Stutsman) Eaton, of Mad River township. To this marriage there have been born three children, two sons and a daughter, viz: Milo

E., Lottie B. and Cyrus W. Dr. Powell is a member of the Order of United American Mechanics, and though in former years a republican is now a prohibitionist. Both he and his wife are members of the Central Church of Christ of Dayton, and active in religious work.

ACOB PULS, one of the pioneer farmers of Jackson township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in Lebanon county, Pa., November 15, 1816. His father, Jacob Puls, Sr., also a native of the Keystone state', descended from a colonial family of German extraction, was a carpenter by trade, and married, in Lancaster county, Pa., Polly Knouse, to which union were born Solomon, George, Polly, Jacob, Daniel, Samuel and Catherine. In 1821 Mr. Puls brought his family to Ohio and settled on the Germantown and Farmersville pike, in Jackson township, Montgomery county, where he passed the remainder of his life on his farm, dying at the age of seventy-two years, a member of the German Reformed church.

Jacob Puls, the subject of this biography, grew to manhood in Jackson township, and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for twenty-five years. He married, in Jackson township, in April, 1841, Miss Elizabeth Basore, who was born in Lebanon county, Pa., about 1816, a daughter of Adam and Mary (Creiter) Basore, who had settled in Montgomery county and were the parents of Philip (who died in Pennsylvania), David, Elizabeth, Joseph and Daniel. Mr. Basore died here at the age of sixty years. Mr. Puls, after his marriage, lived one year in Farmersville, and then bought eighty acres in this township, on which he lived for thirty years and which he greatly improved; about 1870 he settled on his present farm, which is one of the best in the neigborhood, and contains 160 acres.

(who died at the age of nineteen), William, Joseph and Allen. Of these Mary A. is married to Elijah Olafelter, a farmer of Indiana, and has six children; Eliza was married to Jacob Stiner, but died two -years afterward, leaving one child; William, a farmer in Germantown, married Althea Rodeheffer', and is the father of seven children; Joseph and Allen live on the home farm. Mr. Puls has now fourteen grandchildren and eleven greatgrandchildren. The mother of the above family died August 12, 1880, a devout member of the Lutheran church and a woman of many virtues. Mr. Puls has been a member of this church since he was twenty years of age and has been an elder for thirty-five years, and for many years a trustee. He has been liberal in his contributions toward its support and aided materially toward the erection of the Lutheran church edifice south of Farmington. In politics he is a democrat.

Mr. Puls has led a long and useful life, has always been industrious and thrifty, but nevertheless generous, and has always maintained the integrity of an upright character.

ENRY N. REED, now of Clay township, was born in Madison township, Montgomery county, Ohio, August 7, 1827, educated in the pioneer schoolhouse of that day, and was trained to the life of a farmer.

Peter Reed, his father, was born in Pennsylvania in 1804, of German ancestry, and was still a young man when he came to Ohio and settled in Montgomery county, married Wilhelmina Neipmann, and bought a tract in the woods of Madison township. He cleared off the forest and brought forth a fertile farm, on which he passed the remainder of his days, and died in 1886, at the good old age of eightytwo years. His children were born and named in the following order: Abraham N. (now deceased), John N., Henry N., Michael N. and Benjamin N. Mr. Reed was a member of the German Baptist church, to which, also, his family gave adherence, and was one of the solid farmers of Madison township, well-known as a useful and upright citizen.

Henry N. Reed, on attaining his twentyfifth year, entered into the bonds of matrimony, August 26, 1852, in Clay township, with Miss Mary Cloppert, who was born September 2, 1825, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Cloppert, who also came from Pennsylvania. Mr. Cloppert was a substantial farmer, owning 115 acres in Clay township, and had a family of eight children: Henry, Mary, Betsey, Susan, David, John, Isaac and Ephraim. He died at the age of eighty-four years, a member of the German Baptist church. Mr. Reed and his young wife went to housekeeping on a rented farm in Clay township, on which they lived and prospered until 1859 or i860, when Mr. Reed bought a tract of sixty-five acres, in the same township, cleared off the timber, erected a good house and all the necessary farm buildings, and soon had a most comfortable home as well as a profitable farm. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Reed was blessed by the birth of five children, viz: Sarah, Mary A. (who died at the age of twenty-two years), Catherine, John and Susan. These children are all married and the four survivors are well situated in life. Sarah married Jacob Peffly, a farmer of Kansas; Mary A. was married to N. J. Niswanger, and became the mother of three children; Catherine became the wife of John Procter, a farmer; John, now farming in Kansas, married Della Mills, who has borne him three children; Susan is the wife of A. B. Turner, and is the mother of four children.

of their means, and also give their active moral support in the advancement of both its spiritual and material progress. In his political views Mr. Reed is a democrat, and is a strong advocate of temperance. His life has been a well-spent and useful one, and he has fairly earned his conceded place as one of Clay township's best citizens.

OHN REEL, of Farmersville, Ohio, one of the most venerable men in the state and probably the oldest in Montgomery county, springs from German stock, his great-grandfather having come to this country from Germany. Peter Reel, father of John, was a farmer of Virginia. He married Elizabeth Folk, by whom he had the following children: Daniel, Polly, Sallie,

Jacob, Abraham, Susannah and John. Peter Reel was a citizen of Berkeley county, Va. , and lived to be a middle-aged man, dying from an accident. He was a man in comfortable circumstances, and owned slaves. While he was a member of the Lutheran church, his wife was a member of the German Reform church. Both died in Virginia. All of the children are now deceased except the subject of this sketch.

John Reel was born in Berkeley county, Va.. December 19, 1803, on Dry Run, about three miles from Martinsburg. When his father died he was nine years old, his mother dying three years later. From that time on he was reared by his guardian's son-in-law, David Wolf. While his educational advantages were but limited, yet he learned to read and write and got as far as the " Rule of Three," in arithmetic. In 1812, he went with David Wolf to Washington county, Md., and there lived until he was twenty-six years old. Coming to Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1829, he made a journey to the Ohio river on foot, having a pair of saddle-bags, in which he carried his personal effects. Reaching the Ohio river at Wheeling, he went to Cincinnati, walked thence to Dayton. Going on to Germantown, consisting at that time of but a few houses, he went to work for the Rev. J. King, whose sister, Ann Maria King, Mr. Reel married July 29, 1829. Mrs. Reel was born in 1801, in Martinsburg, Va., a daughter of Jacob King, who came to Montgomery county in 1828, settling in German township, with his son, Rev. J. King, a minister of the United Brethren church. Jacob King was the father of the following children: Jacob, John, Isaac, Ann Maria and Elizabeth. Mr. King was an aged man when he came to Ohio and had then retired from active life. He was a wagonmaker by trade, and had lived for many years at Hagerstown, Md. In religion he was identified with the United Brethren church, of which he was one of the first members.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. John Reel, during the first week of September, 1 829, moved to his present farm, then containing 100 acres, thirty of which were cleared. Mr. Reel had carefully saved his wages and was thus enabled to pay for his farm, which by industry and thrift he greatly improved and made a pleasant home. He and his wife were the parents of the .following children: Elizabeth,

Mr. and Mrs. Reel were members of the United Brethren church, in which he was a class leader and trustee for many years. Politically, Mr. Reel was in early life a democrat, then an old-line whig, then republican, and at last a prohibitionist. He voted for Andrew Jackson for president in 1828, for William Henry Harrison in 1840, for John C. Fremont in 1856, for Abraham Lincoln in i860 and 1864, and has voted for one of the candidates at every presidential election since.

He has always been an honored citizen, retiring in disposition, frugal and temperate in his habits, and has reared an excellent family. Now, at the age of ninety-three, he is still strong and vigorous, and well preserved.

Of his children, Elizabeth Reel married Henry Snyder, and has one son; Eleanor married Daniel Stiver, and has four children ; Magdalena married Frederick Ade, and has one child living; Maria married John W. Moyer, now deceased, and had one child, who is also deceased. Mr. Reel's children are devotedly attached to him and are striving to make his declining years free from all care.

AMES A. RICE, one of the most experienced farmers of Carrollton Station, Jefferson township, Montgomery county, Ohio (the post-office being named West Carrollton), was born in Frederick county, Md., May 24, 1825, and is a son of James and Rebecca (Drill) Rice, both natives of Maryland, and, respectively, of English and German descent.

James Rice came from Maryland to Ohio in 1835, and, with his small family, located in Harrison township, Montgomery county, but afterward removed to Van Buren township, following farming as an occupation, although he had been reared a miller. Mrs. Rebecca Rice died before the family moved to Van Buren township, but the father survived for some years and died in Van Buren township on the farm on which his children were reared.

James A. Rice, from the age of ten years, lived in Montgomery county, was educated in the common schools, and has all his life been a farmer. He began on his own account by renting a place in Van Buren township, on which he lived for twenty-five years, when he came to Jefferson township, in 1861, and purchased the farm of eighty-eight acres, on which he has since resided, and on which he has made most of the improvements. His farm is a model one, is unsurpassed in fertility, and been brought to its present state of perfection through the exertions and skill of Mr. Rice himself, aided by his elder children. Mr. Rice's marriage took place September 16, 1847, to Miss Hannah Updyke, daughter of Albert and Rebecca (Reeder). Updyke, of Van Buren township, and the result of the union has been the birth of nine children, viz: Charles, Albert, Oliver, Newton, Wilson, Willie, Elmer, Emma and Olive. In politics Mr. Rice is a democrat, but has always been devoid of ambition as an office seeker, contenting himself with the exercise of his franchise. He has been industrious and is now enjoying the reward of that industry, while his high standing in the community in which he lives is well deserved.

BRANK J. RIEGEL, farmer of Jackson township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in Berks county, Pa., April 11, 1831, a son of David and Elizabeth (Kaucher) Riegel, of whom further facts may be read in the biography of John Riegel. When but one year old he was brought by his parents to Ohio, was reared on the home farm among the pioneers and received the usual edution of the backwoods schools. He married, in Jackson township, December 1, 1853, Miss Catherine Weaver, who was born June 23, 1831, in this township, a daughter of John I. and Catherine (Pence) Weaver.

John I. Weaver was a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1799, of German parentage, and at the age of eight years was brought to Ohio by his parents, who settled in Jackson township, Montgomery county. Here he grew to manhood, married Miss Pence and went to farming on a tract of 160 acres, which he cleared up from the wild woods, adding to it until he owned about 500 acres, which at his death he divided among his children. These were named Sarah, Malinda, Mary M., Catherine, Urias, John D. and William A. In politics Mr. Weaver was a democrat and served as township trustee and treasurer. He died at the age of eighty-eight years, a deacon and elder in the Slyfer Lutheran church. John Pence, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Riegel, came from Virginia, and died in Montgomery county, Ohio, at the advanced age of seventy-two years.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Riegel settled on the John B. Miller farm, in Jackson township, occupying 124 acres, and have now one of the best improved farms in the township. Their marriage has been blessed with three children - Amanda H. , Ellen N. and Altha I. Mr. Riegel is a consistent member of the United Brethren church, in which he has been a class leader for many years, and Mrs. Riegel is a member of the Reformed church. In his politics Mr. Riegel is a democrat and an advocate of the free silver doctrine, and is also an ardent prohibitionist. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Riegel, Amanda H. is married to Allen Bussard, a farmer of Butler county, and has two children - Franklin P. and Elva E. ; Ellen N. is the wife of John M. Ebbert, principal of the Nineteenth district public school, Dayton, and has three children - Le- Roy, Robert Laird andWendall; and Altha I. is married to Paris Binkley, a former hardware merchant of East Fifth street, Dayton, and now of San Diego, Cal.

aHRISTIAN ROHRER, farmer and dairyman of Mad River township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in this township, October 13, 1842. He is a son of Martin and Elizabeth (Kreider)

Rohrer, both natives of Lancaster county, Pa. They were the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, as follows: Christiana, Tobias, Maria (wife of Franklin P. Grimes), Christian and Martha, the latter the wife of E. J. Williamson.

Martin Rohrer was a distiller by occupation, and came to Ohio in 1834, settling on the farm upon which Christian, his son, now lives. Upon this farm he lived until his death in 1844, when he was forty-eight years of age. His wife survived him a number of years, dying when she was sixty-three. Both were members of the Lutheran church . Mr. Rohrer purchased 1,200 acres when land was cheap, and so became a comparatively wealthy man.

The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Christian Rohrer, was born in Germany, came to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania. He and his wife reared a family of nine children, only one of whom is still living - Jacob, who is now eighty-four years of age. Each of the others lived to be at least eighty-five years of age. Christian Rohrer was a miller by trade, and also a farmer. His death occurred in Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather of the subject, Henry Kreider, was also a native of Germany, came to the United States, followed the calling of a farmer, in Pennsylvania, and died in Lancaster county, that state.

Christian Rohrer, whose name opens this sketch, was born and reared on the farm upon which he still resides. His early education was received in the district school, and afterward he attended Farmers' college, at College Hill, Hamilton county, Ohio, taking a twoyears' course. Returning to the farm, he was married, August 13, 1861, to Miss Caroline Carles, daughter of Daniel and Livonia (Rogers) Carles. To this marriage there have been born four children, as follows: Alice, George the Rev. J. M. Bolton, of the Presbyterian church, and has one child, Carl; Sylva C. married Anna Nobling, and has one child, Esther. The others have not married.

Mr. and Mrs. Rohrer are members of the United Brethren church, and Mr. Rohrer, as a republican, served as township clerk three terms. He owns 250 acres of land, farming 1 50 acres. For the past four years Mr. Rohrer has been engaged in the dairy business, having one of the best equipped dairy farms in the country. He is painstaking and methodical in the conduct of this enterprise, and has met with the success that follows thrift.

ILLIAM RHOADES, farmer, of Jackson township, Montgomery county, Ohio, is a son of one of the pioneers of that township, and springs from Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry. His grandfather was Philip Rhoades, a farmer of Bedford county, Pa., who removed to Montgomery county between 1800 and 1805, bringing his family with him. Buying land in Jackson township, one mile west of where William Rhoades now lives, he built thereon a log cabin and cleared his farm. At that time there were but few settlers in Jackson township, so that Mr. Rhoades may justly be considered one , of the original pioneers. He was a member of the Slyfer. Reformed church, and politically was a democrat. He died on his farm at an advanced age. His children were as follows: John, Jacob, Henry, Lewis, Polly, Sallie and Esther.

John Rhoades, the eldest son, and father of William Rhoades, was born in Bedford county, Pa., August 10, 1792, and was therefore about ten years of age when his parents came to Ohio. When they reached Dayton, Ohio, after a long and tedious journey with teams and wagons, they found a small hamlet with only a few cabins clustered together. Young Rhoades was reared among the pioneers, received the best education obtainable in those early days, which was very limited, but being of an inquiring and active mind he gained a great deal of practical knowledge which he could not have acquired at school, and became a thoroughly successful farmer and sound business man. He married Catherine Ruby, who was born in Virginia, and who was a daughter of Jacob Ruby, who came to Montgomery county at about the same time with the Rhoades family. The children of Jacob Ruby were as follows: Jacob, John, Samuel, Sarah, Rebecca and Catherine.

John Rhoades settled on the land upon which his son William now lives, about 126 acres, which he purchased of his brother George. About twenty acres of this land had been cleared. The rest of it Mr. Rhoades cleared, and erected upon it some of the best buildings then to be found anywhere in that part of the country. He was industrious and of sound judgment, and consequently prospered and aided all his children to get a start in the world. These children were as follows: Barbara, Mary, John, Jacob, Catherine, Sarah, George, Anna, Peter, William and Lydia. Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades were members of the Reformed church, and aided to erect the original log building in which this organization worshiped, and also its present brick structure. Politically Mr. Rhoades was a democrat, and was always a strong supporter of his party.

William Rhoades, the subject of this sketch, was born on the old homestead farm, February 4, 1840. Having been educated as well as could be in the common schools, he began early to work on the farm, to ride the horse in tramping out grain on the barn floor, and to perform other kinds of labor, then familiar to all but now superseded by improved methods. When he was thirty-two years of age he mar- ried Matilda Stiver, the ceremony being performed December 15, 1872, and his wife being a daughter of Henry and Sophia (Rickie) Stiver. For fuller mention of Henry Stiver the reader is referred to his biography published elsewhere in this volume.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades settled on the old homestead upon which they have ever since resided. They are the parents of the following children: Amanda A. , Charles

E. , John H. , William F. , Perry M. , Matilda C. and Forrest L. Mr. Rhoades is a member of the German Reformed church, and Mrs. Rhoades of the Lutheran church, Mr. Rhoades being a liberal supporter of religious work. He has an excellent farm of 126 acres, which he has greatly improved. Politically he is a democrat, and he is a man that has made his own way in the world by means of integrity of purpose and action.

ONATHAN SCHELL, one of the oldest and most respected residents of Jefferson township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in Berks county, Pa., December 10, 1810, a son of Henry and Margaret (Lesher) Schell, who were also natives of Berks county and of Revolutionary antecedents. Peter Schell and John Lesher, respectively the paternal and maternal grandfathers of Jonathan Schell, were born in Germany, came to America in their young manhood, and both became soldiers in the war for American independence, Mr. Lesher having command of a company and having fought in the battles of the Brandywine and of Bunker Hill. Both these grandfathers finally became permanent settlers of and farmers in Berks county, Pa., where they passed the remainder of their days.

Ohio in 1820, and located in Miamisburg, Montgomery county, where the father at first followed his trade of cooper; but farming was his principal occupation through life, although in his latter years he engaged in the manufacture of plow points. His death took place in 1864, and that of his wife in 1866, leaving to mourn their loss the following family of children: John; David; Catherine, now Mrs. Anthony Emert; Jonathan; Molly, now Mrs. Fred Yaukey; Sarah, now Mrs. Israel Staley; and Martha, now Mrs. Joseph Kutz.

Jonathan Schell, it will be seen, passed the first ten years of his life in Pennsylvania. His later youth and earlier manhood were spent in Miamisburg, Ohio, in learning and in working at the cabinetmaker's trade, but later he engaged in farming near that town, and there lived until 1851, when 'he moved to the farm he now occupies in Jefferson township, on which he has made many substantial improvements, including all the buildings, and which he has brought to a most excellent condition of productiveness. In his early youth, Mr. Schell helped to break the first furrow for the Miami canal.

The marriage of Mr. Schell was solemnized, in 1831, with Miss Elizabeth Gebhart, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Cramer) Gebhart, the union being blessed with ten children, of whom eight are still living, viz: Peggy (Mrs. Amos Weaver), Henry, George, Martin, Jonathan, David, William and Samuel. Since the age of fifteen years, Mr. Schell has been a member of the Lutheran church - a period of over seventy years - and his seven sons and son-in-law worship in the same faith; in politics, they all are democrats.

David P. Schell, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Gebhart) Schell, was born in Miami township, April 19, 1850, and grew to manhood in Jefferson township, where he was educated in the public schools, and at the age of twenty began farming on his own account. Since 1872 he has lived on his present farm of eighty-six acres in Jefferson township, part of which he cleared from the forest and all of which he has improved and placed under cultivation. The buildings, which are modern and substantial, have been erected by him, and the farm, as a whole, will compare favorably with any other of its size in the township.

Mr. Schell was united in marriage December 23, 1870, with Miss Mary M., daughter of George and Margaret (Beachler) Stine, of Jefferson township, and this union has been blessed by the birth of six children, viz: Cora

(wife of Charles Brown), Jemima (Mrs. William Hartzell), Clara, Edna, Mary and George. The family are all members of the Lutheran church and enjoy a very high social standing among their neighbors.

OWEN G. SHIVELEY, one of the oldest and most respected farmers of Jefferson township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born here on the old Shiveley homestead, November 3, 1815, and was reared among the pioneers of the county.

Christian Shiveley, Sr., his grandfather, was born near Hagerstown, Md., of German descent. He was married in his native state, and there were born to him children in the following order: Jacob Christian, Daniel, David, Susannah and Elizabeth. Mr. Shiveley came to Ohio in the old pioneer days, settled in Jefferson township on 160 acres of land, and cleared up from the woods a comfortable home, and on this farm passed the remainder of his days, dying a highly honored citizen and a member of the Baptist church.

Christian Shiveley, Jr., son of above and father of Owen G. , was also born near Hagerstown, Md., but moved thence to Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Susannah Gripe, who was born in Huntingdon county, that state, a daughter of John and Susannah (Rench) Gripe. The father of Mrs. Shiveley was a prosperous farmer and a minister in the German Baptist church. His children were named William, John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Susannah, Hannah and Catherine. Mr. Gripe came from Pennsylvania as a pioneer to Montgomery county, Ohio, and settled in Madison township, where he purchased a considerable body of land, and at his death was able to leave 160 acres to each of his children. After marriage Mr. Shiveley first located on a farm in Huntingdon county, Pa., and there eight children of his were born. Of these children, Christine and John died when young; David is also deceased; Owen G. is the subject of this sketch; Samuel; William died in Peru, Ind. ; Elizabeth and Susan are also deceased. The father of this family settled on a farm in Montgomery county, Ohio, some time prior to 1810 - probably about 1804 or 1805 - as may be inferred from the fact that he erected a two-story stone house in Madison township in 1811; his original farm contained 160 acres, which he cleared from the woods and subsequently increased to 400 acres. He was a member of the German Baptist church and died in that faith when about sixty-six years of age.

Owen G. Shiveley was reared to farming among the pioneers of Montgomery county, there being but one house in Dayton - and that a log one - when his father settled in the county. He was permitted to attend the old-fashioned log school-house of his district as much as possible and received a very fair education. On the first day of January, 1845, he married Miss Hannah Ullery, a native of Madison township and a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Gripe) Ullery. Her father, Joseph Ullery, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., was a pioneer of Madison township and settled on a farm on Wolf creek, but later moved to a

After his marriage, Mr. Shiveley occupied a part of the home farm for a year, and then came to his present place in Jefferson township - then all in the forest - where he has carved out a pleasant home. Mrs. Shiveley here died, January 26, 1890, a member of the German Baptist church, and the mother of the following children: Christian R., Joseph U., Noah H., Francis M., Aaron V., John D., Susannah, Elizabeth and Esther. In politics Mr. Shiveley is a democrat and has served in several public offices. For more than twentyfive years he was assessor of Madison township; he was also decennial land appraiser, was trustee of Jefferson township eight years, and United States enumerator of census one term. He was also treasurer of the Dayton & Western Turnpike company for over thirty years. He has filled every position with honor and credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the people, and no man to-day stands higher than he in the esteem of the citizens of Montgomery county.

AMES W. SMITH, a retired farmer of Harrison township, was born within four miles of Dayton, on the Troy pike, north of the city, November 17, 1843. He is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Deardorf) Smith, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Berks county, Pa. They were the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters, as follows: Hannah, widow of James W. Lowry; Jacob, John; Margaret, wife of S. M. Foote; Benjamin, deceased; Mary J., widow of John S. Protsman; Martha, wife of S. W. Massey, of Osborn, Ohio;

Franklin, deceased; William H. and James W. Henry Smith was by occupation a farmer, and at an early day settled near Springboro, Ohio. After living there a short time he removed to Dayton, where he remained for several years, and then bought a farm four miles north of Dayton, to which he removed, and added to it until at the time of his death he had about 700 acres of land. He was largely engaged in hauling wood to Dayton, and thereby became widely known as "Wood Smith." He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church; in fact, they were among the founders of Ebenezer Methodist church, which many remember to the present day. His death occurred January 14, 1861, in his sixty-sixth year, while Mrs. Smith died December 9, 1878, at the age of seventyseven years.

The paternal grandfather of James W. Smith was a native of North Carolina. The maternal grandfather, Jacob Deardorf, was a native of Pennsylvania, came to Ohio in 1801, and settled near Springboro. He made the journey down the Ohio river by flatboat, landed at Cincinnati, and came thence direct to Springboro. Here he engaged in farming and in running a saw-mill for a number of years, reared a family of five children, and died upon his farm.

James W. Smith was reared on the farm in Harrison township, and received a good education in the common schools. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served three months. After the war had closed be began farming and has followed that calling ever since, with the exception of about two years spent in Osborn.

Mr. Smith was married March 5, 1872, to Miss Susanne Neff, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Doan) Neff. To them have been born no children. They are members of the First

Reformed church of Dayton, and Mr. Smith is a member of Reed Commandery, No. 6, K. T. He is also a member of the Old Guard post, G. A. R. , and in politics is a republican.

In 1895 Mr. Smith retired from farming and is now living free from care and responsibility, enjoying the results of his early labors, and the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen. He owns forty-six acres in his home place, and seventy-four acres in a farm in Harrison township. He has always been a progressive farmer, and has taken great interest in forwarding the prosperity of the county and city. His beautiful home is on the new Troy pike, two and a quarter miles from the court house in Dayton.

OAH SWANK, farmer, of Montgomery county, Ohio, and now residing in Clay township, is a native of this county and was born in Perry township, as was his father before him.

John Swank, his grandfather, was the founder of the family in Montgomery county. He was a farmer and cleared up a tract of 160 acres from the woods of Perry township. He was twice married, and had born to him the following children: Jacob, George, Aaron, Jabez, Joseph, John, Moses, Elizabeth, Sarah, Fannie, Susannah and Mary - Joseph being the only child by the first marriage. The father of these children died from the effects of an accident when about fifty years of age - a most respected pioneer.

John Swank, sixth of the above sons and father of Noah, was reared on the home farm in his native township of Perry. He married Miss Barbara Nicewonger, a native of Clay township and a daughter of George Nicewonger, a pioneer, who settled here when the Indians roamed the country at their own free will. John Swank and wife settled on a small farm in Clay township, which by hard work he cleared up and increased to eighty acres, and on this farm his son, Jabez Swank, now lives. John Swank was a minister in the church of the Brethren in Christ, and for thirty years preached in Perry, Clay and the surrounding townships, continuing in the ministry until his death, which occurred in August, 1878, when he had reached his fifty-sixth year. His children were five in number, and were named Noah, Jabez, Levi, Frances and Sarah, the last named of whom died in infancy.

Noah Swank was born January 6, 1849, was reared a farmer and received a good common-school education. October 30, 1873, he married, in Fairfield county, Ohio, Miss Sarah Huddle, who was born September 7, 1850, a daughter of Daniel and Barbara (Beery) Huddle. The father of Mrs. Swank, Daniel Huddle, was a son of Abraham, a native of Virginia, who early settled in Fairfield county, cleared up a farm, and was the father of the following children, beside Daniel: Catherine, Rebecca, Barbara, Elizabeth, John, Sallie, Mary, Joel and Abraham. He was a sturdy pioneer, a member of the United Brethren church, and lived to an advanced age.

Daniel Huddle was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1815, was a farmer, and married in his native county, becoming the father of the following ' children: Eli, John, Abraham,

Noah, Daniel, Samuel, Solomon, Catherine, Elizabeth, Sarah and Lydia. He owned a nicely-cleared-up farm of 180 acres, and died in 1877, at the age of sixty-two years, a member of the United Brethren church.

Mr. and Mrs. Noah Swank have had born to their marriage seven children, viz: Theodore, Agnes, Charles E. , Minnie and Ella, and Ira and Irving, twins, who died at the age of five months. The family are members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Swank is a trustee and steward. In his church work

Mr. Swank has always been active and ardent, and has contributed largely to the erection of two houses of worship. In politics he is a republican, and has held the office of township trustee. He has a finely cultivated farm of 165 acres, well improved in all respects, and is one of the most substantial and respected citizens of Clay township.

aALEB THOMAS, one of the leading farmers and veterinary surgeons of Montgomery county, sprang from an old colonial family, which was of English origin. Isaac Thomas, his grandfather, came from South Carolina. He had two brothers, John and Abel, the latter of whom walked from South Carolina to Ohio with his family, having a pack horse to carry his effects. Isaac Thomas married Sarah Perkins, by whom he had the following children: John, William, Edward, Nehemiah, Ebenezer, Isaac, Elizabeth and Mary. Isaac Thomas removed with his family -to Montgomery county in 1817, settling at Phillipsburg, his boys all securing land and settling near him. His daughters had married in South Carolina. Elizabeth married John Farmer, and Mary married Absalom Leeper, both families settling near Phillipsburg. At that time the country was a wilderness. Isaac Thomas entered part of the land on which Phillipsburg now stands, and cleared a farm of eighty acres, upon which he lived for many years and died an aged man. In religion he was a Quaker, and assisted to build the Quaker church at Phillipsburg, in which the Friends or Quakers worshiped for many years. He was a man of weight and influence and his family owned many acres of land in the vicinity in which he lived.

his parents to Ohio, settling in Montgomery county, at Becky Springs, near Dayton. In 1817 the family removed to Phillipsburg. In religion he was a Friend, by occupation a farmer, and married, October 26, 1827, Tamar Mendenhall, who was born September 9, 1802, being the first white child born in Union township, Miami county, Ohio. She was a daughter of Caleb and Susannah (Gardner) Mendenhall, the former of whom was born in Guilford county, N. C., in which county he married Susannah Gardner. Both families were of English ancestry and Quakers in religion. Caleb Mendenhall and wife had the following children: Miriam, Griffith, William, Caleb,

Susan, Grace, Tamar, Gardner, Christy, Rhoda, Kirk, eleven in all, and all lived to mature years. 'Caleb Mendenhall removed from North Carolina to Miami county, Ohio, settling in Union township. He cleared up a farm of 102 acres and built a brick dwelling upon his farm in 1816, which was one of the first brick houses, if not the first, in his township. In his latter days he moved to Richmond, Ind., and there bought a farm, upon which he died when eighty years of age. His wife died when about seventy-three years old. Mr. Mendenhall removed from the south on account of slavery, he being a lover of freedom and an abolitionist.

In 1821 Isaac Thomas entered ninety-two acres of land in Clay township, adjoining the present farm of his son Caleb, cleared the land and made a good home for his family. This farm he greatly improved by the erection of good buildmgs and in many other ways. Upon this land he never placed a mortgage, and it was still in the possession of his widow, Mrs. Tamar Thomas, at the time of her death, October 3, 1896. Their children were as follows: Permelia, Harriet, Milo, Caleb, Seth, Susannah and Irvin, twins, and Elam. Permelia married Isaac Goodyear, of Miami county; Harriet mar- ried H. Jones, of Darke county, Ohio. Isaac Thomas and his wife were Friends in religion, and he lived to be seventy-six years old, dying September 17, 1880, as the result of an accident. He was a man of steady habits, of strong character, and prospered by thrift and industry. He possessed where he lived 262 acres of land, and in addition thereto eighty acres in Miami county. He was a widely and well known man, and it may be said of him that he lived a truly conscientious life. In politics he was a republican. His aged widow is now ninetyfour years of age, and is yet in the possession of her mental faculties.

Caleb Thomas, the subject of this sketch, was born February 23, 1834, on his father's farm. Receiving the customary commonschool education of his time, he became well qualified to take care of himself, and to manage any business affairs that might fall into his hands. On June 23, 1859, he married Harriet Coffman, who was born October 16, 1837, and is a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Hoover) Coffman, the former of whom was of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent, and whose children were as follows: Jane, John, George,

Sarah, Susan, Eliza, Rebecca, Harriet, Catherine and Ellen. Mr. Coffman was a wagonmaker by trade and settled near Little York, Montgomery county, afterward removing to West Milton, Miami county, and at length to a farm near Phillipsburg, where he died at the age of seventy-two years, his wife dying when seventy-eight years old. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Coffman was an exhorter and class leader. He was a man of fine character and well known for his high standard of conduct.

Caleb Thomas, when a young man, went to Iowa, where he bought and ran a saw-mill in Jefferson county. After his marriage he returned to the farm, and 1863 removed to Clay township, and lived on his father's farm for three years. In 1865 he removed to a farm of his own, a fine tract of seventy-five acres, whose value he has greatly increased by the addition of excellent buildings and many other improvements. For the past thirty years he has practiced veterinary surgery, and has a large practice. In politics he is a republican and is an excellent citizen. He and his wife have had nine children, as follows: Charles W. , who died when five years old; George J., who died at the age of thirteen months; John E., who died at the age of eight months; Adam S., who died at the age of twenty-seven years; Ellen E. ; Ora M. ; Ward, who died when seventeen years old; Tiffin A. and Alva P. Since Mr. Thomas has lived in Montgomery he has belonged to the Christian church, assisting to erect the church at Phillipsburg.

AMUEL TEETER, farmer, of Madison township, Montgomery county, Ohio, is a native of this county and was born August 10, 1834* a son of Abraham and Esther (Paulus) Teeter, natives of Bedford county, Pa., and of German descent. John Paulus, father of Mrs. Esther Teeter, was born in Bedford county, Pa., in 1779, and died in 1835; his wife was born in 1782, and died in 1843. Abraham Teeter, father of Samuel, was a shoemaker and also a farmer, and early after his marriage came to Ohio and settled in Montgomery county, at Little York, whence he removed to Elkhart county, Ind., in 1835, and located on a farm of 160 acres near Goshen, where he passed the remainder of his life, he and his wife, strange to relate, dying almost at the same moment, in the same year, 1839. Their children, in order of birth, were named John, David, Daniel, Andrew, Samuel and Jacob.

parents, and at their death he, David, Daniel and Andrew were brought back to Ohio to live with their maternal grandmother, in Madison township, Montgomery county. With her Samuel resided until he was ten years of age, when he went to live with David Brumbaugh. Mr. Brumbaugh died a year later, and Samuel continued to live with his widow, Catherine Brumbaugh, who was a daughter of John Vanimen, the pioneer of Madison township, until he was twenty-three years of age, in the meantime learning the blacksmith's trade. At the age of twenty-three Mr. Teeter married, February 25, 1858, Miss Mary Vanimen, who was born January 4, 1838, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Bowman) Vanimen. Two years after marriage Mr. Teeter bought eighty acres of land in Madison township, upon which he lived for about twelve years, when he moved to Osborn, Greene county, and bought a farm of 12 1 acres. In 1874 he returned to Madison township, and settled on his present farm of 156 acres, where he has since lived and greatly prospered.

P., Charles E., Mary Martha, Albert and Ida Lizzie (twins), Barbara E., John, Jessie, Laura, Annie and Maud. Of this family, George W., a farmer of Randolph township, is married to Mary Flory and has one child; William P. is a carpenter and builder of Springfield, Mo., is married to Martha Reed, and has two children; Charles E. , also a carpenter and builder, married Jennie Dishman, and has one child ; Mary M. is married to Uiiah Keener, of Madison township, and has one 'child; Ida Lizzie is married to Ambrose Landis, a schobl-teacher of Madison township, and has one child; Barbara E. is the wife of Isaac Brumbaugh, a farmer near Brookville, Ohio, and has two children; John is in a rolling-mill at Saint Louis, Mo., married Flora Meckley, and has one child. The remainder of Mr. Teeter's children are still unmarried and reside with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Teeter are devout members of the German Baptist church and have reared their children in the same faith. In politics Mr. Teeter is a democrat, and is in all respects a good and useful citizen.

W^yw'ILLIAM UMBENHAUER, of Wen- M M I gerlawn, Montgomery county, Ohio, WjLJI an ex-soldier of the late Civil war, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., May 14, 1841. He is a son of Daniel and Catherine Hinebaugh Umbenhauer. Reared at home, he received the ordinary commonschool education of the day, and when twenty years of age, on July 20, 1861, enlisted at Harrisburg in company G, First Pennsylvania light infantry, under Capt. West, to serve three years or during the war. Re-enlisting on January 2, 1864, at Mountain Creek, Va., he enrolled the next day, and served in company F, same regiment, until finally discharged, June 10, 1865, at Harrisburg, Pa., John F. Campbell being his captain during his second period of enlistment. The entire period of his service was three years and eleven months.

Mr. Umbenhauer was in the hardest-fought battles of the campaigns before Richmond; among them the Seven Days' battle, the battle of James river, the second battle of Bull Run, of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Bristow Station, and Gettysburg, the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor, and in front of Petersburg. Thus he participated in the hardest-fought battles of the Potomac, and was in the fierce artillery duel at the battle of Gettysburg, when four hundred gunners, two hundred on each side, were in action at once, this being one of the hottest engagements he was in during the en- tire war. In 1864 he was promoted to corporal for meritorious service, and was a corporal when discharged. He was fortunate enough not to be wounded or taken prisoner during his entire period of service, but was sick in hospital of typhoid fever for a short time in 1861, before he had participated in any battle, being in Washington City and in Baltimore while in hospital. Mr. Umbenhauer was in all the battles, campaigns and marches in which his regiment engaged, and was always an active soldier, performing promptly and cheerfully the duties laid upon him.

After the war was over he returned to Schuylkill county, Pa., locating at Pine Grove, and there married Catherine Fry, who was born in that county April 20, 1847, and was a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Wren) Fry. The Fry family was of German origin. To Henry Fry and his wife there were born the following children: Harriet, William, John,

After his marriage Mr. Umbenhauer settled in Pine Grove, but removed to Miamisburg, Ohio, in 1869, finally removing to Wengerlawn in 1879. Here he has been engaged in various kinds of business and has purchased valuable residence property. He is a member in good standing of Parmalee Horn post, G. A. R., of Lewisburg and West Baltimore. In politics Mr. Umbenhauer is a republican, and is a member of the United Brethren church.

The family of Mr. Umbenhauer is of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. Daniel Umbenhauer, his father, was the father of the following children: Francis, Mary, Sarah, William, Christian and Catherine. Daniel Umbenhauer came to Ohio with his son William, and died in Miamisburg at the age of sixty-nine. The children of William Umbenhauer are as follows: Sarah L. , Francis H., George Clayton, Gertrude C., Amanda C., Emma and Ida M. The family is of excellent standing and reputation among the citizens of the county.

*ILLIAM WAGNER, a prominent farmer of Mad River township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in Dayton township, now Mad River township, Montgomery county, December 15, 1822. He is a son of Phillip and Esther (Bowman) Wagner, the former of whom was born in Rockingham county, Va., near the natural bridge, and the latter in Pennsylvania. Philip Wagner settled in 1809 on the farm on which his son William now lives, purchasing originally 300 acres, paying therefor $5 per acre. He had been for five years with Col. Johnson as his assistant, distributing supplies and rations among the Miami Indians. When the war of 1812 broke out he enlisted in the American army under Gen. Hull, and was with that commander when he surrendered Detroit to the British. The British set their prisoners free, to find their way home through the wilderness as best they could, and to be hunted down and massacred by the Indians; but Mr. Wagner was among the fortunate ones, and found his way back to his farm. His military services being no longer required, he began clearing his farm and lived there until his death in 1851, when he was sixty-eight years of age. His wife survived him nine years, and died in her sixty-ninth year. She was a member of the Dunkard church, her father being a Dunkard preacher. Mr. Wagner was a prominent man in his day, holding various township offices. He was for some years largely engaged in stock raising, as well as in farming.

The paternal grandfather of William Wagner was Philip Wagner, a native of Rockingham county, Va., and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. In 1794 he went down the Ohio river from Pittsburg to Cincinnati on a flat boat, Cincinnati then containing few buildings except the barracks. Not being able to find shelter in that city, he went to Newport, Ky. , and after remaining there a few months went up the Miami river to the mouth of Tom's Run, near Middletown, and there bought a farm. This farm he sold in 1804 or 1805, and bought another just west of the present location of the soldiers' home, upon which he lived until his death, in 1815, when he was about seventy-five years old. He was a man of unusual physical strength, and of great determination. He and his wife reared a family of eight children.

The maternal grandfather of William Wagner was named John Bowman. He was a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer by occupation, and a Dunkard in religious belief. About 1794 he came to Ohio, settling in 1805 near Salem, where there had already collected quite a colony from Pennsylvania. Upon the farm he purchased there he lived the remainder of his life, dying when eighty years of age.

William Wagner, the subject of this sketch, has lived on his present farm all his life. The place of his birth was at the cross-roads just east of his present house. In his youthful days he was accustomed to see all kinds of wild game roaming the woods, deer being frequently seen in groups. He received his early education in the old-fashioned subscription school, and in the first school-house in the district, which was built on his father's farm. Remaining at home until September 10, 1848, he was on that day married to Miss Mary Eliza

Thorp, daughter of Veniah and Jane (Van Cleve) Thorp. To this marriage there was born one child, Esther, who died when she was fifteen years of age. Mrs. Wagner died October 12, 1895, at the age of sixty-eight, she and her husband having lived together forty-seven years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a most excellent woman and a devoted wife. Mr. Wagner is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, and as a republican he served many years as trustee of his township, before, during and after the war. For the last thirty years he has entrusted the active management of his farm to a tenant, and during this long time Mr. Wagner has been engaged in dealing in real estate. Beside the farm upon which he lives he also owns a fine farm of 250 acres in Van Buren county, Iowa, where his two brothers are now living.

AMUEL WAITMAN, one of the pioneer farmers of Clay township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in Washington county, Pa., January 27, 1815, and is of German descent.

Jacob Waitman, his father, was born in the Keystone state in 1768, was reared a farmer and weaver, and was married in his native state to Miss Margaret Gelsinger. He brought his family to Ohio in 1827, and settled in Randolph township, Montgomery county, on ten acres of land, built a log house and cleared up his farm, but his life thereon was but short, as he died in 1831, a member of the Lutheran church. To Mr. and Mrs. Waitman were born the following named children: Margaret, Kate, John, Susan, Elizabeth, Lydia, Jacob, Benjamin, Samuel, Mary and Rose Ann.

male members walked all the way, young Samuel trudging manfully along with the others, and crossing the Alleghany mountains in November through a raging snowstorm. Being now arrived in Montgomery county and being one of the youngest of the pioneers, he had the privilege of attending the subscription school of Randolph township for the period of two weeks, the work of clearing away the forest calling him from his studies. Of this kind of work he did a great amount, as he assisted in clearing up many acres for the neighbors, working by the day or month. At the age of twenty years he married, April 30, 1835, in Clay township, Montgomery county, Miss Esther Linda Snell, a native of Germantown, Montgomery county, born February 18, 1814, a daughter of George and Kate (Swank) Snell. George Snell was born in Pennsylvania and was a pioneer of Warren county, Pa. ; was a cooper by trade, and to him and his wife were born the' following children: Esther