Jackson Township

Jackson Township

This township, it is believed, was named after Gen. Jackson, whose last term as President of the United States expired about the time of its organization or soon after. It was constituted a township in the spring of 1836. As originally organized, it embraced the two eastern tiers of sections of its present limits and four tiers of sections now embraced in Wyandot County. Each tier of sections was six sections long from north to south; thus the township embraced thirty- six sections. But upon the organization of Wyandot County, in 1845, the above-mentioned four tiers of sections were cut off and embraced in said county, when, to preserve the required territory and population for Jackson Township, two tiers of sections from the east side of Blanchard Township were struck off and embraced in said J ackson Township, which constituted its present limits, and is four sections wide from east to west, and six sections long from north to south, containing twenty-four square miles, or 15,360 acres. It is bounded on the north by Hancock and Wyandot Counties, on the east by Wyandot County, on the south by Goshen and Pleasant Townships and on the west by Jackson Town-

The surface is generally very level, with some portions slightly undulating, except in the western and northwestern portions, or along the Blanchard Eiver, where it is quite undulating and in some places hilly. In a few places the limestone crops out to the surface along this stream, and one or two good quarries are worked, from which some lime has been made of good quality, and large quantities of the stone have been broken up and used in the construction of roads and pikes.

The soil is exceedingly rich and fertile, and although, from the flatness of its surface and the saturable nature of the soil, it was originally very wet, yet, by a system of drainage, by ditching and tiling, it is now becoming very productive, and yields an abundant crop of wheat, corn, oats and hay; and as the system of drainage becomes more extended and perfected, so its productiveness and ease of cultivation are increasing.

The onlj? stream of the township of any importance is the Blanchard River, the main stream entering this township in the southwest quarter of Section 23, and takes a zigzag course through the township a little east of north, and passes into Hancock County. In its course through Section 12, it receives its only tributary, in this township, which flows from the east border of the township in a northwest course, and emptying into the main stream as above-mentioned. The surf ace of this country was originally very heavily timbered, and requires a wonderful amount of toil and patient waiting of the pioneer to obtain a farm clear of stumps and roots, so as to be easy of cultivation.

This section was also, in an early day, quite affected with milk sickness, and being very flat and wet, with a luxurious growth of vegetation, followed by a rapid decay of the same, was very subject to malarial diseases, such as chills and fever. The sufferings and hardships of the first settlers here were probably equal to, and perhaps exceeded, those of most other countries; but as the forests were cleared away, and the son's rays, with their evaporating and purifying powers, were permitted to exert their influence upon the soil and atmosphere, together with the effects of proper drainage, disease and sickness rapidly disappeared, until it is now considered as healthy and subject to as few diseases as the average of countries. The progress in this particular, as well as the improvements of every kind, have been remarkable and rapid.

A little more than twenty years ago, the locality that now embraces the enterprising town of Forest was little more than a " frog pond," with just a few old frame houses set up on high blocks to keep them above tbe water. And not only has there been this wonderful improvement at and around Forest, but the township is now dotted all over with fine, cultivated farms and beautiful residences, showing a wonderful contrast to its former condition, and exhibiting a marked result from the indefatigable labors and enterprise of its citizens. In 1836, when this township was organized, there were less than a dozen voters in the entire lownship, as shown by the small number of votes cast at its first election. But after 1840, its settlement and progress was more rapid, as shown by the population at the various decennial periods since, as follows: In 1850, the township had a population of

In this township we find no exception to the general rule in the locating of the first settlers; but observe that along the course of Blanchard River were found its first pioneers. There is no question but that James E. Hueston was the first settler in what is now Jackson Township. In May, 1824, Mr. Hueston, with his family, came to Hardin County; but as a full sketch of this worthy pioneer will be found in Chapter IV of the general history, we refer the reader to that chapter for a further mention of his life.

Robert S. Wilson was born in Medina County, Ohio, and in 1833 came to Marion Township, Hardin County, a poor bo3^ He succeeded in obtaining employment in clearing land and assisting the inexperienced early settlers in erecting their log cabins. Game of all kinds was very plentiful, and one fair he sold coon skins enough, at 12 J cents each, to purchase a barrel of flour at $6.50, which was quite a treat in those days. In this manner he worked, and by strict economy until be had reached manhood, he had saved money enough to purchase forty acres of land in the dense forests of Jackson Township. He then married, and commenced to clear a spot for his cabin, while his young wife sat close by on a log with her knitting. He says that, while a hired young man, he cleared more than one hundred acres of land. After settling upon his own land and getting a good start in life, he commenced adding to his first piece more land, from time to time, till his farm contains 160 acres with good improvements. He is now living in Forest, where he has retired to spend the balance of his life in the enjoyment of the comforts of a competence which his own industry and energy has accumulated, an honored and respected citizen.

John Huffine came here from Pickaway County, Ohio, about 1829-30, and settled on land now owned by Samuel Briggs, where he resided several years, but subsequently removed to near Chillicothe. Peter Johnson, about 1833-35, came to this county, and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 26, which was then embraced in Blanchard Township. He resided here till his death. He served as a Justice of the Peace several years, a worthy and honored citizen.

John Howey came here from Richland County, but was a native of Pennsylvania. He settled on land where Patterson now is in 1834, remaining there through life an honored and upright citizen.

John Packer came from Richland County and settled in the northwest ern part of this township in 1834, where he resided many years, but subsequently removed to the West; finally returning to Ohio, he died in the southern part of the State.

Thomas Ketch, from Columbiana County, settled on land two miles west of Forest in 1834. After several years' residence here he removed to Hancock County, and thence to Nebraska. He married Miss Sarah Yerian, who died, and he subsequently married Rachel Mansfield. All his children moved to the West but one - Mary Ann, who married John Nous and resides in this township.

William Pisel came from Richland County about 1834, and settled where his widow still resides, and here he died October 13, 1859, aged fortyeight years. Their children were Sarah Jane, Jeremiah, Reuben, John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Washington and Mary Ann.

John Ropp, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Logan County; thence, about 1833-34, removed to this county and settled on land on the Blanchard, now owned by his son, where he died S^tember 3, 1838.

William Pimperton was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1791, where he married Susannah Bassett. In March, 1827, they emigrated to America, landing at Port Hope, Canada, the following May. In June, 1835, he came to Hardin County, and entered 525 acres of land in Section 6, Jackson Township ; returned to Canada, and, in 1838, brought his family to his new home. His wife died in 1846 and he in 1861.

Edward Warner was born in New Haven County, Conn. , May 14, 1799, and when a lad, his parents, Richard and Polly Warner, removed to Cortland County, N. Y,, but he remained with his grandfather in Connecticut for some time, after which he went to his parents in New York. In the fall of 1828, he removed to Seneca County, Ohio. Before leaving New York, he married Sophronia Sales. In the fall of 1835, he removed to this county and settled on land now owned by Samuel Waltermire, in Section 5, Jackson Township. Here he opened out right in the woods, and commenced to erect a cabin. From the few settlers then in the vicinity, he could get but seven to help him raise his cabin, and as a substitute for men he used oxen to roll up the logs to their proper places. He has now been a resident in the county nearly half a century; has witnessed the wonderful transformation of these mighty forests to fine, cultivated farms and beautiful homes. He was present at the organization of the township, and cast his vote at the first election, and was elected one of the first Trustees. He is now eighty-four years of age, and almost totally blind, having lost his sight about thirteen years ago. He is the father of nine children - Mary Othelia, Edward C., Bellva, Maria, Adeline, Lemira, Artemissa, Calvin E., Joseph V. and Sophronia C., all of whom, who now survive, have moved away.

Joseph Barnes, believed to have been a native of Pennsylvania, settled on the northwest quarter of Section 17 in 1835, where he resided several years; thence removed to Iowa. He was twice married, and raised a large family of children, who all moved away.

William Higgins was a native of Pennsylvania, where he married Mary A. Trissler. In 1835, with his wife and four children, he came to Ohio and settled on Section 2, this township; where he entered forty acres, and also forty acres in Section 11. He came through from his native State in a wagon, which he sold to raise money to enter his land. He died in 1859, in his eighty-fourth year. His wife still survives.

Stephen Purdy was a native of New York, where, in Dutchess County, he was married, February 1, 1817. In 1829, they removed to Ohio, and settled in Richland County. In 1836, they removed to this county and bought eighty acres in Section 12, where he followed his trade, that of a blacksmith. It is believed he was the first of that trade in Jackson Township, He died September 5, 1865, aged seventy-three years. His wife was Ann Tibbs, a native of New York, and still survives at the advanced age of eighty-three years.

Robert Briggs was born in Lincolnshire, England, where he married Mary Pickett, with whom he lived but a short time when, about 1834 - or about one year after their arrival in this country and locating in Richland County, Ohio - she died, she, however, having borne him five children. In 1836, he removed to this county and purchased eighty acres of land in Section 2, in Jackson Township. He married, for his second wife, Mary Aldrich. She died, having borne him four children. Mr. Briggs died February 17, 1879, aged eighty years. He was a man of great moral worth, giving of his means freely for all educational and religious purposes and the general public good. Henry Zimmerman was a native of Mahoning County, Ohio, and married Elizabeth Bilger, of Columbiana County, and in the fall of 1836 removed to this county and settled south of Forest, on land now owned by Aaron Chance, in Section 18, where he remained till his death. He died November 22, 1870, aged sixty-five years. His children were John, George W. , Kebecca A., Mary, Elizabeth, Franklin, Isabell, Samuel and Sarah (twins), Stanley and Jennie.

John Zimmerman, also a native of Mahoning County, settled in this township about 1837, where he soon after died from that terrible disease, so troublesome among the early settlers, milk sickness.

John McVitty was born in Franklin County, Penn., April 25, 1808, of Scotch-Irish descent. He settled here in 1837, entering a quarter section of land in Section 14. He taught, it is believed, the first school in the township, which was on the farm of Thomas Hueston. He died December 11, 1881. He was the father of twelve children, of whom five now survive. Mr. McVitty was one among the best of farmers, and an honorable and worthy citizen.

and settled here in 1837-38, locating one mile east of Henry Zimmerman, where he died April 8, 1846, aged thirty-seven years. His children were Peter, Uriah, Theodore, Susanna, Solomon and Sarah - all now deceased but Uriah, who now resides in Colorado.

David Warner, a brother of the above-mentioned Edward Warner, was born in Connecticut February 2, 1802, and came to New York State with his father's family, where he married Almira Robbins, a native of that State. In 1837, he emigrated to Ohio, and entered eighty acres of land in Jackson Township, and here he spent his entire life since - a period of nearly half a century. But of the particulars of the life of this worthy pioneer, we would refer the reader to the biographical department of this work, where his active, earnest and valuable labors of a long and well-spent life are briefly, yet faithfully, portrayed.

William C. Dewitt was born in Ulster County, N. Y., April 11, 1807. His father was a native of Holland, but emigrated to this country in an early day, and had one brother who served in the war of the Revolution. In 1818, they came to Ohio and settled in Richland County, but the father died in Delaware County. William C. grew to manhood in Richland County; thence, in 1828, he went to Seneca County, where he married Maria Norton, who was born in Tompkins County, N. Y, January 25, 1818, and a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Norton. Mr. Dewitt was married, January 31, 1835, and, in 1837, they settled in this county, where he entered forty acres in Section 1, Jackson Township, and has since remained a resident of this township. He has borne his full share of pioneer life, and is now quite aged and feeble. Their children have been as follows: Joseph M. (deceased), Charles F., who married Parmelia Johnson, by whom he had one child, Maggie M. (deceased); his wife died and he married Angeline Harris, by whom he had six children - Anna C., Guernsey B., Willie H., Sarah Bell, John D. and Calvin Edson; William H. married Catharine J. Petty; he died in the late war; Clavin C. married Margaret J. Harman, and had three children - Gussie R., George I. and Charles C. (deceased); Libbie E. married Joseph Zimmerman, has had three children - Charles C., Fannie Bell (deceased) and Franklin R. ; David A. married Mrs. Mary E. George, have three children - Orrie M., William C. and Harry; Emily A. married David S. Gano, have one child - Amy Iona; Robert S. married Mrs. Maggie J. Dewitt; Josephine M. married Hiram T. Pingree, had one child, Elbert Earl (deceased).

settled about one mile west of Forest, on the northwest quarter of Section 7, but, remaining a short time only, he removed into Wyandot County.

Jacob Bibbler, settled north of Forest, on land now owned by John Lafferty. William Copeland, who died in 1868, was an honored, early settler here. Many other early settlers, but who came some time later than the above-mentioned, who have been honored, useful and influential citizens of Jackson Township, will, we trust, be well represented in the biographical department of this work; therefore, we will not increase the list further here, but proceed to speak of other matters pertaining to the growth and progress of this township as it emerged from its primitive condition of a dense forest and a total wilderness.

Roads And Public Highways

From the description above given of the soil and surface of Jackson Township and the naturally bad condition of the first roads opened out here, it would be expected that the people would desire an improvement at the earliest possible moment. For in such a deep, rich soil, and a country so level and wet as this was originally, the mud roads were, during some portions of the year, almost impassable; but for several years they have been ditching and draining off the surplus water, and have graveled several roads, so that most of the leading lines of roads are in quite a good condition. From Kenton to Forest is a good pike, running just east of and parallel with the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Kailroad. Another pike is built from Forest directly west to the township line, and there meets a good pike, which runs north and south on the said line the entire length of the township. These, with some others recently built and in process of building, will place the township in quite a good condition as regards its public roads.

Two railroads pass through the township, the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western passing diagonally from northeast to southwest, nearly from corner to corner of the same, and crossing the other road at Forest, viz., the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Kailway, which passes through the second tier of sections from the northern boundary line, from east to west. These give excellent shipping facilities for grain, stock, lumber and all kinds of products and merchandise, whether in the way of exports or imports.

The early records of the officials and elections of Jackson Township are not to be found, and are probably either lost or destroyed. But we are informed that the first election was held at the house of Joseph Barnes; then, for several successive years, they were held at the house of Israel Yauger, and then the place was regularly established at Patterson, and all voters of the township at each election repaired there to exercise their political prerogatives, until, a few years since, Forest became quite populous, and the township was divided into two voting precincts, one at Patterson and one at Forest. At the first election above mentioned, held at the house of Joseph Barnes, the following officers were elected, viz.: Trustees, Edward Warner, Joseph Barnes and Harry Bowers; Justice of the Peace, John Howey; Clerk, Mathew Cleveland; Treasurer, Jacob Deeringer. In 1881, there were cast the following number of votes: Patterson Pre-

Iare: Trustees, John McElree, John Weir and William Metzker; Clerk, W. S. Dyer; Treasurer, A. D. Pifer; Constables, G. W. Smith and Samuel Grafton.

As the first settlement was made on the Blanchard, and the first family was Mr. James E. Hueston, so here, on the east side of that stream, on Mr. Hueston's land, near where the cemetery is located, or near where the pike crosses the stream, was erected the first schoolhouse - one of the primitive log houses - and John McVitty is said to have been the first teacher. This schoolhouse was used for school purposes about five years, at the expiration of which anew one was built on Section 12, on land which is now owned by D. Kellogg, and about the same time one was erected on Section 2, near where the District No. 2 Schoolhouse now stands. And thus, as the settlements increased in the various portions over the township, new districts were formed and schoolhouses erected; and finally the old, primitive cabins were supplanted by good frame and brick houses. And now (1882-83), the following is the condition of the schools in the township and in the townsof Forest and Patterson, as shown by the reports of the Boards of Education: Total receipts for school purposes for the schools (excluding those in Forest and Patterson), $5,029.30; total expenditure for the same, $3,- 615.95; balance on hand the 1st of September, 1882, $1,413.35. Number of schoolhouses, 5; number of teachers necessary to supply the same, 5; average wages of teachers - male, $33.93; female, $19.50. Average number of weeks schools were in session, 27; enrollment of scholars - boys, 96; girls, 100; total, 198. Total value of school property, $5,000.

Patterson Union Schools - One schoolhouse, with three rooms; teachers employed, 1 male and 2 females, total, 3; wages of male teacher, $60 ; females, $25. Number of weeks schools were in session, 28; number scholars enrolled - primary and intermediate rooms, 88; high school, 31; total, 119. Total receipts of funds for school purposes, $1,258.06; total expenditures for the same, $934.38; balance on hand September 1, 1882, $323.68.

Forest Union Schools - Total receipts for school purposes, $3,564.93; total expenditures for the same, $2,252.11; balance on hand September 1, 1882, $1,312.82. Number of houses, 1; rooms, 4; teachers, 1 male,4 females, total, 5, Wages, per month - male, $66|; female, $33. Number of weeks the schools were in session, 36; scholars enrolled - primary and intermediate, 225; high school, 39; total, 264.

Towns And Villages

There are two incorporated towns in Jackson Township - Patterson and Forest. The former was platted and surveyed by Charles Arentschields, for P. C. Boslow and H. Gr. Harris, August 29, 1846, Mr. Boslow owning all the land on the west side of Kenton street and Mr. Harris all on the east side. The name proposed for the town was Petersburg, but when the plat was recorded it was named Patterson, in honor of Robert Patterson, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, who was Secretary and Treasurer of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad, now the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western, who was a special friend of Mr. Boslow. Since the original plat of the town was made and recorded, the following additions have been made: First, by H. G. Harris, on April 14, 1855; second, by George W. Jackson, December 13, 1855, and third, by John Funk, January 30, 1866. The town, as first incorporated, embiaced four entire sections of land, viz., Sections 17, 18, 19 and 20, and remained thus until February 6, 1883, when it was reduced to its present limits of less than one-quarter of a section. The first building erected in the town plat was a frame, by P. C. Boslow, 18x24 feet.

The timber was sawed with a " whip saw," and this was said to be the first frame building in the township. Into this Capt. Boslow put a general stock of goods, which was the first store in Jackson Township. In about two years after, Capt. Boslow sold the building to William Buel, of Cary, Ohio, and erected another building, into which he moved his stock of goods. He also erected a warehouse at the railroad for the purpose of receiving grain and all kinds of produce for shipping to distant markets. Capt. Boslow rode on the first train ever run over the road, from Sandusky to Bellevue in May, 1838. The road was completed to Kenton in July, 1846. The engineer who ran the first train to Bellevue from Sandusky was a Mr. Hogg; the Chief Engineer, K. M. Shoemaker.

The first hotel was a log house, which was moved from Thomas Ketch's farm, one mile and a half east, and was kept by Dr. Stanley; this was occupied as a house of public entertainment until he could erect a new house; it was called " The Hunters' Retreat." The new hotel, when erected, was known as the "Sylvia Hotel." Previous to Dr. Stanley's opening his tavern, Capt. Boslow used to accommodate the traveling public at his little log cabin, and was not accustomed to make any charge, but they became so numerous that he finally decided to charge " one shilling" per meal. On ODe occasion - a very wet and disagreeable day - Mr. Cook,, of Blanchard, was passing through, wet and hungry, called for a dinner and to have his horse fed; when he came to settle his bill, he was charged two shillings; Mr. C(>ok laughed at the price, and told him he should have charged 50 cents. This incident illustrates the hospitality and low prices of the early settlers in those days.

The first physician was A. F. Stanley; Capt. Boslow's and A. F. Stanley's families were the first two located in Patterson. The next merchants to succeed Mr. Buel were Lewis & Hare. A post office, named Sylvia, was established here about 1847-48, with either Dr. A. F. Stanley or Mr. Lewis as Postmaster. Subsequently, about 1850, the name of the post office was changed to Patterson, by which name it has since been known. In 1847, the elections which had previously, for years, been held at McVitty' s Schoolhouse, were held at Patterson.

The first carpenter to locate here was a Mr. Carr; and Caleb Gardner was the first cooper. The town grew very rapidly, and did a large business in lumber and mercantile trade for several years. About 1848, Isaiah Ickes built a tannery, which did an extensive business for thirty years. During this period, Mr. Ickes was succeeded by Mr. Walker, and he by J. M. Nelson, and the last to conduct the business was x^lexander League.

The town now contains a population of about four hundred, with one general store, by M. C. McVitty, who is doing a large and prosperous trade; one grocery, by J. Swimley; one hotel, by John Perry; one blacksmith shop, by Funk Bros. ; one wagon shop, by William Silverthorn; one shoe shop, by P. Woodard; one drug store, by Mr. Phillips; one billiard room, by D. Wilson; one grist mill, which is the building formerly used as the warehouse, which .was transformed into a mill in 1863 by a joint-stock company, and subsequently bought by Capt, P. C. Boslow, who was succeeded by John Pouch, of Upper Sandusky, the present proprietor; one saw mill, erected b}^ H. G. Harris in 1847, now owned by Funk Bros., and one cooper shop, by D. R. Timmons. There are two churches, Presbyterian and I Methodist, and one good brick schoolhouse with three rooms, erected i n i 1867 at a cost of about 15,000.

Forest. - It would appear, from the records at Kentou, that some difficulty arose or some peculiar couditiou of things existed at the time of the survey and laying-out of Forest, as we find recorded that John A. Gormley was appointed a Commissioner by the Court of Common Pleas of Hardin County, at their June term in 1854, to act in the premises under especial authority, and that the survey was made and the town laid off in lots, streets and alleys by J. Harvey Davis, and the same platted and recorded , being duly acknowledged by said John A. Gormley March 13, 1855. Tne town was incorporated, on petition of fifty-six resident voters, by the Cj umissioners, September 6, 1865, since which there have been the following | additions, viz. : ;

The first hotel was a frame building, erected and kept by Mr. P. Carson, ; on the site of the present Forest City House. John Mansfield was the first || blacksmith. Dr. J. A. Stansill,the first physician. The Mad River & Lake ii Erie Railroad was built and the first train ran through here to Kenton | July 4, 1846. The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway was built i in 1853-54, and in the latter year, the first train ran through Forest. The | crossing of these two railroads here was the caus<^ of the laying out of the j town. But the town never grew or enjoyed any great prosperity till about j 1870, at which time it seemed to receive a new impetus, and during the last six years has made a rapid growth in population and in business. It now has a population of about 1,200, embracing the following businesses: Three dry goods stores, A. D. Pifer, West & Shott and the New York Store, by M. Berkiwitz; three hardware stores, T. S. Williams, R. C. Wiley & Co., f and Beanman & Co.; one general store, by E. Horton; seven groceries; | two drug stores; several saloons; one boot and shoe store; two stove and p tin stores, one of which - L. Struble - makes a specialty of iron roofing and i does an extensive business in that line, he having letters patent for the article | of which he is the patentee; one furniture store and undertaker; one fur- ! niture manufacturer; two harness and saddler shops; two millinery stores; i two livery stables; one grist mill, erected about 1879 by Owens Bros., now i owned by Henry Merchantell; one saw and planing mill, erected by Young, j

Almy & Co., in 1881, who are still the proprietors and are doing a large buuness; one warehouse and grain dealer and shipper; two tile manu I facturers, Lambright & Fogelsong and Frederick Berlin; four physicians,

I J. A. Stansill, W. T. Gemmill, W. A. Swimley and Dr. Perce; two atj torneys, B. Bice and B. W. Walter mire; there are two hotels - Scott S House and Forest City House; three churches - Methodist Episcopal, Presj byterian and Methodist Protestant, and one fine, brick union school buildi ing, erected in 1872 at a cost of about $7,000.

There is one weekly newspaper called the News. It was established j in August, 1875, by J. J. Wilkins, and was conducted by him until Sep- I tember 17, 1877, when it was purchased by Harvey S. Horn, the present I publisher and proprietor. In August, 1878, the name of the paper was changed to the Review. It now has a circulation of 850, and under the j management of its present enterprising and gentlemanly editor, we feel as- I sured that the community will be furnished with an excellent local paper,

Seceet Societies

W. ; George Stephens, J, W. ; A. F. Stanley, Treas. ; B. C. Wiley, Sec.; B. Case, S. D. ; W. H. Seymour, J. D., and Alexander Shoemaker, T. The lodge meets in Masonic Hall on Tuesday evening on or before each full moon of every month. Present membership, forty-one. Present officers: B. C. Wiley, W. M. ; F. B. Beese, S. W. ; W. T. Gemmill, J. W. ; W. K. Evans, Sec.; C. W. Wykoff, Treas.; B. W. Waltermire, S. D. ; A. Shoemaker, J. D., and M. Briggs, T.

i John Loubert, J. Van Tilbury, Adam Moore, Amos Waltermire, William :| Miller, B. W. McClosky, and officered as follows: A. W. Worley, N. G. ;

J , A. W. Worley, William Miller, W. H. Morris, B. F. Gardner, Solomon ; Kegg, D. W. Alter and John Loubert. Officers: A. W. Worley, C. P. ;

S. Horn, T. J. Cellar, E. H. Cook, E. A. Cook, J. A. Pittsford; Jonathan Bowser, J. J. Myer, B. W. Waltermire and D. T. Kobey. Officers: B. W. Waltermire, D.; D. T. Robey, Y. D. ; H. S. Horn, R. ; E. H. Cook, F. R., and C. A. Stockton, Treas. They meet in Odd Fellows Hall the first and third Monday evenings of each month. The present membership is twentytwo. Officers: F. B. Reese, D. ; McD. Harmas, V. D. ; H. S. Horn, R. ;

Dunlap and wife, David Armstrong and wife, Robert Armstrong, A. W. Worley and wife, Abraham Clark and wife, Joseph McClurg and wife, Adam McClurg, Robert McMaster and wife, Reuben Gilliland and wife, William Moore and Mr. Allen. The church was organized by Rev. Mr. Clark, who preached a few times and was succeeded by Rev. Messrs. Graham, Emerson, Van Eman and perhaps one or two others. At the organization, A. W. Worley and Samuel Dunlap were chosen Elders. In May, 1857, the church was divided; twenty- seven members, with two others, were organized into the Patterson Church. The name " Harmony" was now dropped, and " Forest" substituted in its place. The church was organized in the house of D. H. Warner, where they continued to worship for a time; then in a little schoolhouse; then in Mr. Warner's barn; then, again, in the schoolhouse, and then in the churches of the Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant denominations until, in 1876, they erected the church edifice they now occupy, at a cost of about |1,700. The ministers who have served this church since the division of the old Harmony Church have been as follows: Revs. R. H. Holliday, W. Dalzell, J. K.

Kost, James Pelan, W. M. Reed, R. M. Badeau, Henry Bain, J. B. Strain, W. F. Cellar and T. J. Cellar, the present supply, who has served the churches of Forest, and Patterson for ten years. The Elders have been D. H, Warner, Adam McClurg, James Clark, John Alter, Dr. J. A. Stansill, Thomas Clark, D. W. Taft and Henry Schriver. Those now in service are

D. H. Warner, John Alter, James Clark, D. W. Taft and Henry Schriver. The Trustees are David Alter, S. P. Zimmerman and Russell Price. The present number of communicants is sixty-five.

Patterson Presbyterian Church was organized May 28, 1857, by Rev R. H. Holliday - just after the division of the old Harmony Church - assisted by Elder B. Mansfield, a committee of the Presbytery of Findlay, [with the following members: A. W. Worley and wife, Mrs. Harriet Boslow,

Jackson Toavnship

Elders have been A. W. Worley, Isaiah Tches, William H. Seymour, William Fitch, John Funk, E. H. Beardsley, Kobert McMaster, Nicholas Iches, James B. Pool, George P. Codding, R. S. Latham and J. W. Iches. Those now in active service are W. H. Seymour, James B. Pool, R. S. Latham and J. W. Iches. Trustees, W. H. Seymour, J. W. Iches and Abram Hemmerly. The present membership is fifty.

Forest Methodist Protestant Church, it is believed, was organized in the fall of 1869, by Rev. Mr. Evans. The organization took place in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and consisted of the following members: Dr.-

J. T. Lillibridge and wife, Sidney Moore and wife, Thompson Moore and wife, Mrs. D. B. Branch, Miss Miriam Mansfield, Mrs. Harlow Cook, Elnora Cook, George Bushong, Maggie Liles, Mrs. Martha Pearce, Mrs. Fanny Campbell, Eli Wells and wife, Richard Wells, Mrs. George Stephens, Anna Stephens, E. W. McClosky and wife, Thomas Callahan and wife, Augustus Caverly and wife. Miss Mercy Caverly, Dr. J. T. Gemmill and wife, John Wells and possibly a few others. They held services occasionally in the Methodist Episcopal Church until the summer of 1870, when they erected their present neat and commodious brick church, at a cost of about |4,0U0. The ministers who have served as pastors are Revs. Evans, Adams, Baker, Thrailkill, R. K. Davis, W. M. Creamer, Dr. J. Flood, Cadwallader, W. R. Seuman and A. A. Munson, who is the present pastor in chargfe. The first Class Leader was Eli Wells; the present one now in service is Samuel Bushong. Present membership is over one hundred. A good Sabbath school is connected with the church, with an average attendance of about seventy, with Samuel Bushong as Superintendent.

Saint Peter^s German Reformed Church was organized August 16, 1868, at Forest, by Rev. Charles Shoaf, with fifteen members; but it continued for only a brief period, when the organization ceased and has never been re-organized.

Catholic Church, Forest.'^ - About fifteen or twenty years ago, there were about fourteen Catholic families at Forest. Their number, however, never increased sufficiently to warrant the erection of a church; for, although new families would be added from time to time, yet death took away many of the members, whilst others moved to places closer to a church and Catholic school, so that at present only eight families remain. Thus, of the earliest Catholic snttlers, John Sullivan, William Bowler, Thomas Manning, Peter Brown and James Dorgan died at Forest; Louis Bittel and Thomas Mongiven departed this life after moving elsewhere; Ferdinand Kurtz, James Moran and James Lilis are living at other places, whilst the Widow Manning, the Widow Curtin and the family of Jacob Schotts still remain. The first priests coming to Forest were Fathers Mathias, Kreusch, Henry Drees and Patrick Henneberry, of the Society of the Most Precious Blood. Father Mathias the people used to call " the old saint." Afterward Father Murphy, from Lima, attended; then again Father Mathias and Father Christian French, C. P. P. S. From 1866, the priests stationed at E,enton attended this place, as a rule, once in each month, generally on week days but exceptionally on Sundays. Then came, in order, Fathers Nicholas Raymond Young, Augustine M. Quatman, Nicholas J. V. Fas, and, toward the end of 1871, the writer of this sketch. Forest remained in our charge ever since, excepting about seven months in 1881, when the priest of Bellefontaine. Rev. Honoratus Bourion, had received the appointment. Our rev- erend assietants, mentioned elsewhere in this work, very frequently conducted divine worship at this station. At first, service was held principally in the houses of Mr. Kurtz and Mr. Moran. The former still remembers helping Father Patrick to make the first rough confessional. In 1875, we celebrated mass in one of the rooms of the public school building. We recollect teaching catechism and hearing confession in one room, whilst the teachers' institute met in the other. Since 1875, service has been held in the house of Mr. Schotts. Among the more devoted members, for the last ! nine years, Jacob Weiman deserves to be honorably mentioned.

Patterson Methodist Episcopal Church. - We have been unable to obtain as full and complete a history of this society as we desired, from the fact that all its first members, it appears, have passed away, either by death or removal; but, from the best information we could obtain, it was organized about 1847, in the old log schoolhouse just east of the village, by Rev. Fechtly. Some of the members were as follows, viz. : A. F. Stanley,

Elizabeth Price, Mrs.' Purdy, John Jackson and Henry Zimmerman and wife Betsey, with A. F. Stanley as Class Leader. They held services in the schoolhouse until about 1852, when they erected their present frame church, which was duly dedicated to service. The society has had its seasons of prosperity and its times of adversity. They had, at one time, a season of great revival, and forty persons were taken into full connection in the church. At its maximum of prosperity, it has had a membership of about a hundred and forty members. Some of the early ministers were Revs. Williams, Hagerman, Joseph Good, ^Joseph Wykes, Enos Holmes, I.

Forest Methodist Episcopal Church. - The early history of this church is nearly gone to oblivion, like that of the Patterson Church. It was, however, probably organized a few years later ihan that at Patterson. Some of the first members are believed to have been as follows: Rev.

Bainbridge, Henry Bainbridge, Andrew Bainbridge, Mr. Blue and Conrad Zimmerman. Their church building was the first erected in Forest, and has gradually increased in membership until now (1883) the church has a membership of 120, with Rev. J. H. Cater as its pastor, and J. S. Hale, Samuel Briggs and E. H. Van Buren, Stewards. Class Leaders are E, D. Cole, W. K. Evans and J. H, Forney.

The first established burial-place in this township is on the Hueston land, on the bank of the Blanchard, in the southwest corner of Section 1, and was dedicated to the reception of the dead by James E. Hueston, on the death of his wife, Mrs. Margaret Hueston, who died August 18, 1831, and whose body is deposited here, and from that time to the present has received many of the dead of the early settlers of this neighborhood. The old Patterson Cemetery, situated half a mile northwest of Patterson, on the north line of Section 18, was generously donated for burial purposes by Josiah Price about 1849-50. A few years since, it was deeded to the Trustees, and is now kept fenced and put in order by them. Here rest the remains of many of the early and prominent men of Patterson and vicinity, such as A. W. Worley, Dr. A. F. Stanley, John McVitty, Henry Zimmerman and many others. Patterson Cemetery, situated just a few rods further, and on the opposite side of the road from the old cemetery, was

CAPT. P. C. BOSLOW, retired, Patterson. Among the pioneers of Hardin County we find and record the name of Capt. Boslow, whose father, John, was a native of Virginia, but whose father, again, in early life, settled in Canada, where John matured and married Mar^" Condon, of New Brunswick. In 1832, he came to Ohio with his wife and eight children, settling near Cleveland, but he died in 1848, in Green County, Wis., and his widow died in Bichmond, Ind., in 1881. Of their nine children, Peter C. is the fourth, and was born near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1819, but from the age of thirteen }^ears has been a resident of Ohio, and, since 1845, has lived in Hardin County. The following year, he and H. D. Harrison laid out Patterson, and in the same year he married Harriet Sherrer, of Boss County". Soon afterward, he opened a store, and, for a number of }'ears, he was identified with all the leading interests in and about Patterson. His official capacity has been varied to almost every office in the township. In 1861, he raised Company C, Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantiy, of which he was made Captain, with recruiting commission. The following Ma}-, he was discharged for disability and returned home. He now lives retired, and is one of the well-to-do citizens of the county.

JOHN BBIGGS, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a son of Bobert Briggs, who was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., March 20, 1800, and died in Hardin County, Ohio, February 17, 1879. He matured in his native county, where he married, in 1823, Mary Pickett, of the same county, born earty in the present centurj', and who died in Bichland County, Ohio, about 1834. While yet in England, they buried one child, and, in 1833, the\" came with four children to Ohio, where Mary soon after died. After a residence of three years there, he came to Hardin County as a pioneer, and bought eighty acres of land in Jackson Township, and subsequently bought forty acres more. In religion, he was a whom he had four children. The names of his nine children are John, Elizabeth, Mar}", Sarah, Bobert, Amos, Mathew, Jane and Mitchell. Of the entire family, John is the oldest, born in England, December 23, 1824, but, at nine 3'ears of age, came to Ohio ; at twelve, to Hardin County, where he is now the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of land. At an early age, he saw the value of education, and applied himself as best he could in those pioneer daj's, and, at the age of seventeen, began to teach school, being one of the earl}'' teachers on the Blanchard. This claimed his attention for nine winters. Since 1850, he has devoted his time exclusively to farming and stock-raising. Mr. Briggs has, by industry and prudence, placed himself among the well-to-do citizens of the county. On June 6, 1850, he married Margaret Elder, by whom

: became a pioneer of Delaware County, Ohio, where he settled in 1802, and 1 1 remained a resident of until his death. His son George, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Franklin County, Penn., and died in Delaware , Count}^, Ohio. ' His wife, Rachel Fleming, was a native of Venango County,

/ Penn., and is still living, at the ripe age of eighty years. George and his father t were both Elders of the Presbyterian Church. George and his wife were the i parents of seven sons and two daughters, of whom the following survive :

; (Presbyterian clergyman) and Martha E. Rev. T. J. Cellar was born in Dela- ( ware CounW, Ohio, October 1, 1827, and, after receiving a common school edu- ;| cation, entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, from which he :j graduated. He was licensed to preach in 1866, and ordained in June of the j following jmar. His pastoral labors began in November, 1866, in Wyandot I County, Ohio, and from there he moved to Forest in 1873. He was married ito Eliza G. Harter, by whom he has a family of six children, five of whom survive, viz., George A., Jennie B., Enora H., Martha E. and Anna P.

' born in Lancashire, England, in 1785, and died in Hardin County July 16, 1868. He was reared to rural life in England, and in 1821 married Mary Wells, of the same county, and two years later came to America, stopping in New York State for a time. In 1824, they came to Mansfield, Ohio, and in 1835, with six children, settled in the then wilds of Hardin County, entering 120 acres of land in Sections 25 and 26 of Jackson Township. The late Mr. Copeland was a man of strong mind and constitution, turning his entire attention to rural pursuits. Even, plentiful as game of all kinds was, he seldom, if ever, made an}^ of it hispre3^ He and wife were members of the Methodist, Church, and were among the ones to establish Methodism in Hardin Countv\ He was repeatedly Trustee and School Director. Their children numbered seven, viz., Charlotte, Rebecca, Henry (deceased), Catharine, Thomas, John, and Wesley (deceased). The subject of this biographj" was born in 1834 in Richland County, Ohio, but since infanc}^ has been a resident of this county, and now owns 120 acres of land. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Munson. Five of j their six children are now living.

DAVID E. FISHER, farmer, P. 0. Patterson, is a son of Mathew Fisher, who was born in Allegheny County, Penn., April 23, 1807, and who, when bordering on manhood, settled with his parents on the Muskingum River, Ohio, where he married Susan Mitchell, a native of Pennsylvania, born April 19, 1807. They settled in Hardin County in 1875, where she died. (If their < twelve children, David E. is the seventh, and was born in Muskingum Count}^,

. Ohio, September 11, 1839. He reached his seventeenth year in his native I county, and acquired a common education, which he has since greatly improved I by home studjc During 1857 and 1858, he was in Missouri and Iowa, but has f since been a resident of Ohio, where he has handled agricultural implements for Aultman & Taylor, of Mansfield, and fora time was Superintendent of their lumberyard; subsequently, he represented the Findley' Manufacturing Company during three years. On June 13, 1876, he took out a patent on his " 0 K " farming-mill, in wliicli he has perfect control of screens while running ; uses the same screen for coarse or fine, wet or dry wheat ; besides this, he has his "shoe" hung on diamond springs, which adds much to the ease of running the mill. He now lives on his farm of thirty-eight acres in Jackson Township, ^ where he has been elected as Trustee several terms ; he is the present Assessor of his precinct, and has served for nine years in the same capacity. His wife was Miss Lydia A. Fitch, of Jackson Township, Wyandot Co., Ohio. They have seven children, all living - Milro}' M., Martha A., Eva V., Emma M. and Mathew R. (twins), John W. C. and Jane W. He and his wife belong to the Baptist Church and also the Grange. The mother of our subject was born April 19, 1807, died May 7, 1876, aged sixty-nine years and eighteen days.

SAMUEL GEORGE (deceased) was a son of William George, who was of German descent, and who died in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1844. He was by occupation a carpenter and cooper. His wife was Lena FIull, of Scotch descent ; she died in 1849. Of their twelve children, Samuel was the eleventh, and was born September 14, 1818, and died September 29, 1882. He matured and was married in his native county to Catharine Elaton, and, in 1857, came to Hardin County. They settled west of Forest, where he bought 160 acres of land, all in the woods, which he improved, undergoing much hard work. He was a man of large frame and good constitution ; he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and evinced a firm Christian character. Mrs. George was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1822, and now resides in Forest. Of her five children, four are living, viz. : James M., William E., Jane F. (Mrs. William Metcher), and Ann M. (now Mrs, McKean.) Mr. Metcher is one of the Township Trustees, was born in Hancock County, and is of German descent. He owns a fine farm of eighty acres, and good town property in Forest, where he resides,

JOHN HAFER (deceased), was born in Pennsylvania September 17, 1809, and died in this county July 16, 1882. He matured in his native State, where, on April 12, 1831, he married Catharine Howard, of the same State. In 1850, they came to Ohio, settling at Milton, where his wife died the following year, and five of their ten children are*now living. John's second wife was Elizabeth Sheckler, to whom he was united September 9, 1852. She was born near Mansfield, Ohio, June 25, 1824. Their family consisted of five children, of whom four are now living, viz. : Mary E., widow of Capt. Herrick, who, for a number of years, taught school in Hardin County : George W., William C. and Franklin S. Mr. Hafer and family moved to Hardin County from Crawford County during the late war, and bought land where he has since lived, in Jackson Township. He cleared his farm of eighty acres and improved it, but, up to the time of coming to Hardin, he chiefly followed his trade as carpenter. In early life, he belonged to the United Brethren Church, but in later life joined the Methodist Church for convenience of attendance.

J. S. HALE, real estate agent. Forest, is a son of Charles and grandson of Randall Hale, the latter having been born in New England, of English extraction. He was a patriot in the Revolutionary war. His wife w^as a Miss Taylor, cousin of Zachary Taylor. He and wife both died in Hancock County, whither they had migrated at an early day. Of their eight children, Charles was the fourth, born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1815, died in Hancock County, in 1876. At the time of his death, he had resided fortysix years in Hancock County, where he followed farming. His wife was Eliza Swinglar, of Jefferson County, and now a resident of Arcadia, Ohio. Their union resulted in nine children, of whom J. S. is the fifth. He was born in Hancock County, Ohio, in 1843. He was raised to farm life, and acquired a common school education, subsequently taking a commercial course. At the age of seventeen, he commenced clerking in the dry goods line, and has since carried on the business in different places. He came to Forest in 1871, where he established a drug store, and altogether has been in the business eight years. He has done much to improve the town, and now possesses two large brick business houses. In 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantr}^, serving one year, and participating in the battles of Vicksburg and Arkansas Post. He was married in Jul}^, 1868, to Nancy Scott, who was born in 1841. She is a daughter of John and Lucy Scott, pioneers of Round Head. Mr. and Mrs. Hale have four children.

I. B. HARMAN, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a son of Christian and a grandson of John Harman. The latter was a native of G-ermany, came to America in middle life, and settled in Columbiana Count}-, Ohio, where he died about 1836, aged nearly ninety years. Christian, his third son, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1790, and died in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1844. He acquired a common school education, and, early in life, joined the Methodist Church, although he had been raised by Lutheran parents, and soon after became an exhorter and finally a licensed minister. He served in his profession until declining health forbade it. ' His wife was Elizabeth Bowker, a native of New Jersey, and of Irish descent, born about 1803, and died in Hardin County, Ohio, in 1863. Of their three sons - Isaiah B., William H. and Emanuel P. ; the eldest and youngest survive. Isaiah was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1816, came to Hardin County in 1863, and now owns ninet}^- five acres of land in Jackson Township. His wife was Margaret R., daughter of Rev. William Stone. She was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., and died in Hardin County, Ohio, March 19, 1876, aged nearly sixty years. Their children were : Ann E., Christian C., Margaret J., Willard F., William H., John W., Emanuel I., Marietta, David L. and Elmer E., all living. Mr. Harman has served as Township Trustee and School Director.

WILLIAM HEMPY, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a son of Peter Hempy, whose father was born near Lutzenburg, Germany. Peter Hempy was born in the State of Mar}-land, where he matured and married iMary Michael, of the same State. During the first decade of the present century, they settled in .Fairfield County, Ohio, where they both died. He was a millwright by trade, but owned and lived on a farm. He furnished a substitute in the war of 1812 from Fairfield County, where William, the sixth of their thirteen children, was born April 15, 1823. William matured in his native county, where he received a common school education, and when sixteen years old was enabled to teach. About this time, his father died, leaving him entirely alone in the circle of life. On June 15, 1851, he married Christina Trissler, and the same year purchased and settled on five acres of land in this township. By strict economy and industrj-, he and his wife have accumulated until they now own nearly 400 acres of good land. In 1863, when all building material was extremely high, his entire buildings were swept away by the devouring flames. Mr. Hempy has always been handy with tools, and has done considerable carpentering, which was convenient for him in many instances when starting in the dense wilderness of Hardin County. He has devoted some time to saw-milling, and for several years had a mill on his farm. He and wife have had eight children, seven of whom are now living. Mrs. Hempy is a sister of J. R. Trissler, whose sketch appears in this volume.

CAPT. CYRUS HERRICK, deceased, was a son of Ezra Herrick, who was a resident of the neighborhood of Dunkirk, Ohio, at the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1871. Cyrus Herrick was born near Hawley, Oakland Co., Mich., December 13, 1841. In 1847, his father moved to Ohio and settled in Blanchard Township, this count3^ He bought eiglity acres of the farm that the Captain owned when he died. The place was but a wild forest without even a house. They unloaded their goods under the trees and went to work to build a house, where they lived until the late rebellion. Capt. C. Herrick enlisted in the Eighty-second Regiment as private; was promoted to Second Lieutenant July 17, 1862, to First Lieutenant July 31, 1862, and to Captain May 3, 1863, serving to tlie close of the war. While in the service, he obtained a furlough to visit his home, on which occasion he married Miss Par- i nielia Wilson, daughter of 11. S. Wilson. This was on February 9, 1864. At j the close of the war, he came home and bought his father's farm, and, in a short time, bought 100 acres more, which made him a home of 180 acres. In 1869, he built a large barn; in 1873, he built a large brick house at a cost of $4,500.

On December 17, 1874, his wife died, leaving three children, two now living - , Emma and Anna. On March 16, 1876, he married a second time. The partner of his choice was Miss Mary E. Hafer, daughter of Jolin Hafer ; he had i been acquainted with the lady for a number of years ; she having taught school in his district at one time. By this union two children were born - Gertie and Alice, Alice being only eight weeks old when her father died, and his widow was but twenty-six years of age. In 1879, Capt. Herrick bought another farm of 117 acres, which gave him in the aggregate a farm of nearly 300 acres. He died March 8, 1880.

JAMES M. HIGGINS, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a sou of William Higgins, ! who was born April 22, 1805, near Philadelphia, Penn., and died in Hardin County, Ohio, in 1858. He was raised in his native State and was married in Fayette County, in 1826, to Mary A., daughter of David Trissler. She was born near Hagerstown, Md., December 22, 1807. They came to Ohio in 1831, stopping in Jefferson County, but in 1836 came to Hardin Count}q settling on i Section 2 of Jackson Township, where he entered fort}^ acres of land. He was } a stout, hearty man, energetic and industrious, and erelong he had transformed the handiwork of nature into open and productive fields. He had eleven chib f dren - David, Mary A., Eliza, Christina (who married, and at her death left a |- family), William, Margaretta, John J., Frances M., James M., Amanda E. and George W. Of this family our subject was the ninth, and was born in Jackson | Township April 11, 1844. He has alwa3^s resided in the count}" and followed ' | farming, save nine months during the late war. He is a live, energetic, tidy j I. and practical farmer, owning 140 acres, well improved in modern style. His i 1 wife was Miss Annie R., daughter of Jasper M. Pimperton. She was born inij i Hardin County, and they have one child - Eva. ^

JOHN J. HIGGINS, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a brother of J. M. Higgins, j i whose sketch appears in this volume. John was born in Jackson Township, i| j February 9, 1841. He has always resided in Hardin County and followed ! n farming, and is now the owner of 229 acres of well-improved land in Jackson ] ; Township. This he cleared and improved himself, and has it stocked with good | i cattle, sheep, hogs and horses. He was married to Nancy M., daughter of Na- | thaniel Miller, of Hancock County, where she was born in 1840. They have a ! i family of four children. 1

HARVEY S. HORN, editor of the Review., Forest, is a grandson of a i German physician who died' in Findlay, Ohio, in 1868, and a son of J. B. Horn, ; who was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and who came to America inij 1837. Harvey was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, November 11, 1854, butj from boyhood matured in Findlay, where he graduated in the union schools | May 24, 1872. In 1873, he entered the office of the Hancoch Courier as printer, j After four years' experience there, he came to Forest, where he is editing and 1 publishing the Forest Review, a weekly issue. j

DAVID KELLOGG, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a son of David Kellogg, Sr., and a grandson of Daniel Kellogg. The latter was born in Massachusetts, but died in Connecticut. He was a farmer near North Hampton. Of his sons, David was the youngest, born in Hampshire County, Mass., about 1785, and died, near Kenton, Hardin County, during the late war. He married, in his native | State, Abigail Ward, and soon after was called in the service of the 1812 war.j

After a short service at Boston, he returned home, but not until 1835 did he conclude to make his home in the West. In that year, he settled near Kenton, this county, where he bought 40 acres and entered 160 acres. He was a stout, robust man, and able to withstand all the privations subject to those early days. He lived a widower several years. Of his children, David, our subject, is the second eldest, and was born in Mass, in 1816, but since 1835, has lived in Hardin Count}', and now owns 80 acres of land, which he has cleared and improved. His wife was Isabelle Howey, who died in 1841, leaving four children - Mary, Maggie, John and Jane. His second wife was Miss Sarah Reichert, of Pennsylvania, but for a number of years a resident of Ohio.

DANIEL KELLOGG-, farmer, P. 0. Patterson, is a brother of David Kellogg, under whose name the ancestral history appears. Daniel was born in Massachusetts, November 22, 1814, but since 1835, has been a resident of Ohio, mainl}^ of Hardin County ; when he came here he was just bordering on manhood, and commenced thinking of his future accumulation. The county was new and wild, land cheap and plenty still to be entered from the Government, but as he was poor, having nothing but energy, industry and good health to rely on, he concluded to enter a quarter-section of land now in Jackson Township, on which he resides ; soon after this, he engaged by the month as farm hand in Fairfield County, and while thus engaged bought forty acres of land near Kenton, to which he returned in 1842. In 1854, he married Caroline Eaton, and settled on his farm, where they remained until March, 1870, in which }mar they came to their present location in Section 35. His entire life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he raises good stock. He and his wife have one child - H. B.

JOHN McELREE, farmer, P. 0. Patterson, is a son of Thomas McElree, a native of the North of Ireland, where he learned and carried on the weaving trade and married Jane McFadden. In 1833, they emigrated to America with two children, settling near Lancaster, Penn., and, thirty }mars later, came to Hardin County, where Thomas died and his widow still survives. In Hardin County, he followed farming pursuits and accumulated a neat competency. He and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian Church. Of seven children born to them, John, our subject, is the fourth and was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1840. He reached his majority in his native State, but, since 1862, has resided, uninterruptedly, in Hardin County, where he now owns 320 acres of land, all under good cultivation and well improved. In 1874, he was chosen one of the County Commissioners, and is now one of the Trustees of Jackson Township, in which capacity he served in 1867. In 1868, he married Leah M. Scribner, of Marion County, by whom he has had a family of five children. Mrs. McElree was originally a Miss Owen, and her first husband's name was Henry Scribner, by whom she had two children.

'JOHN McVITTY (deceased) was born in Franklin Count^q Penn., April 25, 1808, and died in Jackson Township, this county, December 11, 1881. His father was John, > Sr., of Scotch descent, but who spent the greater part of his life in Pennsylvania. Our subject was raised in his native State, acquired a fair education, and learned the trade of millwright. He and his brother Noah came in 1835 to this county, and entered land in Section 14, of what is now Jackson Township - John on 160 acres and Noah on eight3^ The following year they returned to the Keystone State and married sisters, John to Frances Culbertson, and Noah to Mary Culbertson. The}^ all, in the same year, came to Hardin County and settled on their previously entered homes, where Noah died in 1839, leaving a widow, who now lives in Pennsylvania, but no family. John and wife were spared to face the pioneer hardships of the county. He was at all time ready to assist in any improvements beneficial to the county, and thercb}^ won the esteem of his fellow-men, who elected him as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, in which | ! capacity he served three years, besides being repeatedl}^ elected Trustee and i > Treasurer of Jackson Township. Soon after coming to Hardin County, Mr. ; McVitty became, probably, the first school teacher in Jackson Township. His [ family consisted of twelve children, of whom N. T. is the eldest, being born on i > the old homestead of Jackson Township, in May, 1838, a life-long resident | s and farmer of Hardin Count}^^, and now owner of 200 acres. His wife is Zada, ! « sister of Dr. Stansell. Their children are John E., William M. and Emma J. ill NICHOLAS MILLEB, farmer, P. 0. Patterson, was born in Hesse- ||l Darmstadt, Germany, October 18, 1823, and was left an orphan when only jll fourteen years old, but soon after, his cousin, Nicholas Leffert, with a family !| 1 emigrated to America, bringing the young lad along. The}" settled near l|f Kenton, where Leffert died. On reaching their destination. Miller owed his !| i cousin for his passage, which he was to refund by working at the rate of $2.50 | si per month. Health was spared him, and in due time the passage or fare was lif i worked out. He was now sixteen years old, without a parent's counsel, and if C penniless ; however, John H. Houser, an old pioneer, induced him to make his home with him and work two years, at the expiration of which time he would C make him a deed for forty acres of land, now in Cessna Township. With a | longing desire to be the owner of a farm, the time soon went by, and he, at the | I age of eighteen years, was one of Hardin County's land owners. In June, 1843, ^ I he married Martha A., daughter of Bev. Samuel Badley, and at once com- j 1 menced to clear his farm, when life began in earnest. In 1848, his wife died, Jii leaving two children, both now dead. His second wife was Barbara Stall, of jijl Champaign County, Ohio, but born in Pennsylvania October 12, 1830. With* |! health and energy, he continued until he now owns 200 acres of land in Jackson f||lt Township, the result of his own legitimate efforts. He has, for twenty-three |i i fi years, been Collector of delinquent taxes of Jackson Township. He and hisl il present wife have eleven children - Malisca, Nicholas S. (deceased), John H. | it (now conductor on the B. & 0. Bailroad), Bufus B. (conductor on the I., B. ' J & W. Bailroad), George W., Fred T., Fannie M., Joseph H., William U., | ^ I Horta and Hayes. f ji

JACOB NAUS, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a son of William Naus, who was| ||| born in Virginia, of German parentage. Pie matured in his native State, but i }i soon after went to Bedford County, Penn., where he married Christina Wean, i , ill They lived in said county, where he followed farming. At their death, they* i| were nearly threescore years of age. Of their ten children, Jacob is the old-| ji est, and was born June 20, 1813, in Bedford County, wl)ere he marrie>d Nancy ! || Pickering, a native of Bedford County also, where she was born March 28,1 j|i 1818. They came to Ohio in 1836, settling in Bichland County, but thirteen | jif years later came to Hardin, having in the meantime owned a home and lived] || in Hancock County. Two hundred and ten acres of his land lie in Hardin! County, and forty in Hancock. Although his trade is shoe-making, he has done \\\ a great deal of hard work in clearing away the dense forest of Hardin County, | m having attained his present financial position through his own legitimate efforts,'? I|| Mr. and Mrs. Naus have a family of six children, viz.: Joshua, Washington,! .1| John P., William H., David A. and Amanda E. [ J|

A. D. PIFEB, merchant. Forest, was born in Hancock County, Ohio.i m in 1854. His father was killed in a saw mill in 1859, and our subject lived wittf t i his mother till he was fifteen years old, when he went to Michigan and lived! 'i tj| with his brother two years. He had very poor health, so he returned to NeT\| ' Stark, Ohio, and obtained a clerkship in the store of S. W. Mock, where hei i worked for two years, and then went to Ada to school one term, which was al!| i | the schooling he ever had. He then went to Dunkirk and bought a half in | ) terest in a store in that place. He was married while there, and then sold oulj J |

JASPER M. PIMPERTON, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a son of William Pimperton, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1791, where he married Susanna Bassatt. In March, 1827, they emigrated with four children to Canada, arriving in Port Hope, Upper Canada, now Ontario, where Mr. Pimperton, Sr., engaged in farming. In June, 1835, he came to Hardin County, where he took up 525 acres of land in Section 6, Jackson Township, but, returning to Canada,

: he did not move his wife and six children until 1838. With the assistance of his sons, he cleared up the greater part of his farm. He died in 1861, his wife having left him a widower in 1846. Jasper M. is the second child of the above parents, and was born in Lincolnshire, England, December 1, 1817, and came with his father to Hardin County, Ohio, in 1838, where he has ever since resided and followed farming. His farm consists of 100 acres in Section 6, which he inherited from his father. On October 20, 1842, he married Charlotte Copeland, of Lincolnshire, England, who in early life came to America. The issue of this union is seven children, viz.: Mary S. (deceased), Martha M., Mary C, (deceased), Malicia E. (deceased), Rebecca A., William W. and John T.

DAVID P. PRICE, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a son of Josiah Price, who was born in New Jersey, August 12, 1782, and died in Hardin County, Ohio, October 3, 1862. He was left an orphan in early life, but attained manhood in ' Washington County, Penn. Subsequently he came to Jefferson Countj^, Ohio, i where he married Catharine Farber, who was born January 24, 1786, and died July 6, 1836. In the early part of this century, they settled in Stark County, where Mr. Price entered the army during the war of 1812. They remained in ^ Stark County until 1848, when they came to Hardin County and settled near Patterson, where Mr. Price bought a farm of over 200 acres. Here he died, after a long and eventful life as a pioneer in Ohio, leaving his second wife (who still survives) a widow. Of his nine children, four were sons, and five daugh- ' ters, viz. : Philip (deceased), David P., Phebe (deceased), Eliza (deceased), Martha (deceased), Benjamin, Sarah (deceased), John (deceased), and Margaret. David P. is the eldest survivor, and was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, May 24, 1807, but reached his majority in Stark County, where he married Mary L., daughter of Joseph Tucker. She was born in Chittenden County, Vt., December 16, 1816. They came to Hardin CounU^ in the same year as his father (1848), and he is now owner of a good farm in Jackson Township of 165 acres ; and this fine farm by industry and perseverance he has redeemed from . the wild forest to well subdued and cultivated soil. They are now among the leading and highly esteemed families of the county. They are chiefly members of the Methodist Church. The names of the children are Joseph R., Josiah B., Sarah C., Emma J. and Alonzo T.

RUSSELL PRICE, attorney at law and Mayor, Forest, is a son of Henry Price, who was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, but when a boy was stolen from home and carried into Ohio. While on the road, his people pursued the thieves in vain. He reached his majority near Athens. He finally married Elvira Corey, of Athens Count}', Ohio. They spent many years in Madison County, where he followed the stock-raising business. In 1847, they settled in Kenton, where he engaged in a " busline," from Marion to Lima, which he continued until his death in 1855. His widow died January 18, 1881, while visiting in Ottawa, Ohio. The children by this union were Shelby, John C., Henrietta, Annetta V., Robert E., and Russell, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1847, but has lived since childhood in Hardin County. He improved the privileges of the schools of Kenton, and soon after his majority commenced reading law under attorney John D. King. On August 25, 1871, he was admitted to the bar, since which he has practiced in the count3L 111 1879, he was admitted to the United States District and Circuit Courts, and in 1881 was elected Ma^^or of Forest, his present position. His wife is Addie B., daughter of W. H. Backus, and three children are the issue of this union, viz.: Henry B., Charles B. and William B.

B. F. PURDEY, farmer, P. 0. Forest. He is a son of Stephen Purdey and a grandson of Grilbert Purdey. The latter was a native of New York State, but died in Richland County, Ohio, where he had followed farming and blacksmithing. Of his sons, Stephen was born in New York State, but died in Hardin County, Ohio. He matured in his native State, where, on Februar}" 1, 1817, he married Ann Tibbs, who still survives, aged eight}''-three 3"ears. In 1829, they came to Ohio, settling in Ha3^sville, Richland Count3^, where he followed his trade, but in 1836, he came to Hardin County with his wife and six children, buying eight3^ acres in Section 12 of Jackson Township. Here he began life anew as the first blacksmith in Jackson Township, following his trade until the misfortune of a runaway horse disabled him, rendering him ever afterward an invalid ; he died September 5, 1865, aged seventy-three 3^ears. The children of this family were William (deceased), Phebe (deceased), P. Henry, John E., William E., George H. (who graduated at Delaware, Ohio, became an attorney and during the late war raised a- compan3', served as Captain, and was killed at Chancellorsville Ma3^ 3, 1863), Alfred, Anna E., Stephen (deceased), B. F. and James L. (deceased). Benjamin F. was born on the farm he now owns, in 1841. He received a common school education, and has alwa3"s followed farming, but for a number of years has been engaged in threshing wheat ; his wife is Eddie C., daughter of E. P. Harman. She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1850. To this union have been born seven children - Adin C., Harry B., George H., Earl A. (deceased), Tully E., Annie M. and Alice H.

J. A. SIEFERT, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a son of Jacob and Ann M. (Miller) Siefert, both natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, where thev died. Of their five children, our subject is the third, and was born June 19, 1819, in Hesse-Darmstadt, where he matured, and in September, 1852, married Anna IMargaret Shenabarger, who was born in 1831. Soon after they were married, they came to Pittsburgh, Penn., and in 1854 to Wyandot Count3^, Ohio, and the next 3^ear to Hardin County, where he bought his present farm of fift3^-five acres. This was all in the wilderness, but he and his wife have transformed it into a neat and comfortable home. They have no famiU, but are raising a foster child. They belong to the Lutheran Church.

JOSIAH SMITH, retired merchant. Forest. Among the earU merchants of Forest we record the above, with a brief notice of his father, John Smith, who was born, raised and married in Connecticut. In 1812, he moved with his wife and six children in an ox team to Ohio, settling in Fairfield Count3". For three decades they lived and farmed in the last-named county, but in 1842 settled near Mount Blanchard, Hancock County, where he and his wife both died. The following are the names of their children : Eliza M., Durias, John A., Alma, Josiah, Nelson, Martha E., Hannah and Mary. Of the entire family, our subject is the only survivor. He was born in Connecticut in 1809. In 1840, he went to Hancock County, Ohio, and there, the same year, married Ann Palmer, of Huron Count3^ She died the following year near Mt. Blanchard. His second wife was Miss E. V. Lillibridge, who came with him to Forest in 1855, where he opened the second dry goods store in the place. His five y^ears' experience as a merchant in Mount Blanchard enabled him, with his business talent and energy, to be ver3^ successful. His mercantile life ended in 1863, since which he has lived retired in a neat and comfortable home in the village of Forest.

DR. A. F. STANLEY (deceased) was a son of William Stanley, who lived in Hardin County, Ohio, from 1849 till 1854, in which latter year he and his wife settled near Wheeling, W. Ya. The Doctor was born in Trumbllu County, Ohio, October 25, 1815, and died in Patterson, Hardin County, Februar}^ 5, 1873. He was raised and educated in his native county, and took up the study of medicine, graduating in 1846, but in the following year properly commencing practice in Patterson, where he soon became known as a skillful physician, and one possessed of extraordinary good social qualities, and as a kind, obliging neighbor. His assistance was never lacking in the church of his choice (Methodist), while at the same time he was a zealous member of the Masonic Lodge. He was successful in life, and left at his death a neat competency for his family. The Doctor was married, March 15, 1842, to Angeline, daughter of John and Elizabeth Sapp, of Knox County, Ohio, where she was born in 1822. They had seven children, of whom five are living - William E., John K,., Harriet J., Carrie L. and A. F. The sons are in Kansas and two daughters in Ohio.

DR. J. A. STANSELL, physician, P. 0. Forest, is a son of George and grandson of William Stansell. The latter was of Holland parentage, but born in the State of New York, where he and his wife both died in Lockville. His personal observations of the Revolutionary war were limited, although two brothers were killed in that war. He was by occupation in early life a farmer and millwright, and owned 160 acres of land. When the Erie Canal was under construction, he contracted and graded three miles of it through his own farm, and also built three locks, la3dng out and naming the town of Lockport, N. Y. After its completion, George, his son, opened the locks and connected the first waters of Lake Erie and the Hudson River. Of his thirteen children, George, the father of Dr. J. A., was born in Wayne, now Ontario County, N. Y., January 12, 1801, and died in Wyandot Count^q Ohio, September 10, 1854. He was married in his native land, but, in 1835, the^^ emigrated to Ohio and settled in Richland Township in the county in which he died. His early life was devoted to work on the Erie Canal, but, after coming to Ohio, he was a pioneer woodsman and farmer of W}'andot County. His wife was Zada P. Bristoll, of Connecticut, where she was born and raised. She was born December 4, 1809, and died November 20, 1868. She was a daughter of David Bristoll, England, and whose wife was Sarah Prindell. Dr. Stansell, our subject, is one of a family of nine children, and the second eldest of the five survivors. He was born in Lockville, Ontario County, N. Y., in 1831, but since four years of age has been a resident of Ohio. He received his primary education in the common schools of W3^andot County, Ohio. At the age of seventeen, he commenced the study of medicine, although he was now four years under age. Subsequentl3" he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where nearl3^ three 3^ears' hard stud3^ was engaged in. In 1856-57«, he attended the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati, and, soon after, located at Patterson, in partnership with his preceptor. Dr. Stanley, and commenced his practice. In March, 1865, he graduated from the Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, and the following autumn located at Forest, where he enjoyed a liberal patronage. He was married, September 28, 1854, to Eveline C., daughter of John Adams, of Delaware Count3", Ohio, where she was born in 1833. B\' this union, there are four children, viz. ; Lill3^ J., wife of Capt. John Campbell ; Iva J., now Mrs. Allen T. West; Nellie J. and J. Franklin.

J. R. TRISSLER, farmer, J^. O. Forest, is a grandson of David Trissler, farmer, who was born in Germany, but many years ago emigrated to America and settled in Mainland, and in 1859 came to Hardin County, where he and his wife both died at advanced ages. Of their children, George W. was the hither of our subject, and was born in Maryland in 1810. He reached his majorit3" in Fayette Count3% Penn., where he married Ann Robinson, who was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., in 1797. In March, 1839, thc3', with three children, reached Har- in County. He kept adding to what he already had, until a neat and comfortable competeney marked the result of his untiring efforts. This he divided with his children. His occupation in early life was shoe-making, but latterly he devoted his time totally to rural pursuits. He and wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, but finally became members of the Christian Church, in which faith they died, he in April of 1875, and she in September of the same year. Two of the children still survive - Mrs. William Hempy and J. R. The latter was born in Fa^^ette County, Penn., December 24, 1836, but has, since three }^ears of age. lived in this county, now owning 222 acres of land. In 1859, he married Martha, daughter of Robert Wilson, Sr. She died in 1863, of Thomas Hueston. whom he married in 1864. She was born in Jackson Township in 1837. The issue of this union is two children - Thomas H. and Annie H.

B. W. WALTERMIER, attorney. Forest, was born in Missouri in 1858. His father lost his life in the war in 1863, and his mother soon after died, leaving three orphan children, who were brought to Wyandot Count}^, Ohio, where our subject received a common school education, which he completed at the Northwestern Ohio Normal, at Ada, Ohio, in 1876. He then immediately began the study of law under Russell Price, of Forest, in connection with school teaching, until 1880, when he was admitted to the bar, and is now practicing his profession.

DAVID H. WARNER, retired, P. 0. Forest, is a grandson of a Revolutionary soldier who fought under Gen. Washington, and a son of Richard Warner, farmer, who was born in Connecticut about the close of the war above mentioned. He remained in his native State until afcer his marriage with Mary Hickox, when, in August of 1802, he, with his wife and seven children, settled in Cortland County, N. Y., but subsequently in the town of Ritcher, near which he died about 1860. His children were Obadiah (deceased), Sheldon, Adna (deceased), Minerva (deceased), Edward (now living in Forest, Ohio), Maria, David H., Curtis (deceased), Rachel (deceased). Electa (deceased), Florilla, Loucena, Elmina, Richard P. and Calvin (latter deceased). Of the entire family, Edward and David are the only two living in Hardin County, where the}^ settled in 1836-37. David H. was born in Connecticut February 2, 1802, but matured in New York State, where he married Almira Robbins, of that State, but in 1837 he moved with his wife and four children to Hardin County, where he settled on eighty acres of land, which he soon converted into productive soil, and subsequently became the owner of 105 acres. His property is now all in town. He has been a leader in religion in the community, as will be seen in the history of the Presbyterian Church. On Jul}^ 10, 1853, he buried his wife, who was the mother of six children, viz.: Elizabeth R., Adeline, Mary, David S>., Richard and Eliza. His second wife was Mary, widow of Samuel Shields, and daughter of Daniel Clayton. She was born in Washington County, Md., in 1819, and is now the mother of six children, three by each husband, viz.: Joseph, Rebecca and Nancy Shields, and Florilla, John H. and Lucy Warner. Mrs. Warner is an adherent of the Methodist Church.

JOHN WEIR, farmer, P. 0. Forest, is a son of Robert Weir, who was born in Ireland in 1805, and died in the late American war, in 1862, near Falmouth, K3^, from fever contracted while in the service. He was a member of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from Hancock County, Ohio. His wife was Eliza Hamilton, of Irish birth, and who died in the last-named county in April, 1868. They had eight children, our subject being the fourth, born in Coshocton County, Ohio, February 28, 1844, and since 1857 has been a resident of Hardin County. He began life with no means, except a capital of energy and industry, which has secured for him a neat home of forty acres, in

Section 2. In 1882, he was elected Trustee, showing the esteem in which he is held by his fellow-men. His wife was Miss Miriam Case, of Wyandot County, Ohio. The issue of this union is four children.

R. C. WILEY, harness -maker. Forest, was born in York County, Penn., in 1839, but at a tender age was left an orphan. In 1852, he, with his grandfather, James Criswell, came to Hardin County, Ohio, settling near Round Head ; there the old gentleman followed farming, and instructed our subject in agricultural pursuits. While thus engaged, Mr. Wiley enjoyed the meager advantages of the common schools until seventeen years of age, when he commenced learning the harness trade at Bellefontaine. In I860, there being no harness -maker in Forest, he looked upon the location as possibly a good one, and opened out in business, but the following year the cry of war called for troops, and accordingly, on November 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until Decern bei 31, 1864. While in the service, he participated in the battles of McDonald, Cedar Mountain, Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain and Cassville, enduring many hardships. In the spring of 1865, he resumed his trade and made it a specialty until 1880, when he added a stock of hardware. His wife is Olive Ditzler, of Logan County, and they are the parents of five children, all living.

ROBERT S. WILSON, retired farmer. Mayor of Forest, and the oldest pioneer living in Jackson Township, this county, was born in Medina County, Ohio, November 25, 1820, and came to Hardin County June 10, 1833, settling, November 8, 1842, on a farm on the banks of the Blanchard River. On this farm he remained until April 6, 1870, when he moved to his present residence in Forest. When Mr. Wilson came to this county, it was a vast wilderness, and he has lived to see it well cleared up and improved, studded with elegant dwellings and fine, commodious barns, and interlaced with excellent macadamized roads, making it a county that its people and the whole State may justly feel proud of Since taking up his residence in Forest, Mr. Wilson has filled the office Councilman one term, and is at present acting as Mayor for the third term.

M. S. WOODARD, farmer, P. 0. Patterson, is a son of John Woodard, of Scotch, Irish and German extraction. He was born in Wyoming County, N. Y., in 1812, and was raised to farm life. While in his native State, he married Arelia Mann, who was a native of York State, of English extraction, and distantly related to John A. Sherman. John Woodard and wife settled near Youngstown, Ohio, in 1843, subsequently moving to Knox County, and, in 1847, to Hardin, but now residing in Montcalm County, Mich. Of their six children, our subject is the eldest, having been born in New York State in 1834, but since 1847, has resided in Hardin County, where he now owns 330 acres of land, half of which is under cultivation. He started in life with not