Hicksville Township (part 3 of 6)

Enos B. JMix, farmer, P. O. Defiance, was born in Knox County, Ohio, October 14, 1826, and is a son of Levi Mix, of New York, who was a son of Amos Mix, a Revolutionary patriot, who fought in the .struggle for independence. Levi 31ix settled in Knox County, Ohio, and when our subject was ten years old settled in Alien County, which is now Auglaize County, where he made a permanent home. Our subject obtained onlj' a common education in the subscription schools of that day, and before becoming of age, he enlisted in the regular army, for service in the Mexican war, and was assigned to Capt. McGruder's Battery of Flying Artillery. He arrived in Mexico soon after the capitulation of the City of Mexico, and was on duty in that place four months, and saw service in the above country till the fall of 1848 - being there nearly one year. He received from the United States Government eighty acres of appraised land as a bounty for his service in the war. On this land he located in 1849, and has since purchased eighty acres, all of which is well improved land. He has been identified with most of the ofHces of the township, and by a careful discharge of the duties has proven himself possessed of good executive ability. He has also been the Republican nominee loi' Probate Judge and Commissioner, and was defeated only by greatly reduced majority. He is a charter member of Highland (Jrange, No. 879 ; was elected first Master and is now serving his fourth term. During the war, he served a shoit time as Jjieutenant of a company of squirrel hunters. In 1849, he was married to Miss Loverna, daughter of J. Allen Randall, by whom he has had nine children, five of whom are living - Clarissa E., Sarah E., Allen and Levi (twins), the latter deceased, infant twins (deceased), Ella, Pearley, Ray and William (deceased).

A. Fullmer, farmer, P. 0. Defiance, was born in Baden, Germany, in the year 1809, and is a son of Philip Fullmer, a native of Germany. The early life of our subject was passed upon the farm in his native land.- In 1832, he came to America, and after wandering awhile over various Slates, he finally settled in Washington County, Penn., in which he lived until 1836 or 1837, when he removed to Crawford County, Ohio, where he resided eleven years, and in 1849 bought 160 acres of land where he now lives, upon which he located at that time. At present he owns 200 acres of well-improved land. He was married in 1843 to Margaret Jenner, of Germany, who came to this county in childhood. Ten children have been born to them, eight of whom are living - Jane, Jacob, Isaac, David, Margaret, William, Caroline and Anna ; Mary and Sarah are deceased. Mr. F.'s first marriage was celebrated in Pennsylvania, with Susanna Simons, who bore him two children - John and Abraham. The former was a member of the One Hundredth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisted in 1862, and was wounded near Atlanta, Ga. He was accidentally killed by a train of cars on a crossing in Defiance. Abraham was a member of the Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting at the first call for men. He was a Corporal of liis company, and was killed at the battle of Corinth in 1862. Mr. F. is a gentleman well preserved for his age, and is one among the successful and respectable citizens of the county.

Hervey J. Hill, farmer, P. O. Ayersville, Ohio, was born in Orleans County, N. Y., April 5, 1818. His early life was passed in his native State, and when a man grown he removed to Erie County, Penn., where he lived until 1834 or 1835, at which time he came to Ohio and found employment on the canal, then in course of construction. On the public works of the State, he labored some years, and part of the time was foreman of a gang of men. He afterward lived seven years in Seneca County, Ohio, on a farm, and in 1849 located where he now lives. He entered 120 acres from the Government. He has been entirely successful, and since his coming into this county has owned and paid for 520 acres of land ; has given his children good homes, and now owns 200 acres on the old homestead. Officially, Mr. Hill has held many township offices, and \'ery satisfactorily discharged his duties as an ofHcer. He is one of our self-made men, having begun life without means, but with the aid of willing hands and a strong heart he has accomplished thegrea't object in life - made a good home. He has been twice married, first to Jane Petersen, January 1, 1840, who bore him six cluldren, tliruc of whom are living, viz., William L., David and Nancy J. The deceased are Mary L., HervG} J., Jr., and Hannah E. Mrs. Hill died January 27, 1852, His son William was a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio A'olunteer Infantry - and did duty during the war, and was wounded in the left hand at Winchester, Va. Hervey J., Jr., was a member of the Sixty-eiglitli Ohio Volunteer Infantry; he died soon after enlistment in 1864, at Rome, Ga. Mr. Hill was married the second time to Matilda A. Smith, their nuptials being celebrated January 6, 1853. She has borne him two children, both deceased, viz., Clara A. and Hattio F.

Abraham Povenmiro, son of John and Sarah (Wagner) Povenmire, was born and reared in Cnmberland County, Penn., and was the father of eight children, viz.: Mary, Samuel, Susanna, Abraham, Nancy, Sarah, John and Michael. Abraham Povenmire, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was- born in Pickaway County, Ohio, September 18, 1818, and at the age of seventeen removed with his parents to Hancock County. At twenty-live he was married to Mary A., daughter of George and Jane (Davis) Craig, who then resided in Wood County, and was born in Tuscarawas County October 15, 1821. After marriage, they lived on the farm with his parents for five years, and in the spring of 1848 moved to Defiance Township, where he entered 160 acres of land on Section 31, residing there thirteen years, and improving forty acres. He then bought a 1 20-acre farm in Highland Township, on which he now resides. Tlieir family consisted of seven children - Luther, married Lydia Baringer, of Richland, in 1868 ; Minerva, married W. S. Suodgrass, of Richland, in 1802 ; Charitj', married John W. Baring, of Richland, in 1868 ; C. Amanda, married John W. Remagen, of Lima, Ohio ; Edson, married Frances A. Smith, of Ayersville, in 1883 ; Emma H., married Wilson H. Henne, of Reading, Penn., in 1882 ; and Hattie A., still at home with her parents. Mr. P. is a worthy and respected citizen, and after enduring pioneer toils and hardships, although somewhat broken down by reason of these, he still enjoys the fruits of his labor, with his children happily settled around him.

MARK TOWNSHIP is located in the southwest i part of Defiance County, being Town 4 north, Range 2 east. Hicksville Township is on the west. Far mer on the north, Delaware on the east and Paulding County on the south. The surface ib mostly low and wet, though in the northwest and southeast portions some line farms are located. The soil is good, and when systematically drained the large unclaimed' tract will become excellent for agricultural purposes.

The township was erected by the County Commissioners in 1850, on petition presented by Mr William C. Hutchinson. It- was proposed to name the new township Kenton, in honor of Mark Kenton, who made the first improvement, having settled on the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 5, and there engaged in hunting and (rapping. This name was objected to for the reason that there was a post office by this name in the State and the title Mark was agreed upon.

The organization was completed by the election of township officers in April, 1851. At this election seventeen votes were cast. The voters were Samuel Smith. H. G. Luce, Samuel Fisher, Thomas Pope, W. C. Hutchinson, John L. Ginter, M. C. D. Campbell, .John Kiser, Harrison Jenkins, Samuel Onstatt, Peter Frederick, George Hobbs, John Shafer, Martin

The officers elected were W. C. Hutchinson, Assessor; Petei Frederick, Clerk; W. C. Hirtchinson, Treasurer; Harrison Jenkins, Samuel Onstatt and H. G. Luce, Trustees; John Kiser and M. C. D. Campbell, Constables; Samuel Smith, Supervisor. This election was held at the cabin of a Mr. Bunnell who had taken a contract to build a bridge. At the next election, held June 17, 1851, Samuel Fisher and Samuel Onstatt were elected Justices of the Peace. The latter declined to serve, and William C, Hutchinson was elected the same year to till the vacancy, and filled the office twelve years.

In April, 1851, the trustees divided the township into three districts, and two years later into five dis tricts. The first teachers in these districts were: No. 1, William A. Slough; No. 2, Mary J. Powell; No. 3, Oren L. Bulbert; No. 4, Oscar Works; No. 5 Jacob Bruner. Other early teachers were Isreai Baum, William Mann and James Evans. In 1853. it was decided to erect three hewed log schoolhouses, each 20x24 feet, with a porch over the door; one in No. 3, at a cost of $75; one in No. 4 and one in No.

5 at a cost of SI 50 each. The enumeration of youths, returned in 1854 was 49 males, 34 females, total, 83; in 1864, it was males, 107, females, 107; total, 214. There are now nine schoolhouses in the township, seven frame and two brick.

Mark Oentee

The only village in the township is Mark Center, an enterprising little place of 210 people. At the exact geographical center of the township, one-half mile north of the present village a little town sprang into existence, grew, and in 1874 contained a store, a grocery, a saloon, a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop and a number of dwellings. In May, 1875, after the B. & O. Railroad was constructed through the township, Frederick Harmening laid out the present village just north of the railroad. The portion south of the railroad was laid out by Josiah Kyle and A. M. Anderson. The Van Wert Stave Company, under the supervision of Mr. George Helton, is the most extensive industrial concern in the place. The company located here several years ago, and have ever aince been extensively engaged in the manufacture of hoops and staves. Durrng the first year, it turned'out 7,000 hoops and 20,000 staves daily, and at present this amount is more than doubled. Fifty hands are employed in the factory. The foreman is Mr. Z. T. Hilligas. There are also at the village two h^op pole shaving shops, one steam saw mill, a blacksmitli shop, one shoe shop, one hotel, two stores, a post oGRce. millinery store, saloon, express ofBoe, a two-story brick schoolhouse and a church. The stores do a thriving business and keep in stock full supplies of general merchandise Josiah Kyle is the owner of one, and R. F. Hecht of the other. The latter is also Postmaster and express agent. Ludwig Klein is the village blacksmith and Joseph Kibler the shoemaker. The saw mill is owned and operated by G. W. Spealman. The church building is a neat frame edifice, recently erected. It is the property of a small but flourishing Methodist society. Other denominations also hold occasional services here. The only other church building in the township is a United Brethren Church, located on Section 25. It was built in 1878, at a cost of about 1550.

Personal Reminiscences

PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. E. H. Devore was born in Hampshire County, Va. , November 10, 1820. He removed when a child with his parents to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and from there he came to Mark Township in June, 1851, settling on Section 25. He built his cabin in the wilderness and cleared the farm upon which he still resides. He was married in 1843 to Rebecca White, by whom he had four sons and three daughters. Mrs. Devore died January 26, 1880, and Mr. Devore was again married, December 15, 1881, to Mrs. Elizabeth Traxler,

Samuel Onstott was born September 4, 1823, in Washington (Jounty, Penn. His father was a Pennsylvanian by birth. His mother a native of New Jersey. His father died in Wayne County, Ohio, to which place he had moved from Washington County, Penn., when Samuel was a small boy. Here the latter grew up to the age of sixteen, when he came to Richland County, Ohio, where he married Miss Sarah Reed, by whom he had thirteen children, viz., John J., William Wallace, .teianda M., Elizabeth A., Jacob B., Nancy E., Francis J., Susan B., Sarah M., Adoniram J. , Lewis M. , Harriet M. and Saretta M. Three of this number are dead - John J., Susan E. and Lewis M. His mother died in Indiana in 1881, aged about ninety-seven years. Mr. Onstott rnoved into Mark Township and settled on Section 33, where he has lived ever since June 6, 1850. He came from Crawford County, Ohio, with Mr. Thomas Pope, and they had to cut the road from the river road, a distance of three-fourths of a mile, to their several places of abode. He was one of the number who orgranized the township, and was elected Justice of the Peace and also Trustee at said organization. His wife, died 'September 18, 1881, aged about fifty-eight years.

Robert Haver was born in Greene County, Penn., February 20, 1814. Came to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, when he was about fourteen years of age. Moved into Mark Township, Defiance County, in November, 1851. The township was organized prior to his arrival. His neighbors were Joseph Smith, Martin and Samuel Smith, Moses Johnson, Philip Oaks, E. H. Devore, John Kentner, Andy Kentner, Samuel Fisher, James Gribben, Mrs. Jane Young, Charles Koontz, Thomas Pope, Samuel Onstott, Christopher Thompson, Robert Allen, Joseph Breese, Samuel Oliver Harris, W. C, Hutchinson, was there acting as Justice of the Peace when Mr. Haver came into the township Robert Haver married Miss Mary Crea October 1. 1839. Their family consists of Thomas W., Moses M., James H., John, Godfrey E., George W., Isaac A. , Levi C. , Sarah C. , Matilda J. and Robert A. Two of these are dead. John died a soldier at Ringgold, Ga, March 7, 1863; George W. died young. Had three other sons in the war of 1865 - Moses M., James and Thomas.

William C. Hutchinson was born in Licking County, Ohio, May 20, 1817, and grew up and received his early education there. At the age of about twenty-one years, he moved to Knox County with his mother, and was married there to Maria Hobbs, August 15, 1839, by whom he had ten children - Lean- derR., Martha L., Maria E., James O., Louisa J,, Mary E., Francis I., Narcissa J., Laura E. and William H. Of this number throe are dead - Leander R., James O., and Maria E. who died in infancy. The two boys - Leander R. and James O., enlisted in the late war. Leandor was promoted to First Lieutenant May 2, 1864, and was killed May 14, 1804, aged about twenty. four years. James O, died in hospital at Knoxvillo, Tonn., April 9, 1864, aged about twenty years. Mr. Hutchinson moved to this county into what is now Mark Townshii), in October, 1849. One Thomas Pope, from Crawford Gounty, made a purchase of a lot the same time, but got onto it about three weeks ahead of him and got up his cabin, so that when Mr. Hutchinson, Samuel Harris and George Porter, with their families, arrived (all arriving^on the same day), they found a stopping place with Mr. Pope until they could erect their cabins. In the latter part of November Mr. Hutchinson got his cabin roof on and floor laid, and moved in without being chinked or mudded, with no windows or doors excejjt a quilt or blanket hung up. After getting his little family to their new home, he returned to Mr. Pope's for their little supply of household goods, and owing to the bad state of thn road through the woods, Mr. Hutchinson was unable to get back to his cabin until quite late in the evening, when he found it surrounded by wolves, serenading Mrs. Hutchinson and the children with their melodious notes. Mrs. Hutchinson says she couldn't say she was particularly afraid of them, but did feel that a more substantial door would have been desirable. Mrs. Hutchinson's parents, James and Elizabeth (Congdon) Hobbs, were English people. To them was born seven children, five boys and two girls - Thomas J., John, Isabella, Maria, William, George C. and Oscai- R. Mrs. Hobbs died in Devonshire County, England, A. D. 1833, from which place Mr. Hobbs emigrated with his children to Knox County, Ohio, in 1835, an'l died in Defiance County in 1853. Thomas J. was drowned in the St. Lawrenco River on their passage. Mr. Hutchinson was Justice for twelve years and School Director most of the time during his stay in the township. Was Township Treasiu-er for several yeara, and was appointed by the Commissioners as first Assessor of the township. The first school was taught by Jacob Bruner in Mr. Hutchinson's district. In the fall of 1865, Mr. Hutchinson came to Defiance. In July, 1873, bought one-third interest in the William Lewis farm and jn-oceeded to lay it out into village lots, calling the town East Defiance. He is now engaged in the grocery business with his son at Defiance. Ohio.

(Caster) Martin, from Surrey, Engand, to Summit County, Ohio, in 1832, and to Defiance County in 1834. The children of Daniel were Eliza A., Henry, James G., Mary A., Amelia and Frances V., Mr. Martin (Daniel) died in Mark Township, April 24, 1866, aged sixty-four years. Mary, his wife, died in Mark Township, May 16, 1863, aged fiftyeight years. Henry Martin was married June 1, 1855, to Miss Eliza Dysinger, daughter of Jacob and Christina (Long) Dysinger, who was born in Seneca County, N. Y., September 29, 1835. The children of Henry and Eliza Martin are Angeline and Emeline, twins, Adelaide, Melinda, Harriet A. and Leonard. Mr. Martin lives in Crane Township, Paulding County, Ohio, but purchased eighty acres of land in Mark Township in Section 35, being the old homestead of his father.

John P. Frederick, the subject of this sketch, is a son of Jacob Frederick, who was a native of Pennsylvania, where he married Esther Kingle, and immigrated to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he lived fourteen years, when he removed to Knox County, Ohio. Here, in 1835, John P. was born, and grew up to manhood, assisting his father in carrying on the farm and taught vo^ial music in the different districts. In the year 1864, he was elected Captain of the militia. He was married, October 11, 1866, to Miss Bell Heiple, the daughter of a pious -.vidow lady, and settled on his father's farm, where he was born, and where he lived up to the time of his father's death in 1872. He then moved with his wife and little daughter to Williams County, Ohio, where he remained six months, and then purchased the farm on which he now resides in Mark Township. He was elected Infirmary Director in the fall of 1878 by a majority of 1070, and re-elected in 1881. He is the youngest of a family of twelve children - seven now survive His family consists of four children, ap follows: Lora Mary, Charley Heiple, Ona Alfred and Earnest Lament.

Thomas Crawford was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., April 18. 1805. His parents were born in Maryland, were married in the same State and soon after removed to Pennsylvania as above stated, where they raised a family of eleven children, six boys and five girls, all of whom are dead so far as known, except the subject of this sketch. He received a common school edu.cation and grew up in Westmoreland, where he married Miss Eliza Bird, March 1. 1827, by whom he had ten children - William, Polly, Matthias, Phebe, Samuel, Huldah, Sarah Jane, Lavinn, Alice, and Johnnie, died at the age of three yeai's eight months and twenty -two days. All the rest are married and doing for themselves. jMr. Crawford moved from Pennsylvania to

AVooster, AVayue County, where he remained eight years, then moved to Williams County, and from there to Mark Township in February, 1864, on to Section 26, where he now resides with his son Samuel at the age of seventy-nine years, enjoying as good health as ever, except crippled with rheumatism. His wife died November 23, 1880, aged about seventyseven years, having lived with her husband over half a century.

Samuel Kleckner was born March 18, 1814, in Jefferson County, Ohio, remained in the county until seven years of age, and then moved with his parents to CaiToll County, Ohio. His father entered a farm of Government land there, and Samuel remained helping to clear up the farm until twenty years of age, receiving but a limited education in the logcabin school. At the age of twenty, he went to Harrison, Ohio, learned the plastering 'trade, remaining there about two years. He was there married to Miss Mary Ann Hilbert October 8, 1835: from there removed to Stark County, Ohio, where he took up his trade, remaining about four years. From there to Tuscarawas County, and from there to Defiance County in the summer of 1845 or 1846, living here some time before the organization of the township, and has been a resident of Mark Township ever since that time, residing with his family, who were small, on h is farm in Section 6, which was then a dense forest, but by hard labor Mr. Kelckner has succeeded in making a fine farm, with good comfortable buildings. Mr. Kleckner's family consists of ten children, the first a boy, not named, Franklin, Daniel, David, William, James, Addison, Rebecca, Samantha Jane, Benjamir! Burton and Mary Matilda. Six are living, five boys and one girl, who married Joseph Conley. They live in Hicksville Tovraship. The first school for his children to attend was in Farmer Township at a place called Lost Creek. Mr. Kleckner's trade has been a source of benefit in his pioneer struggle.

Dr. Levi Colby was born June 15, 1817, in Henniker, Merrimack County, N. H. , where he grew up. He had the advantage of district school education and then entered the academy in his native town, taking his first course of lectures at Dartmouth College in 1838. He removed to Defiance in 1839, and prosecuted his studies with his brother, Dr. Jonas Colby, and in the winter of 1840 and 1841, attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He commenced the practice of medicine in the spring of 1841 at Defiance, as partner with his brother Jonas. He was married at Defiance, June 7, 1843, to Miss Harriet R. Phelps, who was born in Richville, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and daughter of James and Dorotha (Snow) Phelps. Their children are Edwin B., born October 24, 1850, at Montpelier, Williams

County, Ohio, dead; George C, born at Independence, Defiance County, July 29, 1853, dead; Frances J., born September 17, 1856, on farm, and married Loren S. Durfey and resides on a portion of thd farm; Hattie M., born on farm, May 27, 1860, married Franklin Bernard and living with the old folks Colby at home; and Willis, born December, 1862. dead. Levi Colby, Sr., and Betsey (Clark) Colby, parents of Dr. Colby, were the parents of nine children - Sally, Jonas, Barak, Mary, Catharine, Benjamin and Levi, Jr., twins, Lucinda and Abigail. Four boys and four girls grew up and married. The oldest, Sally, died at the age of about fifteen. Joseph, Mary and Catherine have since died. The grandfather of Dr. Colby was in the Revolutionary war, and the father of our subject, Levi, Sr., was sent a substitute in the war of 1812. Mrs. Colby's father, James Phelps, was in the war of 1812 also. Mr. Colby has been a prominent and active man since he came to this county, having lived in this county (except with brief intervals spent in the adjoining counties of Williams and Paulding) ever since he came in 1839. At an early day, and soon after his arrival, we find him associated with the School Board as Clerk also Corporation Clerk, etc., and he has generally been in township offices all through his life. He is now serving this county as County Coinmissioner, having been elected in 1879 and re-elected in 1882. He was the first clerk pro tern, of Williams County as it now stands, having received his appointment by President Judge Patrick G, Good and his associates. He was also Deputy under Edwin Phelps, in Williams prior to organization of Defiance County in 1845, and Representative of Paulding and Defiance Counties in the Legislature, being elected in the fall of 1869 and re-elected in 1871, receiving the nomination by acclamation.

Peter Frederick was born September 11, 1821, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. At seven years of age, he removed with his parents to Knox County, Ohio, where he lived till the fall of 1845. He then took a trip through the Western States, fetching up at Washington County, Iowa, where ho enlisted in the Mexican war, February 21, 1848, and served till June 27 of the same year, when he returned to Iowa and from thence to his home in Knox County. In December, 1849, came to Defiance County, and in February, 1850, located his land warrant for 160 acres in Mark Township, where he now resides. Mr. Frederick was present at the organization of the township, and was elected Clerk. Remained till the fall of ]853, then returned to Knox County. Was married, November 30, 1855, to Miss Catharine Bolyas and has four children, viz, : Sarah J., Nancy E., Mary and M. H.,whn died at about four years of age.

Gr. W Spealman was born in Wi-st Brookfiold, Stark Coxmty, Ohio, September 10, 1835. His father was born in Westmoreland County, Penn. > in 1805, and is now living in Stark County with his third wife. His mother was born in Holmes County, Ohio, A. D. 1809, and died February 7, 1851. Mr. Spealmau was. married November 15, 1857, to Miss Blanche S. Kirk, at Massillon, Ohio. Her ancestors were Scotch. In the spring of 1858, Mr. Spealman moved to La Salle County, 111., and in the fall of 1863, came back to Stark County to take charge of a steam mill which he had left in 1858. "While in Illinois, three children were born to him, viz. : Charles B., the eldest, born August 19, 1858; Alice Mary, February 10, 1801; Estella Tabitha, August 10, INO;!, died November 18 oi the same year; and Ella, born at Mas.sillon, Ohio, May 30, 1866. In September, 1875, he moved to Holmes County and entered into saw mill pursuits. While there, his son James Alexander was born, August 3, 1876. On the 1st of May, 1880, accompanied by his son, he started for Defiance County for the purpose of manufacturing lumber (having shipped their portable mill previously), and located and erected their mill on H. and B. Horzer's farm, about one mile north of the village of ]\Iark Center. November 3, 1861, his daughter, Eva Blanche, was born. He moved his mill the same fall to the village of Mark Center, where he continues to do business. November 15, 1882, his dau.ghter Allie M. was married to the Eev. M. T. Ayres on the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Spealman.

George N. Rice was born February '26, 1829, on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, ten miles above Cincinnati. In 1830, his parents, Payne and Margaret Rice, moved to Woodstock, Champaign Co., Oh ill, and the next year moved to Logan County, into the woods, where f.hey had to meet the hardships of pioneer life, going thirty miles for milling. They remained but a few years in this locality, and in 1835 moved to Union County, Ohio, and located in Liberty Township, where they remained till 1844, when they again returned to Logan County, and after getting settled, were burned out and the children had to go to school in winter barefoot. Mr. Rice was married, April 30, 1849, to Miss Sarah Ann Beighler, of Union County, Ohio, and located in said county for a time. Nine children were born to them, as follows: Sarah M. (dead), Jonathan D., Eliza J. (dead), Mary A., Celia R., George C, Ida Pearl, Hattio (dead) and Netta. He removed from Union to Logan County, and ran a cabinet shop there from 1855 to 1861. At the breaking-out of the war, Mr. Bice enlisted on the first call for three-months' men, and no.ct on November 22, 1861, for thi-ee yeai-,s' service as a

Sergeant of Company K, Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was organized at Camp Simon Kenton, in Hardin County, Ohio. Next January they were forwarded to Grafton, W. Va. , and from that time Mr. Rice was in many bloody engagements, among which were McDowell, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run and Antietam. In December, 1862, he was one of a squad left at Fairfax Station to guard supplies, and while on their way to Fredericksburg, he was captured at Occoqua Ferry by Wade Hampton, and was obliged to maruh four days and nights without food on their way to Libby Prison, where 227 were put in one room. They were paroled out two tQonths thereafter and were exchanged June 1, 1863. He was in the Gettysburg fight of July 1, 2 and 3, 1863. He was transferred to Hooker's brigade. Was at Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. Was with Gen. Sherman at Knoxville, who raised siege in front of Burnside in 1864. He was in all of the battles under Sherman from there to Savannah, at which place he was disliarged, January, 1865. and returned home to Union County and uame to Defiance County in 1868 and located in Hicksville Township. In 1878, he moved to Mai'k Township and located on Section 29, and engaged in lumbering, carrying on his farm in JHicksville Township.

Josiah Kyle was born March 15, 1841, in Stark County, Ohio, removing from there to Hancock County, where he grew up, having only the advantages of a common school education. In 1860, he came to Defiance County, Ohio, and in 1861, August 27, enlisted in the cause of bis country in the Twentyfirst Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in Company B . On account of disability, he was discharged November 22, 1863. About a yeaf thereafter, he enlisted again in the One Hundred and Eighty-second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in Comp.iny B, and served till the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge July 5, 1865. On July 19, 1866, Mr. Kyle married Martha Ellen Knight, who was born in WayneCounty, Ohio. December 25, 1843. Their children are as follows: Dollie, Jennie M. , born February 9, 1873; and Howard, born February 1, 1881. The parents of Mr. Kyle were Peter and Elizabeth (Metz) Kyle, the former born in Pennsylvania, November 80, 1810, the latter in Stark County, Ohio, April 25. 1817. They wore married in Stark County. Ohio, May 15, 1836. Their children were as follows: Anna, Cornelius W., Josiah, Reuben (deceased), Hiram (deceased), George W., an infant not named. Milton and Emma. They (the parents) came to Defiance County in I860, settling in Milford Township. They are both living there at the present time. Josiah, siibject of this sketch, was elected Justice of the Peace of Mark Township, April 10, 1875, and was re-elected in 1878, and resigned at the close of the second term, as he could not be troubled with it. He was Township Treasurer from the spring of 1873 to the present time. He is also the leading merchant of the place, keeping a general assortment of everything found in a country store, engaging in this business at the Center about the year 1875. Mr. Kyle claims no notoriety for war record, but wishes space given to his friend and comrade in arms, William J. Knight, who enlisted in this county at same time in same company and regiment. As to the capture of engine at Big Shanty, he was the man who ran it on its perilous expedition.

Lyman R. Oritchfield, fourth child of Isaac and Nancy (Keifer) Critchfield, was born in Knox County, Ohio, April 16, 1838, his father being a native of Cumberland, Penn., the latter of Clarksille, Va. Their children were Subra, Wyman and Oscar (both died in infancy) Lyman R., David K. and John P., who died in the service of his country at Bridgeport, Ala , August 2, 1864, having enlisted in Company F, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1863. Lyman E., our subject, enlisted April 18, 1861, on the first call for three-months' men, in Company K, Twenty-tifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and on the 26th of July, 1862, re- enlisted for three years and served till the close of the war, being discharged from Andersonville Prison June 9, 1865. He passed through many trying scenes, but none more so than l^arting with his dying father when his three-days' furlough had expired, and he had either to leave his father on the brink of death or be marked as a deserter. Stern duty determined his action, and receiving a parting kiss and benediction, he left the deathbed scene, his father's eye anxiously following him to the door, and with a sad heart turned his footsteps in the direction of his country's foes.' Enlisting on the 8th of September at Toledo, he proceeded with his regiment to Kentacky against Gen. Bragg. Was at Knoxville, Tenn., when besieged by Longstreet. In the spring of 1864, he passed through the Atlanta campaign, but was captured on November 30, 1 864, by Hood's forces below Jonesboro, Ga., and being stripped nearly naked, was thrown into that indescribable prison pen, Andersonville.

Mr. Critchfield was married December 6, 1868, to Mary C. Cole, who has borne him three children - Alonzo L, , born August 28, 1868, died September 16, 1874; Delaphene M.', born June 28, 1872, and Homer J., Ijorn April 8, 1879. Mr. Critchfield's parents moved to Henry County in 1849, and next spring moved to Mark Township, taking forty acres at S25, which recently changed hands at $1,100. They had to cut a road from the river road and another to Hicksville, six miles long. For a number of years there were no roads fit for teams; goods had to be transported by men. A man by the name of Ashton put up a saw mill and a corn-cracker in it, where they used to take corn on a hand sled and pull through the woods, distant about five miles. As Lyman E. grew up, he took after his father somewhat for hunting. His father settled in Knox County among the Indians when about ten years old and became a great hunter. Lyman E. used to hunt bear, deer, coons and turkeys. One day he ran a big bear all day with six dogs; night coming on, he camped on his- track. Next morning routed him easily and treed him. Afterward he dropped to the ground, the dogs all pounced upon him and killed him Dearly; one of the men ran up and, striking him on the head, finished him. At another time, late in the evening in September, he heard a rout among the hogs in the marsh on a little island. His brother, D. K. Critchfield, and himself started out. Taking the path to where they slept, discovered a bear lugging off a hog. On seeing them, he was attracted by Lyman's white shirt, dropped the hog, came at him and was within a few jumps of him when his brother shot him, after a pretty narrow escape of a bear's hug.

William J. Knight, a merchant, now of Minnesota, deserves a place in the history of the brave boys of Defiance who enlisted in the late war. He is about forty-five years of age, a native of Wayne County. His mother died when he was an infant, and his father also died when he was bat three years old, so that, his grandparents raised him. His father was a farmer who came to this county in 1853. Mr. Knight married at Bryan, about 1868, Miss "Emma Oldfield. He was one of the Mitchell railroad raiders, whose adventures form one of the most thrilling episodes of the rebellion. Was a resident of Defiance County at the time of his enlistment in Company E, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August 27, 1861. The raiders consisted of twenty-four men from Gen. Mitchell's division, encamped about Shelbyville,Tenn. Their scheme, a most daring one, was to penetrate the rebel lines as far as Marietta, Ga. , there secure a train of cars by fair means or force, and then run northward to the Union lines, burning all the bridges and otherwise destroying the road so effectually as to break all rebel rail communications over it. Pour days were given them to reach Marietta. They left Shelbyville April 7, 1862, in small squads, all dressed in citizens' clothes, but did not reach their destination until the 12th, and the one day's delay frustrated the success of the well-laid plan. Only twenty of the men boarded the express northward the next morning, and at Big Shanty, a small station a few miles north of Marietta, the train was captured by the daring spies while the train men and passengers were taking refreshments. Then began one of the wildest find most intenSHly exciting races imaginable. Mr. Kuight, the subject, took charge of the engine, and away it went, thundering toward the Union lines. Passing each station, the rails were torn up and telegraph wire cut. But great delay was caused by waiting at stations for an unusual number of trains goinr*- south. The chase commenced in a hand car, bnt the lirst engine met was turned in pursuit, a gang of track-layers wore secured, and at last the pursuer succeeded in getting a message ahead of the flying train, and its doom was sealed. The raiders took to the woods, but they were near a rebel luicampment, and a lai-ge force of cavalry was organized to capture thorn. One by oile the fleeing men were run down, though some eluded their pursuers for days. Twenty-two in all, they were incarcerated in a loathsome den at Chattanooga, thirteen feet square and thirteen feet deep, where they suft'ered untold torments. They were afterward transferred to the jail at Atlanta. The brave leader, Andrews, was condemned as a spy and executed. Seven more of the unfortunate prisoners were soon after hanged. A last desperate effort for freedom was planned and carried into execution. The guards were overpowered, and then each prisoner took flight as best he could. Mr. Knight gave the following account of his escape: " We broke jail October 16, 1Sfi2, and scattered and scampered for the woods. W. W. Brown, E. H. Mason and myself, all of the Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, were together. The first night out Mason took sick, and we did not get far, but kept well hidden. We were three days within nine miles of Atlanta. On the third night Mason was so bad that we were compelled to go to a hoase with him, and began to despair of making good our escape, but ho told us to leave him and save ourselves. Just as we had finished a hearty meal in the kitchen, three men came in at the front door to arrest us. They asked if we were not some of the prisoners who broke jail at Atlanta. Wo told them we were- They said they had come to take us back, and that there WHS no use trying to escape, as all the roads and bridges were guarded.

" Brown was mad in an instant, and ripped out a very blunt reply. We sprang out of the back door and ran around the end of the house and down a fence in the direction of some woods. They ran out of the front door with their shotguns and bawled out, ' Halt! halt!' as we were leaving them at a 2:40 run. They straddled their horses and galloped out on a by road from the house to the main road, while the man where we had stayed unloosed his hounds, and they were soon on ouv trail in full cry. We had changed our course to baffle the horsemen, for there was a hill to go down and another to ascend before we got across the plantation and to the woods beyond. The men could not see us, but the dogs told our course, and before we had reached the woods the whole pack were closing on us. The field was full of loose stones, and we hastily chose the best place we could and engaged in a savage combat with the dogs, in which we were victorious, crippling and driving away the whole pack in short order, after which we started again on full run.

" We could by this time see the horsemen coming round to head us off. We changed our course and threw them off again. The hounds followed at a long distance and by their howling indicated our course, but did not come near enough to molest us. We kept see-sawing and tacking in order to avoid the horsemen, who were doing their best to head ua off, until at last we came to a little creek in which we waded for a couple of hours, and in this way caused the dogs to lose us. That day we reached Stone Mountain, eighteen miles east of Atlanta. After that, we traveled nights, going due northward, with the north star for our guide. From our hiding places in the day time we frequently saw scouting parties, patrolling the country, no doubt, for the jail fugitives. We crossed the Chattahoochee, October 26, on rails tied together with bark. From the house where we left Mason we were sis days without food, except nuts and brush. On the seventh day we caught a goose and ate it raw, and on the same day found a few ears of corn left in the field by the buskers. A day or so later we found a tree of apples and filled up on them and carried away all we could.

Fortunately the same day we discovered a drove of young hogs in the woods. I hid behind a tree and Brown coaxed a confiding pig up near me by biting off bits of apple and tossing them to it, backing up meanwhile, until the young porker came within reach of my stick, when I mm-derod it. That night we t'ound where some men had been clearing and burning, and we had a feast of cooked pork without seasoning, but we enjoyed it without complaint, for, except the goose and corn, we had eaten only five meals in twenty-one days. The pig lasted till we reached the Hiawasse River, near the corner of North Carolina.

" We traveled hard for four days over an intolerably rough country, and only gained eight miles. We were crossing a little old clearing which had a deserted appearance, when we came unexpectedly and suddenly out in front of a log house, where two men stood on the porch. They saw us and it was too late to dodge, so we tried to appear indifferent and asked if we could get dinner. We told them we were rebel soldiers who had been on the sick list and were trying to get back to oui- regiments. They said we could have dinner, and as we sat down to eat the woman of the house eyed us closely and soon accused us of being "Yanks." We soon found out each other, and they were loyal, true people, who sent us to friends and they to other friends, until we reached

Somerset, Ky., about November 25, from which place we reached Louisville, and from there by railroad to Nashville, near which place our old comrades and regiment lay, and where our boys received us with three times three and a tiger."

Ohaptee Xxyii

MILFORD TOWNSHIP was organized in 1837. The first settlers were William G. Pierce, George Chapman, Linus Ulark, Ezra Crary, Thomas Slater, Thomas Green, Jacob WeldeQ, Harrison Oonkey, Elias Crary, Spencer Hopkins, John Henry and George Green and their families. These twelve were present at the first election. The officers elected at that election were Linus Clark, Justice of the Peace; Ezra Crary, George Chapman and Thomas Slater, Trustees; Linus Clark, Treasurer; Ezra Crary, Clerk, and W. G. Pierce, Constable.

The first child born in Milford Township that lived to manhood was Luther Slater, November, 1835, and the first marriage was Jeremiah A. Ball to Malinda Slater, in August, 1836.

Milford has taken a due interest in the Ohio school system, as her schoolhouses fully attest, and has freely spent many thousand dollars to preserve a system that tends to perpetuate free thought and liberty of opinion.

Milford is a fine township, and very productive. Her lands will compare favorably, for ])roductiveness. with other parts of the county. They do not need so much ditching and tiling as the wetter ones

The Universalist Church of Logan, in Milford Township, was built in 1868, at a cost of $1,800. The services there have been maintained regularly by N. Crary, W. J. Chaplin, E. Moorefield, J. Merrifield and others. The removals and deaths, and other causes, have weakened the church, but the few believers . are firmly attached to the church and its doctrines. The liberality of other churches has done much to soften old asperities against the doctrines of Universalism.

The Lutherans have a small frame church in Section 10, and a membership of some thirty. The second preacher was Ernest Stubnace. The church cost about $800. The former preacher was Adam Detzer, in 1845, still living in Indianapolis, Ind.

The Methodists have also a small church, in the northeast part of the township. The membership is small. It was built in 1872, and is a frame. The preacher is Adam Kruemling.

Abrowsmith Mill

The Arrowsmith Mill was not only one of the useful institutions of its day, but an institution of prime necessity to the neighborhood and country around. It served the purpose of supplying the simple needs of its patrons, when habits of living were plainer than now. But this mill, conditioned like all things else, was forced to yield to time and circumstances, and has finally passed away, its ponderous wheels ceasing to turn about 1846. It was located just north and a little west of the crossing of Lost Creek. A portion of the building was of logs, and for some years has been used for storing a lot of blacksmith tools.

In 1844, Mr. John F. Haller. though not a millwright, helped Mr. Arrowsmith, the proprietor, on the repairs of this mill. Mr. Arrowsmith, however, was a regular millwriglit, and also understood the business of grinding, and dressing buhrs, etc., etc. The repairs proper were chiefly confined to the water-wheel, and the tools employed in this undertaking were an inch augur, a hand-saw and an ax. The wheel to this mill was one of Mr. Arrowsmith's own invention, and was thought, by him at least, to be a very good one. When the repairs on the mill had about reached completion, and the dressing of the buhrs being the next thing in order, an old ax was added to the former stock of millwright tools, and with this instrument, whether it was called picking or chopping, the buhrs were dressed and the mills set to running.

William G. Pierce was born in New Hampshire June 20, 1808. He was married, in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., October 29, 1832, to Miss Ada, daughter of Oney and Amelia Rice.

Mr. Pierce is of English and Irish descent. While a boy, he attended school in ^\'entworth, N. H. , where he resided with his parents until six years of age. His father then located in Chittenden Comity, Vt., in the town of Colchester, afterward removing to St. Lawrence County, N. Y. After his marriage, he came to near Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained about fifteen months, and then removed to what was afterward Farmer Township, Defiance County, in 1836. He helped organize that township in 1836- Mr. Pi&'ce settled in what is now Milford Township in 1837, and was present at the organization of that township. The country was then very new and wild. The Ottawas, some Wyandots and many Miamis were yet in the township They were a harmless people, but somewhat ti'oublesome to the new settlers in consequence of their visits. They traded their pelts to agents at Defiance and other points, and used a good deal of whisky, and when under its influence were quite noisy and somewhat dangerous. They often camped near the settlers and ranged the forests in search of game. The Ottawas left some time prior to the emigration of the Wyandots in 1843. Mr. Pierce states that schools were taught in cabins built for the settlers at that time. The first school in the township was taught in his cabia by Margaret Brace, now District 3, in 1844. The next teacher was Hai-riet Ellis. Then followed Jerusha Andrews in 1846, then Uretta Hopkins and Sabrina Hopkins in 1847. There were but few scholars and a small fund. The schools were largely by subscription. At a later day, schoolhouses sprang up in every district in the township. The houses are very comfortable, and frame or brick.

timbered, and much hard work was required to clear up a farm. By the time a pioneer passed through such toil he began to show age and grow old. The diseases of the early settlers were fever and ague, bilious fevers and the like. The early doctors were distant, and the settlers had to travel through the forest many miles to get a physician. Preaching was generally in the cabins of the settlers, and each denomination had its teachers, who occasionally addressed the people.

Mr. Pierce was a noted hunter. Many very amusing anecdotes are told concerning his adventures with deer, bear and wild cats. He generally killed from twenty to thirty deer a year. Of wildcats, about forty or fifty. They were brindle, gray and spotted. They were \ery numerous and large, weighing from forty to fifty pounds He shot many wolves and deer from the door of his cabin. Wolves were very destructive to sheep, and quite bold. Of bear he killed many. He states that on one occasion, after dark, he took his ax and went into the forest to hunt coons, which were very numerous. After passing into the forest, not far from his house, he heard the crushing tramp, as he supposed, of a cow or horse in the forest. His dog soon raised the usual howl. Mr. P., with ax in hand, sought the place, and to his surprise the dog had a bear, which was brought to a stand. Mr. P. rushed for the bear, ax in hand. The bear fled a few rods and seated himself, and commenced to cuff the dog. Mr. P. halloaed lustily for a neighbor to bring his gun, which attracted the attention of Mrs. Pierce, who hastened to his relief with a torch. Mr. P. told her to hold the light, so he could attack the bear with his ax. Mrs. P., finding it to be a bear, was much alarmed, and covered her retreat by getting behind Mr. P., which rendered the torch useless. Mr. P. urged his dog forward, when the bear retreated a few rods and began to fight the dog. Mr. P. felt confident if he could get a lick at him with his ax that he could kill the bear; but every attempt failed, and finally bruin made his escape.

Mr. Pierce had a fine lot of young shoats that fed on mast in the forest. One afternoon these pigs came up the path very much frightened - bristles up. He observed that something had happened the pigs. He took his ax and went down the path with his dog, who was a good hunter. It was not a great while till his dog raised a fierce yell. Mr. P. hastened to the spot, and found that his dog had brought a large bear to a halt, the dog seizing him in the rear whenever he moved. By ui'ging his dog, the bear was made to climb a large tree, having two branches, or a fork. Bruin took a seat in the fork, and looked defiantly about. M.r. P. looked about to see if he could find a tree that would dislodge the bear, but no tree would reach his position. He made a careful examination, and found that the bear tree would reach a large sycamore, across which he proposed to cut the bear tree, so that the fork would strike the bear and dislodge it. This was done, and when the tree fell, unfortunately it did not impale the bear, but broke the fork and tore down a large number of trees, and during the fall bruin made his escape. Mr. P. found, on futher examination, that bruin had dined on his missing pig.

About that time, he had cleared a field near the forest, and sowed it in wheat. There was a bog in one corner, which was the receptacle of brush and other rubbish. The deer often came in to eat the growing wheat in the evening. Mr. P. adopted a plan to catch them while thus feeding on his wheat. He possessed an old hat with a wide rim, in the crown of which he cut large holes and securely placed a candle, which he lighted, and carefully, gun in hand, approached the deer. The deer stared at the burning candle, while the body of Mr. P. was shaded by the broad rim. He carefully raised his gun and sue ceeded in getting the game. On one occasion, a misty evening, he approached the bog, when a buck wUh a large pair of horns saw the light and approached it. Just as he got within a short distance of Mr. P., a drop of rain struck the lighted candle, when it commenced to hiss, at which the buck took the alarm, and hurried away at a hop, skip and jump, and entering the bog it commenced to flounder and struggle till it got loose and Hed, which so amused Mr. P. that he could not shoot for laughing at the capers of the buck. The children of "William G. and Ada Pierce are eight in number - William N., Hiram W., Fanday H., John B., Mary A. and Charles G., living, and Zelma D. and Malinda M., deceased. William N. and Hiram were in the late war of the rebellion. Mr. Pierce has held most of the township offices, and is now the posesssorof 210 acres of well-improved land. He is a member of the Universalist Church.

Jacob Green, Jr., was born August 21, 1825, in Licking County, Ohio, and resided near Johnstown, and removed with his father, Thomas Green, a Virginian, and family to what is now Milford Township in ISSTi, where his father died in 1845, June 7, aged forty six years. His mother, Mary (Willison) Green, died June 8, 1853, aged about lifty-two. She was born at Hagerstown, Md. Mr. Green married Lovina Green January 17, 1847. She died October 81, 1870, aged forty- two years. She was daughter of Geo>-ge Green, of Milford Township. The father of Mr. Green settled on Section 5, near the St. Joseph Eiver, the present homestead of Mi-. Gi'een, which contains IGO acres. When his parents landed in Milford Township, the forests were quite dense, and very heavily timbered. His father was the second settler in the township, Mr. Slater being the first. Thomas Green, Sr., helped raise Mr. Slater's cabin, in August, 1834, when there to select his land. The cabin of Mr. Green was nest put up, in October, 1834. Thomas Green's children were Diadema, Hester, Jacob, Mary, Mahulda, Rosalinda, Ira, David, Jeremiah and Thomas. Mr. Green and his father killed great numbers of deer, and Mr. Green, Sr., killed as high as sixty deer, for five or six years, each autumn, and became somewhat noted for his skill and success in taking bruin. The Pottawatomies, and some Miamis, often camped along the St. Joseph River and hunted. Mr. Green frequently joined them in shooting deer by candle-light from their canoes. They killed large numbers by such means. The deer, except an occasional one, all disappeared about 1850. The bears ceased to appear earlier. Wild cats, of which there were great numbers about the swamps, left about 1870. The remarkable number of wild cats in this region seems to give strength to the old tradition that the tribe that gave name to " Lake Erie," the " Cats," actually existed in this region. Mr. Green and Mr. Pierce say that wild cats existed here in vast numbers and size, and of almost all colors - brown, brindle, spotted and black - and of immense proportion, generally weighing from forty to seventy pounds apiece, and when cornered and incapable of retreat, quite ferocious and sometimes dangerous in self-defense. Mr. Green states that he killed a "cat" that weighed eighty pounds, the largest one ever caught in the township, which was stufl'ed by Green, and went to Barnum's museum. Milling, in 1835, was done at Edgerton, on Pish Creek, in Ohio, and ac a little mill at Clarksville, and occasionally at Brunersburg. The first school remembered was in Williams County, and the teacher was John Sawyer. The first blacksmith was Robert Carr, and a man by the name of Zedicar. The first carpenter was James Weight. The first cabinetmaker was Jeremiah A. Ball. The first shoe-maker was Thomas Olds; the next was John Poper. The first Methodist meeting was at Col. Samuel Lewis', in St. Joseph Township, Williams County, in 1836. The Kevs. Brock and Willson were the preachers on the circuit. The Lutherans, came in subsequently. Their first preacher was James Carther, about 1843. He had a little church at Clarksville. The road to Hicksville was cut about 1835, and subsequently improved as the township became more compactly settled. The first Justice of the Peace in the township was Elisha Clark. -The present Justice of the Peace is C. W. Barney. Farmer Center and St. Joseph, in Williams County, were joined for the election of a Justice of the Peace prior to the erection of Defiance

County. The family of Mr. Green consists of nine children, six boys and three girls, all living. Their names are Thomas Jefferson, Genrge W., Eli, Charles, Levi, Leroy, Caroline, Lucy and Arabelle. Three sons are married, also one daughter.

Ava Gingery states that the Universalist Church at Logan Corners was built about 1872. It is of brick, and cost about $1,400. A schoolhouse at the Corners was built in 1878, in District No. 9. Mr. Gingery was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1842, and came to the Corners in 1801. His family consists of three children. Mr. G, married Miss Eliza Hopkins January 8, 1872.

John Henry was one of the earliest settlors of the western part of Delianco County, having emigrated from New York in 1836, and located on the St. Jo, then the home of the red man, where he continued to reside, witnessing the gradual change of the wilderness to fertile farms, and increasing his fortune with the increasing wealth of the country until his death, April 28, J 850, aged fifty-tour years. His children were Maria, Dwight, Elizabeth, Francis and Albert.

Jacob D. Serrill was born in Darby, Delaware Co., Penn., August 28, 1811, and came to Milford Township in 1850, directly from Delaware County, Penn. When he arrived, there were William G. Pierce, Sidney Aldeman, Samuel Deihl, Frederick Lane, William Wilcox and others in the township. Mr. S. helped to make the early roads. The first schoolhouse was a cabin, and the first teacher Dr. James, in District No. 7. Preaching took place, generally, in the schoolhouses or private cabins. The preachers were old Mr. Chapman, for the United Brethren, and Nathaniel Crary for the Universalists. The Methodists had an occasioual discourse. They have a small church on Section 10, and a few members. He was not an adept in the hunting business, and consequently did not follow it up. He attended the mills at Clarksville, which was then quite a business village. The village then contained two taverns, two stores, two doctors, Ladd and a student, and perhaps eighteen houses, and a grist mill. It has now about twenty- five inhabitants, and has gradually gone to decay. The post office is now at George W. Chapman's and named " Mile," and one at Cicero Corners, called "Cicero," which has been in existence since 1861. J. D. Serrill had the office at his hotise, and was Postmaster from 1853 to 1801. It was removed to the house of Reuben Hydo afld then to Mr. Chapman's, and he appointed Postmaster. Mr. Serrill has been Treasurer of Milford Township, Trustee and Postmaster a number of years. He has in his homestead 120 acres of laud, under good cul tivation, with a good brick house and frame barn.

He resides in an old style log cabin, which he is loath to give up. He possesses many relics of other Jays, that are both curious and interesting. Among these is a family Bible published in 1628, in London, containing the old family record at that time! ' He also has an almanac printed by the celebrated Dr. Ben Franklin in 1748, at Philadelphia; a Bible published in 1773, and the family record of his aunt Pearson; an almanac of 1811; a prayer-book of his mother, bearing date 1800; a silver ladle and punch-bowl of his grandfather, used before the American Revolution; a silver set, used at the same time, before 1775, by his grandmother; an old silver tea pot, and pot, a sugar bowl, etc., used by the same parties before 1775. Mr. Serrill, for reasons best known to himself, has remained single. He is a gen- - tleman of fair abilities, and a man of some culture. The right lady has not been found to make an impression on his heart and render his declining years happy. He is in the enjoyment of good health, and possesses good social qualities.

Nathaniel Crary was born July 27, 1823, in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and came to Milford Township with his parents in the spring of 1837, where he remained until his marriage, in 1848, to Miss Mercy Wartenbee, with whom he lived twelve years, when she died, leaving three children - Doraliski, Celestia and Austin B. Mr. C. married, for his second wife, Mrs. Arilla Kemble, on the 8th of April, 1855. She had two girls, Alice and Aril la, whom Mr. Crary adopted, and changed their names to Crary. His children by his second wife are five - Mercy, Madison N. , Demerest H., Gracie and Lam'a Genevra. The farm Mr. C. now owns is in Milford, in Section 35, and earned by him^ in chopping acre for acre, in 1849. The first settlers were Dennis Boyles, J. Hulbert, Daniel Coy, Peter Beerbower, Isaac Wartenbee and Miller Arrowsmith. In March, 1876, said Crary removed to Hicksvi lie, where he now resides. During the last twenty-seven years, he has, in connection with farming, been engaged in preaching the doctrines of Uuiversalism, as taught by Winchester, Mowery, Ballon, Whittemore and others. He has engaged in many oral discussions with the opponents to a world's salvation, and is yet alive. He met in discussion with Elder Holmes, of the United Brethi-en, and Elder Chubb, of the Methodists; John Sweeny, of the Disciple Church, from Chicago; John JVJayham, a Methodist preacher from Logansport; W. M. Lord, of La Porte, Ind., and others. Mr. Crary marked the line through the forest with a hatchet, known in his neighborhood as the "Crary road," to Hicksville, and his mother and two other women who had socks to trade, in exchange for groceries, followed the trail of the footmen, by the blazed trees made by Mr. Crary, to the village. Hicksville was a place of resort for several years for those who wished to meet to amuse themselves at playing base ball. Among those who were experts were A. P. Edgerton, Elias Orary, A. Crary and others, who used to meet every few weeks for the purpose of playing ball. Mr. Crarv, in an early day, ran an old- styled threshing machine. The horse-power and cylinder were all one mac ine, and conveyed on one wagon. For three years he threshed every job from Farmer Center to the State line on the Fort Wayne road. He would drive into the field where the wheat was stacked or unstacked, and drive down some stakes, and put up some boards to keep the wheat from scat- ' tering all over the field, and after the grain was threshed off the straw he left the man who owned it to clean up and report the quantity. Wo give, in Mr. Crary's own words, the folJowing:

" When my father removed to this county from Canada, in 1839, we landed at Defiance, and there, for the first time, [ saw some of the Ohio dent corn, and it being such a novelty, and as my father had bought a piece of land in Milford Township, at the northwest quarter of Section 36, I thought we would need some of the new but strong corn to plaiit the nest spring, so we took the liberty of lodging two of the large ears in our coat pocket, and carried them through the wilderness out to Farmer Center, driving a number of cows through the mud and swamps, and when we stopped over night at Farmer Center, with one Jacob Conkey, and behold ! we found our host had a large crib Eull of the same kind of corn which we had brought in our pockets, and we have admired that kind of corn ever since.

" When my father commenced on the farm where the AVidow Crary now lives, we soon found ourselves in want of provisions, especially meat. In the month of June, after a hard day's work, hoeing corn among the logs, father proposed that we would go down two miles south and watch a deer lick, and try and kill us a venison (as we called killiLg a deer in those days). We found the lick then in the wilderness (but now on the farm owned by -Kay Maxwell, Esq.), and as the lick was an open piece of springy ground, father perched me up in a tree to watch that end of the lick, while he stationed himself at the other end. I had not sat but a short time before I heard the step of something in the dry leaves, and as I turned myself around I saw a deer walking directly toward me. I took a dead aim at him, resting my old shotgun across a limb, which was loaded with one ball and nine buckshot (we always put in odd number of shot for luck), and when I pulled trigger out went the ball and nine buckshot, and down went the deer. I screamed at the top of my voice, 'Father! father! I killed - I have killed him! ' Father soon came to my relief, cut the deer's throat, and we drew him at little distance, where we dressed him. I remained with the dead deer all night, while father went back and watched the lick, but saw no more deer. My eldest brother, Elias, while once chasing some deer on horseback, found a bear's track, and found, also, that old bruin had been back-tracking himself; he had heard that the bear, just before burrowing up for the winter, would turn and follow his back track, to avoid detection of his winter quarters. So brother came home, and reported what he had seen of the bear's track, and he thought he was in a hollow sycamore, not far from where he left the tracks. The next morning, brother and Uncle Koyal Hopkins and myself, with dogs, as and guns, started for the tree. We followed him but a short distance from where brother left his track the night before, when we found he had gone into a large hollow sycamore tree. The tree forked about twenty feet from the ground, and right in the fork of the tree was the entrance into the trunk. The bear was in the tree, down next to the ground. After deliberation, we decided to fell a small elm tree which s'ood in the right place to fall into the forked sycamore, thereby closing up the hole that admitted the bear into his retreat. Uncle Koyal chopped the little elm, while brother stood with cocked rifle to his face, so if the bear should undertake to come out of the tree he would shoot him. The little elm, instead of falling down into the fork of the s} camore, caught on one of the branches of the sycamore, about six feet above the entrance into the bear's house. We heard a mighty fccratching in the tree, and out came the bear. As he looked around, brother fired, and we supposed he had shot him, for he fell to the ground like a puffball. The dogs went for him, but the bear commenced rolling over and over, and finally freed himself from the dogs, and away he went; he soon got out o| our sight, and soon the dogs came back. Whether brother hit him or not we had no means of knowing, and started for home feeling the truthfulness of the old adage: ' There is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip. ' "

John F. Haller, the eldest of the family of William and Sarah (Arrowsmith) Haller, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, March 17, 1820. Mr. Haller realizing, as all ambitious young men should in setting out in life, that it was his duty to make a living in an honorable way, with this purpose in view, concluded to look around the country, and see what the prospects were. Consequently, on the 24th day of December, 1844, he took up his line of march with |2. 50 in cash, and after a three days' march reached Defiance on the 26th day of the same month with some money left. Mr. Haller makes no pretensions to being one of the first settlers, but at the same time the country was very new, and comparatively few people living here, and they had but small improvements. Wild game was plenty, of various kinds common to a new "country. But as Mr. Haller was not cut out for a hunter, he paid the business of hunting and shooting wild game very little attention. He chose, rather, to teach the young idea how to "shoot," and taught school the following winter. He also commenced to improve the farm on which he now lives. Mr. Haller followed school teaching a part of the time for five years, in connection with making improvements on his farm. Wages were low at that time; labor commanding, generally, not more than half the present prices. The first settlers of this country were very poor, as men of means don't choose to expose themselves to the hardships and privations incident to the settlement of a new country. Febmary 13, 1851, Mr. Haller married Miss Ellen Bassett, of Paulding County, Ohio, daughter of Elias and Fanny Bassett, who were born and married in the county of Kent, England, and emigrated to this country soon after their marriage. Mrs. Bassett died at Independence, this county, at an early day. Mr. Bassett died in Iowa in 1872. Their daughter, Ellen, was born in Huron County, Ohio, October 23, 1831, and died September '^0, 1874, leaving four children - Sarah A., William E., Clara E. and Jesse R. November 27, 1878, Mr. Haller married, for his second wife, Mrs. Mary A. Hollon, daughter of David and Sophia House, of Oswego County, N. Y. , who was born in the same county January 8, 1S41. John Haller, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born at Haller's Gap, Penn., on the Schuylkill Eiver. Mr. Haller emigrated West in 1790, and after exploring a pai-t of Ohio, finally settled in Kentucky. He was of German parentage, a blacksmith by trade, and a superior workman. He was married in Kentucky, in 1797, to Mary Allen, a native of Virginia. Mrs. Mary Allen Hallor died in 1811, leaving seven children, the father of John F. Haller, mentioned above, being the second of the children. In 1S12, he moved to Urbana, Ohio, and in 1815 was again married, to Mrs. Mary ^Veaver. By this marriage they had eight children". About the year 1833, ^le moved to Brunersburg. Defiance County, and settled on the farm now owned by his youngest son, H. R. Haller, where he died in 1835, aged sixty-five years. Mary (Weaver) Haller, his wife, died in 1849. There are four children yet living. Ezekiel Arrowsmith, grandfather on the motlier's side of John F. Haller, the subject of the above sketch, was born near Baltimore,

Md. , in ] 770, and emigrated to Kentucky when about twenty-three years of age, and soon after married Elizabeth Kenton, daughter of William Kenton, who was a brother of Simon Kenton, the noted Indian lighter. The Kenton family went to Kentucky at an early day, and landed where Louisville now stands. Mr. Arrowsmith moved to Ohio about 1801, and settled on Mad River, four miles west of Urbana. Their family consisted of ten children; three only are now living. Mr. Arrowsmith died in 1849, where he first settled in Ohio. His wife, Elizabeth (Kenton) Arrowsmith, died in 1866, at the advanced age of ninety years. William Haller, father of John F. Haller, was second sun of John Haller, and was born in Kentucky in 1801, and was married in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1825, to Sarah Arrowsmith, daughter of Ezekiel and Elizaljeth (Kenton) Arrowsmith, and who was also born in Kentucky in 1801. There were three children by this marriage - John F., Benjamin L. and Emily J. Mrs. Sarah (Arrowsmith) Haller died in 1835. Mr. William Haller married, for his second wife, Miss Jane Arrowsmith, sister of his first wife. By this marriage there were two children - Sarah A. and Lavina. In 1852, Mrs. Jane (Arrowsmith) Haller died, and for his third wife Mr- William Haller married in 1856, Myrtilla Bishop. They had but one child, a son, William A. William Haller died in Champaign County, Ohio, December 2, 1880, aged about eighty years. At the time Mr. Haller moved into Defiance County, there lived in the north half of Hicksville Township Joshua Hall,

B. Ayers, Isaac Wartenbee, D. M. Grier, Thomas Me- Curdy, Cass Ginter. On the Fort Wayne, Newvil'e and Spencerville roads there were a few, and only a few, settlers, and there were but a few familieH living in the town of Hicksville at that time On the south half of Milford Township were living A. W. "Wilcox,

Hulbert, INI. J. Hulberfc, William Pierce, E. Crary, D. Boyles, Peter Beerbower, E. C. Crary, Royal Hopkins and Benjamin For low. In the south half of Farmer Towwnship were living Jacob Conkey, Dr. Rice, David Allen, William Powell, James Fisher, Martin Johnson, James Durham, Ira Brown, John Mortimore, Nathan Farmer, L. Bronson, M. Arrowsmith, Jesse ^Haller, Alexander I'harp, A. Bercaw, Anthony Huber, R. M. Kells, Jared Hulbeit. What is now known as Mark Township was attached to Farmer for judicial purposes at the time Mr. Haller came to the county. At that time there was a Mr. Hughes and one or two of his sons living on Sulphirr Creek, on Section 13, in that township. Mr. Haller helped to get out the timber to bnild a house on lands then owned by Edward Bassett, which was

C. M. Hulbert was born January 14, 1820, in Summit County. Ohio, and remained there until six teen years of age, and then came to Farmer Township, Deiiance County in 1840. His father, Jared Hulbert, subsequently moved to Mark Township, where he died in February, 1876, aged about seventy-seven years. His mother died the same year, five days before, in the same township, aged about seventy eight years. The family of Mr. Hulbert consists of Clement M., Harvey E. Sanford P., Malissa, AVarren S., Minerva (dead), Pheba (dead). Celesta and Timothy. The rest are all grown and married, Clement M. married Miss Ellen Farnsworth January 20, 1851. His family, Wesley N., Eilie L., Ida M., Edna C. and Frank E., are all living. The first school was on "Lost Creek," in Farmer Township, and taught by Fletcher Hueler. In this townsiiip, Milford Schoolhouse was on Jared Hulbert's farm, Section 25, southeast corner, and taught by Caroline Powell. Church services were in private houses and in the schoolhouse. The first settlers were Ezra Crary, G. W. Chapman, Dennis Boyles, James Fisher, Isaac Fisher and William Wartenbee.

Kudolph J. Battershell was born September 9, 1844, at Berlin, in the county of Holmes, Ohio, and came to Milford Township in September, 1850, with his parents, William and Elizabeth Battershell. Mr. B. married Miss Libbie A. Clarke. His family consists of Charles C, Allen P., Arthur C. The parents of Mr. B. are yet living in the township, Mr. B. is a merchant, and resides in Cicer.j, which is a sort of village, and has two blacksmith shops iind one shoe store, in a fine farming country.

John Jackson Hootman was born June 23, 1815, in Washington County, Penn. He removed with his father, John Hootman, to Wayne County, Ohio, Mohican Township, now in Ashland County, in October, 1826. John J. learned the blacksmith trade from his father, with whom he -worked until he was twenty-four years of age. He -married Miss Mary Eichelbarger, of Wayne County, May "J, 1839. Their children are John B., Charles (deceased), George B. and Mary E. John B. was elected and served as Sheriff of Defiance County. Mr. Hootman was a member of the Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1850, from the district comjiosed of Wayne and Ashland Counties. In 1852, he went to California, and was absent nearly three years, and from 1850 to 1860 was Sheriff of Ashland County. He settled in Milford Township, Defiance County, January, 1860. He has a homestead of 120 acres, with fair improvements. Upon his arrival, he started a shop in which he worked at his trade, making edge tools, axes, etc.

He was nominated for Kepresentative for Williams, Paulding and Defiance Counties in 1862, but was defeated because Kepublican excitement ran very high on the war. Mr. H. has been very industrious all his life, and is a man of unflinching industry and honesty.

John Hootman, father o'f John J., survived to a remarkable age, and during his long residence in Mohican Township, Ashland County, was an industrious citizen, whose moral and business integrity was never questioned by his neighbors or the community. He was noted as a mechanic, and made hundreds of axes, at which he was thought to be hard to excel. He was born in Brooke County, Va., March 3, 1786, the third son of Christian Hootman, who was one of the HeSsians captured at Trenton, and who served the remainder of the war in the Ameiican army. In early life he worked his father's distillery. Leaving home, he learned the trade of blacksmithing, serving three years, in that time becoming one of the best workmen in that section. In 1811, he married Jane Childers, an aunt of Mrs. President Polk. About the year 1826, he moved to Wayne (now Ashland) County, Ohio, where he lived until 1856, when he moved to Defiance County, having bought 520 acres of land. His children soon gathered around him, and that which was covered with an unbroken forest is now seen as beautiful farms. He was a man of iron will and indomitable energy, never swerving from what he be'ieved to be right, Physically, he was one of the strongest of men; his heart was as tender as a child's, and ever responded to the wants of the poor and needy. Keligious excitement running high in 1819 and 1820, and never having learned to read and write, he concluded that he would then commence, that he might read the Old and New Testaments. With the aid of the country schoolmaster he soon accomplished both, and memorized a great portion of the New Testament. He was baptized by John Secrest, going sixteen miles to have the rite performed, uniting with the Church of Christ (or Disciples), and remained a faithful member until his death, a period of fifty-two years. He filled the place of Elder for many years. His hospitality was unbounded. Conferences always found a home for their ministers, for the time, irrespective of denomination. In politics, he was a Democrat of the strictest kind, and took great interest in the same, never missing an election. He cast his first vote for Thomas Jefferson for President, and voted for every Democratic nominee since for President, except Horace Greeley. Mr. Hootman became blind about five years before his death, but there was always a silver lining in the dark clouds that surrounded him. He lived and died, an ardent patriot and a faithful Christian, be- loved and respected by all. lie was the father of eleven children, lifty-eight grandchildren and seventythree great-grandchildren, 130 of whom are now living. Surviving the death of his wife thirty-two. years, he died the 23d day of February, 1880.

Christopher Hootman was born March 10, 1818, in Washington County, Penn., and came to Ashland (!ounty, then in Wayne, to Perry Township, in 1820. He married Miss Sarah A. Winbigler, sister of John J. and daughter of John and Mary Winbigler, November 11, 1841. He removed to Kowsburg in 1843, and from thence to La Grange County, Ind., in 1846, where he remained one summer, and then returned to Jeroiueville, Ashland County, in the fall of 1846, and worked in company with John J., his brother, at the blacL'Rmith business for three years, and then went to Montgomery Township, in the same county, where he remained one year, and then returned to Jeromeville, where he remained until 1859, and removed to Milford Township, Defiance County, where he now resides. The settlers at the time of his arrival vfrere quite sparse; Mr. W. G. Pierce, N. Z. Stone, N. Larabe, N. T. Sn.uth, C. Irish and others were his nearest neighbors. At that time, game had not entirely left the forests. There was an occasional bear, a few deer and many wild turkeys. The remaining forests were heavily timbered and hard to clear. For milling, he generally attended the Webster Mill in De Kalb County, Ind.

Alpha Stone was born May 15, 1797, in Luzerne, Warren Co., N. Y., and Rhoda Orton, his wife, was born December 1, 1800, in Willsboro, N. Y. to whom he was married September 6, 1818. They had a family of nine children, all of whom lived to become men and women, but one. Mr. Stone removed with his family to Milford Township in 1846, and in 1856 to Farmer Township, where he died three years later.

Isaac Wartenbee was born in Brooke County, Va., January 24, 1794, and came to Morgan County, Ohio, with his parents when three years of age, and removed from there to Muskingum County when twelve years old, and to Farmer Township, Defiance County, iu 1834. Was married to Miss Mercy Robinson, of Brooke County, Va., in 1817. He settled on Section 30 in Farmer Township, on lands now owned by Miller Arrowsmith, and helped organize Farmer Township in 1836, being one of the voters of the first election, and was the third family who settled in the township. Ml-. Wartenbee died in March, 1860, aged sixty-six years. Mrs. Wartenbee died October 20, 1838, aged forty-four years. Their family were Angelina, Aaron R., Jane, Mercy, Mary, Amanda and Mergeline. These children all grew tip and married. Amanda married William Henry, of Hicksville; Mergeline married Stephen Strong, of Newville, Ind. ; Mercy married Nathaniel Crary, now of Hicksville; Angeline married Daniel Coy, of Milford Township, who died June 22, 1857, aged forty-three years. The family of Mr. Coy consisted of Albert, Mercy, Flora, Frank, Eunice, Daniel and Edith. These are all living but the last named; Albert served fifteen months in the late war and returned all right. He served in Kentucky and Virginia, and was discharged at Alexandria December 8, 1865. Mrs. Daniel Coy was the first person married in Farmer Township,' September 6, 1838. The death of Mrs. Wartenbee, as before stated, was October 20, 1838, and was the first death in the township. Mr. Arrowsmith furnished the lumber for her cofSn. The first Methodist preaching was at the funeral of Mrs. Wartenbee, by George W. Chapman. Mi: Wartenbee served as Justice of the Peace in the township of Hicksville. Was also a member of the Disciples Church.

Charles W. Barry was born in Milton Township, Chittenden County, Vt. , January 9, 1823, and attended district school in his native place until he was fourteen years of age, when he removed to Erie, Penn, there attending the academy three years, and for six months teaching mathematics in R()om 2. In October, 1840, he came to this township, traveling on foot from Maumee City to Defiance, and there being no bridge at Defiance, he was ferried over by Mr. Strait. At ttiat time people had almost a horror of the black swamp, consequently there was little emigration here at that time, whereas now there is no better spot in the country than this. Mr. Barry taught school at $10 a month, and received over $5 a month from the State funds, the balance being raised by parents in proportion to the number of children sent. He taught school eight winters, and as there was no money in those days, deer hides and coon skins were a legal tender. He has in his possession a gi-indstone received from Rev. N. Crai-y, 1843, for a school bill, which has done service ever since. He went to Defiance in 1843, twenty-five miles distant, with an ox team and twenty bushels of wheat, which he sold for 110, and bought a barrel of salt for $18. He married, April 2, 1845, Miss Uretta C. Hopkins, who came from St. Lawrence County, N Y., to Farmer Township. Their family consists of Zoviah, born April 23, 1846; and Wesley O., born August 23, 1848. Mr. Barry has resided on the same farm since 1845. In 1846, he was elected J. P., and has held the office tw«nty-four years. His first case was in the summer of 1846, without law books or previous experience. The plaintiff came in the morning, stating that defendant had taken some of his corn stalks in the division of a field of fodder. He issued a summons about 9 o' clock, and made it re- turn able at 3 o'cluck the same day. The parties ap peared, and plaintiif obtained a judgment about 6 o'clock, and if that day had been one hour longer, he would have collected the debt by execution.

A. ^V. AVileox was born in Oneida County, N. Y. , June 4,1817. Hispai'ents were from Connecticut. In the fall oE 1840, Mr. Wilcox came to MilEord Township and entered a farm of 200 acres. He was married, March 24, 1842, to Margaret, daughter of William and Mar^i;et (Collins) Fea, who cama to St. Joseph Township, Williams County, iu the fall of 1828, there being then but two other families in the township, those of Dicas and Avery. Mr. Fee had twelve children, who all grew up and were married. But six of them now are living, two in this county - Mrs. Wilcox and her brother Samuel, both in Milford Township, Samuel on Section 21. Mr. Fee died the same year he came to the county, in 1828, while from homo to enter land for a future home, leaving Mrs. Fee to struggle through with a large family. Mrs. Fee entered a farm near what is known as Edgerton, in Williams County, where she raised her family. She died at her daughter's, Mrs. Wilcox, in Milford, September 29, 1876, aged about eighty eight years. Mrs. Wilcox was born in Qallia County, Ohio, November 11, 1824; was seven years old when she came with her parents to Williams County. Her brothers, Thomas and John, had to go to La Grange County, Ind. , forty miles, for grain for the familj', and on their arrival there had to thresh the wheat and husk the corn in the fields in the snow, as the people there were generally sick at that time, of ague and bilious fever. After being gone three weeks, on their return they got within ten miles from home and came to a stream partially frozen, so the team could not cross, and Thomas shouldered a sack of meal, arriving home on foot at midnight, John remaining with the team. For their trading they had to go to Defiance as their nearest point, twenty-five miles distant.