Newton Township (part 3 of 4)

JAMES CO ATE, confectioner, Pleasant Hill ; born in this township in 1839 ; is of English extraction, and the son of Jonathan C. and Elizabeth Coate ; Jonathan C. was born in this township, where he passed his entire life in the occupation of farming. The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life and accustomed to its duties ; at his country's call for volunteers to suppress the rebellion, Mr. Coate bade adieu to his family and the comforts of home, and took his place among the patriots of the Union on the battle -field ; he was a member of the 1st 0. V. C., participated in the Atlanta campaign and the battles of Borne, Ga., Selma, Ala., and Columbus, Ga. ; this latter fight occurred after the war had really closed, that fact being unknown to them ; they proceeded from this place to Macon, Ga., where they were met by a flag of truce, announcing to them that the armies had agreed upon an armistice ; from there they went to Atlanta, and shortly were transferred to the Department of South Carolina ; the regiment was then divided up into numerous small parties and scattered over the State to preserve peace and quiet ; our subject was located in the various places of Orangeburg, Florence, Darlington, Charleston and Hilton Head ; at this latter place, he embarked on a steamer for New York, and from there to Columbus, Ohio, where he was honorably discharged on the 29th day of September, 1 865 ; during his service, he received several slight wounds, but none severe. In the spring of 1870, he embarked in the mercantile business, which he carried on extensively till the financial panic that swept under so many of our enterprising business men, when he was compelled to reduce the magnitude of his business ; he carries a large stock of goods, which he disposes of at lowest prices. He has held the office of Township Trustee, and also School Director ; has been foremost among those who have taken an active interest in the railroad enterprise of this place. Mr. Coate was united in marriage, in 1860, to Miss Mary J. Pearson, a native of Newton Township ; they are the parents of seven children - five sons and two daughters.

J. C. COPPOCK ; farmer, P. O. Pleasant Hill ; was born in 1812 in Union Township, and is the son of William C., who was born in Newberry District, S. C., in 1807 ; he came to this State in company with his mother and some of his brothers, and located in Newton Township. He celebrated his marriage with Miss Eunice Cothran in 1809 ; she was born in South Carolina in 1793, and emigrated to this county with her parents in about 1808, and settled in southern part of Newton Township. Alexander Cothran, the head of this family, met with an untimely death soon after coming here, a falling limb striking him on the head and crushing his skull. After the marriage of William Coppock, he located at Ludlow Falls, in Union Township, and began farming for himself ; the privations and hardships of pioneer life proved too severe on his constitution, and, in 1812, death removed him from his home in the wilderness. His widow was subsequently married to Henry Coate, when they moved further up Ludlow Creek, where she died at the advanced age of 73 years. Henry Coate was the son of Marmaduke Coate. Our subject passed through all the experience incident to pioneer life, and, at the age of 16, his step-father being a smith by occupation, he was placed in the shop and learned the trade ; his chief employment in the shop was forging the old-fashioned hand sickles ; this business he continued about seven years, when the demand decreased and he abandoned it and turned his attention to farming, which has since been his occupation. He has been married three times, first to Miss Sarah Jay in 1833, she died Oct. 25, 1842 ; her death was a loss to the Friends' Church, of which she was a life member, and the community in which she lived ; three sons were born of this union, all of whom are still living. His second marriage was celebrated with Mrs. Sarah Conway, formerly Miss Alridge ; she was an Eastern lad} , and emigrated from Providence, R. I.; her death occurred Jan. 2, 1871, aged 50 years and 18 days ; three children were born of this union, one of whom is dead. His third marriage occurred in May, 1877, with Miss Barrett, a descendant of South Carolinans ; her ancestry coming here early in the history of this county. Mr. Coppock, after his first marriage bought the old Marmaduke Coate farm and moved on it ; he subsequently purchased the place where he now resides ; he has a fine water-power flouring and saw-mill ; the mill stands on the site of the first mill in the township. Although no political aspirant, Mr. C. has been twice elected to the office of Justice of the Peace.

ALLEN COPPOCK, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill. Prominent among the farmers of Newton Township is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch ; he is a descendant of a worthy family of early pioneers of this county, and son of Joseph C. Coppock, whose sketch appears in another part of this work ; he was born in 1838, on the place where he now resides, and which has always been his place of abode, with the exception of about six years ; his life has always been that of a farmer, which, by industry and good business habits, he has made an eminent success. His nuptials with Miss Maria Furnas were celebrated in 1865 ; she is the daughter of Joseph Furnas ; after the marriage of Mr C., he located in the northeast quarter of Sec. 29, where he remained a period of six years, and then moved to his present farm ; he operates a farm of 300 acres, two-thirds of which is arable and under a good state of improvement ; Mr. and Mrs. C. were the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters ; two children are dead.

D. M. COPPOCK, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; he is a son of Benjamin Coppock, and grandson of Benjamin J., Sr., who was one of a family of nine children, who came from Newberry District, S. C. about the year 1800 ; he settled two miles west of Ludlow Falls, Union Township, where he raised a family of ten children. He married Susan Jay, in South Carolina, and they both lived to an advanced age ; Benjamin J., Jr., had three children - Ellwood, D. M. and Almeda ; the parents still survive, residing with our subject, who was' born Dec. 29, 1841, in Union Township, and raised to farm labor, and, aside from common schools, was educated in the select schools of the Friends, and was raised a Quaker ; he is now a member of the Christian Church and highly respected in the community in which he lives ; he is a member of the

A.. F. & A. M. Lodge, of Pleasant Hill. He married Jane, daughter of J. Furnass Jay, who died Jan. 17, 1879, leaving nine children ; she was a good Christian woman, and a member of the Christian Church.

H. B. CRUMRINE, miller, Pleasant Hill ; he was born in Darke Co. in 1855, and is the son of Jacob and Susannah Crumrine ; Jacob C. was born in Montgomery Co. in 1811 ; he was the eighth child of a family of eleven children, whose father was Peter C. ; he was a native of Greene Co., Penn., and immigrated to Ohio in 1806 or 1807, and located on Wolf Creek, in Montgomery Co. He was married to Elizabeth Ringer ; Peter C. pioneered his way into Darke Co., and settled in German Township in 1818 ; in this vicinity he and his wife passed the remainder of their days, he dying in 1860 at the age of 86^- years, and she about 1858, at the age of 82 3Tears ; the subject of this sketch has made farming his life occupation ; he lived in Darke Co. until 1873, when he moved to his present place and purchased the Sugar Grove Mill, which he has since been operating ; at the time of purchase; there was attached to it a saw-mill, but in February, 1879, the two were burned down ; they have since been replaced b}T a large, fine flouring-mill, with the latest improvements ; he is a minister of the Congregational Brethren Church of Pleasant Hill. He was married to Susanah Kunkle, of Pennsylvania, a daughter of Michael and Mary Kunkle, early settlers of Darke Co. ; they have had eight sons and four daughters, three of whom have died. The subject of this sketch lived on a farm till 1873, when he came to his present place, and has since been operating his father's mill.

STEPHEN DAY, farmer ; P. 0. Bradford ; was born in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1840. William M. Day, his father, one of a family of four sons and one daughter, was born near Cincinnati, Hamilton Co.; he was a cabinet-maker by trade, but devoted the last twenty years of his life to farming. He was married to Margaret Trimble, of Knox Co., and by her had four sons and three daughters. His death occurred March 28, 1878, and his wife died the 16th of April of the same year. Stephen has made farming his life occupation ; he remained at home till he grew up to maturity, receiving his education in the common schools. In 1862, he came to this State, and in 1864, entered the army as a member of the 147th 0. N. G. ; after serving his time out in this regiment he enlisted in 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was identified with the Army of the Tennessee till the close of the war. After returning home, he finalH located, in 1868, on Section 3, Range 4, of this township. His farm consists of eighty acres, on which he has established a large cider-mill of the most modern st}de ; it has a capacity of 100 barrels per day (see card in directory). Mr. D. identifies himself with the Republican party ; his father was a strong Anti-slavery man, and used his utmost efforts to crush out slavery. Mr. Day was married February, 1866, to Jennie Maxwell, of this county, a daughter of Samuel Maxwell, an early settler. Two sons have been born to this union - William M. and Orrion O.

D. W. DE BRA, painter ; Pleasant Hill. Among the business men of Pleasant Hill deserving of notice is Mr. De Bra ; he comes of early settlers of the township. His father, Daniel De Bra, was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., in 1812, and when 2 or 3 years old, was brought to this State by his parents ; they camped first on the present site of the town of Pleasant Hill ; they died soon after coming here with milk sickness. Daniel was a cabinet-maker and passed the remainder of his life in Newton Township. He was married to Mary Langsten, of Preble Co., Ohio ; she was born in 1815 and still survives. Daniel died in 1844. The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 9, 1843, and his early days were passed in the village of Pleasant Hill. Early in the progress of our late civil war, he enlisted as a member of the 110th O. Y. I., Co. G, and participated in all the hard-fought battles which this regiment engaged in till the fight of the Wilderness ; here, while at his post of duty, he received a wound which disabled him so that he was unfit for any more active duty ; after passing some time in different hospitals, he was honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 6th of February, 1865, having been in the service over two years. Mr. De Bra finds expression for his political creed in the

Republican party, and, although not a politician in the true sense, he was recently elected to the office of Township Treasurer, and is now the present incumbent of this office. He is a worth}^ member of the following orders : F. & A. M. and I.

O. 0. F. Lodges of Pleasant Hill. His maternal grandparents were natives of North Carolina, and were earty settlers of Union Township. His grandmother died a few years ago at the advanced age of 96 years. He has been married twice ; first to Elizabeth Pearson in 1873 ; she died Jan. 22, 1875. He was married the second time, May 4, 1876, to Eliza Graybill, of Juniata Co., Penn. Two children, Charles Earl and Nellie, have been the issue of this union.

J. B. DEETER, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born on his present place in 1854, and is the son of John S. Deeter, who was born in Preble Co., Ohio, in 1813 ; he was a son of David Deeter. John S. was a farmer by occupation, and at different times owned and operated the Sugar Grove Grist-Mill. He was married in 1831 or 1832 to Sarah Reed, born in Virginain June, 1812. Of their family of four sons and three daughters, two sons have died ; one, David, lost his life in the United States service at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1862 ; he was a member of the 94th 0. Y. I. Isaac died in October 1867. JohnS. died in 1872, a faithful member of the German Baptist Church. He located on Section 7, about 1835. J. B. is the youngest of the family, and has devoted his life to farming ; his early education was limited to the common school ; his energy and industry, directed by his skill, has made his career as a farmer a success ; he finds his religious creed in the German Baptist Church, of which he and his wife are consistent members, and in which he has held the office of Deacon since he was 22 years old. He was married in October, 1873, to Angie Younce, of Union Township ; she was born in November,

FRED DEETER, cabinet-maker and undertaker, Pleasant Hill ; was born May 8, 1834, within the present limits of Pleasant Hill ; is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Reed) Deeter, and grandson of David Deeter, an early settler ; Jacob was a farmer by occupation, and made his first location from home on Sec. 17, Newton Township, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring Nov. 22, 1865, and that of his devoted wife a few years later ; of his family of five sons and five daughters, all grew up to maturity but one ; seven still survive. Our subject was the fourth child of the family, and lived on the farm till 19 years old, when he went to learn the cabinet trade under the tutorship of his brother S. R.; in about two years, he formed a partnership which lasted till 1862, when he purchased the whole interest and added to it carpentering, undertaking and painting ; he has since carried on cabinet work and undertaking, and, by his careful attention to business, has enjoyed gratifying success ; in May, 1873, he formed a partnership with his brother Isaac ; the year previous to this, he united in partnership with Groff & Aspinwall in the tile factory, but soon purchased the whole interest ; since 1873, he has been operating the factory, cabinet and undertaking business, under the firm style of F. & I. Deeter ; their large and increasing trade bears evidence of the quality of their work, their integrity and good management. In politics, Mr. Deeter is a Republican ; in 1870, he was elected to the office of Township Treasurer, to which position he was elected for ten consecutive years, and the duties of which he discharged with commendable zeal and satisfaction to the public ; he has also been School Director, and member of the Town Council and of the Board of Education ; he is a member of the A., F. & A. M. and I. 0. 0. F. of Pleasant Hill, and Encampment of West Milton, and, with his wife, a member of the Christian Church. He has been married twice, first on Nov. 22,

1855, to Emily Riffle, of Darke Co., Ohio, who was born Aug. 8, 1841, and died ' March 4, 1860, leaving two daughters - Martha J., born Aug. 23, 1856, and Sarah E., born Feb. 24, 1858 ; a son died in infancy ; his second marriage was on April 18, 1861, to Lydia J., daughter of Joseph Pearson ; three daughters have been the issue of this marriage - Dora D., born March 19, 1862 ; Harriet Armina, born Nov. 22, 1863, and Nellie, born Feb. 11, 1876. Lydia J. Pearson was born in

Newton Township March 20, 1840 ; she began teaching school at the age of 17, and continued at it for four years, teaching nine months out of each year ; she is of Quaker parentage, and a direct descendant of Thomas Macy, who was the first white settler of Nantucket Island, in 1658, and who forms the subject of a poem by John G. Whittier, entitled " The Exiles the line of descent is as follows : Thomas Mac}7, John, Thomas, Joseph, Paul, Paul, Lydia, Lydia J. Pearson ; she is also a direct descendant of Peter Folger, the maternal grandfather of Benjamin Franklin, the line of descent being as follows: Peter Folger, Johanna. John Coleman, Eunice Coleman, Bethia Coleman, who married Paul Macy, the great-grandfather of Lydia J. Pearson. Joseph Pearson, one of the early pioneers of Newton Township, was born in Newberry District, S. C., in 1800, and is the son of Benjamin and Esther (Furness) Pearson, both natives of South Carolina, and of English descent ; Benj. immigrated to Ohio with his family in 1805, and halted till the fall of 1806 in Warren Co., whence he pioneered his way to Miami Co., locating within the present limits of Newton Township ; he was a farmer by occupation, and passed his remaining days in Newton Township, his death occurring March, 1844, his wife dying about eleven years previous. Joseph was reared on a farm, and has made farming his life occupation ; he remained at home till he was 28 years old, having after his majority accumulated some money, with which he purchased a quarter-section near the homestead ; on this he moved in October, 1828, and resided till April, 1862, when he moved to his present place in Pleasant Hill ; he has witnessed the changes wrought in this country by the unflagging industry of man, for seven ty-four years ; Mr. P. still survives at the ripe age of 80 years, with his physical and mental powers remarkably wrell preserved ; he is a member of the A., F. & A. M. of Pleasant Hill ; he is a man esteemed for his many sterling characteristics. He has been married twice, first to Lydia Macy, who died April 7, 1846, leaving ten children - Allen (now deceased), Phebe (deceased), Robert, Paul (deceased), Esther (deceased), Eunice, Lydia J., Charles, Seth and Levi ; his second marriage was with Mary Patty, daughter of Richard and Anna Brandon, Nov. 10, 1846.

C. H. DEETER, blacksmith, Pleasant Hill ; born in Newton Township in 1841 ; is a son of Daniel and Mary A. (Hoke) Deeter ; his early life was devoted to farming and attending school. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 1st O. V. C., and December following, was sworn in as member of the 11th O. V. I., at Camp Dennison ; he was in many hard-fought battles, viz., Frederick City and South Mountain, Md., Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard Roost, Resaca, and many others ; he served in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and Georgia. Among his Generals were McClellan and Rosecranz. When his regiment was mustered out he remained in the service, working on the National Cemetery, at Chattanooga, until Dec. 3, 1 864, when he was mustered out of service, having served over three years. Returning home, he completed his education and taught school. In 1867, he commenced his trade, which he has since successfully followed. In February, 1867, married Sophronia Ward, born in Hocking Co. in 1847 ; they have six children living. Mr. D., while leaning toward the Republican party, exercises his judgment, and votes for men best qualified for the different positions.

M. DEETER, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; was born in this county and township Jan. 31,1821, and is one of the few remaining early-born citizens of the township ; his father, David Deeter, a Pennsylvanian by birth, emigrated to this county in early times ; he was one of the pioneer ministers of the German Baptist Church. He was married to Elizabeth Stultzman, and reared fifteen children, all of whom grew up to maturity and were married. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the family ; his boyhood and youth were passed on the farm, thus acquiring a knowledge and experience in agriculture which have served him well through life ; has made stone-cutting and stone masonry his chief occupation, operating, at the same time, his farm ; he has, with the exception of about six years, lived on his present place, which is the place of his nativity ; he lived about three years near Union City, Ind., and three years at the Sugar Grove Mill, which he operated ; Mr. Deeter has on his farm an extensive limestone quarry, which he has operated for a number of years, turning out a vast amount of stone of the best quality ; he is now engaged in sinking a shaft to the depth of thirty or more feet, for the purpose of operating a fine marble stone which is supposed to exist there. Mr. Deeter is a man of many sterling characteristics, unimpeachable in his business transactions, and industrious. He finds his religious creed in the Congregational Brethren Church, of which he has been a member since its organization, and now holds a deaconship in the same. He has been married twice ; first to Frances Eller, in 1842 ; she wTas born Nov. 8, 1821, and was the daughter of Henry Eller, an early settler of the county ; her death occurred March 6, 1865 ; six sons and two daughters were the issue of this first union, one son of whom is dead ; the youngest of this family is now 16 years old. His second marriage was with Mary Fowler, nee Teeter, a native of Pennsylvania ; three children have been born to this union.

R. E. DEETER, farmer ; P. 0. Covington. The subject of this sketch is the son of John R. Deeter, who was one of the early settlers of this township ; he was born on the place where he lived most of his life, and died on Jan. 19, 1816 ; he was brought up to farm labor, and farming was his life occupation. He was married twice ; first to Mary Harden, Sept. 27, 1835 ; she was born March 17, 1812, and died in 1844 ; four children were the issue of this union, two of whom are dead ; his second marriage was with Maria Maurer, Sept. 26, 1845 ; she is a Pennsylvanian by birth, and reared in Ohio ; she was only 1 year old when her parents located in Darke Co., Ohio ; fifteen children were born to this union, eight of whom are living. After his first marriage he moved to Darke Co., where he remained till about 1850, when he returned to the old homestead, it being a part of the land which his father entered in an early day, being the south part of Sec. 5, Newton Township. Mr. Deeter was a man of integrity in all his business relations, and his life was made admirable by his uprightness and Christian spirit. He was identified as a faithful member of the German Baptist Church. His death occurred in September, 1877, at the age of 61 years.

A. H. DEETER, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; was born in Newton Township in 1847 ; he is the son of John Deeter, a Pennsylvanian by birth, who immigrated to Ohio in 1805, and located on Wolf Creek, in Montgomery Co. ; he moved, in 1812, to this township, and located on southwest quarter of Sec. 8 ; here he lived till his death, in 1828. He married Susannah Stover, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had a family of six sons and five daughters ; she died in 1851. A. H. Deeter was the fifth child of the family ; he moved to his present place, located on Sec. 8, in' 1838. He was married, in 1838, to Mary A. Hoke, a native of Juniata Co., Penn. ; the}7 have had three sons and one daughter, all of whom still survive ; the subject of this sketch was reared on a farm ; he remained at home, attending the district school and doing duty on the farm until he attained his majority ; at the age of 21 years, he moved on to a farm near the homestead, and at the end of three years removed to the home place ; in three years he settled on his present place. He was married in the spring of 1868 to Angeline Myers, of this township ; four children have been born to this union, one of whom died in infancy. Mr. Deeter finds expression for his politics in the Republican party.

JACOB DRIVER, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in York Co., Penn., Sept. 16, 1828 ; his father, Jacob, was born in York Co., Penn., where he passed his entire life, his death occurring in 1855. He was married to Mary Strickler, of York Co., who was born in 1800, and died in 1874 ; they had three daughters and two sons, all of whom still survive. The subject of this sketch is the fourth child of the family. He remained at home till shortly after the death of his father, when he found his way into Juniata Co. ; from there, in 1860, he took up his journey westward, and located in Covington, Miami Co. After one year's residence here, he moved to Darke Co., near Union City, where he remained two years, and returned to this count}- ; and after a temporary stay of about one year in Covington, he moved to Henry Deeter's farm. In 1867, he purchased his present place, consisting of 80 acres ; he has cleared nearly one-half of it. He finds his religious creed in the " Brethren in Christ " Church. He was married in Pennsylvania in 1858 to Frances Moist, of Juniata Co. Her parents still live in her native place. Four daughters and three sons have been born to this union, one son dying in infancy.

ABRAHAM FACKLER, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill. One of the early settlers of this section of country is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in 1803 in Huntingdon Co., Penn., and came to this township in 1817, locating on his present place. He was married in 1826 to Miss Hepzibah Inman, a native of this township, born in 1811 . She is a daughter of Asa Inman, a native of South Carolina. He was married to Miss Mary Coppock, a native of North Carolina. In 1807 or 1808, Mr. Inman, with his family, bade farewell to the " Sunn}^ South,'' and took up his march for the wilds of Ohio, then considered the " Far West." He found a location within the present limits of Newton Township, on the northeast quarter of Sec. 30, where he toiled the better part of his life. His death occurred at the advanced age of upward of fourscore years. He is buried in the Harris Creek Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Fackler are the parents of nine children, six daughters and three sons, all grown up and married but two. Abraham Fackler is the son of George F., who was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., from which county he moved to Huntingdon Co., and from there to Ohio in 1817, locating on Sec. 29 in Newton Township. He brought with him a family of six children, leaving one in the East. Of these, three live in Newton Township, and one, the }roungest, in Covington. Mr. Fackler died soon after coming here. In August, 1819, he was married to Miss May Nisonger, who survived her husband many jTears, d}Ting at an advanced age.

HENRY F. FAVORITE, deceased ; was born in Monroe Township, Miami Co., near Tippecanoe, June 10, 1832; he was a descendant of Abraham Favorite, of Maryland, and Eve Long, of Virginia ; Abraham Favorite was a pioneer settler of this county, coming here just previous to the war of 1812, in which struggle he served as a teamster. He was married twice ; first to Elizabeth Swihank, of a family of early settlers ; nine children were the issue of this union, five of whom grew up to maturity ; Eve Long, his second wife, comes from a distinguished family of pioneers of Greene Co. ; there were ten children in the famity ; three of the sons became ministers of the Gospel - two in the German Reformed and one in the M. E. Church ; Abraham Favorite was bj' profession an agriculturist ; he was born in 1786 and died in 1848 ; his wife, Eve, was born in 1798 and died May 9, 1878 ; three sons and three daughters were born to this second union, all living but the subject of this sketch ; he was the second child of this famity, and was reared on the farm of his nativity until he arrived at his majority ; in 1864, he purchased a farm in Concord Township and moved to it ; this place he cultivated for five years, and then disposed of it ; in a few months, lie purchased the present place, where he passed the remnant of his daj's, his death occurring April 30, 1877. Mr. Favorite was admired for his manjT sterling virtues ; although not committed to any religious creed, he practiced the principles of Christianism in his intercourse with the world ; in all his transactions with his fellow-men, integrity was the ruling element ; he was an active member of the Patrons of Husbandly, and a charter member of the Pleasant Hill Lodge ; his death brought a loss to the community in which he lived, as well as an irreparable one to the famity which he left behind. He was married Nov. 22, 1862, to Carrie Byrkett, of this county, near Tippecanoe ; her father, Abraham Byrkett, was a native of North Carolina, and is still living in Monroe Township, whither he had immigrated at an early day ; he was married to Mary Chrisman, of Virginia, a descendant of early settlers of this county ; her father's house was the home of the pioneer Methodist ministers ; her death occurred Feb. 11, 1872, lamented by all who knew her. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. B}'rkett - seven daughters and two sons, three of whom died when very young. Four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Favorite, all of whom are living with their mother.

S. B. FRESHOUR, farmer and teacher ; I*. 0. Covington ; was born in Shelby Co., Ohio, in 1834, and is the son of George and Mary (Byrkett) Freshour ; GTeo. F. was born in Berkeley Co., Va., in 1808 ; he moved to Ohio in 1831 and locatedr in 1833, in Shelby Co., but in 1839 moved to Newton Township, on Sec. 10 ; in 1866, he removed to Newberry Township, where he still resides ; he was married in 1833, to Mary Byrkett, of Union Township, who was born in 1818, and comes of early settlers ; she died in 1848, leaving three sons and two daughters. S. B. is the oldest child, and was reared to farm labor ; he improved his meager educational advantages, and, at the age of 21, was qualified to enter the profession of teaching, which he has since followed (with the exception of four }rears), during the winter months ; he attended school considerably previous to the war, and after, he began teaching at leisure times ; at the first call for men to suppress the late rebellion, Mr. F. enlisted in the 11th 0. V. I.; at the expiration of his three-months enlistment he returned home, staying until the spring of 1864, when he went out again as a member of the 147th O. N. G\, and served 100 days, which closed his military career. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Christian Church. He married, in 1862, Elizabeth Langston, of Union Township, daughter of Leonard Langston ; of his three sons and three daughters, two sons and one daughter have died. Mr. Freshour takes a great interest in the education of his children, and his son has lately graduated from the high school of Covington.

JOSEPH FURNAS, retired farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; was born Aug. 8, 1809, on the farm where he now resides. His family was derived from England. In 1142, there was an Abbey founded in the north of England in the Furness name, and quite a house of them established a colony in Cumberland and North Cumberland Cos. and were possessed of land in the year mentioned. The elder branch of the family, without much increase or diminution of property, still adhere to the " old sod from these the Furnases of this country do not blush to descend. John Furness, grandfather of Joseph, was born Jan. 1, 1735, near Standing Stone Monthly Meeting House. Married Mary Wilkinson, of Wigton, March 24, 1762 ; emigrated to America about 1763 or 1764 ; settled in South Carolina. William Furnas, son of John and Mary, and father of Joseph, born in South Carolina, May 29, 1775. Married Rachel Nesby, of that State. Emigrated to Miami Co. in October, 1806. Like most youths of early days, Joseph Furnas' education was neglected, but he was early taught the use of hands and brains. Sept. 15, 1834, he married Margaret Spencer of South Carolina, a lady of Scotch parentage. The fruits of this union were seven children, four of whom are living, three daughters and one son. Mr. F. is now in his 71st year, and is probably the only man in the county who, starting from early manhood with no pecuniary aid, has purchased and maintained the old homestead intact for that period of years. Of a retiring, unassuming disposition, he never sought preferment of any kind. He early learned that the man who distances his competitors is he who masters his business, who preserves his integrity, who pays his debts, who lives within his income, and who gains friends by deserving them.

CARY FURNAS, (deceased); was born in Newberry District. S. C. June 19, 1803. His father, William Furnas, located on northeast quarter of Sec. 28, in Newton Township, in October, 1806. Here Cary was reared. He made his first location just south of the homestead, and, at the end of six years, in 1832, he located on Sec. 2, where his death occurred, at the age of 69. He married Matilda Leavell in 1825. Of the six children born to this union, two died in infancy, and one lives, at the age of 33. Matilda is the daughter of Robert and Sarah (Perry) Leavell. Robert was born Oct. 22, 1780, in South Carolina, and, in 1805, came to this State ; in 1807 or 1808, he located on Panther Creek, in Newton Township, where he established the first home in that part of the township ; in 1812, he moved, with his family, south of West Milton ; during the war of 1812, he served as a teamster, and at close of war returned to his farm on Panther Creek, where his death occurred at the age of 87. He took a great interest in the welfare of his country, and voted at every Presidential election from his majority till his death. His wife, Sarah, died March 31, 1864, aged 82 }rears. He had a family of four sons and four daughters ; the daughters still survive.

D AVID GUMP, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Bethel Township, this county, in March, 1834 ; his father, Daniel Gump, was born in Ma^land, and his mother, Margaret Studabaker, in Pennsylvania ; Daniel came to this State when a young man, and his death occurred in Bethel Township about ten years ago ; his wife survived him till Feb. 18, 1879 ; Daniel had a family of seven sons and two daughters, all of whom grew up, married, and still survive, with the exception of one daughter. The subject of this sketch, who is the seventh child of the family, was educated in the common schools ; farming has always been his occupation, and his farm, with its neat and thrifty appearance, indicates that he understands his business ; his life, to maturity, was passed under the parental roof, performing his share of the duties of the farm ; he made his first location in Montgomery Co., near Harrisburg ; afterward he returned to his native township, and April 14, 1865 (the day Lincoln was killed), he moved to his present place, first renting, and, after a year or so, purchasing it. He was married, in November. 1858, to Catherine Huffer, of Montgomery Co., born six miles west of Dayton ; her death occurred May 18, 1878, aged 39 years ; she was a faithful member of the German Baptist Church ; she left a son and daughter - Edward, born Dec. 19. 1862, Minna Belle, born Nov. 22, 1868 ; three children died - William, born Nov. 5, 1859, Clara, born in 1870, and another in infancy; Mr. Gump is a connected with the German Baptist Church, of which he is a consistent member ; he is sociable, affable and upright in all his businass transactions.

JOHN HALE, farmer; P. 0. Tioy ; was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Ma}7 3, 1819; he is of English extraction, his ancestry emigrating from England at an early day ; he is the son of John Hale, Sr., a native of Maryland, who was born about 1775, and was married to Miss Martha Mays ; he emigrated to Ohio in 1812, and settled in Jefferson Co. ; just previous to emigrating, and when he had ever}Tthing ready for the journey, he was conscripted for the war of 1812 ; he was placed on duty at Baltimore for a short time, when he was released ; he immediately came to this State ; his occupation was farming ; in the spring of 1837, he came to this county, locating on the farm where our subject now resides ; eight acres constituted the cleared land on his farm, and almost an unbroken wilderness surrounded him ; the whole was in a swampy condition, and much hard labor was demanded to fit it for agriculture ; here Mr. Hale toiled till 1 852, when death released him from the bonds of this life ; his devoted wife survived him about seven years ; he reared a family of seven children - five daughters and two sons. Our subject is the youngest of this family, and was reared on the farm ; to his lot fell the filial duty of caring for his parents in their decline of life ; this duty he discharged faithfully till their death, when he fell heir to the homestead, then consisting of 80 acres ; he has since added 100 acres more. His nuptials were celebrated with Miss Susan Needham Dec. 7, 1862; she was born April 19, 1839, in Preble Co., Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. Hale are the parents of six children, three of whom are deceased ; the living are Blanche, Louis and Della ; Mr. and Mrs. H. are faithful members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of Concord Township, and are living exemplary lives.

ISAAC HALL, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; one of the few early settlers of Miami Co. ; was born in Newberry District, S. C., near Newberry Court House in 1806, Jan. 19 ; his father was Amos Hall, of South Carolina, and his mother, Sarah, daughter of Marmaduke Coate ; he landed in Ohio the 1st of March, 1807, having been six weeks on the journey ; he located in Union Township, on land now owned by David Ellenman ; here he died at the advanced age of 84 3'ears, at his son-inlaw's, Millen North. Sarah, his wife, died previously, at the same place ; they reared a family of nine sons and five daughters. The subject of this sketch is the fifth child of the family, and the oldest surviving member ; his education was acquired when the imperfect subscription system was in vogue, and consequently his early advantages were limited ; he helped his father on the farm till majority, when he moved to his present farm in November, 1827 ; it was then all in the woods, and required much hard labor, with many sacrifices, to make out of it a home ; but this Mr. Hall accomplished by his unflagging industry ; he lived on the land seven years before he could raise sufficient money to enter it ; it then consisted of 80 acres, but he now has in his possession nearly 250 acres; he comes from a vigorous and industrious stock, and has nobly contended with the difficulties and hardships incident to frontier life ; he is a self-made man, his present competence being wholly the result of his own industry and skill, assisted by his noble wife ; his life has been an exemplary one, inoffensive, upright and generous ; in religion, he is with the Christian denomination ; in politics, he is Republican ; he was originally a Whig, and cast his first vote for Henry Clay. He has been married three times, first to Anna Hayworth, daughter of James Hayworth, an early pioneer ; she was born in 1809, and died in 1849 ; five sons and five daughters were the issue of this union. His second marriage was with Catherine Lowry, nee Rodehamel, of this Township, who was born in 1804, and died in 1863. For his third wife he married Maria Clem in 1864, a native of Maryland, born near Harper's Ferry.

JOSEPH C. HAYWORTH, farmer ; P. O. Laura ; was born July 18, 1817, in this township ; he is the son of James and Ann (Coppock) Hayworth, who had a family of sixteen children, fourteen of whom grew up and reared families. James emigrated to Ohio in 1806, and located on Sec 29 ; after residing here for a time, he purchased a farm on Sec. 34 ; here he died in 1828, at the age of 54 years ; his wife died September, 1870, at the age of 90 years. The subject of this sketch has followed farming as a life occupation, with success, as his present possessions attest ; his father dying when he was yet a small boy, he was bound out for a short time, and then was thrown upon his own resources ; after working some four or five years he went to Cla}^ Co., Ind., remained four years, and returned to his native place ; in 1845, he purchased his present place. Mr. H. was one of the expert hunters of Newton Township in the pioneer period of its existence, and much wild game has been brought down by the well-directed aim of his rifle ; he killed a bear near his present place as late as 1839. He has been married twice ; first to Elizabeth Coate, by whom he had a family of twelve children, four of whom are now dead. His second marriage was with Victoria Gall, Aug. 29, 1874 ; she was born in Germany in 1845 ; they have one child. Mr. H. was reared in the Friends' Church, and is now identified with it.

BENJAMIN HELLMAN, farmer; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Rockingham Co., Va., in 1812, and is the son of Jacob and Fannie (Stickela) Heilman, the former of Pittsburgh, Penn., and the latter a native of Virginia. Fannie Stickela's father emigrated from Germany, and located in Rockingham Co., Va., at an early day. Jacob Heilman emigrated to this State in 1835, and located with his family on the northwest part of Sec. 2, Newton Township ; here he and his devoted wife passed the remainder of their lives, he dying at the advanced age of 96 or 97 years, and she dying the same year, at the remarkable age of 103 or 104 years. They reared a family of five sons and three daughters, of which the subject of this sketch is the fourth child. He was brought up on a farm, and has devoted his life to agriculture ; not having the advantages of common schools, he adopted a method of self-culture, and thus acquired a fair education ; he came to this State with his parents, and, in connection with one of his brothers, purchased the land on which the family settled ; soon after this; he purchased his present place, and on these two farms he has resided since coming into the county. He finds his political creed in the Democratic party. He was married to Mary Casper, and has a family of six sons, all living, and located near the homestead.

JOHN HELMICK, farming ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Miami Co., Monroe Township, in 1840, and comes of the early settlers of this county ; he is the son of Jacob and Catherine (Younce) Helmick ; Jacob Helmick was born in Montgomery Co., near Salem, July 30, 1817 ; his parents were John Helmick and Susannah Knife, both of Fayette Co., Penn.; his father was a tanner by trade, and an early settler of this county. He had a family of five sons and two daughters. Jacob Helmick was raised a farmer and has made farming his life occupation, which he followed till 1858, in Monroe and Concord Townships; at this latter date, he moved to Newton Township, where he still resides. His marriage with Catherine Younce was in 1837. By this union they have had fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters ; one son and three daughters have died. Catherine Younce is the daughter of Philip Younce, one of the pioneer ministers in the German Baptist Church ; he was born in South Carolina in 1793, and died in Miami Co. in 1865 ; he came to this county when about 25 years old, and located in the woods in Union Township. He had a family of ten children, two sons and two daughters still survive ; four of his sons became ministers ; three of the German Baptist Church, and one of the Disciples. The subject of this sketch is the oldest son of the family ; reared a farmer, he has made the pursuit of agriculture his life vocation, and by his industr}' and good management has been successful ; he received only a limited common-school education, as he was the oldest of the family, and was much detained at home on the farm ; he made his first start on his own resources and responsibilities, in the vicinity of his nativity ; he rented for about five years, when he purchased 75 acres east of Pleasant Hill, in Newton Township ; nine years ago he purchased his present place, consisting of 80 acres, where he has since lived, with the exception of eighteen months, when he was engaged in tanning. He finds expression for his religious creed in the German Baptist Church, of which he and wife are faithful members. He was married in 1861 to Mary Seighman, of this township ; her ancestors were from Pennsylvania. Three children, one son and two daughters, have been the issue of this union.

JOHN HILDEBRAN, farmer ; P. 0. Laura ; was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1825, and is the son of John Hildebran, of this State ; his parents were early settlers, and lived to remarkable ages - he to the age of 102, and she to the age of 101. John H., Sr., was married to Esther Long, of Pennsylvania. After the marriage of John H., Sr., he moved to Missouri ; in 1828, he came to this county, and remained several years, when he emigrated to Indiana, where he passed the remnant of his life. He had a family of six sons and six daughters, nine of whom are still living. One of them lost his life in the late civil war, during the siege of Richmond. The subject of this sketch was 3 }^ears old when he came to this county with his parents. He was married in 1847 to Rachel Tucker, of Indiana; she is the daughter of Nicholas Tucker. Mr. H., soon after his marriage, purchased the farm in southeast part of Sec. 35, consisting of 80 acres, and at once located on it. He removed to Iowa in 1862, and remained one year, then returned and purchased a farm in Sec. 26, consisting of 86 acres, on which he resided till about one year ago, when he removed to Laura, and from there, recently, to Pattysville. Mr. H. is an ardent supporter of the temperance cause, and is identified with a temperance organization. He has end tired much suffering since his boyhood with a diseased leg. It was first afflicted with white swelling, and during the last twentynine years he has had the leg broken several times, and during those years the swelling has gathered and discharged thirteen times. A son and daughter have been born to him. Mrs. Esther Hildebran was reared in the Friends' Church, and is a faithful member of the same.

NATHAN HILL, farmer and railroad agent ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; comes of early pioneers of Miami, and was born near his present place, in 1829, being the youngest of a family of nine children ; he is the son of Nathan Hill, Sr., who was born in Maryland, near Ellicott's Mills, March 15, 1788; he emigrated to this State, with his parents, in 1804 ; his father, Thomas, was of Frederick Co., Md., and his grandfather, Joseph, was of English birth, and came to this country in an early day ; his will, executed in 1798, is after the old English style, and is still in the possession of our subject ; Thomas located near present site of Pleasant Hill, where he passed the remainder of his life ; Nathan, the father of our subject, was married June 29, 1809, to Frances, daughter of Michael Williams, who settled here in 1800 ; they immediately erected a he wed-log cabin, which still stands, a relic of pioneer days ; here they passed the remainder of their lives, he dying Jan. 15, 1862, and she Nov. 10, 1870, 80 years old ; the}' were both faithful and earnest workers in the Christian Church almost their entire life. Our subject was reared on the farm, and has always lived on the homestead ; he has given considerable attention to the raising of fruit, and has now on his place the largest apple orchard in the township ; he is a public-spirited and enterprising man, and was especially active in securing the narrow-gauge road which passes through the township ; he is now agent for the road in the township ; he is a member of the I. 0. O. F. of Pleasant Hill. He has been married twice ; first, in October, 1846, to Priscilla, daughter of William Furnas, a pioneer of the township ; she died Dec.

7, 1847 ; two daughters (twins) - Sarah F. and Priscilla - were the issue of this union. His second marriage was on Dec. 31, 1848, to Martha J. Jones, of this county ; William C., Clarissa, Margaret B., Emma C., Maria E. and Edward are the issue of this union.

ISAAC HILL, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; is a descendant of early settlers of Newton Township ; he is the son of William Hill, and was born in 1848, on Sec. 20, in this township ; his education was limited to the common school ; he remained at home, assisting on the farm- work till maturity ; he made his first permanent location on the northeast quarter of Sec. 30 ; at the end of eight years he moved to the place where he now resides. He was married, in 1867, to Mar}' E. Stichter, daughter of Jacob Stichter ; three children have been born to this union, to wit : Cynthia, Charlie and Isaac.

JOHN W. HILL, farmer; P. O. Pleasant Hill; born in 1824 on the same farm he now resides on ; is a son of Nathan Hill, Sr., a native of Maryland and an immigrant to this place with his parents when a mere boy ; his grandfather was among the first settlers of Newton Township. Our subject's early life was that of a farmer boy ; he remained at home assisting in the farm duties till his marriage, which occurred at the age of 19, with Miss Susan Weddle ; Mr. Hill, after this event of his life, began farming on his present place ; here he has continued the pursuit of agriculture, with eminent success, for over a third of a century ; he has a most beautiful farm, under the best modern improvements, and has erected on it one of the finest brick residences in the township. His wife, Susan, died Jan. 4, 1874 ; she was a faithful member of the Christian Church of Pleasant Hill, and her death was a loss to the whole community ; she is buried in the beautiful Pleasant Hill Cemetery ; eight children were born, seven of whom are still living, and six of whom are married ; all are settled in the community but one ; their names are as follows : Henry LI., Sarah J. (married to Dr. Kiester, of Arcanum), Isaac N., John C., Eunice E. (Longanecker), James M.,Mary E. (Billows). Mr. Hill's second marriage was celebrated Oct. 15, 1874, with Mrs. Josephine Conway, formerly Miss Josephine Banta, a native of Preble Co., Ohio ; she has one daughter, a teacher in the public school of Pleasant Hill ; Mr. and Mrs. Hill are both members of the Christian Church of Pleasant Hill, and Mr. Hill holds a deaconship in the same ; he is President of the Temperance Association of this place, wrhich bespeaks him an ardent supporter of the Temperance cause ; he is a member of A., F. & A. M. fraternity of Pleasant Hill.

JOHN K. HITTLE, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; was born on the farm on which he now lives in 1840, and is a descendant of early settlers. John Hittle, his father, entered the land on which the subject of this sketch now lives, in about 1825. He was born in Bucks Co., Penn., in 1803, and came of German parentage, his father being born in Germany. He was raised a farmer, and adopted farming as his vocation through life, and shoemaking as an accessory. He came to Ohio, when about 10 years old, with his parents. His father was Nicholas Hittle, one of those who pioneered their way into the wilds of Newton Township. He located on Sec.

8, just above Pleasant Hill. Lie was a man possessed of powerful physical strength. John Hittle, Sr., was the third child of a family of ten children. He was married to Mary Kessler, of this county, a descendant of early pioneers ; they had two sons and five daughters - one son died in infancy, and one daughter at the age of 5.

-John H., Sr., was married the second time, to Mary Divens, and had one child, a daughter. He moved on a farm in Sec. 9, after his first marriage, and passed the remainder of his life there, his death occurring in 1861. The subject of this sketch was raised and has always lived on his present farm. He received his earl}' education in the common school, which was necessarily much limited. At the death of his father, he took charge pf the homestead, then consisting of 160 acres, and soon after purchased half of it, which he still owns and operates. He is a young man of energy and industry, which secures success to him in his vocation. He has been a member of the I. 0. 0. F. since 1866 ; is a member of the Encampment at West Milton, and also a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. He finds expression for his political sentiments in the Democratic party ; and, in religion, is a Protestant in faith, but not circumscribed by any particular creed. In all of his transactions, integrity is his ruling principle. He was married in 1867 to Mary E. Thompson, of this county, a daughter of John Thompson, an early settler.

T. & 0. HOOVER, saw-mill ; P. 0. West Milton. Of the business men of Newton Township, none are more deserving of notice than the gentlemen whose names head this sketch ; the}' are descended from pioneers of Ohio ; their paternal grandparents were among the first to leave the beautiful "land of summer" for the primeval forests of the Northwest Territory ; in the fall of 1801, David E. Hoover left North Carolina for the purpose of making Ohio his future home : he located in the extreme northern part of the present limits of Montgomery Co.; in this place he passed the remainder of his days, serving one year as a member of the Ohio Legislature from Montgomery Co., and fifteen years as Justice of the Peace of Randolph Township ; from this it will be inferred that his life was a success and full of usefulness ; he reared a family of fourteen children, of whom the father of our subject was next to the youngest ; he was born in Montgomery Co., and his life has been given to the milling business on the Stillwater, in his native county ; his wife was a Canadian by birth, and emigrated to Montgomery Co. when only 10 years old, with her parents; six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoover, all of whom are living. T. Hoover was born in 1844, and 0. Hoover in 1846 ; about seven years ago, they purchased the saw-mill which they are now operating ; it is located in the southern part of Newton Township, and is supplied with ample water-power the year round ; besides lumber, they manufacture all kinds of turned chair stock. Oscar Hoover was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bartmass, April 19, 1873; they have one child.

JACOB HORTHER, farmer ; P. 0. Troy ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1823; is a son of Wolfgang Horther. At the age of 16, while following the plow, Wolfgang was conscripted for the Bavarian army, and was taken direct from the field, not having permission to go to the house to bid adi6u to his parents ; his term of conscription was six years, of which he served three, procuring a substitute for the remainder of the time. He had five sons and three daughters, of whom Jacob, the fourth child, was reared a farmer and educated in the common schools of Germany. In his early manhood, he traveled considerably over Europe, depending upon his own resources for subsistence. In 1845, his name was drawn to serve in the Bavarian army, but before the day of examination, he made his escape clandestinely and in disguise as the servant of a teamster to Bremen, then secreted himself in a vessel, where he remained till the same set sail for America ; he reached New York on the 3d of July in safety ; from here he found his way to Brookville, Ind., where he learned the cooper trade ; after one year in Cincinnati, he moved to Hamilton, Butler Co., where he remained sixteen years engaged at coopering ; he then moved to Preble Co., and was soon after drafted in the Union army, but secured a substitute ; after engaging in the hotel business for three years, he moved to his present place. Mr. Horther is a self-made man, and has established for himself and family a neat home. In religion, he holds liberal views, and in politics is a Democrat. He is a member of the following orders : The T. O. 0. F., of which he has been Noble Grand ; Patrons of Husbandry, of which he was Treasurer, and D. O. H.. of Miamisburg. He married Margaret Herzog, in

1846, of Saxe-Coburg, Germany. She immigrated to this country in 1844, and located in Cincinnati. Of their family of two sons and six daughters, one died in infancy.

HARVEY HUNT, farmer; P. 0. Laura; was born in Union Township in 1846, on the farm now owned by Thomas Hunt ; he is the son of Ralph Hunt, also a native of this county, who has made farming his life occupation. He was first married to Sophia Walker, by whom he had six children ; he has since been twice married, and four children were given to him in the second marriage. He purchased a farm of 80 acres in Darke Co. in 1847, and has since lived there. Our subject was about one year old when he was taken to Darke Co. b}" his parents ; here he passed his youth as a farmer, devoting his winter months to the acquisition of knowledge in the common school. He was married in 1865 to Miss Elizabeth Hayworth, a daughter of Samuel Hayworth. After making several moves from Darke into Miami Co., and back again, he finally located four years ago on his present farm ; eight children have been born to this union, all living but one, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Westgrove Christian Church, of Darke Co.

BENJAMIN IDDINGS, farmer ; P. 0. West Milton ; one of the prominent farmers of Newton Township ; is a descendant of early pioneers, and is of Scotch - Irish stock ; he is the son of Joseph Iddings, one of the pioneers of the Northwest Territory ; our subject was born on the place where he now lives, and which has been his residence for sixty-five years ; his life has been that of a farmer, and he earty acquired habits of industry and economy, which have served him well throughout his life ; by his unflagging perseverance and good management, he has put himself in possession of a large farm under the best of modern improvements. He has been twice married, first to Miss Barbara Hill, March 29, 1838, who is a descendant of early pioneers, and sister to Nathan and John Hill ; nine children were born to this union ; all are living and married ; his second marriage was celebrated with Sarah A. McDowell, June 18, 1863 ; she was born in Dayton, Ohio, and is the daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Baker) McDowell, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Tennessee ; two children have been born to this union, one of whom is dead, the other, Myron E., is at home with his parents. Mr. Iddings is a member of the Shiloh Christian Church.

WILLIAM IDDINGS, farmer; P. 0. Pleasant Hill; is the son of James Iddings, who was born in Bedford Co., Penn., June 27, 1783 ; emigrated from his place of nativity to Greene Co., Tenn., with his parents, when only a child, and when quite young, again emigrated to the Northwest Territory, his parents settlingin what is now Union Township, in Miami Co. He married Miss Mary Davis, who was born May 9, 1789, on the banks of the Savannah River, about forty miles above Augusta, Ga. ; she emigrated to this county with her parents and located in Union Township; she was the daughter of Abiathar and Lydia Davis; Lydia Davis was a native of South Carolina, and died in Georgia. Mr. Davis again married, and came to this county with a family of three sons - John, Samuel and Benjamin ; and four daughters - Rhoda, Mary, Sarah and Lydia, leaving one daughter, Rachel, in Georgia, and one son, Amos. Mr. Davis' death occurred at an advanced age. James Iddings was the son of Benjamin, a pioneer and prominent citizen of this county ; he was born in Pennsylvania, and united in marriage to Phebe Wilkinson ; he reared a family of three sons - Talbot, Joseph and Benjamin, and six daughters - Rachel, Mary, Ruth, Emilia, Hannah and Phebe ; all of these emigrated to this State, and a numerous line of descendants have sprung from them. Benjamin was a man with a fine education, spending several years of his life in college at Philadelphia. He was reared in the Friends' Church, and for many years before his death, held an eldership in the same. For a long period, his usual seat at the Friends' meetings, at Union Chapel, was regularly filled by him, but finally death made his place vacant ; his brother James was also a finely educated man and was the author of a rhyming geography. Our subject was born Sept. 26, 1809, in Newton Township, in the log cabin of pioneer da37s. The wilderness surrounded him, and his early training, both mentally and physically, was obtained from its solitudes. He early became inured to the privations and hardships of frontier life ; his early educational opportunities were very meager. The first 25 cents he ever owned was invested in a book, showing the early bent of his mind. This literal inclination he has been assiduous in cultivating, as his fine and large selection of books indicates. He married Miss Margaret Coppock April 2, 1829; she was a daughter of Thomas Coppock, and died 30th of March, 1869. After his marriage, Mr. Iddings moved to the place where he now resides ; he has a farm of 140 acres under the best of improvement ; he has taken a great interest in the cause of religion since his membership with the church in November, 1842 ; he has donated considerable sums to the Antioch College, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and the Merom College, of Indiana. He is an ordained minister in the Christian denomination ; contributed largely to the building of the Shiloh Church on his own farm, an organization of 164 members. Five children were born to Mr. Iddings by his first union, all of whom died in early life. His second marriage was celebrated, July 14, 1870, witli Miss Mary Cuthbert, a native of Ireland. They have four children ; three sons and one daughter.

A. J. IDDINGS, farmer ; P. O. West Milton. We herewith present a sketch of the Coppock famiiy, as descended from the pioneer Thomas Coppock, together with the sketch of the gentleman whose name heads this biography. Thomas Coppock was the second of a family of nine children, as follows : John, Thomas, Benjamin, William, Samuel, Jesse, Margaret, Betty and Jane ; all were born in South Carolina, and had grown up to maturity before their emigration to this State ; the}" came here in the beginning of the present century ; Thomas settled on the southwest quarter of Sec. 33, in 1804, and his family constituted one among the first of Newton Township ; he was a blacksmith, and immediately after his location here, started a shop, which was the first in that section of the country ; Thomas Coppock lived to an advanced age, and reared a family of five daughters and three sons, to wit : Edna, Jane, Mary A., Margaret, Sallie, John, Moses and Joseph ; John and Moses died in early manhood, leaving only Joseph bearing the family name ; blacksmithing was his chief vocation throughout life ; he was born Oct. 20, 1805, his death occurring Sept. 30, 1839. He was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Waggoner Dec. 3, 1829 ; she wras born Sept. 20, 1805 ; her father was a native of Newberry District, S. C., born Jan. 29, 1775. He celebrated his marriage with Mrs. Mary Davenport, formerly Miss Mary Mast, in 1801 ; she was born March 21, 1772 ; her first husband lost his life on the Ohio River ; she had two sons by this union - Noah and Martin ; immediately after the marriage of Mr. Waggoner, he emigrated to this State, locating in the extreme south part of Union Township ; here the}" toiled till death, Mr. Waggoner dying June 3, 1857, aged 82 years, and Mrs. Waggoner, Nov. 27, 1850 ; Mr. and Mrs. Coppock raised a family of four children, one son and three daughters ; Thomas and Mary died leaving each a family ; Charlie, the son of Thomas, being the only child bearing the name of Coppock. A. J. Iddings is the son of Benjamin Iddings ; he was born Aug. 29, 1842. He was united in marriage to Miss , Jane Coppock Nov. 23, 1865 ; one child, a son, Estv, was born of this union in August, 1866.

BENJAMIN G. INMAN, farmer; P. O. Pleasant Hill; was born Aug. 11, 1836; he received a liberal common-school education, and lias been a close student of medicine for twenty-three years ; at present he operates a woolen-mill at West Milton, Ohio ; he is the son of the elder George Inman, a pioneer of Newton Township, and one of its prominent and valuable citizens ; George was born in Newberry District, S. C., June 24, 1798, and was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Inman, who were born in England, near thel city of London ; Benjamin was a man of small means, and, being zealous in his religion, he met with a great deal of persecution, which caused him to emigrate to the United States ; he located in South Carolina, where he erected a fiouring-mill, which proved a great source of profit to him ; this he was not long permitted to enjoy, death calling him from works to rewards when George, the youngest of a family of three sons and one daughter, was only 3 years old ; his wife, Elizabeth, moved with the family to Burke Co., Ga., where she had some relatives ; here, in this remarkably poor, sandy country, she found it a great struggle to sustain herself and family, and received but little sympathy from friends ; she remained here in destitute circumstances for eight years ; while here, in the heart of slavery, George daily witnessed the cruelties and atrocities of the system ; many horrible scenes were indelibly impressed upon his youthful mind ; one, the burning of three slaves at the stake, of which he was an eye-witness, he used to relate with much feeling ; these scenes firmly biased his mind against the system of slavery ; at the age of 14, he suffered the loss of his mother by death, and then realized what it was to be left an orphan among strangers ; he now moved back to South Carolina, were he received his education, which consisted of nine months' schooling ; in this time he learned to read and write, and laid the foundation of his future life ; he then began to study the Bible, and was, the remainder of his life, a close student of the Word of God ; he could repeat from memory at least one-eighth of the Bible ; he emigrated to Ohio in 1818, and, in 1820, married Julia Ann Burns, who emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1813, and located on the present site of Pleasant Hill ; she died May 9, 1872, esteemed by all who knew her, a Christian woman, true and noble-hearted ; the}' had four sons and six daughters, one daughter, Polly, dying when a small child, in 1823, and one son and two daughters within a month, in 1850 ; the rest still survive, useful members of society. Mr. and Mrs. Inman became members of the Hopewell Christian Church of Pleasant Hill in 1820, and remained faithful mem bers and exemplary Christians till their death ; George was ordained an Elder in the church in 1822, and earnestly and faithfully discharged its duties till 1859, when he was ordained a minister, which position he filled till death ; during his ministry he preached over 6,000 sermons ; as a minister, he possessed many natural gifts ; eloquent in his address, gifted with a musical voice, pungent and bold in his remarks, forcible in his arguments, and winning in delivery, he was eminently efficient in his ministerial work; in 1822, he purchased a farm, consisting of 102^ acres in Sec. 24, Newton Township, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring Jan. 15, 1880, in his 82d year; as an early and earnest supporter of the Abolition cause, an advocate of the free-school system, an ardent temperance worker, and a man of benevolence, he will long be remembered.

HABYEY JONES, farmer ; P. 0. Laura ; one of the early settlers ; born in 1823 in Union Township ; is a son of Jesse Jones, one of the pioneers, who was born in Georgia April 15, 1794 ; he is the son of Samuel and grandson of Francis Jones, of North Carolina. Samuel raised eleven children, all of whom became heads of families, Jesse being the only surviving member. In 1805, Samuel, with his family, came to Ohio, locating north of West Milton, where he died at 84 years of age ; his wife died at the age of 88 years. Jesse came to Ohio when 11 years old ; his early life was that of a pioneer, and he has always been a farmer ; married three times ; his first wife, Jane Cothran was from South Carolina ; his second, Naomi (Tucker) Jones, was a native of Tennessee ; his third wife, Betsy (Hayworth) Davis, was born June 13, 1800, in South Carolina ; her parents came to this county in 1806, and located in this township. Harvey remained with his father until 21 years of age, after which he farmed the homestead one year, then purchased his present place, and erected a log house, which is now supplanted by a fine residence upon his well-cultivated farm, brought to this condition by his own hard labor. His first wife, Bachel Hunt, was a daughter of Elijah Hunt, an early pioneer. She was a consistent Christian, and died in October, 1869. Of their nine children, six survive. His second wife, Mrs. Mary (Thompson) Bichardson, was a native of Darke Co., and the widow of Josiah Bichardson, who enlisted in the 69th 0. Y. I., was fatally wounded near Georgia, taken to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Jones take a deep interest in the cause of religion, both being members of the Christian Church at Laura.

GEOBGE KAUFFMAN, deceased ; was born in York Co., Penn., Nov. 13, 1821. His father, Peter Kauffman, and Elizabeth Hefflebauer, his mother, were both natives of Pennsylvania. Peter Kauffman followed the pursuit of agriculture ; in 1830, he immigrated with his family to Ohio, and located on a farm in .Montgomery Co., four miles north of Da3'ton, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring September, 1872. He had a family of eight children, only three of whom survive. Mrs. Kauffman died some thirteen or fourteen years ago. The subject of this sketch was the sixth child of the family, and was reared a farmer ; he remained at home with his father till about twelve years ago, when he purchased three farms in this township, and on one. of them moved ; this is located in Sec. 3, Range 4. His death was caused by an accident. He wras occupied in hauling his sugar cane to the factory ; the barrel upon which he was sitting tilted, throwing him between the horses, frightening them so that they ran, dragging him with them, and injuring him so severely that he died the next day. Mr. Kauffman was a man of many sterling qualities ; he was industrious and enterprising, and in business transactions was strictty honest. His death removed from the community a good citizen and a Christian gentleman. He was a member of the Christian Church. He was married in 1872 to Rebecca M. Brown, of Frederick Co., Md., who was born in 1847, and came to this county in 1868, locating near Tro}r. They had a family of one son and three daughters.

S. W. KIESTER, physician, Pleasant Hill ; one of the prominent physicians of Miami Co.; was born in Newton Township in 1842 ; he is of English and Herman descent. Peter K., his father, was born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio in the fall of 1840, locating near Pleasant Hill, in the vicinity of which he passed the rest of his days. He was united in marriage, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Mary Bashore, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kiester's death occurred Aug. 24, 1876, aged 59 years 9 months and 7 days ; he is buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, and over his grave has been reared a large, beautiful and imposing monument of marble, commemorative of his life and death. Dr. Kiester's earty life was that of a farmer boy ; at the age of 17, he entered the National Normal Institute of Lebanon, and spent several subsequent summers as a student there, his winter months being devoted to teaching ; at the age of 21, he turned his attention to the study of medicine, and entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, graduating at the age of 25 ; he located at Laura, in this county, and began the practice ; after seven years of successful work, he sold out, and purchased the large farm on which he now resides, thinking to retire from the profession ; but by request of his brother, he went with him to Arcanum, where he spent two years in practice, and then removed to his large farm in 1877 ; since then he has been engaged in managing and discharging the duties of his profession ; his life is a fair illustration of what energ}' and correct business habits can accomplish. His nuptials were celebrated with Miss Sophia Williams Oct. 6, 1867 ; she is a great-granddaughter of Michael Williams, the first settler on the banks of the Stillwater, and granddaughter of the Rev. John Williams, the pioneer preacher of the Upper Stillwater. One child. Pearl, was given to them Sept. 14. 1874.

JOSEPH KINZIE, farmer : P. O. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Union Township, in this county, in 1841 ; he is the third child of Zaccheus and Elizabeth (Albaugh) Kinzie. Zaccheus was born in Maryland, his ancestry coming from Germany. He came to this country with his parents when about 21 years old, and located in Montgomery Co. The subject of this sketch was brought upon a farm, and his earty training was that of a farmer, which has served him w'ell through life ; his earty education was limited to the common school ; he made his first move from the homestead in Union Township ; in the spring of 1868, he took a trip West, and was gone till the spring of 1870, when he returned to his native township ; here he remained till the spring of 1873, when he went to Indiana ; from there, in the following spring, to Missouri, returning in the fall to his native place again ; in the spring of 1876, he came to his present place, which he purchased and has since suocessfulty operated. Mr. Kinzie is a young man of enterprise and industry, and a useful member of society. He identifies himself with the Republican party. He was married in 1864 to Lavinia Bowlin, of Pennsylvania ; she came to this county

CONE AD KRIEGBAUM, farmer and blacksmith, Laura ; he was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in December, 1834 ; he is the son of George P. Kriegbaum, who was born in 1800. He married Margaret Geotz in 1823 ; she was born in 1801. and died about four years ago ; Mr. K. is still living at the advanced age of 80 years ; he reared a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, all living but one, and eight immigrated to this country and located in Ohio ; our subject was the youngest son and was reared on a farm ; he remained at home until he attained the age of 17, when he concluded to try his fortune in America ; he embarked at Havre, France, and after a pleasant voyage of forty-six days, landed in New York City ; from here he came direct to Springfield, Ohio, near where he located and began farming ; the following spring he came to West Milton, this county, and entered an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade ; after serving three years, he worked as a journeyman until 1862, when he set up shop in Covington ; he operated this until 1871, when he traded his residence for a farm on Panther Creek, in this township ; this he sold in October, 1877, and purchased where he now resides ; he combines with his farming blacksmithing. In the spring of 1862, he was married to Miss Susanna Smith, who was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio ; they have two children - Anna R. and Martha E. ; Mr. K. is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Mrs. K. of the Shiloh Christian Church of this township.

MORGAN LEONxARD, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Juniata Co., Penn., in 1848. He is the son of Reuben and Elizabeth (Ayergood) Leonard, both of Pennsylvania ; Reuben is a farmer b}^ occupation, and still lives in his native State. He had a family of eight sons and two daughters, one daughter died. The subject of this memoir was raised on a farm and educated in the common school ; he remained at home occupied with farm duties till he immigrated to this State in the fall of 1863 ; he located in Covington, and shortly found his way into the U. S. service, as a member of the 8th O. V. C.; he went first to Camp Dennison, and from there to West Charleston, W. Va., where he had his first experience in war ; he next engaged in the battle of Louisburg, Gen. Averill commanding : was at Staunton, Liberty, Lynchburg, at Hunter's defeat, again at Liberty and at Beverly, at which place he was severely wounded in the left thigh, which disabled him from further active duty ; he was then placed in the hospital fora time at Beverly, and then at Grafton ; he was discharged June 3, 1865; having served over one year ; he returned to this county in the fall of 1 868, and moved to his present place, where he has since engaged in farming. In politics, he is a Republican. He was married in 1864 to Matilda Varner, daughter of Daniel G. and Elizabeth (Lecington) Varner. She was born Jan. 12, 1847, and came to this county with her father in 1858 ; he is a silversmith, and carries on business at Covington ; her mother died when she was only about 1 year old. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard have had six sons and three daughters - two sons and one daughter are dead.

DAVID LONG, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; born in this township in 1845 ; is the son of James and Esther (Eller) Long, the former of Newton, and the latter of Newbeny Township. James was born in 1815, and is the son of William Long, of Kentucky. His father, William, Sr., settled one-half section of land, near the present site of Pleasant Hill, in 1807 or 1808. Of his family of four sons and three daughters, whom he brought to this county with him, William was the second child ; he located on Sec. 17, where his death occurred in April, 1862, at the age of 81 years. He married Catherine Freeman, and had four sons and seven daughters - two sons now survive. James married in the fall of 1839, and moved at once to his present place. He had four sons and seven daughters - one son, Henry, was a member of the 110th O. V. I., and was mortalty wounded in the battle of Winchester. David, our subject, was reared and schooled in this township, being brought up on the farm ; he remained at home till majority'. In 1869, he located on Sec. 7, and subsequently on Greenville Creek, and in 1872, moved to his present place. He and wife are members of the German Baptist Church. He married November, 1868, Sarah, daughter of John S. Deeter, who was born within sight of her present home. Of the two sons and one daughter born to this union, the two sons have died.

GEORGE LOUDENSLAYER, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; bora in Pennsylvania in 1833 ; is the son of John L. and Susan (Dishon) Loudenslayer, both of Pennsylvania ; his grandfathers were natives of Germany ; John L. was a shoemaker by trade ; he died in 1835, leaving two daughters and one son ; Mrs. L. afterward emigrated to Ohio, where her death occurred in 1861. The subject of this sketch was not 3 years old when his father died, and at the age of 7 years was bound out for his board and clothes ; at the age of 15 he began working for wages during the summer, and attending school during the winter months ; at 18, he apprenticed himself to the carpenter trade, which he followed two years ; he then immigrated to this county, locating in Monroe Township ; he remained here till 1864, when he removed to Moses Doner's farm, two and a half miles southwest of Milton ; at the end of four years, he purchased his present place of 80 acres, now under the best of improvements. As a farmer, he is a success ; as a member of society, he is pleasant and affable. His religious views find expression in the Brethren in Christ Church, of which he and his wife are members. Married in June, 1857, to Elizabeth Hullacher, of Montgomery Co., born March, 1837, her father coming originally from Pennsylvania; of their nine children, three are deceased.

SAMPSON A. MARSHALL, farmer; P. O. Laura; bora in this county in 1834, of English descent; his father, William, and mother, Charity Wright, were from South Carolina, the latter born June 11, 1801 ; they made the journey of 700 miles, to Ohio, in a wagon, with four sons ; he first located on the Stillwater, but died at his home in Darke Co., Nov. 10, 1837, leaving ten children - John, bora March 25, 1818, died Jan. 9, 1854 ; William, born Sept. 5, 1819 ; Thomas, born Feb. 25, 1822, died in 1871 ; Ahab, born Oct. 7, 1825, died June 18, 1851 ; Sarah, born June 15, 1828; Jane, born July 6, 1830; Mary and Rachel, twins, born Nov. 15, 1832 - the former died Sept. 20, 1854, the latter, June 20, 1853 ; Sampson, born Oct. 7, 1834, and Charity, born Aug. 14, 1836, died Dec. 18, 1857. Sampson A. learned the carpenter trade, and continued the business until 1857, since which time he has followed farming ; he cleared a farm of 32 acres in Darke Co., and in 1878 came to his present place. Aug. 19, 1857, married Mary, daughter of Samuel and Amelia (Hall) Rhodehamel ; Samuel was born in Pennsylvania May 3, 1803 ; his father, John R., was born in Saxony, and his mother, Maria Miller, in Breisen ; they came to the United States in 1800, locating in Pennsylvania ; in 1804, to Montgomery Co., Ohio, and in 1820 to Union Township, where John R. died, aged 76, and Maria at 90 years. Of twelve children, two survive ; Samuel was raised to farm labor, obtaining a limited education ; except a short interval, he has lived upon his present place since 1826. May 11, 1822, he married Amelia Hall, her father, Amos, being an early settler ; she died July 15, 1878 ; their children were - Orel, born June 13, 1858 ; Sarah E., born April 14, 1861 ; John H., born Sept. 25, 1863 ; Jane, born Dec. 23, 1865 ; William, born May 4, 1868 ; Frank A., born Feb. 25, 1875, and Omer. bora Oct. 8, 1877. Samuel R. has been a member of the Christian Church for fort}' years ; of his ten children, three now survive.

WILLIAM MILES, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; was born Nov. 7, 1807, in this township ; he is the son of Jonathan Miles, who was bora in South Carolina, and married Miss Mary Pearson ; early in the beginning of the present century, he fell in with the tide of immigration which was flowing into Ohio, from the Southern States. Accompanied by his family and parents, Mr. Miles traveled until he reached the present township of Newton, where he located, on Sec. 31 ; his father, William, settled in the same township, where his death occurred soon after. Jonathan reared a family of nine children ; he lived to the advanced age of 90 years, when he was gathered to his fathers ; his wife preceded him some fifteen years ; for fifteen years before her death, she was an invalid, caused by a paralytic stroke. Our subject's entire life has been given to farming. He was married to Miss Sarah Coate in April, 1829 ; she was a daughter of Samuel Coate, and granddaughter of Marmaduke ; Samuel Coate died at the residence of our subject in February, 1867, at the age of nearly 97 years. After the marriage of William M., he moved to his present place of residence, where he has lived for one-half centurj7 ; when he located on his place, it was a dense forest ; by hard labor, and perseverance, he has brought it to a high state of cultivation. April 28, 1879, he was called upon to mourn the death of his devoted wife, Sarah. A life member of the Friends' Church, she died leaving an enduring monument of good wrorks behind her. Mr. and Mrs. Miles had a family of twelve children - James, Mary J., Ellwood T., Abijah J., Enoch, (deceased), Wade, Samuel P., John E., Jonathan R., Henry W., Margaret and Phebe. This family contributed four sons to the late civil war. Ellwood and Samuel enlisted in the 5th 0. Y. C., and were identified with the Army of the Cumberland, and participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. At the expiration of their three years' term, Samuel returned home, and Ellwood re-enlisted, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. Abijah, was Assistant Surgeon of the 48th 0. Y. I. for about one year ; previous to his enlistment he had taken a course of medical lectures ; after returning from the army he graduated from the Miami Medical College, then located in Madison Co. and began practice ; in the spring of 1866, he was appointed to a professorship in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgeiy, which position he still holds ; in the summer of 1875, he made a voyage to Europe ; while in France he was called upon to mourn the death of his wife ; since his return he has been located in Cincinnati. Henry enlisted in August, 1 862, in the noted 110th 0. Y. L, and participated in eighteen battles ; was taken prisoner at the battle of Winchester, and was confined for a time in Libby and Belle Isle Prisons ; was paroled and soon after exchanged and returned to his regiment ; remained in the service till he was mustered out with his regiment June 25, 1865, at Washington City ; he then returned home and has since been operating the homestead farm. He was united in marriage, in 1872, to Miss Laurena Coate. They have one child, a son.

ALEXANDER C. MILES, farmer ; P. (3. Pleasant Hill ; was born Dec. 3, 1844, near his present home. His father, S. Y. Miles, was born in 1824 in this township, where he passed fifty-nine years of his life, and was a son of Jonathan Miles, a native of South Carolina, who immigrated to this county in 1807 or 1808, and located on Sec. 31. He was married first to Miss Pearson, and in 1843 to Hester Cothran ; they had a family of five children, of whom A. C. is the oldest. He remained at home, assisting in the duties of the farm, till he was 19 years old, when he enlisted in the late civil war as a member of the 1st 0. Y. C. This was in February, 1864, and he was sent direct to the front at Nashville, Tenn., participated in part of Atlanta campaign, then went to Louisville, Ky. ; was re-mounted, and returned South into Georgia and Alabama ; here engaged at Selma and Columbia. He was stationed at Darlington, and from this place returned home via Hilton Head and New York City, and was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 29, 1865. He engaged at once with his father. He has been twice married, first to Eunice Coppock, Nov. 26, 1868 ; she died in 1870. His second marriage was with Sarah (Muck) Coppock, June 5, 1873 ; they have three daughters. Mr. Miles is a worthy member of the A., F. & A. M., of Pleasant Hill.