Montgomery Township (part 3 of 5)

ALEXANDER ROBINSON was born in Washington County, Penn., September 27, 1833, the son of Daniel and Sarah (Farbie) Robinson, of German ancestry, and natives of Pennsylvania and Delaware respectively. They came to Ohio in 1847, brought up eight children, the mother dying in 1875, and the father in 1882. Alexander moved to Marion County when twenty-two years of age, and married, December 31, 1857, Sarali A. Carter, born February 25, 1835, the daughter of James and Christiana (Kepler) Carter, the former of English and the latter of German extraction. They came to Ohio in an early day, and to Marion County, settling on the present farm of their daughter in 1835. He was one of the first settlers, and became prominent in the politics of the day, and in the ownership of large tracts of land. His death occurred in 1846. Mrs. Robinson, his daughter, has resided nearly a half century on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs R. are the parents of one child - James \V., born August 27, 1859. These people commenced life with limited means, but through industry and good management have a comfortable home, and a farm of 151 acres, a property valued at $10,000. May 2, 1864, he enlisted in the late civil war, in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio National Guards, and was wounded in a battle near Harper's Ferry, being struck on the foot by a fragment of a bursting shell; this took place July 7, 1864. In this engagement, his regiment, numbering 1,000 strong, lost full one-naif in killed, wounded and prisoners. His discharge dates, " Camp Chase, Ohio, September 28, 1864. " He is a member of the I. O. O. F., at La Rue, Ohio, the Republican party, and, with his wife, of the Methodist Episcopal Church

CHARLES E. SAWYER, M. D., was born near Wyandot, Ohio, January 24, 1860, the son of Alonzo N. and Harriet M. (Rogers) Sawyer, natives of New York and Connecticut respectively, and of English ancestry. When young, they came to Ohio, and became the parents of six children, only Charles E. still surviving. Dr. Sawyer obtained a good practical education at the village school, at Nevada, Ohio, and when aged seventeen years, commenced to study medicine, under the instruction of Dr. W. F. White, of the same place. He graduated at the medical college, at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1881, and began to practice at La Rue, Ohio, April 26 of the same year; during these two years, he has secured an enviable patronage for a young man. August 11, 1879, he married at Nevada, Ohio, May E. Barron, daughter of Rev. James H. and Abbie J. (Walker) Barron, of English ancestry, who were the parents of seven children, all living - Loyal W., May E., Ossian E., Minnie O., Metta D., James W. and Jennie N. The Doctor has one heir, Charles W., born May 30, 1881. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a liberal supporter.

DR. J. K. SCOTT was born in Leesburg Township, Union Co., Ohio. March 12, 1844. He passed his early years on a farm, and havino- pro cured a good English education, commenced in 1868 the study of medicine in the oifice of Dr. S. S. Skidmore, at Pharisburg, Union County, remaining with him three years. During this time, he attended one course of medical lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., and the following winter a course of lectures at the Starling Medical College at Columbus. Ohio, where he graduated in 1871. He immediately commenced the practice of medicine with his preceptor at Pharisburg, continuing with him two years, and on the 28th of April, 1873, he came to La Rue, where he has been in continuous practice up to this time. The Doctor was married in September, 1875, to Ella Hastings, who died October 8, 1879. The Doctor married the second time. December 18, 1881, Alice Corry; they have two children - Maud and Alfred. Dr. Scott enlisted in August, 1864, in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy- fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war in July, 1865, at Charlotte, N. C. He participated in the battle of the Cedars, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., December 7

1864, where be was wounded by a gunshot in the right arm, disabling him nntil the 1st of tbe following March, and on the 10th of March took part in the battle of Kingston, and from this to the close of the war in several skirmishes. The Doc-tor is a member of La Rue Lodge, No. 463, F. & A. M., and is a Prohibitionist in politics. He is also the owner of a fine livery stable, located in the east part of the village.

LEROY SCRANTON was born March 24, 1834, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the fourth son of Alson and Wealthy ( Whitlock) Scranton, the former dying August 20, 1843, and the latter January 13, 1844, aged forty-two years. The subject of this sketch, having received a limited education, was married, November 9, 1865, to Miss Mary E. Myers, a daughter -of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Davis) Myers, and six children have blessed their home. Their names are Eva A., born August 30, 1866; Elnora J., March 2, 1870; Sarah I., May 16, 1872; John A., February 17, 1876; Ada B., November 16, 1879; and Orra E., died August 23, 1870, aged two and one-third years. Mrs. Myers, born April 1, 1847, was a devoted Christian, a consistent member of the Free-Will Baptist Church; her death took place March 7, 1881. Mr. Scranton began life with but $50, but at present, through his indefatigable efforts, owns 120 acres of excellent land. He enrolls his name with the honorable list of " 100-day " men during the late war, and having engaged in a spirited contest at Maryland Heights, was honorably discharged September 1, 1864, having served his full time. He is a stanch Republican, and a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church at La Rue.

WARNER SCRANTON, sole proprietor of the leading house in the furniture business at La Rue, Ohio, was born in Grange County, Ohio, April 30, 1826, the son of Alson and Wealthy (Whitlock) Scranton, of English ancestry, and natives of New York and New Hampshire respectively. They were the parents c f seven children, four of whom survive - Warner, Edson, Leroy and Edwin; the names of the deceased are Lyman, Sarah and Albert. Mr. Scranton married, January 22, 1852, Martha A. (Ward) Hogle, widow of Jacob Hogle, and daughter of John Ward. There were born to this union two children - George P., born October 6, 1852; and Walter D., who died November 23, 1862, aged eleven months and five days. The wife died in May, 1864. Our subject married again, April 30, 1865, Margaret P. Dillow, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Stewart) Dillow. Mr. Scranton, having obtained a moderate education, was thrown upon his own resources at the age of eighteen years by the death of his father. He chose for his occupation farming, and in 1857 moved his family to Hardin County, Ohio, for three years. In 1861 he came to Marion County, losing his wife as aforesaid. May 2, 1864. he entered Company H, One Hundred and Thirty fifth Regiment Ohio National Guard. He was engaged at Harper's Ferry and many skirmishes, and was honorably discharged at Columbus September 1. 18'64. Being later irregularly drafted in Madison County, Ohio, he obtained a release by the payment of $300. He sold his farm of 114 acres, located in Hardin County, Ohio, and moved to La Rue in October, 1881, purchasing a lot, and erecting a commodious ten-room house. He is conducting a good business with a stock of $1,200. He is an exemplary citizen, and a Republican in politics.

HENRY H. SHARP was born in Montgomery Township December 16, 1844, and is the son of John and Mary Sharp. He enlisted to serve on the Union side in the war of the great rebellion, November 22. 1861, at Marion, in Company D, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served three years, and re-enlisted at Blain's Cross Roads, East Tenn., to serve during the remainder of the war as a veteran, and was mustered out of the service January 3, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio. He participated in twenty-seven battles, and was wounded September 19, 1863, by a gunshot in the left side at the battle of Chickamauga, and was again wounded at the battle of Rocky Face Ridge. Ga., by a gunshot through the right shoulder and arm; From the effects of this wound his shoulder on that side is lower than the other. Mr. Sharp was married, March 30, 1870, to Maggie Davis, of Delaware County. They have two children - Belle, born January 7, 1878, and Scott, born August 27, 1879.

H. L. SIMONS, son of John and Mary Simons, natives of Pennsylvania. His birth took place February 19, 1840, in Beaver County, Penn. When aged fourteen years, he was working upon the tow-path of the Penn sylvania Canal; his home, however, was in "Westmoreland County, Penn., until 1862, when he emigrated to Upper Sandusky, Ohio. He enlisted in the late war August 20, 1862, under Capt. Alonzo Robbins, Company F. One Hundred and Twenty- third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was engaged at Winchester under Mulligan, where he was captured and sent to Libby, Castle Thunder and Belle Isle two months; when taken to Annapolis, Md., he walked to Green sburg, Penn., a distance of 300 miles, rejoining his regiment October 20, 1863. At Newmarket, they lost seventy -six men in fifteen minutes. At Piedmont, June 5, 1864, he assisted in the capture of Gen. Henry Jones. He was at Lynchburg, Parkersburg and Snicker's Gap: at the last place but ten men were left in the company, and but forty in the regiment. He engaged also at Kerren Town, Hall Town, Opequon. Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Hatcher's Run (five days' fight, where he captured a reb^l flag), Battery George and Appomattox Bridge, when he was again made a prisoner, and retained as such until the surrender of Lee's army, and then he was exchanged. His honorable discharge dates " June 12, 1865. Camp Chase, Ohio." After the close of the war, he worked at the carpenter trade. Mr. Simons was married to Malinda J. Spracklen, October 15, 1868; she was the daughter of the Rev. Alfred and Abigail Spracklen, and was born in Seneca County, Ohio, February 17, 1842, and died January 4. 1878. They had two children - Guy H. and Naomi P. Naomi died March 24. 1878. Mr. S. married Lydia Bent March 17, 1880; since then he has been farming. He supports the Democratic ticket and is a member of the Union Presbvterian Church.

MRS. LYDIA SIMONS, the widow of Charles Bent and wife of the preceding, was the daughter of James and Jane (DeMos*) Vezey, and born February 4, 1839, in Montgomery Township. Her parents were natives of Ohio, but of English and French descent. They were the parents of three children - Lydia, Sarah and Betsy. The mother died about 1850, but the father survived until 1862. Mrs. S. was first married, November 1, 1862. to Charles Bent, born March 17. 1836, son of Elijah and Maria (Carr) Bent. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she remains a member. His decease occurred May 19. 1873. She again mar ried, March 17, 1880, Henry L. Simons, as above stated. She inherited her farm of 120 acres fjr»in her parents: has erected a fine house and made commendable improvements.

JOSEPH SLAGLE, deceased, was born in Scott Township March 5, 1844, the son of Jacob and Dinah (Zuck) Slagh\ of German ancestry, and natives of Maine and Ohio respectively. He came with his parents in 1819, to Ross County, Ohio, whpr<^ they resided until 1810, when they moved to

Marion County, settling in Scott Township. He was one of the rirst settlers of Ohio, and among the earliest of the above townships. They reared a family of seven children, five living - John, Joseph, Thomas F., Margaret A. and Lydia J. The names of the deceased are Placida and Wesley. Having acquired a fair education, Joseph Slagle enlisted in defense of his country October 7, 1862, in Company H, One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the following battles: Chickasaw, Arkansas Post, Thompson's Hills, Vicksburg, Jackson a^d Snaggy Point (capturing boat); this last was attended with fearful carnage; two-thirds of the men were either captured, killed or wounded. Mr. S. escaped by traveling through the pine regions to Alexandria, where he was assigned to the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went to Alonda, Ala., engaging at Blakely, Ala. He then was sent to Texas, joining the Forty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged October 14, 1865. Upon bis return he was sick two years. In 1869, he came to Montgomery Township, and was married April 18, 1872, to Miss L. A. Miller, daughter of John T. and Hannah (Elland) Miller, of English stock. The former died December 30, 1871, aged thirty years; the latter is still living. Mr. Slagle owned 100 acres of good land, upon which he grazed a large number of stock. He died June 21, 1883. leaving a kind and affectionate wife, and many friends to mourn his loss. He was an ardent Republican and a faithful citizen.

JOSEPH SLANSER. of the firm of Allen & Slanser, was born October 5, 1835, in Switzerland, the son of Andrew and Catherine Slanser. His father came to America, 1851, settling in Mercer County, Ohio, purchasing forty acres of land, and died at the age of forty -five years. The mother died in her native land, in 1838. Joseph accompanied his father to this country, with a very limited schooling, but by self exertion he has accpaired a good education. He first learned the carpenter's trade, but during the past eighteen years has been devoting himself to milling. He established the present partnership in 1880, planing and manufacturing lumber, and much minor work incident to such a business, at times employing fifteen hands.

SARA.H SPRAGUE was born in Washington County, Ohio, August 7, 1807. and was the daughter of Elisha and Nancy (Allison) Davis. She was married, December 28, 1826, to William Sprague. From this marriage there were eleven children, four living, as follows: Elisha D., born November 11, 1827; Sarah E., June 22, 1838; William H., October 21, 1840. and Emilv O. , October 5, 1845. The deceased are Ann E., born December 9, 1830; Viletta, born August 30, 1833; Arinda, August 11, 1835; Louisa A., April 3, 1843; Olive P., April 5, 1848; Wilber N., December 15, 1850 All of the foregoing children died when from two to seven years of age. and Satira was born May 11, 1829. and died November 11, I860., William Sprague, the father of these children, was born May 2, 1805, and died September 16, 1850. leaving Mrs. Sprague with six children to care for. Those that grew to be men and women are highly respected citizens. For the last thirty years Mrs. Sprague has depended upon her own management of business affairs, which has been successful. Some time since, she sold her farm of 320 acres near Scott Town, and now resides in a pleasant residence on Main street, La Rue, with her daughter Emily. She is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church. The parents of Mrs. Sprague were of 'English and Irish ancestry, and natives of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania respectively, and came to Ohio with their parents at a very early period. Her father came to Marion County in 1823, remaining about two years, and subsequently settled permanently in Montgomery Township, where he died aged sixty-seven years. His wife had then been dead twenty nine years.

WILLIAM H. SPRAGFE was born October 21, 1840, in Montgomery Township, the son of William and Sarah (Davis) Sprague. He acquired a good education, closing with a few months at Hillsdale College, Mich. He continued farming with and for his mother until marriage, which occurred November 24, 1864, to Miss Jane Clark, daughter of John andHuldah (Mes sick) Clark, and their children are Nettie R. , born July 8, 1867, and wife of the Rev. W. B. Strother; Sarah P., born August 1, 1873, and an infant son, died January 14, 1866, aged twenty days. Subsequent to marriage. Mr. Sprague continued farming, but also gave considerable attention to dealing in stock. In 1874, he moved to La Rue, and for seven years engaged in buying and shipping stock, in which he is still dealing. In 1882, he resumed farming, owning at present 116 acres of desirable land. He estimates his property at $10,000. He is a Republican in politics, and. with his wife, a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church.

HENRY THEW is a native of Lincolnshire, England, born June 10, 1815, the son of Richard and Ann (Bothamley) Thew, who emigrated to America in 1824, settling in Richland County, where they resided until death. They brought up eight children, four of whom are living, all in comfortable circumstances. The mother died in 1828," the father in 1831. Henry Thew, having lived with Robert Ralston three years, came to Marion County in 1829. In 1833, he learned the trade of shoe-making, and followed the boot and shoe business in Marion twelve years. Disposing of his stock in 1848, he bought his present farm, comprising 310 acres, valued at $80 per acre. He, too, began life with nothing. January 30, 1839, he married Hannah S. Hay ward, daughter of Isaac and Ann (Shephard) Hay ward, from England. Their eight children are all living, save Henry C., who died May 31, 1862, from a disease contracted in the army. Mr. Thew's wife died February 1 1, 1872. He married again October 8, 1874, Emma Bothamley, daughter of John and Mary E. (Thew) Bothamley. They sailed for this country in 1853, settling in Marion County. He died about 1857. and she May 15, 1864. Mr. Thew, the subject of this biography, is one of the oldest and first pioneers of this county, having lived here over half a century. At one time he was a prominent candidate for County Commissioner. He is a leading citizen, an extensive farmer, a prominent member of the F. & A. M., and he and his wife hold a membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a charter member of the old Montgomery Church, and for thirty-five years was Circuit Steward of the church, missing only one quarterly conference during that time. As a pioneer and respected citizen of Montgomery Township, we give the portrait of Mr. Thew in this work.

MRS. DORCAS TOPLIFF, the widow of Louis Topliff, was born in Washington County, Ohio, .December 9, 1820, the daughter of Abner and Elizabeth (Dilla) Bent, who were of English descent, natives of Massachu setts and Virginia respectively. They had eight children. Dorcas only surviving. The names of the deceased are Lincoln G., Henry C. , William H. , Susan E., xAugusta and Roena. Abner Bent settled in Grand Prairie Township in a very early day, when Marion City was a wilderness. He died in 1840, aged fifty-three years; his wife died in 1856. Mrs. Topliff, was married, March 13, 1850. in Wabash County, Ind., to Louis Topliff, son of Horatio and Sarah (Sargeaut) Topliff. He came to Marion County in is:},"), stopping in Big Island Township one year, thence ho moved to Montgomery Township, purchasing land, which amounted in time to 1,000 acres. He was largoly identified with the building up of the thriving village of La Rue. He owned at one time a grist mill, a saw mill and a carding mill here. He was an industrious and enterprising citizen, and was so generally interested in the growth of La Rue that as long as the village stands, so long will his name be remembered. His death took place in 1869, leaving a family of three children, four others having died. The names of the deceased are Susan A., Louis R. , Cai-rie R., and an infant son. The living are Calvin, born December 13, 1856; Emma J., November 10, 1857, and Princess C. June 8. i860. Mrs. Topliff, with her husband, was among the first settlors of La Rue, and hence she has seen the forest transformed into a thriving village of 800 inhabitants. At present she is living with her son Calvin at La Rue. She is a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church, and a liberal supporter of the same.

MRS. LUCY (BENNETT) VANARSDALL, Thomas Vanarsdall's widow, was born in Monroe County, N. Y. , July 17, 1815, the daughter of Zadoc and Mary (Parish) Bennett. While on their way to Ohio in 1815, the father was overtaken by disease, died, and was buried near Olean Point; thereupon the mother i-eturned, riding all the way on horseback. She died in Livingston County, N. Y. , in 1860. Mrs. Vanarsdall was married to Thomas Vanarsdall October 15, 1837. He was the son of Garrett and Mary (Wood beck) Vanarsdall, natives of Holland, but died residents of New York. Mr. and Mrs. V. came to Ohio in 1839, settling in Grand Township, and rear ing a family of five children, all living - Julia E., Josephine, Jane, Charles and John. Mr. V. was an estimable citizen, was Trustee of the township several years, and a liberal and active supporter of the Presbyterian Church. He was born January 11, 1807, and died May 15, 1876. His widow is highly regarded by the community in which she resides, and is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN A. VANORSDALL, custom boot and shoe maker, is a native of Cayuga County, N. Y. , and was born March 20, 1833, a son of Andrew and Caty (Vanorsdall) Vanorsdall. John A. came out with his parents to Ohio in 1846, at which time they located in Mifflin Township, Wyandot County; John A. remained on the farm until the age of twenty, when he learned the shoo-maker's trade, and has followed that business to the present time. He was married December 29, 1870, to Florinda C. Bailey; they have two children - Nellie and Findley. Mr. V. enlisted at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, in October. 1861, in Company D, Eighty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, to serve in the Union army during the civil war; served with the regiment in Missouri until March, 1862. He took part in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, the two battles of Corinth, and from Chattanooga to Atlanta in the Georgia campaign. His regiment was in the front, and he was present at the action at Snake Creek Gap. battle of Resaca, Rome Cross Roads, Big Shanty, Ackworth, Kenesaw Mountain, Decatur and in two battles in front of Atlanta, and in all the skirmishes of the regiment on that campaign. He was never wounded, although at one time the hair was cut close to his head by the passage of a bullet. He was honorably discharged, and mustered out of the service at Columbus, Ohio, in Octo ber, 1864.

GEORGE W. VIRDEN was born April 24, 1825, in Sussex County, Del., the son of Alanson and Elizabeth Virden, of French ancestry and natives of the same county. Having acquired a fair education, he con- tinned with his parents until his thirty-fifth year. He came with them to this county, arriving October 3, 1833. He is a bachelor. He has always been a farmer; he now owns 260 acres of good land. For the past twenty-three years he has been keeping " bachelor's hall," living entirely alone, but winning the respect of the people at large. He supports the Democratic party, and has held offices in the township.

HENRY H. VIRDEN is the second son of Alanon and Elizabeth (Wilson) Yirden, born iii Sussex County, Del., May 31, 1822. He came with his parents to Montgomery Township, in 1832. He embarked upon life independently, when eighteen years of age; worked for his uncle three years. June 17. 1849, he married Mary Edgar, daughter of John and Permelia (Johnson) Edgar, of Scotch and English ancestry respectively. This marriage has been blessed with four childreu - John A.., born December 29, 1850; Diantha J., Juue 19, 1853; Martha A., August 24, 1857, and Norton S., February 24, 1859. Their mother was born November 14, 1829. Mr. Virden nas been a farmer during his entire life, and has accumulated a fine property, having a farm of 195 acres, valued at $80 per acre. He is a respected citizen, has been Trustee of the township several years, and believes in the principles of the Democratic party.

HENRY M. VIRDEN is a native of Montgomery Township, born September 7, 1832, the son of William J. and Sarah A. (Vorhies) Yirden, of German and English extraction respectively. Having received a fair education, he taught four terms, the last one in Harrison County, Mo., in a log house with a sod chimney and clapboard roof. Returning from Missouri, in 1857, he became a laborer upon his fathers and neighboring farms, until he married, October 31, 1861, to Josephine Yanarsdall, born 1840, a daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Bennett) Yanarsdall. Children - John E., born October 15, 1862; Charles H., December 19, 1865, and Maurice A., September 2, 1867. Mr. Yirden is the oldest born resident in his township; he has been a faithful laborer, and as one product of his laoor, has 320 acres of good land. He received from his wife and his father $5,000, but has made the remainder of his property; he is now worth $25,000. He was Trustee of the Township one term, and was appointed Postmaster at Cochranton in 1882. He is a good Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOSHUA D. VIRDEN is the son of Theodore Virden, born May 21, 1852. Having obtained a good practical education, he married, November 18, 1875, Miss Frances Ansleman, daughter of Charles and Annie (Pheltie) Ansleman. The name of their one child is Loy Milton, born May 13, 1883. Mr. Virden has been farming since his marriage, and owns to-day (1883) forty acres of land. He votes the Democratic ticket.

T. D. VIRDEN, the fourth sun of Theodore W. and Sarah (Davis) Virden, was born in Montgomery Township September 1, 1847. Having acquired a fair practical education, he married, October 29, 1874, Mary E. Riley, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Powell) Riley, and they have had one child, George F., born January 16, 1876. Mr. Virden has been farming all his days, and has to-day (1883) a fine farm of seventy-one acres, upon which he has erected a suitable residence, and made other improvements. His specialty is the rearing of stock. He is a respectable citizen and a Democrat.

WILLIAM A. VIRDEN, son of Theodore and Sarah (Davis) Yirden, was born July 6, 1839, in Montgomery Township. The district school crave him his education, and he married, October 3, 1861. Miss Mahala Drake, daughter of Zephaniah and Barbara (Bibler) Drake, of German ancestry. and natives of Ohio. They were the parents of seven children, six living - Mahala, Amanda. David, Julia, Elmer and Martin. Andrew was killed in the late war, aged twenty three years. The wife died March 14, 1878, and the father married again, Sarah E. Clark, November 30, 1879. He is one of the oldest pioneers in the county, and a member of the I. O. O. F. at La Rue. Mr. Virden has six children - Alanson, Annie B. , Hellen A., John T., Ezra T. and Mary A. He commenced life with limited means, but has made a success of farming. He owns today (1883) ninety acres of line land, with good improvements. He, too, is a Democrat.

WILLIAM J. VIRDEN, the oldest pioneer citizen of Montgomery Township, was born in Sussex County, Del., December 8, 1804. He is a son of Mitchell and Navinna (Jefferson) Virden; his father, a native of the same county, was born September 16, 1774; he served in the war of 1812; he had four children by his first wife, three of whom are living - William J., the subject of this sketch; John W. , born July 23, 1807; Eliza, born April, 1810, and Ann, born September 16, 1813, and died in 1868. By his second wife he had the following: Benjamin, Joseph, Henry, Mary J., Lydia E., Sallie and an infant. Mr. Virden died in Delaware in 1838; his first wife preceded him in 1813. Mr. Virden. the subject of this sketch, migrated to Ohio in 1827, and remained four years in Warren County. In

1831, he came to Montgomery Township and entered eighty acres of land; he married, October 12, of the same year, Sarah A. Vorhies, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Hart) Vorhies, and grand-daughter of John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. and Mrs. Virden have had born to them five children; of these, three are living - Henry M., born September 7, 1832; Ann E. , March 3, 1834, and James B., December 2, 1838. Mr. Virden is the oldest living settler in Montgomery Township; he has always devoted his attention to agriculture, and has cleared 140 acres of land, owning at present a farm of 200 acres; he served as Trustee of the township twenty years, and as Justice of the Peace fifteen years. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Republican. Mrs. Virden departed this life February 11, 1879.

ELI W APPLES was born in Fayette County, Ohio, April 25, 1827; his parents, Benjamin and Rebecca (Prettyman) Waples, were from Sussex County, Delaware, and came to Marion County when Eli was but seven months old, and located on Rocky Fork, four mile? north of Marion. In

1832, his father entered 160 acres of land, one and a cuiarter miles northwest of La Rue, and lived there seven months. It was then a perfect wilderness, and to get to the land, he was obliged to cut a road through the timber for a team to pass; he returned to his home north of Marion, where he lived till his death, which occurred April 21, 1844, aged forty years; his wife died in September, 1861. Eli Waples was married in 1851, to Martha A. Scott, who died October 15, 1856, leaving two children, as follows: Benjamin F., now a dry goods merchant at Marion, and Martha A., who married Edward Lingo, of La Rue, and died September 21, 1882. Mr. Waples was married a second time, March 14, 1859, to Love E. Day. By the last marriage there is one child - Demaris. Mr. Waples is a Republican, and has served the township two terms as Assessor; he is a member of Day Lodge, No. 328, I. O. O. F.. and is a straightforward gentleman and highly esteemed citizen of La Rue. Mr. Waples formerly owned a farm of ninety eight acres in Big Island Township, where he lived four years; he sold this farm and bought 104 acres in Montgomery Township, which he still owns. In 1867, he moved to La Rue, and was engaged in butchering three years, and afterward at teaming, and in 1873, he opened a livery "stable, which business he has conducted ever since; he keeps on hand from five to ten good horses and six buggies, and has the best location in the village for a stable.

PHILIP WEIST was born in Baden, Germany, December 25, 1831, the son of Christopher and Laney (Schrote) Weist, who came to America in 1839, settling in Richland Township. The father died in 1873, but the mother still survives, aged (1883) eighty-four years. Mr. Weist began to do for himself at the early age of fourteen years, and by industry and frugality owns at present 416 acres in Montgomery Township, where he came in 1875, valued at $75 per acre. November 2, 1859, he married Mary Wilt, daughter of Jacob Wilt, a native of the " Fatherland." Eight children have been born to this union, all living, the youngest aged seven years. Mr. W. is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

AMOS H. WILSON is a native of Marion Countv, born February 7, 1843, the son of Amos C. and Mary A. (Bishop) Wilson, of Scotch and English ancestry respectively. The father was one of the early pioneers to this county, settling on the Whetstone River. He was one of "the first Commissioners of the county, an enthusiastic Republican, and accumulated a fair estate for his eleven children, dying December 25, 1855. He left a request that after burial in the old grave-yard, his remains should be removed later to the new one. Seventeen years afterward, this request was complied with, his body being found in an almost perfect state of preservation. Amos H.' was an adept, when a youth, at mastering the common branches, especially mathematics. WThen aged twenty-seven years, he engaged in the mercantile business at Marion, having however, previously married, June 27, 1866. Fannie Guyton, of Clark County, daughter of James and Isabel Guyton, of English descent. One heir has blessed this marriage - Louis B. . born July 1, 1867. This wife died in 1868; he again married October 25, 1876, Virginia C. Showen, a daughter of Peter and Susan (Boyer) Showen, and three children have been born to them - Byron E., born August 1, 1878; Amos C, November 12, 1879. and Frank A., September 2, 1877, and dying fifteen days later. Mr. Wilson served an apprenticeship, three years, learning the shoemaker's trade. He then engaged in the manufacture and sale of boots and shoes for thirteen years, Charles H. Terpany buying him out. He then moved to Montgomery Township, purchasing ninety acres of valuable land. He has recently erected a suitable farm residence, and made other desirable improvements. He is an enthusiastic politician, and a hearty supporter of the Republican party. James Guyton, the father of Mr. Wilson's first wife, was born February 6, 1818, and died at Vicksburg, Miss , June 10, 1863, a member of the Union Army, Tenth Ohio Cavalry.' His wife, Isabel, was born March 9. 1818, and died December 1, 1865. Amos C. Wilson was born February 7, 1792, and died December 23, 1856. His third wife, Mary A. Graves, was born April 28, 1799, and is still living.

JAMES M. WOOD, M. D., was born in Big Island Township, Marion County, March 1, 1853, and is a son of Hampton Wood, an early settler of that township, and mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Dr. Wood passed his early years on his father's farm in Big Island Township. From the age of eighteen to twenty-three years, he followed the calling of a teacher, though during this time he attended three terms as a student at the Ridge- ville College, at Ridgeville, Ind. When twenty-three years of age, he commenced reading medicine with Dr. R. C. Bowdish, of Big Island. He pursued his studies with Dr. Bowdish three years, meantime attending lectures at the Columbus Medical College, graduating at that institution in 1879, and soon after commenced the practice of his profession at Yelverton, Hardin County. The following year the Doctor moved to La Rue, where he has since resided, and besides his practice owns and operates a drug store. In October, 1882, the Doctor took in Mr. M. H. Virden as a partner in the drug business, the firm now being Wood & Virden. Dr. Wood was married November, 1879, to Lucy F. Potter, a daughter of Josiah Potter, of Dudley Township, Hardin County. They have two children - Mamie Ella and Aubry Hampton. Dr. Wood was appointed Postmaster at La Rue in 1881. and acted until April 10, 1883.

Source changes here: from The History of Marion County Ohio, by Various, published 1883; 37,456 words in this source stream.

Organic

pe township originally included the present territory and that of . Bowling Green, both of which were taken from Grand Township. It was set off according to the following described boundaries, in December, 1831, which will appear from the following entry: Monpay, December 5, 1831.

Ordered by the Board, That Township No. 5 south, of Range No. 18, and all the Virginia Military Land lying south of said Township 5, Range 18, within said county, be and the same is hereby set off as a new township, by the name of Montgomery.

Montgomery Township continued to include all of the above-described territory until the year 1838, when Bowling Green Township was erected from that portion of it south of the Scioto River, which comprises all of the Virginia Military Lands mentioned in the foregoing entry. Thus Montgomery Township, after an existence of nearly seven years, as it was first organized, was divided and the southern division was given the name of Bowling Green, as appears from the following entry:

Commissioners met pursuant to the statute in such cases made and provided. Present: Charles Merriman, John Shunk and George Beckley. And whereupon, on petition of Thomas Parr and others, it is ordered that a new township to be called and named 'Bowling Green," be and is hereby erected and set off as follows, to wit: Beginning at the southwest corner of the county of Marion, thence north to the south bank of the Scioto River; thence down said river with its meanderings until it intersects the range line dividing Ranges 18 and 14 in said ee thence south on the line of Green Camp Township to the line dividing Marion and Union Counties; thence westwardly on said line dividing said counties of Marion and Union, to the place of beginning.

During 1875, this township was divided by the County Commissioners into two election precincts, as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of Montgomery Township, thence west along the north line of said township to the northwest corner of Section 3, thence south along the section line on the west of Sections 3, 10, 15, 22 and 27, until it intersects the Scioto River; thence in asoutheasterly direction with the river to the southeast corner of the township; thence north on the east line of the township to the place of beginning, to be known as the " East Precinct;" the western portion to be known as the " West Precinct."

Early Settlement

The first white man to settle in what is now Montgomery Township was Daniel Markley. He erected a cabin on the Scioto River, at the crossing of the Mechanicsburg and Upper Sandusky trail, on the old James Walker farm, about the year 1820. He was the only settler in this region for several years, and kept a sort of pioneer tavern for the accommodation of those who passed that way; it was then the only traveled trail for twentv-five or

_thirty miles either way on the Scioto. He resided here until in 1824, when he moved away. His cabin was destroyed by fire during the burning

Samuel Franklin effected the next settlement in the township. He came with his family from Fayette County, Ohio, in 1821, and "squatted" on the northeast quarter of Section 1, where he built a log cabin. He lived on this land, which was still in the possession of the Government, till 1828, when he was "entered vut" by Col. William Cochran, who took up eighty acres, the land occupied by him. Franklin then removed to Salt Rock Township, and in 1831 returned to Montgomery and entered eighty acres on Section 2. His wife died on this farm, and in 1836-37, he went to Michigan.

Col. Cochran was born in the "Old Dominion," and about the time of the war of 1812, emigrated to Ohio, then the "far West," and settled in Ross County. In 1828, he moved with a large family to Marion County and settled on Section 1 of this township. A post office was established at his house, and consequently took the name of the worthy pioneer, which name it has ever since retained. 'The mail was carried from Marion to Bellefontaine on horseback, the mail carrier following the half beaten path of the Indians. Col. Cochran occupied his "entered" farm till about 1837 -38, when he went with his family to La Grange County, Ind., at which place he subsequently died. The Colonel was an excellent specimen of a pioneer, and could relate in a graphic manner many interesting frontier experiences of his own, and could crack a joke or tell a story with remarkable expertness. He was a great hunter, and many were the deer that he killed. He was a member of the church and was active in all its services. As a citizen and a neighbor, he was kind and obliging.

The next settlement was made in 1825, by Maj. William LaRue, the original founder and proprietor of La Rue Village. He located on land that a quarter of a century after became the site of a village, of which he was the founder. April 11, 1827, he entered from the Government seventythree and one-quarter acres, on which he had settled in 1825. The patent for this land was signed by John Quincy Adams.

W. Crandall eame in 1824 and took up the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 17. He came from Ross County and died some three or four years after, leaving a widow and three children - John, Jehu and Sallie - who remained in the forest of the township till 1837 or 1838, when they emigrated farther West. McMurray Johnson came in the same year and settled on the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 2, which land he entered. In 1831-32, he entered 160 acres more on Section 2. He died on his original entry in 1859, aged seventy-five years. He came to Montgomery Township from Worcester County, Md.

Isaac Berdine came into the township in 1827 from Big Tsland, where he had made a settlement three years previous. He came from Fayette County, Ohio, and his settlement in this township was on the south part of Section 2. He resided here till 1836, when he and family, accompanied by * Old Mother Neville," and two sons - William and Joshua - removed to Northern Indiana. Mrs. Neville and sons came from Fayette County, Ohio, in 1824, with Mr. Berdine and family.

February 22, 1827, Gardner Crandall entered at the Delaware Land Office eighty acres on Section 17. From early in 1827 to 1831, few, if any settlers came in the township. Most of those who effected settlements in the southwestern part of the county during this time, were made south of the Scioto River, in Bowling Green Townsbip, which at that time formed a part of Montgomery Township. The next to settle in Montgomery Township proper, of whom we haveany account, was William T. Virden, now the oldest surviving pioneer settler of the township. He emigrated to Warren County, Ohio, in 1827, and in January, 1881, to Marion County, settling within the forests of this township. July 31, following, he purchased from the Government the east half of the northwest quarter of Section l, where he now resides. In January, 1831, the following, with their families, constituted the band of pioneers that inhabited Montgomery Township, viz.: Col. William Cochran, Maj. William LaRue, William J. Virden, McMurray Johnson, Isaac Berdine, Mrs. Neville and Mrs. Crandall.

The next year William Bryan entered and settled on the southeast quarter of Section 8, which land a few years later he sold to Gen. James H. Godman. During the spring of this year (1832), a number of settlers came into the township and settled on the Scioto, north of LaRue. Among them were William Vesey, James Ramey, John Tucker and Jeremiah Jones. William Vesey built a tavern on the river bank, and shortly after W. Hop- ` kins came along and put up for the night. The house was situated on & low spot of ground, and during the night the heavy ruins swelled the river till it was out of its banks, and the next morning Mr. Hopkins had to swim his horse back to the road. The same year, Moses Van Fleet, Allen Johason, William and Benjamin Little, J. T. Walker, William McNeal, Joseph Sturges, V. Dutton, Russell Carey, W. W. Carey, Wingate Carey, J. Elland, J. Lint, - - - Huls and - - - - Clayton settled north of the river, and these, with those previously mentioned, composed the settlements at this date. In 1838-84, the State road from Marion to Lima was constructed, and the territory along its route was rapidly settled up. Those who settled on the line of this road in this township were Albert Dudley, Asahel and Alonzo Scoville, - - - - Whaler, Robert Clark, Hiram Corn, Zachariah Louderback, Charles Coulter, Richard Carter, Joseph Prettyman, Alanson Virden, H. Hinkle, John Clark, Joseph Anderson, P. Harder, J. and C. Wallace and Isaac Owens. Robert and Sarah Gillespie settled in this township in 1832.

In June, 1832, Montgomery Township was organized, and comprised, in addition to its present territory, Bowling Green Township. At this election, Almon Bryan, Jerry Jones and McMurray Johnson were chosen Trustees, Maj. La Rue, Clerk; and John Tucker, Superivsor. Money was scarce and there being no township fund, a Treasurer was not elected. Supervisor Tucker summoned his hands out in the fall and put in two days" work on the Montgomery & Grand Township line road, which was the only laid-out road in the township. On their return, they "cut out" a road from Bryan to the river settlements, a distance of four miles. At the Presiden tial election in the same fall (of 1832) seventeen voters were polled, which included the voters of the *'Tymochtee Windfall" und Rush Creek settlements of Bowling Green. Of the votes cast fifteen were Democratic and two were Whig. At this election CoJ. Cochran was chosen the first Justice ` of the Peace, and William H. Davis was the second in the township.

The first marriage in the township was that of Almon Bryan, a brotherin-law of Maj. LaRue, to Miss Jane Cochran. | It was celebrated in 1832, hy Rev. David Dudley. The first white child that was born in the township was either Nancy Cochran or a child of Mr. Berdine.

W. Crandall was the first of the early settlers of the township that died. He located on Section 17, in 1824, where his death occurred about 1827 or 1828. He was buried on the west side of a ravine running through his farm.

First Improvements

Mills. - One of the greatest difficulties that the pioneers encountered in early days in Montgomery Township was to get bread material. Mills were far away and the roads were difficult to travel. West Liberty was one of the places where the early settlers went to mill. In order to reach that place, they had to go to Scott Town, thence west to Judge Wheeler's, at which place they struck the Bellefontaine road, which they there would take. On these trips, which required three or four days, they camped out wherever night overtook them. To avoid these difficult trips, Maj. La Rue bought a hand-mill, which was patronized and used by the whole neighborhood for several years. Wheat bread was seldom used, and was considered in those days a luxury. Hominy was one of the chief articles of food. It 'was made by burning a hollow place in the center of a green white-oak stump; then, after seraping out the charred surface, a spring.pole, after the style of an old-fashioned well-sweep, would be erected. A short pole would be tied to this, and at the lower end an iron wedge would be attached. After placing the corn in the stump, they would work the spring pole and the wedge would soon reduce the corn to a coarse meal or hominy. Such were some of the modes used by the pioneers to secure the necessary things for subsistence.

The first mill in Montgomery Township was built at the * bend " of the river, now on Topliff's Second Addition to the village of La Rue, by Jacob Myers and Washington Armstrong, in the spring of 1835. It was a water saw mill, aud was run a few months, when a " corn-cracker" was added. A dam was constructed across the river, which was about 110 feet long. It kept breaking, and the mill could not be used regularly. Mr. Armstrong sold his interest to John J. Johnson, and Myers & Johnson ran it till 1837, when it was purchased by Lewis Topliff, who a few months after abandoned it. About this time, Joseph Sturges and L. Ramouse began constructing a mil) race at * Mud Boftom" on Section 36. The river at this place incloses about ten acres of ground, and the two bends of the river are: but fifteen rods apart. Sturges & Ramouse abandoned the work and Danjel Longacre took it up and completed it, and purchased a part of Topliff's old " corn-mill" at La Rue, which he erected at this place. It was covered with a shed of clapboards. ln 1840, he built a water mill, 30x40 feet in size. It was used for several years as a place for politica] meetings, and in the celebrated campaign of 1840 was a rendezvous for political gatherings. This mill was run for a good many years. Lewis Topliff bought three acres of land of Maj. La Rue, and in 1837 built a water grist and saw mill, completing it in 1838. This mill, which was a rude structure, was Operated till 1845, when the grist department was torn away, and the saw mill, which had a " sasli saw," was purchased by Samuel Simpson, who ran it till 1860. i S

In 1845, Topliff erected a large two.and-one-half-story mill adjoining the saw mill. It contained two run of buhrs and cost about $1,500. Shortly after the completion of the mill, a carding machine was added to the upper story, and was run in connection with the mill till 1851, when the building was abandoned. This mill was used as a place for religious worship by the early settlers. Lewis Topliff built, in 1852, a steam saw mill, near the site of his former mill, at a cost of $3,000. It was framed by Hiram Mills, and in 1853 or 1854 a corn buhr was put in. B. F. Todd bought the mill and about two years after sold it to Jack Keelen. It was destroyed by fire

Tannery. - In 1839, Elias and Jonathan Myers built a tannery on the northeast quarter of Section 20, one and a half miles north of La Rue. The building cost $1,000, and was conducted by them until 1849. when Jonathan sold his interest to Elias, who ran it one year, and then the tools and apparatus were sold to J. J. Johnson, George Williams and Abram Rosebaum, who soon afterward abandoned it. In 1857 or 1858, Jonathan Myers bought tools again, and located a tannery on the southeast quarter of Section 16, with eight vats, and it was run until some time in 1861, when it was finally abandoned.

Montgomery Township comprises Subdistricts No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9; and Joint Districts No. 2, 7, 8 and 10, containing in all ten schoolhouses. The enumeration in 1882 gave as a result 134 male children of school age and 151 female children; total, 285.

Religious

Religious services were at first held in private houses and schoolhouses. The first preaching was by Elders Hatch and Dudley. The first protracted eftort was conducted by the Methodists in Maj. LaRue's barn, in 1845, Mr. Armstrong being the leading preacher. A platform and pulpit were erected of rough boards, and of similar material were seats improvised upon the cleared floor. These would be filled, principally by women, while the men and boys reclined upon the hay. All observed good order. Meetings were held day and night for three weeks, and with good results.

The Free-Will Baptists succeeded the Methodists with a protracted. meeting in the same barn,which lasted one week, and was then removed to Mr. Topliff's mill, which was built in 1845. This was a strange place for meetings. In order to get into the mill. they laid a plank from the edge of the bank to the mill door, and it seemed rather unsafe. Here the same kind of seats were used as before. The pulpit platform was the elevation upon which the mill-stones were mounted. At this meeting the preachers were Rev. George Baker and his son, Rev. Oscar E. Baker, of Marion, and Rev. Kendall Higgins. A number were converted and joined the church.

After the close of the above-mentioned meeting and the carding season was over, Mr. Topliff moved the carding apparatus out of his mill, where meetings were held until the next carding season arrived. After this, schoolhouses were used.

The first Sunday school :n this neighborhood was organized in Bonner's Schoolhouse, by Peter Marsh, and was maintained during the summer for many years.

The " Montgomery" Methodist Episcopal Church was organized September 5, 1846, by Rev. S. J. Burgess, and J. Bunker, with seven members, among whom were S. Cook, Robert Hayward and Martha Hayward. Meetings were first held at J. Clark's and Father Hincklin's, conducted by S. Cook and Thomas Franklin. The first Class Leader was S. Cook, and Steward, T. D. McElhany. Meetings were held from house to house until 1849, when a church was built in the western part of the township, within a half mile of the county line, near the present site. Its size was 24x86, and cost $200. The present building, owned by the Methodists and United Brethren, was built in 1870, at a cost of $1,700. Present number of members, ninety-three; Class Leaders, J. Kinz, Benjamin Kemper and Frank

Agricultural

Montgomery Township is highly favored with railroad facilities, there being two good railways traversing its whole length. "The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus & Indianapolis Railroad, formerly the Bellefontaine & Indiana, was completed through this township in 1852, and the town of La Rue started; and the Chicago & Atlantic was put in operation about June 1, 1883, with a depot upon it within the limits of this township. Agosta is depots for Montgomery. At La Rue Station alone, in 1882, there were received 6,671,410 pounds of freight, and 8,639,065 pounds forwarded: while passenger tickets to the amount of $6,189.57 were sold.

La Rue

La Rue was laid out June 3, 1851, by Maj. William La Rue, who owned 307 acres of land on the east bank of the Scioto River; most of this land he had taken up from the Government and had resided on it from 1825. In that. year he erected on the site of Allinger & Quigley's flouring mill a log cabin sixteen feet square. This was the first structure in the shape of a house on the site of the present village. Maj. La Rue occupied it about one year; then erected a hewed-log house on what is now Market street, and at the same time built a log house sixteen feet square adjoining, which was used till 1838, when it was destroyed by fire. The same day that it burned, he put up a frame barn, which was the first within the limits of the township. In 1845, he built a one-and-a-half-story frame residence near the site of the old log house, which stood till 1882, when it was moved to South street, and is still occupied. About the same time, Lewis Topliff erected a frame house of the same size, where Charles Allinger's residence now stands. When the original plat of La Rue was laid out, it contained ninety lots, described as follows: All the lots have sixty-six feet front, with 155 feet back, except those situated between Vine and Market streets, which have sixty feet front, with 155 feet back, excepting all the fractional lots situated along the railroad ground, which vary in their size.

Maj. William La Rue, the original owner of the site and founder of the village of La Rue, was of French Huguenot origin, the members of the family having fled from France into Holland to escape religious persecution just before the revocation of the edict of Nantes. The name is originally De la Rue. From Holland they came to America about the year 1670 to 1677. The first La Rue in a direct line of ancestry that can with certainty be named, is Abraham La Rue, the grandfather of Maj. La Rue, who lived first in New Jersey, moved to Loudoun County, Va., thence to North Carolina and finally to Greenbrier County, Va., where he died. Jacob La Rue, the father of Maj. La Rue, was born July 25, 17/4, in Greenbrier County, Va. He started in company with another man, from Washington County, Ohio, where he resided, to visit his brother Peter, who lived in Livingston County, Ky., and was never heard of afterward, but was supposed to have been killed by the Indians or his companion.

Maj. William La Rue was borr. in Washington County, Ohio, December 22, 1799, and was married September 7, 1820, in Meigs County, Ohio, to Cynthia Brine. Mrs. Celinda Marsh, of LaRue, Marion County, is the only surviving child of this marriage. He first came to Marion County in the fall of 1823, and in the spring of 1825 he built a residence in the woods, on land now occupied by the village of La Rue. He entered about seventy acres of land, which quite exhausted his means, but he lived to be the possessor of many hundred acres, here and elsewhere, and to see a thriving village built upon what was once his forest farm. He died at La Rue, August 18, 1880, his wife having preceded him in November, 1857. He emigrated with his wife and daughter to this county in 1825, beginning pioneer life in real earnest, in a wilderness inhabited only by Indians, with only one family of whites within six miles. He laid out the village of La Rue June 1, 1851; he donated four lots for the use of the different churches, and otherwise took great pains for the improvement of the vil. lage. When a railroad was first talked of, he got up a subscription, headed it with $1,000, and gave the company the right of way, binding them, how ever, to make La Rue always a watering place, thereby causing all trains to make a stop at that point. He was.a marked man in many respects, and greatly honored and esteemed.

The first bridge across the Scioto at this place was built in 1843, by the citizens of the neighborhood. It was built about 1848 to 1845. eight rods below the present Market street bridge, and was 100 feet long. It was an open structure and the abutments were made of logs and the pier of frame work. It was made by volunteer labor, and Maj. La Rue sawed the timber. There was not a dollar paid out for work. It stood about eight or ten years, and was taken away by a freshet.

The same year (1853), another open bridge was erected, four rods north of the first. An appropriation was made by the County Commissioners and the rest was made up by subscription. It was a frame bridge with hewed timber abutments and a bent. It was washed away, and the present one was built by the county in 18 - . It isa covered bridge, 110 feet long, and eost about $2,200. There is also a covered bridge across the river on High street.

dud Vis ion H It was a two otels. - The first hotel in La Rue was the Union House. - sana building, and was ereeted in the spring of 1852, by Horace

Roberts and was owned and run by Roberts, Patten & Gillespie till 1857, when it was sold to Edward Stoltz, and the subsequent year to Dr. Copeland. In the fall of 1865, it was purchased by William Bailey, who died before he moved into it. His family conducted it till 1868, and sold to Philip Loebrich, and from him it passed into the possession of B. W. Miller, who ran it till within the last year. It is now known as the National House.

In 1868, T. S. Miller, one of the pioneers of Montgomery Township, built the La Rue House on High street, and opened it tothe public in the spring of 1870. 'He ran this hotel until 1875, when he sold it and two years later built the Commercial House, at a cost of $2,000, opening it in the fall of 1878.

Stores. - The first store:in La Rue was opened by Henry C. Seigler in the summer of 1851. It was situated on the river bank, on the site of Charles Quigley's blacksmith shop. He continued a short time and sold his stock, which consisted of dry goods and groceries, to Horace Roberts, who did business on the river bank and subsequent:; moved to High street, where he was engaged in trade ten years. In 1852, John B. and David Wyatt built the first store building on the site of C. Graceley's present hardware store. It was a building twenty-two feet front, by forty feet deep, and was rented by Wheeler Bros., merchants, who two years after admitted G. W. De Long as a partner, and the firm of Wheeler, De Long & Co. continued a number of years. Soon after Wheeler Bros. started in business, N. S. Banning erected a storehouse, 16x25 feet in size, on Lot No. 1. He carried on a mercantile business till 1863, when he sold out, married and moved ona farm. He died in La Rue September 21, 1873. The first brick store room in La Rue was built in 1870 hy J. F. Firstenberger and was a two-story building with a front of twenty-two feet. It was subsequently purchased by C. Gracely & Bro., who now own and occupy it.

In 1871, a substantial two-story brick block, seventy feetfront by eightyfive deep, and containing three store rooms, was erected by Hopkins & Leonard, J. Copeland and M. L. Evans. During the summer of 1877, Hopkins & Leonard built a store room adjoining on the south, the F. & A. M. order building the upper story, which they use for a hall. Hopkins & Leonard have a double store, one room containing dry goods, groceries, etc., and the other clothing and the bank. They established the bank, which is a private institution, in 1876, and do a large deposit business. Messrs. Hopkins & Leonard were the leading merchants in the village till 1883, when Mr. Hopkins went out, and the firm was changed to Leonard, Rhodes & Co. In 1881, Mrs. Mary Henninger built a two-story brick bus. iness house adjoining C. Gracely & Bro. on the north. It is occupied by McCrary & Harraman, grocers. The next year, W. L. Marsh put up a twostory brick south of Hopkins & Leonard's, and is now occupied as a hardware store by E. Anderson & Co. The same year, J. W. Knapp erected a two-story storehouse on Lot No. 9, which he occupies as a grocery.

Carriage Factory, corner of Vine and Chestnut streets. George D. Delauder established this business September 1, 1872, in a small building that had been used for a stable in the alley just back of the present post office, and in 1873 moved his business to where it is now located. This industry is one of the most important in La Rue. In it is manufactured annually fifty buggies and wagons, giving employment to eight men the year round. The factory occupies three buildings. The wood, paint and trimming shop is two stories, 24x65 feet, blacksmith shop 20x40 feet, and a two-story building, 20x48, for a repository and finishing room. The business amounts to about $10,000 per annum.

La Rue Wood-Bending Works. - 'These works were established in 1868 by C. Bechtold, and in 1870 the present buildings were erected at a cost of $6,000. They are situated on Front street, and are 25x100 feet in size and two-stories high. Mr. Bechtold came to La Rue in 1856 and ran a wagon shop till 1870, since which date he has devoted his attention to his present business. He employs five men the year round and manufactures shafts, felloes, buggy bows, buggy poles and other kinds of bent work. His work finds ready sale in the principal cities of the East, and some of it has reached Europe. The annual sales amount to $10,000.

Warehouse. - -A small warehouse was bnilt on the site of the La Rue elevator by Horace Roberts. It was owned by two or three parties, and finally was purchased and enlarged by J. L. Franklin, who ran it from 1860 to 1872, at which time it passed into the possession of N. S. Banning, and subsequently into the hands of Ezra Anderson. It was destroyed by fire May 24, 1876. :

La Rue Elevator Company. - This company was organized July 6, 1878, principally through the instrumentality of Messrs. Hopkins & Leonard. Twenty-four stockholders composed the organization as follows: Hopkins & Leonard, G. W. Virden, Robert Hayward, A. Robinson, E. Gillespie, J. F. Marsh, E. Anderson and John Bain, Luke Lenox, W. R. Morris, Charles Blow, C. H. Topliff, M. S. Burdge, J. W. Thew & Bro., J. A. Mouser, J. D. Guthery, John Jones, Elijah Rizor, T. P. Dodd, W. L. Robb, Charles Noyes, Thomas Ward, William La Rue and S. A. and W. E. Guthery. John Bain was chosen President, J. J. Hopkins, Secretray, and Luke Lenox, Treasurer. J. J. Hopkins, J. F. Marsh and J. A. Mouser were made Directors. The incurporated stock of this company was $3,000.

They erected a steam elevator, two stories high and 35x65 feet on the, ground, which cost $3,000. It has a capacity of 12,000 bushels. It was first leased to Ramsey & Colton, and after nine months A. C. Ramsey, of this firm, leased and ran it till 1880, when S. H. White, of Upper Sandusky, rented it. In 1882, DeWolfe & Gregory took charge of it, which firm continued till June 20, 1883, when S. E. DeWolfe became the sole lessee. This elevator does an annual business of $100,000. All the grain is shipped to Eastern markets, principally to Philadelphia and Baltimore. The present officers of this company are Isaac F. Guthery, President; J. J. Hopkins, Secretary, and Luke Lenox, Treasurer. Directors are John Jones, J. F. Marsh and M. S. Burdge.

The La Rue Mills were built by Ludlow & Elliott. The mills. are two and a half stories high, and with the saw mill in connection, cost $7,000. G. C. Allinger was employed as miller, who, February 7, 1866, bought out Ludlow's interest, and the firm of Elliott & Allinger continued one year, and Charles Quigley was admitted as a partner, changing the name to Elliott, Allinger & Co. This firm lasted till the spring of 1867, when. Allinger & Quigley bought Elliotts interest. The mills have four run of buhrs, and have a capacity of twenty-four barrels per day. In 1880, the "new process" was added, and they manufacture custom and merchant flour of ood quality. 5 The frst, drug store in La Rue was opened by Jones & Manley, from Circleville, Ohio, in 1866. After changing hands several times, this store was destroyed by fire March 31, 1870. W. J. Campbell is the present drug- ET Rhodes & Co., merchants of La Rue, carry as large a stock as any store in Marion. They have two large stores, one devoted to dry goods and the other to the sale of ready-made clothing; their sales amount annu ally to $40,000 and upward, carrying from $20,000 to $25,000 stock. These gentlemen are deservedly popular.

The first undertaker in La Rue was Hiram Mills, who came in August, 1851; went away in 1854; was here again from 1857 to 1868, and 1868 to the present time. vem

Shipping Cattle. - ln 1875, Levi Nichols came from Buffalo, N. Y., for the purpose of buying cattle for the Buffalo market. Mr. J.F. Marsh beeame associated as a buyer, and within one year they bought and shipped to Baltimore $46,000 worth of cattle and all within a radius*of ten miles of La Rue.

Altogether there are about sixty business establishments in La Rue, and the average standing of the men is high, doing as much business as any town of the same population in this part of the country. The annual com: mercial and manufacturing business is estimated at $350,000.

The first M. D. to locate in La Rue was a Dr. Wilkins, who came in 1848. He practiced here about three years and moved to Marseilles, but returned to La Ruein 1854. In 1856, he went to Chicago. He was a successful] physician, aud was generally esteemed. Milton Patten came in 1850, and after four years of practice, went to Missouri and finally re turned to Marion County and now follows his profession at Green Camp.

Dr. Olds was the next to locate here, coming in the fall of 1851, and in the following year went to Marion, where he died with the cholera in 1854

In 1850-51, Dr. Warner established himself here. He was an excellent physician. His efficient professional career was suddenly terminated by death from cholera during a business visit to Marion in 1854.

Dr. Joshua Copeland began the practice of medicine here May 31, 1852, and continued until October, 1882. Dr. P. W. Lee came in 1857 from Salem, Ohio. He practiced till 1861, when he entered the army as Second Lieutenant in the Eighty-second Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. He served one year and returned to La Rue, and a year or so later removed to Essex; thence to Salem, from which place he came.

La Rue Cemetery

about one acre of ground, which was purchased by subscription of John Bonner. It is situated on the west side of the Scioto, and affords a very appropriate place for the interment of the dead. The first burial was that of Mrs. Cynthia La Rue, which occurred November 10, 1857. Maj. La Rue, Lewis Topliff and many other pioneers of Montgomery, repose here. At a very early day a graveyard was started on Lot No. 68, and among those who sleep within its silent walls are William Little and wife, Moses Van Fleet and wife, George Johnson, Mrs. Elizabeth Brine, Almira C. Little (formerly Miss La Rue) and child, Lyman Little and wife, and other early settlers. It was finally abandoned and donated by Maj. La Rue as a site for the Baptist Church.

La Rue Fire Department

The fire department was organized in February, 1878, consisting of sixty-eight of the citizens of the town. C. Bechtold was elected Chief of the department. In January, previous to the organization, an engine was purchased of Ramsey & Co., of Seneca Falls, N. Y. The engine, hose carriage and 500 feet of hose were secured at a cost of $058. W. E. Parker was chosen Foreman of the engine company, and W. H. Hoke Foreman of the hose company. In 1878, W. E. Parker was elected Chief of the department, and has since served in that capacity. A frame engine house was erected in 1878 on Lot 63, at a cost of $360. The department enjoys the advantage of four large cisterns and three hydrants, which furnish water from the water tank of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad.

Fires. - The fire department is very efficient. Since its organization, only one building has been consumed, namely, that of George Seibert, in January, 1883, entailing a loss of $1,000. The principal tires have been the following: April 1, 1870, a fire broke out in the drug store of Manley & Campbell and consumed both it and the whole block of which it was a part; loss, $10,000. It was very windy at the time, and there was no fire department. July 7, following, a fire originated in Gregg's store on Lot 46, and spread from the hotel to the dwelling on Lot 45, covering the whole space now occupied by the brick block; loss, $5,000. In the fall of 1877, Anderson's elevator was burned; loss, $1,600.

Post Office

The post office at La Rue was established February 15, 1858, with George W. DeLong as Postmaster. The following is a list of Postmasters with date of appointment, viz.: Norton S. Banning, May 21, 1857; William C. De Long, August 29, 1861; John L. Frederick, December 12, 1864; John J. Hopkins, November 29, 1867; James H. Leonard, March 31, 1869; James M. Wood, July 25, 1881; William E. Parker, March 21, 1883. During the quarter ending June 30, 1883, about 7,000 letters and postal eards were mailed at this office, being at the rate of about 30,000 a year.

La Rue Schools

The first schoolhouse within the corporation of La Rue was a log structure, which was used till 1846, when a frame was erected on the east part of Maj. La Rue's farm, now on the south side of Market street. Tt was, some years after, destroyed, and a frame was erected on Lot 15. i This was maintained as a district school till 1865, when it was organized as.a Union school, Lewis Topliff, T. S. Miller and H. P. De Long constituting the Board of Directors. A two-story frame schoolhouse in the shape ofa" T was erected on High street, on the south end of Maj. La Rue's First Addi- tion. The building and grounds, which comprise three acres, cost $5,000. In 1882, a two-story frame building was erected on the southeast corner of the lot, and the lower room is occupied by the primary department.

Maj. La Rue donated alot each to the Free-Will Baptist, Methodists Episcopal, Presbyterian and Catholic Churches, and gave $10 to each church in addition, thus exhibiting a very liberal spirit.

La Rue (formerly Montgomery) Free- Will Baptist Church. - This society, as before noted, was organized in Topliff's mill, November 29, 1845, by Rev. G. W. Baker, where meetings had been conducted for a week or two by Revs. G. W. and O. E. Baker, of Marion, and K. Higgins. The first members.were K. F. and Amelia Higgins, Lewis and Susan Topliff, H. Mustain, Joseph and Sarah Anderson, Cornelia Barns, Patience Vesey, John Bonner, John and Mary King, and one other, numbering thirteen in all. The first Trustees were K. F. Higgins, John Bonner and Jonathan Myers; Lewis Topliff, Clerk. Meetings were held at Maj. La Rue's residence and barn, Topliffs mill, and then in meeting-houses. The first church building was erected in 1850, 24x46, on the site of their present church, at a cost of $800. The new church was erected in 1877, at a cost of $6,500. The pastors have been Revs. G. W. Baker, K. F. Higgins, S. H. Moon, S. D. Bates, D. D. Halsted, S. L. Collier, C. O. Parmenter, R. J. Poston, four years; B. F. Zell since 1878. There are now forty-seven members. Deacons, John Bonner and Samuel Hopkins.

Presbyterian Church. - In the history of Bowling Green Township, an account is given of the organization of this church in 1843. Their building was moved to La Rue in 1862, upon a lot given by Maj. La Rue for a Presbyterian Church, on High street. Here they worshiped until 1881. since which time they have held services in the Free-Will Baptist Church. The present membership is thirty-six. Thomas S. Miller and J. F. Marsh are the Ruling Elders.

The ministers who have served this church are Revs. Cephas Cook, James Robinson, - - - Axtell, B. Wall, Henry Hess, five years; E. Evans, I. N. Shepard, A. S. Thorn, W. H. Honnell, L. D. Smith, S. A. Hummer and A. B. Struthers. Of the original members, all are dead but Mrs. Gilmer, who is now eighty-two years of age, being born June 22, 1801, near West Union, Adams Co., Ohio, and came to this eounty in 1842.

Secret Societies

La Rue Lodge, No. 435, F. & A. M. - This was organized May 18, 1872, by J. A. Rodgers and A. P. Cutting. The following were the first officers: A. P. Cutting, W. M.; S. A. Guthrie, S. W.; Luke Lenox, J. W.; J. H. Leonard, Secretary; Henry Thew, S. D ; G. F. Riley, J. D.; C. W. Knapp, Tiler. There is now a membership of sixty and the present officers are: Luke Lenox, W. M.; T. P. Dodd, S. W.; W. L. Marsh, J. W.; G. C. Allinger, Treasurer; W. A. Rhodes, Secretary; A. J. Anderson, S. D.; S. G. Long, J. D.; J. Hazlett, Tiler; H. ''hew and B. F. Stivers, Stewards. Washington Camp, No. 46, P. O. S. of A. - This is a camp of the " Patriotic Order of the Sons of America," whose object is the inculcation of the American principles of politieal government. Preliminary meetings were held in M. B. Chase's law office December 14 and 27, now the hall of the camp, in the brick block, over C. F. Seffners & Bro.'s store. A dispensation was granted January 3, 1881, and a camp organized by Frederick Haberman and George L. Phelps, with the following membership: M. B. Chase, J. A. Mouser, J. M. Hoffa, N. Mustain, C. M. Smallwood, H. C. Bireley, W. H. Cleveland, R. J. Myers, A. McCrary, E. Meek, C. Hill, B. A. Walters, C. H. Topliff, J. F. Keeler, F. E. English, Edward Stivers, George Long, F. Long, William Heybeck, C. N. Little, T. L. Leonard, Edward Mealey, N. A. Showen, F. C. Judd and J. D. Henkle. The officers were: T. L. Leonard, P. P.; M. B. Chase, P.; J. H. Hinkle, V. P.; J. M. Hoffa, M. of F. & C.; A. McCrary, Recording Secretary; F. E. English, Financial Secretary; W. H. Cleveland, Treasurer; F. C. Judd, Cond.; Edward Mealey, I. G.; E. Meek, O. G.; Edward Stivers, Assistant Secretary; William Heybeck, R. Sent.; Robert J. Meyers, L. Sent.; J. A. Mouser, Chaplain; and M. B. Chase, J. M. Hoffa and H. C. Bireley, Trustees.

The present number of members is twenty-nine, and the officers are: N. Mustain, P. P.; B. F. Stivers, P.; R. J. Myers, V. P.; C. M. Smallwood, M. of F. & C.; J. M. Hoffa, Recording Secretary; H. C. Birely, Financial Secretary; W. H. Cleveland, Treasurer; W. E. Robbins, Cond.; E. Meek, I. G.; C. Hill, O. G.; A. Mouser, Assistant Secretary; C. F. Layman, R. Sent. ; O. Prettyman, L. Sent; J. A. Mouser, Chap.; and H. C. Bireley, J. A. Mouser and N. Mustain, Trustees.

Day Lodge, No. 328, I. O. O. F. - Prior to organization, several: preliminary meetings were held. Dispensation was received from the Graud Lodge early in the summer of 1857, when the members consisted of T. S. and H. S. Miller, M. J. Burdge, Christ Mackley and William Mc- Claren. The lodge was organized August 31, 1857, by William Chidsey, in the carpenter shop of T. S. & H. S. Miller. The meetings are now held in their nicely furnished hall on the southwest corner of Market and High streets, Saturday evenings. The first officers were: Christ Mackley, N. G.; H. S. Miller, V. G.; M. J. Burdge, Secretary; William McClaren, Treasurer; T. S. Miller, R. S. N. G. Present number of mem-

Temperance

The first well.defined temperance movement in La Rue was the organization of the Good Templars in 1865, Hiram Mills, W. C. T. It prospered until the winter of 1866, when the "Ohio Broadaxe," Rev. Chance, delivered a'course of six lectures in the old Baptist Church. The lodge met every night and took in the new converts, from eight to fifteen; so that by the close of the week its numbers had increased from about thirty to nearly a hundred, among them nearly all the worst drinkers in the community. Then a hall was fixed up in costly style and the treasury depleted until the dues to the Grand Lodge could not be paid. It kept up meetings until the fall of 1867, when it underwent total extinction.

During the fall and winter of 1866-67, a joint-stock company was formed to enforce the laws, and with the aid of the Good Templars, some prosecutions were instituted, a few of which were sustained. But the cause of temperance from the legal standpoint went by fits and starts from that time onward. A lodge of the Sons of Temperance and a society auxiliary to the State Temperance Alliance have each existed here a short time.

Among the revivals was the " woman's crusade" of 1874, which did not result in a signal victory, although some liquor sellers were persuaded to discontinue their illegal business. After a time, a kind of moral suasion educational society was formed, which had a few ups and downs and then died; and now there is no so-called temperance society in La Rue, although the churches and some of the secret societies inculeate temperance, that is in the sense of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors. Prohibition and total abstinence sentiment is strong, and is thought by its friends to be on the increase.

Municipal Officers

Treasurers of the Village. - T. S. Miller was elected Treasurer at its incorporation and served till 1875, during which year William Seffner filled the office. In 1876, T. S. Miller was re-elected, served one year and was succeeded by John J. Hopkins, who filled the office till 1881, when W. J. Campbell was elected, serving till 1883; then John A. Vanorsdall was elected, the present incumbent.

Col. William Cochran was born in old Virginia, and removed to Ross County, Ohio, thence to Montgomery Township in 1822. He lived here till 1837-38, and removed with his family to La Grange County, Ind., and died there. Cochranton, named after Col. Cochran, was started first by Samuel Franklin, who built a log cabin. Col. Cochran eame in 1822 and occupied it a short time, then built a frame, 18x20 feet in size. The post office was established previous to 1828, and Col. Cochran was appointed Postmaster, and served until he went West, keeping the post office at his house. Alexander Gillespie was then appointed and served two or three years. Frazier Gray, a Revolutionary soldier, succeeded him and served till his death, which occurred some ten years after.

Heman Scott came and bought 120 acres of Col. Cochran's farm and started a store in 1844 - 45, and the place then took the name of Scott Town, while the post office retains the old name of Cochranton. In 1851, Mr. Scott went to California; other merchants were subsequently Thomas Mahan, Allen De Long and W. C. De Long, for about four years; John Kennedy, three or four years; A. W. Buell and others. The present dry goods merchants are John Holstotter and John Grubb. Dr. Stroup is the physician and druggist. There are two blacksmith shops and one church building, occupied by the Methodists.

CHURCHES. The Methodist Episcopal Church at this place was organized in the spring of 1868 at the schoolhouse, by John Sites (Seitz?), with eleven members, among whom were W. A. Butler, C. Postles, M. J. Webb, J. H. Mason, H. C. Mason, C. Sprague, S. Pixley, W. R.. Hatfield, H. Brown, E. Brown and Jane Gray. The official members were W..A. Butler and J. H. Mason. For about three years the meetings were held in the school. house, and since then in the church, which was erected in 1871, in size 32x 48, at a cost of $3,000. The pastors have been J. Parlett, 1868-69; C. Weaver, 1869-70; D. B. Rinehart, 1870-72; V. Staley, 1872-73; R. Hager, 1873-74; E. H. Cammann, 1874 to 1876; M. L. Senters, 1876--77; C. M. Birdsall, 1877-78; J. Williams, 1878 to 1880; P. T. Webster, 1880 to 18883. The present membership is sixty, and the official members are J. Clark, William Robinson, H. M. Virden, J. B. Virden, W. M. Davis and J. H. Mason. The ecclesiastical year begins and ends in September. Salem Presbyterian Church. - Preliminary meetings of this denomina. tion were held here previous to 1830, at the schoolhouse near J. McElvy's, by Rev. Barber; it was a missionary station. The church was first organized in 1848, at the Union Church, two miles east of Scott Town, by Rev. A. C. Miller. It consisted of twelve members, viz.: John McElvy, Mary McElvy, Smith Frame, W. J. Virden, Sarah Virden, Ovington and Jane Day, Sarah Hewett, Harriet Wheeler, Mrs. Neff, Miss R. McElvy and Mrs. L. Frame. The first official members were John McElvy, Smith Frame and W. J. Virden. The Union Church building was erected about 1836; size, 30x40 feet. In this house the Presbyterian Church meets. The pastors have been Revs. Barber, Cratty, Miller, Braner, Templeton, Thorn, Smith, Lynn and Struthers. There are now probably about fourteen mem. bers. ^ W. J. Virden is the Ruling Elder and is the only one of the original members now living here. Sunday school has been kept up most of the time. FRAME CEMETERY. l 'l'his was laid out in sections in 1878, on a sandy knoll about ninety rods south of Scott Town, on the east side of the creek. Smith Frame at first donated one acre of ground for the purpose, and since then one acre has been added.

This place has also had the names of "Carey Station," " Belfast" and "New Bloomington." Its oldest name is derived from that of two men, W. W. and Wingate Carey, who, in 1856, laid out the village. The former laid out the lots on the east side of Main street, south of the railroad, and the latter that portion lying east of Main street north of the railroad. At the same time Carey Darlington laid out the west side north of the railroad, and Armstrong M. Smallwood the part south of the railroad west side of | Main. The last named died May 20, 18 - , and Dr. A. W. Buell bought the property of the widow, cut the lots into different shapes and sizes, laid out other lots and lived here until 1880, when he went away.

Some yeurs after the first platting of the village, each of the Careys made an addition, W. W. Carey donating a lot tu the Methodist Episcopal Church. When the Bellefontaine & Indiana Railroad was built through here there was but one house at the point, a log cabin, and W. W. Carey erected the first frame house, and also the first store and warehouse. The village was known as Carey until 18 - , when it was changed to New Bloomington, and in 1879 the station was changed to Belfast, while the post office continued as New Bloomington, until April 1, 1883, when both office and station were changed to Agosta.

The first dry goods and grocery store was opened by W. W. Carey and A. and George H. Smallwood, under the firm name of Carey & Smallwoods. In two or three years they sold out to George R. and Wingate L. Carey, who condueted business under the name of Carey Bros. one year, and then sold to Russel De Long and A. M. Smallwood. De Long soon sold his interest to Smallwood, who prosecuted the business until his death. :

In 1871, James Elliott came from Marion and established a general store where the hotel now stands, and in February, 1872, sold out to T. R. Shinn, also from Marion. During the summer, he built the store room on the corner of Main and Buell streets, at a cost of $2,800, and commenced business in it in October, in the line of dry goods and clothing. In April, 1880, he sold out and bought the storehouse on the southwest corner of Main and Buell streets, where he sold groceries, queensware, boots and shoes. This building was erected in 1878 by Lewis Merriman, of Kenton, at a cost of $2,500. Mr. Merriman, and his son-in-law, David Roby, as the firm of Merriman & Roby, carried on mercantile business until the fall of 1879, and sold to John Byers, who, in turn, in April, 1880, sold to T. R. Shinn. The latter, in April, 1883, sold to Bathard & Taft, of Mount Gilead, who bought both stores and still run them.

In 1875, B. B. Hathaway erected a two-story building and rented it to Anderson & Hite, who did business one year and sold their stock to T. R. Shinn, and soon after L. Merriman placed a stock under the charge of Uncapher Bros. The store was then occupied by La Rue & Roderick, who sold to T. J. Bish in the fall of 1882, the present merchant.

In 1879, the station house was built, at a cost of $1,000, of which $300 was donated by the village. The amount of business done at this station may be indicated by the following figures: During the first half of this year (1883), 790,145 pounds of freight were received here, being an average of 131,691 pounds a month; and 1,776,587 pounds forwarded, or 296,098 pounds a month. During the year 1882, $2,012.43 worth of passenger tickets were sold.

Dr. W. S. Paul was the first physician in the place. Dr. S. B. Marshall has been practicing here a number of years, and in 1882, he opened a drug store. The first drug store here was started by William M. Reed.

The Methodist Episcopal Church has a membership here of 100. Rev. L. O. Cook is pastor. Their house of worship.was erected in 1875, at a eost of $1,500.

Educational

The * New Bloomington Union Schoo] District" was organized in 1875. Two acres were purchased of Wingate Carey, Sr., and in 1876 a school building was erected, at a cost of $2,500, and was furnished with the latest improved furniture at an expense of $1,000. At that time, the School Board comprised A. W. Buell, C. W. Powelson and A. W. Ward. Since their organization in 1876, there has been expended for the union schools an aggregate of $8,774.90, being an average of $1,253.70 per year. The schools have an average attendance of 110. There are three departments. | The Principals have been Hattie Hudson, 1876 - 77; J. Q. Codding, 1877-78; Fravk Umphreys, 1878 to 1880; O. B. Zell, 1880-81; A. N. La Rue, 1881- 82; M. F. Dutton, 1882-83; C. R. Marshall, 1883; M. F. Dutton, 1883- 84.

Biographical Sketches

In the following pages, many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of Montgomery are referred to. Each sketch has a direct bearing upon the history of the township, being in itself a record of a settler who aided in raising it from the wilderness state to its present prominent position among the divisions of Marion County:

(Bentz) Allinger, came with their family of seven children, including our subject, to the United States in 1847. The names of the children were as follows: Jacob, Christiana, Josephine, Christina, Gottlieb E., Gottlob C. and Catharine. They had one child, Mary, born in Ohio. The family, on their arrival, located on a farm near Sydney, Shelby Co., Ohio. The father died on this farm in 1878. His widow now resides with a daughter at Sydney. The subject of this sketch lived on a farm until thirteen years of age, since which time he has worked at the milling business. In November, 1865, he came to La Rue, and in February, 1866, he bought a: half interest in the La Rue Flouring Mill, with David Elliott as a partner, under the firm name of Elliott & Allinger. The same year, Charles Quigley was admitted as a partner, and the firm became Elliott, Allinger & Co. The last part of the year 1866, Elliott sold his interest to his partners, and the firm became Allinger & Quigley. Their grist mill has four run of stone, and a capacity for grinding 200 bushels of wheat and 180 bushels of corn every twenty four hours; they also operate a saw mill, and get out on an average 700,000 feet of lumber per annum; they employ, ir both establishments, five men the year around. An eightyhorse-power engine furnishes the power for running both establishments; they do general custom and milling business, and sell to the retail trade of the vicinity. Mr. Allinger enlisted in September, 1861, at Sydney, Ohio, in Company F, Twentieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and ten months, being mustered out at the close of the war at Louisville, Ky., in July, 1865. He was then Orderly Sergeant of his com. pany. He participated in about thirty battles, first at Ft. Donelson, under Grant, up to the siege of Vicksburg, and afterward was in Sherman's army on its famous march to the sea. Mr. Allinger was married, in the fall of 1867. to Lydia J. Little, and they reside in La Rue Village. He is a Republican, and has served the village and township in various local offices, among which is that of Trustee, member of the School Board, Councilman, etc. He is also a member of the F. & A. M. and of the G. A. R.

DAVID AMRINE was born in Leesburg Township, Union Co., Ohio, May 28, 18538, the son of Henry and Margaret (Moore) Amrine, of German ancestry, and natives of the same county. They were the parents of three children - David, Frank and Melissa A., who died about 1866. David Amrine, haviug obtained a moderate education, remained with his father, farming, until the spring of 1883, when he entered the firm of Hastings & Co., at La Rue, Ohio. He is a respectable citizen, a member of the F. & A. M. order, and a Republican in politics.

EZRA ANDERSON, hardware merchant, is a native of Montgomery Township, a son of Joseph Anderson, and was born March 17, 1843. Mr. Anderson was reared to the life of a farmer, and was married, January 18, 1872, to Susan Baldwin, a daughter of James and Ellen Baldwin, of Bowling Green. In 1874. he came to La Rue, where he followed the business of buying and shipping grain for eighteen months, when his warehouse and all it contained was destroyed by fire, the total loss being $6,000, though $1,600 was his individual loss. After this, he was engaged in the wool business, in partnership with J. F. Marsh. August 1 of the same year, he lost his wife by death; she left two children - an infant, since deceased, and Sadie D. After the death of his wife, Mr. Anderson returned to his farm, where he remained till October, 1882, when he returned to La Rue and formed a partnership with William Marsh to carry on the hardware business, under the firm name of E. Anderson & Co. They have the largest store, and carry the heaviest stock of hardware guods kept in the village, averaging $10,000. Mr. Anderson was married again, April 26, 1883, to Ella M. Marsh. a daughter of J. F. Marsh, of La Rue. Mr. A. is a member of Day Lodge, No. 328, I. O. O. F., and of the Richwood Encampment.