Newberry Township (part 3 of 3)

JAMES MOTT, retired farmer ; P. 0. Bloomertown ; son of Zachariah Mott, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in the year 1818, and located in Darke Co., about two miles east of Gettysburg ; lived there about six years, then moved to Tippecanoe Co., Ind., and from there to White Co., where he lived until death. James Mott, born in Darke Co., Ohio, April 22, 1819, lived with his parents until he was 10 years old, the time of his father's death ; he came back to Ohio, and lived with an older brother for seven years, then began doing for himself. June 12, 1845, he married Miss Annie, a daughter of Joseph Elmore a native of South Carolina. They had two children, one living - Nancy F., married John Etter, who is tending the farm. Mr. Mott has a splendid farm of 160 acres, with first-class buildings upon it, situated south of the Mott pike.

SAMUEL MURRAY, farmer and preacher, Covington ; is a son of David Murray, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and came when a boy with his parents to Montgomery Co., where he married Hannah Kimmel, and resided on Wolf Creek until about 1832 or 1833, then removed with his family to Miami Co., having purchased the northeast quarter of Sec. 32, which he improved and lived on until in 1856, he sold out and returned to Montgomer3r Co., where he still resides. The subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery Co. in 1828, and grew to manhood here on the farm in the days of hard labor and limited facilities ; he has always followed farming, first commencing for himself in Sec. 28 ; his farm is the north half of two 80-acre tracts, one being in Sec. 32, and the other adjoining in Sec. 33, it being the unimproved portion of each tract at the time he purchased ; he has cleared most of it, erected the present neat and substantial buildings, and the farm now compares favorably with others in this well-improved neighborhood. He was married Jan. 23, 1851, to Mary Shellaberger, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Mohler) Shellaberger, who also came from Pennsylvania, and settled in Sec. 33 of this township. She also grew up here, and both Mr. and Mrs. Murray went to school in a log schoolhouse that stood on the same ground where the present neat brick house is situated, in which their children are now being educated under much more favorable circumstances than their parents enjoyed. Mr. Murray is a useful, respected citizen, and both he and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church, of which he was elected Deacon in 1860, and since 1864 has been the chosen and useful minister. They have five children, all of whom are as yet members of the family household.

DAVID M. MURRAY, physician, Covington. Among the professional men of Covington, of deserved reputation, is Dr. Murray ; he is the son of D. M. Murray, Sr., whose biography appears in connection with that of Rev. Samuel Murray. The subject of this sketch was born on the farm near Covington in 1835 ; he began practice in Clark Co. in 1862, and in 1863 entered the army, where he served as Acting Assistant Surgeon until the latter part of 1864, when he returned and practiced at Pleasant Hill about two years, then purchased a drug store in Indiana, but soon sold out and returned to Miami Co. where he practiced a short time "with Dr. Cable at Covington, then bought a drug store in Dayton, which he conducted about four years, practicing there at the same time ; he afterward returned to Miami Co. and practiced again at Pleasant Hill about two years ; he again came to Covington in 1877. and has practiced here since in connection with Dr. Cable ; he is a respected member of his profession and a worthy Christian citizen.

P. L. C. MUTZ, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; he is a son of George Mutz, a native of Germany, who was a soldier in the German army and deserted and came to America about the year 1816 ; he first located in Pennsylvania and remained thereuntil 1830, when he moved to Ohio, and located in Montgomery Co., where he lived twenty-one years ; he then moved into Miami Co., and purchased a. farm in Newberry Township, about three miles north of Covington ; the subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery Co., Sept. 13, 1831 ; he was raised and educated upon a farm and has always been engaged in that avocation. He married Miss Ann C. Senepp March 6, 1857 ; they had four children - Mary M., Huldah M., William E. and George W. ; Mr. Mutz has a number one farm of 160 acres, which was the first one entered in this part of the county.

JOHN NICHOLSON, farmer ; P. 0. Piqua ; he is a son of Samuel Nicholson, a native of Kentucky, who, in 1815, emigrated to Ohio, and located in Piqua ; he worked at the carpenter's trade, and helped build the first schoolhouse in the town ; about the year 1820, he entered a quarter-section of land in the north part of Newberry Township, and began the labor of opening a farm. The subject of this sketch was born in December, 1820, upon the Trotter farm ; his principal occupation has been farming. His marriage with Henrietta, a daughter of Harvey Buchanan, was celebrated April 1, 1851 ; they had three children, two of whom are living - William P. and Emma.

SAMUEL NIXON, retired, Covington. Among the industries of Covington and vicinity, which deserve mention, is the woolen mill of Nixon & Lewis, situated on Greenville Creek, about three-quarters of a mile west of town. Mr. Nixon, a native of Pennsjdvania, was born in Bucks Co. in 1805 ; came to Ohio in 1826, resided first in Warren Co., then in Preble, where his father owTned and operated a carding machine. He removed to Richmond in 1833, where he remained until 1866, being engaged in a woolen mill ; owned and operated a saw-mill about eleven) years, by which he lost the use of his limbs to some extent. He removed to^ Covington in 1866, at the solicitation of his step-son, Mr. Lewis. His present neat and commodious residence, situated on High street, he erected in 1868, and it was then the most elegant and modern in Covington. Mr. Nixon is the son of Williams and Martha (Roberts) Nixon, whose deaths occurred at Richmond, Ind., he being; 94 and she 85. They were married in 1801, and lived together sixty -six years ; had twelve children, seven of whom are now living, the youngest being 59 and the oldest 79 ; Samuel was the fourth child. He learned liis trade while a boy, and has been an active, successful business man ; is still vigorous in mind, although crippled in body. He was married in 1841 to Mrs. Barbara (Garber) Lewis, the mother of Alfred Lewis, who is the junior member of the firm of Nixon & Lewis. Her death occurred here in 1875 ; they had one child, a daughter - Mattie, who now presides at his home.

WILKINSON PEARSON, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; is a son of Benjamin Pearson, a native of South Carolina, who came to this county in 1805 ; entered land in Newton Township, and lived upon it until his death. The subject of this sketch was born in South Carolina June 30, 1803, and came to this county with his parents at 2 years of age, when it was quite in its infancy in respect to improvement. He was raised a farmer, and has followed that occupation all his life, until within two years, when he rented his farm, and now lives retired from business cares. Mr. P. has undergone all the hardships of earl}r pioneer life, and has seen the full development of the county. In 1826, lie was married to Eleanor, a daughter of Robert Leavell, a native of South Carolina ; they had eight children, three of whom are living. Mr. P. has given a farm to each of his children, and has a beautiful home east of Covington, where he now lives.

SILAS PERRY, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; is a son of Amos Perry, a native of Newberry District, S. C., who came to Ohio and located in this county in 1814 ; he at first taught school several years, then entered land and began the laborious work of opening a farm ; he was the first Representative sent from this township, and is supposed to be the one that suggested the name given to the township ; he also secured the charter of the Dayton & Covington pike. The subject of this sketch wras born July 12, 1827, in this township ; was raised a farmer, and has been always engaged in that occupation. He has been twice married ; first, Nov. 24, 1857, with Miss Maria, a daughter of Fielding and Sarah Dye, natives of Ne^v Jersey ; Maria died June 15, 1868, leaving two children - Luella and Arthur; his.

second marriage was celebrated Nov. 24, 1869, with Miss Jennie Deweese, a daughter of David D. ; they had three children - Chas. E., Oran L. and Wilson A.

W. L. PERRY, fruit culturist ; P. 0. Covington. W. L. Perry is a son of J. W. Perry, a native of this township, born in the year 1817 ; he lived with his father until his majority, then taught school during winter seasons, and during the summer worked for his father ; he continued to do so for nine years, then bought land, and has been engaged in farming ever since ; he is a brother of Silas Perry, whose biography appears in this work. W. L. is an accomplished young man, is living with his parents, and is extensively engaged in raising small fruit, which is his chief delight.

MARTIN A. PETERSEINE, farmer, etc. ; P. 0. Bloomertown ; is a son of John A. Peterseine, a native of Prussia, who came to America about the year 1830 and located in Newberry Township upon the farm where Martin lives, and, with the help of his children, cleared and cultivated it. The subject of this sketch, born upon this farm Sept. 8, 1844, was reared and educated a farmer ; he has a farm of 110 acres under good cultivation, with excellent buildings ; Mr. Peterseine has one of the largest cane-mills in this county, and is extensively engaged in the manufacture of molasses, averaging about ten gallons per hour. His marriage with Miss Mar}', a daughter of Wm. Keiser, of Darke Co., was celebrated Sept. 30, 1869 ; they had two children - Semantha and Edith May.

JAMES L. PURDY ; P 0. Covington ; is one of the oldest residents of Miami Co. ; he was born in Perry Co. in 1816 ; his father removed tp this county in 1825, located in Washington Township and remained a resident of that township all the remainder of his life. James L. began teaching in Washington Township when quite young, and taught more or less until after his marriage. Then he permanently located in Covington, and was directly connected with the business of Covington for a period of twenty years, since which, on account of old age and deafness, he has retired from active business. From a mere financial point of view, Mr. Purdy's life has not been a great success, but, nevertheless, he has been a very useful citizen, and deserving of much more credit than is generally accorded him ; naturally modest, his claims upon the public were never pressed, but being possessed of a philosophical mind and a philanthropic heart, his labors have been not so much for himself as for others. As a teacher, he was always in advance with text-books and improved methods ; was first to introduce Mc&uffey's readers into the schools of Newberry Township ; also first to introduce the blackboard, in which he was very strongly opposed by some of his patrons ; as a citizen of Covington, he has served in some capacity on the Board of Education almost continuously, until within a few years, and has always been the friend and advocate of the advanced methods which have given us the present systematic and efficient schools. A Presbyterian in faith, his practice has done honor to his profession ; he has been a student all his life, and the friend and patron of standard historical works ; on account of deafness, an affliction which began troubling him when young, and which has grown upon him, interfering with his plans and prospects, books have been his chief companions, and the writers of this work are indebted to him for man}7 facts connected with the early history of the county. He was married in 1843 to Prudence Billingsley ; they have had two children - Emma D. and Thomas L.

ELIAS RATCLIFF, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; is a son of Elias Ratcliff, Sr., a native of Surry Co., N. C., who, in 1816, came to Ohio and located in Montgomery Co. There the subject of this sketch was born March 12, 1824, and received his early education ; during early life, he learned the trade of a blacksmith, in which business he continued some seven years. He has been twice married ; first on Oct. 26, 1846, with Miss Mary Shaffer, a daughter of John Shaffer, a native of North Carolina ; Mary Ratcliff died, leaving five children - Davis, Alonzo, Elizabeth S., Perry and Anna A. His second marriage was with Miss Susan, daughter of Joel Hutchens, a native of North Carolina ; they had two children - Etta B.

and Willie A. W. Mr. Ratcliff has a beautiful farm, with good improvements, and takes a great interest in raising fruit, especially small fruit.

GEORGE W. RAUCH, tanner; P. 0. Covington; was born in Fairfield Co. in 1831, and grew to manhood there; in 1850, he went to Montgomery Co., where he learned tanning and conducted business there until 1860, when he came to Covington and purchased the Covington tannery, which was built by James Ross in 1832, but then owned by James Campbell ; Mr. Rauch rebuilt it and has operated it ever since ; he came to Covington just before the C., C. & I. C. R. R. was put in operation, and there was even then but a small beginning of a town ; in the improvements which have followed, he has done his full share, having erected a fine residence, in which he now resides ; it is situated on an elevated ridge on the left bank of the Stillwater, opposite the mouth of Greenville Creek, and is divided from the remainder of the town by the Little Branch, which enters the Stillwater just below the house ; the residence has a suburban appearance, which is not only attractive to the eye, but a source of pleasure and comfort to the family. He was married in 1853, to Sarah J. Moss, whose death occurred in 1865 ; they had six children, four of whom are now living - John Wesley, now a respected resident of Dayton, W. T. ; James B., a resident of Cowley Co., Kan.; Urilla J. and Elsworth M.; the latter two are members of the family household. Mr. Rauch's second marriage was with Miss A. M. E. Beck, and was celebrated Feb. 6, 1867 ; she is a daughter of David Beck, of Darke Co. ; b}7 her he has had five children, three of whom are living - Nettie L., Osta A. and Carrie E.

S. W. REIN, teacher ; P. 0. Bloomertown ; is a son of Nicholas Rein, a native of Germany. S. W. was born in Darke Co., Ohio, Nov. 13, 1859, and is a young man of talent, promising something honorable for the future ; he is now prepairing himself for a schoolteacher.

SAMUEL REISH, retired farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; a native of Pennsylvania was born in Berks Co. in 1785 ; married Rachel Coppas and came to this county from Union Co., Penn., in 1834 ; he purchased the southeast quarter of Sec. 33, -which was then a wild, heavily timbered tract ; after building a cabin, he removed his family into it, and has resided on this place ever since ; having witnessed the work of clearing and improving, in which he took an active part, he is one of the few early settlers left living to tell the history of their toils, privations and difficulties ; he has raised a family of seven sons and two daughters, all of whom are married ; for the past twenty years or more, he has not attempted to farm himself, but has remained on the place, and although now past four score (85), is still in possession of all his faculties.

JOHN RHOADES, farmer; P. 0. Bloomertown; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, June 24, 1820; was reared upon a farm near Farmersville ; when 20 years old, he came to Miami Co. and located in the northern part of Newberry Township, where he is living at the present time. He has twice been married ; first, on Dec. 26, 1840, with Miss Barbara Apple, of his native place ; she died June 1, 1860, leaving three children - Uriah V., Noah and Amanda; by his second marriage, which occurred Dec. 15, 1861, he has had five children, four living - William F., George C., Emma J. and Charles D. By industr}7 and econom}', Mr. Rhoades has accumulated a respectable fortune ; he has 352 acres, all in one tract, with three sets of farm buildings upon it.

NOAH RHOADES, farmer; P. O. Covington; was born Nov. 29, 1851, upon his father's farm in this township ; he was educated a farmer, and is engaged in tilling his farm, which lies in Sec. 31. His marriage with Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of Emmanuel Sherrer, a native of Shelby Co., Ohio, was celebrated Oct. 7, 1876 ; they had three children, two living - Clement Orness and Bessie Florence.

A. S. ROSENBERGER, physician, Covington; is the only " straight-out " homoeopathist practicing in Covington ; he was born in Hancock Co., Ohio, in 1848 ; his father being a farmer, his early youth was spent on a farm, attending school during the winter ; when about 5 years of age, he was the victim of paralysis, his whole left side being affected, but he afterward partially recovered from its effects, and his father determined on giving him an education ; according^, when 15 years of age, he was sent to the Academy at Berea ; afterward attended the Findla}' High School, and took a regular scientific course at Oberlin College ; commenced the study of medicine in Findlay in 1846-47, reading under the direction and tutorship of Drs. Austin and Detwiler, graduated at the Homoeopathic College at Cleveland in 1870, and commenced practice the same year in Carey, Ohio, afterward practiced several years in Leipsic, and came to this county in 1878. During the past winter, he attended a course of lectures at New York. His increasing practice shows his value as a physician, while the general high esteem in which he is held by the citizens of this vicinity indicates his character as a citizen. He has recently been chosen minister in the German Baptist Church, of which he is a member, and is universally esteemed by the people of his acquaintance. He was married in 1871 to Miss Sabina E. Workman, of Holmes Co. ; they have two children.

A. ROUTSON, merchant ; P. 0. and residence, Covington. Among the old reliable business enterprises of Covington is that known as " Routson's Store." Mr. Routson is a native of Maryland, was born in 1825 ; his youth was spent on a farm ; his parents resided in Pennsylvania, and later, in Shelby Co., Ohio. When 15 years of age he came to Covington, first learned the tailor's trade, then carried on a tailoring establishment, gradually accumulating a little stock. In 1844, Dr. Harrison became a partner, and they added a stock of dry goods, groceries, etc., thus establishing a store of general merchandise, which Mr. R. has continued to operate ever since. Mr. Routson came to Covington in 1840, a poor boy, learned a trade and gradually worked his way up, until the firm, now consisting of A. Routson and W. 0. Routson, under the style of A. Routson & Son, are doing the largest business in Covington, aggregating about $60,000 per annum, which speaks more praise for his enterprise and business ability than pen can express. He has also been identified with other business enterprises, having been connected with a warehouse for a time, and was one of the new company which re-organized the Stillwater Yalley Bank in 1879 ; is now one of its Board of Directors, and also Vice President. Nor is the business of Covington the only matter of public importance in which he has taken interest, and with wThich he has been identified ; he has united the qualities of a business man and those of a Christian citizen ; has been connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church here for upward of twenty years, and is now one of its main supporters. His residence, situated on High street, is a large two-story brick, elegantty furnished and pleasantly located. He was married in 1846 to Miss Martha Clarke, a native of Virginia, but at that time a resident of Covington ; her death occurred June 2, 1868 ; they had seven children, four of whom are now living - Mary Bell (now the wife of J. T. Bartmass, Superintendent of the Tippecanoe High School), William 0. (now associated with his father), H. W. B. (now assisting in the store), and Miss Mattie E. Mr. Routson's second marriage was with Miss S. M. Bierly, daughter of Joseph Bierly, who is also a resident of Covington.

REUBEN ROUTSON, farmer ; P. O. Bloomertown ; is a son of George Routson, a native of Maryland, who came to Ohio in the year 1832, and entered the farm upon which Reuben now resides. The subject of this sketch was born upon the farm entered by his father, Aug. 5, 1833 ; was educated a farmer, and, when young, learned the trade of a carpenter, which he worked at eleven years ; since has been engaged in farming. He has held the office of Trustee three terms. He married Miss Catharine, a daughter of David Rodehaffer, deceased ; they had ten children, nine living - George W., Margaret A., David J., Angeline B., Mary J., Sarah A., Ida May, Wesley S. and Suvilla J.

DAVID ROUTSON, retired farmer ; P. O. Covington ; is a native of Maryland, born in Carroll Co. in 1816 ; came with his parents to Shelby Co., Ohio, in 1833, where he grew to manhood, and was married, March 9, 1841, to Catharine, daughter of George Snow, deceased, who then resided about one mile west of Covington ; Mr. Routson was raised a farmer, and followed that occupation until failing health compelled him to relinquish it ; for a number of years, the farming was done bjr his sons, under his supervision, but, in the fall of 1878, he rented the farm to two sons, and removed to Covington, hoping to better his health by releasing himself entirely from care ; he now has, besides his residence on High street, the old farm in Shelby Co., containing 130 acres, which is well improved, and 126 acres in Montgomery' Co., also in a good state of cultivation with good buildings ; he has been a useful, industrious citizen, and it is hoped he may be spared to reside in Covington many years ; Mr. and Mrs. Routson are the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living - Elias W., Henry A., George W., Dorothea Ann (now Mrs. Uriah Rhoades, of this township), John G., Sarah M. and Albert L. ; Elias W. was a member of the 110th 0. Y. I., and one of the two who returned, of seven that went out together ; he is now a resident of Montgomery Co.

HENRY A. ROUTSON, farmer ; P. 0. Bloomertown ; a son of David Routson ; was born Dec. 13, 1844, in Shelby Co., Ohio, and lived with his parents until he attained his manhood. He married Miss Susan, a daughter of George Schaefer ; they had six children, five of whom are living, viz., Mary A., Fernandez 0.. Laura D., Catharine E. and Olive R, Mr. Routson has a beautiful farm, with good buildings ; he is a prosperous farmer and respected citizen.

WILLIAM ROUTSON, farmer ; P. O. Bloomertown. William Routson. born Dec. 29, 1853, in Shelby Co., Ohio, is a son of Jacob E. Routson, a native of Penns3dvania, living now in Shelby Co. ; William moved into this county in the year 1874, and located on the farm where he now lives. He married, March 22, 1873, Miss Sarah E., a daughter of George Shaefer, and sister of J. G., whose biography appears in this work ; they have four children, viz., Lartha Eldora, Jacob E. M., Maria E. A. and Harry W.

J. W. RUHL, dealer in stone and lime, Covington. Among the business enterprises of Covington, the quarrying of stone is the most extensive, and Mr. Ruhl is one of the leading men in this line ; he was born at Gabon, Ohio, in 1837 ; his parents removed to Springfield in 1848, his father having purchased a tract of land which then adjoined the corporation, but which was soon after taken into the corporation; here J. W. grew to manhood ; in 1861, he came to Covington, and engaged at farming until the fall of 1868, when he purchased the stone quarry which he is now operating ; his quarry is at the south end of town, along the bluff of the left bank of Stillwater, and has a perpendicular wall of twenty to thirtyfive feet solid stone, the upper half being porous limestone, from which a veiy good article of white lime is made ; the lower half is solid stone, in layers from four to thirty inches in thickness, from which all kinds of building stone, from common wall to the neatest caps and sills, are procured ; Mr. Ruhl has erected a Pelton patent kiln, with a capacity of 300 bushels per day of twenty-four hours ; to quarry, dress and shape the different kinds of stone and burn the lime requires, in the season, from ten to twenty-five workmen, according to the demands of his trade ; it will thus be seen that Mr. Ruhl has been identified with one of the important industries of Covington for the past eleven years, and is now prepared, by reason of his experience and improved facilities, to do a still larger business'w-hen the new railroad, now being constructed, shall give a new outlet for the riches that here lie in mother earth ; Mr. Ruhl's residence is a neat, commodious frame, situated at the extreme south end of High street, in the rear of which is his quarry and limekiln. He was married, in 1876, to Mrs. Zipporah DeVault, daughter of Charles Lindsay, one of the early settlers of Newberry Township.

JOHN G. SCHAEFER, minister, Piqua ; born in Maryland ; is a son of George Schaefer, deceased. J. G. was raised upon a farm, and when 19 3'ears of age wrent to attend the Capitol University at Columbus, to prepare for the ministry ; he received a thorough course and mastered all the principal languages except Hebrew. Immediately after he received his degree, he was ordained minister of the Lutheran Church, and has always been engaged in the cause. He has had charge of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, near Webster, for the last twenty" 3'ears. He married Miss Elizabeth Shick, of Logan Co.. Ohio. They had six children - Mary C., living in Toledo, Ohio ; H. N., living in Shelly Co.; John W., Martin L., Matilda and Maria L.

MRS. L. SCHNEPP, farming ; P. 0. Covington. William Schnepp, deceased, was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Aug. 21, 1830 ; in 1852, he came to this county and purchased the farm now occupied by his widow. He was murdered by John Riddle and Frank Stover, now in the State Prison. Mr. Schnepp was a man of excellent character, a prosperous farmer, and in every respect was highly esteemed by his neighbors. Louisa Maggart (Schnepp) was born in Champaign Co. April 14, 1836. They were married Oct. 24, 1852. They had three children, but all died in 1860.

SAMUEL SEARER, farmer; P. 0. Bradford; born in Juniata Co., Penn., May 19, 1837 ; is a son of Christian Searer, a native of Berks Co., Penn., who came to Ohio in 1845, and located in Newberry Township, Miami Co. He purchased eighty acres of land now within the corporation of Bradford, where he is living at present. The subject of this sketch was raised and educated upon a farm, and was 7 years old when his parents came to Ohio. After he attained his manhood, he taught school for several terms, and since has been engaged in farming. He married Miss Hannah, a daughter of John J. Harrison, of Newton Township, February, 1868 ; they had one child - Rosa Annie. He has a beautiful farm of 60 acres within the corporation of Bradford, with good farm buildings, and everything in good order.

D. C. SHELLABERGrER, merchant, Covington ; is the present representative of a pioneer family, being the son of Hr. M. R. Shellaberger, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and an early resident of Miami Co. H. C. was born in Covington in 1841 ; his early youth was spent there, during which he received the benefit of such educational advantages as the home school afforded ; when 16 years of age, he took a two years' course of instruction at the Piqua High School. When the first call was made for three years' troops, he was the second one to volunteer^ at Covington, and was assigned to the 44th O. Y. I., which he entered as a private, but was immediately appointed First Sergeant of Co. B. In the spring of 1862, having passed a rigid examination (one peculiar to the command of Col. Cook, who was a regular), was commissioned Second Lieutenant, in which capacity he served until the latter part of the winter of 1864, when by reason of injury incapacitating him for duty, he resigned, after which, on account of ill health, he spent the spring and summer in New York under medical treatment, then returned to Covington and engaged in general merchandising in company with a brother who is now deceased. After about three years, he sold out and opened a hardware store, in which his father, in the spring of 1871, became a partner. In June, 1879, the father died, and D. C. again became sole proprietor, and is now doing a very satisfactory business, being the leading house in Covington in the hardware line. His store building, the property of his father's estate, of which he has the charge, is conveniently located on High street, and is well calculated for the extensive stock which he now carries. Mr. Shellaberger regarded among the most substantial business men of the place ; has been Township Treasurer ; is now a member of the Council, and Secretary of the District School Board. He was married in 1864 to Miss Rose Shellenberger, daughter of Jacob E. Shellenberger, who was an early resident of Miami Co. Mr. and Mrs. Shellaberger are respected, useful members of society. They have three children, one son and two daughters.

MRS. CATHERINE SHELLENBEROER, Covington. Mrs. Shellenberger is the widow of Jacob E. Shellenberger, who came from Pennsylvania to Miami Co. in 1833 ; he was a saddler and was employed at his trade here until about 1847, when he built the brick store on the east side of High street, at the north side of the alley between Spring and Pearl streets, and added a general stock of hardware. In 1870, he sold out to his son-in-law, and in 1872 his death occurred. The widow who survives him was his second wife ; she is a daughter of J oseph Shellenberger, of Pennsylvania, and was married to Mr. J. E. Shellenberger in Philadelphia in 1854. His first wife was Miss Jane E. McDowell, also of Pennsylvania.

By his first wife he had eight children, five of whom attained majority, and three are now living - Mrs. Clinton Shellenberger, Mrs. George W. Freshour and Dr. James E. Shellenberger. By his second wife, he had eight children, six of whom are now living - Jennie, Addie, Ida, Eva, May and Olive.

ELLEN SHELLENBERGER, Covington ; she is the daughter of Samuel Thompson, whose biography appears in this work. She was married to D. M. Shellenberger, in 1861, who was the son of Jacob E. Shellenberger, by his first wife ; D. M. received a business education, being brought up to the hardware business, and continued with his father in that trade here until 1867, when he went to Brownsville, Neb., and in company with his brother W. D. engaged in the hardware trade there ; they were quite successful ; but consumption claimed both for its victims, and compelled them to relinquish their business ; both returned to Covington and died here at the place of their birth ; the decease of D. M. occurred in 1871, and that of his brother, in the following year ; Mr. Shellenberger, although a young man, had established a reputation as a business man of ability, and by his many good qualities, had won a large number of friends, who deeply mourned his early demise ; the widow and three children who survive him are pleasantly and comfortably situated ; her residence, on Wall street is one of the best in the town, and her home, in its surroundings and furnishings, indicates culture and refinement.

LEWIS C. SHOE, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; he is a son of Solomon Shoe, who was born near Hagerstown Ind., and emigrated to Ohio in 1829, and entered land in this county, Newberry Township ; he has a large farm situated on Harrison Creek, which has one of the best springs that can be found along the Creek ; Lewis C. was born Oct. 5, 1849, near Milton, Union Township ; he is a man that is respected by all who know him ; he was reared and educated a farmer, and is still engaged in the business.

J. R. SHUMAN, banker, President Stillwater Valley Bank, Covington. Of the business men of Covington, none are more worthy of special mention than is J. R. Shuman. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1826, and his early life was spent on a farm, during which he received such education as the schools afforded and a three years' attendance at the Tuscarora Academy, after which he taught two winters. He came to Covington in 1851 ; engaged in the dry-goods business, and continued in mercantile pursuits from that time until 1872, when he was chosen President of the Stillwater Valley Bank, a position for which his varied mercantile experience had eminently fitted him, and his long and successful management proves him the right man in the right place. He was married in 1855 to Miss Sophronia J. Huckins, who was a native of Bangor, Me., and at the time of her marriage a resident of Indiana. Mr. Shuman's residence is one of the largest in Covington ; is surrounded by a spacious yard, very neatly adorned. It is situated on a prominent part of Pearl street. Mr. Shuman came to Covington when there was but a small beginning of a town, and has been identified with its improvements, and aided materially in securing many of them, having contributed more than $3,000 toward the construction of pikes and other public improvements.

HENRY SPITTLER, retired, Covington, a native of Pennsylvania ; was born in Lebanon Co. in 1811 ; raised on a farm, and has followed farming with the exception of the past twelve years. He came to Miami Co. in 1849 and settled about five miles northwest of Covington, where he remained until 1869, when he purchased a residence in Covington, to which he removed and retired from active labor. In 1872, he, in company with Wilkerson Pierson and John Shuman, opened a bank in Covington, which is now known as the Stillwater Valley Bank. They began with $35,000 cash capital. At one time, Mr. Spittler held all the stock, except about $1,000, and has been its principal stockholder during all its existence. The bank was managed with such perfect honest}' and stability' that it passed safely through the crisis of 1873, and has been growing in the confidence and patronage of the people ever since. Its history is given more completely elsewhere, and need not, therefore, be repeated here. Mr. Spittler has been successful both as a farmer and banker, and is now a valuable citizen. He was married in

Pennsylvania to Susan Banner ; they have reared eleven children, eight of whom are now living ; all are married - five are residents of this county - two are in Indiana, and one in Missouri. Mrs. Spittler's death occurred here March 7, 1870.

JOHN SOWERS, grain and stock dealer, Bradford ; of the firm of J. Sowers & Son, grain and stock dealers ; is a son of Henry S., a native of Maryland ; came from Maryland to Pennsylvania, and, in 1836, he moved to Ohio and located in Richland Co., living there until his death. The subject of this sketch was born and raised in York Co., Penn., Feb. 6, 1814 ; when 17 years old, he learned house carpentry and cabinet-making ; in 1835, he came to Ohio ; in the spring of 1836, returned to Pennsylvania, and, in the fall of the same 3Tear, came back to Ohio and located in Covington, Miami Co.; he worked at his trade in all about fourteen years; he then began railroading and merchandising, carrying on business himself awhile; afterward was in the firm of Routson, Leonard & Co.; when the Piqua & Union Railroad was built, he had the agency ; built a warehouse and began dealing in grain and stock ; lie carried on business there until 1868 ; sold out and came to Bradford ; built a warehouse (the first building put up in Bradford), and bought the first grain sold in the town ; he had also a business room in the house and sold the first goods ; they are doing a very good business ; their annual sales being about 100,000 bushels. His marriage was celebrated Jan. 3, 1838, with Miss Mar}-, a daughter of John Thompson, one of the first settlers in Miami Co. ; they had eight children, of whom six are living - William H., John T., Ora B., Annie, Frank F. and Sylvester S.

JOSEPH TEAGUE, retired farmer ; P. O. Covington ; is a son of Moses Teague, who was a native of South Carolina and emigrated to Ohio in the year 1805 ; stopped in Warren Co. about six months ; then came to Miami and located near Ludlow Falls ; they lived there forty-three years ; moved then to Indiana and remained there ten years ; came back to Miami Co. and lived here until death. The subject of this sketch was born in Newton Township, Miami Co., Sept. 15, 1818, and lived with his parents upon a farm until he attained his majority. He married Miss Mar}' A., daughter of David Patty, a native of South Carolina ; after his marriage, he learned the tanning business, and followed it about ten years on the old home farm in Newton Township ; he then purchased a farm in Darke Co., mostly all timber ; opened and improved it, living there about twenty-five years ; in 1879, he traded his farm in Darke Co. for the J. M. Mahler farm in Newberry Township, Miami Co., situated on the Mott pike ; this is a splendid farm of 118 acres, with a spring upon it that has few equals.

SAMUEL THOMPSON, retired farmer, Covington, is one of the oldest settlers now living in this township ; he was born in North Carolina in 1802, and came with his parents, Sylvester and Polly Thompson, to Miami Co. in about 1807 ; they first settled in Newton Township, entering the tract now known as the Landis farm ; afterward entered the west half of Sec. 32, in this township, removing to it about 1817, and also entered two quarter- sections on Greenville Creek about the same time ; he resided here in Sec. 32 until his death. Samuel grew to manhood here in the pioneer days of Miami Co. ; went to a subscription school held in a log cabin at Sugar Grove, but later on a cabin was built in the present Mohler neighborhood ; soon after he had attained his majority, he came in possession of the northwest quarter of Sec. 32, upon which he built a cabin, where he removed his family, and has resided here all his life ; when he came upon this tract it was all woods, except uan opening" of six or eight acres ; now it is one of the finest farms in the county ; there is a good brick house, and other farm buildings to correspond, all the result of his labor and management. He was married in 1823, to Hannah, daughter of Peter Rench, who settled in Newton Township before the war of 1812 ; they had a family of eleven children, and, what is remarkable, there has been as yet but one death in the family - that of the mother, who died Sept. 14, 1879 ; the children are all married, and each has a family ; their names are as follows : Catherine, Falkoner, David, whose biography appears in this work ; William, now a resident of Iowa ; Nancy, now Mrs. Duncan, of Darke Co. ; Mary, now Mrs.

D. J. Martin, of Covington; Rhoda, now Mrs. B. F. Jones, of Chicago; Samuel, now a resident of Findlay ; Lavina, now Mrs. Z. Tobias, of Covington ; Josephus ; Ellen Shellenberger, also of Covington ; and Betty, now Mrs. Isaac Heckman. Josephus was born in 1840, and grew to manhood here on the farm upon which his father first settled. He was married, in 1861, to Amanda, daughter of Otha Rench. who was an early resident of Piqua, and later of Newton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Josephus Thompson have resided here on the old homestead ever since their marriage, having the care of his parents for several years past. They have six children.

DAVID R. THOMPSON, Covington ; son of Samuel Thompson, whose biography appears in this work, was born in 1825, and grew to manhood here in the days of log schoolhouses and limited farming facilities. He was married, in 1845, to Catharine, daughter of Wm. Long, Sr., a pioneer of Newton Township ; after his marriage, he remained on his father's farm for about two y ears, then purchased and removed to his present homestead, in Sec. 32, which formerly belonged to his grandfather ; his wife's death occurred here April 10, 1853 ; by her had four children, three of whom are now living ; he was again married, Nov. 10, 1856, to Susan Lehman. During the following winter his house was burned, consuming all his furniture and clothing ; this house stood near where his present residence stands, and was erected by his grandfather about 1810 ; it was made of hewn logs, weather boarded, and was at the time of building considered the finest residence in the county. It will be seen, Mr. Thompson is a life-resident, and has been identified with the history and development of Newberry Township from the pioneer days to the present time ; the present homestead contains 130 acres, and is in an advanced state of cultivation. He is the father of eleven children, ten of whom are living : by his first wife he had Joseph R., Orrin and Alonzo ; his second wife's children were Charles, D. C., Elizabeth, John F., Edwin, Clinton and Samuel.

HENRY TUCKER, blacksmith, Covington ; a Buckeye by birth ; was born in 1833 ; is a son of Abraham Tucker, a native of Tennessee, and for several years a resident of Union Township, in this county, where his death occurred in 1845. The subject of this sketch, then being a lad of 12 years of age, was thrown upon his own resources ; when 15 years of age, he began work at his trade in West Milton, and has followed it ever since, with the exception of about two years, during which he was engaged in different occupations, but returned to his trade again ; most of the time he worked in the vicinity of Laura, but the years from 1867 to 1876 were spent in Indiana; in 1876, he came to Covington, and in 1878, purchased his present property, which is located in the south part of town, on High street, his shop and residence adjoining, being very conveniently and pleasantly located. He was married, in 1853, to, Olive, daughter of Elam Kell}', who was a native of Pennsylvania and an early resident of Union Township ; the fruits of this union have been five children, two of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are both members of the Christian Church, and respected by all who know them.

JOHN ULLERY, retired farmer ; P. O. Coviilgton ; one of the oldest residents now living in Newberry Township ; is a son of Jacob Ullery, a native of Maryland, who left there in the spring of 1810 and came by wagons to Pittsburgh, where he purchased an old " flat," upon which he loaded his goods and family and floated down to Cincinnati ; here they stayed about three weeks, being detained by a sick child, which died and was buried within the present limits of the city ; he then hired teams to take him to Dayton, where he rented one of the little shanties of which Dayton was then composed, but only remained about one month ; while living here, he purchased a tract of 160 acres of Government land, about ten miles north of Dayton, to which he removed ; the following winter he came up the Stillwater, prospecting, and, having an eye to a mill-site, purchased, for $300, the southeast quarter of Sec. 30, in Newberry Township, a part of which he afterward laid out in town lots ; in the following spring, he removed his family to the new purchase : as there was but a small cabin partly built, the family had to shift as best they could until the cabin could be enlarged and made suitable for occupation ; during the war which commenced the following year, Mr. Ullery took his family and went back south to the older settlements, but, having a fine crop of wheat, came up with help and harvested and stacked his wheat ; notwithstanding the presence of Indians and, what would now be more dangerous, a company of troops, stationed at the block-house which stood near the mouth of Greenville Creek, he found that stack all right three years afterward, and it furnished bread for his family until he could get another start; about 1817, he purchased a saw-mill near Fort Greenville, which he removed and erected on his place ; this was the first saw-mill in Newberry Township ; after having cleared about 30 acres, he laid out in town lots that part of his place which is now between High street and the river ; he sold his mill, which was in running order, to Benjamin Lehman for $4,000, being then thought a large price ; he purchased several tracts in the vicinity of Covington, the northwest quarter of Sec. 29 being one of them ; a part of this tract he afterward sold in town lots, and this is now the most attractive residence property in the town. Mr. Ullery was an active, useful citizen, and, could he now see what has been developed from his humble beginning seventy years ago, he would no doubt exclaim, " I have seen and am satisfied ; now let me die in peace." But, while he did not live to see much of the richness of his pioneer settlement, some of his sons still remain to see and enjoy the blessings handed down by the arduous efforts of the former generation. Jacob Ullery was twice married, and had five children by the first wife and eleven by the second. John, the oldest child, was born in Maryland May 22, 1801, and was therefore onty a lad when his parents came to Miami Co., and received but little education, for, after they came here, at first there was no school, and later, when there was one, his services were too important at home ; his education was, therefore, of that practical character that could be obtained swinging the ax and hoe, or following the plow. He was married in 1822 to Elizabeth, daughter of Powell Dale, an early settler of Newberry Township ; they began housekeeping on the farm in Sec. 29, where he now resides ; when he came here there was but an "opening" - now it is in a good state of cultivation, witfffair buildings ; he had eleven children, six of whom are living, and all but one are married ; the oldest son, Samuel, was a member of the 110th 0. V. I., and was a prisoner during the last six or seven months of the war, the most of that time being spent in the notorious Andersonville Prison. The youngest son, John D., was in the 100-day service ; is still single, and resides, as also does his father, with James McMaken, who has rented the farm ; Mr. Ullery's death occurred Feb. 6, 1875.

DAVID E. ULLERY, farming and saw-milling ; P. 0. Piqua. His father was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, and came to Miami Co. with John Ullery, whose biography appears in this work. D. E. was born Oct. 25, 1839, upon the farm where he lives, was educated a farmer, and has traveled considerably. April 22, 1861, he enlisted in the 20th 111. V. I.; was in the engagements at Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and Raymond, where he was severely wounded ; he was taken prisoner before Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864, and was in the Andersonville Prison seven months. His marriage with Miss Rachel, a daughter of Peter Passage, deceased, was celebrated Aug. 26, 1865 ; the}^ had six children, five living - Minnie, Sarah, Clifford, Joseph and an infant not yet named.

L. B. VALENTINE, teacher and farmer ; P. 0. Versailles ; was born Dec. 27, 1857, upon his father's farm ; he was raised a farmer, but, the last few years, has been preparing himself for a school-teacher ; he is the only child of Uriah and Harrietta Valentine ; his father was born in Frederick Co., Md., Dec. 29, 1819 ; moved to Ohio in the year 1844, and located in Versailles, Darke Co.; was a tailor by trade, and followed the business in that place for twelve years, then came to this county and purchased the farm where he now lives.

J. G. WAGNER, tile manufacturer, Covington ; is comparatively a young man ; he was born in Berks Co., Penn., in 1834 ; became fatherless when a child, and, when 7 years of age, was bound out to an uncle who was a farmer ; when he was 16 years of age, his uncle sold the farm and released him, after which he sustained himself principally by teaching ; in 1861, he was employed in the Quartermaster's Department about three months, but, on account of a chronic disease, was compelled to return home, where he resumed teaching. In 1862, he enlisted in the 167th Penn. V. I. for nine months' service, in which he served as First Sergeant of Co. B until the expiration of the term. In 1865, he came to Ohio, and was employed as Superintendent of Pleasant Hill School two }Tears, of the Tippecanoe school about three years, and of other schools at different periods, teaching in Ohio in all about nine years ; in 1875, he purchased an interest in Ford & Co.'s wheel works, at Tippecanoe, of which he was superintendent two years, increasing the business materially ; in 1.877, Mr. Wagner came to Covington and purchased 20 acres of land adjoining the town, which included the tile factory, which he has since successfully conducted ; the factory possesses an O'Ferrall machine, a square kiln. 13^x13^- feet, and 9 feet high inside, with 245 feet of shedding, and complete and systematic arrangements for handling material, etc. ; the growing demand for tile has induced a great growth of factories ; Mr. Wagner has increased the aggregate of his business, and is now doing probably more than any other two similar establishments in this county. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Harriet, daughter of William Pierson, deceased, who was a resident of Newton Township ; they have one child, a daughter.

AARON WARNER, farmer ; P. 0. Bradford ; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Nov. 1, 1832 ; was raised and educated a farmer, and has always been engaged in that occupation ; he owns one of the nicest farms in Newbeny Township, with a good house and one of the best barns in the county, having a supporting roof, situated on an elevation with a beautiful descent to the south ; he has everything handy and well arranged about his premises. He married Miss Charlotte, a daughter of Solomon Basserman, a native of Pennsylvania, Dec. 1, 1853 ; they had four children, viz., David B., Elmira, Albert B. and Alice. Aaron, son of Henry Warner, a native of Montgomery Co., Ohio, moved to Miami about the year 1835, and located upon the farm owned now by his son, Aaron, lying about one and a half miles northeast of Bradford ; in 1872, he sold the farm to Aaron and purchased a farm southwest of Bradford, in Darke Co., where he now resides.

A. WEAVER, M. D., druggist, Covington ; is one of the firm of Weaver & Kendell, druggists, of Covington, who commenced business here about four years ago, and are now carrying a full stock of drugs and druggists' sundries, receiving a liberal patronage in their business, besides doing a large practice. Dr. Weaver was born in Virginia in 1822, and his youth was spent on a farm in Montgomeiy Co., his parents having emigrated to Ohio when he was a babe ; he began reading medicine in Canton, 111., in 1845, completing his studies with Dr. Gish, of Salem, Montgomery Co., Ohio, with whom he was assoc

BoehriDger, Geo., Spoke Factory. BcggS, E., Carpenter and Farmer. Brandon, Reuben, Minister. Browne, W. A., Publisher. Buchanan, J. A., Carpenter, Sec. 6. Butterfield, Amos, Hotel.