Jerome Township (part 10 of 19)

Rev. Knust attended the schools of his native land until his parents came to this country and then attended the public schools of Iowa for three years. When he was fifteen years of age he entered Concordia College, at Springtield, Illinois, with the intention of preparing himself for the ministrv. He attended school for seven years and upon his graduation he came to Union county, Ohio, and took charge of the German Lutheran church at Chuckery, in Darby township. He organized the St. Paul church at Chuckery and also opened the parochial school. He was instrumental in having a church and parsonage built, the church being erected in 1902 and the parsonage in 1894. .\ residence for the teacher was built in 1909. Rev. Knust has taken an active part in the life of the community and gives his hearty support to all public-spirited measures.

Rev. Knust was married October 3, 1894, to ]\Iinnie Kuhn. of Hilliards. Ohio, and to this union one son was born, Paul, who died at the age of six months. The first wife of Rev. Knust died and he was married a second time on Mav u, 1897, to Louisa Werfelman, the daughter of Rev. John Werfelman, the pastor of St. John's Lutheran church of the German settlement in this county. To this second union have been born four children, who arc still living with their parents, Meta, Hilda, Olga and Frieda.

George W. Loxgbrake

Union county, Ohio, had no difficulty in furnishing all the soldiers apportioned to it during the Civil War. One of the many hundreds of young men of the sixties who enlisted from this county is George W. Longbrake, who is now a highly respected farmer of Mill Creek township. He did not enter the service from moti\-es of sport or frolic, but saw beneath the surface and realized that the South was determined to break up the Union for the purpose of establishing a Confederacy of slave-holding states. From his earliest years he had been taught to hate slavery and to do all he could to blot it from this country's escutcheon. He regarded it as a foul l)lot on our flag and was willing to offer his services in order that the institution might be forever eliminated from our country.

George W. Longbrake, the son of Jacob and Susan (Farnum) Longbrake, was born January 4, 1842, in Shelby county, Ohio. His father was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother in New York state. She came to Madison, Ohio, when she was a girl, and a short time later removed with her parents to Union county and located in Mill Creek township, where she was living at the time of her marriage. Jacob Longbrake came to Clark county, Ohio, from Pennsylvania and later to Union county, where he married and lived the rest of his life. Five children were born to Jacob Longbrake and wife, three of whom are living : Marinda, the widow of Robert Thompson ; Roxey (deceased), wife of James Bethard; Ida, the wife of Jefferson L. Richey ; George W., of Mill Creek township, and one girl who died in childhood.

George W. Longbrake was two years of age when his parents located in Dover township. Union county, Ohio, and eight years later they moved to Mill Creek township where he has spent his life since with the exception of the time spent in the .service of his country during the Civil War. He received such education as was afforded b}' the rude subscription schools of his boyhood days, and remained at home until he enlisted for service in the war. He was mustered in as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in May, 1864. Previous to this time he had served as a member of the Home Guards of his state. He served his countr\- until the close of the war, and then returned to L'nion county, where he took up the occupation of a farmer. Mr. Longbrake has been living on the same farm since 1852. \Vhen he retired from farming he had three hundred and ten acres of land in this township, which he still owns.

Air. Longbrake was married April 7, 1868, to Isabel J. Richey, who was born in Union county, Ohio, September 26, 1852. To this union four children have been born, three of whom are still living: Alma E., the wife of J. L. Stimmel, of Mill Creek township: Linna, the wife of W. E. Piersol, of Freedom, Pennsylvania, and Mark F., a farmer of this township, who married Buretta Shields.

Mr. Longbrake has been a life-long Republican, and has served as trustee of his township. He is a member of the Ransom Reed Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Marysville, and has always been interested in the welfare of the veterans of the Rebellion. The family home, which lies six miles southeast of Marvsville, presents an attractive appearance, and here Mr. Long- (49)' brake and his wife have Hved a plain and unostentatious life for nearly half a centurj-, and it is safe to say that there is no more highly respected couple

Lee W. Elsom

One of the younger farmers of Alill Creek township, L'nion county, Ohio, is Lee W. Elsom, who is a wide-awake and public-spirited citizen of the township where he has spent all of his life thus far. He is a young man of excellent education and, although he qualified himself for the teaching profession, decided to enter the bank at Ostrander rather than become a pedagog. After a few years' experience as a cashier in the bank he decided to devote himself to agriculture and now has a line farm of fifty acres one and one-half miles northeast of Watkins, in this county.

Lee W". Elsom, the son of Thomas W. and Emma (Winget) Elsom, was born January 6, 1884, in the township where lie is now living. His father was born in Virginia and his mother in Delaware county, Ohio. Seven children were born to Thomas \Y. Elsom and wife, four of whom are still living: Stewart, of Toledo. Ohio: Mary, wlio is married and living at Portsmouth, Ohio; Lee W., of Alill Creek township, this county, and Ruth, who is single and living in Dayton.

Lee W. Elsom was reared on his father's farm in Alill Creek township and graduated from the township graded high school in 1900 at the age of sixteen. He liad applied himself so thoroughly to his studies while a student in the high school that he had no difficulty in qualifying for the position as a teacher in the public schools. However, he was oft'ered a position as assistant cashier of the Ostrander Bank and decided to accept the same. He remained with this bank for two years and then resigned his position to take up farming. He is a progressi\'e farmer and believes in intensive methixis. and by tlie proper crop rotation has made his farm one of the most productive in the county.

Air. Elsom was married Octolier 16, Tgoj, to Edith V. Latimer, of L'nion county. She was a graduate of the Alill Creek graded high school and had taught school for three years before her marriage. To this union three children have been born : Donald, aged five : William, aged four, and Alildred, aged two.

I-'raternally, Air. Elsom is a memlaer of the Eree and Accepted Alasons. Tn p'llitics, he gives his loyal support to the Democratic party and has taken an active part in local political matters. He is now serving his second term as treasurer of Mill Creek township and is giving this office his careful and conscientious attention. Mr. Elsom and his wife are held in high esteem in the communit}' where they reside and their influence is alwavs cast on the side of all public-spirited measures which they feel will benefit their community in any way.

Frank E. Andrews

Sixty years ago Frank E. Andrews was born in Darby township, Union county, Ohio, and his entire life has been spent in this same township. He has been a stock buyer for a quarter of a century and has also been engaged in farming during all of this time in Darby township.

Frank E. Andrews, the son of Rufus H. and Sarah (Wheeler) Andrews, was born in Darby township, Union county, Ohio, July 29, 1855. His parents were natives of Madison county, Ohio, their ancestors having come to this state from Connecticut early in the history of this state. Rufus Andrews and his wife were not married until they came to Union county, and here they reared their three children: Frank E., who is the only one living: H. M., who died at the age of twenty-one, and Clara, who died at the age of twenty-four, after marrying Harry Woodruff. The father of these children died in May, 1902, and the mother passed away February 8, 1907.

Frank E. Andrews received all of his education in the schools of Darby township and remained at home until his marriage, when he began farming for himself. He began with a small farm and gradually increased it until now he is the owner of one hundred and iifty acres of well improved land three miles west of Plain City, Ohio. For the past twenty-live years he has been engaged extensively in the buying and shipping of live stock of all kinds.

Mr. Andrews was married on Christmas eve, 1879, to Alice V. Mitchell, a daughter of David and Elizabeth fWingfield) Mitchell, who were early pioneers of Union county. The father of Mrs. Andrews died in 1899, and her mother passed away Novemlier 3, 1914. There ha\-e been born five children to Mr. and Mrs. Andrews: Charles, born ]vlarch 4. 188 1, a farmer of Madison county, Ohio: Edna, born J^inuary 8, 18S3, the wife of William Davis, a farmer of Jerome township: Merle E., born July 14, i88fi, the wife of Phillip P. Koehl, of West Lilierty, Ohio: Edgar R., horn October

Politically, Mr. Andrews has long been identified with the Republican party, but has never taken an active part in political affairs, his extensive business having been such that he has not had the time to devote to political matters, and has never had any inclination to make the race for public office. He is well known throughout the county and is esteemed because of his inteeritv and strength of character.

Joseph B. Zimmerman

A native-born son of Darby township, who has spent his whole life thus far in the township where his birth occurred, is Joseph B. Zimmerman, who is now operating his father's farm of one hundred acres three and onehalf miles northwest of Plain City. He is an enterprising young man who has been married about two years, and is just at "the beginning of his career as a farmer and stock raiser. In fact, the first chapter of his life history is being written now, and half a century from this time it will be possible to give more a nearly complete sketch of his life, but it is evident from the success wliich he has attained thus far that he has a long and prosperous career before him.

Joseph B. Zimmerman, the son of Cyrus H. and Lydia E. (Ganz) Zimmenuan, was born in Darby township. Union county, Ohio, January 5, 1887. His father was born in Springfield, Ohio, and his mother in Hamilton county, this state, and their marriage took place in Springfield, where they lived until about 1 88 1, when they came to Union county and settled in Darby townshii). where they have since resided. His father is now mayor of Plain City, being engaged in the real estate and insurance business in this village. Five sons have been born to Cyrus H. Zimmerman and wife: Albert, an attorney and manager of the American Surety and Trust Company, of Toledo. Ohio : \Valter, the cashier in a bank, now living in the state of Washington : Joseph B., of Darby township; Edwin, a hardware merchant of Plain City, who is still li\ing with his parents, and Ralph, who is assistant salesman for the C. D. Furgeson Auto Company, of Plain City.

Joseph B. Zimmerman was educated in the schools of Darby township, and resifled at home until he was married, since which time he has had the manageniciit of his father's farm in Darby township. He raises full-blooded

Duroc Jersey hogs and other higli-class stock, and is already forging to tlie front as one of the enterprising and progressive agricuUurists of his township. The subject's father made all the impro\ements on the place, the house being modern in every respect, including hot and cold water, gas lights, sewer, etc.

Mr. Zimmerman was married March 5, 1913, to Ida Powell, a daughter of Edgar and Amanda (Kilbury) Powell, natives of West JNlanstield and Union county, respectively. Mrs. Zimmerman's parents are now living in Canaan township, Madison county, Ohio.

Politically, Air. Zimmerman is a Republican, but thus far has not taken an active part in political matters. Fraternally, he is a member of Pleasant Valley Lodge No. 193, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Plain City.

Joseph E. Hlird

The Hurd family of Union county, Ohio, worthily represented in this volume by Joseph E. Hurd, have been residents of the county for many years. The parents of Joseph E. Hurd are both natives of this county and many of their children are still living here. Mr. Hurd is a valuable citizen of Taylor township, where he has been living since his marriage and in the welfare of which he has always taken a deep interest.

Joseph E. Hurd, the son of Hiram and Minerva (Glasscock) Hurd, was born in Liberty township. Union county, Ohi(3, September jt,. 1877. Both of his parents were born in this county, his father being deceased, while his mother is still living. Ten children, all of whom are still living, were born to Hiram Hurd and wife: Rosa, the wife of Marion Southall ; C. O., of Marvsville ; .Albert, a farmer of Indiana: Clayton, a farmer of Union coimty : Jason, a carpenter: Joseph E.. of Taylor t<iwnship; Garfield, a farmer; Henry, Robert and Clarence.

Joseph E. Hurd was educated in the schools of Liberty tijwnshi]^ and remained on the home farm until his marriage at the age of twenty-two. He then began farming on his present farm of si.xty-three and si.x-tenths acres in Taylor township, where he has met with excellent success. He is interested in the raising of Duroc hogs and feeds most of his com to his hogs. His farm is well improved and is ample witness to the thriftiness of the owner.

of Ohio, a daughter of John and Olive C. (Hurd) Reid, the father a native of Canada, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and a soldier in the Union Army for over four years. He was wounded and received an honorable discharge and a pension. He died June i, 1900. He was a resident of Union county from young manhood. To this union four children have been born : Thelma, who died in infancy: Anice L., who is now eleven years of age; Josephine died at the age of nine months; Martha; and Ruth L., born October 28, 1910. Mr. Hurd and his wife are both active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a deep interest in all church and Sunday sc!hool work. Mr. Hurd is the present superintendent of the Sunday school of his church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias and is a past noble grand of the Odd Fellows. Politicalh'. he gives his loyal support to the Republican party, and although he has never been a candidate for a public office, he is interested in all measures which pertain to the public welfare of his community.

Steven V. R. Youxg

In the spring of 1861 Steven V. R. Young came to Union county, Ohio, to make his home, and has resided in Claibourne township since that year. For five years previous to that time he had been in the West, working in the gold mines of California. ^Ir. Young has engaged in general farming and stock raising in this county for the past half centur\' and has met with a success commensurate with b.is well-directed efforts.

Steven V. R. Young, a son of Elijah and Am}- (Larkin) Young, was born October 26, 1S31, at Galena, Delaware county, Ohio. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and came with his father when a small boy to Delaware county, Ohio. His mother was born in New York state, and his parents were married in Delaware county. ]\Iorgan Young, the father of Elijah Young, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and lost the sight of both eyes in that stniggle. M(_M-gan Young came to Delaware county, Ohio, early in its history and livetl in that count}- until he reached the advanced age of ninety-six.

Elijah Young was married in Delaware county to Amy Larkin, and to this union were born nine children: Jiiseph, deceased: Nancy, deceased; Zcruah, deceased: Stexen V. R., of Clailmurne township: Bruce, of Pennsylvania ; Hannah Jane, deceased ; Andrew, deceased : Riley, a resident of

Indiana, and Morgan, a farmer of Claibourne township. Elijah Young and his wife later went to Michigan, where they both lived the remainder of their lives.

Steven V. R. Young received a good common school education in the rude district schools of his boyhood days and in the spring of 1856 started for the West. For nearly five years he worked in the gold mines in the Sierra Ne\ada mountains, and in the spring of 1861 returned to his old home in Delaware county, Ohio. Sliortly afterwards he came to Union county and he and his brother, Morgan, bought a farm of one hundred and fourteen acres adjoining the town of Richwood. Later S. V. R. Young bought his brother's share in the farm and on this place he and his family lived for over thirty years.

Mr. Young was married Octoljer i, 1861, to Berthena Beltield, the daughter of William and Margaret ( Sutten ) Belheld. Mr. Belfield and his wife were both nati\'es of England and Airs. Young was born in England, March 19, 1S43. Her mother died in her native land and Mr. Belfield and his family later came to the United States and located in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1848. Later Mr. Belfield came to Columbus, where he clerked in a grocery store. Late in life he maile his home with Mr. anil Ivlrs. Young until his death in 1875. Mr. Belheld and his wife were the parents of nine children, six dying in childhdoil, and the other three, \\'illiam, Margaret and Berthena, coming to the United States witii their father. William enlisted for services in the Civil War and was killed at the battle of Atlanta. He was a member of the Eighteenth Regiment United States Infantry, and was sen-ing under General Sherman. ]\Iargaret is the widow of Hany Wells and now li\-es in Kentucky. Berthena is the wife of Mr. Young.

jNIr. and j\lrs. Young are the parents of three children, only one (if whom is now li\-ing, Willis E. Young, who was l)orn June 19, 1864, and married Mary Bell Benedict, of L'nion county. \\'illis is the manager of the Ben Franklin Printing Company of Akron, Ohio. He and his wife have one daughter, Helen Louise, who was liorn in June, 1909. Lutell, another son of Mr. and ]\Irs. Young, died in 1902, at the age of thirty-five, leaving his widow, Alice (Cox) Young, with four children, Harry L., Bertha A., ^^'illis E. and Rancv, who was accidetally killed by a street car in Akron, Ohio.

Harrv L. ^'oung, one of the grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Young, was married August 21. 1913, to Minnie May Wallace, a daughter of William P. and Emma (Gray) Wallace, and to this union one son has been born, James Ste\en Y(-iung, born May 26, 1914. This baby won the prize at the Richwood fair for being the largest baby on exhibition. The baby weighed twenty pounds when he was four months of age. Harry Young hves with the parents.

Margaret C. Young, the only daughter of Air. and Mrs. Steven Young, was born November lo, 1874, and died when she was two years of age. Air. Young was engaged in active farming until 1904, when he bought property in Richwood and retired from the active management of his farm. He has been a stanch Republican all his life until a few years ago. when he became a member of the Prohibition ]iarty. He and his family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are verv' much interested in its welfare.

John J. Watts

A successful farmer, stock raiser, merchant and stock buyer of Union county, Ohio, is John J. Watts, who now makes his home in Broadway, Union county, Ohio. While he has been engaged in merchandising for twenty years, he has devoted much of his attention to the buying and shipping of live stock. He has also been interested in the elevator business in Broadway and successfully managed the grain elevator at that place for a number of years. He is strictly upright in all of his dealings and because of his excellent judgment and foresight, has accumulated a fine farm of four hundred and forty acres adjoining Broadway.

John J. Watts, the son of Hiram and Sarah J. (Goldsmith) \\"atts, was born in Franklin township, Franklin county, Ohio, November 25, 1847. His parents were natives of New York and Ohio, respectively, and reared a family of six children: Horace, a farmer of York township; John J., of Broadway; William J., a farmer of York township; Eletha J., deceased, the wife of L J. Siegler; Charles D., of Columbus, Ohio; and Carrie, the wife of A. J. Davis, of Toledo, Ohio.

Hiram Watts was about four years of age when he came from New "S'ork state to Ohio with his uncle, his parents having died in New York state while he was still a babe in arms. He grew to manhood in Franklin township, I'^ranklin county, Ohio, and moved to Union county at the close of the Civil War. He farmed here until 1905, when he returned to Franklin county, where he lived until his death in March, 191 1. being ninetv-one years, three months and twelve davs old at the time of his demise. His wife died

The paternal grandfather of John J. Watts was John Watts. He was a native of New York state and lived there all of his days. He was killed when about forty years of age by the kick of a hcjrse. His wife. Elizabeth, also died in middle age. There were five children born to John Watts and wife, Xicholas, Joseph, John, Catherine and Maria. The maternal grandparents of John J. Watts were Thomas antl Nancy Goldsmith, natives of Scotland and Pennsylvania, respectively, and early settlers in Franklin township, Eranklin county, Ohio. They lived there the remainder of their days and reared a family of two children, John J. and Nancy J. Thomas Goldsmith and his wife, Nancy, had both been previously married.

John J. Watts was reared on his father's farm in Franklin countv, Ohio, and attended the public schools of his home neighborhood. He remained on the farm until he was twenty years of age and then began clerking in a store in York Center, where he remained for five years. Fie then came to Broadway and clerked in a store here for a short time, after which he operated an elevator in Broadway for five years. He then went to Cincinnati and traveled on the road for McCrea, Barnes & Donnelly Company, remaining in their service for a year and a half. After leaving this company, he returned to Broadway and bought out a general store in that village and engaged in merchandising for fourteen years. He bought and operated the elevator here for five years. During all the time that he was in the merchandise business, as well as managing the elevat()r, he was engaged in the Inning and shipping of live stock. He invested in Union county land and now has one of the best farms in the county, comprising a total of four hundred and forty acres. He has a beautiful home in Broadway.

Mr. Watts was married in September, 1870, to Orpha K. Safford, the daughter of Pelatiah and .Vzuljah (Austin) Safford. To this union two children have been born, Maude .\. and Lennie FI. Maude A. is the wife of R. C. Turney, of Delaware, Ohio, and has four children living, Maliel, Dallas, Theodore and ^^^illiam. Fennie H., who married .Anna ]\Ia\' Shirk, is a farmer of Taylor township and has three children, Dode, Fucile and Ouinton. The first wife of Mr. Watts died July 3, 1873, at the age of twenty-two.

June II, 1874. Air. W^atts married Mrs. Mary M. Yearsley, the widow of Nathan Yearsley, and the daughter of Sewell G. and Harriett S. (Safford) Hartshorn. To this .second marriage, one son, Sewell G., has been born. Sewell G. is now a partner with his father in the live stock shipping business. He married Lacy AIcKinnon and has two children, Ralph and Evelvn. Mrs.

Watts had a daughter hy her former marriage, Estalla, who married J. E. Shelton, of Broadway. Mr. and Mrs. Shelton have twelve children living, Dwight J., Claude E., Ethel M., Dode W., Paul E., Nathan, Esther, Jane, John E., Sewell B., Fern and Edith.

]Mrs. Mary M. Watts is a first cousin of the first wife of ]\Ir. Watts, and was bom at what is now Raymond, Union county, March 24, 1S46. Her father was a native of New Hampshire, and her mother was born in Vermont of Scotch lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn were among the first settlers of Licking county, Ohio, and shortly afterwards came to Union county, where her father followed the occupation of a carpenter and farmer. He died on a farm in Liberty township in 1874, at the age of seventy-five. His wife died August 20, 1891, at the age of eighty. Six children were born to ]\Ir. and ]\lrs. Hartshorn, Sarah A., George P., David S., ^Mary ^L. and two who died in infancy. Ethel Shelton, the granddaughter of Mrs. Watts, married Edgar A\'elch and they have one daughter. Thelma, who is the greatgranddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Watts.

iSh. Watts is a member of the Free and Accepted ]\Iasons. In politics he is a Republican and has served as treasurer and justice of the peace of his township.

Daniel C. Parish

A life-long farmer of Claibourne township. Union county, Ohio, is Daniel C. Parish, who came to this ci.ninty with his parents in 1847 when he was one vear old. He grew to manhood in this county, served in the Civil War and since the close of that struggle has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has been successful in his agricultural operations, as is evidenced hv Iiis well impro\-e(l farm in Claibourne township, where he has long made his home.

Daniel C. Parish, a son of Joseph and Keziah (Ramey) Parish, was born NoNember 26, 1846, in Muskingum county. Ohio. His father was a native of New Jersey, and when a lad of about tweh-e years came to Ohio with John Rachels and located in Muskinguin county, where he grew to manhood and married Keziah Ramey. Ten children were born to Joseph Parish and. wife, five of wliom are living; William A., who lives in -Marion county. Illinois, near Fairman: Daniel C. of Claibourne township: Elizabeth, tlie wife of James Moore, a farmer of Jackson township: Josejihine, the wife

Daniel C. Parish moved with his parents from Aluskingum county to Union county, Ohio, in March, 1847, and located with them in Claihourne township. His father lived on the farm until a few years before his death, when he retired to Richwood. His wife died in Richwuod and Joseph later returned to the farm antl li\-ed with his sun until his death.

Daniel C. Parish was reared on his father's farm in Claibourne township, and received such education as was afforded by the country schools of his boyhood days. When he was se\-enteen years of age he enlisted as a member of Company F, Thirty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until he was discharged June 18, 1865. He was mustered out at Camp Chase after having been in the service for about fifteen nn mths. Two years after the war he was married and then settled down to the life of a farmer and has engaged in agricultural pursuits since that time. At the present time his son-in-law has acti\-e management of his farm.

^Ir. Parish was married Xo\eml)er 26, 1867. to Rachel Ann Gray, a daughter of John Gra}', a pioneer settler of L'nion county, and to this union four children were born, only one of whom is li\ing. The three deceased children are Emma, who died at the age of eighteen: Ul_\'sses, who died at the age of six, and Joseph E., who died at the age of thirt}--h\e. The mother of these children died in 1876.

The one li\-ing child of Mr. Parish is Jennie, whii was married April 26, igo8. to George Hageman. He was horn in Marion county, Ohio, September II, 1858, and is a son of John and Susan (Pfeifer) Hageman. His parents were both natives of German}' and came to the United States in 1853 and located in Perry county, Ohio. John Hageman was a soap and candle maker by trade, and later engaged in the cigar manufacturing business. John Hageman died in 1884 and liis widow passed awa}' in 1904. Five children were born to John Hageman and wife: Emma, of Mari(in, Ohio: Christ, of Columbus: ^linnie, the wife of \\'illiam Paulus, of Columbus; George, who married Jennie Parish, and Callie, the widow of Albert Andrews, who now makes her home in ^Marion. Ohio. ]\Ir. Hageman is an excellent farmer and a wide-awake and pulilic-spirited citizen, being highly esteemed in the communitv where he lives. He is a Republican in politics and has serx-ed as justice of the peace in his townshij). He and his wife are members of the First Reformed church of ]\Iarion. ]\Ir. Hagej8o UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

Mr. Parish is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to the post at Richwood. He is a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Richwood. and his wife was also a member of the same denomination.

Charles H. Bynner

The "Crystal Spring Farm" of one hundred and forty-four acres three and one-half miles south of Ostrander, Union county, Ohio, is one of the finest farms in ^lill Creek township. The owner of this farm, Charles H. Bynner, is one of the representative farmers of his county and a public spirited citizen who is fully ali\e in every movement which looks toward the betterment of the community in which he resides. Although Mr. Bynner has lived in this county but a few years, yet he has already become thoroughly identified with its interests.

Charles H. Bynner, the son of Charles E. and Elizabeth (Higgins) Bvnner, was born June 29. 1855, in Franklin county, Ohio. His father was born in England and came to the United States when a lad with his parents and located at Gran\ille, in Licking county, Ohio. He grew to manhood in Licking county, married and spent the remainder of his life in that county. Charles E. Bynner was a soldier in the Mexican War and after the close of the war he went to Cleveland, where he was the editor of a newspaper for a time. Later he returned to Franklin county and died in Columbus. There were three children born to Charles E. Bynner and wife, all three of whom are still living: Minnie, the wife of George McKinsey, of Chicago, Illinois; Charles H., of Mill Creek township; and Edward T., who is married and living in Boston, Massachusetts.

Charles H. Bvnner was reared to manhood in Columbus, Ohio, and educated in the public schools of that city. After completing the public school course, he entered a commercial college in Columbus, where he took the complete course. After his marriage in 1878, he began farming in Moultrie county, Illinois, where he rented a farm for twenty-three years. Mr. Bynner came to Union county, Ohio, in iQOi and settled in Mill Creek township on his present fine farm of one hundred and forty-four acres. He purchased this farm ujjon coming to this county and has placed many improvements ujion it since it has passed into his possession.

Mr. Bynner was married February 21, 1878, to Minnie M. Baker. She is the daughter of Mahlon and Laura Baker and was born in Licking county and educated in the schools of the same county. Mr. Bynner and his wife are the parents of four daughters: Loretta, a graduate of the Lovington, Ilhnois, high school and the wife of Edgar C. Millbum ; Edith, a graduate of the same high school and the wife of Dr. C. B. Hostettler, of Ostrander, Ohio; Mabel C, the wife of R. F. Dickson of Lovington, Illinois; and Gladys, a graduate of the Mill Creek graded high school.

Mr. Bynner is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons of Ostrander and belongs to the chapter ami council at Delaware, Ohio. He belongs to the Lovington, Illinois, lodge of Odd Fellows and is a past noble grand of that lodge. Politically, he has always given his stanch support to the Republican party and has taken an intelligent interest in political matters, having served as township assessor.

William Henry Butz

The late William Henry Butz was for many years (me of the most prominent fanners of Jackson township, Union county. Ohiu. He came to this county in his early manhood, married here and spent the remainder of his life on a farm in Jackson townshii). He and his good wife reared a large family of children to li\'es of usefulness and honor, and all of them are still living today.

William Henry Butz, the son of Charles and Sarah (Hildrant) Butz, was born April 13, 1842, in Delaware county, Ohio, and died at his home in Jackson township. Union county. January 19, 1910. His parents were early settlers in Delaware count}', and spent the remainder of their davs in that county. Charles Butz was a nati\-e of Pennsy!\-ania.

William H. Butz received as good an education as was afiforded by the common schools of his boyhood days. When a young man he came to Union county and after his marriage, in the spring of 18(16, located on a farm in Jackson township, where he lived imtil his death. \\"itli the assistance of his wife and children he accumulated a fine farm of eightv-one acres and placed all of the impro\'ements upon this farm. He engaged in g-eneral farming and stock raising with a good measure of success, while at the same time he took an acti\"e part in the life of the community about him.

a daughter of Lyman and Anierett (Sniitli) Scofield. Her father was born in Cardington, Ohio, and her mother in \'ermont. They were married in Ohio and reared a family of five children, all of whom are deceased with the exception of Airs. Butz. The deceased children are Olive J., Emmeline, Mary Jane and Thomas. The parents of Mrs. Butz moved to Claibourne township when she was about four 3'ears of age and lived in this county the remainder of their lives.

Mr. and Mrs. Butz reared an interesting family of nine children, all of whom are still living: Lorenzo, who li\-es in Marion, Ohio; Eta, the wife of James Blosser, of Wyandot, Ohio; Sarah, the widow of Frank Porter, and now a resident of ]\Iarion, Ohio; Thomas F., who lives with his mother; Elmore, of Coshocton county, Ohio; Emery, who is still living with his mother ; Junard, a farmer of Jackson township ; Dayton, a fanner living near Marion, Ohio; and Elva, who married Benjamin Han-er, of Prospect township, Delaware county, Ohio.

INlr. Butz was a life-long Democrat and. while taking an intelligent interest in his party's welfare, was never an aspirant for public ofifice. He was a valued member of the Baptist church, to which denomination his wife also belongs. The home farm is now managed by Emery Butz. Mr. Butz was a man of genial disposition and was held in high esteem because of his sterling traits of character.

Israel Klx'Ney

.\ man well known to the past generatiiju was the late Israel Kinney, who was a prominent citizen of this county for nearly half a century. He engaged in general farming and stock raising and met with a measure of success CDUimensiu'ate with his efforts. In fact, there were few farmers in liis township who were more progressi\e in their day, and at his death he left an estate of two hundred acres of fine land. He was always interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his community and although he never as])ired to public office, yet he was an influential citizen in even-thing wjiich made for the welfare (jf the localit) in wliich he resided.

The late Israel Kinney was Ixirn in Madison township, ]\Iuskingum county. Dliio, January 8. 1824, and died at his liome in Union county, Ohio, l)ecenil)cr 18. 1899. His parents were Thomas J. and Nancy (Diggs) Kinney, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio in 1808 and located in

Muskingum count}-. I'lionias and Anna Kinney, tiic great grandparents of Israel, were natives of New Jersey and nmved from there to Pennsylvania and trom thence to Muskmgum county about 1810. Thomas Kinney was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The wife of Thomas Kinnev died August 31, 1841, at the age of ninety-tW(_), and Idiomas Kinney died Januarv .2. 1842, at the age of eight}'-nine. They were buried at the Beatty church in Muskingum county, Ohio.

John and Susanna Kinney came to Ohio with their ])arents about 1808 and settled on a farm near their parents. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church until the Methodist f'rcitestant church was organized, and then the_\', with ten others, united with it. These ten were John Mahon, wife and daugliter, Sarah, who left her estate to the churcli ; William Hurdle and wife: William Kinney and wife; Thomas W. Kinney and wife, and John W. Kinney and wife. Meetings were frequently held at the homes of the meml)ers.

Thomas J. Kinney died October 17, 1865. William, a brother to Thomas, died in 1887, at the age of ninety-four. The other three children in the family were Re\'. Daniel, who died in Lincoln, Nebraska; John W., who died in 1857, at the age of eighty-one, and Susannah, who died June 17, 1861.

Israel Kinney was married in 1851 to Jane Monlu.x, and to this union three children were born; Mary, deceased; b'rank, deceased, and W'ilbert W., a farmer of Claibourne township. Mrs. Kinney died about 1862 in Muskingum county, Ohio, and Mr. Kinne\- married Mary J. Snedeker, who died about four years later. In 1886 Israel Kinney was married, on December Ci, tt) Mrs. Nicholas Kinney, the widow of .Nicholas Kinney, who died in 1855. Nicholas Kinney and wife were married June 3, 1855, and had one son, Nicholas J., born in 1856, who is now li\ing in Marysville. To this third marriage of Israel Kinney was born one son. Chancy Edwin, who was born in I'nion county in 1870, anil is now a farmer in Claibourne township.

Israel Kinney came to this count)- in 18^1 and for a time taught school during the winter and farmed in the summer, kle bought a small farm west of Richwood and added to this as lie was able and at the time of his death owneil two hundred acres of well imi)ro\-ed land. When he bought the land it was practicallv all forested, but by hard work he cleared it off and put the most of it under culti\-ation.

and this was tlie only fraternal order to which he ever helonged. He was a Democrat in politics, although he never cared to take an active part in political affairs. He w-as school tlirector for many years and took a great deal of interest in the welfare of the schools of his neighborhood. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Protestant church at Richwood, and as long as he lived he gave it his active support. Air. Kinney has long since passed to his reward, but the memory of his good deeds and the clean and wdiolesome life he lived will live long with those who best knew him.

Noel T. Henders

A hardware merchant of Unionville Center, Ohio, is Noel T. Henders, who has been engaged in business there for the past ten years. His career is a striking example of what may be accomplished by a young man who starts in at the foot of the ladder and works to acquire a competence for himself. At the age of tw-elve he began to work in a hardware store and not only worked and saved to put himself through the common schools, but also paid his own expenses through Ada Normal University. Such grit and perseverance are sure to result in success and Mr. Henders is surely deserving of the good forturje which has come to him.

Noel T. Henders, the son of William H. and Nannie (Patterson) Henders, was born March 21, 1879, in Allen county, Ohio, at Herrod. His parents were natives of Allen county and his mother died when he was only six months of age. His father now lives in Alabama where he is a large land owner and prosperous farmer. Five children w^ere born to William H. Henders and wife: Porter, Roba, Ray, Fred and Noel.

.After the death of his mother when he was a babe in arms, Noel T. Henders went to live with his uncle. J. M. Harrod, and when he was six vears of age his aunt died and he then went to live w-ith his father. At the age of twelve he began clerking in the hardware store at Herrod and went to school at the same time. He saved his money and eventually graduated from the Northern Ohio Normal Unixersity at Ada at the age of nineteen. He then went back to the hardware business at Herrod, Ohio, where he remained until about ten years ago. He then came to Unionville Center and acffuired his present store, where he has been meeting with much success. He has built u]) a large trade in Unionville Center and the surrounding territory and lias had the satisfaction of seeing his business increase year after year. His store is equipped with all kinds of shelf and heavy hardware and by his courteous treatment of his customers has won the esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Renders was married April 12, 1900, to Cloe Wilkins, the daughter of William F. and Amelia (Shepherd) Wilkins. To this union three children have been born, Josie O., Eldred T. and Gwendolyn.

Politically, Mr. Renders gives his stanch allegiance to the Democratic party, but, owing to his business interests, has never felt inclined to take an active part in political matters. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are deeply interested in all church and Sunday school work. At the present time Mr. Henders is superintendent of the Sundav school of his denomination. In everything which goes to make up the true American citizen, Mr. Henders bears himself in such a manner as to make his historv worthv of being recorded in the annals of his county.

Thomas T. Dodge

A prominent citizen of Union cuunty and a man who has always been a leader in everything- pertaining to the welfare of his community is Thomas J. Dodge, a large land owner of Jerome township. He is an extensive stock raiser and ships his stock by the car load. He has been prominent in politics, active in the civic life of his community and a public-spirited citizen in every way.

Thomas J. Dodge, the son of John K. and Rebecca (Rudolph) Dodge, was born in Mill Creek township. Union cuunty, Ohio, Se])tember 16, 1863. His father, the son of Judah Dodge, was born in 1833, while his mother was born in Pennsylvania in the same year. His parents were married in Delaware coiintx', Ohio, and reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living: Andrew J., of New York state; John R., uf Marys\"ille, Ohio: Glendora, who died at the age of forty-eight, the wife of E. W. Bonnette and the mother of two children, Guy and Blanclie: Thomas J., of Jerome township: Jennie, the wife of Benjamin V. Smith, of Somerset, Kentucky: Estella, the wife of J. W. Lee, of Paris township: William M., of Mill Creek town.ship; O. J., the superintendent of the city schools of Delta, Fulton county, Ohio, and Frank E., of Liberty township. John K. Dodge, the father of these children, died in August, 1907. (50)

Thomas J. Dodge received liis education in the district schools of Jerome township and attended the high school at New California. He has devoted his career to general farming and stock raising and formerly owned the two hundred and forty acres in Jerome township which was owned by his great grandfather, Judah Dodge, who acquired the same in 1844. Mr. Dodge sold this farm and bought two hundred and fifty-two acres, which was formerly owned by his grandfather and his father, being owned by three generations of the family. This farm is located about two miles north of New California, in Jerome township, and is one of the finest farms in Union county. 3.1r. Dodge- is an extensive stock raiser, dealing especially with sheep and cattle.

j\lr. Dodge was married March 24, 1887, to ]\Iinnie Mitchell, the daughter of Calvin and Sophia (Ashbaugh) Mitchell, both natives of Franklin county, Ohio. To this union have been born four children, Cecile, Emma S., John C. and Homer T. Cecile, born March 26, 1888, is the wife of D. W. Converse, of Sandusky, Ohio. Mr. Converse is a civil engineer and his wife is a talented elocutionist. Emma S., born June 30, 1889, is the wife of Omer Elliott, a farmer of ]\Iadison county, Ohio. John C, born December 19, 1890, is living with his father on the home farm. Homer T., born November 28, 1895. is also living with his parents. The mother of these children died January 3, 1896, and Mr. Dodge was married a second time, January 5, 1899, to Agnes Greene, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Locke) Greene, natives of England. Mr. Greene and his wife were married in England and came to America in 1859 and settled in Delaware county, Ohio, where he followed his trade as a harness-maker. However, after coming to this country, Mr. Greene gave most of his attention to farming until his death, February 28, 1913. Mr. Greene was one of the most successful men who ever settled in this part of Ohio. Coming from England with nothing, he accumulated enough to buy a piece of land and through a dishonest landlord lost his first nine hundred dollars saved. He then bought again and after paying another two thousand dollars the title to his land proved to be no good, and he lost that. He then started again and at the time of his death was the largest land owner in this part of the county. Genial of nature, scrupulously honest, kind hearted and true, he was the friend of every man, woman and child in his community. His one son died in the army. Mrs. Greene died December 24, 1891. To the second union of ?iTr. Dodge has been born one daughter, Sarah Louise, who was born .August t8, 1904.

Air. Dodge is cliairman of the Republican county committee and has always taken an active part in political matters in Union county. He has served for about twenty-five years on the township school board and served on the county board of education for a tenn of five years. He was also chairman of the committee which collected the money for the soldiers' monument at New California. Mrs. Dodge is a member of the United Presbyterian church at Xew California. Fraternally, Mr. Dodge is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Alarysville.

Penrose Wiley

For more than seventy years Penrose Wiley has been a resident of Union county, Ohio. He came from Aluskingum county when a small child. He served in the Civil War, and after being mustered out of the service returned to this county and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has always taken an active interest in the life of his community and has never failed to give his hearty support to such measures as he felt would be of general benetit to the community at large.

Penrose Wiley, the son of Abraham and Eliza (Springer) Wiley, was born February 7, 184 1, in Muskingum county, Ohio. His father was a native of Penns}dvania and his mother of Muskingum count}-, Ohio, and in the latter county his parents were married. Abraham Wiley came to Union county in the early forties, driving here in a wagon with his family and househuld effects fnim Aluskingum county. He purchased a farm of one hundred acres a short time after coming to this county and li\ed on this farm until the opening of the Civil War. He then sold it and bought a farm of two hundred and nineteen acres, where his son. Penrose, is now living. On this fami Abraham \\'ile}' li\-ed unt'l he was eighty years of age, his wife having died about i860. Abraham W'ile}- was a prcmiinent man in the affairs of this county for many years, and ser\'ed as sheriff of the county for one term. He was a public-spirited man. a stanch Republican after that party was organized, and a man of many sterling qualities. Six children were born to Abraham Wiley and wife, three of whom are living: Penrose, of Claibourne township: Sanford, a farmer of this county, and Alaria, who is living in Marysville. The three deceased children are Thomas, who died at the age of six : Alinerva, who died at the same age. and Lvdia, who died at the age of forty-five.

Penrose Wiley was educated in the schools of this county, and in February. 18(34, enlisted in Company F, Thirty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served until he was mustered out July 26, 1865. At the close of the Civil War he returned to Richwood, and he and his father went to the northwestern part of the state to look for land. However, they found nothing" that suited them better than Union county land, and consequently returned and bought a farm in this county. Mr. Wiley was engaged in active fanning until a few years ago, when he turned his farm over to the management of his son.

Air. Wiley was married December 31, 1872, to Joanna Fish, a daughter of C. E. and Elizabeth (Rench) Fish, and to this union five children have been born, one of whom died in infancy : Bert, who is married and a fanner of Claibourne township; Delpha, the wife of Gomer Pritchard, a fanner of Jackson township, this county; Roy A., who married Norma Reese, and has two children, Arnold and May, and Edna, who is still living with her parents.

The Wiley family are all loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Wiley is now a Prohibitionist, although he was for many years a member of the Republican party. He is a member of the Grand Armv of the Republic post at Richwood, and has always taken an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the old soldiers. He is a man of genial and unassuming manner and has many loyal friends throucfhout the countv.

Benjamin A. Snowden

A farmer of Claibourne township, Union county, Ohio, who has lived in this township since i860, is Benjamin A. Snowden, who has long been engaged in agricultural pursuits. The career of Mr. Snowden has not been unlike that of other enterprising farmers in this county. Year after year has seen him more prosperous and with his farm better improved and yielding more satisfactory returns. He has taken an intelligent interest in the welfare of his community and in all things has acted the part of the good American citizen.

Benjamin A. Snowden, the son of James and Mary (Hannon) Snowden, was born November 20, 1844, in Greene county, Ohio. His father was a native of Greene county, Ohin, and his mother of Virginia, their marriage occurring in Seneca county, Ohio.

James Snowden was twice married, iiis lirst wife being Miss Harmon, and to this union five children were born : EHzabeth, deceased ; George, deceased; Mary and Martha, deceased, and Nancy, who Hves in Crystal Lake, Minnesota. After the death of his first wife James Snowden married Mary Harmon, and to this second marriage six children were born, two of whom are living: Sampson H., deceased; Catherine J., the widow of Samuel Fryman; Benjamin A., of Claibourne township; Alfred, deceased; Clara E., deceased, and Laura E., deceased. Mrs. Catherine J. Fryman now makes her home with her son at Radnor, Delaware county, Ohio.

James Snowden located in Seneca county, Ohio, after his marriaoe and later moved to Greene county, and from there to Putnam county, locating in the latter county in 185 1, and he lived in the latter county until i860, and in March of that year he moved to Greene county, where he remained but a short time. His next change took him to Indiana, but he did not like that state and, returning to Ohio, he located in Union county, in Claibourne township, where he followed farming until his death in 1875. He was a shoemaker by trade, but devoted most of his attention to agricultural pursuits. His widow li\'ed until 1896. James Snowden was a stanch Republican in politics and he and his wife were both members of the Methodist Protestant church.

Benjamin A. Snowden received a good common school education in the various counties where his parents lived. He has made his home in Claibourne township since i860, and has li\ed in the same neighborhood all of these years. He retired from active farm labor a few years ago and his son now operates the home place.

Benjamin A. Snowden was married September 21, 1871, to Alartha Graham, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah ( Buttertield ) Graham, and to this union have been born four children, two of whom are living, Charles and Nellie. Anna died at the age of eleven and James died at the age of twenty-three. Charles was married July 28. 1897, to Blanche B. Richardson, a daughter of John E. and Lucinda (Masta) Richardson. Charles operates the home place and also buys and sells horses for a horse buyer of Millersburg. The wife of Charles Snowden is a member of the Presbyterian church. Nellie Snowden is living witli her father. Mr. Snowden's wife died August 14, 1901.

Samuel Graham, the father of Airs. Snowden, was born in 1800, and died in 1863, as the result of an accident. He was killed on the Erie railroad. The wife of Samuel Graham was born in 1803, and died several years ago. Mr. Graham was an early pioneer of Union county and became a successful farmer, owning over two hundred acres of fine land at the time of his death. ]\Ir. Snowden has been a life-long Republican, and he and his family are active members of the Methodist Protestant church.

Thomas F. Griffith

x-\mong the enterprising farmers of Union township, Union county, Ohio, Thomas F. Griffith occupies a prominent place. He has taken an active part in the civic life of his township and county and has tilled various official positions with entire satisfaction to his fellow citizens. He has been one of those men who have not only been successful in their own private affairs, but whenever called upon by his fellow citizens has been a prominent factor in promoting the welfare of the community in which he resides.

Thomas F. Griffith, the son of John R. and Julia T. (Taylor) Griffith, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, October 3, 1859. His parents, both of whom were natives of Ohio, were married in Pickaway county and there reared their family. They were the parents of eleven children : Thomas F., of Union county; Alice, the wife of John McCann, of Columbus, Ohio; Elizabeth, the wife of William Armatrout, of London, Ohio; Sarah, who died at the age of fourteen, and seven who died in infancy. John R. Griffith died in 1884 and his widow passed away in 1906.

Thomas F. Griffith was reared in Pickaway county, Ohio, and there received a good common school education. He remained at home until he was luarried and eventually came to Union county. Upon coming to this county he located in Union township and bought a farm of sixty-eight acres on which he has since resided. He has devoted himself to general farming and raises as much stock as be can feed from the grain which he produces on his own farm.

^Ir. Griffith was married in Felnuary, 1887, to Louie Baker, a daughter of Curtis and Symanthia (Alinshall) Piaker, natives of Kentucky and Ohio, respecti\'ely. To this union two sons ha\-e been born : Lerov H., of Charleston, West Virginia, and Floyd C, of Columbus, Ohio.

Politically, Mr. Griffith has been a life-long Republican and has alwavs taken an active interest in the welfare of his party. He has served as school director of his townshij) and for five years held the important position of road superintendent in Favette countv. He and his wife are members of the

Christian cluuxh at Alilford Center. Fraternally, he is a meniher of the Independent Order of Otld Fellows, belonging to Midway Lodge Xo. 806. of .Madison connty, Ohio. Mr. Griffith is a qniet and nnassuming man and highly respected liy those who know him.

Casper Nicol

One of the many farmers of Union county, Ohio, of German descent is Casper Nicol, whose grandparents were both natives of Germany. Mr. Nicol is a young man in the prime of life and is now farming part of the old home estate, where he is demonstrating that he is one of the most progressix'e farmers of his township and county.

Casper Nicol, the son of George and Lena (Rausch Nicol, was born March 15, 1884, in Union county, his parents also being natives of this same county. His grandfather, jMartin Nicol, came from Germany with his wife and settled in Union county early in its history. George Nicol and wife were married February i, 1883. To them were born six children, all of whom are still living: Casper, the oldest of the family; Edward, of Madison county; Ernest, who lives on the homestead farm; Henry, who is living with Ernest ; iMartha, who is lixing with her mother, and Lawrence, who is attending business college at Lima, Ohio. George Nicol died July 5, 191 1, and his widow was married June 11, ic;i4, to John Thiergardner and is now living in Madison county, Ohio.

Casper Nicol was educated in the public schools of Union county and remained on the home farm until his marriage. He then rented ninety-one and one-half acres of the paternal estate and has been farming it for several vears. He raises a high grade class of stock and is meeting with much success in the live stock business.

Mr. Nicol was married January 20, 1907, to Louise Rausch, a daughter of John and ^Margaret (Louschley) Rausch. To this union four children have been born: Freda, born October 12, 1907: Harry, born November 12, 1909: Pearl, born June 15, 191 1, and Wilbur, bom October 22. 1913. The father of Mrs. Nicol was born in Union county, while her mother was a native of Gemiany.

Mr. Nicol and his family are members of the St. Paul Lutherart church of Milford Center. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never taken an active part in political afifairs.

Bexjamin Lee Robinson

One of the largest farmers and most successful stock raisers of Darby township, Union county, Ohio, is Benjamin Lee Robinson, who was born in the township where he is now living about fifty years ago. Practically all of his life has been spent in this county and all that he has today has been earned by his own unaided efforts. His fine farm of two hundred acres on the Unionville and Marysville road, eight miles south of J^Iarysville, is a splendid tribute to his industry and perseverance. He has taken a prominent part in township and county affairs and has filled the office of county commissioner with credit to himself, as well as the office of township trustee. In every phase of his community's life he has borne his share of the burden and for this reason is eminently entitled to a place among the representative men of his township and county.

Benjamin Lee Robinson, the son of Alexander and Edith (Penrose) Robinson, was born January 17, i860, in the town of L'nionville Center, Union county, Ohio. His father was born in this same township and was the son of Thomas Robinson and wife, natives of Scotland. Thomas Robinson came to this country from his native land and located in Union county, where he and his wife reared a family of several children, Thomas, Alexander, Moderwell, Patterson, Dickson, and others who died in childhood. Alexander Robinson grew to manhood in this county, married and had two children, Charles and Benjamin Lee. Charles Robinson married Lily Shank and has four children, Joseph, Edith, Harold and Wayne. Alexander Robinson was a farmer and stock buyer most of his life although he was in the grocery business early in life. He died when a young man.

Benjamin Lee Robinson first went to the Unionville Center schools and later, after the death of his father, he went with his mother to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and attended school in that place. Before reaching his majority, he was put out to work for his board and clothes and when old enough he began working out for himself by the month. Before his marriage he bought a small tract of nine acres and with this humble start on his agricultural career, he has made rapid strides toward pecuniary independence. His present farm of two hundred acres indicated in a measure the success which has attended his efforts. He has made all the improvements on his farm and now has one of the most beautiful country homes in the county.

Benjamin L. Robinson

children : Guy, of Union township, who married Clara McCloud and has one daughter, Rachel; Anna, who is still at home; and Ethel, who is teaching school at Unionville Center.

The father of Mrs. Robinson was born in Rutledge, Vermont, in 1814, and came to this county with his father when a young lad. His parents died when he was still a boy and he was bound out, as was the custom of his day, to a man who agreed to take him and give him schooling and furnish him with clothes. However, he ran away from the man to whom he was bound out and went to Urbana, Ohio, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. Later he went on a farm and exentually became the manager of an elevator at Unionville Center. Twelve children were born to Monroe Andrews and wife, four who died in infanc}', Elizabeth, Mrs. .Alvira Smith, Mrs. Sarah Robinson, Ira, Anthony, Edgar, Tinnie and Rilla.

The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and interested in its welfare. Politically, Mr. Robinson is a stanch Republican and has always been active in jjolitical affairs in his township and county. He served with credit for six years as commissioner of Union county and at the present time is filling the important positions of trustee and member of the school board of the township. In every capacity where he has served his fellow citizens he has given them faithful and efficient service and is richly deserving of the high esteem in which he is held throughout the countv.

George Emanuel Boerger

A prosperous fanner of Union towaiship, I'nion county, Ohio, is George Emanuel Boerger, who was born in this county alxjut forty years ago and has spent his whole life here. He is of German ancestr}-, liis grandparents having come from Germany to this country in the early forties and located in Ohio. Mr. Boerger is a man of excellent education and ranks among the most progressive farmers of his township.

George E. Boerger, the son of John K. and Maggie (Magerlein) Boerger, was born April 17, 1874, in Union county, Ohio. His parents were married in this county October 18, 1866, and he is one of seven children born to them, the others being John F., U'illiam J.. John Leonard, Mary, Lena and one who died in infancy. ,\n interesting history of his father is presented elsewhere in this volume and the reader is referred to it for further infonnation concerning the faniilv.

George E. Boerger was educated in the district schools of Union county. He then returned to his home county and worked on his father's farm until 1900, then married and began farming on his present fann of ninety-two acres about three and one-half miles southeast of Milford Center. He is interested in the raising of high-grade live stock and has met with unusual success in his stock raising.

Mr. Boerger was married in April, 1900, to Dora Ell, a daughter of John and Margaret (Bunsold) Ell, natives of Union county. To this union have been born two children, Florence, born January 26, 1901, and Ralph, born May 28, 1903.

Politicallv, Mr. Boerger is an Independent and, while taking an intelligent interest in the current issues of the day, has never taken an active part in the councils of his party. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, to which all the members of his family belong. In fact, he has three brothers who are ministers of this denomination. Mr. Boerger is a member of the male choir of his church and takes an active part in all of the activities of his church and Sundav school.

James Ewing

This pioneer was in advance of all others in the settlement of Union county. He and his brother, Joshua Ewing, came to what is now Darby tDwiiship in 179!^, on the later site of what was known as North Liberty \illage. Joshua built the pioneer cabin in the county at that point and James remained with him a short time, then moved over into Jerome township, as now called. He was a single man ac the date of his settlement in this county. He had been in the Indian service. The two brothers traveled on a one-horse cart, cutting their way through the tangled brushwood and slept in a tent. They camped in southeastern Jerome township, at a spot where later the brother James located, cleared out a patch and planted a small piece of corn, chopping it into the soil with an ax. The Indians had just washed tlie war paint from their dusky faces and all was wild and lonesome for tlie two white men. Without waiting for the corn to mature they packed their cam]) outfit and started eastward and intended to remain away from their ])rospective homesteads se\'eral years. They were from New Jersey and were sons of Mascol Ewing. They were also cousins of Gen. Thomas Ewing, formerly of Lancaster, Oliio. Tliey ])ossessed great force of charac- ter, nuich intelligence and a good education. When James came in to remain permanently, he brought his aged mother with him, also his two sisters, Betsy and Mrs. Eunice Donaldson, a widow. For thirty years James Ewing was a foremost citizen of Union county. His old home in Jerome township was in sur\ey No. 12,125, where he died. He was the county's first sheriff.

He was of the Presbyterian faith, and a ruling elder in the Lower Libert}' church. Politically, he was uncompromisingly a Whig. In 1810 he bought a stock of goods at Chillicothe, brought the same to his farm home in Jerome township and opened up the first store in Union county. Through his influence a postoffice was established and he was' appointed the pioneer postmaster in the count}-. He conducted the store ten years. In 1833 he built a large frame store adjoining his dwelling and stocked up with a large stock of general merchandise. In 1835 he went out of trade. His younger son. a favorite with him, met with an accident causing his death, which caused the father to go out of business.

Ewing was elected the first trustee of the Franklin Ciumty Bank. He was a man of some considerable means and exacting and honest with all men. He resided in his log cabin until his death August 26. 1850. His family included several sons and daughters, Thomas M. and David C. being among his worthy sons. Such, in brief, is the career of Union county's first settler.

An enterprising young farmer of Union township. Union county, Ohio, is Ernest ]\I. C. Nicol, who has spent all of his life in this same township. He is of German ancestry and is now managing the large farm which his father had at the time of his death. Air. Nicol is an energetic and wideawake young man who keeps thoroughly up-to-date in everything pertaining to farming, and has already forged to the front in a way which indicates that he will one day take his place among the leading agriculturists of the count}'.

Ernest AI. C. Nicol, the son of George and Lena (Rausch) Nicol, was l)(jrn in Union township. L'nion county. Ohio. Decem])er 4, 189 1. His parents were also natives of this county, his grandparents lieing natives of Germany and early settlers in L^nion county. George Nicol and wife were married Febniary i, 1883, and to them were born six children, all of whom are still living- : Casper, whose history is presented elsewhere in this volume ; Edward, who Ii\-es in Madison county, Oliio; Ernest M. C, whose history is here related: Henry, who is living with Ernest; Martha, who is residing with her mother; Lawrence, who is attending business college at Lima, Ohio. George Nicol died July 5, 191 1, and his widow was married June 11, 1914, to John Thiergartner, and now lives in Madison county, this state.

Ernest i\L C. Nicol was reared and educated in Union township, and has always made his home here. Since the death of his father in 191 1, he has been managing the home farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres. He was married February 14, 1914, to Catherine Weinlein, a daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Brodcorb ) Weinlein, of Darby township.

Politically, iNIr. Nicol is a Democrat, but as yet has not taken an active part in political matters. As a matter of fact he will not be old enough to cast his first vote for president until 1916. Mr. Nicol and his wife are members of the St. Paul Lutheran church and are deeply interested in its welfare.

John Gruenbaum

A worthy representative of one of the early German settlers of Ohio is John Gruenbaum, now a prosperous farmer of Darby township, where he owns a splendid farm of three hundred and fifty-seven acres. His father was a native of Germany and came to America when a young man and died in Franklin county, Ohio, a few years after his marriage. Mr. Gruenbaum started in as a farmer with a small farm of one hundred and twenty-one acres and by good management and painstaking industry has accumulated one of the largest farms of the county. While attending primarily to his own interests, he has also taken an active part in the civic life of his township, and the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens is shown by the fact that he has been elected no less than four times to the position of trustee of his township.

John Gruenl)aum, whose country home is on the Flat road about five miles south of Marysville. was born November 11, 1854, in Franklin county, Ohio. He is a son of John and Catherine ( Reicelt) Gruenbaum, his father coming to America when he was twenty-one years of age. The parents of [iihn (iruenbaum, Sr., died before he came to .America, and on coming to this countrv he followed his trade as a weaver, which he had learned in his native land, and also worked on farms in Franklin county. He married in that county and died at the early age of thirty-three years, and is buried in Franklin count}', in Hamilton township. John Gruenbaum, Sr., and wife were the parents of two children, Mary A. and John, Jr. Mary A. became the wife of Fred Schalip, and has four children, John, George, Maggie and Lena.

A few years after the death of lier husband, the witlow of John (iruenbaum, Sr., married Peter Fisher, and to her second union three children were born, Jacob, Mrs. Catherina Livingston and Mrs. Susannah Kalp. Mr. Fisher died and is buried in Franklin county. Some time after his death his widow was married to George Marion, a widower with two children, and to this third marriage were born two children, Leonard and Barbara.

John Gruenbaum was reared in Franklin county, Ohio, and received his common school education in the schools of that county. When fifteen years of age and he came to Union county and found employment as a farm hand and continued to work for the farmers in this county until his marriage at the age of twenty-four. He then bought one hundred and twenty-one acres of land, and by hard work and good judgment in all of his transactions, he has prospered exceedingly, as is shown by his well improved farm of three hundred and fifty-seven acres. He is an extensive stock raiser and handles only the best grades of stock, having found that it pays the farmer to keep only the highest grades of stock on his farm.

Mr. Gruenbaum was married in 1878 to Magdalena Kreidler. the (laughter of John and Ablonia (Greenbaum) Kreidler, and to this union six children have been born, all of whom are married and have families of their own, except William G., who is still single: Jacob, Charles J., Lewis W., John J., Mary M. and W'illiam G. Jacob married Anna Frewalt and has three children, Edward J. L., Edna G. M. and Bertha S. M. Charles married Anna Rupright and has three children, Lucretia K. M., Lillian M. and Carlton G. Lewis W. married Lillie Blumenshine and has one daughter. Irena T. Al. John F. married Alary A. Ailes. and has two children. Lucile M. and Oliver FI. Mary became the wife of L. Scheiderer and has one son, i''r\in J. U.

Politically, Mr. Greenbaum has always been identified with the Democratic party, and his party has nominated and elected him to the office of trustee of his township no less than four times. During all of the years which he has been holding this oflice he has rendered faithful and conscientious service, not only to the citizens of his own party, but to all others, irrespective of party affiliations.

Col. James Curry

He of whom this memoir is written was among the county's first pioneer settlers. He served in the Revolutionary struggle, and received one thousand acres of land in part pay for his services for seven years as an officer of the Virginia Continental Line. Some of the land is still in the Curry family. By virtue of their genius and accomplishments, now and then we find a few men towering high above all others when we come to select representative characters worthy of being handed down to posterity in the annals of a state or county. Such a one was Colonel James Curry.

Air. Curr}- was born in Belfast. Ireland, January 29, 1752, the first child of James Curry, a prosperous Irish farmer of county Antrim. His mother's maiden name was Warwick, oi English origin, and her ancestors and kin were prominent in England in Cromwell's day. One of her relati\es. Captain W'anvick, was shot to death after the Restoration. The immediate family of Currys were of the Irish Presb\i:erian stock. James, of this memoir, was educated for the ministry while still in Ireland, but all things were changed and his career rlrifted into other channels. His father and the family sailed for America on the ship "Good Return," about 1762. On account of overloading, the ship, a fast-sailing craft for that period, failed to reach America in less than fifteen weeks, three times the usual time i)f the looat's sailing. Sickness prevailed and many died on board, including the elder Curry's four children. Finally reaching Philadelphia, the father stepped ashore with but three of his seven children. The family immediately proceeded to Virginia, and there, with the ten-year-old son, James, the father settled down as a planter, .\fter assisting on the plantation four years young Curry commenced teaching school in winters, continuing until he reached manhood. He was then called by Lord Dunmore, g'overnor or X'irginia, to serve as a volunteer to suppress the Indian massacres among the settlers of the Ohio river frontier. He thus took his first step as a soldier when twenty-one years of age, enlisting as a private at Staunton. Virginia. He accompanied Gen. Andrew Lewis to Point Pleasant, where was fought a great battle which really terminated the Cresap's war, which led to the treaty at Chillicf)tlie, the village of the famous Mingo chief, Logan, with the Indians, ^'l)ung Curry tocik part in the battle at Point Pleasant and used to relate much concerning the fight. He stood first behind one tree, then anotlicr, while firing at the Indians, and toward nightfall was too much exposed and was wounded through the right elbow. He fell in the weeds and remained out of sight uf the foe until the end of the struggle. This disabled him and he returned and went to work on the plantation as soon as the wound healed, but he was never again able to lift a cup to his lips with his right hand. But his war days had not yet ended. The Kevulutionary War came on and he enlisted and fought bravely for national independence. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Eighth Virginia Regiment of the Continental Establishment about 1777, serving until 1779, when he was commissioned captain of the Eourth \'irginia Regiment. Most of the period, until the war ended, he did staff duty under Col. Nathaniel Gist. Records are deficient, but it is knuwn that he was at the battle of Branih-wine, and was with Washington during the campaign of i J']'], and was at Cermantown.

A land patent dated [March 16, 18 1.6. show^s that he was given lands for his six years and six months service as a captain, this being but a portion of the service rendered his country in that great struggle.

On November 20, 1784, he married a daughter of Capt. Robert Burns, of the Pennsylvania Line. He moved to Rockingham C. H., later known as Harrisonburg, and engaged in merchandising, hulding se\eral public offices. He was brigade inspector, a sahiried position uf importance. His grandson. Col. W. L. Curry, has in his possession a paper signed by Gen. Isaac Zane, directing Major Curry to attend "superinten<ling the exercises" (.>f the regiments. It is dated September 26, 1794.

In the autumn of 1797 Col. James Curry remo\-etl to Ohio Territory, in which Virginia had reserved an immense tract of land for the use of Re\()!utionar\" and Indian campaign soldiers. Seated in a great fi\'e-horse wagijii Col. Curr_\' and his family wended their way westward. At Morgantow-n they ijoarded a flatboat and went by water to the confines of their destination. This trip consumed six months and was fraught with danger and man}' hardships. They finally landed in Ross county, Ohio, April i, 1798. Here Col. Curry erected a cabin without door, floor or window, in which he lived two years. He then moved to the present site of Greenfield, where he remained eleven years and tilled land. There was no doctor there, and all the years of his residence he acted as both doctor and surgeon.

In 181 1 Col. James Curry removed to Jerome townshi]). Union county. Here in the wilderness, for the third time. Col. Curry commenced life over, as it were, on lands he held as above mentioned. In 181J-13 he was a member of the Legislature, wdiile the capital was at Chillicothe. He served in that body until 1816 wdien he was chosen delegate or elector to the meeting at Chillicothe. which resulted in the election of James Monroe as President of the

L'nited States. On his motion in the Ohio Legislature in 1817-18 he was returned as representative from Madison county, and in 18 19, December 24th, he seconded the motion for the creation of Union county. He also served as associate judge from 1822 to 1828 inclusive. The courts were then held at JNlilford. He then retired to his farm to spend the remainder of life in quiet. He died of apoplexy July 5, 1834, at ten o'clock in the morning.

Of his politics, let it be stated, that he was an avowed Jacksonian Democrat, who hated the name "Federalist." His two sons, Stephenson and Otwav, became anti-Jackson Democrats - especially was Otway. In religion. Col. James Curry was more a Baptist than anything else, although he never united with any church; yet a statement he wrote out concerning his faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, dated October, 1782, shows that he was indeed a Christian of great strength and strong faith. He was buried beside his good wife in Jerome township, and there they rested until a few years ago, when their remains were taken up and buried in Oakdale cemetery at Marvsville.

Edwin H. Gunnett

The men most influential in promoting the advancement of society and in giving stability to the community in which they live are divided into two classes, men of study and men of action. In the person of Edwin H. Gunnett, the proprietor of the Unionville Center elevator, is found a man who combines the characteristics of both classes. For several years he was a public school teacher in various counties in Ohio and followed his profession with success. For the past two years he has been a business man and a man of action, Ijut whether in the school room or in the busy whirl of worldly affairs, he has been equally prominent. As a teacher he made his influence felt in the school life of the communities where he labored and the profession lost an able instructor when he decided to quit the school room and engage in business.

Edwin H. Gunnett, the son of Joseph and Christina (Shannon) Gunnett. was born in I'^ranklin county. Ohio, in 1875. His father was born in 1846 and was the son of Samuel and Matilda (Henderson) Gunnett. Samuel r.unnett was Ijorn in Beaver county, Ohio, in 1820 and was the son of Joseph and Mar\' (Miller) Gunnett. They came from Germany to America in 1818 and settled in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Christina Shannon, the daughter of Xeil and Jennie (Blackwood) Shannon, was born in 1848. The

Edwin H, Gunnhtt

Blackwood family was of Scotch Irish descent and the father of Jennie Blackwood was a nobleman in Scotland and prominent in the Scotch Wars. Lord Blackwood was in command of a ship under Lord Nelson in the battle of Trafalgar in the French Revolution. Joseph Gunnett and wife reared a family of eight children, Ora D., Mary, Jennie, Edwin H., H. C, Agnes, Eliza M. and one who died in infancy. Jennie married Clark Cline and has four children, Maynard, Marie, Howard and Harry. H. C. is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church and a man well known throughout the state. Agnes became the wife of Harry Dody. Eliza M. married Samuel Click and has one daughter, Helen.

Edwin H. Gunnett went to the common schools in Franklin county until he was eight years old at which time his mother died and he went to live with his uncle, John Gunnett, in Pickaway county, Ohio, and attended school in the immediate neighborhood. He then went to Duvall where he stayed with his grandmother, Matilda Henderson, for a time and attended school near her home. His next schooling was received in the high school at Circleville, Ohio, and still later he was in attendance at the high school at Ashville. He then went to the Northern Ohio Normal School, at Ada, and prepared himself for the teaching profession. He taught school in the rural school districts of Pickaway county, eventually became superintendent of the Harrison township schools in that county and retained this position for five years. He then returned to the normal school at Ada and took the law course, but did not graduate. He als(.i read law under Judge Courtright at Circleville, Ohio. He was mit admitted to the bar and. deciding to continue in the school room, went to Madison county where he taught school ior several years. In 19 12 Mr. Gimnett came to Union county, Ohio, and bought the elevator at this place from H. Hall and has since been successfully managing it.

Mr. Gunnett was married October 8. 1904, to Nora Prose, the daughter of Ale.xander and Alargaret (Dilion) Prose. To this union have been l^orn three children, ^Margaret, Josephine and Nellie. Mrs. Gunnett's father died about one year ago.

Politicallv, Mr. Gunnett is affiliated with the Democratic party and has always taken an intelligent interest in its welfare. While living in Aladison countv, he served as trustee of the township in which he li\-ed and gave eminent satisfaction to his fellow citizens. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Unionville Center and contribute generously of their means to its support. (.SI)

S02 Union County, Ohio William C. Morse

The Alorse family, worthily represented by William C. Morse, have been residents of Union county, Ohio, since April 17, 1838, at which time the grandfather of William C. Morse came to this county to make his permanent home. Mr. Alorse is a man of excellent education and is one of the many farmers of this county who has had college training. It is a hopeful sign of the future that so many of our young men are returning to the farm after their college days. There can be no more independent existence than that of the farmer.

\\'illiam C. Morse, the son of John P. and Mary J. (Mitchell) Morse, was born November 25. 1887, in Union township, Union county, Ohio. His parents were also born in Union county, Ohio. John P. Morse was the son of Ray G. Morse, wdio was born in Kent county, Rhode Island, November 16, 1808, and drove into Union county on the 17th day of April, 1838. Rav G. Morse was a blacksmith by trade and started a shop in Milford Center, where he worked under Colonel Fairfield for a number of years, when he moved to the farm now occupied by William C. Morse. Ray G. Morse married Sarah Parthemore and to them were born six children : William A., a farmer of Madison county, Ohio; George Nelson, who died in Union township in 1874; Clara J., deceased, the wife of David McCloud; Joseph, of Santa Ana, California: John P., deceased, and Ray G., of Marysville. The father of these children died December 10, 1893, ^^ the age of eighty-five years and twenty-four days.

John P. Morse, the father of William C, was married November 28, 1870, to Mary J. Mitchell and to them six children were born, five of whom are now living: George M., a farmer of Union township: Renua, the wife I if Fred Bums, of Darby township: Dr. John, of Resaca, Ohio: Ruba A., the wife of Th<imas Kreamer, of L'nion township: \\'illiam C, of Union township: and one who died in infancy. John P. Morse enlisted June 22. 1863, in Company B, Eighty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until Februai-y, 1864, when he was honorably discharged from the service. He at once enlisted in the first Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served until the close of the war. John P. Morse learned the blacksmith's trade from his father and carried on farming with his lilacksmithing until his death, June 20, 1913.

he was amply qualified to engage in teaching, )-et he preferred to retiu'n home and follow farming. He started for himself at the age of twenty-one and has since been operating his own farm of eighty-five acres in Union township.

Politically, Mr. Morse is a stanch Republican, but so far has not taken an active part in political matters. He is still a young man and has a long and prosperous career before him.

Johx Leonard Bliss

The Bliss family have been residents of Union county. Ohio, for manv years, and have taken a prominent part in advancing the general prosperity of the county. John Leonard Bliss was born in this county thirty-fi\-e vears ago and has spent his entire life here.

John Leonard Bliss, the son of William D. S. and Emma A. (Rhyneer) Bliss, was born August 17. 1880, in Union county. Ohio. His father v.'as born in Darby township. August 10. 1850. and was a son of Leonard and Levisa (Spore) Bliss, who were natives of Vennont and Ohio respectively. Leonard Bliss came to L^nion county early in its history and was married in this county. Five children were born to Leonard Bliss and wife: Mary J., deceased, who was the wife of S. Woolford ; Tulius, who died at the age of nineteen; William D. S., who is now living with his son, John L., ami two who died in infancy. Leonard Bliss died at the age of eighty-two. William D. S. Bliss and Emma Rhyneer were married May 2, 1858, and to them were bom two children, John Leonard and Jessie May, who was born ]\Iay 6. 1882, and on April 5, 1903, was married to J(\)hn M. Knock. The mother of these two children died March 20, 1907.

John Leonard Bliss was educated in the schools of Darby township aiid remained at home until his marriage, after wliich he began to manage the homestead farm of eighty-fi\'e acres, four miles northwest of Plain City.

John L. Bliss was married April 22, 1903. to Ella Perry Martin, and to this union have been born four children, three of whom are living: Ogreta R.. born March 29, 1905: Marcelle A., born April 17, 1907; Julius L., born January 30, 1909; Helen, born November 6, 191 1, died in 1912.

L'nion\ille Center. Jolm G. and his family are loyal and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church of the same place. He is a Republican in politics, but has never taken an active part in political affairs. The place has alwavs been in the hands of the Bliss family and all the improvements were made bv them.

Hon. Cornelius S. Hamilton

Among the re\"ered and well-remembered citizens of Union county who are numbered among the deceased is this gentleman, whose tragic death is still vivid in the minds of many. He held numerous high positions in state and nation, as well as in county affairs, where his influence was always for the right. He was the first person to be sent from Union county to Congress, where his career was cut short by a sad tragedy. He was born in 1 82 1 in Muskingum coiuity, Ohio, and, with his parents, removed to Union county in 1839, where he assisted in subduing a fifteen-hundred-acre farm from out the forests. He attended Granville College eighteen months. He was a student of history and good literature. . Even while working hard on the father's forest farm he pursued his readings of great authors. \\'hen twenty-one years old he was a fine English scholar. He read the Bible and believed in its teachings. In 1850 he was elected a member of the constitutional CMn\'entinn for Ohio. He was soon after admitted to the bar and engaged in law practice. At about that date he also became the editor of the Marysville Tribune. In 1856-7 he represented his county in the Ohio Senate. He spoke well and wrote forcibly. He was appointed by President Lincoln as internal revenue assessor in 1862 and, as he opposed Andrew JohnsDu, will) succeeded the martyred President, he was removed from that office, hut the following year. iS'^G. was nominated and elected to a seat in Congress, from the eighth Ohio district.

While thus engaged in his jniljlic duties Mr. Hamilton was killed by being hit on the skull b\- his son. He had come home for the purpose of taking this unfortunate and suddenly reason-dethroned son to an asylum. He loved tlie son with all the heart of a kind father and, while he knew of his mental weakness, was not on the guard when the son struck him with a strip of plank, causing instant death. Hon. William Lawrence, of Ohio, another member of Congress at the time, spoke thus of his colleague: he had entered upon an enlarged sphere of usefuhiess, one among the useful and able men of the nation, honored and beloved by all who knew him. Few men in Ohio wielded an abler pen, or wielded it from higher convictions of duty than did Mr. Hamilton. When the thirty-ninth Congress commenced the discussion of the great work of reconstruction, Mr. Hamilton hatl jjublished a masterly pamphlet in fa\'or of extending suffrage to men in all the late insurgent states, regardless of race or color. It attracted wide attention and produced a deep eft'ect on the public mind, being at the time of its publication in advance of public opinion. He has passed from earth to the sublimer views of another and better world, which Christianity has unfolded with such inexpressible glor)- - where this corruptible shall put I in incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality. Men pass away, but the lofty spirit that can concei\-e and from right motives execute good works here: these cannot perish." Here the Congressman offered a set of resolutions on the life of Mr. Hamilton, which were passed and spread on record in Congress.

Ho.V. James W. Robinson

Among the few men who had the honor to represent this tlistrict in Congress was the late J. W. Robinson of Union county. He was a Iaw}-er of much ability; studied under Otway Curry; graduated at the Law School of Cincinnati in the spring of 185 1. The same season he was adiuitted to the bar in London, Madison county, immediately forming a law partnership with Mr. Otway Curry, the same continuing until the death of the latter in 1855, except about i;)ne year, llien after a few years alone he took for his partner his brother. Col. A. B. Roliins(in. In 1869 Leonidas Piper was admitted to the firm. an<I after tliat it was known far and near as one of the ablest firms in law in central Ohio.