Newberry Township (part 1 of 3)

Newberry Township

Moore, Hyram 22m Dawson, J.C. 36m Dunning, J.B. 33m Sarah 26f Luella 5f Richard 3m Atwood, Eliza 14f Dunning, Nancy 45f Clark, Jane 28f Martha 6/12f Rankin, J.R. 40m Anna 37 f Martha J. 16f Josseph 14m David 12m John 7m Frances M. 2m

Margaret 355 Robert 18m Catherine 7f Martha She Ullery, Elizabeth 63f Mariah J. ail T Joseph 19m Babylon, Ephraim 33m Margaret CA g Lewis 6m Sarah Bell 8 i Milton 4/12m Kenzie, Sarah M. AME ALS Isaac 12m

End Of Covington

Molor, Wm. 25m Berringer, Lewis 23m Wise, Jacob 30m Mary J. Zot Mary E. 7f John A. 3m Markland, Thomas 35m Mary 31 f Emory 5m Sarah E. 2f Mercer, James 13m

Garl, Isabella 63 Ff Swab, Marshall 32m John C. 6m George H. 4m Alexander, Eliza 26f Garl, Abram 59m Margaret 50f Daniel 27m Abram 22m Elizabeth TSF McDowell, Luke 36m Elizabeth 40f Lavina 12f James 6m Linsey, Charles 40m Ellen Zot Mary J. 14f Sarah 12f Sapora 10Ff Lydia A. 5f John S. 3m Hollypeter, Wm. 20m McMullen, Charles 19m Hollypeter, John 55m Elizabeth 53 f Freeman, Mary 32f Hollypeter, Benjamin18m Samuel 16m Rachael 1ST Martin 10m Silas 5m Freeman, Isaac 11m Elizabeth 7f John 5m Elliott, Andrew J. 22m Hollypeter, David 25m Harriet 23f Lynus 10/12m Newberry Twp.

Masker, Soloman 38m P Mickaloy, Peter 30m Adaline 47f P Mary 30f Mahala A. 15f oO Catherine 6 Ff Reuben H. 10m Oo Margaret PA Joseph 8m Oo Susan of, 0 Fahnestock, Joseph 30m Rachael A. PAS 10) Mary 28f

Perry, Amos 60m sc Fahnestock, Daniel 76m Rachael 54 f Oo Christena 35f John W. 34m Oo Eleanor eof Elizabeth 28f 0 Benjamin 28m Sarah Ann 24f 0 James 27m 0 Hollypeter, Simon 45m Silas 22m oO Anna 43f Nathan 21m O Wm. 20m Rachael 19f 0 Mary A. 18f Amos 17m Oo Elizabeth 16f Lucinda 16f O Selome 1 ak Stephen 13m Oo Isaac 10m

MAry 34f Enos 13m Elizabeth 11f David 9m Catherine 7Ff John 5m Margaret 3f Sarah L. 1/12Ff Moor, Andrew 53m Mary 41f Amanda 12f Jane 10f Nancy A. 7f Ellen 4f Ensey, Frederick 52m Catherine 40f Adam 17m David 15m Martin 10m Wm. 8m Valentine 6m Lucinda 4f Noah 5/12m Rike, John 58m Catherine 52 f Susannah 32F Reuben 20m Joseph 18m Catherine 16f Mary 13f John L. 11m

P Nickleson, John 30m Ky Melepa 21f Oo Mary 26f O Benjamin 23m O Samuel 20m 0 Wagoner, Samuel 23m O Sarah 25f Melinda 1f p P Wagoner, Christopher 66m Elizabeth 40Ff P Christopher 14m V Mary 18f e) Lydia 14f Oo Cornelius 11m 0 Isaac 9m .@) Elizabeth 5f O Wagoner, Absolem 21m In Elizabeth 19f Wm. 2m 2m En Isaral 5/12m Pp P Stanley, John 44m P Mary 39f 0 Martha 17f Julian 15f En Mary E. 14f En John H. 12m James T. 10m 40m Ky Granville 8m P Marion L. 6m oO Crull, Joseph 50m Oo Hannah 47 Ff O Mary THT oO J. Henry 13m Sarah Of Oo Kendal, Elizabeth 70f 10) Michael, Mary 7Ff O O Michael, Simon 43m O Nule, George 35m Ky Sarah 30f Wm. H. 1Im Newberry Twp.

Village Of Clayton End Of Clayton

Bosserman, John 24m P Frances 19f P Rarick, David 44m P Catherine 45f P Daniel 23m oO Elizabeth 16f Oo Fetters, John 3m 0 Fetters, Daniel 42m P Mary 41f P Catherine 17f oO James 15m oO Samuel 12m oO Elizabeth 10f Oo Hannah 6 f O Broombaugh, Henry 50m_ P Margaret 47f Pp Elizabeth 23 f oO Susan 21f oO Sarah 19Ff O Henry 17m 1@) Samuel 14m O Lydia t2F O Charlotte 10f O Catherine 7 fF O Anna 5f O Andrew 1m O Broombaugh, John 27m O Hannah 24f 1@) Matilda 2f O Ephraim 7/12m 0) Broombaugh, Susannah 44f Catherine 26f oO John 24m O Kennard 22m 10) Mary 20f Oo Emanuel 16m O Ester 13 oO Elizabeth 10f oO Susannah Vik i O Ballinger, Stephen 30m O

Mary A. 33 aul Eliza 13f Louisa J. Af Frederick W. 11/12m Falkner, David 34m Catherine 25f Mary 8f Susan ae Reuben H. 4m Erisman, Harriet 18f Tobias, Daniel 34m Elizabeth Sic HS Else Ske Jacob 7m Mary 4f Anna ok Falkner, Jacob 31m Catherine 26f Levi 10m Hannah E. via i Burns, Daniel 57m Eve 54f Henry 14m David 11m Peck, Fanny 1g, Buck, Henry 23m Sarah 16f Etter, John 25m Walmer, Jonathon 27m Christina 23f Mary Ann em Groover, George 45m Eliza 43f Syrus 15m George 12m Rudolph 9m Anna 6f Louisa WA ae

Jones, George 24m Mary A. 21f Widdle, Wm. 28m Fees, Jacob 29m Sarah 23f Caroline 1f Hanes, David 18m Souders, John 51m Barbary 41f Joshua 19m John 17m Benjamin 12m Jacob 11m David 6m Crozier, Lucinda 14f Hollypeter, Isaac20m Eifaleman, Isaac 50m Catherine 48f Mefar, Lydia E. 4f Souders, Mary TOF Etter, Mary 15f Martin, Alexander 40m Barbary 34f Alexander 14m Theodore 12m Sarah J. 10f Matthew 8m Ann E. 6 Ff John 4m Wm. H. 2m Mary J. 4/12Ff Walmer, John 52m Magdalena 45f John H. 18m Elizabeth a Bee i Susan 10f Sarah oR Lydia 8Ff Aspinall, Dyson 45m Sarah A. 24f cont.

Fahnestock, Wm. 47m P Jones, Joseph 33m Anna 40f Pp Christina 30F Daniel 18m P Elias 7m Ephraim 15m O Calvin 5m Wm. 13m Oo Margaret Sf Jacob 1im 0 Rachael Af O Thornton, Jacob C. 26m John 2m 0 Catherine aOf

Tobias, Michael 45m P Bausmans, Henry 35m Mary 49f P Isaac 21m P Yingling, Jacob 60m Frederick 18m P Melly Ann 50f Susannah 16f O Croft, Frances 11m Mary 14f O Lavina 10f O Gerard, Susan 60f Amanda 8f 1@)

Whitmer, Samuel 51m P Elizabeth oto Barbary 45f P Glofs, Susannah 13f Valentine 20m P Hipple, Frederick 25m Catherine 22f Pp Wm. 30m Benjamin 17m Pp Barbary 12f P Samuel 10m Pp Peter 8m @)

Catherine A3f Henry 22m Nancy 16f Daniel 14m Caroline 12f Jacob 10m Lavina 7Ff Wm. 2m Finfrock, Henry 39m Margaret 29f Catherine 18f Martin 12m Wm. 5m Susan 3 Beel, Jacob 15m Finfrock, Lewis 27m Elizabeth 25f Barbary 10/12Ff Grubb, John 34m Joshua 6m Clingingpeel, E.W.27m Eve aS I Etter, Lydia 2of Mercer, John 7m Rarick, John 31m Elizabeth 29f Mary 7Ff Fanny ok Isaac Im Boggs, Aaron 37m Melvina 37f Washington 14m Catherine He a Ezekiel 11m Wm. 9m Marion 8m Alden 6m Franklin 4m Melvina 2m Nancy 4/12f

Wise, Samuel 43m Barbary 38 Ff Elizabeth 20Ff Sarah 18Ff Jacob 17m John 15m Samuel 13m Andrew 12m Jane 10f Levi 8m Abraham 6m Isaac twins 6m Henry 4m Daniel 2m

Wise, Moses 36m 0 Douds, John 35m Ire Elizabeth 35f Oo Eliza 28f NY Susan 15f 0 Mary 13f O Rebecca 11f .@) Joseph 9m Oo Elizabeth TOs O Catherine oN i Oo Barbary twins 5f O Sarah Ann 3f Oo Mariah 1f O

Source changes here: from The History of Miami County, Ohio, by W. H. Beers & Co, published 1880; 7,477 words in this source stream.

Newberry Township

Oo., near Troy ; his early life was spent upon a" ®*5®1 wa® ^°m " Miami age ; he then enlisted in the 147to Tv T ^ ? fcn"* "W ±e was 19 years of the 194th O. Y. L for one v«f, V' ®* fo"r months, afterward enlisted in was not engaged in any bat^'b^hlf? 2>rw,pd to battle for his country ; he was twice Wried K badJ° do a great deal of hard marching He

»*ge was with a of ,bi?. ?ne °b*Jd, Mizpah. His second, marnice farm of 26 acrwf with _"°?n?anueI Blickenstaff, deceased ; Mr. Cassel has a Clayton. ' ®ood improvements, a short distance north of North office of the Pan Handle iPr0^0 ' f^. ^lUia^LE ' now chief clerk in freight Bee. 11, 1861. His marn.7. B'-50'i»at Chicago; Mrs. Couffer's decease oocurred 1864 ; she was born ;n .^18S Sarah Dubois was celebrated Oct. 4 o»me to Ohio * 80,1 °fyjUla" Bowler, a native of Pennsylvania, who moved to this oountv m^? 1??.?**^ located in Butler Co. ; in the year 1824, he

HENRrnRPp^ ' My have two children - Theodore and Thomas F. ington who deseiwo .7^^!ba,lt' -®ovH,gtolL Among the business men of Covthe firm of Drees. 18 Mr. Henry Drees, the senior member of

^niflrrvd «isTLa V7 m , to^owmg spring, Mr. D. Face became a partner, and they a e stock gradually as their trade increased ; in 1866, Mr. Drees sold his interest to T. C. Leonard, but re-purchased it about six months later, and has continued in the business ever since, being associated with different parties as partners ; in 1876, the present firm was formed ; they now occupy two rooms which adjoin each other ; in one is kept a general stock of groceries, queensware, etc., in the other a large stock of staple and fancy dry goods, boots, shoes and clothing, while the upper story is used for a tailor shop where suits are made to order. Mr. Drees came to Covington in 1854, a young man with nothing but his natural abmties and a knowledge of tailoring, but by energy and hard work, soon established himself in business here ; his long and successful business career is the best tribute we can give to ability, industry and wise management ; for he has been the business man of the different firms with which he has been connected ; he is also now one of the firm of Dodd, Face & Co., who operate the hub, spoke and bending factory here. He was married in 1855 to Miss Agnes Neith, who is a sister of one o his present partners ; they have eight children. , .

CHRISTIAN DUNKEL, miller ; P. O. Covington. Mr. Dunkel, nature or Pennsylvania, was bom in Dauphin Co., in 1812 ; his father died when he was a child, and his youth was spent in various occupations ; was errand-boy m a sto two years or more, then worked on a farm for a time, then went into a woo factory ; teamed some, and worked at the carpenter's trade, and when about years of age began milling, which he has followed most of the time since ; he from Lancaster Co., Penn., to Miami Co., Ohio, in 1835, and has the vicinity of Covington ever since ; the mill now knownas Dunkel's,of whic is the manager, has a quite interesting history in connection with the ^u81^, Q development of Covington; the site was first utilized by Jacob Ullery, removed a saw-mill from near Fort Greenville, using the then abandonedfort forq ters while tearing down and removing it ; rafted it down Greenville Creek an P it up here, a little west of where the present flour-mill stands ; afterward JLehman bought it, together with the grounds, and erected a flour-mill ; heso^ John Brumbaugh, he to Patty Bros., they to - McCampbell, who in turn d19P°®®" of it to Swisher & Hartzell, and they to Ullery & Mikesell ; this Ullery was.ft., . of the first owner, and Mikesell the John Mikesell whose biography appears in iw work ; a brother of Ullery 's bought out Mikesell, Lewis Kensinger bought out one of the Ulleiys, and in 1877 Dunkel & Miller bought out Ullery & Kensinger. * Mr. Miller is a farmer of Newton Township, and quite aged, the business an agement is left entirely to Mr. Dunkel, a position which his experience, both as » miller and business man, eminently fits him, and which he is successfully The mill is operated for custom and merchant business, and has a capacity 0 barrels of flour per day ; it is situated near the mouth of Greenville ureeK, which its power is supplied, and is on the Painter's Creek pike, near the onag across Stillwater, at the south part of Covington. Mr. Dunkel has been lden with one of the important industries in the vicinity of Covington for nparij a century , is still an active man of business and a respected citizen. He was ned in 1840, to Miss Mary Eresman, of Darke Co., but she only lived a^® year ; he was again married in 1834, to Miss Maiy, daughter of John Fallow , deceased, who was an early resident of Newberry Township. ^ alknor, a native of this county, was bom near West Milton in 1816 ; was near Covington, upon his father's farm, afterward belonging to him ; he put au w improvements upon the farm ; during the thirty years of his married hf^ J" , *kree seasons that he did not put up a building of some kind. H Feb. 19, 1880, a highly respected citizen. L. D. was bom June 9, 1851, n^r T88 ra*ge<* 1111(1 educated upon the farm where he lives ; kes arming he has been engaged in the dairy' business for about four years; hesupa d o« ra^k that gives general satisfaction. He married bwrjr Township, and purchased a farm kn. ^. th*!f,1"t,l 1816 ; moved into Newthis sketch w£ boro unoHhe f8 tbe Yount &nn. The subject of spent in assisting his father upon the farm *3, *81® » his early life was

^at the early pioneers had tc^endure - he ht ^°WS 8?.me^lillg of the hardships district, but not on the same h h ^ways hved in the same school mentioned, and west of Stillwater Mr FpT£? k g°?f.fai?1 west of the one Jo' n838' with Miss Maria, a daughter of rSfr i?8 been married - first, Dec 1848, leaving four ch& 4gtcv cSLSK ^ Fetter died »E second marriage was celebrated i)^ "T* John H. His only member of the bar at ru' la'^yer "d broker, Covington. Mr. Freshour the Newton Township in Wl^W vont?e"reS'dent °f Miami Co' ' was boro in 1" 1861, when the first call wasmade h® 8pen*on.the fann "d at school, organization, was elected** First ' t*-*8 Promoted to First Sergeant, and on the re- Captain. His mmShTth - bk.LieuJfnanti "d a little later was promoted to foe Surgeon in cha^ » ^8^ T?? ^ declared by dent of the StiUwate^vSf1 e«ga^ed/Q different enterprises, latterly Jbeing Presihas since ^ which ^withdrew in June, 1879, and business. He - br?S?r and lawyer, and is doing a very satisfactory was born Nov 28 1807^ T°wnship, and lived there until death. Jacob Furnaa and educated a faimf!?7, Z J118 (ather 8 farm 1,1 Newton Township ; was raised iarmer ; his educational advantages were veiy limited j he is one of the oldest citizens living, bom in Miami Co.; has seen the full development of the county, having resided upon his farm for forty-seven years* He been married-fin*, with Miss Abby Large ; she died n 1862, leav^g two clri- -dren - Joshua and Rachel His second marriage was celebrate! March lb, m with Mrs. Margaret McDonald, whose maiden name was Dowler;

JOSHUA FURNAS, former ; P. 0. Versailles. Joshua Furnas, is a soa o Jacob Furnas, whose biography appears in this work. Joshua was born P° father's form Aug. 18, 1839 ; when young, he assisted hm ftthsr on ttofom attended school. At the age of 20 years, he attended a select school contouea y

In the year 1861, he went to Iowa ; when there, enlisted in the 28th low - discharged three months later on account of prairie sore eyes > be then to his native place ; in October 1862, he enlisted in the 110th 0. V. I. ,

Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, Sailor's Run, and many other lesser engage After his return from service, he married Miss Eliza Dowler, Oct o, I » had one child - Emma Bell ^ ^nt

S. B. GIFFIN, retired former; P. 0. Covington. S. B. bom six miles south of Dayton, Ohio, Sept 11, 1804, is a son of William Otfto, Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio, about the year 1800, and located n nati ; lived there awhile, then moved to Montgomery Co. ; from there to > the year 1835, he moved to Miami Co. and located southwest of Piqua, there until death. S. B. was raised, until 16 years old, upon a iann, learned the trade of a blacksmith ; he worked eleven years southwest ot qu»h ^ twelve years in Covington ; he had to quit his trade on account of nis y failing him - he purchased a farm near Covington, now known as the lo > traded this for the James Etter farm ; sold it and bought the old bon which he exchanged for the farm where he now resides ; his fhrm is « ntu a . k mile west of Covington, containing 81 acres of rolling land. Near his res one of these valuable springs that are quite numerous in Miami Co. He been married ; first, Vonknm nf namiltnn Co.. Ohio, in af 7 b, with Miss Martha Vanhorn, of Hamilton Co., Ohio, v 1828. They had nine children, of whom four are living - William, Joan ert and Martha A. His second marriage was with Miss Martha Scott. , ftge- . J.V. GIFFIN, farmer ; P. 0. Covington. J. V. Giffin, a son of S. B. biography appears in this work, was bom in Warren Co., Ohio, Jan. > , when 16 years of age, he learned the trade of a wagon-maker, and has w the business for over thirty years ; in 1852, he moved to Logansport^wu-i there nine years, then removed to Miami Co., Ohio ; he has been engaged mg for the last three years ; has a small farm about one mile southwest or tjo ^ ton, and also a residence in Covington. He married Miss Annie N., , a

Joseph Young, March 10, 1858. They had five children - Samuel J., Schuyler , Ida May, Mattie B. and George E. Mr. Giffin has served as Mayor of lovingw for three years and seven months. ,, n

- CHARLES M. GROSS, carriage manufacturer, Covington. Mr. Gross old resident of Covington, and has been identified with the business interes ^ the town for many years ; he was bom in Bucks Co., Penn., in 1823, ^ to Miami Co. with his parents, in 1837 ; in 1841, he went to Dayton and l«jx" maker's trade, and, in 1845, started a little shop here, whichhecon^ ued until 1862, when he enlisted in the 110th O. V. I., in which he served unt jturrender of Lee at Appomattox ; after the war, he again engaged in the m ««ture of carnages in Covington, and has continued the business ever 8U^e'in2 ___? on High street, is a two-story structure, the upper part the mosttwSrDg finishing, and the lower for storage and salesroom, taste ^ 1)6 gratified with a satisfactory equipage J nenoe and reduced expenses of the firm (now Charles Gross & Son) enable them to eon, who was a graduate of ta^m'Uld *fnf1?ued 'he business until 1876, when the jug his time entity o^nni^to^tf ' de8lnng,a'ai?er place' *ad ^ Doctor hav- Dr. Harrison is now ^ °"£°f "- J"g» Practice, they sold ont ; was bom in Ru?/n"^here bls 8011 Samuel resides. The subject of this sketch lair Co., Penn., Sept 22, 1826 ; came to Ohio with his parents when quite small ; was reared and educated as a -farmer ; soon after his fathers death, which occurred in 1861, he rented his farm, and has since lived a retired hfe; he is living a single life, on a No. 1 farm, lying in the northwest part of Newberry Township, and is highly respected by the citizens of his neighborhood

A. J. HARTLE, fanner; P. 0. Covington. A. J. Hartle was born July 5, 1841, upon the farm where he now lives ; his early life was spent helping me father and attending the district school ; he is a son of John Hartle, a native 0^enn?? ' vania, who came to Ohio in the year 1820, and located in Newberry Township. When the subject of this sketch was 19 years old, he enlisted in the 44th 0. V. i ; was in the engagements at Lewisburg, Dutton Hill, Lynchburg (lasting twentytwo days), Liberty, Beverly, and a great many others ; was discharged in August, 1865. He married Miss Catharine, a daughter of John Lindsay, deceased , y had five children, of whom four are living, viz., Came B., Rosa A., Ottie May an Luedna. _ .

JAMES HARTLE, farmer; P. 0. Covington. James Hartle erick Hartle, deceased, and brother of Samuel, whose biography will be foun this work ; was bom in Blair Co., Penn., Jan. 28, 1828, and came to Ohio wi parents when 1 year old ; he was raised a farmer, and has always been engagea the business. His marriage with Miss Catharine, a daughter of Pe^ be » deceased, of Darke Co., was celebrated Dec. 18, 1851 ; they had nine children, -> Elizabeth, Lavina T., Columbus, Frederick, La Fayette, Albert, Calvin, Ura Dr. Franklin. . . Mr

PHILIP HARTZELL, carpenter and millwright; P. 0. Covington. Mr Hartzell, one of the old residents, is a son of Philip Hartzell, Sr., who was a of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio when a young man with his fstner, Hartzell. Adam located in Montgomery Co., about 1800, and resided in county until his decease. Philip, Sr., married Elizabeth Miller, came to this co jy and settled on Greenville Creek, either just before or immediately after tn of 1812 ; his decease occurred in Covington, he being in the 68th year of his ag^ The subject of this sketch was bom in 1824, and grew to manhood here pioneer days of Newberry Township ; went to school in the first house b school purposes, on Greenville Creek ; Mr. Hartzell's life has been varied wi _ _ oess and reverses ; he remained on the farm with his father until he arnveu majority, worked at millwrighting about one year, then worked at bridge bu first as a hand, and later he became a contractor ; for several years was the pn contractor in the county, and built nearly all the bridges in Miami Uo., repairing an old bridge, the old timbers suddenly gave way, and he fell on the J ground some twenty feet beneath ; some of the timbers falling on him and cm the frontal bone, required the removal of a portion and the placing of P , instead, which he now carries, the only mark or reminder of his fearful aec being the ugly scar and sunken spot on his forehead, underneath which is silver P instead of bone ; in 1860, he was an equal partner in the Covington had a large investment in property in Covington, but, being some in debt, t P sure of 1861 compelled him to sacrifice heavily ; he soon recovered sumcien y buy a mill at Casstown, but in 1868, a fire swept away the labor of years an mm with almost nothing ; he managed to trade into a coal mining company Hocking Valley, and in two years had an interest worth $6,500, whien e changed for a mill at Sidney that he sold for $9,000 ; in 1872, he bought w Burket mill property, in Union Township, which he improved considerab y> when he had it nicely fixed it took fire and burned ; there being no insurant, he was unable to re-build, but still owns the site, including 60 acres of land , 8 * misfortune, Mr. Hartzell has resumed his trade. He was married m > to Elizabeth Swisher, daughter of Jacob Swisher, who was an early res1 ® tins county, and resided in the same neighborhood with the Hartzells, but *

ROBERT N. HARWOOD, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; his father, John wood, was a native of England ; came to America in 1832, located at Saratoga, *- stop, Miami Co., remained there until 18<U -A. *nd loffted flr8t in Newton Townlocated on the farm where he ?n^i- 186t: <?me to this township (Newberry) and

Biographical 8Ketche8

HENRY HILL, dealer in farm implements, stock, etc., Covington. Hemy, son of John Hill, a native of Maryland, emigrated to Ohio about the year 18 , and located on Stillwater, south of Pleasant Hill, Newton Township, Miami bo. He served in the war of 1812 ; was Captain in Ft. Greenville. Henry was tom in Newton Township June 17, 1823 ; his early life was spent in helping hisfctoer upon the farm ; his schooling was very limited. When in his 19th year, e ' ried Miss Amelia, a daughter of Zachariah Green, of Newton Township, this union they had eight children, of whom five are living. Mre. HiU aiea the year 1860. Mr. Hill was again united in marriage, Oct. 12, 1861, wren my (Dunham) Mowry. When he began life for himself, he received $3(W lather's estate, and his father-in-law gave him 70 acres of timber land «) Pleasant Hill ; he lived there twenty-two years, and during that time added xo w* 70 acres, 132 acres more ; he opened or cleared 125 acres himself ; in , sold his farm for $9,065, and purchased a farm of 80 acres a short d^tanoe west oi Covington, where he now resides ; he has since added 16 acres to this a industry and economy he has accumulated considerable property ; he has ; of Covington, a lot and warerooms in Covington, and a beauti

MARTIN HIMES, grain dealer, Covington. Among the mportant busmws enterprises of Covington is the grain warehouse operated by the firm 01 & Himes, of which Mr. Himes is the active man ; he is a " Buckeye by » Montgomery Co., in 1823 ; removed to Greene Co. in 1848, and came to Miam in 1865 ; he first purchased a farm about one mile east °f Conn^ton^^n ^ resided, being occupied in farming until 1873, when he came to Covingto engaged in grain buying in connection with J. R. Shuman, whose biograp y appears in this work ; their business has gradually increased and is no qi extensive ; they have lately erected a large crib and fitted it with the n J machinery for shelling, cleaning and handling corn ; they are also handling quantity of tobacco, Insides their usual quantity of grain. Mr. Himes was in 1846 to Miss Anna Vancleave, also of Montgomery Co. Her rather nephew of John Vancleave (Old Johnny, as he was called), who laid out tne y Dayton. Mr, Himes has two children living - Robert W., Assistant Supenn and teacher in the Covington school, and Chas. M., R. R. agent and dealer W cultural implements, Covington. a._

EMANUEL HOOVER, former ; P. 0. Bradford. Emanuel Hoover, a son o Isaac Hoover, a native of Blair Co., Penn., came to Ohio in the year lo located in Newberry Township upon land entered by John Brumbaug, . -

Hoover went into the woods and opened his farm Jan. 1, 1828, but was enpp ^ for life at a raising. Emanuel was born in Blair Co., Penn., Sept 9, 1817 ; n with his parents to Ohio when quite small ; was raised and educated in the k borhood where he lives ; he never learned a trade, but is naturally a<c^?v. Gjtu has worked a good deal at the business. He has twice been married fi*8*

Miss Lydia Weaver, April 14, 1842 ; she died June 1, 1844, leaving one®^ Elizabeth. His second marriage occurred Oct 9, 1848, with Rachel Booc » from this union they had ten children, seven living, viz., Catharine, John o., y B., Levi, Sarah A., Isaac and Nancy. Mr. Hoover was elected first degree ma _ in the German Baptist Church Aug. 5, 1863, and was promoted to degree in 1868 ; Jan. 25, 1878, he was elected Bishop or Elder .of the Uppj*^8*^ Church, and is a man that is highly respected and esteemed by all who l®0 GEORGE HOWARD, farmer; P. 0. North Clayton. George Howard born in York Co., Penn., Jan. 26, 1800 ; he emigrated to Ohio about the yearJ and located first in Montgomery Co. ; lived there six years, then moved to y y Co., Ind.; he remained there about a year, came back to Ohio and located m county ; lived here several years, then moved to Darke Co., where he lived years ; he then came back to this county and located near North Clayton. * Howard has done a great deal of hard labor. He is now over 80 years old, being land and lived upon it nntil his death ' whieh^^^iL^If6116 ®a> ®***° > be entered 104 years and 3 months. A J Johnston *Tk years ago, at the age of was reared a fanner, and lmimjd hfefiSLT? 'T* °"uth® 868 Dec- 25, 1806 ; he came to this county andlo^ted inOo5?n^ to °lear. th® farm ! Jan. 1, 1837, he tten moved to the Greenville Palls and he.kePt hotel for two years ; wagon-making trade - after ht^ht ^bjl® hvi^ with Mr. Snoop he learned the seventeen yX th^^ HJ*18 5^SP* h! w°rked at hie trade about lated a great deal - i 86,1,118 *and until he had aecumu- of iSp , f^°an at 8 years of age, was cared for by an uncle until he was 12 years schooling irg , the uncle made him pay more attention to work than in thiVilL v j11 l)ecame the ward of Dr. Weaver, whose biography also appears eiwnniHire^k' and wlio not only gave him opportunity for education, but also raged him. When he arrived at 18, he bqsp&n teaching, and reading medicine.

Biographical Sketches

He graduated at the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, in 1869, and in the same year began practice in connection with Dr. Weaver, in which he has since. Weaver A Kendell are druggists as Well as practitioners (see Dr. Weaver biography). The Doctor is the present Township Clerk, and highly respected both as a citizen and physician. His residence is a neat brick, situated on Hig

LEWIS KENSINGER, grain dealer, Covington. Mr. Kensinger is the preeen' representative of one of the first pioneer families of Newberry Township, life resident of Miami Co. His father, John Kensinger, born m Maryland ^ , married Mary Hulings ; came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1805, an Co. in 1808. He was a millwright by trade, and resided nwr Covmgton. ^Dunng his early residence here he was employed a great part of his time awing veying and locating land for settlers. His patriotism was a marked cha During the war of 1812 he was a member of the " Frontier Guards, troops were being enlisted during the late war, he, although nearly three^ ten, uselessly, but honestly, offered his services. In 1820, he entered land about a mile north of Covington, where he resided about ten * it and purchased the farm also north of Covington, where he resided the his days. Mr. Kensinger, Sr., was of the desirable kind of pioneer, member of the Masonic order, also of the Cumberland Presbyterian < bn > ' youth was spent on the farm, receiving such education as the afforded, until about 18 years of age. He then worked three y^ars at muiw^ but soon after learning the trade engaged in fanning, at which oont'° n :n ten years, then engaged in milling, grain buying, etc., and has been occ ' ^ merchandising in some form ever since. He is now engaged m grain connection with Mr. Flockemmer, under the firm style of Flockemmer & R They are among the most reliable and extensive business men of Oovingw - Kensinger was married in 1852 to Alice Hitchin, only daughter o Hitchin, who was a native of England. Alice was born in Ohio in » have five children.

JACOB LINK, farmer ; P. 0. Piqua ; is a son of David Link, of M°n^om > Co., Ohio, who came to his death by cramp while bathing in the Mia Jacob Link was bora in Montgomery Co. Jan. 30, 1831 ; grew to man jva a farm, and, when 20 years old, began the business of running a tnrw most every season up to the present time. He served as Trustee in Montgo erjr during the whole time of the late war, and has held the same office ship. His marriage with Miss Sarah D., daughter of Jacob Darner, 01 m J , . was celebrated Feb. 23, 1853; they had eleven children, eight y

C. E. LINK, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; is a son of Jacob Link ; in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Jan. 25, 1856. Was united in marriage Jan. inter with Miss Eliza, daughter of Mathias Ingle, of this township, and grand ug of Philip Ingle, and great-granddaughter of Michael Ingle, one of the flw m this township, who entered the farm now owned by her father ; Mr®, fether was born Feb. 8, 1823, on the form entered by his grandfather, and has au ms share in improvement. He was married to Miss Lindsay, a daughter Kike, deceased, and has one child - Mathias J. , . hnm in

J. H. LONG A BROTHER, milling; North Clayton. J. H. Long was Wayne Co., Ind., Aug. 31, 1840, and William H. Long was bom in the same county, Jan. 2, 1842 ; are sons of Peter Long, a native of Pennsylvania, now Co., Kan. ; they were raised and educated upon a farm ; J. H. learned the ' - business when young, in which he is still engaged ; he worked eleven ye** DaAe Co., in the Bear's, Hoover and Foster mills ; two years in Preble Co*, rrew fans, and one year in the Greenville Falls mills, in this county. W. w« young, learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed four or five yean. In 1875, they purchased the Clayton Mills, and have been doing a good custom business ; they make a good grade of flour, that will compete with any made in the county. W. H. is the patentee of the White Lily or improved Providenoe Washing Machine, one of the most complete washers ever put before the public. J. H. married Miss Sarah, a daughter of William Hess, of Darke Co., April 2, 1862 ; they have had five children, four living - Mary E., Laura E., John W. and Cora E.

JAMES MoCLARY, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; is one of the old residents of Miami Co., having been bom Feb. 18, 1821, on a farm about two miles north of Covington, where he has resided almost continuously for more than a half-century. His father, John McClary, was a native of Kentucky ; came to Miami Co. as early as 1812 ; was a soldier in the latter part of the last struggle with the red men here. Married Miss Eliza Brandon ; she was a native of South Carolina ; her lather, Benjamin Brandon, a soldier in the Revolution, emigrated with his family to Miami Co. about 1812, and located near Piqua ; Mr. McClary, Sr., located near Covington, soon after his marriage, where he remained until his deoease ; James remembers going to school, when a small boy, by a path his father had cut through the woods ; books being scarce and money scarcer, an alphabet was pasted on a sort of paddle which served for a primer ; when a little older, he was often sent to mill ; mounted upon the sack of wheat, which was thrown across the back of a trusty horse, he would strike out by the bridle path for the mill, which was on the Miami, near Piqua ; he usually went to the mill and got his grist the first day, returning as far as Grandpa Brandon's, where he would stay all night, have a good time with the children, and return home with his flour the next day ; such were some of the disadvantages experienced by the youth of those days ; as he w older, there was, of course, gradual improvement and increased facilities. 1842, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy, daughter of George Buchanan, who was among the first settlers of Newberry Township ; after his marriage, he built a house on a small tract, a part of the old homestead which his father had given him ; a few years later, his parents having died, he sold out and went to Piqua, where he resided about eighteen months, in the meantime purchasing several shares in his father's estate ; then returned to the old homestead, bought out the other heirs, becoming the owner of the farm upon which he was bom, where his youth and early manhood were spent ; his son, George D., lives on and cultivates it, Mr. McClary having removed to his residence in the north part of Covington about six years ago ; Mr. McClary has grown with the county, and his associations and history are inseparably interwoven with the his- - tory of Newberry Township ; he has served it as Assessor, and is now one of the Board of Trustees ; he hma a family of three children living, and one dead.

T. S. MoGINNIS, liveryman, Covington. Mr. McGinnis was a native of Ohio, bom in Champaign Co. in 1845 ; his parents removed to Shelby Co. the year of his birth, and he there grew to manhood ; was married to Miss Bell Woodard and resided there, being occupied in fuming ; reoently he moved to Covington, where he is now engaged in the livery business in connection with Mr. J . B. Hamilton, whose biography also appears in thiw work ; Mr. McGinnis comes of pioneer stock, his ancestors on both sides being Virginians and early emigrants to Kentucky ; his great-grandfather was scalped by the Indians in his own dooryard, near Maysville, Ky. ; his grandfather removed from Kentucky to Champaign Co., Ohio, m 1812, and served in the army during the war ; Mr. McGinnis is now. in the pn®6 of life, and is an active, energetic man, just embarking in a new business venture, in which there seems to be a good prospect of succ""°

0. M. MoGOWEN, liveryman, Covington, ft ginia, was bom in 1817 ; came to Ohio when a child, t ton until about 1845, during which time he learned i °wne to Miami Co., first located near Piqua, and 1864, when he engaged in the livery business in removed his stock to Covington, and has continued

. McGowen, a native of Vird lived in the vicinity of Daye bricklayer's trade ; he then as engaged in farming until >iqua ; in August, 1865, he the business here ever sinoe.

Mr. McGowen is now doing a very satisfactory business here ; his stehle is locstel bn the north side of the ^ C. & I. C. R R, near the depot, where he kee^ hveo equipments frilly equal to the demands of the place; his res^ence, situated on the same lot and near the stable, is a very neat and comfor^le home.

GEORGE W. McMAKEN, farmer and stockbealer ; P. 0. toviigton. JSJ W. McMaken, farmer and stock-dealer, is a son of John McMaken, Sr, a nah i Kentucky, who came to this county when the howling of the wolveswaa am ^

July 13. 1K16, on the farm where he now lives; he AspinaU, a native of England ; they had three children, of whom two are living Frank L. and John Ellsworth.

daughters. Mr. Maier has been a member of the Town Council several also been both Town and Township Treasurer the past four years, and substantial citizens of Covington. - To h Martin, and grandson of John Martin ; his grandfather came from " Momson s through Cincinnati, Ohio, and located in Warren Co., when there was D . . building in Cincinnati. Jacob grew to manhood in Warren Co., and was ^marn Abigail Thomas, who was of a Quaker family, and the mother of JLja y ^ removed to this county in 1830, and located in this township, near Clayton. - town of Clayton, and was a useftil and respected citizen ; he removed wa8 1852, and died there in 1856, at the age of 68. The subject of ,g bom in Warren Co. in 1829, but grew up in Miami Co. ; he learned Jtoe b ^

V. I., and remained in the service until after he witnessed the surrender n^on Appomattox ; since his return he has invented, or rather perfected tne of, a " tweer " for blacksmith's forges, for which he has a patent, ^ be in very general use ; he also invented an automatic car-coupler, which oug ^ in general use, and would be, but for the parsimoniousness of railroad rj ^ tions, who place more value on a few dollars than upon the lives an their servants ; he has also patented an animal-trap, which has been qhi^^n siyely introduced, and is meeting with general favor. He organized the v/O "e Silver Mining Company, who purchased a mine near Roeita, in Custer b , ^

5 charge. The company now employ from five to fifteen hands, and a . g stone to all points within reasonable distance, their sales amounting w

Co. now living hfco^rf^'T' Covtorton > » one of the oldest residente of Miami spent on 7fem and h^ \£* S"" " ^""^ania in 1810 ; his youth was he came to ^ d *h®.Pnyile8e of attending school in winter ; in 1832, merchandise olarl^+of Covington, nearly a half-century, having been engaged in the local ,m?8t continuously until 1860, since which he has occupied some of vania A* ^ M.e> daughter of Jeremiah Shade, who was a native of Pennsylin 181 ft *2 Mlami Ca about tbe same time Mr. Minnich did. Mary was born PintjA ^bSJ?10*:ber fourteen children, ten of whom are living, of Allan Tiir^ MORROW, farmer ; P. 0. Covington. Richard Morrow is a son located «**°V native of Pennsylvania ; emigrated to Ohio in the year 1812 : arrival - ^a^ton Co., afterward moved to Montgomery Co., and in 1837 death tk thlS and located in Washington Township, where he lived until attaint k- 8ubJect of this sketch was bom in Armstrong Co., Penn.; after he eo his manhood he farmed eight years, then kept a hotel in Waynesville,

Warren Co., Ohio, for fourteen yean ; came to the conclusion that it was not agood place for his children, sold out and bought a form in this townshipjWhere he now lives. He married Miss Ruth Beck, of Greene Co., August, 1837. They had rig children, of whom five are living, all married.

JAMES MOTT, retired former; P. O. Bloomertown ; son of Zachanan Mott, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in the year 1818, and locatea in Darke Co., about two miles east of Gettysburg ; lived there about six years, moved to Tippecanoe Co., Ind., and from there to White Co., where he lived 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 fetter's death ; he came Ohio, and lived with an older brother for seven years, then began domg iw himself. June 12, 1845, he married Miss Annie, a daughter of Joseph wmore a native of South Carolina. They had two children, one living - -Nancy -> ried John Etter, who is tending the form. Mr. Mott has a splendid form acres, with first-class buildings upon it, situated south of the Mott pike.

SAMUEL MURRAY, former and preacher, Covington ; is awnotiwa Murray, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and came when a boy with ms pareu to Montgomery Co., where he married Hannah Kimmel, and resided on Wo until about 1832 or 1833, then removed with his fomily to Miami Co., ha ring P chased the northeast quarter of Sec. 32, which he improved and lived on 1856, he sold out and returned to Montgomery Co., where he stall resides, subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery Co. in 1828, hood here on the form in the days of hard labor and limited faculties , always followed forming, first commencing for himself in Sec. 28 ; his form north half of two 80-acre tracts, one being in Sec. 32, and the other adjoi "g Sec. 33, it being the unimproved portion of each tract at the time he pnrcna^i he has cleared most of it, erected the present neat and substantial bunmng^ the form now compares fevorably with otters in this well-improved nei8nD<\ « ' He was married Jan. 23, 1851, to Mary Shellaberger, daughter of Jacob aii_ nah (Mohler) Shellaberger, who also came from Pennsylvania, ana settlea - 33 of this township. She also grew up here, and both Mr. and Mrs. to school in a log schoolhouse that stood on the same ground where tne p _ neat brick house is situated, in which their children are now being^upareo a much more favorable circumstances than their parents enjoyed. Hr. usefhl, respected citizen, and both he and his wife are members of tte Baptist Church, of which he was elected Deacon in 1860, and since 1864 nas the chosen and usefhl minister. They have five children, all of whom are j members of the fomily household. . , -on of Covington, of deserved reputation, is Dr. Murray ; he is the son of Uray, Sr., whose biography appears in connection with that of Rev. Samuri in J* The subject of this sketch was born on the farm near Covington in lboO , gan practice in Clark Co. in 1862, and in 1863 entered the army, where he serveu Acting Assistant Surgeon until the latter part of 1864, when he returned ana P ticed at Pleasant Hill about two years, then purchased a drug store in Indiana, soon sold out and returned to Miami Co. where he practiced a short time ^ Cable at Covington, then bought a drug store in Dayton, which he conductea . fomr years, practicing there at the same time ; he afterward returned to Miami - again at Pleasant Hill about two years ; he again came to Wingw in Nf^-tWCUTy'°PeLyear8 ; he then moved i"k> Miami Co., and puichMed in Newberry Township, about three miles north of Covington ; the subject of tn»

Newberry T0Wjj8Hip

Covington in 1866 at th<» o^u -<. « bis limbs to some extent He removed h> andXm^ioas ^Men^ Lewis' presentlea? then the most elegtot an^in!^^ n ®gb 8tree'> he erected in 1868, and it was, and MarthaOtoS InpT,ngton- Mr' Nixon is son of William bad twelve children seven of whom Ji 1801> and lived together sixty-six years roldest 79 ; Samndwas the fourth ewti ^""S68* being 59 and the

Pearson, s^tivc^of C^.'. } R 0 Covington; is a son of Benjamin land in Newton TownsMn^nH^ 'i!?' wb0.«"ne to this county in 1805; entered sketch was bom faSmrth' fw ved upon it unfa] his death. The subject of this bis parents at 2 veam of » Carolina. .June 30, 1803, and came to this county with ment He was reiuwi °f wb®n it was quite in its infancy in respect to improvewitbin two yeai^^en foUow<£ .^npation Si his life? until

SILAS ppmv ngt??' "here he now bves. of Newbemv Di^nJ' ^p*er L P Covington ; is a son of Amos Peny, a native be at first ^ Wh? came to Ohio and located in this county in 1814 ; 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 Mary, a daughter of Wm. Reiser, of Darke Co., was celebrated Sept 30, 1869 ; they had two children - Semantha and Edith May. M.

J AMES L. PURDY ; P O. Covington ; is one of the oldest residents of flh* ami Co. ; he was born in Perry Co. in 1816 ; his father removed to 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 o Covington for a period of twenty years, since which, on account of old age an deafness, he has retired from active business. From a mere financial point of view, Mr. Purdy '8 life has not been a great success, but, nevertheless, he has been a very useftil citizen, and deserving of much more credit than is generally accorded him , naturally modest, his claims upon the public were never pressed, but being pos sessed of a philosophical mind and a philanthropic heart, his labors have been no so much for himself as for others. As a teacher, he was always in advance wi text- books and improved methods ; was first to introduce McGuffey's readers in the schools of Newberry Township ; also first to introduce the blackboard, in wbic 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 vanced methods which have given us the present systematic and efficient school- A 7/^kyterian 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 ; o of deafness, an affliction which began troubling him when young, ana wch has grown upon him, interfering with his plans and prospects, books hav been his chief companions, and the writers of this work are indebted to him nmny facte connected with the early history of the county. He was married m TbmmM>lTrUdenCe Billin^sle^ » they have had two children - Emma D. and

jh HiShand Anna. A Hi8 8econd marriage was with Miss Susan, daught or Joel Hutchens, a native of North CarolinaTthey had two children - Etta 1

Source changes here: from The History of Miami County, Ohio : Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of Miami County; Constitution of the United States; Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc, by W.H. Beers & Co, Publisher, published 1880; 32,480 words in this source stream.

Newberry Township

This township is situated on the northwest corner of the county, and is bounded on the west by Darke County, on the north by Shelby County, on the east by Washington Township, and on the south by Newton Township ; is seven miles from north to south, and six from east to west, containing forty-two square miles, and is composed of portions of four original surveyed townships. While it does not appear when it was organized, it would seem to be about the same date as Newton - 1810.

The lands in the western and northwestern part of this township are the most elevated in the county ; general surface undulating, inclining to southeast, being traversed, from west to south, by the Stillwater River and Greenville Creek, with their numerous tributaries. A small portion is slightly broken, but few declivities occur. As was the entire county, this township, in an early day, was covered with an unbroken sheet of forest, of various species of timber, too well known to be here described. The noble oak and the valuable sugar maple are, however, fast disappearing, and, ere many years have passed away, will have entirely disappeared. So, also, are growing scarce the ironwood, witch-hazel, box-elder, white thorn, plum and black haw, juneberry, papaw and spicewood, densely blooming in the early spring ; ginseng, yellow and red puccoon root, wild onion, swamp cabbage and spikenard abounded, that forest pest called " ramps," which, when eaten by cows, imparted to the milk and butter a taste and flavor resembling a mixture of garlic, jimson, etc.

In the number of its venomous reptiles, Newberry stood without a rival. During the early settlements, the yellow rattlesnake seems to have made the limestone ledges along the Stillwater and Greenville Creek his favorite home, for, on prying up the rocks, they could be seen, s ^metimes by the dozen, and, even now, large quantities of bones are frequently discovered in the clefts of the rocks, thus attesting their former abundance.

Drainage

Stillwater River enters Miami County near the northwest corner of this township, and, after pursuing a southeast direction, it suddenly turns northeast, then, forming a curve, it runs nearly south, past Covington, and passes out of the township about two miles west of the southeast corner. Near the center of the township, it cuts a channel through the limestone, at the southern terminus of which were, in early days (called) the Falls of Stillwater, descending about twelve feet in a mile. The banks of the river are bold and high. Limestone bluffs, skirting either bank afford excellent quarries of stone, which also makes good lime.

Greenville Creek enters the county in the southwestern corner of Newberry, flows first northeast, then bending, runs southeast ; resuming its original course, empties into the Stillwater near Covington. Greenville Falls, a short distance from Covington, is a beautiful display of nature and a place of much resort.

Harrison's Creek, on the west.and Trotter's Creek, on the north and east, both tributaries of the Stillwater, are streams of much value, and early drew the hardy pioneer to their banks.

Springs of excellent ever-living water abound in this township, some of them, not far from Covington, supposed to possess excellent medicinal virtues.

Summing up : Newberry, with her two lines of railroad, passing through at four points of the compass, her numerous pikes, exhaustless stone and lime, her rich soil, unexceled natural drainage, water-power, and, in fact, all the natural resources that conduce toward the advancement and development of any country, as materials - and a thrifty, intelligent and energetic community, as agents - we need not wonder that she stands foremost in wealth aqd agricultural prosperity.

Early Settlement

According to tradition, the first location made and cabin built in this township was by a South Carolinian named McDonald, on what is since known as Harrison's Creek, about two and a half miles northwest of Covington, near the year 1806. In 1807, John Harrison came to Ludlow's Creek, Union Township, remained one season, and returned to South Carolina, accompanied by McDonald,, both leaving their lands and cabins.

In 1807, Michael Ingle, having heard of a beautiful little prairie on Stillwater (Michael Williams' Prairie, now Pleasant Hill), prospected up the river, and, finding it occupied, pushed further on to the mouth of Trotter's Creek and made a selection of excellent farming land, in Sections 17 and 20. Mr. Ingle was, prior to- this, a resident of Montgomery County, and by occupation a tanner. Mr. I. immediately began clearing up and improving his purchase, on which he resided until his death, in 1838. Cotemporaneously with Ingle, Samuel Brown purchased and built on the quarter-section west of Ingle. Priority of settlement vibrates between these two men, but Brown soon left, and the honor is awarded Ingle as being the first permanent white settler in Newberry Township. The next were William and John Coats, with one or more sons-in-law of the former, who settled on the northeast quarter of Section 30, cornering with Ingle's purchase on the southwest. William Coats' cabin stood about fifty rods northwest of the present Pan-Handle depot, while his son's cabin was near the spring running from the cellar of the Leonidas House, and his son-in-law, Daniel Wright's, cabin stood near and south of the corner of Main and Wright streets, Covington. Another settler, whose name cannot be ascertained, cleared a few acres and erected a cabin on the southeast quarter of Section 30 prior to 1810. Of all these early settlers, none but Ingle remained upon the original location. He added another quarter-section to it, raised it to a high state of cultivation, brought a family of seven sons and four daughters, dividing among his sons a portion of their patrimony, four of whom lived and died upon the same, three sold out and removed to newer States, and to-day less than eighty acres out of eight hundred purchased by the father remain in the hands of his posterity. Michael Ingle was honorable, industrious and energetic. He established and conducted the first tanner}' in the township, and from his customers bore the reputation of turning a good article of leather. He also built one of the first houses in Covington, and dug through the solid rock the first well in the town, which had no companion for a dozen years or more.

His energy sometimes resulted in loss, as on one occasion, in 1825, he harvested a fine crop of wheat, which he had partly hauled in by Saturday evening. " My wheat," said he, " was the first in the ground on Stillwater, and I will have all in the barn before any of my neighbors." It was all housed, and on Monday the barn was struck by lightning and, with its contents, burned.

At the opening of the year 1810, many purchases had been made and several clearings begun, and little cabins dotted the forests with life and animation. During this year, Jacob Ullery purchased the southeast quarter of Section 30, but did not occupy it until the spring of 1811. This tract of land proved to be the most valuable property in the township. On it is located the splendid waterpower that operates the Covington Mills, the stone quarry of the Covington Stone Company, the extensive quarry and limekiln of J. M. Rahl, and a large portion of all the valuable stone quarried at Covington in the past fifty }*ears has been taken from the ledges in this tract, and the supply, to all appearances, is still inexhaustible. In the spring of 1812, on the breaking-out of the war, the settlers here all left their clearings for a temporary place of safety during an apprehended invasion by hostile Indians. Some went to Montgomery County, some to their Quaker friends in the Ludlow settlement. Ingle stopped at Williams' stockade, in Newton Township, while Ullery removed his family to Lost Creek, where he resided until the spring of 1814, when he took up his permanent residence on, and began the improvement of, his property.

Newberry In The War Of 1812

In the spring or early summer of 1812, a company of volunteer militia, to serve four months, was organized principally west of the Miami River. George Buchanan, of Milton, was elected Captain, James C. Caldwell, of Piqua, First Lieutenant, and Gardner Bobo, of Spring Creek, a Revolutionary veteran. Ensign. The company was mustered into service May 5, 1S12, as First Company, Second Regiment, Fifth Brigade and First Division Ohio Militia, commanded by Jerome Holt, Colonel.

With his company he began as soon as practicable the erection of a blockhouse, as headquarters, military defense and protection to the settlers within reach. This block-house stood a few rods west of the Pan-Handle depot, in Covington, also about thirty rods north of Wa}me's camp, or breastworks of brush and logs thrown up in 1794, and christened " Fort Rowdy."

We believe Capt. B. and his company - we say company because in those days epaulets did not mean absolute authority as now - assumed to call their works " Fort Buchanan." Lieut. Col. Holt, under whose orders Capt. B. was acting, knowing that the point selected for the block-house was on or near the spot selected by that old Indian fighter, " Mad Anthony," and through deference to the old veteran, ignored Fort B. and, June 18, officially addressed Capt. B. as follows :

Sir - You will make a return of your company to me by the 25th, stating the number of men, and their equipments, and of your camp equipage, so that I may be able to make a general return, as I have received (orders) for that purpose.

This address, however faithfully the orders were obeyed, was neither accepted nor relished b}r Capt. B. and his command as a proper appellation for the important post, in the erection of which they had so faithfully labored. In addition to this, they had not encroached upon the ground occupied by Wayne, and therefore had no desire to be known to posterity as rowdies. Therefore, when the report was made out in due form and returned to Col. Holt, he learned that he was commanding Fort Buchanan instead of Rowdy ; and in his next communication he accepts the name in part, but addresses Capt. B. at " Buchanan Block- House," ignoring the dignified name of fort. Following this is an order dated at Greenville, July 20, 1812, from Col. Holt, transmitting an order from the Governor through Gen. Munger, dismissing all the men stationed on the frontiers west of the Miami toward the Wabash, including Capt. Nesbit's and Capt. Vancleve's companies, unless hostile movements of the Indians required their services. Intelligence is also conveyed in the order that the Great Council with the Indians is postponed until the 15th of August, 1812, and requiring Capt. B. to notify his company to rendezvous at Troy on the 13th. join the other companies, march to Piqua and there remain until the council is over. They are enjoined to be punctual, and attend the council fully equipped at Troy by 10 o'clock.

After the date of this order we have no further intimation of the occupancy of Buchanan's block-house as a military post, although it was used by the families in its vicinity as a place of refuge during emergencies. The line of defense was extended further west in Darke County ; consequently, no further record of interest occurs in regard to this post, after the following from Col. John Johnston, Indian agent at Upper Piqua, viz. : That certain hostile Indians had been seen in the vicinity of Fort Recovery, which intelligence had been communicated to him by Francis Duchequet, a French interpreter and trader. The same notice requested Qapt. B. to send a detail of men to Upper Piqua to protect certain public property in Col. Johnston's care, which he considered exposed to capture and destruction ; also, that his wheat in the field was dead ripe, and the detail to serve two purposes - guard the property and reap his wheat. The records do not show whether the men were furnished on this occasion, but tradition says that a part of the active duty performed by this garrison was cutting four acres of wheat with the sickle, and stacking it on Jacob Teller's farm, across Stillwater, where it remained in safety till he returned to his cabin in 1814. At the breaking-out of the war, it is said there were nine families living in this township, viz. : Michael Ingle, and perhaps his son John, Jacob Ullery, Samuel Brown, William Coats and his son and son-in-law, Daniel Wright, and a brother, John Coats ; the balance unknown to us. The settlers were located near each other for mutual support and protection. North of Greenville Creek and west of Stillwater were but two improve- ments ; north of Trotter's Creek and east of Stillwater were none ; west of Stillwater and south of Greenville Creek, two ; three or four small clearings east of Stillwater, and south of Trotter's Creek ; all the rest was one unbroken forest, though great quantities had been purchased for speculation.

There is no evidence tending to show that this township was the favorite resort of the Indians, or of their occupancy of it. From the absence of Indian names for the streams, or prominent natural objects, we infer that it was not permanently inhabited by them ; some pre-historic specimens, however, exist. Since the advent of the whites, none but hunting parties, and encampments during the war of 1812, near Trotter's Creek, on the farm now owned by H. Mohler, three miles north of Covington, consisting principally of Delawares. In only one instance is it known that they injured the whites, which was the killing of some cattle.

Mound Builders

These peculiar people have left numerous evidences in this township of their mechanical enterprise. The most noted was located near Greenville Falls, was about forty feet in diameter at the base, and built about twenty feet high, material used being loose gravel, apparentty from the bed of Greenville Creek. The upper interior contained many human bones. Two or three other mounds and pits exist, but none of peculiar interest sufficient to note. The principal mound has been dug away, and the stone converted into lime, the owners caring little for the sacredness of the bodies resting there.

All apprehension of danger having been removed b}r the treaty of peace, the settlers returned to their cabins and clearings, and early in 1814, before the treaty with England, we find the number of immigrants augmenting and the clearings increasing. John Cable, west of Stillwater ; John Hay, north of him ; John Harrison and his sons Richard and Bargitto, on the creek that bears their name, above Cable ; John Trotter on the creek named for him, and the Templeton brothers, Samuel, William and David, adjoining Trotter; John Carson and Samuel Nicholson in the same neighborhood ; S}Tlvester Thompson, Joshua Falknor, south of Ullery, on both sides of the river ; and, in 1816, Amos Perry, nearly opposite the falls of Greenville Creek ; William Knox on Trotter's Creek. We cannot mention all who came, but only such as became prominent and permanent citizens in those early times whose descendants are with us now. John Barbour, in 1817, joined the Trotter's Creek settlement.

Early in 1816, Daniel Wright, in partnership with Jacob Uller}*, laid out thirty-six town lots in Section 30, Wright's portion covering the site of Wayne's encampment, the timber having been cut off by Wayne's army. These thirty-six lots lay between the St. Mar}r's road, then established, and the east bank of Stillwater. Three streets were laid out, and named, running north and south ; first, Water, next the river, on the bluff ; Main, at the foot of the hill, and High, being the St. Mary's road, and section line between 29 and 30. Three streets crossing at right angles were : First, on the north, Wright, next, Ullery, for the proprietors, then Spring, for the beautiful spring that burst from the rocks, beneath the shade of a white oak grove that grew upon the bluff. The lots were numbered from east to west, beginning at the northwest corner of the plat. Benjamin Cox was surveyor, and duly recorded his work so far as he was concerned, but, from ignorance of what was required of them, neither of the proprietors ever acknowledged the plat, which has in late years caused a loss of several thousand dollars to the corporation of Covington. This town plat was given a name, which seemed both amphibious and ambiguous, viz. : "Friendship," or "Newberry.' The citizens, not understanding, gave it the name Gen. Wayne had so appropriately dubbed this point immediately following a drunken carouse of his officers here, and which it had ever since retained - Rowdy. When a post office was established here, it was known as Stillwater. When the town was laid out, there was but one habitation on the spot, namely,

Daniel Wright's, who lived just west of Miami and south of Wright street, near a spring that flowed from the bluff at the termination of the latter street.

Elijah Reagan built the first house on the lot now owned by H. E. Routson, west of his stable. Michael Ingle built a double log cabin where the elegant mansion of H. E. Routson now stands ; his son John built a hewed-log cabin on the northwest corner of Main and Wright streets. A small log house was built on the southeast corner of Main and Wright streets, and on the opposite corner some one built a two story hewed-log house, but it never was covered, and remained uninhabited until it rotted down.

Noah Hanks built a small frame for a storeroom on the corner of High and Wright streets, where Routson & Son's store is, which was the first frame building in the township, and in it Hanks kept the first store in the township. At the end of ten years, after the platting and survey of this town, it had but three families living in it, two vacant houses ; one house, Daniel Wright's, had been burnt, and twelve years elapsed after the town was laid out before a new house was built. In 1828, Singer and Hilliard, of Piqua, built a frame yet standing - the .oldest in the place - for a storeroom.

In 1815 or 1816, Jacob Ullery erected a saw-mill at the mouth of Greenville Creek, which was the first utilizing of water in propelling machinery in the townsihp. With his saw-mill he began preparing material for a grist-mill.

In April, 1816 or 1817, occurred a destructive tornado, seeming to arise in the clearing of Daniel Burns, one mile northeast of Covington, now H. Hickman's farm, unroofing his stable. Entering the timber from the northeast, it leveled the heavy forest, piling the trees upon each other in all directions, along a track about eighty rods in width. Where the land is not cleared, its path can be easity traced at the present, by the beautiful growth of young timber. Shortly after Ullery got the saw-mill in running order, an enterprising settler, Noah Davenport, and his brotherin-law, Wagner, purchased a few acres at the mouth of Harrison's Creek, and erected a rival saw-mill, and near it a very primitive grist-mill. The shaft was a hickory log with the bark on, and the stones were made of bowlders dressed into shape. The mill was used for grinding corn, had a good run of custom, and was the first in the township, and commanded patronage within a radius of from six to nine miles. From some unknown cause it ceased operations, and when seen in 1826, both saw and grist mill were abandoned, and the ruins lay bleaching in the sun, and the stream had resumed its original channel, unmindful of the days when it rippled by the old mill. As near as can be ascertained, Benjamin Lehman purchased Jacob Ulle^'s mill property in the fall of 1818, and immediately began the erection of a substantial frame building for a flouring-mill, which he put into active operation about 1820. It is said that Lehman paid $4,000 for the Ullery property, built a grist-mill, and, in 1822, sold to John Brumbaugh, the mills and all the land west of the river, for $3,500.

Brumbaugh increased the capacity, which made it one of the best mills in the county, and of inestimable benefit to the ever-increasing population for many miles around, as it was located in the Upper Stillwater Valley, with no other for miles north of it. For years it stood without a rival. During Lehman's occupancy of this property, previous to this, a wool-carding machine had been erected on the tail-race of the mill, the remains of which may still be seen just below the corn-crib, at the present Covington Mills. It cannot be ascertained who were the first operators, but we do know that one Riley operated it at one time, and subsequently, in 1827, one Thomas Bolles, of Piqua, who added a fulling machine, which, in those days was highty essential, when the wheel and the loom, in the hands of the housewife, clothed the family in home-spun.

It has been stated that Michael Ingle tanned the first leather, and his reputation as a superior workman lived after him. His son continued the business after the old man retired, but not with so good results. The Hanks brothers established a tannery in 1820, which is now known as the Covington Tannery. They were not successful. In 1824, it had nearly ceased, and in 1825, was rebuilt by Benjamin

Lehman, and operated by John Ross, who, about the year 1830, purchased the property. Between 1816 and 1817, Philip Hartzell settled west of the Greenville Falls, and was the first to manufacture pumps. Before this innovation, the windlass, the fork and pole, and the " old oaken bucket which hung in the well," disappeared. Having now given the names of the earliest settlers, provided them with mills, houses and manufactories, and seen them on thriving little farms, we now turn to another branch of manufacture, which sprang out of the making of bread-stuffs, viz., the Arabian art of distilling spirituous liquors. The furnaces of no less than four have been seen in this township, and, though they have disappeared, their evil influence can be easily traced in the posterity of those who, in early days, indulged in the use of their productions. These were resorted to as the best method of getting money out of grain in a condensed form, in order to obviate hauling it in bulk over the almost impassable roads, and when there were no railroads, and nothing but the flat-boat floated during high water to New Orleans, with its cargo of flour, whisky, pork, etc. This method of commerce was carried on for some time, the mouth of Greenville Creek being the head of navigation on Stillwater. Fort Wayne was also a good market, as well as Cincinnati, when they could be reached by wagons, where the flour and whisky would be exchanged for a return load of salt and merchandise.

We now see our hardy settlers fairl}' established in agriculture and the mechanical arts, and surrounded b}T all the necessary comforts that tend to make life enjoyable. The vast forests have given place to fields of grain, and cattle, sheep and horses quietly roam where the wolf and the deer were wont to claim primeval sway. Yet, in the language of one of the earlier times, "We had no meeting, no school, no Sunday, no Squire or Constable, we was just like the Injuns," and certainly a community devoid of all the safeguards of temporal and spiritual liberty would rapidly degenerate into a dangerous state of heathenism, notwithstanding the moral worth of its ancestry.

Children were growing up in ignorance and required the instruction necessary to make them useful men and women, therefore schools were needed, and, the people feeling this necessity, a schoolhouse was projected, and built of round logs cut from the surrounding forest, clapboard roof with knees, ribs and weight-poles, wooden or stick chimney, well plastered with tough cla}r, stone back-wall for fireplace - a log cut out nearly the length or breadth of the building, in which were set perpendicular sticks about a foot apart for sash, on which was pasted wrapping paper, leaves of old copy-books, or letters from friends in the old settlements, well greased with lard, possum grease or coon oil, to render it semi-transparent - this was the educational window, and this the pioneer schoolhouse of the earl}r settlers of all the Northwest Territory.

The first house of this kind erected for school purposes, stood near the north end of High street, Covington, west of the road, and near the present residence of Mrs. Catharine Shellenberger. Uncle John Ullery says he knows well the location and distinctly remembers the old house as the first place he ever went to school. It appears not to have remained long, and must have been built about 1815 or 1816. as no one living save Mr. U. remembers it. The next was built about a halfmile further north, on the opposite side of the St. Mary's road, and is remembered by a number of persons who obtained the rudiments of their education within its rude unclassical walls. Andrew Ballard is the only person who is remembered as having taught in this house.

It remained long the seat of learning in this township, and looked well on the exterior so long as it was new. It was built in 1819 or 1820, and was finally burned down, as was supposed, to prevent its occupancy during the long vacations by a disreputable family. The rubbish from its chimney, and the pit from which the mud was taken to plaster its walls, can, after a lapse of sixty years, be seen to-day. The contrast between the privileges of the youth of to-day and the boy of pioneer times is truly wonderful. While the light of day struggled through greased paper, the light of knowledge was as dimly shed through the facilities afforded by the times to enlighten the chambers of the intellect, and to obtain a knowledge, through letters, of language, men, and things in general. In the Trotter's Creek neighborhood, John Barbour, who joined that settlement in 1817, initiated schools, by teaching one term in part of William Knox's dwelling about 1817 or 1820. Benjamin Dunham was the next to take up the birch and spelling-book on Trotter's Creek. Dunham's term of teaching was held in a vacant cabin one mile north of Knox's, in about 1820 or 1821. We learn of several other terms of teaching in the neighborhood, as a teacher or vacant house gave an opportunity, up to 1824, when a hewed-log schoolhouse was built on an acre of ground deeded by Moses Mitchell to Newberry Township, for a graveyard and other purposes. This house was a step in advance, although it, too, had greasedpaper windows. William Dowler, who located in the neighborhood in 1823, was the first teacher in this house and for some years subsequent. James Perry was the first teacher in the village of Newberry, Covington, in a house previously mentioned, built for a dwelling by John Ingle. Date of this term unknown. Amos Perry and James Hanks are spoken of as having taught in the village subsequently. We would here remark, by way of explanation, that, while Covington existed under the name of Newberry, it never had a schoolhouse. When the first lots were laid out, No. 34 was sold by Jacob Ullery, at a nominal price, and deeded for a school lot, but the official who held the deed never had it recorded, and in course of time moved away, taking it with him ; the lot was taxed, sold for the same, and never redeemed.

The earlier school teachers who are remembered are Amos Perry and his brother James, James Hanks, Joshua Sanders, David Brumbaugh, Anderson Ballard, John Barbour, Benjamin Dunham, Aaron Carson, Connelly, William

Dowler and David Ross. A large majority of these persons were personally known by men now living, to be men of good and influential standing, but none of them had what would now be termed a liberal common-school education.

No records showjhe beginning or existence of civil government in this township. It is said that Amos Perry was the first Justice of the Peace, and John Thompson the first Constable, but when they held office, tradition does not inform us. It was since 1816, however, because Perry did not become a resident until that date.

Tradition also informs us that both Newberry and Newton Townships were organized under the former name, and, when the population increased, Newton was organized separately, and Newberry retained the original name. Newberry has nest for hungry or greed}' politicians, but has had an occasional representative outside her own organization.

She has four times represented Miami County in the Ohio Legislature, viz. : Amos Perry, in 1832 ; Washington N. Weston, in 1844 ; Col. J. C. Ullery, in 1870-71, and the same in 1876-77. One of her citizens has filled the County Recorder's office. Two terms of County Commissioners have been filled from her borders, and the present Clerk of the Court is one of her native citizens.

Dunkards. - The Dunkards, or, as they now style themselves, German Baptists, were the first to take the field in proclaiming the Gospel. It can hardly be said that they had a regular organization in this township previous to 1845, notwithstanding they held meetings under the leadership of Michael Etter, a resident of Newton Township, at the time of the organization of the Upper Stillwater Congregation, as early as 1818.

About 1845, they had a church organization, and, in the absence of any house of worship, they held meetings in private dwellings and barns. As their numbers increased, they were obliged to seek for more suitable accommodations. Their first building was a substantial brick, known as the Upper Stillwater Church, capable of seating eight hundred persons, and containing all the appendages necessary for the usages of their communion services.

In the last thirt}^ }^ears, this denomination has largely increased, and is now the strongest in numbers and wealth of any other in the township, its members being principally composed of the agricultural population.

Christians - The next in the order of organization was the Christian, or New Light Church, in 1820. This church did not have a house of worship, but held service in private dwellings and barns, and the most convenient schoolhouse ; was organized near Trotter's Creek and known as the Trotter's Creek Church. The preacher's name who organized it was Stackhouse, and the organizing members, so nearly as can be remembered, were William Knox and wife, William and Lemuel Templeton and their wives, John McClurg and wife, Samuel Nicholson and wife, and Mrs. David Templeton. In 1824, Caleb Worley became its Pastor, and continued so for many years, when, finally, dissensions arose and its organization ceased.

Methodists. - Following the Christians in chronology, were the Methodists, who organized about 1832 or 1835 ; built a church in Covington in 1836, which was blown down May 5, 1837. This was the first church building in the township. The Methodists, though noted for planting beside " all waters," and rarely failing to build up and maintain a church when once started, yet, in Covington, after three or four attempts at organization and a lapse of thirty-five or thirt}T-six

Baptists. - In 1835, the Regular Baptists organized a church and proposed to erect a building ; a lot was purchased and the framework put together on the site early in the spring of 1838, only waiting for a proper foundation to be laid, whereon to rear the frame. The work was delayed, when, finally, the lot was leased by the school district, a schoolhouse was put up on it, the first in Covington, serving also the purpose of a meeting-house until 1844, and remained a schoolhouse until 1848.

It appears that when the workmen began work on the foundation, the frame had suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, although having, up to that time, lain in full view. The theory was, that some evil-minded persons had thrown it into the river during the then existing freshet, as some portions of it were found among the drift, and subsequently one participant confessed it. Thus discouraged, the Baptists ceased to exist as an organization.

The present Baptist Church was organized in 1848, and built their house in 1849. The Christian Church of Covington was organized by Rev. Caleb Worle}\ with seven members, in 1837, and its sturdy growth enabled its members to build a comfortable brick structure in 1846, which was the first church erected by that denomination in the township, and which subserved the wants of its members until 1870, when it was torn down and the present structure erected on the same spot, the best church building in the township.

The first organization of the Cumberland Presbyterians was made in January, 1838. While being accomplished in this township, it passed beyond its borders. The present church, organized in 1842, subsequently built a church, and ranks about third in strength and wealth in the township.

The Presbyterian Church was organized in June, 1842, at Covington, and. in conjunction with the Cumberland Presbyterians, built the church now owned by the society. The building was finished in 1844, and used by both organizations for a number of years, until the Cumberlands sold out to the Methodists and built for themselves.

Summing up, we have the following places of worship in Newberry : Dunkards, 2 ; Christians, 3 ; Cumberland Presbyterians, 1 ; Presbyterian, 1 ; Baptists, 2 ; Lutherans, 3 ; German Reformed, 2 ; Union, 1 ; Methodists, 1 ; total, 16. Six of these are in the village of Covington, three in Bradford, two in North Clayton, the others in the country.

Roads And Bridges

There are but few things that add more to the general comfort and convenience of a communhy than good roads, or an easy method of social and commercial intercommunication.

Some time previous to 181 6, the exact date we cannot ascertain, a road was established and, we presume, cut out through Newberry. The Piqua & Greenville was located, perhaps some years later, crossing the northern part of the township from east to west. The Troy & Greenville, crossing the town plat on Wright street, was still later. In 1826, however, these roads were not yet all opened through the forest ; now they are either all covered by free pikes or vacated in favor of pikes constructed on more eligible localities near by.

In 1836, a project was set on foot to connect Springfield with Greenville by constructing a pike between the two places, passing through Troy and Covington. A company was formed, stock taken, the State subscribing perhaps half. In 1837, the clearing and grubbing were commenced, and perhaps some grading in Newberry, which was the first actual work on turnpikes in the township.

In 1838, the capitalists and business men of Dayton, seeing the importance of holding the rapidly increasing trade of the Stillwater Valley, which they had heretofore enjoyed, and foreseeing the danger of its being diverted to points along the Miami Canal, then just completed to Piqua, organized the Dayton & Covington Turnpike Company, secured the necessary stock and began the work of construction in 1839.

When the success of this enterprise was fully secured and under way, our neighbors of Piqua moved to connect that city with the Dayton & Covington pike in order to secure a large prospective trade from the rich farm products of the Stillwater Valley and Darke County, and, forming a company, bridged the six miles of black swamp lying between the Miami and Stillwater with the old Covington pike.

In 1841, the Dayton & Covington pike was completed, and in 1843 the Piqua & Covington pike was completed between the two places, making Newberry the first in the county having two turnpikes terminating within her borders, Covington, a turnpike center, and giving it a daily mail and stage route to the north and west.

The Springfield, Troy & Greenville Company having failed, and most if not all the grading having been done, a new company was formed west of Covington, along the road to complete it from Covington to New Harrison, Darke County, which was soon accomplished, and proved a good investment to the stockholders, and beneficial to the citizens along the line.

These road enterprises were well supported by the citizens of Covington, which was the first town in the county within whose limits three pikes terminated.

At present there are fifty miles of free pike within the bounds of this township, and not one mile of toll road. These roads have all been paid for within the last ten years by the farmers living along the respective lines, The different streams that are crossed by these roads are spanned by twenty-three structures that may be properly termed bridges, not including small bridges and culverts. Six of the former are common wooden bridges ; eight or nine are late improved iron bridges, and not many years hence every road will be graveled and every stream spanned.

Bradford, or Bradford Junction, as the station is called, is situated in Newberry and Adams Townships, Miami and Darke Counties - Miami County having a greater portion of inhabitants by a small majority, the whole population at present being nearly 1,400. The town only dates back to 1868, when the Cincinnati, Columbus & Indiana Central Railroad Company commenced building the roundhouse at the junction of their roads, which is in Miami County, and this was the starting-point of the town. It was formerly called Richmond, and Union City Junction, but, in 1868, it received its name of Bradford from Tom Bradford, a mail agent on the Cincinnati, Columbus & Indiana Central Railroad, who called it after himself, there being no other town in Ohio of that name.

At this time, Charles Rapp lived on the Miami County side, and the depot consisted of an old box car, the mail being generally carried around in Charlie's pockets. Early in 1868 the Railroad Company commenced their buildings, and soon after a boarding-house was built by Charles Dearworth, and called the 11 Locust House." In this same year, William Romans, master mechanic of the -Cincinnati, Columbus & Indiana Central Railroad, laid out some lots on the Miami County side, and Dan Rice, who was foreman of the roundhouse, bought some land and laid out lots, which he sold, this being also in Miami County. Lots were afterward laid out by the Railroad Company, Christian Sears, Moses Wise, Wade Steel and Long. On the Darke County side, the first lots were laid out by iSolomon Routzong. In August, 1868, W. H. Sowers came and put up a warehouse at the junction, engaging in the grain trade under the name of J. Sowers & Son. About this time, there was a small store on Routzong's land, in Darke County, which was afterward burned. In the same year was built the Hoover House, by a man named Hoover, and another hotel was built a little east of the Hoover House, by Rice, and called the Bradford House. Among the first houses built in West Bradford, was one put up by John S. Moore, the same year. In 1869, J. Sowers & Son engaged in the general merchandise business, in addition to their grain trade, and, in 1869, the depot was built at the junction. In 1870, Nathan Iddings also engaged in the general merchandise business in East Bradford ; this he continued until he was forced to give it up on account of a sunstroke, and has since been engaged in a general Notary and real estate business, having had more houses erected in Bradford than any other one man.

J. Sowers & Son continued their business for some time, till in 1875, W. H. Sowers purchased the Hoover House, when the firm continued under the same name, another son taking his place, and they are still engaged in the grain business at the Junction. W. H. Sowers is, at present, Postmaster of Bradford. The Railroad Company at first completed twelve stalls of their roundhouse, afterward increasing the number to twenty-four, and there is a probability that the entire circle may be filled out, which would give fort}T-eight stalls for engines. Bradford, after its commencement, continued to improve quite rapidly, numerous houses and stores being put up on both sides of the county line. In 1870, the first schoolhouse was erected, on the Miami County side, which was used until the completion of the present fine school-building in 1876, on the West Side. The contractors were Dennis Dw}'er and George Manix. The cost of the structure was about $28,000. It is four stories high, including the basement. Its ground dimensions are 75x56 feet, with two towers additional, twenty-two feet square base and. sevent}' feet altitude. The building is finished in fine style, and is an ornament to the town. A hall in the fourth story is well furnished, and will seat 600 persons. There is a good school-bell, and heating is done by steam. The school enumeration is 410. The present School Board are Solomon Routzong, D. J. Smith. William Weaver, N. Iddings, Valentine Staley and R. T. Hughes. 1). S. Meyers has been Superintendent from the first, a fact creditable to all parties. The other teachers have taught the same period. They are M. J. Hunter, Mrs. 1). S. Me}'ers, Miss Minnie Garber, Miss Clara Gulick and Miss Je.nie Baumgardner. The old school-building is at present used as an agricultural store by Henry Klinger. The first hardware and tin store was opened by John Clark, who came in 1870, and was the first

At present, Bradford does considerable business, principally or to a large extent with the railroad and its employes, but there are a number of firms who do a considerable business with farmers living in the vicinity. Among the most prominent business houses and men on the east side or in Miami County we would mention : Fink & Bro., general merchandise ; W. H. Sowers, Postmaster and stationer ; Solomon Urbansky ; J. M. Little & Co., drugs ; E. Baker & Co., grocery ;

The corporation is a unit ; that is, there are not two sets of civil officers, and there is but the one post office. Moore was Postmaster in 1869 ; then W. H. Sowers held the office, which was then removed to the East Side, where it has since remained. The first Mayor of Bradford was Peter H. Smith ; Clerk, Ed Davidson ; Marshal, George Doll. The present officers of Bradford are J. A. W. Smith, Mayor ;

M. J. Williamson, Clerk ; H. W. Smith, Marshal ; and the members of the Council are D. J. Smith, John Gettz, and Messrs. Beck, Kinney and J. M. Fink.