Marion Township

Marion Township

of the church is about ninety-six, with Peter W. Lane, F. Wayne Sommers and G. L. Thompson tilling the office of Deacons. A good Suaday school is conducted in connection with ihe church, with an average attendance of fifty scholars, with Zane M. Hiatt as Superintendent.

Presbyterian Church of Ridgeway was organi^sed by Rev. Mr. Kalb at the White Swan Schoolhouse, in May, 1875, consisting of the following persons: Alexander Denison, W . J. Early, Nancy Early and Amy Hill, with Alexander Denison and W. J. Early as Elders. They held services in the above-mentioned schoolhouse and in the Methodist Church until in. 1879, when they erected their present church edifice, at a cost of about |1,600, and the same was dedicated to service in December of that year, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. Robinson. Rev. J. Alexander has served this society as its pastor ever since its organization, and William Irwin, William J. Early and Alexander Denison have filled the office of Elders,

' the last two now serving in that office. The present membership is thirty. The present Trustees are William J. Early, R. J. Williams, Alexander Denison and William Swysgood.

Catholic Mission, Mount Victory,^ - -At Mount Victory, the Catholic priests of Kenton, ever since the year 1866, would frequently collect a little band of worshipers in some private house. There the people would assist at holy mass, receive the sacraments and hear the word of God. Only two Catholic families remain in the village at present, although formerly there were more, but when all the members from the neighborhood and from Ridgeway are collected together it makes still a little congregation of eight families.

This subdivision is situated on the western boundary of the county, and is bounded on the north by Liberty Township, on the east by Cessna Township, on the south by the Scioto River and Round Head Township, and on the west by Allen County. It contains nearly thirt3^-two sections, or 20,343 acres, valued at $309,740, or an average value of $15.22 per acre - about 35 per cent of its selling value. The population of the township, according to the census of 1880, is 986 'persons, all white, or a little over thirty to the square mile.

The township occupies the extreme summit of the water-shed of the State, the northern tier of sections being drained by Hog Creek, which heads up close to the Marsh, and the rest of the township by the Scioto River. The ridge in this township is among the highest lands of the State, being nearly a thousand feet above Lake Erie; although so flat and wet, the great Scioto Marsh cuvers nearly one-half the township in the southeast and central part thereof; the low lands extend, in some places, to near the Allen County line, near the middle of the western line of the township, although a ridge of about two miles wide runs across the northern part of the township, valuable rolling lands, equal in fertility to auy in the county, and if the great marsh can be thoroughly drained, Marion Township will stand at the head of the agricultural list in the county.

Early Settlers

Mathew Dolson, a native of Canada, settled on lands in the forks of the two roads, near Huntersville, in 1833. He married, and had a family of several children. He resided here several years, but subsequently moved away with all his family.

Isaac McElhaney, a native of Ireland, emigrated to America and first settled in Pennsylvania, but soon removed to Licking County, Ohio, where he married Miss Margaret Kirkland, and in the fall of 1834 removed to Hardin County and set! led on the east half of the northwest quarter of Section 10, in Marion Township, where he resided till his death. He died | April 2, 1871, aged seventy-two }'ears. He was thrice married, and was the father of the following children: Margaret, John, Mary Ellen, James,

John McClure, a native of Ireland, married Mary Kirkland, in Licking County, Ohio, and in the fall of 1834 came to this township and settled on the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 10, where he still lives and has resided a period of forty-nine years. His wife died February 4, 1866. Subsequently, he married Mrs. Eliza Aon Cory. Mr. McClure has sustained the reputation of an honest, upright man and a worthy citizen.

Sampson Shadley was a native of Virginia, and early removed to Licking County, Ohio: thence, in the fall of 1834, came to this county and settled on the north side of the marsh, south of Huntersville. He was twice married; by his first wife, Catharine Trump, he had the following children: Jacob, Christena, Ann, Hiram, Sampson, Lydia, Polly and Docia. His 1 second wife, Mrs. Lyon, from Columbiana County, bore him five children, viz., Henry. Asa, Maria A., Sarah E. and William W. Mr. Shadley re- ' mained a resident of tbe place where he first settled till his death, and was 1 interred upon his own farm. He was an honorable and a just man, and in his later years a devoted member of the Methodist Church.

John F. Sudor, a native of Harrison County, Va., born in 1812, married Nancy Brown, of Lewis County, of that State, and emigrated to Logan County, Ohio, in the fall of 1834; in 1839, came here with his family and settled f on Section 32, where he resided till quite aged, when he removed to Ada, j where he died November 11, 1879. His wife still survives, and resides { upon the old home place with one of her daughters. Mr. Sudor purchased ! eighty acres when he fir.st settled here, for which he paid 12.50 per acre, and commenced right in the woods, poor and penniless, and by industry and economy became the owner of 400 acres of excellent land. He sustained an untarnished integrity, and was respected by a large circle of f friends. Their children were Minerva J., Margaret Ann, Permelia E., Mary | D. and Sarah C. - all living. j

James McAdams, a native of Tennessee, came to Fayette County, Ohio, | in the summer of 1833, where he married Sarah Haines, and in the month i of November, 1834, removed to this county and settled on Section 3, where - he entered his land and began right in the woods; and here he resided till | his death, November 21, 1856. His father, James McAdams, who also }| settled with him, died here. Mr. McAdams' children were Mary C. , Han- I nah, Alfred 0.. Melvina, Samuel H., Charles G., Bachel J., James E. and ? five who died in infancy. j

James Thompson, a native of Maryland, married Michey Kelly and re- j moved to Harrison County, Ohio; thence, in 1835, settled in Marion Town- i ship, on the northwest quarter of Section 8, where he remained a resident j till his death. Their children were Henry, Elizabeth, Thomas, Edwin, j Charity and James. I

' Samuel Kirkland was a native of Virginia, but of Irish descent. He ; came here and settled near Huntersville in the spring of 1835. He was j elected the first Justice of the Peace of this township, and served many years by re-election. He was a man of more than ordinary intellectual ability, and was a highly esteemed citizen. Subsequently, he removed to Iowa, where he died. His first wife was Elizabeth Emmerson, by whom he had three children - ^Rebecca, James and Mary. His wife died of cancer. His second wife, Nancy McBride, bore him three children - Keziah, Margaret and John. His third wife, Love McBride, moved West with him, where she died - after which he was twice married.

Isaac McCoy was a native of Virginia; settled about two miles west of Huntersville, about 1835. He married Miss Christopher, a daughter of Leven Christopher. Subsequently, he sold his farm and removed to the place where he now lives, on the northwest quarter of Section 30.

Thomas Irwin, a native of Ireland, came to America while young, and, in the fall of 1835, settled in this township, near Huntersville. He married Esther Kirkland. About 1857-58, they bought property in Ada, to which they moved, and have since remained residents of that town.

David Kirkpatrick came from Guernsey County, Ohio, and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 31, about 1835, where he resided about twenty years, and removed to Iowa, where he died. He was a man of considerable wealth, and when he settled here he entered nearly a whole section of land.

Thomas Monitt settled northwest of Huntersville, on Section 1, where he entered over one and a half sections of land, but resided there only a few years and moved away.

Jesse Garwood, a native or Pennsylvania, where he married Cidney Gregg, came to this county and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 1 3, in the spring of 1835-36. Here his wife died, and about eight years

County; thence went to Iowa; but again returned to Allen County, after which he removed to Fulton County, Ohio, where he died. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812. By his first wife he had the following children; Bani, Isaac, Fenton, Senith, Hannah, Joseph, Lydia, Catharine and Cynthia A.; by his second wife, Jesse, Malissa and one name not obtained.

Patrick Conner settled in the southwest quarter of Section 4, in 1836. He was thrice married. His second wife was Mrs. lilargaret Smith. By his first wife his children were Sarah, Charles, Elijah, Abraham, John,

Alexander Lantz was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1812, where he married Julia Ann Wolverton. In 1833, removed to Logan County, and, in the spring of 1836, to Hardin County and entered eighty acres of land on Section 31, where he has since resided. The groat characteristic of Mr. Lantz' s life has been his unflinching devotion to the business of buying and selling stock. For forty years he has made this his leading business. He has traveled almost every road and by-way in Northwest Ohio. Ho has, probably, bought, shipped and sold more stock than any other man in this part of the State. In an early day, he was a great hunter, and says that from the date of his killiag his first deer to the time when he shot his last it was just forty years, and that, the last hunting he did, his last four shots killed five deer. He is the father of the following children: Sarah Ann, George, Elizabeth, Newton, Tamar, William,

Samuel Patterson was born in Ireland in 1807, emigrated to America with his parents in 1812, and settled in Harrison County, Ohio, and there married Jane Davis. In the fall of 1836, they removed to Hardin County and settled on Section 19, Marion Township. Here he entered 240 acres | and began right in the woods - not a stick amiss; and here he made a \ purchased more land, until he owned 440 acres. He was a man of great j industry and financial ability, and won the esteem and respect of his many acquaintances. He was an active Christian worker, first in the Methodist Church and later in the United Brethren Church. He was a local and itinerant preacher for about forty years. He died March 12, 1874. His children were William D., Catharine, Sarah Jane, Margaret, Samuel, Elizabeth, Bebecca, Mary, Esther, Jemima, Joseph, Nancy, Ella and Susanna; all now living except Joseph, Rebecca and Esther. Henry | Stull came here from Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1836, and entered, there, quarter sections of land; resided here a few years, sold out, and moved to ! Illinois with all his family. |

Meshack Ryan came from Fayette County, Ohio, and settled near Hun- ? tersville in 1836, resided here many years, but subsequently removed to ^ Indiana, where he died. He married Elizabeth Garner, by whom he had * the following children: Henry, James, Mary, Elizabeth, Matilda, Enoch, f

Joshua Ford, a native of Maryland, came to Harrison County, Ohio, in | 1827 ; in 1836, removed to this township and settled on the southwest quar- I ter of Section 5. In 1838-39, he erected a horse mill for grinding - one of the first mills in this section of the count}'. He remained a resident here * till his death. He married Sarah Kelly and had the following children: ;

Ruth, Thomas, John, Joshua, Amos, Henry, James, Michey E. and Loyd. , Asaph Shadley, a native of Virginia, and a brother of the above Sampson ^ Shadley, settled here, just west of said brother, in the fall of 1837. He : married Margaret Wolverton in Virginia. He remained a resident here S through life, but died suddenly in Michigan, while there on business; his remains were brought back and interred up m his own farm. His . children were John S., Nathan, Ann, Susan Jane, William A., Daniel V., I David and Elizabeth. i

William Harriott, a nativeof Virginia, became an early settler of Adams ' County, Ohio; thence, in the spring of 1837, removed to this township and j entered 160 acres in Section 31, where he resided till his death. He mar- | ried Julia Ann Hoover, of Allen County, by whom he had the following | children: Ephraim and Caroline, deceased - the former served in the war i of the rebellion, was taken prisoner and confined in the Andersonville . prison and was finally exchanged, but not until so far exhausted by starva- | tion, that, upon obtaining food, he over ate, and died in a few days. |

Hamilton Scott came here from Carroll County, Ohio, in 1837-38, and f settled on Section 22, and remained a resident of the township until his ; death. He had a family of fourteen children, all deceased but two - Jane, I now the wife of William Scott and resides in Ada, and Martha, who resides j, in Indiana. j| place where he first settled. His wife still survives, and resides in Illinois. Their children were tis follows: Priscilla, Thomas, William, James, John,

James M. Nelson was born in Washington County, Penn., February 25, 1805; in 1815, came to Ashland County, Ohio, with his parents; in 1833, he married Susanna I). Mathews, of Crawford County, a daughter of Isaac and Nancy Mathews. In February, 1838, they removed to Hardin County, and settled on land now owned by S. W. Phillips, in Section 12, Marion Township, which he had previously entered in 1834. Here he resided through life. He died February 3, 1864. His wife died just thirteen days later, February 16, 1864, aged forty-nine years, both being taken away by that fatal disease, spotted fever. Mr. Nelson was an exceptional man in integrity of character and exemplariness of Christian life; ever ready, with his means and influence, to aid all matters for the general public good of his community, both in its secular and religious interests. He was identified with the Presbyterian Church from its first organization, becoming one of its constituent members at its organization in 1841, and was appointed its first Elder. He was the father of ten children, of whom seven now survive - Rachel J., Nancy M. , John AV., Emma K., Alvin S., Milton H. and AVilbur M. Those deceased were Willis C., died in 1855; Sarah M., died in 1870, and Mary E., who married William Cooney, and died in the fall of 1874.

Marshall Carman, a native of Maryland, settled on northwest quarter Section 6 in 1842. John A. Dunlap settled on Section 33 in 1845. Joseph and James Powell, Robert Preston, Asa Cooney, Samuel Hagerman and the Dempsters were also early settlers.

Timber

The principal timber is beech, white and black ash, elm, sugar and soft maple, basswood or lynn, burr oak, with some white oak, hickory, blackwalnut, hackberry, mulberry and hornbeam or ironwood.

The timber trade of this part of the country is quite considerable; large quantities of ash are sawed into thick stuff and shipped to the difterent agricultural works of the State, and Hardin County hickory is shipped largely, in the log, to the penitentiary and other buggy wheel factories, and considered the best timber that can be had anywhere for the manufacture of buggies, and the best of ax-handle timber exists in great abundance.

The despised elm is now being cut into staves and shipped to all parts for salt, lime and flour barrels, and considerable lynn is used for the same 1 purpose, but more of the lynn is used by the shavings mills for mattress,

I cushions, packing, etc. The sugar maple makes the best of chair timj ber, but this industry is not followed to any extent as yet in this part. The j day has come when timber is not a nuisance as it was a few years back,

Soil, Climate, Products

The soil of Marion Township is a deep, black alluvium, of very different depths, resting on the drift clay, which is very heavy in this township - in fact, so deep that it has never been pierced to the underlying rocks at any points known of in the township. There have not, as yet, been any stone quarries, gravel or sand pits discovered in the tovp-nship, but strong indications of gravel deposits are seen in the washes along the road on Section 31, in the elevations seen in the southwest corner of the township, but no indication of stone is to be seen anywhere in the township. The stone, where found in the surrounding country, is all water lime, and it is reasonable to suppose that the drift clay of unknown thickness rests on a bed of that stone. Along the ridge north of the marsh, the soil proper is not so deep in many places - less than one foot in depth - while in the low lands surrounding the marsh, and in the bottoms of the swales, the alluvium has collected to the depth of several feet, making a soil almost inexhaustible, i producing very heavy crops of corn, wheat and the grasses, while the lime i

The only stone found in the township is the drift bowlders, and they are | not plenty - such as are suitable for pillars for barns, cribs, etc., having i

The climate, on account of the elevation and exposure, is as rigorous in winter as at any place in Ohio, and subject to all the changes produced by variable currents of wind. There is no place in the State subject to more | sudden and extreme changes of temperature than the water-shed, but in I summer, the cool breezes from Lake Erie are delightful, as they fan the ! brow of the husbandman under the scorching rays of a noonday sun. The | prevalence of snow during the winter securely protects the wheat and other summer crops from the action of frost, which makes this one of the best conn- :

The products are wheat, corn, oats, rye, buckwheat, potatoes, clover, j timothy, Hungarian, millet and fruits of all kinds. The soil and climate j are, perhaps, better suited to wheat than any other crop, and large quantities | are annually raised of a superior quality. Indian corn also grows very [ luxuriant, but the seasons are rather short for the maturing of the large | varieties of this valuable cereal. Oats, rye and buckwheat are raised only | adapted to barley, but has been but little tried as yet. Potatoes do well, and are raised in considerable quantity and fine quality. Some of the I finest specimens of potatoes, both Early Eose and New York Peachblows, that we ever saw were raised by Albert Dempster. Millet makes a heavy crop.

The different clovers grow almost spontaneously, and clover seed is quite an article of commerce. Garden vegetables are found in great abundance. Apples grow large, and are of good quality. Peaches have, so far, done tolerably well ; but we think when the country grows older that the trees will f not last, or the crop be so sure. Small fruits have been but little tried, j | except on the fruit farm of John S. Shadley, who has made a success with I grapes, which are not troubled with mildew or rot, and his berries produce well.

Political Histoey. 1 1

prior to 1852 were kept on loose sheets of paper, and are lost. In 1852, the Clerk, Henry F. Thompson, procured a little quarto blank book, on which a skeleton of the records was kept. Who the first officers were cannot, with any certainty, be ascertained, but, like other backwoods townships, the officers served for little or no pay, and if the work was rough it was honestly done, and the affairs of the township went harmoniously and cheaply forward to prosperity. Among the early officers, Sampson Shadley, James Thompson, Samuel Patterson, Sr., Jesse Garwood and Marshal Carman were among the first Trustees. The present officers are A. Runser, William Winters, O. M. McAdams, Trustees; J. F. Thompson, Clerk; J. P. Conner, Treasurer; Elihu Garwood, Constable, and Harrison Carman, Assessor. The officers of the township in 1850 - the oldest record that is preserved - were as follows: J. W. Dempster, G. R. Sutton and Asaph Shadley, Trustees; T. K. Ford, Clerk; James Powell, Treasurer, and Isaac Hitchcock, Assessor. The present Justices of the Peace are John W. Dempster, C. W. Runser, both of whom have served in that capacity for several years, to the satisfaction of the people of the township.

Villages, Eoads And Railroads

Marion Township is almost entirely an agricultural township. The only village within her border, up to the fall of 1882, was Huntersville, laid out June 21, 1836, by Thomas Hitchcock, in the northeast corner of Section 12, on the Kenton & Lima road, and adjoining Cessna Township. Some 3^ears back it could boast of a post office, two stores, a saw mill and blacksmith shop, all of which were closed except Josiah Smith's shop. Dr. Evans located here a couple of years since, and is infusing new life into the old town. He started a small family grocery, and enjoys a fair and increasing practice in his profession. If they could succeed in regaining their post office, they might make it a place of some business yet.

Jagger is a new town, laid out in October, 1882, on the southeast corner of Section 8, where the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad crosses the Ada & Round Head Turnpike. Being near the middle of the township and, on a new through line of railroad, it may become a place of considerable trade. Two saw mills are already at work, with acres of logs around them, two or three new houses are in course of construction, and should the enterprise of draining the marsh prove a success, this new village, situated on its northwest border, will become a place of considerable trade and quite a shipping point.

The roads of the township are the Ada & Round Head Turnpike, which enters the township on the north, on the line of Sections 3 and 4; thence south to the quarter line of Section 9; thence west, on said line, to east line of Section 8; thence south, bending somewhat to the west, around the marsh, leaving in Section 32 about one and three-quarter miles from the county line, and the Kenton & Ada pike which runs from the above on the north line of the township one and a quarter miles, turning southward across Sections 2 and 1 to Huntersville. There are also mud roads on most of the section lines out of the marsh.

The only railroad in the township is the Chicago & Atlantic, which crosses the township nearly east and west a little north of the middle of the township. It was finished in the spring of 1883.

Previous to about 1850, preaching was held at the cabins of the pioneers As early as 1840, a class of the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed at the house of James Thompson. After some years, it was moved to Maysville, Allen County. They now have a good frame house half a mile south of 'Maysville, also a building on Section 9,

The United Brethren formed a class, about 1870, and, in 1872, erected a nice building on the southwest corner of Section 19, on Samuel Patterson's land, called Pleasant Valley Church. The United Brethren had a house on the north line of Section 10, but it is not now used.

In closing this sketch, we would say that this township has within her ^ borders elements of wealth second to no township in the county, and only f needs the thorough draining of the great marsh to develop them. |

] Ml*. Carman enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served 100 days and was in the engagement at John Brown's Schoolhouse. He is a Kepublican in politics. His parents are members of the Disciple Church at Lima.

THOMAS CLARK, farmer and carpenter, P. 0. Ada, was born in Fairii| field County, Ohio, April 27, 1818, and is a son of Alpheus and Elizabeth (Lloyd) Clark. His parents were natives of Penns}dvania, his father of English, l-j his mother of Herman descent. Our subject wa^ raised on a farm, and edu- ^ cated at the common schools of his native county. On December 3, 1838, he \ was married to Mary, daughter of Simon and Catherine Judy, and who was

(born in Pickaway County, Ohio, October 25,1814. The nine children born are as ( follows : Catherine, wife of Joseph Mustard, born July 28, 1833, died August f 28, 1857 ; Ann Maria, born November 3, 1839, wife of Reeder Hubble, of Ada ; j Evert, born July 26, 1841, died December 12, 1861 ; Elizabeth Jane, born May j 7, 1843, wife of David Shadle}^ ; Lloyd, born August 29, 1845, married to Sarah

11 J. (jrordon ; Oliver, born August 30, 1847, married to Lydia (jonner (deceased), and subsequently to Agnes Mitchell ; Henr}" A., born July 10, 1850, and whose I first wife was Mary Munshawake, his second, Mary Butler, of Michigan; and [I Mary Susanna, born May 23, 1857, wife of George Dempster, of Ada. Mr. Ij Clark came to Hardin County in 1852, and settled [on the southwest quarter Ij of Section 10, Marion Township, where he still resides. He occasionally works !( at the carpenter's trade. He and his wife are members of the Methodist I * Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Republican, and has served for years as ,1 School Director.

JOHN WESTLEY DEMPSTER, farmer, P. 0. Dempster, was born in -i Jefferson County, Ohio, August 7, 1817. His parents are Robert and Elizaj beth (Hunter) Dempster, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch lineage, i He was brought up on a farm and educated in the common schools of Harrison County, Ohio, whither his father had moved when our subject was but two years old. On March 29, 1838, he was married to Florania, daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Crabtree) Huston, a native of Harrison Count}", but subsequentl}" a resident of Tuscarawas Count}q Ohio. They have five children living, viz., Robert Anderson, born November 13, 1839, married to Mary Jane Posnet, of Cincinnati, Ohio ; Alexander, born May 16, 1841, married to Rachel Dunlap, of Round Head; Jacob, born November 24, 1844, married to Samantha * J. Austin, of Allen County, Ohio ; Catharine, born November 30, 1844, wife of John Austin, of Nebraska; and William Perry, born February 24, 1852, of whom a sketch will be found in this history. Mr. Dempster and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the former has been Steward and Trustee. He came to Hardin County in 1847, and entered 237 acres of land in Sections 18 and 19, on which he has since resided. He has served his township six terms as Justice of the Peace, seven years as Township Treasurer, and twenty-four years as School Director. Squire Dempster gave a very liberal support to the Union in the late rebellion ; his son Robert served three years in the Thirty -third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Jacob, a younger son, two years in the Forty-fifth Regiment, and he paid about $400 in bounties. The Dempsters are among the most intelligent families of the pioneers of Hardin j County, and have given a good education to their children, i ALBERT DEMPSTER, farmer, P. 0. Dempster, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, April 27, 1826. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Hunter) Dempster, and was reared on a farm, and obtained a common school education j in Harrison Count}". On April 24, 1849, he was united in marriage to Lucy, a daughter of Robert and Sarah Trimble, of Harrison County. The five children born to this union are as follows : Elizabeth, born April 29, 1850 (wife of D. P. Sebleck); George, born September 5, 1851 (married to Mary Clark);

Biographical Sketches

Samantha, born June 28, 1854 (wife of H. B. Ewing); Emma, born June 22, 1857, and Ida, born January 7, 1864. Mr. Dempster came to Hardin County in 1852, and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 7, Marion Township. He and his wife are honored members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been Steward and Class Leader. He also belongs to the G-range, where he received preferment in his township. He has filled the offices of Township Trustee and School Director, and is a highh^ esteemed citizen of Marion Township.

WILLIAM PERRY DEMPSTER, farmer and teacher, P. 0. Dempster, was born in Marion Township, Hardin Co., Ohio, February 24, 1852. (For parentage, see sketch of J. W. Dempster.) He was raised on a farm, educated at the common schools, and also attended the Normal School at Ada, for a number of terms. On April 13, 1877, he was married to Sarah A. Cummings, born March 23, 1850, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Trimble) Cummings, of Harrison County, Ohio. One child has blessed this union - Mary Florenda, born June 19, 1882. Mr. Dempster farms during the summer and teaches in the winter. He is among the best educated men in the township, and he and his wife have a bright future before them. They are residing on their farm, located in the northwest corner of Section 18, Marion Township.

JAMES RICHARD DUNLAP, farmer and stock-raiser, P. 0. West Newton, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, March 2, 1835, and is a son of John A. and Susanna (Mulholland) Dunlap. His father was a native of Ireland, whence he emigrated in 1832, and settled in Hardin Count}q Ohio, in the 3mar 1845. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and attended the common schools. On April 13, 1870, he was united in marriage to Belle Roberts, born December 2, 1850, a daughter of Josiah and Margaret C. Roberts, of Allen County, Ohio. Her parents are natives of Virginia, and are of English and German descent. Mr. Dunlap and his wife are the parents of five children, viz. : Rhoda, born February 13, 1872 ; Wilber, born February 28, 1873 ; Thomas Reed, born August 6, 1875 ; Mable, born February 2, 1877 ; and Donald, born October 16, 1882. Mr. Dunlap is the most extensive farmer and stock-raiser in the township, and owns about 1,100 acres of land, most of which is under cultivation, and on which he pastures 500 or 600 sheep, about seventy head of cattle, besides horses, mules and hogs. Mr. Dunlap was a Captain of a company during the war. In politics, he is a Republican, and served six years as County Commissioner.

J. B. EVANS, physician and surgeon, Huntersville, P. 0. Ada, was born in Knox County, Ohio, Januarj'' 17, 1844. He is a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Webster) Evans, the former a native of Wales, the latter of Connecticut. During his minority, he was educated at the common schools of Knox and Union Counties, and subsequently took a regular course at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, and a course at the Medical College of Fort Wayne, Ind. In March, 1865, he was married to Rebecca Louisa, a daughter of George Davis, of Union County, Ohio, and one of the most accomplished of Union County's fair belles. ' One child blessed this union, Eva Dell, born August 8, 1867. Mrs. Evans died May 14, 1869. In November, 1872, Dr. Evans remarried.

ELIHU GARWOOD, farmer, P. 0. Ada, was born in Marion Township, Hardin County, Ohio, September 23, 1851, and is of English-Scotch and German blood. His father, Bani Garwood, was born in Fayette County, Penn., April 11, 1815, and his mother, Ruth (Kelly) Garwood, on June 5, 1815, near Baltimore, Md. His grandfather, Jesse (iarwood, was a native of Pennsyl- A^ania, born in 1792, and came to Logan County, Ohio, in 1817, and to Hardin County, in 1835. His grandmother, Sydne}^ (Gregg) Garwood, was born in 1795, and was of Scotch blood- Thej^ were firm and consistent members of the order of Friends. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm in Marion Township. He was married, October 1, 1874, to Mary Elizabeth Myers, born in Shelby Count}", Ohio, February 16, 1855, a daughter of Joseph and Jemima Myers, of German and Irish extraction. The five children born are as follows ; Myrtle, born August 29, 1875 ; Lena, born April 18, 1877 ; Bessie, born October 21, 1878 ; Cora, born May 7, 1880, died at the age of two years ; and an infant daughter (deceased), born August 1, 1882. Mrs. Garwood is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. Garwood is a Bepublican, and is serving his township as School Director and Constable.

ELIAS JAGGEII, farmer, P. 0. Ada, was born in Licking County, Ohio, March 9, 1818. His paternal grandparents were John and Phmba Jagger, the former born May 3, 1748, the latter Jul}" 2, 1746. His father, Silas Jagger, was born in New York September 1. 1774 ; and his mother, Sarah (Meeker) Jagger, was born July 3, 1776, one day before the Declaration of Independence. In 1840, our subject located in Allen County, Ohio, and remained there until 1868, serving six years as Justice of the Peace, since which time he has resided in Hardin Count}^ He was married. May 15, 1838, to Maria Conkle, of Fairfield County, Ohio, and to them were born eleven children, their names and dates of births as follows : Wilson, March 2, 1839 ; Clarissa, February

23, 1841 ; Aimed, November 5, 1842 ; Clearman, October 4, 1844 ; Louisa, June 5, 1846 ; Winfield, March 12, 1848 ; Taylor J., March 23, 1850 ; Elisa T., August 23, 1852 ; Sarah M., March 9, 1855 ; Elizabeth J., March 24, 1857 ; Dorsey, October 25, 1860. On October 23, 1882, Mr. Jagger laid out the village of Jagger, on the Chicago & Atlantic Railway, in the southeast corner of Section 8, on the Round Head & Ada Turnpike. The village is nearly centrally located on the only railroad and turnpike of the township, and will probably soon become quite a business center.

NATHAN McCLURE, farmer, P. 0. Ada, was born in Ireland, January 15, 1808. He came to the United States about 1831 or 1832, and was married to Maria Walker, by whom he had three children - Elizabeth, Margaret and John. The latter was killed by a fall from a horse, at the age of eleven years. Mrs. McClure died when twenty-seven years of age, and Mr. McClure subsequently married Elizabeth Hughs, born in Ireland March 12, 1819, and who came to America at the age of five years. Five children resulted from this union, viz.; Marv Ann, Alexander, Robert, Rebecca and Matilda. Mr. McClure came to Hardin County in 1857, and settled on Section 10, where he has since resided, and where he is occupied in cultivating his nice farm of eighty acres. On AprilT, 1877, his house was burned, entailing a great loss to him. Mr. Mc- Clure is industrious and peaceable, and is one of the useful citizens of Marion Township.

ISAAC McCOY, farmer, P. 0. West Newton, was born in Virginia October 1, 1816, and is a son of Washington and Margaret (Wolverton) McCoy. He was reared on a farm, and secured a fair education from the common schools. In 1832, he and his father came to Ohio, located in Allen County, and, in 1840, came to Hardin County, where they finally settled. On March 20, 1841, he was married to Mary Jane Christopher, a native of Maryland, by whom he had twelve children, as follows : Sarah, born January 3, 1842, wife of Nicholas Engle; Margaret, born July 7, 1844, wife of Sanford Newland ; John Henry, born September 3, 1846, married to Ella Hopper; Mary Malissa, bom December 29, 1848. wife of Gridin Gaunt ; Martha Jane, born February 4, 1851, wife of Sims Rutledge ; William Thomas, born November 12, 1853 ; Caroline, born September 9, 1855, wife of Jerry xMontagiie, of Dakota; Lemuel, born June 1, 1857 ; David Westley, born October 12, 1859, married to Samantha Zimmerman ; Alice, born September 15, 1862 ; Charlie W., born March 29, 1866, and Emma, born February 16, 1869. John Henry served in the Nineteenth Ohio

Yolunteer Infantry. Mrs. McCo}^ is a member of the Methodist Episcopal | Church. Mr. McCoy is a true type of the warm-hearted pioneers, seldom met with in these late days.

CYRUS McGrUFFEY, farmer, P. 0. McGuffe}', was born in Franklin County, Ohio, January 15, 1834. He is a son of John and Parmeiia (Courtwright) Mc- Guffey, both natives of Ohio. He was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools of Franklin County, also attended school at 0. W. University for two years, and was one year at Ohio University at Athens. On October 25, 1859, lie was married to Miranda E. Patterson, a daughter of Thomas and Miranda (Codner) Patterson, by which union there has been one child - William Cyrus, born March 11, 1872. Mrs. McGuffe}" was a graduate at the Worthington Seminary, Ohio, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. McGulfey came to Hardin County in 1863, settled on Section 13, and has made jS himself a nice little home on the rich lowlands adjoining the marsh. He is one of those quiet and unassuming men who are seldom appreciated, except by a i few intimate friends. He belongs to Pleasant Hill Grange, No. 598, of which I he is Lecturer. In politics, he is a Democrat, fills the office of a School Di- i rector, is a member of the Executive Committee of the county, and is Postmaster of McGuffey Post Office. I

JULIUS R. NEUJ3ERT, farmer, P. 0. Ada, was born in Saxony, February |;' 22, 1827, and is the son of Christian and Johanna Sophia (Richter) Neiibert. j' He was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools of Saxony, and j came to this country in 1854. The following year, on April 19, 1855, he was f married to Amanda Ream, of Stark County, Ohio, who was born June 5, 1856. j To this union there have been born ten children, as follows : Harmon August, i' born March 21, 1856 ; William, bdrn November 22, 1857 ; Flora, born August 31, 1859 ; Edwin, born October 1, 1861 ; Ann Elizabeth, born October 23,. 1863 ; Lydia Caroline, born June 16, 1866 ; Dora Margaret, born May 28, 1870 ; Amelia Celestia, born April 5, 1872 ; Sidonia Selomie, born March 9, '

1874, and Mary Christina, born October 12, 1877. Mr. Neubert came to Hardin County in 1879, and settled on his farm of eighty acres in Section 4, Mar- | : ion Township. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church. \

SAMUEL PATTERSON, deceased. The subject of the sketch was a son of j Arthur and Catherine Patterson, natives of County Down, Ireland, and was i born May 5, 1807. In 1812, he, with his parents, five brothers and two sis- h ters, sailed from Belfast, Ireland, for New York, where they arrived after a voyage of six weeks. From New York, they went to Pittsburgh, Penn., where the family lived two years, and then moved to Harrison County, this State.

On March 11, 1830, he married, in this county. Miss Jane Davis, of Harrison i County. He bought a small farm on Plum Run in Tapin Township, same t county, in 1835. This he sold and then bought three eighty-acre lots in Section 19, Marion Township, Hardin County, and in August, 1836, he settled^ with his wife and three little children, on these wild and newly purchased premises, burdened with a heavy forest, inhabited by gnats, mosquitoes, frogs, squirrels, rabbits, ground hogs, opossums, raccoons, porcupines, wild cats, cat- ^ - amounts, wolves, wild hogs, turkeys, deer, etc. By force of circumstances, Mr.. | > Patterson became a veritable "Nimrod " in the western part of the county in > order to sustain his family. He joined the M. E. Church, in 1824, was licensed | i to exhort in 1837, and, in 1840, became licensed as a local preacher, which ' 1 position he held till 1852, when he joined the U. B. Church, in which he acted i in the capacity of itinerant preacher up to the day of his death. In politics, he was a Whig till the advent of the Republican party, when he became a I hearty Republican and a strong supporter of the Union soldiers, paying about i ' $500 for bounty purposes for them. Samuel Sr., and Jane Patterson were | the parents of fourteen children, viz. : William D., Catharine, Sarah Jane,, j i

! Jemima, Joseph Ward (deceased^ Nancy, Ellen and Susanna. All grew up to i manhood and womanhood and married, excepting Joseph Ward, who died in infancy. Samuel Patterson, Sr, died March 12, 1874, aged sixty-seven years,

WILLIAM D. PATTERSON, farmer, P. 0. West Newton, was born in , Harrison County, Ohio, May 5, 1831. He is a son of Samuel and Jane (Davis) Patterson, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of Harrison County, Ohio. He was brought to the wilds of Hardin County when five years old, and well ' remembers the scenes of the early settlements. He was reared on a farm,

! made good use of the scanty education afforded by the common schools, and i for one term attended the Normal School at Hopedale ; he subsequently taught for eight or nine terms. On November 18, 1858, he was married to Mahala Caroline Branstitter, who was born in Allen County, Ohio, December 15, 1841, j a daughter of John and Effa Branstitter. Four children have resulted from 1 this union - John Melvin, born July 23, 1859, and died the same day; Mary 'l Elizabeth, born September 19, 1861, wife of James Huston ; Samuel Henry, i born February 16, 1865, died September 11, 1866 ; and Flora May, born Dei cember 15, 1867, died December 12, 1881. Mrs. Patterson died December 20, i 1877. Mr. Patterson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which I: he has been a class-leader for three years. He is a consistent Republican, and ji has served his township as Justice of the Peace for two terms. During the i|i late war, he was a Lieutenant in the militia, and paid out about $300 in bounties ; ! to volunteers. He is a man of a scientific turn of mind and more than ordinary ij abilities.

ji born in Marion Township, Hardin Co., Ohio, April 24, 1838, and is probably I.!; the oldest native now in the township. His father, Samuel Patterson, was born in Ireland in 1807, and came to the United States in 1812, and to Hardin ! County, Ohio, in 1836, in which latter year he entered one-half of Section 19, Marion Township, and lived there until his death. The mother of our subject : was Jane Davis, a native of Harrison County, Ohio, now living on the home-

2 stead. The subject of this sketch was raised on the farm, a part of which he now owns, and obtained a common school education. On September 26, t 1866, he was married to Levina R. Mathews, born January 19, 1849, a daughter i of Jonathan and Rebecca Mathews, early settlers of Cessna Township. Four If children have resulted from this union, viz., Melvin J., born June 26, 1867 ;

Rebecca Jane, February 1, 1869 ; Elizabeth Ellen, April 10, 1873 ; and Mary r Geneva, December 10, 1874. Mr. Patterson enlisted in 1864 in the One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the i' war ; he fought in the battle of Kingston. He is a minister of the Gos- ' pel in the United Brethren Church, and one of the few preachers to be met who

; impress one more fully, by their dail3^ walks and conversations, of their Chris- ' tian faith and meekness than they do in the pulpit. Mr. Patterson needs 011I3" |- to be known to be honored and respected. In politics, he is a Republican.

;l 1819, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Powell. He came with his parents ; to America and located in Marion County, Ohio, when eleven years of age. In ! 1838, he migrated to Hardin County, and settled on Section 11, Marion Town-

County, Ohio, July 27, 1837, which union has been blessed with five children - Sarah Abbey, born December 15, 1861, wife of Cliarles Sinift'; Fuller K., born July 8, 1863; Benjamin F., May 13, 1865; Ida Ellen, May 8, 1867 ; and David Sheridan, September 7, 1871. Mr. Powell is one of the earliest settlers in Marion Township, with the history of which he has been identified, having | filled most of the offices by terms, serving as one of the Trustees for nineteen p years. He has long been regarded as one of the pillars of the township, as his [? good sense and sterling integrit}^ cause the neighboring citizens to consult him in all times of need.

THOMAS H. RUMBAUGi-H, farmer, P. 0. Ada, was born in Allen County, Ohio, August 21, 1838, and is a son of John and Violet (Studivan) Rurnbaugh, natives of Virginia and of Oerman lineage. His }^outh was spent on a farm, and he obtained an education from the common schools. In February, 1866, I he was married to Elizabeth K. McClure, by whom he has had seven children -

' Ruth Ellen, born November 22, 1866 ; Joshua John, born August 26, 1868 ; Violet Rebecca, born October 31, 1870 ; Margaret Ann, born February 8, 1875; Jehu Jason, born October 25, 1877; Etta Polenia, born August 3, 1880, died October 7, 1881 ; and Merta May, born July 6, 1882. During the late war, Mr. Rurnbaugh enlisted in the Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in April, 1861, served 100 days and re-enlisted August, 1862, in the Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he continued for three years. He partici- ! pated in the following general engagements : Murfreesboro, Stone River, Chattanooga and Dalton. At Stone River, he was wounded in a skirmish, and was in hospital ten months, after which he was sent to Prospect, Tenn., where he was | shot in the right lung and confined again to the hospital for six months. jfi

CHARLES WESLEY RUNSER, farmer, P. 0. Ada, was born in Stark | County, Ohio, January 9, 1843. He is a son of Andrew and Isabel (McDowell) I Runser, the former a native of France, the latter of Pennsylvania. He came j to Hardin County, Ohio, in October of 1850, and settled in Marion Township, J in almost the newest portion of it. He went to school in an old log house that f was without windows or floors, and secured what at the time was considered a fair education. He was obliged to pass through the woods for a distance of about two miles. At the age of twenty he commenced to teach. He was married at Rantoul, 111., October 30, 1867, to Martha M. Lawrence, born June 5, 1842, a daughter of John and Mary (Calvin) Lawrence, the former of English, and the latter of German descent. The five children that f resulted from this union are as follows : Clarence D., born December 30, 1868 ; William W., born March 4, 1870 ; Charles Clement, born May 30, 1872 ; Roscoe A., born February 13, 1875; and John Franklin, born August 28,1879.

Mr. Runser and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In | politics, Mr. Runser is a Republican, and has held the offices of Township Clerk for two years, J ustice of the Peace fifteen years, and was elected County Commissioner in the fall of 1882. He has lived to see the forests fade awa}-, and the fields to blossom like the rose in their stead. Over the site where his dwelling now stands was a great place for game - such as deer and wild turkey - to roam, and the Indian had a camping ground on the banks of a small stream running by. This seemed the favorite hunting ground, as it lies i midway between the Scioto and Hog Creek Marshes, and game was very ; abundant. Mr. Runser owns a fine farm, which is under a high state of cultivation, and is located in the northwest quarter of Section 2, Marion Tov/n- |j ship - I;

JOHN S. SHADLEY, farmer and fruit grower, P. 0. McGuffe}^ Hardin ij County, Ohio, is a son of Asaph and Margaret (Wolverton) Shadley, and was [ born in Frederick County, Va., March 1, 1827. His father was a native of | Virginia, born June 21, 1797, came to Hardin County, Ohio, in 1837, and |' died December 8, 1871. His mother was born in Virginia in 1802, and died in L Ohio August 18, 1860. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and !! educated at the common schools of his da3^ On December 31, 1850, he was j) married to Rachel J., daughter of Jacob and Susan Nibarger, and a native of j|

Logan County, Ohio, where she was born July 6, 1833. To this union eleven children have been born - James M., born November 26, 1851, died June 29, 1874 ; Elizabeth J., born January 4, 1854, wife of Frederic Shroll ; William A., born February 3, 1856, married to Martha Christopher ; Israel D., born September 15, 1858 ; Anderson E., born March 5, 1861 ; Argus C.> born August 20, 1863 ; Francis A., born March 2, 1866, died April 23, 1866 ; Arthur S., born September 19, 1867 ; John W., born December 4, 1870 ; Laura E., born October 13, 1874 ; Mary A., born March 26, 1876, died July 27, 1876. Mr. Shadley has been in the fruit business since 1867, and his large and welLstocked orchards are filled with the best apples, pears, peaches, grapes, berries, etc. His farm of 310 acres, on which he also grows grain and grass, is well situated on the north side of the great Scioto Marsh, and is a great resort from the neighboring villages on account of its fine fruits. Mr. Shadley well remembers the W}mndot tribes of Indians, before their migration to the M^est

DANIEL VAN BUKEN SHADLEY, farmer, F. 0. Ada, was born in Virginia January 19, 1837. His parents, Asaph and Margaret (Wolverton) Shadley, are both natives of Virginia. He is descended from that thrifty stock known as the Pennsylvania Dutch. He was reared on a farm and obtained a common school education. In 1863, he was drafted as a soldier, but paid $224 for a substitute. On June 23, 1864, he was married to Hannah A. Stambaugh, born in Franklin County, Ohio, February 27, 1840, by which union he has had ten children - William S., born September 25, 1865 ; Francis W., born March 29, 1867 ; Lenna Dell, born September 25, 1869 ; Netta B., born February 25, 1871 ; Jessie May, born November 2, 1874 ; Sila Pearl, born March 25, 1876, died in infancy ; Lizzie Alverda and Willie Edson, twins, born April 7, 1878 ; Tanna Lula, born September 2, 1879, and Lida, born October 13, 1881. Mr. Shadley and his wife are members of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Shadley is a Democrat of the old Jeffersonian school. He is a farmer by occupation, and owns 338 acres of land on the north side of the marsh, on which he settled in 1861.

JOSIAH SMITH, blacksmith, Ada was born in Lincolnshire, England, Jul}'' 26, 1826, and came to America while young. He was married. May 11, 1852, to Elizabeth G-ould, which union has been blessed by four children, three living - Gould, William Arthur and John Henry; Elizabeth Ann is deceased. Mr. Smith came to Hardin County in 1855, and started a shop in Huntersville, where he has since remained. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He owns and cultivates a small farm near the town, and is a member of the Grange. In politics, he is a Republican; was Postmaster for some fifteen years at Huntersville, until the office there was discontinued, and has also served as School Director for a number of years.

JOHN STRAHM, farmer, P. 0. Kenton, a son of John and Anna (Magley) Strahm, was born in Hardin County, Ohio, March 1, 1851. His father was a native of Germany, and his mother of Ohio. He was raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools. On September 8, 1874, he was married to Louisa, a daughter of Casper and Mary Burkhalter, born March 17, 1857. Two children have resulted from this union - Benjamin Franklin, born April 13, 1876, and Archie Earl, born August 31, 1879. Mrs. Strahm is a member of the German Reformed Church. Mr. Strahm is a Democrat in politics, and is an intelligent, respected citizen.

JAMES LEE TURNER, farmer. West Roundhead, was born in West Virginia October 24, 1835. His parents, John and Love (Bartlett) Turner, of English and Welsh descent, came to Ohio in 1839. Our subject was brought up on a farm and received a common school education. He was married, October 27, 1859, to Sarah E. Moore, a native of Guernse}", Ohio, born June 20,

1839, to winch union have been born seven children - Mary, born September 5, 1860 ; Clara, born November 23, 1863 ; Nora, born May 6, 1867 ; Lodena, born June 3, 1869; Elda, born August 6, 1871; Blanche, born September 7, 1875, and Donna, born December 11, 1880. At the time of the late civil war, Mr. Turner paid out about $600 toward bounties to volunteers. Starling Turner, brother of our subject, of Company B, Fort3'-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, died August 28, 1863, in the Andersonville Prison. Mr. Turner and his wife are regular members of the Baptist Church. He is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising, and owns 360 acres of land. Mr. Turner has served his township as Trustee for two terms, and School Director for fifteen years.