Jerome Township (part 17 of 19)

Mr. W'ilkins was married October 7, 1880, to Alice J. Mills, of Marion county. Ohio. She was a daughter of Leander and Jane Mills of Licking county, Ohio. Mr. Wilkins and his wife are the parents of four children: Daisy W.. of Columbus. Ohio; Clyde L., who married Osie Phelps, and now makes his home in Urbana, Ohio; Charles E., single, and an employe of the Erie Railroad Company: and Hazel, who is still single and living with her ])arcnts. Clyde L. and his wife have two children, Mildred and Harold.

Mr. Wilkins is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Sommersville and has tilled all of the chairs in his lodge. Mrs. Wilkins and her daii.^bter, llazel, are mem])ers of the Daughters of Rebekah at Sommersville, and Mrs. \\ilkins is a ])ast n(]l)le grand of the Rebekahs. Politically, he is a Democrat but, while taking an intelligent interest in the current issues of the day, yet has never been active in political matters.

James H. Gay

To a great extent the prosperity of agriculture is due to the honest nidustry, sturdy persistence, unswerving perse\'erance and the wise economy \Ahich so prominently cliaracterizes tiie farmers of tlie Bucl<eye state. Aiuong this class of excellent citizens luay he mentioned James H. Gay, who has spent his whole life in this county. By years of indefatigable labor and honest effort he not only lias acquired well merited prosperity, but also has richly earned the high esteem of all with whom he is associated. He is interested in all public mo\ements and takes a kindly interest in the welfare of his fellow citizens.

James H. Gay. the son of Nicholas and Hannah (Lowe) Gay, was born January 14, 1876, in Leesburg township. Union county, Ohio. His father was born in Albemarle county, X'irginia, the son of Charles Gay, and he came to Union county, Ohio, when he was about twenty-two years of age. Nicholas Gay settled in Leesburg township, and lived there the remainder of his days. Two sons were born to Nicholas Gay and wife, Charles, who resides in Delaware county, Ohio, and James H.

James H. Gay was born after the death of his father and as a lad did not have the parental care which is the birthright of every boy. He received a good, common school education in the schools of Leesburg township, and worked on the farm from his earliest boyhood days. At the age of eighteen he began working out on the farms in his neighborhood by the day, and at the age of nineteen married and began working for himself. Through his own efforts he has accummulated a farm of fifty-one acres of fine land on the Pharisburg and Dover road, and has placed many improvements upon this farm since acquiring it.

]Mr. Gay was married on Christmas day, 1S95, to Bertha Phillips, the daughter of Adam and ]\Iary ( Hudkins) Phillips. Mr. Phillips was a native of Fulton county, Lidiana. and came to LTnion county, Ohio, several years ago and bought a farm in this county. To the first marriage of Mr. Gav were born four children : Ethel, Edith, Susan and Albert, deceased. The first wife of Mr. Gay died August 3. icji2, and is interred at Richwood. She was a loyal and consistent member of the Baptist church.

Mr. Gay w-as married a second time on December 25, 1913, to Mary B. Myers, the daughter of Samuel and Alice (Lee) Samuel Myers, and wife, who was the daughter (jf .Vddison and Mary ( Bellville ) Lee. reared a famih- of five children: Marv B., the wife of Mr. Gav; Lue, who married

I028 Union County, Ohio

Fraternally, Air. Gav is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Gleaners, and Patrons of Husbandry. He is also a member of the Ehiughters of Rebekah. He and his family are consistent members of the Baptist church, to whose support they are generous contributors. Politically, Mr. Gay is a Republican, and at the present time is serving as a member of the school board of his township. Mr. Gay is still a comparatively young man and is now in the very prime of life, and his past success gives assurance of much yet to come. His life shows what a young man can do who starts out with nothing and is determined to succeed in spite of all obstacles and hindrances.

George W. Potts

A pioneer settler of York township, Union county, Ohio, is George W. Potts, who has been actively interested in everything pertaining to this county for more than a half century. He has been a life-long farmer and now has a good farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres a quarter of a mile south of Centerville, where he has been living since 1859. During his long career in this county, he has impressed his individuality upon his fellow citizens in such a way as to command their respect and win their hearty friendship.

George W". Potts, the son of James and Ruth (Moore) Potts, was born in Pike county, Ohio, Alarch 25, 1836. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and an early settler in Pike county, later moving to Ross county, where he followed agricultural pursuits. James Potts was a great hunter and was known to kill as many as five deer in a day. There were fifteen children born to James Potts and wife and seven are still living: Ellen, the wife of John Alurphy: .\bbie, the wife of Thomas Mitchell; Elizabeth, the wife of Bud Hildrith; John, of Ross county, Ohio; George W., of Union county: Samuel, of Richwood, Ohio; and Henry, of London, Madison county, Ohio.

George W. Potts was two years old when his parents moved from Pike county to Ross county, Ohio, and in the latter county, he received such education as was afforded by the district schools. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then began working for himself. In 1859 he came to Union county and bought a farm from his uncle, John Potts, paying forty dollars an acre for the land. His uncle had entered the land from the government and it has remained in the Potts family since that time.

George \V. Potts was married to Catharine J. Potts, a cousin, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, the daughter of Da\id Potts. To this union four children were born: David, Ora, Roscoe and Nettie. His first wife died and he tlien married Jane Clark and to this second union six children were born ; Arthur, Cora, Ernest, Effie and Grace.

IMr. Potts is a mem1)er of the Independent Order of Odil Eellows at York. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party but has confined his political activity to the casting of his ballot for the candidates of his party.

Philip Rupright

The family of this name is of German origin and has been identified with the \arious states of the Union for more than seventy years. The family of which the subject of this sketch is a member has been living in Union county all these years and are among the most prosperous and respected citizens of the county. The father and niDther founding this Union county family were born in Ba\aria, Germany, and were educated in the schools of that country. They came to America and to this county in 1841 and settled on a farm south of JMarysville.

Philip Rupright, our subject, was born on this farm October 15, 1851, a son of John G. and Catherine (Kriteline) Rupright. In this family there were eight children, namel}- : John G., Jr., ^Margaret, who married a Weidnian : Catherine, deceased, who married G. Eirick ; Dorothy, who married a man 1)_\' the name of Arnold; Philip and J. C. twins, the latter marrying a Lizzie Geman. of Van Wert. Ohio- Martin J., deceased, who had married a Miss Rausch ; and wlm married a Xuetzel. Our subject worked on the farm and attended the district schools in his early years. When he was eighteen years old, his older lirother, John G., enlisted in the armv and Philip was taken out of school and required to make a full hand on the farm. \\'hen he attained his majority he started out to make his own way in the world. His first employment \\'as at \'an Wert, Ohio, where he dnne a team for some time. Then he came hack to the farm and resumed his early occupation, which he has made hi? principal business ever since.

On April 15. 1875, Air. Rupright was united in marriage with Anna B. Bunsold and to this union five children were born: John AI. C, who married Anna Weaver ; Laura, ivho married W. M. Otte, and their children are, Annette, Louise, Elizabeth. Margaret and one who died in infancy ; Frank, married Marie \\eidman and has two children, Robert P. and John G. ; Louis P. is at home: Augusta M., married Clair Crooks of Van Wert. Mrs. Rupright is a daughter of John G. and Dorothy Bunsold. Her father was born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to America in 1840, settling in Union county. The family religious faith is Lutheran.

Philip Rupright is an extensive farmer and breeder of fine stock, making a specialty of Holstein cattle. He has a fine farm of one hundred and forty-three and a half acres, located on the Waldo road, about two and a half miles northeast of Alarysville. This farm is known as the Buckeye Stock Farm and it is well adapted to agriculture and stock raising. Mr. Rupright has devoted man}- vears of his active life to this business and has met with success commensurate with his efforts. He has kept fully abreast of the times and has availed himself of all the improved machinery and modem methods used by up-to-date farmers. His substantial and attractive residence, commodious and conveniently arranged barns and other buildings, his well kept fence all bear evidence of wise discrimination and excellent taste on the part of the owner.

Mr. Rupright affiliates with the Democratic party in political matters. He was elected as a candidate of that party to the office of township trustee and land appraiser and is now ser\'ing in that position. As a public official and as a pri\-ate citizen he holds the respect and confidence of the people of the county in which he has spent so many years of his life.

Tohn Mulcahy

The onlv people in York township. Union county, Ohio, of Irish descent are the members of the ]\Iulcahy family, worthily represented by John Mulcahv. Although he was born in this state, his parents were both natives of Ireland. His father was a resident of this county from 1875 until his death. Mr. Mulcahy is an enterprising farmer and stock raiser and owns one hundred and fcirty-six acres of well imi)ro\-ed land in York township, where he !i\es.

John Mulcahy, the son of John and Margaret (Alaher) ^Mulcahy, was born in Madison county, Ohio, January 14, 1863. His father was born in Limerick, Ireland, and his mother in Tipperary county, in the Emerald Isle. His father came to the United States in 1849 ^"^ first located in jMadison county, Ohio, and his mother came to this country in 185 1 and located in

Union county, Ohio. After their marriage in 1856, John Mulcahy, St., and wife located on a farm in Madison county, Ohio, which they rented. They continued to reside in that county until 1870, when the mother died and in 1875 John Mulcahy, Sr., came to Union county and bought forty acres in Claibourne township, where he lived until 1883. In that year he moved to \ork township, where he lived until his death, January 20, 1903. There were six children born to John Mulcahy. Sr., and wife, four of whom are now li\'ing: Margaret, John, Thomas and Xora. Thomas is a lawyer of Henrycount}-, Ohio, and has ser\ed as prosecuting attorney of that countv for four years. Xora has taught school for the past twenty-nine years in the state of Ohio, and is now principal of the New California schools in Union county. - John Mulcahy was educated in the common schools of Madison countv and also attended school for a short time after his father moved to Union county in 1875. Since his father's death in 1903, he has had charge of the home farm of one hundred and fort}--six acres in York township, where he is engaged in the breeding of Poland-China hogs and general farming. Mr. Mulcahy was never married, and he and his sister now make their home together on the old home farm.

They are members of the Catholic church at Marysville and generous contributors to its support. Mr, Mulcahy is a Democrat in politics but has never taken an acti\-c part in political affairs. . .

The Stamats family have been residents of Union county, Ohio, since April, 1 83 1, when the parents of Malchus F. Stamats came to York township to make their permanent liome. Mr. Stamats has spent his entire life in this township, and after his marriage in the spring of 1863, he settled down on the farm where he has since resided. His farm known as the "White Cottage Farm," of ninety acres is well improved and in a high state of cultivation, and under his skillful management has yielded a comfortable living for himself and family.

Malchus F. Stamats, the son of John and Alice (Koons) Stamats, was born in 'S'ork township. Union county, Ohio, April 22. 1836. His father was born in Pennsylvania, the son of George and Ruth (Evans) Stamats, also natives of Pennsylvania. George Stamats was the son of Phillip, who was a native of Prussia, who came to America at the outbreak of the Revolutionarv War. Phillip Stamats was a captain of light horse artillery from Pennsyl- vania during the Re\olutionary War, and served throughout the seven years of that struggle. He was se\erely wounded three times, being wounded once in the battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777. After the close of the Revolutionary War, Phillip Stamats located in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he lived the remainder of his days.

John Stamats, the father of Malchus F., came to Muskingum county, Ohio, from Pennsylvania, and later located in Union county, arriving here in April. 183 1, and settling in York township, where he spent the remainder of his davs. The wife of John Stamats, Alice Koons, was the daughter of George and Keziah (Funner) Koons, natives of Maryland, and early settlers in Ohio. George Koons was a contractor on the Ohio canal and made his home in Fairheld county, where his daughter, the wife of John Stamats, was reared to womanhood. Eight children were born to John Stamats and wife, five of whom are now living: H. S., of Byhalia, Ohio; Malchus F., of York township; ^Matthew E., of Richwood ; Cyrus, who is represented elsewhere in this volume, and Sarah, the wife of William Hamilton.

Malchus F. Stamats was reared on his father's farm in York township, and after receiving the best education which was afforded in the schools of Union county, entered Hillsdale College, at Hillsdale, A-Iichigan. After leaving college he became a teacher and taught for three years in York and Taylor townships, this county. He then left the schoolroom and engaged in farming and has made this his life work.

Mr. Stamats was married May 7, 1863, to jN'Iary Southard, a daughter of the Rev. S. F. Southard and Rebecca (Tilton) Southard. ]Mrs. Stamats was born in Licking county and reared in Union county. She taught school for three years before her marriage. To this union four children have been born: Isadora, John O., .Azona and Sarah. Isadora graduated from Hillsdale College with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and taught school for several years. She is now the wife of Professor Frank Smith, who fills the chair of natural hist(iry in the University of Illinois. John O. married Genieve (Tunks), and is a farmer in Huron county, Ohio. Azona and Sarah are deceased. Both these daughters attended the musical department of Hillsdale College, and Sarah graduated from the musical department.

Air. Stamats and his family are members of the Free Will Baptist church. He is a member of the Democratic party, but has never been active in its deliberations. Air. Stamats is one of the pioneer farmers of York township, and has always been interested in the welfare of the community in which he has spent his whole life. He is a quiet and unassuming man of kindlv disposition and highly respected by all those who know him.

The Morris family came to Union county, Ohio, several years before the Civil \\'ar, and William W. Morris, a substantial farmer of York township, was born in this county the year before the Civil War. He has spent practically his whole life in this count\- and bv his own indi\-iflual effijrts, has accjuired a fine farm of one hundred and ten acres in York township, on which he is now residing. He has devoted all of his active years to farming and stock raising and ranks high among the enterprising farmers of his township and county.

William W. Morris, the son of ^Marshall T. and Elizabeth (Elliott) ^Morris, was born in Leesburg township. Union county, Ohio, November 9, 1859. His parents were married in Union county, the Elliotts coming to this county from Clark count)". Ohio. Eight children were born to ^Marshall T. JMorris and wife, five of whom are now li\-ing : Eva, Aurilla, Louisa, Lottie and William W. The four daughters are still single. Marshall T. Morris was a life-long farmer in this county and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Protestant church. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias at Earrisburg and an active Republican in politics. His wife, Elizabeth Elliott, was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Elliott.

William \\'. Morris was reared to manhood and educated in the common schools of Leesburg township. When he was twenty-fi\-e years of age, he went west and located in Kansas for a short time, returning to Union county, in 1895. He worked by the uKjnth and day and saved enough money to buy his present farm of one hundred and ten acres in York township. Since returning to this county in 1895, he has lived here continuously, with the exception of two years which he spent in Wyandot county after his marriage in 1909.

Air. Morris was married March 29, 1909, to Margaret V. Worley, a daughter of Jacob G. and Samantha (^Mount) Wi.irley. Airs. Morris was born January 2, 1870, in W^'andot county, Ohio, and taught school for several vears in her county. Her father was born in New Jersey, the son of C. \\ D. and Mary (Gulick) Worley, all of whom are natives of Xew Jersey. C. V. D. W^orley came with his parents to Holmes county, Ohio, and there engaged in farming after reaching his maturity. Later C. V. D. Worlev and his family mo\-ed to W^yandot county, Ohio, and still later to Eulton county, where he and his wife died. Jacob G. Worley was married in Wyandot county, Ohio, to Samantha Moimt and to this union three daugh- ters were born, all of whom are now living: Alary G., the wife of J. S. Hininger : Lula. who resides with her father in the old home place in Wyandot county: and Margaret \'., the wife of Mr. Morris. One child born to Mr. and 3ilrs. W'orley is cteceased. Airs. Morris was educated in the schools of Little Sandusky and after leaving the schoolroom, taught for seven and onehalf years, six of which she spent in the primary department of her home school.

Politically. Mr. Alorris is a Republican but has never taken an active part in politics. He is a man of sterling integrity and persistent industry and his present well improved farm is a glowing tribute to his good management and excellent aliilit\' as a farmer.

Thomas J. Davis

The Davis family of Union county. Ohio, worthily represented by Thomas J. Da\'is, have been residents of Union county, Ohio, since several years before the Civil War. His father, Finley D. Davis, came to this county with his parents when he was four years of age, and since that time the Davis family have taken an active part in the history of York township and Union county. Mr. Davis has been a life-long farmer and now owns one hundred and thirty-three acres, upon which he has been residing for se\eral years.

Thomas J. Da\'is, the son of Finley D. and Alargaret J. AIcAdow Davis, was born in York township, Union county, Ohio, August lo, 1857. His father was born in Stillwater, Pennsyhania, the son of David and Kesiah ( Dickerson) Da\is. Finley D. Da\is came with his parents to Union county, Ohio, when he was four years of age and located with them in York township, where he grew to manhood and married jMargaret McAdow, who was born in Union county. After his marriage. Finley D. Davis settled down in York township on forty acres which his father gave him. This forty acres was covered with a dense forest and he went to work to clear it up and make a home for himself and family. Six children were born to Finley D. Davis and wife, three of whom are now li\ing: Thomas J., of York township; D. S.. a farmer of York township: and Alartha, the wife of Charles G. Morrow.

Thomas J. Davis was reared on his father's farm in York township and has spent his whole life in the same township. After his marriage, he and his brother bought one hundred and seventy acres in partnership and later divided and Thomas J. has since added to his share until he now owns one hundred and thirty-three acres. He has given his attention to general farming and stock raising with the result that he has become one of the substantial farmers of York township.

Mr. Davis was married March 8, 1888, to Mary N. Fulton, the daughter of Thomas and Hattie (Xeil) Fulton. She was born and reared in \'ork township. To this union si.x children ha\-e jjeen l)orn : Hattie, the wife of Frank Martin ; Lee, a graduate of Bliss College, of Columbus, Ohio, and a bookkeeper in Cleveland; Lawrence, a graduate of the Richwood high school, in the class of 1914: Lucille, a student in the Richwood high school; Fannie, a student in the same high school ; and Stanley, who is still in the grades.

]\Ir. Davis and his family are members of the ^lethodist Episcopal church at York. Fraternallw he is a memlier of the Patrons of Husbandry at Richwood and has alwa\s taken an acti\-e part in the wtirk of this organization. He is a Republican but has never been active in its councils. ]\Ir. Davis is a man of sterling integrit}- and has so conducted himself as to win and retain the hearty appro1)ation of bis fellow citizens.

Joseph Gabriel

The father of Joseph Gabriel came to Union county, from Athens county, Ohio, in 1886, and lived for a short time in Jackson township. He then moved to Marion county, Ohio, where he is now residing. Joseph Gabriel became a farmer of this county after his marriage in 1897, and has since made this county his home. He owns a fine farm of eighty acres onehalf mile north of Sommersville, on the Marys\'ille and Kenton pike, where he is carrying on a diversified system of farming.

Joseph Gabriel, the son of H. C. and Jane (Martin) Gabriel, was born in Athens county. Ohio. April 29, 1875. His father was born on the .same farm, he being the son of Basil and Esther Gabriel. His mother was born in Marietta, Ohio, and reared in Athens county by her grand])arents, her mother having died when she was a small child. H. C. Galiriel and wife are the parents of eleven children, all of whom are still living.

Jose])h Gabriel was educated in the common schools of Athens county. Ohio, and also spent some time in the schools i;)f Union count\'. He was eleven years of age when bis parents located temporarily in Union county, and spent these two }-ears in the public schools of Jackson township. He then removetl with his parents to Marion county and attended school there until he was seventeen years of age, after which he was a clerk in a drug store at Marion, Ohio, and later worked for a time in a drug store at Columbus, continuing as a pharmacist until his marriage in 1897. Since that time he has been farming in York township, where he owns a well improved farm of eighty acres.

Mr. Gabriel was married December 26, 1897, to Elizabeth Morrow, a daughter of W. M. and Laminda (Langstaff) Morrow. Mrs. Gabriel was born in Yorl< township, this county, and has lived here all of her life. Mr. and ;\lrs. Gabriel are the parents of one son. William Paul, who was born October 21. 1901.

Mr. Gabriel and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at York. Ohio, and are active in all church and Sunday school work. Mr. Gabriel is the financial secretary of the church and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a member of the Rising Sun Lodge No. 71, Knights of Pythias, at Richwood, Ohio. In politics, he has always given his support to the Repulilican party.

Uriah Cahill

It will always be a mark of distinction to have served in the Federal armv during the great Civil War. The old soldier will receive attention wherever he gLies. When he dies, men will pay him suitable eulogy for the sacrifices he made fifty years ago on the battlefields, in prison walls and hospital. Ever afterwards, his descendants will revere his memory, and take pride in his services for his country. Union county, Ohio, sent hundreds of its brave men to the front, and among these, Uriah Cahill, now living a retired life in Richmond.

Uriah Cahill. the son of John IL and Hannah (Brisband) Cahill. was born in Claibourne township. L-nion county, Ohio, four miles west of Richwond, December 29. 1841. His lather was born in Harrison county, Ohio, and his mother in Chester county. Pennsylvania. There were eight children born to John E. Cahill and wife: Nancy J., the widow of Justus J. Miller, of Marysville. Ohio; Benjamin V.. who died in 1861 ; Capt. James Alexander, who served in the Civil War in the Thirty-first Regiment Ohio Infantry. It might Ije well t(j state here that he was killed at the battle of Kenesaw

Mountain, June 23, 1864, and buried in section E of the National cemetery at Chattanooga: Uriah, of Richwood; Behnda, the widow of John T. Mc- Millan, of Zanesville, Ohio: Lemuel, deceased: Isaac, deceased, and Benton, of Richwood.

John E. Cahill, the son of John Cahill, when a young man learned the carpenter's trade. He came to Union county about 1837, and Iwught a farm of two hundred acres in Claibourne township. He cleared this land from the heavy timber, and soon owned over eight hundred acres of land. He died on this farm February 3, 1874, at the age of sixty-eight, and his wife, in 1880, at the age of se\enty-two. Both were members of the York Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Cahill was an elder for many years. This church was organized in 1839, and Mrs. Cahill was then a member of the congregation. Both John E. Cahill and his wife had been married before. His first wife was a Miss Lister, but she died leaving no children. Her first husljand was Mr. \A'elch, by -whom she had one child, John, deceased.

The grandparents of Uriah Cahill were pioneers in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and died there. Thev had fi\e sons: William; Dennis, who died in L'hrich\ille. Ohio; Thomas, \vh() died in the same town; Joseph, an early settler of Union county, and John E., the father of Uriah. There were also

Barr. The paternal great-grandfather of Uriah Cahill was Dennis Cahill, an early settler in Nottingham township, Flarrison count3% Ohio, where he died. The original Cahills, from whom those in L^nion count\-, Ohio, are descended, came from the Island of Jamaica. Two brothers came to .\nierica in the eighteenth century, one settling in the east and the cither in the south. The\- were of Scotch-Irish descent. The maternal grandparents of Uriah Cahill v>ere John Brisband and wife, nati\es of Chester county, Penns\-l\-ania, who settled on a farm adjoining Uhrichville, l\iscarawas county, Ohio, at an early date. In 1864 they mo\-ed t(.) Christian county, Illinois, anil died at Pana, the grandfather eighty-five and the grandmother, eight}'-three. Se\en children were born to John Brisband and wife: Andrew, John, Sarah, Jones. Margaret A., Houston, Alary J. Price, Hannah Cahill and Emeline b'o\-.

LViah Cahill was reared on his father's farm in Claibourne township, and received his education in the district schools of his neighborhood. He remained at home until the opening of the Civil War, when he enlisted as a member of Company F. Thirty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, First Brigade. Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland. He served until the close of the war, taking part in many of the important battles, among them l)eing Hoover's Gap. in the Tullahoma campaign, the battles of Chickamaiiga, Missionary Ridge and the hundred days march from Chattanooga to Atlanta. All of those were fought by Sherman on his march through Georgia to the sea. His regiment was with General Sherman on the trip through the Carolinas and was present at the final surrender of Johnston at Raleigh, on .\pril 16. 1S65. Mr. Cahill was present at the "grand review" in Washington, D. C, May 24-25. when one hundred and twenty-five thousand men marched through the streets of the capital. The parade was viewed bv the highest civil and military officials of the nation, but the one man above all men whom the veterans would have loved to have seen, had been shot by an assassin only a few days before. Mr. Cahill was mustered out as corporal at Louisville. Kentucky, July 20, i8'65, and immediately returned home.

Upon his return to Union county, he began farming in Claibourne township, and in 1868 moved on a farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres in York township, which he cleared and improved. In 1894, he retired from active farming and moved to Richwood, where he has since resided. He has a well improved farm and manages it personally.

]\Ir. Cahill was married March 3, 1864, to Isabel Worbs, the daughter of Laban H. and Martha J. (Figley) Worbs, and to this union two sons have been born, James C. and Isaac J. James C. died at the age of thirty-six. He married Alma Fawley. but left no children. Isaac J., the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Cahill, is a minister of the Christian church, and was pastor of the Central Christian church at Dayton. Ohio, for thirteen years. He is mnv the state secretary for the evangelization of the state of Ohio. Isaac J. married Lillian M. Skidmore, and has three children, Paul T., Vaughan D. and Helen Lillian. Paul married Ada Pagenstech ; Vaughan D. married Ruth Wells, and has two children, Patricia and Eric.

Mrs. Cahill was born at Newport, Tuscarawas county. Ohio, July 21, iS4t. Her father was born at Petersdorf, Germany, and her mother was a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio. Her parents came to Union county in 18^6. where her father died September 18, 1904, at the age of eighty-eight and her mother, June 2^. 1880, at the age of fifty-six. Four children were burn to Labon H. \\'orl)s and wife: Isabel, Lafayette D., Mary F. and Charles J., the latter dying at the age of four. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Cahill were John Peter Christopher and Joanna Christine Wilhelmine ( Schneider) Worbs, and they reared a family of four children : Charles, Laban H.. .-\melia and Hester. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Cahill were Jacob and .\nna (Powell) Figley, and they reared a family of four children: William, Martha J., Elizabeth and Margaret Ann.

I'riah Cahill and his wife are loyal and members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Cahill is a member of the Order of Free and .\ccepted ^lasons, and is an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Richwiiod, which he has served as commander. He has lieen a life-long Republican, and one of the leaders of his party in Union county. He was trustee of his township for a number of terms, ser\'ed as county commissioner for sixyears, was on the school board of his township for ten rears, and the county board of agriculture for ten years. In all of these positions he has ser\ed his fellow citizens faithfully and well.

Orlaxdo B. Eaton

A native-born farmer of Allen township. Union county, Ohio, is Orlando B. Eaton, and he has lived all of his life in this township. His parents were early settlers in Union county, Ohio, coming from the eastern states. Air. Eaton invests largely in timber land, although he does general farming at the same time.

Orlando B. Eaton, the son of J(jshua S. and Elizabeth (l:'<.)ling) Eaton, was born Afay 19, 1N53, in .Vllen township. Union county, Ohio. His father was born in Connecticut and his mother in West A'irginia. After their marriage the\- located in Uni(jn county, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Three children were born to Joshua Eaton and wife: Calvesta, the wife of William H. Parmer: Ortinsa, deceased, and Orlando B.

Orlando B. Eaton was educated in the schools of Allen township and after finisb.ing his education, assisted his father on the home farm. When still a voung man, he became interested in and bought timber throughout this and adjoining counties. He has followed this business each winter since. Inuring the summer he has devoted himself to farming and now owns a well improved farm of se\enty-eight acres near .\llen Center in .\llen t(5wnship.

Mr. Eaton was married November 28, 1872, to Amanda Lary, the daughter of A. AI. and Marv A. (Swisher) Lary. To this union have been born: Chester, who married Oma Bergandine ; Omer, who married Laura Bergandine : and Leon, who is still at home. Two other children are deceased.

Airs. Eaton was born January 18, 1855, in Champaign county. Ohio, and both oi her parents were born in the same county. Her father was born February 8. 1833 and died August 22, 1003. The mother of Mrs. Eaton was born September 6, 1834, and is still living.

I040 Union County, Ohio

J\Ir. Eaton joined the Progressive party upon its organization in the summer of 1912, and has since been giving it his hearty support. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Marysville and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Middleburg.

James O. Thomas

A resident of Union county, Ohio, since 1851, a veteran of the Civil war, and a farmer for more than half a century in this county, James O. Thomas is deserving of a place among the representative citizens of his county. He enlisted in the Civil war when a little past seventeen and ser\ed in the same compan)- and regiment with his father. Coming back to this county after the war, he began farming and has accumulated a farm of two hundred and sixteen acres, which is ample evidence that his agricultural operations have been crowned with success.

James O. Thomas, the son of John H. and Loesa (Staggers) Thomas, was born in Columbus, Ohio, March 19, 1847. His father was born in Belmont county, Ohio, August 24, 1829, and died in Dayton, Ohio, April 13, 1895. His mother was born in Creen county, Pennsylvania, in June, 1832, and died June 26, 1883.

John H. Thomas and wife were married in Knox county in 1845, came to Union countv in 1851 and located in Taylor township when practically the whole township was covered with a \irgin forest. He cleared a spot large enough on which to Ixiilcl a rude log cabin, using the trees which he cleared from the ground to build his little home. Here he and his young wife began to work to make a living. In 1855 John H. Thomas and his family moved to Yankeetown, where he resided until 1857. He then moved to Knox county, Ohio, for seven months and then returned to Union cotmty, Ohio, where he cleared a farm. In 1869 he moved to Kansas, where he lived until 1871. Seven children were liorn to John H. Thomas and wife, two of wliom are now li\'ing, Rebecca, the wife of George Parr, of Toledo, Ohio, and James O., of this county.

(ames O. Thcjmas was educated in the common schools of Liberty townshi]), having come to Union county with his parents when he was four years of age. He enlisted July 11, 1863, as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and his father enlisted at the same time and they marched away to the front together. They served under Generals Burnsides and Wilcox in eastern Tennessee and were present at the siege of Knoxville during the winter and spring of 1863 and 1864. Mr. Thomas was mustered out of the service March 10, 1864. and returned at once to Union county, where he has since resided. After his marriage in 1868, he settled down to the simple life of a farmer and has lieen unusuall\- successful in all of his endeavors.

Mr. Thomas was married January 26, 1868, to Gertrude Rea, the daughter of Levi Rea. To this union has been born one daughter, Lydia, who is the wife of John M. Hoover. Mr. Hoover and his wife have one son, James E., who was born March 14, 1896. Mr. Hoover died July 9, 1903, and in February, 1906, his widow married David Walters, of Marysville.

Mr. Thomas and his wife are members of the Church of Christ and deeply interested in its welfare. He is one of the elders of his denomination at the present time. In politics, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and has been deeply concerned in its welfare in local matters. He has served as justice of the peace of Liberty township for many years and is still holding this important position. He is a man highly respected throughout the county on account of his clean and wholesome career.

Charles C. Wynn

The W'ynn familv has been identified with the history of Union county, Ohio, since 1881, when the parents of Charles C. Wynn came to this county from Pickaway county. Charles C. \\'}-nn was six years of age when he came to this county with his parents. Eor several years he taught in the public schools of this county and then engaged in farming. He now owns eighty-four and one-half acres of land, one and three-fourths miles west of Sommersville in York township.

Charles C. Wynn is the assessor of York township. He was l:)orn in Pickaway county, Ohio, January 4, 1875. Pie is a son of Andrew J. and Anna R. (Chew) Wynn. His father was born in 1829, in Pike county, Ohio, and was the son of William S. Wynn and wife. His mother was l)orn in X'irginia, in 1835. Andrew J. Wynn was married in 1851 in Pike county, Ohiu. and with his family came to Pickaway county, Ohio, where he lived (66) until 1 88 1. In that vear he came to Union county and farmed until his death, Alarch 23, 191 1. His widow died August 20, 1913, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. A. ]\Ioore. Ten children were born to Andrew J. Wynn and wife, nine of whom are still living: Mary H., the widow of David Cale, of Union county; Diantha B., the widow of Benjamin Metzger, of Pickaway countv; Alice, deceased; William S., of Fulton county, Indiana, who married Martha r^Iiller; Margaret J., the wife of M. J. Scheiderer, of Richwood, Ohio; Josephine R., the wife of H. A. Moore, of Richwood; John O., who married Elsie ]\Ioore, of Richwood; Nancy M., the wife of M. L. Anderson, a farmer living near Richwood; Charles C, of York township; Andrew J., Jr., of Richwood, wiio married Elida Ward.

Charles C. \\'vnn came to this county with his parents when he was six vears of age and received all of his education in the schools of Union county. Before reaching his majority, he began to teach in the district schools of this county and for nearly ten years was an instructor in the various schools in the county. He ranked high as a teacher and the schoolroom lost an able instructor when he decided to leave it and engage in farming.

Mr. W'vnn was marri.ed August 11,' 1898, to Jennie M. Burnside, the daughter of Samuel G. and Susanna (Fields) Burnside. Mrs. Wynn's father was born in 1848 in Lagrange county, Indiana, and her mother in Union countw Ohio, in 1846. ]\lr. and ]Mrs. Burnside were the parents of five children, three of whom are now living; Sarah E., the wife of O. E. Sherwood; Jennie M., whom C. C. Wynn married, and T. W., of Larue, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wynn are the parents of three children, two of whom are living: Gladys M.. born March 31, 190J, and Charles L., born Alarch 2. 1905. both living. Cecil M.. born in 1899, died in infancy.

Mr. Wynn and his family are memliers of the I'nion Baptist church. He has Ijelonged t(j the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for eighteen years and he and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah, at Byhalia, Ohio. The}- are also both members of the Patrons of Husbandry at York. He has always given his hearty support to the Democratic party and is now serving as assessor of his township, and performing the duties of this ofifice in a painstaking and careful manner.

Mr. Wynn was for a time in the mercantile business at Byhalia, also at Essex, Ohio, and was postmaster while located at the former place. He has always been identified with those things which pertain to the general welfare of the community and es])ecially interested in and connected with Sunday school work, being at present assistant su])crintendent and teacher in the United Brethren Sundav school at "S'ork.

Frank E. Dodge

A prominent farmer and stock raiser of Liberty township is Frank E. Dodge, whose whole career of more than two score years has been spent in this county. His father was for many years one of the most prominent citizens of Union county and a pubhc spirited man, who was interested in everything pertaining to the development of the county. The Dodge family have been prominent factors in the life nf Union county for over half a century.

Frank E. Dodge, the proprietor of the "Midland Farm" of one hundred and fifty-six acres, located midway between Peoria and Raymond, was born in Jerome township. Union county, Ohio, September 15, 187J. He is the youngest son of John K. and Rebecca ( Rudolph) Dodge, both of whom were natives of Union county. His father was born in Mill Creek township in 1833 and died in Marysville, Ohio, August 30, 1906. His mother was born in Jerome township and is still living in Marysville with her son, J. R. Dodge.

John K. Dodge spent his whole life in Union county, where he was born. FTe was a life long Republican, served two terms as county commissioner and was a man who took an active interest in the civic life of his county. He was president of the Union County Fair Board for a number of years and in this capacitv was a prominent factor in the advancement of the agricultural interests of Union county. Nine children were born t(j John K. Dodge and wife, eight of whom are still living: A. J., a farmer of Darby township; J. R.. of Marysville; Glenna, deceased, was the wife of E. W. Bonnett; Thomas J., a farmer of Jerome township, who now owns the old home farm; Jennie, the wife of B. V. Smith; Will M., a farmer of Mill Creek township; Telia, the wife of J. \V. Lee; O. J., a graduate of the Ada Normal School and Chicago University, and now the superintendent of the Delta schools and a member of the Board of Scho<il Examiners; and Frank E., the subject of this sketch.

The education of Frank F. Dodge was received in Jerome township, where he was reared to manhood, and in two terms at the Ada Normal College at Ada, Ohio. He remained at home until the time of his marriage at the age of twenty-one and then began farming on his present farm. He has engaged in general farming although he has given his attention to stock raising. In 1914 he had eight}'-five acres of alfalfa on his farm and feeds all of it to stock which he fattens for the market. His farm is well impro\'ed and he has all of the modern machinerv necessarv for the successful farmer.

Mr. Dodge was married November 30, 1893, to Clara Ruhlen, who was born in Jerome township in this county. When she was two years of age, she moved with her parents to Allen township and in 1897 her parents moved to Liberty township, where they have since resided. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dodge: Robert E., born November 18, 1901; and Lucile. born August 24, 1904.

Mr. Dodge and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch Masons and the Royal and Select Masters at Marysville. He is also a member of the Raper Commandery and the Mystic Shrine at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Dodge and his wife are both members of the Eastern Star at Marysville. He also is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He has always been identified with the Republican party, but has never cared to take an active part in political matters. He always advocates every measure which he feels will advance the welfare of his communitv.

An}' farmer in Ohio, owning seventy-five acres of land in Union county is sure of a fine living. ]\lany farmers raise more on seventy-five acres of land than otiiers on twice that acreage, and David H. Inskeep is one of the man\-. He has been a resident of this county only a few years but has won for himself a large circle of friends and acquaintances because of his fine character.

David H. Inskeep, the son of David F. and Mary (Ballinger) Inskeep, was born in Logan county, Ohio, November 18. 1873. His parents were born in Logan county, his mother the daughter of Henry Ballinger. His mother died in Logan county, Octuljer 29, 1906, and his father still makes his home in that county. Four children were born to David F. Inskeep and wife: W. L., a farmer of Logan county: Sadie, the wife of John Johnson: J. O., a farmer of Logan county, and Da\i<l H., of LTnion county.

The younger days of David H. Inskeep were spent on his father's farm and he received his elementary education in the district schools of that county. He then spent two years in Central Ohio College, at East Liberty, where he completed his education. There he clerked in a store and helped on the home farm. When lie was twenty-one years of age, he had saved five hundred dollars. After his marriage in 1905, he came to Union county, where he has since resided. He purchased a fine farm of seventy-five acres, one and one-fourth miles south of York Center and has since greatly improved the farm.

Mr. Inskeep was married September 25. 1905. to R. Delia Kerns, the daughter of William and Emma (Watson) Kerns. Hoyd Kerns, a nephew, has made his home with them since his mother's death.

The father of JNIrs. Inskeep was born in Highland county, Ohio, and her mother in Logan county. They were the parents of nine children. Eliza, Robert R., Delia. Thomas. Casper. Iva. W'alter, Willie and Stella.

Air. Inskeep is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at West ]\Iansfield, and has filled all of the chairs in the lodge. He and his wife are both members of the Daughters of Rebekah. He gives stanch support to the Republican party and. at the present time, is a member of the school board of York township.

Joseph H. Rittexhouse

It is very interesting to preserve the experiences of the old soldiers who fought their country's battles during the Rebellion of the sixties. These gallant old soldiers are rapidly passing away and it is impcirtant that we preserve their personal experiences. In this history of Union county will be recorded the Ii\-es of scores of men who fought for their countrv's flag. One of the honored Ijoys in blue, who can recall many interesting incidents of the great Civil \\'a.T is Joseph H. Rittenhouse. a highly respected citizen of Sciota township. Delaware county.

Joseph H. Rittenhouse, the son of Henr}- and Margaret (Latta) Rittenhouse, was born in Ross county, Ohio, May 31, 1844. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Ohio. Henry Rittenhouse and his wife li\ed in Ohio until 1872. when they moved to Iowa, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Seven children were born to Henry Rittenhouse and wife, four sons and three daughters. fi\e of whom are still fixing: T. C. of \\'infield. Iowa: D. ]\I., <.)f \\'infield. Iowa: J. E.. of Muscatine, Iowa: Emma, the wife of Samuel Connor, of California, and Joseph H., of Delaware county, Ohio.

The early days of Joseph H. Rittenhouse were spent in Do\er township. Union county, Ohio, where his parents had moved when he was a small child. After finishing the common schools, he remained at home until tlie outbreak of the Civil \\'ar. At the age of eighteen, he enHsted as a member of Compam- B, Ninety-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the service August 8, 1862. He remained with this regiment for a short time and was then transferred to the One Hundred and Twent\-tirst regiment of infantry, serving in this regiment until the end of the war. He was wounded at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, June 2J, 1864, recovered sufficiently to rejoin his regiment and was present when it was mustered out of the ser\ice the first day of June, 1865. Immediately after the close of the war Mr. Rittenhouse returned to Union county and took up farming until a few years ago, when he moved to Ostrander. where he now li\es.

Mr. Rittenhouse was married September 20. 1866, to Amanda M. Carr. She was born in Delaware county, Ohio, April 30, 1847, ^"d died December 6, 1906. To this union were born five children, H. C. of Columbus, an engineer on the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad ; H. E., a trainmaster at Middleport, Ohio; Ivalew. the wife of I. N. Gardner of Columbus, Ohio; E. \\'., who is a tra\'eling salesman for the W. J. Hamilton Coal Company of Columljus, Ohio, and Bertha, the wife of Harry Mack of Liberty township.

Joseph Rittenhouse is a member of the Joseph Tanner Post, number fifty-six. Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is a past commander. He has always been identified with the Republican party and has given it his hearty support for the past half centur\-. During his long life in Union countv, he has won the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.

William Shipley

Since the close of tlie Civil War the Shipley family have been identified with the history of L'nion county, Ohio, William Shipley has been a lifelong farmer in \'ork township, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits for nearly half a century. His life has always been guided by proper motives and he has so conducted his affairs as to win and retain the hearty friendship of all those with whom he has been associated.

William Shipley, the .son of Milton M. and Ann (.\dams) Shipley, was ix'rn in Knox county, Ohio, November 25, 1848. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Knox county, Ohio, with his parents, Benedict Shipley and wife, and grew to manhood in that county. Milton Shipley mar- ried .\iin Adams, the daui^hter of Joseph and Ann (Simmons) Adams, who were residents of Knox county, Ohio. 'l"o this union ciglit children were born, four of whom are now hviny-: J. A., of Richwood. Ohio; joim. of Portland, Oregon; Henry, a bachelor farmer now li\in.!:;- in \'ork township, and William, whose history is here recorded.

Joseph Adams, the maternal grandfather of William Shipley, was Ixjrn in Shenandoah \"alley, \'irginia, and came with his parents to Knox county, Ohio, in its early history, .\fter his marriage, Mr. .\dams settled on a farm one mile east of Mount \'ernon. Ohio, and lived there until his death, being o\er eighty years of age at the time he passed awa}-. The Adams fainily are of Scotch-Irish descent, while the Shiple\'s are of English ancestry.

Milton AI. Shipley located in Knox county, Ohio, after his marriage and lived there until the spring of 1861, and was moving to Kentucky when they heard the news of the fall of Fort Sumter. The family resided in Kentucky during the war ami in February, 1865, they returned to Ohio, locating in Union count}-, where Milton Shipley had purchased a large tract of land in ^'ork township before going to Kentucky. On this farm Milton Shipley li\'e(l until his death in October, iSqj. He was a prominent man in the community, an acti\e member of the Presbyterian church, a Democrat in politics, and was honored 1j)- his party with the nr)mination for state representative. In addition to carrying on general farming, he was engaged in the sawmill business for a quarter of a century.

William Shiple\- was reared to manhood in Knox county, Ohio, and in Kentucky, and was seventeen years of age when his parents returned to Ohio in the spring of 18^15. He has been eminently successful as a farmer and stock raiser and ranks among the progressi\'e and enterprising farmers of Union county.

^Ir. Shipley was married in .\pril, 1870, to Evangeline ^'oumans, a daughter of Isaac and .-\nn (Alarriott) A'oumans. Mrs. Shipley was reared in Union county, Ohio, and has li\'ed here all of her life. Mr. Shipley and his wife are the parents of six children, five of whom are li\-ing: Fred A\'., who married Eva Gofif: IMilton 'SL. who married Cora Graves; Herbert A. and Henry M., twins, who are now living in Canada: Walter, who died in 1905, and Carrie A., who still makes her home with her parents,

\lr. Shipley gives his support to the Democratic party, but while taking a tleep interest in the general political issues of the day, he has never been active in the councils of his party. He is a quiet and unassuming man, charitable to the faults of his neighljors, honorable in all of his business dealings andhighlv esteemed by a wide circle of friends and accpiaintances.

Io4S Union County, Ohio William A. Acton

Although not a native of Union county, Ohio, William A. Acton has made this county his home since 1868, and since his marriage in 1872, he has been farming for himself. He started in to farm in Dover township, and a few vears later bought his present farm in Washington township, one and one-half miles east of Byhalia. Mr. Acton made a distinguished record in the Civil war, enlisting during the first year of the struggle and continuing in active service until the fall of 1865.

William A. Acton, the son of Jacob L. and Luticia (Keene) Acton, was born in Ross county, Ohio, June 6. 1842. His father was bora in Ross county, as was his mother, and there both grew to maturity and were married in the same county. When Jacoli Acton was a young man he joined the United States navy and served on a war ship for a few years. He then engaged in the harness trade at Bourneville, Ohio, where he lived until his death. Jacob Acton and wife were the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living.

\\'illiam A. Acton was reared to manhood in Bourneville, Ohio, and after leaving the public schools, learned the harness and saddler maker's trade with his father. In June, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Thirty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served continuously until August, 1865, being in the service more than four years. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and took part in a large number of battles, among them being the following: Perrysville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain. Missionary Ridge, Bentonville, and manv others. He was wounded at one time in the right elbow, but soon rejoined his regiment and continued in the service. He was promoted from the ranks to a corporal of his company, and was mustered out with this rank.

.^fter the close of the war, Mr. .\cton returned to Ross county, Ohio, where he worked at his trade as a saddler and harness maker with his father. In i8'68, he came to Union county and worked on farms in this county by the month, from 1868 to 1872. In the latter year, he married and at once moved on a rented farm in Dover township, where he lived for seven years. In 1880 he bought eighty-three acres in Washington township, and has since made his home on this farm.

county, Ohio, September i6, i.S^o. Tu this union has been Ij.irn one dau.i^hter, Relia, who is tiie wife of Canterbury Moi^gs. Mr. Boggs and his wife make their home with AJr. .\cton.

Air. Acton and his wife are active workers in the .Methodist Episcopal church at ByhaHa, and he served as a class leader for more than fifteen years. He is an enthusiastic member of the W. D. W. .Mitchell (irantl .\rmy of the Republic post, and is now the officer of the da\-. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odtl h'ellows at llyhaha. Mr. and Mrs. Boggs both belong to the Daughters of Reljekah, his wife being a past grand. Mr. Acton is a Republican, and has served as trustee of Washington township for si.x years. Personally, he is a jovial man of kindlv disposition and well merits the high esteem in which he is held by all who know him.

Joseph L. Stimmel

.An early member of the Stimmel family, Joseph L. Stinimel, of Mill Creek townshii), came to Union county in 1844, and the farm of the grandfather of Mr. Stimmel has been in possession of the family for more than seventy years. Mr. Stimmel has been a life-long farmer and is now living in the house where he was born, nearly half a century ago. He has met with success, is highly admired by his fellow citizens, and was elected as one of the trustees of his township in the fall of 191 3.

Joseph L. Stimmel, the son of Robert L. and Reljecca ( Hutchinsson) Stimmel, was born July 15, i8()C), on his father's farm in .Mill Creek township. Union county. Ohio. His father was born six miles south of Columbus, Ohio, in I'ranklin C(.)unty, December 14, 1837, and ilied in Columlnis in No\-ember, ic)oi. His mother was born in L'nion county in 1839, and li\'ed all her life there. Eleven children were born to Roljert L. Stimmel and wife, eight of whom are still living: .\l\in, a fanner of ]Mill Creek township: Irwin, Eldorado Springs, [Missouri: Emma, the wife of the Kew D. E. Myers, of Dayton, Ohio; the Rev. R. T., of W'ellston. Ohio: A'iolo, the wife of J. F. Haggard, of Marysville; Hattie, of Marys\-il!e: IManche, of Daytim. Ohio, and Joseph L., of Mill Creek townshi]).

The y<iunger rla\'s of Joseph E. Stimmel were s])ent on his father's farm in Mill Creek township, and he was educated in the schools of that vicinity. He remained at home until his marriage and then farmed part of his father's farm. Several years later he moved to Dover township, farmed there until

1903, at wliich time he mo\-ed back on to the old home place. He now lives in the same house where he was Imrn. He is the owner of one hundred and se\'enteen acres of lantl which his i^rand father purchased from Kendal Thomas in 1844.

Joseph L. Stimmel was married March 14, 1889, to Alma Longbrake. the daughter of George \\'. Longbrake. of Mill Creek township, and to this union have been born two sons: Hugh O., born October 6, 1891 and Roy M., born Mav 10. r8gn. Hugh is now assisting his father on the home farm, while the other sun has just graduated from the Ostrander high school.

yiv. Stimmel is a Democrat and was elected by the citizens of that party as a trustee of Mill Creek township. He took his office January i, 1914, and is giving it careful and conscientious attention. Fraternally, Mr. Stimmel is a very active member of the Marvsville lodge of Odd Fellows.

P. R. Sherwocjd is the owner of a tine farm of eighty acres located on the Marion and Richwuod road, in Union county, and he is entitled to rank as one of Union county's enterprising and prosperous farmers. ]Mr. Sherwood is a native of the Bucke_\'e state, as were his ancestors for a generation or more. He was born in Delaware county. Ohio, March 4, i860, and is the son of James J. and Caroline (Seaman) Sherwood. James J., father of our subject, was also born in Delaware countv, the son of David and Margaret (Bishop) Slierwood. David Sherwood, who was the founder of the family in Union count}', was born in \'irginia, but he came with his family to Delaware count}' in an early day. He had a large family of children, consisting of five sons and four daughters. Of this numlier onlv one daughter. Harriett, is li\-ing. The names of the children of this family are: Le\'i, Lewis, James, Jesse. Kate, Harriett, Sarah, Rachael, Jonathan. James, the father of our subject was a tanner l)y trade and later took up farming near Columbia Cit}', Indiana, and continued in this business at that place until his death, which occurred several years ago. He was buried in the cemetery at Columbia City. He had a family of four children. One who died in infancy; John, deceased: Lewis, deceased: Margaret, who married James A. Main: and P. R., who i^ the subject of this sketch.

1'. R. Sherudod receixed his education in the pul)lic scliools of Delaware countv which he attended in his earl\- vcars. He worked on his father's farm during his schdol lite and afterward worked for some time in Marysville. For the past ten years he has l)een engaged in farming. He was married in 1S82 to Sadie Jewell, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah ( luhvard ) Jewell. To this union four ehildren were horn: Carrie, who married hVed Trapp, and has one daughter, Krmie : Jennie, Frank D., Kenneth J. Airs.' Sherwood is dead and was huried in Delaware county. Air. Sherwood is a Democrat and has always taken an acti\e interest in his ]>art\- hut has not sought for any ho.nors for his party service, lie is a memher of the Ivnights of Pythias and takes an acti\e interest in its affairs. His church relationship is with the Baptist church of which he is a faithful and regular attendant and tt) the support of which he contriliutes liherallv. In all his relations of life he hears the reputation of an upright and honorable citizen.

Every nation on the e.arth has contributed to the population of the United States, but no nation has furnisheil better citizens than (ierman\-. W'herexer Germans are found the\- are always substantial citizens of their community, thrifty and frugal, and the example set bv them has been \erv l)eneficial to our nati\e American citizens. Among the many German families who came to Union count}', Ohio, early in its history, the Burns family occupies a prominent place, and Alartin Burns, a prosperous farmer of Paris township, is a worth\' representative of this excellent family.

Alartin Burns, the son of Emanuel and Anna ( Bishop ) Burns, was iiorn April 2Q. 1868, on the farm where he n(iw lives in Paris townshii). The great-grandfather of Alartin lliu-ns always spelled his name "'Born." When they came to America in the nineteenth century, they changed the spelling and the members of the famil\- in .America are now- known by the name of "Burns.'"

Emanuel Burns was reared in Baltimore count}', Alaryland. near the city of Baltimore and came to Union count}'. Ohio, with his parents. John and Magtalena (Baughman) Biurns, in 1838. John Burns and wife were the parents of nine children, all deceased except one : Adam, Lewis, Alexandria. Phillip, Emanuel. Aiariat. Elizal)cth, Rebecca and Ixate, living. Emanuel Burns took charge of the old home farm and made all the im])rovements on it. He and his wife reared a faniil}- ci twel\e children: Airs. Alaggie Scboenieb, George. John, Godlip, Philip, Airs. Alary Rausch. Airs. Kate Auer, Alartin, Mrs. .Anna Erich. Airs. Lena Dasher, Airs. Carrie \\'eidman and Alartin.

^[artin Burns was educated in the German schools of his neighborhood. He remained at home until he married at the age of twenty-four, then began farming with his father and still rents the estate. He owns a farm of his own of seventy-three acres adjoining the old home farm, which he also manages. He also was solicitor for the John Wilde Milk Company for a time. He resigned his position with this company, to de\-ote more time to farming.

Mr. Burns was married September 13, 1892, to Anna B. Gundermann, the daughter of INIichael and Elizabeth ( Berger) Gundermann. To this union, one son, Lerow has been liorn.

Mr. Burns has always been identified with the Democratic party, but has never aspired to any public office. He and his wife are loyal members of the Lutheran church at Mar>'sville, to whose support they are generous contributors.

T-'or more than forty years Harry H. McCune has been identified with the history of Union C(nuity, Ohio. He has devoted his life to farming and now has a well improved farm of one hundred and ten acres where he does general farming and stock raising. His father was a veteran of the Civil war and served for more than four years at the front. Mr. McCune is a man of patient industry.

Harry H. McCune, the son of James M. and Sarah A. ( Tidrick) McCune, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, November 25, 1868. His father was born in the same Cdunt}-, January 28, 1839, a son of John and Sarah (McDowell) McCune. The McCunes are of Irish descent and were early settlers in Coshocton county, Ohio.

John McCune, the grantlfather (if Harry H., was twice married. By his first wife he had si.\ children, Mary, Martha, Salina, Ellen, James M. and Xathaniel. Two of these children are still living, Salina, of Newark, Ohi(j, and Ellen, of Kansas. After the death of his first wife, John McCune married Xancy Glen and to this second union two children were born, John and Robert, the latter being deceased. The great-grandfather of Harry H. McCune was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

James M. McCune, the father of Harry H., was one of six children burn to his parents. He grew to manhood in Coshocton county, Ohio, and enlisted in the Cnion army at the beginning of the Civil war. He became a member of Cunipany 1), Si.xteenth i\eginient Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on the 24th day of April. 1861, and was discharged August iS, iSGi. He reenHsted in Company C, Xinth Regiment Ohio Vokmteer Cavalry, on October 8, 1862, and served until his final discharge July 20, 1865. On January 15, 1863. at Lexington, North Carolina, he was commissioned second deputy sergeant of Company C, Ninth Ohio X^olunteer Cavalry, by Cdlonel Arthur D. Hamilton of the regiment. He was with Sherman on his famous march through Georgia to the sea and fought in many of the hardest battles of that struggle. At the close of the war, James AI. AJcCime returned to his old home in Coshocton county. He was married Christmas Day. i8f>j. to Sarah A. Tidrick, a daughter of Reeil and Millie ( Shr}-ock ) Tidrick, both of German ancestry.

The Tidrick family were early settlers in Ohio and reared a famil}' of four children: William, a veteran of the Ci\il war and now a resident of New Comerstown, Ohio: George, a \'eteran of the Civil war, who died at the age of sixty-six; Sarah, the wife of Air. AlcCune, who died in June, ir;io: and Airs. Eliza Carr of New Comerstown, Ohio. The luother of these four children died in 1858 and Air. Tidrick later married Alargaret We.st and two children, twins, were born to the second marriage. One of these twins, AI. W'., lives at New Comerstown, Ohio, and the other one. Airs. William Love, lives in .Akron, Ohio.

James Al. AlcCune, the father of Harry H., miived from Coshocton county to L'nion count}", Ohii.i, in 1S73 and settled in Clairbourne township, one mile from Claibourne Station on the farm where his son now li\cs. On this farm he spent the remainder of his life. Both he and his wife were lo\a] members of the Alethodist church. He was a stanch Democrat but was ne\-er an aspirant for ])ublic oftice. He died Alay 3, 1907.

Harrv H. AlcCune was four years cild when his parents located in Union count}- and receixed all of his education in the schoijls of this count}-. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old and then Ijegan working for himself. After his marriage. Air. AlcCune bought f(.)rt}--five acres of land and built a good country hoiue, excellent barns and out buildings. After the death of his parents, he inherited twentv acres of land and he has since added his sister's share of the estate, making a total of one hundred and ten acres in Claibourne township. The land is well improxed and vields biiuntiful crops year after }-ear.

Air. AlcCune was married .\ugust 18, 1897, to Olive N. Tboiupson. a daughter of John L. and Emma ( Kile) Thompson. Her father was born in Virginia and her mother in Ohio. Air. and Airs. Thompson are the parents of tour children: Olive, the wife of Mr. McCune; Edward of Richwood, Ohio; Arthur of Marion, Ohio; and Ernest of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are residents of Richwood.

Air. McCune is a stanch Republican but has never cared to be an active participant in politics. He has de\oted himself to farming and stock raising and prided himself on keeping his farm in an attractive manner. Everything about his place indicates his thrift, while his daily life has been such as to win the hearty approbation of those with whom he mingles.

One of the members of the official family of Union county, Ohio, is \\'illiam P. Beightler, who is the present surveyor of the county. He is one uf the many county officials who ha\e spent all of their lives in this county and consequently is well known by a majority of its citizens. He started to learn the surveying business before reaching his majority, and when only twenty-tw(.) years of age was appointed surveyor of the county to fill out an unexpired term, and such was his excellent service that he was re-elected. He then engaged in the cigar business, and for many years was president of the Perfect Cigar Company, of Marysville, a position which he still retains. After being out of the surveying business many years, he was nominated by his party to fill this office again, and is now administering its duties in a \ery satisfactory manner.

William P. Beightler, the son of Andrew and Louisa (Little) Beightler, was b(jrn in Paris tDwnship, this county. January i8, 1868. His parents, who were natives of Ohio and early settlers in Cnion county, had two children, I'rank. of Columbus. Ohio, and William P., of Marysville.

Andrew Beightler was a farmer in Paris township, and died there in 1881, when he was about forty-eight years of age. His wife died in 1877, being only about thirty-fmir years of age at the time of her death. Both were loyal attendants of the United Brethren church.

The i)atcrnal grandparents (jf William P. Beightler were Tobias Beightler and wife. The latter's wife was a member of the Amrine familv, one of the earliest pinneer families of the county. Tobias Beightler died in Paris townshi]) at the age of eighty-fi\e, his wife having passed away several years previously. Tobias Beightler and wife reared a family of several children, Samuel, John. Harrison, Andrew, Madison, Daniel, Abraham, and others who died in their early childhood. Little is known of the history of the maternal grandparents of William P. Beightler, hut it is known that his maternal grandmother was a pioneer of this county and dieil at the age i)f seventy-five. Louisa, the mother of William P. Beightler, was the nnly child.

William P. Beightler was reared to manhood in this county, and has made this his life-long home. He commenced to farm when he was ahuut twelve years of age on rented land. He attended the district schciuls ni Iiis home township, and later was a student in the ^larys\ille high schonl and in the Normal University at Lel)ani)n. Ohio. He then went to wcirk for .\. S. Mi)wry, abstractor, and incidentally learned sur\-eying. He remained with Air. Mowry for nine years during his summer \acations. and at the end nf that time was a practical surx-evnr and had an intimate knnwk-dge of tlie abstracting difficulties of L'ninn county. When onlv twenty-two years of .age he was appointed county sur\e}or to fill the unexpired term of Charles S. Lee, and gave such eminent satisfaction that he was elected upon the expiration of his appointment. He was then re-elected to the same position, serving in all three years at that time. ,He then l^ecame interested in the manufacture of cigars, and for fourteen years, or until he took up the duties of his i^osition as county sur\'e}'or again, he was interested in the Perfect Cigar Companv, of which he is now president. He is now filling the position of countv sur\"evor, after ]Ta\'ing l)een out of the business for fourteen \ears. and is giving excellent satisfaction in the discharge of the duties connected with this important position.

]\fr. Beightler was married in iSgo to Josie ]\I. Sprague, the daughter of Judge F. B. and Joanna (Leeds) Sprague, and to this union have been born four children, Robert S., Donald S., Charles S. and Mary Louise. Mrs. Beightler was born in Sunbury. Ohio, her parents being nati\"es nf this state also. Her father is deceased and her mother passed awa\- in 1003. Six cliildren were born to Judge Sprague and wife; Frank P.. Mar}-. Clara, .\rthur. Clarence and Josie.

Politically, ]\'Ir. Beightler has been a life-long Repul.ilican, and has always been interested in local political affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and holds his membership in the lodge at Mar_\-sville. He and his wife are both earnest members of the Presbvterian church and generous contributors to its support. Mr. Beigbtlei' is also a member of the Lhiited Commercial Travelers .Association. Mr. Beightler is a ver\- genial man wdio easily makes a stranger feel at home, and is known throughout the count\- as a man who is charitable to the faults nf otliers and who tries to help all those whii are in distress. He is a liig whole-souled, generous man wlio makes friends wherexer he goes.

Nathaniel Brooks

The Brooks family, represented in this vokime by Nathaniel Brooks, has been connected with the history of L'nion county since 1833, when the grandfather of Nathaniel Brooks first located in this county. Mr. Brooks has been a resident of this county for nearly seventy years, consequently he is widely known throughout the county. He served during the Civil war in the one-hundred-da\- service and. upon returning from the war, settled down to the life of a farmer. That he has been successful is shown by his well impro\ed farm df two hundred acres, one and one-half miles north of York Center, known as the "Maple Heights Farm."

Nathaniel Brooks, the son of A. G. and Rhoda W. (Coons) Brooks, was born in York township, Union countw Ohio, on the farm where he is now living, September 23, 1845. His father, who was the son of Nathaniel Brooks, was born in the state of New York, while his mother was a native of Licking county, Ohio. Nathaniel Brooks, Sr., came to Union county in 1833 and located in York township, being one of the first settlers in this township. He cleared away a small piece of land and used the logs he took off of the land to build a rude log cabin. The two hundred acres cost him two hundred dollars and shortly afterwards he sold one hundred acres for a similar amount. He li\ed nn the farm only three years, dying in 1836. Nathaniel Brooks, Sr., was a school teacher. He built a saw mill in New York where the city of Rochester now stands. He had bought a farm near that place. A. G. Brooks was a prominent man in this county and, upon the organization ni the Republican party in 1856, he took an important part in the Democratic party at that time. Two children were born to A. G. Brooks and wife. Nathaniel and Latitia, who became the wife of Samuel S. Da\'is. Latitia died in 1877, leaving two children, both of whom are now^ deceased. It is interesting to note that Nathaniel Brooks, Sr., was one of a group of men who organized the first Methodist Episcopal church in York township and he became its first class leader. He continued in thi's capacity until his death. Nathaniel Brooks. Sr., gave the name of York to this townshi]).

Nathaniel Brooks was reared on his father's farm in York township and educated in the district schools and later in the Marysville graded schools. Desiring to pursue his education still farther, he became a student in the State University at Columbus, Ohio, lea\ing the university in the spring of i8'64 to enlist in the Civil war. He was mustered in as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This regiment enlisted for a period of one hundred days and his enlistment e.xpired in August of the same year.

Immediately after the close of the war, Mr. Brooks returned to his home in Union county and began to farm. He has a fine farm of two hundred acres, upon which he has made his home for over half a century. Durmg this time he has devoted himself to general farming and stock raising with good results.

'Mr. Brooks was married in icS68 to Mary S. Penhorwood, a native of Delaware county, Ohio. To this union was born one daughter, Anna May, who became the wife of J. S. McGinnis, of York township. Mr. McGinnis and his wife have two sons. The first wife of Mr. Brooks died in 1877 and in 1880 he was married to Louise Bowers, who was born in New York state, January 2, 1845. She is a graduate of the INIount Vernon high school and before her marriage, taught in the common and high schools of Ohio. There are no children by this second marriage.

r'raternally, Mr. Brooks is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a charter member of "^'ork lodge. No. 597, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Brooks named the lodge. Honor Lodge, at York. He is a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the grand lodge of Ohio. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at York, a church which his grandfather helped to organize in the early thirties. In politics, he has long been one of the stalwart Republicans of his countv and always taken an acti\'e interest in local political matters.

Harvey F. Tormohlen

There is no one nation that has contriljuted to our American citizenship an element of more sterling worth, or of greater value in the growth and development of our country and the support of our national institutions than has Germany. From the fatherland have come men of sturdy integrity and of industrious habits and business sagacity. No class of citizens ha\e been more loyal to their adopted country, none have been of more benefit to community and state, than the descendants of the sturdy yeomanry from German_v.

Io5S Union County, Ohio

entertain a just pride in the fact that his ancestry was of this class. His paternal grandfather was horn in the pro\ince of Westphalia, Germany, as w^as also the paternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Anna Noel. They were of the large emigrant colony that came to Indiana and settled in Dubois county, that state. This Indiana county was largely settled by the Germans, who found in this section of the state much broken lands covered with unbroken forests. These conditions were not specially attractive to settlers of American birth, on account of the prospective hard labor that w'ould be necessary and the uncertainty of development of productive farms in these Dubois county hills. But the German immigrants found here a country somewhat similar to that to which they had been accustomed in their native land, and which, from experience, they knew how to farm.

The grandfather of the subject was among the early German settlers who came to Dubois county, bought a tract of land and contributed his full share in the development of the country. He was engaged in farming from the time of his marriage until his death, which occurred at Holland, Dubois county, at the age of sevent3'-four years. His widow is still living and is now eighty-two years of age. They had a large family, several of whom died at an early age. Those who lived to maturity were John, Daniel. Henry, Fred, Frank, Mary and George.

The maternal grandfather was William Hemmer and the maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Hildebrand. They were natives of Hanover, Germany. They were members of a German emigrant colony who came to America, and were among the early settlers in Dubois county, Indiana, settling on a farm near Holland. Here they lived and labored until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-seven years; his wife lived to the age of seventy-one years. Their family consisted of six children, namely : Mary, Flenry. Sophia, Anna, Louis and Lizzie.

The father of our subject was Daniel, the second son of George and Anna (Noel) Tormohlen; his mother was Mary, the eldest daughter of William and Elizabeth (Hildebrand) Hemmer. mentioned in the foregoing part of this sketch. The father was reared on the home farm in Dubois county, Indiana. In his young manhood he was engaged part of the time as a miller, and, in the meantime, he took up the study of \eterinary medicine and surgery, in which profession he is now engaged in practice at Holland. Indiana. Politically, he is one of the sturdy German Republicans of Dubois county. 'i"hat county has not been noted as very ])r(ililic in the growth of citizens of this party faith. Init those who maintain Republican party allegiance in Dubois county are well grounder] in the principles of the party and can always be relied uii, and ready at all times to give a reason for the faith they profess. That Mr. Tormohlen was of this kind of faith, and that he had the contidence of the appointing power in Washington and of the eonimunity in which he lived, is evidenced by the fact that he served as postmaster of Holland for four years. He and his wife are active members of the German Methodist church.

The children of this family were: Harvey F., the subject of this sketch; Anna, wife of E. H. Kunz, of Oklahoma; Lena, wife of Oscar Klausnieir, of Ardmore, Oklahoma; Louis, of Holland; Cora and William W'., both living at home.

Harvey F. Tormohlen was born in Holland, Dubois county, Indiana, July 12, 1882. He was reared on the farm and trained to the habits of industry that served a good purpose in the development of body and mind and in an equipment for a broader sphere of usefulness in after life. His education was obtained in the public schools, graduating in the high school in 1902. He then attended the Baldwin Wallace College, at Berea, Ohio, graduating in that institution in iQob. With a view of taking up the profession of the ministry, he began the study of theology while in this college, and, after his graduation, he entered upon the w-ork of the ministry for three years. He then completed his theological course at the Garrett Biblical Institute, at Evanston, Illinois, graduating in 191 1. \Miile in this institution he supplemented his theological studies by a stated preaching apjiointment, at Garden Prairie, Illinois.

After completing his course in the Evanston institution Mr. Tormohlen came to Marysville, Ohio, where he found opportunity to engage in the Young Men's Christian Association work, for which he had an inclination and to which he had given much time and study during the years of preparation for the ministry. He was appointed secretarv' of the Young Men's Christian Association of L'nion county, and for the past two years has been devoting his time and energies to that important work.

Mr. Tormohlen was married June 19, 1912, to Iieatrice Wilcnx. daughter of William and ?ilae ( Eggleston ) Wilco.x, of Rockford. Illinois. Thev have one child, John William. Mrs. Tormohlen was born at Rockford, Illinois, and both of her parents were born in the \icinity and made that their home until their death, which occurred some years ago. Mrs. Tormohlen was the elder of the two children of her father's family ; a sister, ^largaret, died at the age of sixteen years.

I060 Union County, Ohio

London, and for some time he was employed as clerk in the postoffice of that city. The maiden name of his wife was Margaret Weber, whom he married in Pennsvhania. sometime after coming to this country. They found a home near Rockford, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for a time. \\'hile thus engaged he devoted much time to study, with a view of fitting himself for the ministry. He was successful in his ambition and was admitted to the regular ministry in the Congregational church, devoting his life to that calling. The children of this family were Clarence, Mary, Weber, William, Lillian and Burt.

The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Tormohlen was John Eggleston, who was a Pennsvlvania German. They came to Ohio in an early day and settled in Hocking county, and followed the occupation of farming. They both lived to a good age. Their three children were Mae, Eva and Oscar.

Mr. and Mrs. Tormohlen are members of the JNIethodist Episcopal church and are actively interested in the work of the church, and in every cause that has for its object the uplift of humanity and instruction in principles of a better life.

Walter R. Weidman

One of the manufacturing industries which has done and is doing much in the promotion of the growth and prosperity of Alarysville is that of the Weidman Brothers, engaged in the manufacture of interior and exterior mill work. This enterprise was established several years ago, and, by the energy and push applied to the business by the proprietors, it has been made a success, with an established trade in manufactured product, not only in the immediate vicinit}-, but extending to se\-eral states.

Walter R. Weidman, the senior member of this enterprising firm, is of ( ierman ancestry, and he has inherited all the commendable traits of industry and business enterprise for which that race is noted. He was born in Marysville, Ohio, July 12, 1875, and this has been his home ever since. He is the son of John and Mary Jane (Ferguson) Weidman. His father was a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany: his mother was a native of Xew York state and of Scotch descent. They had four children, namely : .Anna L., deceased, who was the wife ol" l-'rank Hudson; Pearl R., of Cincinnati, Ohio; James O., of Marvsville, and meml)er of this manufacturing firm; and Walter R.. the subject of this sketch. His father was twice married, his first wife a native of German\-. The children bv the first wife were: John C, of ^ilarvs- ville, also a member uf the firm of Weiclman Brothers; MoUie, who married Mr. Kreischer, of Deschler, Ohio; WilHam L., another member of tlie lirm; Mina, wife of Charles Hundobel, of Richmond, Indiana.

The father of the subject was only about seven years old when lie came to America, and was one of the pioneers of Union county, Ohio, lie i^rew to manhood on the farm where his parents settled, in L'nion township, and afterwards followed the occupation of farming on his own account for a short time. He then engaged in general merchandising in JNIarysville, and later engaged in the business of general contractor and builder. He is deceased. His second wife died in 1891, at the age of about fifty-five years. The father was raised in the Lutheran faith : the mother was a Methodist. He was a member of Palestine Lodge. Free and Accepted Masons, and actively interested in the promotion of the welfare of that order.

The paternal grandfather of the subject was Louis W'eidman : he and his wife were natives of Germany. He was an officer in the (jeniian army, and had the training and discipline of the strict military service required of soldiers of that army. After his army service in that countr\- he. with his wife and family, came to America and settled in l'nion county, Ohio, where they both died. They had a large family, of whom J(.)lin, Louis, Conrad, Barbara and Margaret grew to manhood and womanhood. The maternal grandfather of our subject was named Ferguson; he and his wife were both of Scotch nativity. They emigrated to Xew York state, and after a short residence there came to Logan count\', Ohio, where the\- lioth died, well along in vears. The children of their family were Mary Jane, .\nna and James.

As has been stated, the home of Walter R. \\'eidman, the subject of this sketch, has always been in Marysville, the place of his birth. He attended the public schools and from these received the practical education which fitted him for a successful business life. After his school years he found employment in the factory of the Robinson & Curry Company, and remained in that employ for several years. He then fornieil a partnership with William Kennedy in the c<intracting business. This partnership was dissolved after about three years, and Mr. Weidman then associated himself with his brothers, James O. and \\'illiani L., in the same line of business. Later, thev took into this |)artnership their brother, John C, and formed the companv under the firm name of Weidman Brothers, and engaged in the manufacture of exterior and interior mill work. This partnership still continues, and the business has been growing steadily from the start and is now well estalilished. They have twenty to twenty-five men in their employ, and a trade that extends to several of the surrounding states.

On the 22d dav of May, 1902. Mr. W'eidman was united in marriage with Laura Lentz, daughter of Charles F. and Lvdia ^Mooney Lentz. Mr. and Mrs. Weidnian have their church relationship with the Presbyterian society. Fraternally, Mr. W'eidman belongs to Palestine Lodge No. 158, Free and Accepted IMasons; Marysville Chapter No. 99, Royal Arch Masons; S. S. Jewel Council No. 89, Royal and Select Masons ; Raper Commandery Xo. 19. Knights Templar. Politically, his affiliations are with the Democratic partv. Mrs. W'eidman was born at Cardington, Ohio. For history of her parents, see biographical sketch of J- M- Lentz, in another place in this volume.

French G. Reynolds

One of the most highly esteemed business men of Milford Center, Union county, Ohio, is French G. Reynolds, who was born within fifty feet of the bank where he is now employed as cashier. He has been engaged in office work practically all of his life, working for several years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and afterwards spending several years in Chicago, in the office of The American Sheep Breeder, a live stock journal. He has been connected with the banking interests of Milford Center for more than a quarter of a century, in which time he has built up a reputation for integrity and honest}' which has won for him the unqualified confidence of everyone in the community.

French G. Reynolds, the son of Elisha L. and Mary E. ( Burnham) Reynolds, was born in Milford Center, Ohio, September 10, 184.6. His parents were natives of Union county, Ohio, also, and reared a family of five children: French G. : George B., deceased: Henry C, of Pittsburgh, Pennsyh'ania : Hattie E.. deceased, who was the wife of A. E. Waters; and M. Lou, of Milford Center, Ohio.

Elisha L. Reynolds was a merchant in ^lilford Center for manv years, and served two terms as treasurer of Union county. He died in 1900, and his widow in 1892. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Reynolds were Elisha and Elizabeth ( Witter j Reynolds. They were jjioneers of L'nion county, dving here at an advanced age. 'i'he grandparents of Mr. Reynolds reared a family of five children: I'.Iisha T, . Imer, Ira. !\Irs. Hilah Woodworth and }ilrs.

Martha J. Winget. Tlu- maternal .yramlparents of Mr. Reynolds were Harvey and Fdiza (Carpenter) Burnhani. native.s of the Eastern states and early settlers at the present site of Milford Center. Mr. Burnham and his wife had four children, Hilary E., George, Henry C. and Martha.

French G. Reynolds was reared in Milford Center and attended the public schools of that place. L'pon reaching manhood, he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and for nine years was bookkeeper for a firm of live-stock brokers in that city. He then returned to Milford Center and for the next nineteen years was cashier of the Milford Center Bank. He left Milford Center to take a position as ottice man in the office of The American Sheep Breeder at Chicago and remained there iot se\en years. When the I'armers and Merchants' Bank of Milford Center was organized in 1908, Mr. Reynolds was unanimously elected to the position of cashier and called home from Chicago to take the place. He has since been filling this position to the entire satisfaction of the directors and the patrons of the bank. The president of the bank is Lewis F. Erb. The bank has a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars.