Jackson Township (part 1 of 2)

Jackson Township

Jackson Township was formed from Jefferson and German, December 7, 1814 larch 6, 1815, the citizens of the new township petitioned the Commissioners i change the name to that of Rockingham; the petition was refused.

February 1, 1815, the United States put a tax of 25 cents a gallon on all istilled spirits; Thomas Constant, of Xenia, was appointed Collector of this, he Second District March 13, John Taylor laid out Alexandersville, " in the eautiful and elegant situation at the mouth of Hole's Creek, on the State road, etween Dayton and Franklin."

The number of horses in the county had been thinned out, which offered a ;ood opportunity to improve the stock; a better and larger grade of draft horses were brought from the East. In the stud, in different parts of the county, wore the Miami Chief, Parmer's Interest, Jack of Diamonds and Merry Andrew. |! The next year, Goliah was the noted and much admired horse.

Liberty

The town of Liberty was laid off by Peter Becher December 4, 1815. The first sale of lots occurred January 8, 1810. The town was advertised "as situated on pleasant, healthy and elevated ground, in the midst of a rich, populous and well-cultivated country. Roads from all the chief parts of the State meet at the town.

" It is only four miles from the Great Miami River, and one-half mile from Bear Creek, on which there are a number of saw and grist mills in operaticu.

"The town is laid off at the place where William Brown formerly kept j store. It is now a very public place, as all the elections are held there for that l! township; it is also the place for military rendezvous.

Union

The town of Union, Randolph Township, was platted by Daniel Razer and | David Hoover, on the 12th of February, 1816, and the first sale of lots was on the 26th of the same month. The notice of sale read as follows; "The town is situated on pleasant and very healthy ground, adjoining Daniel Razor's mill, in the midst of a rich, populous and well-cultivated country, abounding in mills and mill seats

"It is on the State road leading from Dayton to Greeneville and St. Mary's, twelve miles from Dayton, and one-half-mile from the Southwest Branch of the J Great Miami River, which is a navigable stream.

Little York

In the same township, but lower down, and on the opposite side of the river, were situated the mill, distillery and carding machine of AdamWeymire, who, on the 25th of March, laid out the town of Little York, and bad the first sale of lots April 13. He advertised the location " as pleasant, healthy ground, in the midst of a fertile, populous country, on the Southwest Branch of the Miami, which is a navigable stream. The town lies eight miles from Dayton, and four teen from Troy; flat-bottomed boats can be taken with their loads from the town plat down the mill-race to the river."

County Office Building

With the increase in population, more system was required in the administration of county affairs; and in the summer of 1816, the Commissioners decided to erect a building for county offices, on the lot upon which the new court house is now being built. July 29, the contract was sold to James Wilson, at

(Under this contract, the building was to be but one story; the plans were Changed, however, and it was built two stories high; was completed by winter, and occupied in the spring of 1817. It was a brick building, forty-six feet front and twenty feet wide. In August, 1818, the upper story was rented to the Watchman, "at $50 a year, and free publication of the annual report of [the Treasurer, and election notices. " The whole building was, after 1820, occupied for county offices. The first floor was paved with brick; the north room was the Clerk's office, the south room the Recorder's. The Treasurer's office was in the north room, second floor; the Auditor's, the south room, lifter 1820, the upper story was rented for lawyers' offices.

Market Rates

In December, 1816, market prices were as follows; Flour, $5 per barrel; [wheat, 75 cents; beef, per hundred weight, $3 to $3.50; pork, per hundred weight, $4; corn, 25 cents to 33 cents; oats, 20 cents to 25 cents; butter, 12-| cents; eggs, 8 cents; venison hams, pair, 50 cents ; bacon hams, pound, lO bents. January 1, flour had advanced to $6, and wheat to $3. In October, 1819, wheat was selling at 62-J- cents, and flax, 87-J- cents. After a long, cold (winter and late spring, the conditions were favorable, and there were immense props throughout the valley in 1821: roasting ears in July; the large yield of [wheat reduced the price to 20 cents a bushel, and in the fall, flour was selling !at $3.75 a barrel. In March, 1822. the Dayton prices were; Flour, per barrel, $2.50; whisky, per gallon, 12|- cents; wheat, 20; rye, 25; com, 12; fresh beef, per pound, 1 to 3 cents; bacon hams, per pound, 2 to 3 cents; butter, 5 to 8 cents; eggs, 3 to 5 cents; chickens, per dozen, 50 to 75 cents.

TUTS political subdivision was originally included in what was then known as Jefferson and German Townships, which contained most of the land v in Jefferson, German, Miami, Jackson, Perry, Madison and Harrison ivnships. On the 6th of June, 1814, a petition was presented to the County umissioners praying for the formation of a new township, and, December .814, it was accordingly ordered by them that the prayer of their petitioners ) granted, and that the new township should be known as Jackson Township, was originally eight miles long and six miles wide, containing forty-eight c are miles. The original boundaries were as follows, viz. : Beginning on the P'ble County line at the corner of Townships 3 and 4, Range 4; thence east the township line six miles to the line between the fourth and fifth ranges; l ace north eight miles to the northeast corner of Section 25, Town 5, Range whence west on section line six miles to the Preble County line at the northrt corner of Section 30, Town 5, Range 4; and thence south on said county r.'i eight miles to the place of beginning. It contained eight square miles .( included in Perry Township, which were detached in 1820, when Perry v formed and the present boundaries of Jackson established. The township (( contains thirty-six square miies of rich arable land, well timbered, deep

0 3(1 and bountifully watered. It is bounded by Perry Township on the north, uerson Township on the east, German Township on the south and Preble knty on the west, being known as Township 4, in Range 4. It received its e ie in honor of Andrew Jackson, or "Old Hickory," as he was familiarly a 3d, the seventh President of the United States and the hero of New Orleans, t i watered by several large creeks and their tributaries, which flow through i country in all directions, forming a perfect network of streams, thoroughly -gating the rich bottom lands that lie for a mile on either side of them and dishing some admirable mill-sites, which, as yet, have not been utilized, which promise ultimately to be occupied by all kinds of water-propelled diinery. Among these creeks, mention might be made of a few and of the e ration of their names, which are all historical facts and rest now in the 4s of the old residents, who will soon pass from among us, and, unless resit 1 by the pages of history, are likely to be buried in oblivion. The largest ' hese is called Big Twin, from the Indian name it formerly bore, which )<nt "one of two." This flows through the southwestern corner of the town- 4) near the southern line. "Little Twin" received its name as being the tlr "one" of the "two," indicated by the Indian name; it flows through the a'e township from north to south, near the center. Wolf Creek was so u 3d on account of the number of wolves that infested the thick timber on ; tanks in early days. "Tom's Run" was named after Tom Ivilbuck, an an chief, who trapped and hunted along its borders before and during early «eer days. The branches of these creeks bear only local, if any names, with 1 pparent significance. They are, in the summer months, nothing more than "runs" or brooks, but, during the spring freshets, they are swollen into ) nts of great power, overflowing their banks and carrying before them every -

1 of a floatable nature that is in or near their channels. There were also 1137 beautiful springs bubbling from the hillsides and flowing in picturesque hto the creeks. A piece of land containing one of these unfailing springs ftsure to allure an early settler. It is a notable fact that these pioneer fa- there always chose a hillside near a spring on which to raise their cabins ai commence their farm operations. And their choice was not without reasr The spring furnished them their water supply and the hillside afforded suital land for the immediate sowing of crops, as soon as it was cleared of the timb which was not the case with the level land, where water stood the year rou to the depth of several inches, and, of course, had to be drained and allow to dry before it could be cultivated. But it is these lands, with their Mac mellow soil, formed from the decayed debris of the forest, that are uow eagerly sought after. The taste of any settler could be satisfied by the land this township, as it furnishes a great variety of soil. There is the uplands, t low or bottom lands, the hilly lands and the undulating prairie. Could o ask for a larger variety from which to choose"? It would seem not, and t facts warrant that inference. Few, indeed, were the settlers, who, having or settled here, left in search of more favorable country. In the southwssfi part of the township there is some very hilly land, which is a continuation the hills along Big Twin Creek in German Township, extending up into Ja< son. Near this hilly ground, there is a round earthen mound, fifteen feet height. It is supposed to be either a fortification or a burial mound of tl almost mythical nation that inhabited this country before the Indians. It L never been explored, but it is believed by the people of the neighborhood tl under and in it lie the bones of many of those people, who have left us so ma manifestations of their warlike propensities. Within the memory of some the early settlers, this mound and vicinity was a favorite hunting resort the Indians. The mound itself was a great deer-lick, and these animals woi come for miles to their pleasant lick only to meet their death at the bauds the red hunter. Before the entrance of the white man, the country now co posing Jackson Township was covered with a forest of oak, beech, walnut, as sugar and some'poplar trees, with a dense undergrowth of prickly i and other shrubbery. This timber has now been largely removed and the pi lar has become entirely extinct. The prevailing species is sugar, with a r sonable quantity of the other classes.

A noticeable feature in the geology of this township is the immense nu ber of large bowlders of glacial deposit that underlie the soil in some pi a and lay piled in fantastic shapes in the forest and along the creeks. Th bowlders resemble red granite, and some of them are of great size. They hi been found on almost every farm in the township, and, in some instances labor required in removing the timber has been exceeded by that required clearing the land of these huge rocks that seem to belong to some other wo than ours, and look like lonely sentinels awaiting the coming of their kind.

Early Settlements

To write the history of the early settlement of a township is a matter more difficult accomplishment than would at first be supposed. Although settlers were few, yet they knew little, if anything, of their fellow-pionef who might be living within six or seven miles of them. And when asked v[ the first settler in the township was, they invariably tell you who was the t in their immediate neighborhood, possibly not knowing that long prior to t some dauntless frontiersman had, with his family, settled in the same towns! four or five miles through an almost impenetrable forest from him. Such 1 the case in this township. Settlements were made along the extreme north and also along the extreme southern borders; which of these was first can o: be known by the accounts of the pioneers or of their children. In either c; we are dependent upon the memory of man. So far as can now be learn three families, named severally, Stoner, Oldfather and Pfoutz, were the firs' b ak the solitude of the present township of Jackson and war with the savage lasts and not less savage men for a home in their midst. They all came from Flnsylvania, bringing large families with them, and were here a short time bore 1801, but whether they came together, or if not, which one came first, ciinot now be learned. The most diligent research and inquiry fail to disoer anything further of them than that they all settled together in what was apward known as the " Swartzell Settlement" near the site of the present ivn of Farmersville.

The next to follow these intrepid Pennsylvanians was Abraham Swartzell, a o a son of the Keystone State. He left his home in the East in 1801, and, bcompaay with his brother Henry and a man named Boomershine, came to this tcnship and entered 360 acres of land, where Farmersville now stands. He a family consisting of his wife and four children, viz., Anna, Matthias, Pilip and Elizabeth. He built a small cabin of round logs, with three sides, 1 front being open. The fire was built in front and the only heat received he cabin was from this fire, which was kept overnight, from day to day, in i irge iron kettle. In these days of matches, we cannot realize what a terrible -amity it was to our forefathers to have their fire go out. But. yet these Tidy settlers were "happy as larks," and their children were born, raised, and idly of them died, without knowing of any other than this primitive mode of i|. Here, in this rude and to us seeming uncomfortable hut, Abraham Swart - < had born to him nine children, all of them healthy and robust as the trees Jiind them. They were named severally John, Sarah, Abraham, Polly, Jury, Daniel, Joshua, Susan and Enos. The father, immediately after his an was built, commenced felling trees, girdling others and clearing away and biting the underbrush preparatory to sowing a crop from which his little :a ily were to derive their sustenance. He thus cleared some four or five bis of land, and, after turning the soil by his personal labor, as was then the u om, he planted the first crop on his new and primitive farm. He was trabled some by wolves, which were then thick, but they did no damage Ur than an occasional scare to some member of his family. No sooner was i farm in shape than he commenced lending his aid to the improvement and ping of the country around him by assisting other settlers in raising their a ns, clearing their land, rolling logs and in other ways which were custom r in that early day. His children all grew up to manhood and womanhood, Pried and scattered over the United States. He died in 1840, at the age of ' W-six years. His son John, the oldest of the children, bom in the open an spoken of above, is still living ; he was boim in 1807. When large nigh, he attended a subscription school in a little log schoolhouse near his ei''s farm, where the neighbors, all being of German extraction, were having Orman school taught by a man named Johns. He afterward married, and aicontinued to reside in this township during the whole of his life, now being Hn seventy-five years of age. He lives with one of his children in Farmersi. Henry Swartzell and Mr. Boomershine, the men who came with Abraham v rtzell, both brought very large families and settled near Abraham, on land ' ining his. They all entered land from the Government. Apropos to lubove, mention might be made of the singular fact that very few of the ay settlers had small families. And it reflects greater credit on them, that,

1 these large families to sustain, they succeeded so well. They seldom had )fjthan ten children, and often as many as sixteen, and yet, such was their P' -heartedness that if a family of children should be deprived of their parp the settlers were always ready to divide the little ones among them and ' a'i adopt his quota.

mentioned heretofore, came to this county, where he died about 1820, leavi a family of four sons and five daughters. He was an old Revolutionary soldi and was one of those liberty- loving heroes who assisted in crushing Engl tyranny and driving the minions of despotism from this fair land. About t same year, John Kinsey settled in this vicinity, marrying Elizabeth Mulls dore, daughter of Jacob Mullendore, finally locating in Section 32, where son David now resides. He was the father of eight children, three of wh are yet living, viz., Mary, David and Jonas; he died in March, 1819, and widow married Jacob Myers, by whom she had five children; she died in 18!

Two families came in the spring of 1804, viz., the Colemans and Vane coming from Somerset County, Penn. Coleman brought his wife Katie a nine children, four boys - Daniel, John, Henry and William - and five girls Betsy, Rebecca, Sarah and two smaller ones; he settled just east of the presi site of " Staver Church." Michael Yance had a wife and small family, a settled in the neighborhood of the others; his son Manuel married Elizab Sayler, daughter of John Sayler, a native of Virginia, who was also one of pioneers of Jackson Township, and his grandson, John Vance, is now a u dent of Dayton. In 1805, Adam Swihart and Michael Long, two sturdy s( of Pennsylvania, settled in this township with their families, and both have 1 many descendants Swihart' s son Jonathan married Sophia Cloyd, a native Virginia, and falling heir to a portion of his father-in-law's estate, selec that which lay in Jackson Township, and here he spent his entire life, dyi in 1876, aged seventy-four; he was the father of eight children; six now s| vive; his widow is residing upon the old homestead, aged seventy-seven. Is j Long, the son of Michael, was boirn in this county; married Esther Mill daughter of Daniel Miller, also an early pioneer. They have had ten chi Idr both are living and now enjoying the fruits of their early industry and 1 affection of their many descendants. All of those pioneer families were h est, frugal and industrious, and all came imbued with the same purpose, v[ to make for themselves a home in the Western wilds, and give to their child a start in life.

Several families arrived during the year 1805, among whom were Schidelers, the Izors and the Albaughs. They were of the stanch, energt sons of Pennsylvania - men inured to hardships of all kinds, making them v adapted to enter a new and wild country and endure the discomforts of pion life. Fearlessly they traversed unknown forest paths, cut new roads wh there were none, forded strange rivers, and, with their wives and little 0' commenced changing the wilderness, filled with the deep, unbroken silence solitude, into a scene of life, activity and enterprise. The Schideler mentioi above was Henry, the fifth son of a family of thirteen; he was born in Wa ington County, Penn., on the 24th day of June, 1793. As his name indica' he was of German descent, his grandparents both having come from Derma1 he removed to Ohio with his parents in 1805, in his twelfth year. They loca on land in Section 30, chosen, no doubt, on account of its elevated posit and close pi'oximity to Tom's Run, both of which considerations, as we h before said, being great inducements. He was married, in 1826, and, as .a suit of the union with his estimable wife, had thirteen children, nine of tl being boys and four girls. He lived on his old farm until his death, wh occurred in July, 1879. In early life, he manifested an absorbing interest politics, and, as he grew in years, his interest in that subject grew with h He was, politically, a Jeffei'sonian Democrat, and never during his life vcj any other than the Democratic ticket. In 1832, he was chosen by the peC| of his county to represent them in the General Assembly of the State, and re-elected in 1834. He also served in the capacity of County Commissio

These men were continually writing to the East, telling their friends what ,rfect country they had found and the magnificent crops the lands produced, il fina lv, they persuaded Adam Staver to emigrate. He was born in Lanaer County, Penn., in 1767, and, at the time of his emigration, was possessed , 1 ,vo good mills and 300 acres of land in his native State. These he abanio>d for an unimproved home in the West, to which he came in the spring of t3, bringing with him his wife, Fannie Staver (nee Daups) and seven children - dm, Barbara, Frederick, Henry, Jacob. Valentine and Adam. He landed Herman Township, Montgomery County, and rented a farm on Twin Creek 3i,he summer, on which he left his wife and children, who fattened the hogs, r ai id geese, butchered and otherwise prepared for winter, while the father > inued his journey up into Jackson Township, where he entered a half secc of land and bought a half-section of a man who had entered it, but could coaythe entrance fee and sold his bargain to Staver for $20. In the followjwpring (having built a cabin in the meantime), he moved his family. He lil a very useful place in society during his life and died, in 1854, at the ripe ic ige of eighty-seven years. His sou Henry is the only one of the children now g in the State. He is on the old farm, having added to it considerably uig his lifetime. He has in all 700 acres of very fine farm land; he is a ua| well preserved, being eighty-seven years old. and still carries on the work t i6 " place." Though his hair is silvered by the frosts of eighty-eight winsr his eye is bright, his hand steady and his step as firm as men much young ;ie has lived a life of moral integrity and is now enjoying the well-merited nrd, in the affection of his family, a peaceful old age and a perfect use of all ; a acuities. In his treatment of friends and strangers, the writer hereof can il verify that he retains all the hospitality for which his family is so much . red. His brother John was appointed a Captain in the war of 1812, but b 'i'e his term of service commenced, the war closed. No others of his family 9 in the war. This family was the means of bringing into the township irst preacher who ever raised his voice in praise of the "Whiteman's o'" in the district now so thickly dotted with churches of all denominations: same was Samuel Mow; he was brought by Mr. Staver from Hamilton, h ; he commenced farming on a quarter-section of land which had been enfor him by Mr. Staver; he preached for the Staver Church a great many

In 1806. Gqorge and Margaret Rumbarger, natives of Pennsylvania, ti with a family of two children and located in Section 35, and there died, i : son John was but ten years old when his parents came to this county, Wig been born in Pennsylvania. July 2, 1798; he was married August 24, 0, to Elizabeth Miller, who bore him eleven children, nine of whom are 1 ''living; she died March 23, 1874, and her husband is still residing on the r which his father settled seventy-six years ago. In the same year as Rumir>r, came Christian Cook, also of the Keystone State, and settled in Sec C3, where he died in 1814, being buried on the farm, his wife surviving until 1863; they had eleven children - Maragret, Frederick, Christian,

' up. and Michael being the only survivors. At this time, the township benjilling up rapidly, and it would be utterly impossible to give the records who came in the following ten years, but among those who can be called : 'flers, and of whom we have been able to collect anything reliable, may be stoned Evan Hoops, who, in 1811, settled with his family in Section 7;

J as born in Pennsylvania, was married twice - first, to Catharine Kinsey, rginia, who bore him seven children, three now living - Jane, John and

Christian; his wife dying December 25, 1814, he was married in 1816 to sanna Sheets, also of the "Old Dominion," to whom were born seven childi five yet living, viz., Daniel, Sarah, Minerva, Henry and Solomon. Mr. He was a tailor and worked at his trade day and night, being overrun with b ness from the pioneers of his vicinity; he hired the clearing of his land, wl he paid for from his earnings on the bench; he died in June, 1862, a eighty-two; his wife is still living at the age of ninety. In 1813, Samuel Barbara (Ruby) Rodeheffer, of Virginia, settled on the farm now owned David Bowman, in Jackson Township, where he resided until his death, lea' to his family a nice well-improved farm; he was the father of nine child six of whom survive, viz., Catharine, John, Joseph, Samuel, Abraham Mary. Another early settler of Jackson was Peter Drayer, of Pennsylva who located with his family in Section 7, in the year 1818, where ho d His son Daniel was born in Pennsylvania, August 27, 1809; came with father to this township, and was married to Elizabeth Gantz, a native of M land, born September 19, 1808; they had thirteen children, nine of whom now living. Mr. Drayer, Jr., died in 1876; his wife still survives him. township was now thickly settled; land was bought and sold; deer and o game retreated to the deeper fastnesses of the forest, where the white man not yet penetrated, and the township began to wear the appearance of a ci ized territory. It was soon taken from Jefferson and became its own rule township affairs, the first elections in it being held at the house of J; Wench, Jr.

Previous to 1810, the Lutherans residing in the Staver neighbor!] would assemble in the little schoolhouse near them, where the "St Church" now stands, and would there hold their meetings or be addressei any minister available. In 1809, Adam Staver was the prime mover in the ganization of a church, which was the first in the township. There had 1 previously purchased three and a half acres of ground to be used as a bury ground, and upon this, in 1810, a church was built, tearing down a log seh house that stood there, in which they had been worshiping in union with German Reformed people. The church was at first a one-story log, but it afterward covered with clapboards and raised one story. The seats were arranged in tiers, one above the other, when the church was remodeled, still standing, but no services have been held in it since 1871. The preacher was Andrew Mow; he was followed by Andrew Simon and Ant Hinkle. The church was then without a preacher, but, hearing of one d the Ohio River 150 miles, a delegation was sent to secure him; became, did not stay long. The burying- ground near the church was started in 1 when the settlers purchased three and one-fourth acres of land and fenct off for a cemetery. The first burial in it was in the fall of 1807, and nc is well filled with the graves of the old settlers, whose bones rest in the b earned land, while their children enjoy the fruits of their labor. The memj of the Lutheran and German Reformed faiths were given a quarter of an of ground by Philip Slifer, and, in 1825, built a union church out ot 1 It was torn down and a brick one built in 1861 for $500. Revs. Winters Saul Hinkle were the first pastors. The Methodist Episcopal Ohurel Johnsville was organized and a house built in 1830. The society was an but succeeded in maintaining the church until 1877, when the services discontinued and the property, a frame building, valued at $200, put id hands of the conference. The German Reformed Church was organized a 1850, and, in 1852, the first church was built on ground donated by Ge, Clemmer. It was on Lot No. 14. and was a one-story brick building, shii^le roof and cupola. It was built by Jacob Coleman, contractor. This Hiding was replaced in 1879 by a very imposing church edifice, built of rk, one story high, with a spire containing the bell taken from the former iiL'ck. It was erected at a cost of $4,000, and has a seating capacity of about It is quite elegantly finished and furnished within, and certainly reflects nit credit upon those through whose efforts it was erected: present memberh' about 100; pastor, Rev. Joseph G. Shoemaker; his predecessor was Rev. Herman, who had served this people for twenty years. The dedicatory lion was preached May 2, 1880, by Rev. J. H. Reiter.

The "United Brethren Church is on Lot No. 1, which is valued at $100. r as built in 1854 at a cost of $1,600. The ground was bought by a man a ed Hendricks, in Darke County, for $65. The church organization took lie in 1838. There are other churches in the township which are not stars in the circuit, but merely houses of worship built for the convenience of shin neighborhoods, where services are only occasionally held. As they e not the first built and are not of the first importance, it will not be necesa to mention them here.

Previous to the passage of the first school act, in 1821, the schools were ftfflat are now called subscription schools. In those days they knew no other.

. bi first school taught was in a little log schoolhouse which stood where liir's Church now is, in Section 23. It was taught for twelve weeks, five and b f days each week, and eight hours each day. The farmers subscribed twenty - li) scholars, at $2 each, payable in money and produce. In 1810, the Luit m minister. Rev. Mow, taught a school for a year in a log schoolhouse h'e the Staver Church now stands. In 1813, another log schoolhouse was ii near the Swartzell neighborhood. It was a German school and was uat by a traveling German teacher. In 1818, a house was built on Tom's u one and one-half miles from where Farmersville now stands, in which sebjfl was taught by an Englishman named Graham. Schools now commenced 4 * kept every year and in almost all neighborhoods, and indeed, the transition

0 subscription to district schools was so gradual that it cannot be said hi the one entirely ceased or the other generally commenced. For long t< the law of 1825 was passed, which commanded the districting of each wsHip, the subscription schools continued. In 1838, when provision was hi for the building of district schoolhouses, and for some time thereafter, were many subscription schools, but they soon began to be discontinued, i- |p district schools opened, until now there has not been one in the township raany years. There are now eleven districts with a comfortable brick

1 ing in each and school taught for eight months in each year. The total i<jnt appropriated annually for school purposes is from $3,000 to $3,500.

Che first roads in the township were the paths which the early settlers 1 1 trough the thick and matted underbrush of the forest to allow the passe 1 their teams and families as they laboriously worked their way to their up homes. These were, however, not entitled to the name ''road." The d eal road made in the township was the Germantown road through Farrn- Oe to Tom's Run; it was established in 1805. The next was a road from - ns Run, about a mile from its month, to Nesbitt's mill, on Twin Creek, raP County, established 1805. The Dayton & Eaton to the State line, thirty- 1 Tjmiles long, running through Harrison, and between Madison and Jeffer- BOn Perry and Jackson, was established in 1806. The road from Salem 6 P seventeen miles to Germantown, 1808. The road from the Dayton &

Germantown pike southwest twelve miles, through Liberty and Farmersvilh the county line, 1809. From the northwest to the southwest corner of I county, 1823. From this time on, roads were rapidly surveyed and establish until now the township is a complete network of tine hard, maeadami pikes and beautiful summer roads, almost every section line being marked a road. -

Towns And Villages

This township does not boast of having as many towns as some of neighbors, but, in point of size and beauty, they compare favorably with th of any township in the county. There are but three of them, viz., Fir mi ville, one and a half miles south of the center of the township, in Section and Johnsville and New Lebanon, both on the extreme northern border, these, the largest is Farmersville. It was laid out by Oliver Dalrymple, Am 30, 1832, and so named on account of his selling the lots to farmers. He been keeping a store there for some years, before having himself built the house in 1822, which is still standing and occupied by his widow. The c dren went to school in a little schoolhouse, where Jacob Aulbach now lives 1830. Then to a brick schoolhouse just below the German Reformed Chui There is now a large two-story brick schoolhouse, employing three teachers furnishing educational advantages for all the children of the town. The physician was Dr. Livengood, in 1833, while the town was still a mere ban The first liquor sold in the town was in 1822, by Mr. Dalrymple, who, in dition to his store, had a quasi tavern. In March, 1849, A bill was introdr in the Legislature and passed, incorporating the town under its original m The following is the first board of officers: Mayor, Jonathan Burz; Recor J. Zehring; Council, Manassel Coolman, James Archer, O. Wysong, S. H and J. H. Butt, the first election being held on the 14th of April, 1849. T are several fine stores in town, including groceries, drug, hardware and goods stores, two hotels, two carriage manufactories, which make about vehicles per annum, barber-shops, blacksmith-shops, etc. The first ck built was the United Brethren. The society was organized in 183.1, and meetings in the houses of Jacob Crider and John Reel until 1841, when bought a half acre of ground of Dalrymple, for $36, and built a churcl $700. The first pastor was Frederick Bauubreak. The present pastor is Bowey. The church is a station in the circuit and numbers twenty-five n bers. The German Reformed, the next in order, was organized iu March, 1 with thirty members. The organization was the direct result of a difdcul' the Slifer Church. The new organization employed Rev. George Long, held services in the United Brethren Church until 1841, when Lots 40 an were purchased of Elizabeth Hollenbach for $70, and an $800 church, 31 feet, built in 1848, by W. Wysong, the contractor. It was dedicated Mi 1848, by Rev. Henry Crow, in German, and Henry Milliard, in English. A church was jirojected in 1869, on account of the incapacity of the old buik The corner-stone was laid with impressing ceremony, May 12, 1870. an< church formally dedicated, Sunday, Jan. 1, 1871, by Rev. D.VanHorn, of Da It is an imposing one-story brick structure, costing $4,500; it has a ga across one end, a belfry and bell, and a capacity for seating 400 people, chiu'ch now has a membership of 175. The following is a list of the pa in the order of service: George Long, W. K. Le Fever, J. H. Reiter, Comfort, Levi Rike and M. F. Frank, the present incumbent of the paste j The church also owns a pleasant two -story frame parsonage of seven roj adjoining the church, which was built at a cost of $1,300. The St. And Lutheran Church is a branch of the old Staver Church, formed in 185( the purpose of giving the town members a convenient place of worship wight a lot of Mr. Hollenbach. and built a small, one-story brick, where they v,rshiped until 1872, when a new lot was procured and a large two-story brick j commenced, which was completed and dedicated June 7, 1874, by (1. W. iphling. It is the most imposing building in town; it cost $10,000, has a cilacity to seat 500, with an organ, gallery, belfry and 940-pound bell; the amber ship now numbers 150. Some of the preachers were Andrew Bowman, i k'ew Hinkle, Revs. Stairwalt, Hinkle and Amos Poorman, the present pastor. 1? Methodist Episcopal, generally the pioneer of all churches, was not here anized until 1840, and, until 1861, the little band of worshipers held .stings in their private houses and in other churches. But in that year, C Leslie donated a lot, and the church built a one-storv brick for $800.

- en organized, it consisted of about thirty members, but, for some reason, i decreased to eighteen members. It is a station in the Germantown Circuit r l is ministered to by the preachers on that circuit. The New or Masonic Irkeran Church was organized in 1879, with fourteen members, and took the )i church which the St. Andrew's Church vacated, and which has since been

I led to them by the owner. Mr. Swartzell. In 1867, a "split" occurred in b higher courts of the Lutheran Church on questions of doctrine, and this belongs to the new branch formed by that schism. They retain the ginal number of members.

- This is a small town not incorporated and lies in the north )it of the township on the Eaton road. Though as many houses are on the ich side of the road as on the south, the south side is the only part that is u fully entitled to the name, as it is the only part platted. It was platted in by John W. Becker. There has been a tavern here for over fifty -five p's. When the stages ran through this place, it was a station of some im- :»ance, but is now only a small wayside town. It has three stores, a hotel, a a on, blacksmith-shop, a shoeshop, etc. In the neighborhood are two tile lories, which were started a short time ago and are now doing a good busiif'. There are also some churches, which will be duly noticed in the history !ke churches of the township.

The next and last town to mention is New Lebanon, which is composed of vi additions in Jackson Township and one in Perry. The Jackson Township were made June 3, 1843, by John Brouse, and, in 1854, by Mr. J. J. ^iver. This town will be fully spoken of under the head of Perry Township, rise towns contain all the business interests of the township, which are not f issarily great, as the city of Dayton is within easy driving distance of all >r;s of the township.

We will now close this sketch with a word concerning the early settlement' r settlers, and their conveniences in life. Among the early civil officers, we r the name of Schideler, a Justice of the Peace for fourteen years; Kennea and Stuxley, also Justices of the Peace in early days. Th

ALFRED N. ATKINSON, farmer, P. 0. New Lebanon, born in Maryland April 19, 1826, is a son of John and Catharine (Warvel) Atkinson, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Maryland. The maternal grandfather, John Warvel, was a native of Maryland, but emigrated to Ohio and located in Perry Township, this county, in 1833, and bore his full share of the hardships of pioneer life, most of this country being still an unbroken wilderness with but few roads, and those the worst kind of mud roads. His wife died in Perry Township, aged seventy years, after which he came into Jackson Township and spent the rest of his life with his grandson, our subject; he died in 1844, aged seventy-one years. John and Catharine Atkinson had one child, Alfred N., and he, when about seven years of age, with his mother and grandfather Warvel and his family, came to Ohio at the date above mentioned. A few years after their arrival here, his mother was married to Daniel DeRush, with whom she lived till his death, which occurred in 1856, since which time she has lived with our subject. She is now quite old and feeble, being in her eighty-second year. Our subject was raised to farm labor, growing up to manhood familiar with all the hardships of those early days, and upon the same farm where he now resides, being the old home place of his step-father; and, as he had no children of his own, Mr. Atkinson at his death became heir to his property and here he has resided to the present time - a continued residence of nearly a half-century. Mr. Atkinson was married, April 17, 1873, to Catherine, daughter of Joseph and Magdalene (Gross) Orth, natives of Bavaria, Germany, who emigrated to America about 1836 and located in Jackson Township, this county, on the farm now owned by John Kiger. He died in Mad River Township in 1852 ; his wife is still living, now residing in Dayton. They had three children - Adam Leo, Catharine and Mary B. Mr. Atkinson has a good farm of seventy-six acres, upon which he ha3 erected good, substantial buildings, and has good improvements, with everything comfortable and convenient around him. He and wife are worthy members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

JOHN BOWMAN, farmer, P. 0. New Lebanon, one of the oldest residents now living in Jackson Township, was born in Warren County, Ohio, November 3, 1797 ; is a son of David and Barbara (Bowser) Bowman, he a native of Maryland and she of Pennsylvania. The first knowledge we have of the grandfather, John Bowman, he was a resident of Maryland; thence, of Pennsylvania; thence, he became a resident of Montgomery County, Ohio, on Bear Creek ; thence, he moved into Indiana, near Hagerstown, where he lived till his death, dying at a ripe old age, having passed through his share of the labors of pioneer life. David, the father of our subject, came to Ohio and located in Warren County about 17-95, remaining there only a few years;

She located in this county near the mouth of Bear Creek ; thence, in the west part of Jefferson Township, on the farm now owned by John Brumbaugh; there he resided till his death, which occurred about 1859, aged eighty-five years; his wife lived several years, and died aged ninety-three years. They had six children ; two now survive - John and Catharine. These were truly pioneers of the county. All was then an unbroken forest, with Indians and wild beasts in plentiful numbers. Our subject, the second sou of his father, was born after the arrival of his parents in this new and wild country, and here he was raised and grew to manhood, ipured to all that pertains to a rough pioneer life. He was married in November, 1829, to Elizabeth, daughter of Peter L. and Magdalene Bright, natives of Virginia, but became residents of this county and township about 1828 and lived and died here. Mr. Bowman and wife have had nine children; eight now survive - David, Joseph, John, Samuel, Isaac, Mary Ann, Daniel and Peter. His wife died May 17, 1879, aged sixty-six years. Mr. Bowman is now in his eighty-fifth year, and has resided on the place where he now lives fifty-two years - over half a century. He bought this place of Jacob Lesher, taking it right in the woods, with not a stick amiss; now he has a fine farm, with good buildings and improvements, with all the comforts and conveniences of modern life. But what toils, deprivations and rigid economy it took to bring about this result ! Ask the rising generations? They realize it not. They know nothing of it, only as they hear it handed down by their ancestors, or read it from the pages of history, and they cannot give too much honor to these worthy old pioneers for their great work, the fruits of which they may enjoy for ages to come. Joseph, the second son, is now carrying on the farm. He was married, June lb, 1878, to Mary E., daughter of Stephen and Mary Wright, natives of Rockingham County, .Virginia, by whom he has had three children - one only living, Seth Thomas.

DAVID R. BOWMAN, farmer ; P. 0. New Lebanon; born in this township on the old home place of his father September 4. 1830 ; is a son of John and Elizabeth Bowman, whose history is given in sketch of John Bowman in this work. Our subject lived with his father, and was brought up to farm labor till twenty-five years of age; was married April 17, 1856, to Mary, daughter of Michael and Sarah (Flory) Priser, he a native of Maryland, but became an early settler of this county and lived and died here. His wife died in 1834; they had five children - Barbara, Samuel, John, Mary and Joseph. Mr. Prizer married for his second wife Margaret Ann Simpler, by whom he bad one child - William ; his second wife died and he was married the third time to Catharine Fiant, by whom he had four children - Elizabeth, Daniel, Jonas and Noah. Mr. Prizer died January 6, 1875, aged seventy-five years; his widow is still living, now seventy-five years of age. Mary Prizer was born February 12, 1832. Mr. Bowman and wife have six children - -Barbara A., born February 14, 1857 ; Minnie E., January

20, 1859; Joseph P., September 30. 1861; Amanda L., January 14, 1864; Emma K., May 24, 1866, and Eliza C., born January 13, 1869. Mr. Bowman has always followed farming as an occupation, and has always resided in the immediate neighbor- jj hood of his birthplace, never living over one mile from the old home place ; he bought and located upon the place where he now lives, in March, 1874. Mr. Bowman and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church, to which they have belonged j! about six years.

GEORGE W. BPHGHT, retired, New Lebanon ; born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 1, 1809; is a son of George and Francis (Bowman) Bright, natives of Virginia. The grandfather was Peter Bright, whose birthplace is not now known, but he lived and died in Virginia. George Bright and family emigrated to Ohio and located in Fairfield County in 1804; here he lived till quite aged and feeble, when he took upi1 his residence with some of his children in Hocking County, and died there in August, ! 1864, aged eighty years; his wife died in July, 1876, aged ninety-two years. They were parents of thirteen children; three now survive - George W., Joseph and John 6.! Mr. Bright was a man of good education and taught school many seasons; was a good penman and did a great deal of public business in making deeds and other legal papers; he served for some time as Clerk of the County and other local offices, being a prominent and useful man in his day and community. Our subject was married June

21, 1832, to Mary Beery, by whom he had five children, all now deceased. His wife died May 31, 1850, aged thirty-four years. On February 23, 1851, he was married to Mrs. Mary Culp, daughter of Solomon and Margaret Ilufford, he a native of Virginia, j and she of Pennsylvania; by this union they have three children - Mary, born August

22, 1853; Catharine, born April 7, 1855; Effie, born January 23, 1862. Mr. Bright first located in Hocking County, Ohio, where he resided several years; he resided in Hocking and Fairfield Counties, till in November, 1865, when he removed to Montgomery County and bought and located upon the farm where he now lives and has! since resided. This farm consists of fifty acres, which he purchased of William Clayton ; has good buildings and improvements, and constitutes a very pleasant home and" residence; he also owns eighty acres in Mercer County. Mr. Bright has filled several offices ; was one of the Board of Examiners of teachers for many years, also Township] Trustee and Clerk of the township; is now living retired from all active labor or business. He and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church, also four of his children became members of the same church.

EZRA COOK, farmer; P. 0. Farmersville; born in this county and township September 7, 1840; is a son of Frederick and Catharine Cook, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather, Christian Cook, was a native of Pennsylvania, but the great-grandfather was a native of Germany, who emigrated to America in an early day. Christian Cook emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio, locating in this township upon the farm where Isaac Musselman now lives, ia 1806, when the country for miles around was almost an unbroken wilderness, the Indians and wild beasts roaming the forests at will ; here he opened out right in the woods to make a home and a farm, and here he labored and endured the many trials and hardships of those pioneer days, until, in 1814, he was called away by death from works to rewards at the early age of forty-four years, and there, upon the same farm where he lived and labored, he was buried, and there his remains rest to the present day; his wife died in 1863, aged eighty-nine years. They were parents of eleven children; five now survive - Margaret, Frederick, Christina, Sarah and Michael. Frederick was seven years of age when his father died, but his mother managed to keep her family together and raise them by her own hard labor. Mr. Cook arrived at manhood; was married in 1829, to Catharine, daughter of Henry and Eve Apple, natives of Pennsylvania; issue, seven children; six now survive - -Rebecca, Henry, Catharine, Ezra, Aaron and Mary Ann. Mr. Cook, after his marriage, located upon the farm where he now lives, and has ever since resided, a period of fiftyone years; he has cleared up the greater portion of the farm now in cultivation ; erected all the buildings on the place, and did a great amount of hard labor, and is now seventy-four years of age. Our subject lived with his father till after his majority. Was married February 26, 1863, to Sarah, daughter of Henry and Sophia Staver, whose history is given in sketch of Henry Staver; by this union, they have eight children - Izora Jane, Tilitha Florence, Cordie Alice, Ida Effie, Daisie B., Robert A., Christian A. and Daniel W. Mr. Cook, after his marriage, located upon the place where he now lives, and has resided for seventeen years.

GILBERT DAVIS, farmer ; P. 0. Johnsville ; born in Washington County, Md., December 10, 1837, is a son of Zachariah and Eva (Heller) Davis, natives of Maryland. The paternal grandfather, Gilbert Davis, was a native of Wales, emigrating to America in an early day. He lived and died in Maryland. The maternal grandfather, Daniel Heller, was a native of Germany, but was brought to America when about four years of age, and also lived and died in Maryland. Zachariah and wife were born and raised and spent their entire lives in their native State, Maryland. They were parents of twelve children, eight now survive - George, Daniel. Mary, Joseph, Sarah, Gilbert, John and Lucy. Our subject, at twelve years of age, started out into the world to earn what he could, working here and there as he could find work, and thus continued till his majority, obtaining but a limited education. In August, 1859, Mr. Davis emigrated to Ohio, and located in Johnsville, this county, and entered upon farming, which business he followed till the fall of 1874, when he entered upon mercantile trade, which he followed about four years, having a good trade ; thence, he sold out and located upon the farm where he now lives, and has since resided. On February 4, 1864, was celebrated his marriage with Eliza Jane, daughter of Henry and Mattie C. Toby, natives of Maryland, but who became residents of Preble County, Ohio, in quite an early day. They were parents of ten children ; eight now survive - Elizabeth, David, Millie, Richard, Eliza Jane, Orion, Perry and William. Eliza Jane was born in this county September 14, 1847 ; by this union they have had nine children ; six now survive - William P., Rolandus, Edward, Arvel, Charles and Harry. In the war of the rebellion, Mr. Davis volunteered in his country's defence, by enlisting in August, 1862, in the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment Ohio Yolunteer Infantry, which was afterward consolidated with the Sixty-third Regiment, in which he served till the close of the war ; was with Gen. Sherman in his entire raid through the South, escaped without a wound, received his discharge and returned home.

1 Ohio, January 24, 1840, is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Gantz) Drayer, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Maryland. The grandfather, Peter Drayer, was also prob- ably a native of Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Ohio in 1818, locating in Jackson Township, on the farm where our subject now resides, and there he lived and died. This farm he purchased of Robert Harding, taking the place when it was mostly in the woods, and here he bore his share of pioneer life and died, aged seventy-six years. Daniel was born in Pennsylvania, August 27, 1809, being about nine years of age when brought to this county, and here was raised, and grew to manhood, accustomed to all the hardships and scenes of pioneer life ; was married, March 28, 1833, to Elizabeth Gantz, born in Maryland, September 19, 1808.. They had thirteen childreu, nine now living - Susanna 0., Eliza Anu, Mary E., Elizabeth R., Daniel S., Simon P., Malissa K., John H. and Valentine. Mr. Drayer located in Preble County; resided there til! 1848; thence bought the farm where. Mr. Lowrnan now lives, in Jackson Township ; thence, two years later, bought the old homestead place, where our subject now lives, and there resided till his death, March 3, 1876, aged sixty-six years and six months; his wife is still living, now seventy-three years of age. In the fall of 1853, Mr. Drayer fell from his wagon in crossing a ditch, and so injured his spine that he was a cripple the balance of his life. Our subject was married, October 13, 1867, to Joan, daughter of Lloyd and Margaret Templin ; he was born in Maryland ; married in Warren County, Ohio, where he located, and are still residents of that county. They had five children, four now living - Utilla, Joan, Elizabeth and Albert. Joan was born August 29, 1843. She has borne Mr. Drayer six children; five now survive - Valentine J., born August 19, 1868; Mary Olive, October 11, 1870; Jessie, April 11, 1877; Bell, November 18, 1879, and Minnie, born November 18, 1879. Mr. Drayer and wife have resided ail their married life where they now live, except from 1870 to 1875, during which they resided in Indiana, returning to the home farm by the urgent request of his father, where they have since resided. This farm has been in the Drayer family since its first purchase, in 1818, a period of sixty-three years. Mr. Drayer now holds no office ; was Justice of the Peace while living in Indiana. He and wife are members of the Reformed Church.

OSCAR F. EDWARDS, M. D., physician, New Lebanon. Among the professional men of New Lebanon, and one of its most prominent citizens, we here present Dr. Oscar F. Edwards, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, April 13, 1836; is a son of William C. and Nancy (Hall) Edwards, he a native of New Jersey, and she of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Usal Edwards, was also a native of New Jersey, but who emigrated to Ohio with his family and located in Butler County in 1805, where he resided till his death. Williaifi C. was about two years of age when brought to Butler County by his father, and there he grew to manhood accustomed to the hardships and trials of pioneer life. Was married and became the father of nine children ; seven now survive - Benjamin, Angeline, Oscar F., Harriet, Julius, Bryant H. and Wilbur J. Mr. Edwards has followed farming as an occupation, and resided in Butler County till ! the spring of 1865, when he became a resident of Shelby County, where he has since resided. He is a prominent and prosperous farmer, and while in Butler County held the office of Justice of the Peace for nine years. Our subject remained with his father brought up to farm labor till eighteen years of age, receiving a good common-school education; thence he was in a printing-office in Hamilton one or two years; thence entered upon teaching, which occupation he followed five winters ; in the winter of 1859-69, he attended Bacon's Commercial College at Cincinnati, but in the meantime, he had devoted much time to the reading of medicine, having determined to make the practice j of medicine his profession. In October, 1862, he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and, on the 18th of February, 1864, he graduated and received his diploma; on April 9, of the same year, he located in New Lebanon and commenced the jj practice of his profession, where he still resides, and where he has built up a good and lucrative practice, and has won the esteem and confidence of his community ; was elected Justice of the Peace in fall of 1875, and re-elected in 1878. In April, 1879, was elected Mayor of the town, and re-elected in April, 1881 ; has been Notary Public and held various other offices as placed upon him by the votes of his community. On February 26, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Susan, daughter of John and

Eliza Martin, natives of Pennsylvania; they were parents of eight children - Sarah, Mary, Reuben, Catharine, William, Susan, Henry and Sophia; he died September 19, 1879; his widow is still living, now seventy-four years of age. Dr. Edwards and wife by their union have had six children; five now survive - Blanche, John W., Omar K., Hortense E. and Monica E.

HENRY GABLE, farmer ; P. 0. Farmersville; born in Butler County, Ohio, January 23, 1837 ; is a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Long) Gable, natives of Reading, Penn. The paternal grandfather, Lewis Gable, was a native of England, but who emigrated to America about 1788, being about twenty years of age; he served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and resided in Pennsylvania till his death. Lewis, the eldest son of his father, was born in 1794, and grew to manhood in his native State, Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Ohio about 1819; was married and became the father of six children; three now survive - William, Susan and Henry. Mr. Gable became a resident of Montgomery County about 1840; was a farmer by occupation, and passed the remainder of his life in this county, dying in Jackson Township on the farm where Henry now lives, July 26, 1870, aged seventy-six years. Our subject remained with his father till his death; was married November 15, 1860, to Mary Jane, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Eagle, he a native of Maryland, and she of Pennsylvania; issue, seven children; five now survive - Amanda Catharine, Amelia Jane, Emma Cenora, Jesse Allen and Bessie. Mr. Gable, since his majority, has lived upon the same farm where he now resides, a period of twenty-five years; his farm consists of 111 acres with good buildings and improvements, located about one mile east of Farmersville, and is a very pleasant home and residence ; he also owns eighty acres of land three miles north of Farmersville. Mr. Gable has been School Director eleven years, and Township Treasurer four years; is a worthy member of the German Reformed Church, to which he has belonged twenty-six years.

ABRAHAM GAUVEY, merchant, New Lebanon ; born in Jefferson Township, this county. January 6, 1850 ; is a son of Martin and Susanna (Miller) Gauvey, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of this county; the paternal grandfather, Martin Gauvey, was a native of Pennsylvania, and lived and died in his native State. He was a preacher in the German Baptist Chnrch. The maternal grandfather, Abraham Miller, was a native of Virginia, but became a resident of this county probably about 1820, and here married and lived till his death. The father of our subject emigrated from Pennsylvania to this county about 1827, when about twenty-one years of age ; was married to Anna Rollman, by whom he had two children - one only now living - Sarah, who is a resident of Dayton. His wife died about 1836. On April 18, 1841, he was again united in marriage to Susanna Miller, daughter of Abraham and Christina Miller, natives of Virginia, by whom he had six children. Five now survive - George B., Martin V., Daniel, John G and Abraham. Mr. Gauvey was a miller by trade, which business he followed through life. He died March 30, 1854, aged forty-eight years. On February 20, 1856, his widow was married to Dauiel Brumbaugh, a native of Miami County, but who was raised and grew to manhood in this county ; issue, four children, three now living - Mary E., Sarah Jane and Alvin J.

Our subject was four years of age when his father died, but was cared for by his mother till old enough to work, when he was placed out to work on a farm, and thus continued till fourteen years of age ; from this time till twenty years of age, he raised tobacco on shares, but in the meantime he had obtained a good common school education; thence he taught school several winters. In November, 1878, he purchased a general stock of merchandise and entered upon the mercantile trade, which business he has successfully carried on since ; has a good and increasing trade, and has the confidence of his community ; has served as Clerk of the town since its first incorporation. Was married March 26, 1874, to Miss Virginia S., daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth Stoner, natives of Virginia; issue, three children - Sadie Isabel, born December 27, 1874; Hattie Jane, born April 14, 1877, and Jesse S., born March 20, 1879.

CYRUS II. GILBERT, farmer; P. O. Germantown ; born in this county, May 17, 1832, is a son of James and Sarah (Zeller) Gilbert, he a native of Maryland and she of Ohio. The paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Gilbert, was a native of England, who emigrated to America at quite an early day, and located in Maryland, where he lived till his death. The maternal grandfather, John Zeller, was a native of Pennsylvania, but became one of the early settlers of German Township, this county, where he lived and died. James, while quite a young man, emigrated to Ohio, locating in this county, in Jefferson Township ; was married and became the father of ten children ; seven now survive - Cyrus H., Lovina, John A., Sarah, Candace, James M. and Oliver F. Mr. Gilbert was a wagon maker by trade, which business he followed for several years ; thence gave his attention to farming, which occupation he has since followed. Mr. Gilbert commenced in life a poor man, and by his own industry and good management became possessed of a large amount of property and has given each of his children a farm, enabling them to have a good start in life. He is now eightyone years of age and quite robust and active for one of his age. He and wife are now residing in Germantown, retired from the active labors of life. Our subject remained with his father till twenty-three years of age; was married January 11, 1855, to Mary, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Myers, he a native of Maryland and she of Virginia. Mr. Myers was brought to this county, Jefferson Township, in 1803, and grew to manhood inured to the scenes and trials of those early days. He was here when they ground their meal by hand on a crank mill ; when grain sold for 64c per bushel, the only market being to supply the immigrants who arrived as new settlers of the neighborhood. There was then no market for anything at Dayton, and very little at Cincinnati. These were times when it took great physical and mental strength, great powers of endurance and stamina of character to carry them through ; but they were true to their purpose, and well and faithfully did they perform their labors, and the present and future generations will reap the benefits of their labors. Cyrus Gilbert and wife by their union have had eight children - Lizzie Jane, Charles I., F. Ida, Sallie Ann, Laura A., Rosa E., Abraham L. and James Edmond. Mr. Gilbert, after his marriage, bought and located upon the farm where he now lives and has since resided, a period of twenty-six years ; his farm is in the southeast corner of the township, and consists of 136 acres of land, with good buildings and improvements, constituting a very pleasant home and farmer's residence. He also owns a farm of 121 acres in Preble County, Ohio. Mr. Gilbert is one of the prominent farmers of Jackson Township and stands high in his community as a man of ability and integrity of character; is one of the Trustees of the township. He and wife are active and consistent members of the United Brethren Church, to which he has belonged since eighteen years of age, a period of thirty-one years.

ABRAHAM HARP, farmer ; P. 0. Farmersville ; born in Jefferson Township, this county, October 31, 1816 ; is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Bowman) Harp, natives of Berks County, Penn. The grandfather, Frederick Harp, was probably born in Pennsylvania, where he spent all his life till, two weeks before his death, he came to this county and died and was buried here. Jacob, who was raised and grew to manhood in his native State, emigrated to Ohio in the spring of 1816, coming through by team, and was six weeks on the road ; he located in Jefferson Township, where he resided till April, 1857, when he moved to Germantown and resided till his death, which occurred in August following the same year, aged seventy-seven years ; his w'fe died about 1875, aged ninety-four years. They were parents of eight children, two sons and six daughters, of whom four now survive - Catharine, Fanny, Abraham and Christina. Mr. Harp was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; was one of the pioneers of the county, and bore his full share of the hardships and deprivations of those early days. Our subject was born and raised in this county and inured to the scenes and events of those times ; remained with his father till thirty-three years of age ; was married December 7, 1844, to Polly, daughter of Jacob and Mary Peters, natives of Pennsylvania, but who became residents of this county, locating on the farm where Mr. Harp now lives, in 1831 ; by this union they have had seven children, six now living - Jeremiah, Mariah, Leah, Henry, Sarah and David. Mr. Harp has always followed farming as an occupation; he bought and located upon his present farm in the spring of 1868, where he has since resided. Mr. Harp started out in life a poor man, but by his own labor, industry and good management has accumulated a good amount of property ; he owns three farms, embracing 350 acres of good land , with good buildings and improvements, also another twenty-acre tract of land. Mr. Harp and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, to which they have belonged twenty-five years, and he has been Treasurer of the Sabbath school for twenty years.

SAMUEL M. HECK, farmer; P. 0. Farmersville ; born in Virginia, July 13, 1813 ; is a son of David and Magdalena (Spitler) Heck ; he is a native of Maryland and she of Pennsylvania. The grandfather, David Heck, was a native of Maryland, but his father was born in Germany. David, the grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was one of the most active and devoted patriots of the country ; he lived and died in his native State, Maryland. David, the father, was the eldest of a family of three sons and two daughters, and when but a boy left his home to battle with the world, and to make his own livelihood ; he learned the trades of blacksmithing and wagon making, which busines he followed during his life. He left his native State and became a resident of Virginia, where he resided till the fall of 1819, when he came to Ohio and located in Madison Township, this county, where he resided till his death; he died January 13, 1878, aged ninety-four years ; his wife died about 1858. They were parents of seven children; six now survive - Samuel M., John, David, Elizabeth, Susan and Polly Ann. Mr. Heck was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; he became one of the early pioneers of this county and bore his full share of the hardships and deprivations of this then new country, opened out right in the woods, clearing a good farm ; was one of the prominent and active men in all public enterprises of his day; was a Justice of the Peace six years, and was a Director and the Treasurer of the Dayton & Eaton Pike, from its completion till his feebleness from old age forbade his acting in that capacity longer and in his death passed away one of our most worthy pioneers and useful citizens. Our subject, who was the eldest of his father's family, and consequently took a leading part in clearing up and opening out the farm, and being one of that active nature who loved hard work, found at the age of sixteen that he was liable to break down his health, turned his attention to acquire an education ; he attended school eighteen months, then began teaching, and taught six years ; thence took instruction from a celebrated teacher from Connecticut about six months ; thence renewed his profession of teaching, which he followed fifteen years more, when his health failing him, he turned his attention to farming; was married December 25, 1839, to Catharine, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Warner, natives of Pennsylvania ; issue nine children, eight now survive - Mary Ann, Amanda, James F., Melissa, David B., Altha L., Minnie A. and Laura A. Mr. Heck, after his marriage, resided on his farm near Johnsville, till the fall of 1873, when he sold this farm and in the spring of 1874, bought and located upon the place where he now resides. This farm he purchased of Peter Buzzard, agent for the estate of Samuel Buzzard, deceased ; it consists of ninety-five acres with good buildings and improvements, and cost $10,000. Mr. Heck having obtained a good education, and being naturally of an active spirit has filled most all the positions and offices of trust in his township, being finally compelled by his advancing years to refuse further official trusts. In the spring of 1880, Mr. Heck was foreman on a special jury in trying the " Huffman will case," one of the most important cases ever tried in this county, in which was involved $1,500,000, and upon which the jury sat nineteen days, rendering a verdict in favor of the plaintiff - the Seely heirs. He has done a great amount of surveying in his neighborhood, and has been one of the most active and useful, as he is now most respected, citizens of this township.

DAVID E. HEISEY, merchant and Postmaster, Farmersville, born in Lancaster County, Penn., August 12, 1835, is a son of Martin and Elizabeth (Engle) Heisey, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather, John Heisey, was also a native of Pennsylvania, who lived and died in his native State. The maternal grandfather, Jacob Engle, was also a native of Pennsylvania, and lived and died in Lancaster County, Penn. Mr. Martin Heisey emigrated to Ohio in May, 1850, coming through in wagons, and were twenty-one days making the journey. He located in Miami County and remained there till in September ; thence located in Butler Township, this county, where he has since resided. He always followed farming as an occupation, till advancing years forbade his further active labor, and, having obtained a good competency, has lived retired, principally from hard, active labor, for many years. Mr. Heisey was married and became the father of eleven children; five now survive - John, Barbara, Martha, Susan and David E. His wife died in January, 1875, aged seventy-two years ; he is still residing on the old home place, now about eighty-six years of age. Our subject remained with his father till near his majority, brought up to farm labor, receiving a good common school education ; then for some years engaged in various business as agent, when, on the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in the Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served through the war, being, during this time, veteranized by re-enlistment. He was first under Bosecrans and afterward with Gen. Sherman on his celebrated raid through the South ; was wounded at the battle of Atlanta and disabled for a time, but at the close of the war returned safely home. Mr. Heisey enlisted as a private, was promoted to Orderly Sergeant, thence to First Lieutenant, in which capacity he served to the end of the war. In the spring of 1866, Mr. Heisey entered into the general merchandise trade with D. W. Sinks, in Farmersville, and thus continued till the summer of 1867, when they sold out. In the spring of 1868, he entered in partnership with John Flory in the mercantile trade, in Winchester, Preble Co., Ohio, and continued till in the fall of the same year, when he sold out his interest to Mr. Flory. In the spring of 1869, he bought out a harness and trimming shop in Farmersville and put in a stock of groceries, and continued in this combination of business about three years; thence sold out the harness and trimming department, continued the grocery business combined with hardware and notions to the present time ; was appointed Postmaster in 1870, which office he has since held. Mr. Heisey was united in marriage, March 19, 1868, to Anna, daughter of Edward and Ellen Liviugood, natives of Pennsylvania, but who became residents of Ohio, where he died. They were parents of seven children ; three now survive - Anna, Samuel Peter and Zephaniah. Mr. IMsey and wife by their union have had five children, three now living, Edward M., Herbert S. and Glenna B.

DANIEL HOOPS, farmer, P. 0. Farmersville, born in this township August 24, 1817, is a son of Evan and Susanna (Sheets) Hoops, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Virginia, he becoming a resident of Virginia when quite young. He was twice married ; first, to Catharine Kinsey, by whom he had seven children, three now living - Jane, John and Christian. In 1811, Mr. Hoops, with his family, emigrated to Ohio and located in Jackson Township on the place now owned by W. Kennedy. This place he took right in the woods, with not a stick amiss, and commenced in true log-cabin life. Being one of the earliest settlers, he experienced all the roughness and hardships of true pioneer life. He was a tailor by trade, and applied nearly all his time to that business, hiring the clearing-up of his farm done by others. It is said that he had so much work pressed upon him, that for weeks he never went to bed to sleep ex cept on Saturday nights, taking what little rest he could, when he became tired, by laying his head on a bolt of cloth, taking a short sleep, then going to work again, and thus he labored on. He lost his wife by death December 25, 1814. In the summer of 1816, he married for his second wife Susanna Sheets, by whom he had seven children, five now living - Daniel, Sarah, Minerva, Henry and Solomon. Mr. Hoops died in June, 1862, aged eighty-two years; his wife is still living, now residing in Veils County, Ind., at eighty-nine years of age, and is still a spry and hearty old lady. Our subject, born and raised here, grew to manhood inured to the scenes and hardships of those early days; was married, May 26, 1842, to Mary Ann, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Ann De Lawter, natives of Maryland, who emigrated to Ohio in 1820, located in Jackson Township, and were among the early settlers, opening out in the woods without a stick amiss, and here he lived till his death, July 17, 1877, aged eightythree years, having a continued residence on the place where he first located of fifty-seven y'ears. His wife died in Farmersville December 29, 1880, aged eightythree years. Their children numbered eleven, six now living - Rebecca, Mary Ann.

Catharine, David, Lewis and Elizabeth. Mr. Hoops and wife have four children - Sarah, Susanna, Jacob and Rebecca Jane. Mr. Hoops, after his marriage, located near the old home place ; is now on the third place he ever owned, and all have been within one mile of the old homestead. The farm upon which he now lives he purchased of the administrator of Jacob Smith, deceased, in the fall of 1863, and located on the same in March, 1864 ; has one hundred acres of land, with good buildings and improvements. Mr. Hoops has served as Constable and Township Trustee, but now refuses all public offices, believing them unprofitable.

DAVID KINSEY, farmer, P. 0. Farmersville, was born on the farm where he now resides, February 25, 1815, is a son of John and Elizabeth (Mullendore) Kinsey, natives of Virginia. The maternal grandfather, Jacob Mullendore, was also a native of Virginia, but emigrated to Ohio and located in this county where Gettersburg now stands in 1801 or 1802, here he carried on the tanning business for many years till his death. He was a veiy active, industrious man, and carried quite an extensive business for those pioneer days. During the war of 1812, he hauled flour to Greenville for the army, and they tried to press his team into the service, but by hard driving he escaped, and returned home. John Kinsey came to this county with Mr. Mullendore, was drafted in the war of 1812, but hired a substitute. He entered the land from the Government upon which our subject now lives in 1817, and here he lived till his death. He opened out right in the woods, cutting out the first stick of timber, built a log house and commenced in rough pioneer style, roofed his house with boards without any nails, and every severe storm would blow off his roof, and again he would re-roof it; and thus he lived and endured all the many hardships and deprivations of those early days. But before he died he had erected the present large barn that still stands on the place, which was at that time one of the best in the township. He died in March, 1819. He was the father of eight children, three now living - Mary, David and Jonas. His widow married for her second husband, Jacob Meyers, by whom she had five children, two now survive - Lydia and John. She died in 1855. Our subject was raised and grew to manhood on the old home place, where he now lives ; was married October 18, 1839, to Catharine, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Mullendore, he a native of Virginia, and she of Pennsylvania. They were parents of nine children, seven now living - Jacob, Elizabeth, Catharine, George, Aaron, Susanna and Joseph ; two deceased - Daniel and Noah. Mr. Kinsey and wife have eleven children, all living - Joseph, Elizabeth, Nancy Jane, JqFn W., Susan, George A., Aaron, NoahM., Perry D., Catharine and Charles Franklin. Mr. Kinsey after their marriage located in German Township, where he lived eleven years, thence moved on to the old home farm, where he has since resided. This farm has always remained in the family name ever since its first entry from the Government. Mr. Kinsey has from time to time purchased more land till at one time he was owner of over 1,000 acres of land, constituting him one of the largest land-owners in this vicinity. He has since given some to his children and sold a portion, and still owns 550 acres; has erected a good brick house upon the home place, and made other improvements till he has a fine home and residence. Mr. Kinsey has been one of the most active business farmers of this township, and has accumulated a large amount of property by his own industry and good management, and his history and that of his ancestors is of more than ordinary interest, and deserves a special place in the history and records of this county.

GEORGE P. MICHAEL, farmer, P. O. Germantown, was born in Frederick County, Md., December 9, 1834, is a son of John and Charlotte (Dull) Michael, natives of Maryland. The paternal grandfather, Peter Michael, was also a native of Maryland, but became a resident of Montgomery County in the spring of 1836, and located in German Township, where he lived till his death. John, about six months after their arrival in this county, located in Jefferson Township, where he has since resided. He is the father of eight children - Cornelius, Rhuanna, George P.. John H., Jacob, Mary M., Wesley and Enos. Mr. Michael lost his wife by death, since which his eldest daughter has been his housekeeper. He is now seventy-six years of age, and still resides upon the same place where he first located, having made a continued resi- de nee here of forty-four years. Our subject lived with his father till his majority; was married February 24, 1856, to Sarah, daughter of Jonathan and Lydia Myers, natives of Pennsylvania, but who became among the pioneers of this county, locating here about 1803, when all was a wilderness, filled with wild beasts and Indians. Mr. Myers is now a resident of Germantown, and has reached the advanced age of eightytwo years. He endured his full share of the trials and hardships of the pioneer days, but he has lived to see the great transformation of this once wild country into one of the most beautiful and wealthy counties of the State. And to him and all other coworkers of those early days is due great praise and honor for the work they accomplished. Mr. Michael, by this union, became the father of eight children, seven now living - Ellen, Mary Ann, Lucinda, Emma, Amanda, Perry and Charles E. His wife died January 29, 1874. On December 7, 1876, he was married to Miss Mollie, daughter of Peter and Anna (Bowen) Rauch, he a native of Ohio and she of Pennsylvania; by this union they have two children - Jesse P. and George Oscar. Mr. Michael bought and located upon the farm where he now lives in the winter of 1872 ; it consists of 103 acres of land with good buildings and improvements, constituting a pleasant home and residence.

CHRISTIAN MUSSELMAN, tobacco dealer, New Lebanon, born in Germany, April 12, 1823, is a son of David and Elizabeth Musselman, natives of Germany, who lived and died in their native country. They were parents of nine children ; eight now survive - David, Henry, Christian, Jacob, John, Barbara, Magdalena and Christina. The sons are all residents of this country, but the daughters are still residents oi Germany. Mr. Musselman was a farmer in his native country, and carried on quite an extensive business, also carried on quite an extensive business in distilling, and in raising stock, and was a leading man in his community. Our subject was only nine years of age when his father died ; he then lived with his uncle till fourteen years of age, when he learned the cabinet-making business, which he followed till the spring of 1846, when he emigrated to America, and landed at New Orleans June 10, 1846, thence came direct to this place, where he had a brother who had preceded him ; here he located, and has since resided, with the exception of about two years' residence in Dayton ; was married, September 25, 1848, to Miss Eliza, daughter of John and Mary Myers, natives of Maryland, now residents of Preble County. They had seven daughters and six sons, nine now survive - Emanuel, Margaret, Mary, Eliza, Catharine, Julia Ann, Elizabeth, John P. and Sanford N. Eliza was born in Maryland, January 22, 1831, and came with her parents to this county in 1833. Mr. Musselman and wife, by this union, have had six children, five now survive - John H., Mary C., David J., Elizabeth Ellen, and Clara N. Mr. Musselman, after his marriage, located in New Lebanon, where he carried on his trade till about 1860, when he entered upon the business of buying leaf tobacco, which business he has ever since successfully followed. Mr. Musselman is an active and prominent man in his community; was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1857 and served three terms, after which he refused to serve longer, though earnestly urged to do so by a confiding public. He and wife are members of the Reformed Church.

BEJAMIN FRANKLIN NUSHAWG, carpenter, Farmersville, was born m Wayne Township, this county, January 4, 1853; is a son of Israel B. and Elizabeth (Fields) Nushawg, natives of Berks County, Penn. The grandparents were John and Catharine Nushawg, natives of Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather, Michael Nushawg, was a native of Germany, but who, when one and a half years of age, was brought to America somewhere from 1750 to 1760, and spent his entire life, and died in Pennsylvania in 1823. John, the grandfather, raised in Pennsylvania, grew to manhood, was married, and became the father of two children, one only now living - Israel B. In June, 1840, he came with his family to Ohio, and located in Madison Township, this county, where he resided till his death, August 22, 1852, aged nearly seventy-two years. His wife died in October, 1853, aged seventy-two years. Israel B. was born in Berks County, Penn., May 12, 1821, being about nineteen years of age when he came to this county, and lived with his father till his death ; was mar- ried, March 14, 1853, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Fields, natives of Pennsylvania, but became residents of this county in 1833. They had nine children ; six now survive - Mary Elizabeth, Catharine, Edward J., Arabel and George and Jacob (twins). Mr. Fields died March 11, 1859 ; his widow is still living, now seventy-five years of age. Mary Elizabeth was born in Madison Township, October 14. 1833. Mr. Nushawg and wife have eleven children, all living - Benjamin F., Mary C., George W., Edward J.. Israel W., Amanda E., William L , Oliver C., Ella Nora F., Jonathan P. and Harriet Luella. In the fall of 1853, Mr. Nushawg bought and located upon the place where he now lives, and has since resided. Our subject remained with his father till twenty-three years of age. since which time he has followed the carpenter trade. Was married, January 6, 1876, to Lydia A. Ellen, daughter of George and Magdalena Cupp, he a native of Virginia and she of Pennsylvania They are parents of five children ; three now survive - Nancy, Lydia A. Ellen and Emma. Mr. Nushawg and wife, by their union, have one child - Warnan Luther. Mr. Nushawg, after his marriage, located in Farmersville, where he has since resided and followed his trade, as contractor and builder, aod, although comparatively a young man, he has all the work he can do, and is doing quite a large business in his line.

JOHN N. PRINTZ, general merchant, Farmersville, born in Butler County, Ohio, March 7, 1828, is a son of John and Hannah (Julie) Printz, he a native of Pennsylvania. and she of New Jersey. The maternal grandfather, Henry Julie, was also a native of New Jersey. Mr. John Printz, the father, emigrated to Ohio when a young, single man and settled in Warren County; was married and became the father of six children; four now survive - Edwin Pt., Dianthe, John N. and Edward R. Mr. Printz, after residing for awhile in Butler County, returned to Warren County, where he resided till his death; his wife lived till May 13, 1873, when she departed this life. Our subject was about ten years of age when his father died, and he was then thrown upon the world and raised among strangers, and received a limited education, and was brought upon the stage of action, as he arrived to manhood, to launch out for himself the best he could. Having, at fifteen years of age, commenced to learn the tailoring business, which, in due time, he mastered, and followed that business twenty-eight years. Was married, March 7, 1850, to Miss Mary L., who was born in Vermont August 3, 1832 ; a daughter of Earl and Frances (Bushnell) Smith, natives of Vermont. They were parents of four children ; three now survive - Cylena F., Lucy A. and Mary L. The second child and only son, Joyce C., grew to manhood, and, when about thirty-two years of age, was Captain of the steamer Phoenix on Lake Michigan, and, on November 21, 1847, his boat took fire and was entirely consumed, and all on board lost (130 passengers), except the Clerk, Mr. Jackson, who was saved by clinging to a mast. Mr. Smith's wife died November 21, 1830. He married for his second wife Miss Mary Pearson, by whom he had one child - Emma F. On the 10th of August, 1842, he was called to mourn the death of his second wife. On July 4, 1843, he was again married to Mrs. Sallie Jackson, by whom he had one child - Nathan C. Mr. Smith and family emigrated to Ohio in 1838 and located in Lake County, where he resided till his death, which occurred September 21, 1872, aged seventy-seven years. Mr. Printz and wife by their union have ten children - -Mary E., Hannah G., Abraham E., Francis F., Edward C., Emma F., David E., Lurenda Candace, Orlando C. and Zamia May. Mr. Printz became a resident of this county, locating at Farmersville in September, 1854, where he has since resided. Here he followed his trade till the fall of 1866, when he entered upon the mercantile trade, in which he continued, till, in 1869, he sold out. In the spring of 1872, he again opened out a general store, in which he has continued to the present time, and is now the leading merchant in Farmersville, doing a good trade, having the confidence and respect of his community; and, we may justly say, much credit is due Mr. Printz for the success he has made in business life ; starting as he did a poor boy and cast upon the world among strangers to choose his own course of life, his posterity may well feel proud of and fondly cherish his memory for ages to come.