Perry Township (part 1 of 2)

Perry Township

Perry Township was formed March 7, 1820, to include the parts of Madison and Jefferson Townships in Township 5, Ranges 4 east. At the first election, held October 2, 1820, there were sixteen votes cast. George Hoerner was elected Justice of the Peace.

New Lebanon was platted with ten lots, by Jacob Grice, June 3, 1848; and on the same day, John Brange made an addition of nine lots to the village plat.

Johnsville, on the Eaton pike, twelve miles west of Dayton, was a flour ishing village in the busy days of the stage lines, from 1840 to 1855.

Tax rates on lands for 1820 were, upon first-rate land, $2.50 per 100 acres; second-rate land, $1.75 per 100 acres; third-rate land, $1 per 100 acres; and one-fourth of 1 per cent upon all personal property. Taxes were reduced the next year, on first-rate land, to $1.50, second-rate land, to $1.12; and on third-rate land, to 75 cents.

March 29, 1822, eighteen hunters of Dayton and vicinity joined in a squirrel hunt, which they kept up until noon the next day, and counted 1,000 scalps of squirrels that they had killed.

In 1822, the Sheriff's salary was fixed at $50 per annum; Clerk, $50; Auditor, $150. Of course, there was a schedule of fees that the officers were entitled to, in addition to their salaries.

A certified copy of field notes of all land surveys and lands in Montgomery County, was obtained from the United States Surveyor General's office, and placed in the County Auditor's office in December, 1823.

In 1824, it was estimated that there were fifty flour-mills and one hundred distilleries on the Miami River, in Montgomery County and above.

In March, 1825, in order to get equitable valuations and tax rates, the power to appoint County Assessors was given to the Common Pleas Courts. John H. Williams was appointed for this county, and made return, as here given, in November, 1825:

In February, 1827, the office of County Collector was abolished, and in March, the power to appoint Assessors was transferred to County Commissioners.

J acob Beard and Daniel Gunckel, Sr. , as proprietors, laid out the town of Sunbury, German Township, in March, 1825, and had the first sale of lots or. the 15th of April. It was at the "cross-roads," leading to Dayton, Cincinnati and Lebanon, and there were three grist-mills, six saw-mills and a carding machine within a mile and a half of the town.

rO write the history of a single township may to some appear like a matter of small moment, while to others it is considered very desirable that some <je should do so in each township of the whole United States. How else are ip names, memories and deeds of oui- early settlers and friends to be preserved? Id who is there that would not be pleased to look back, or to have his chilen look, upon some record of his early days, and of departed friends? And lw else should strangers settling in a township so readily obtain knowledge cits affairs as by some such local publication? Many historical facts, of val importance to our people, are now living only in the memories of a few our early settlers, who are drawing near the evening of life; their race will sn be run, and after they have passed from among us, these facts will be buri in the oblivion of the past, unless rescued now by the pages of history, le object of the following pages is to preserve for the people of Perry Iwnship an imperishable record of these facts, and although they may not uv realize the full importance of this step, their children and their children's 'ildren will fully appreciate the value of this work, which alone preserves to tm an account of the customs and early days of their ancestors and the entry they wrested from the savage grasp of the red man, when the " star of spire" reached this State in its westward flight. This township in form is pjfectly square, being sis miles on either side, containing thirty-six square ires, and is the full Congressional Township 5, Range 4. It was formed boa the townships of J ackson and Madison in 1820, the order being issued bjthe County Commissioners March 7, and was named in honor of Com. Ppi of Lake Erie fame. It is bounded on the north by Clay Township, on rl east by Madison, on the south by Jackson, and on the west by Preble mty. In appearance its land was not the most inviting to the pioneer who Nght land suitable for immediate cultivation, as they seldom, if ever, brought rce than barely enough provisions to sustain them until a crop could be '< ed. There was very little ground here that would suit them, consequently, t major part of the township was not settled until all the side-hill land in 1 neighboring territory had been entered. The most of the country was el, and accordingly very wet, water standing in some places all the year, 11 in the southeastern part and along the eastern line there was rolling and ' lull land, which was early and eagerly taken by prospecting settlers. The < consists of a sandy clay on the higher ground, while in the flats it is a i black alluvial, composed of the decayed matter of the forest. Underlying tunost of the soil there is a thick strata of good brown limestone, very usen for building purposes. This has been quarried to some extent by citizens a i variable success. About fifty years ago, Shank's Quarry at Amity was lied, and some good stone obtained, ,but it was not worked deeper than fif- 1 feet, as the water at that depth became a barrier to further proceedings. '<-\i stopped them just as they had reached the best of the stone. Another fiery was opened by Frederick Muhl shortly after this. His experience was At as Shank's, and his enterprise was blocked by the same unwelcome elea' t. A ready market was found in the surrounding country for all the stone '' hied, and large quantities of it might have been disposed of in the same ae hborhood for a reasonable price, as the demand was good. The timber of h part of the county is that usually found throughout Southern Ohio, viz. :

On the high ground sugar, beech, hickory, walnut, ash and others, and in th lower land swamp maple, scrub oak, prickly ash, etc. The whole of the towr ship was originally a dense forest, only broken by the channels of the creeks These are quite numerous, and from their beds large quantities of gravel ai obtained for macadamizing the highways. They also furnish a few very goo mill-sites, some of which were early occupied by saw mills. Along the ban! of these creeks in early days a dense undergrowth of willow, prickly ash an spicewood flourished, making it almost impossible to cross only in the patl kept open by the wild animals as they came to drink. The name-bearin creeks are Wolf Creek, running across the northeast corner of the townshi] Bear Creek, running from the center to the southeastern corner; Little Twii running from north to south, west of the center; Tom's Bun, in the south we: corner, and Leslie's Run, which was so named because a man bearing the r am of Leslie was drowned in it. These each have numerous branches, but c course they bear no names and play a very unimportant part in the township history. The D., II. & W. Railway runs across the northeastern corner, and is tl only railroad in the township. But with turnpike roads it is well suppliei Of these, the first one was the Eaton Pike, built in 1840. It is a part of 01 continuous pike extending from Cumberland, Md. , to Indianapolis, Ind., ar forms the southern boundary of the township. The next was the Wolf (free Pike, built in 1848-49, and running from Brookville, in Clay Township, Dayton. The first road in Pyrmont was the "old Sled road," built in tl spring of 1812. The above dates are those of piking these roads; some them were established before the township was formed. We see by the o records that the Dayton and Eaton road was established in 1805; a road fro Salem south seventeen miles to Germantown in 1808, and others in 1811, 181 1815 and 1819, until, now, the country is almost a network of roads.

Perry Township in politics is slightly Democratic, the vote being 235 R publican and 315 Democratic, thus giving to the Democrats a majority eighty votes. There is but one voting precinct, "Election Sclioolhouse," as is called. This township began to be settled ten or twelve years before it w made a separate body politic, mostly by people of German descent, from Pen sylvania, and a better class of people cannot be found. They are plain, fran honest and religious, and the embodiment of health, strength and energy. I deed, just such people as are best capable of coping with the many obstacl encountered in subduing a wilderness. If they had to fight, they fought they met obstacles they overcame them, and the more and greater the barriei the more determined they seemed to press on until they reached the land th sought, and now many of them who came here penniless, have, by industry a) frugality, left their children large, cultivated farms, furnished with all mode improvements. Little do we, the children of civilized prosperity, realize t. manifold hardships overcome b} our fathers when they planted their standa in the forest of the Miami Valley, and reared their primitive cabin m t haunts of savage men and beasts. The first death and burial was that of Mat! House. The first grist-mill in Perry Township was built by Andrew Cletnrw on Tom's Creek, in Section 32, which was erected about 1816. The first Mac smith was Samuel Rodeheffer. He had a small shop, and did work for hims| principally, but worked for others when they wanted it. The first schoolhoui was a small, unchinked log cabin, in the northern part of Section 29. It 'V taught by a German named Miller. It was at that time in Jackson Townskj none other being in that section of the country, and thither the youth of t; surrounding settlements would come for twelve or thirteen weeks in the ye It was kept up by subscription, $2 beiug paid by parents for each schol: This was paid in money, produce or board, as Mr. Miller had to " board rouno nong the neighboring settlers. Speaking of "neighboring, " reminds ns that iiat word had a different meaning seventy years ago from the meaning of toky. When John was told to go to neighbor 's to borrow his iron oven,

to get some salt, it meant generally for him to go from sis to ten miles rough forests and over creeks, guided only by his idea of the direction, hd one old father tells us that the boys did not grumble then when sent miles i an errand half as much as they do now when they only have to cross one 4d to get to the neighbors. The next schoolhouse was built in 1814, about ree-quarters of a mile west of the present residence of Jacob Shank. This as to have been built on land adjoining Mr. Shank's farm, the logs were mled and the house partly built when some dissatisfied neighbors objected, id had it moved up the creek. A schoolhouse was built in Section 36, about' quarter of a mile east of New Lebanon. Jacob Diehl went to school there early as about 1823. Teachers, Robert Scatton, John H. Holsmiller (a (reran). These subscription schools continued regardless of the various school ws enacted in the State from time to time, nor did they disappear until the w law became a fixed fact, the township districted and houses put up by the ate. At present there are eight school districts, with a schoolhouse in each,

; d two in District No. 6. The house in Pyrmont has four rooms, and cost -1,000. The other eight cost in the aggregate $14,000. They are all brick,

th one exception, which is a frame in District No. 6. There is from eight mine months of school held in each per annum. When we see an old man th no education we pity him, for we think of the very few advantages availde in his day; but when our children see any of us uneducated, what will lay think of us when they see by the pages of history that every hillside in <lr fair land is dotted with schoolhouses, and learning is free as the air we Lathe?

The first church of which we can find any record was organized about 24. It was called the Presbyterian and Lutheran Congregation. In 1825, 'illiam McCormick gave nearly two acres of ground in Section 11, to be used 1 them as a burying ground and churchyard, and shortly afterward a church vs built thereon by the congregation, numbering in all about thirty-five memirs. The first Trustees were: John Cox, John Venus and Obediah Reinhart. They were also among the first members. In October, 1838, another church vs commenced in Section 2. It was of the German Baptist denomination, d still exists. The ground was donated by Peter Berst, who gave a littR 3r an acre and a half. Some of the first members were Peter Berst, Eliza- 1& Berst, Samuel Muncy, David Kreider and John Munich. The two latter, v th Mr. Berst, were the first Trustees. In the same year Samuel Muncy do- ' :ed another piece of land in the same Section to them. In 1841, D. A. Rig- D. Spellman and Hezekiah Tobey, acting as the first Board of Trustees of t ) Bethel Congregation, received a lot from Michael Tobey on which to build ;<hurch, which was done in the year following. In 1850, the Lutherans,

1 ited Brethren and Methodists built a little frame church on Bixler and ' ank's farms. There were about fifty of them in all. This church was in frtion 13. In 1860, the Lutherans bought a lot of Bixler's heirs and built a rick church at a cost of $2,000, in which they still worship. There are now s,enty-five members. In 1880, they bought six and twelve one hundredths acres ground for $612 (across from the church), of Adam Harmon, which they con - v ted into a graveyard. But few bodies have as yet been interred there, the first Mai being that of a daughter of Rev. Graws, a Lutheran minister at Brookv e. In 1872, a German Baptist Church was built on the Eversole farm in *- tion 35, for the accommodation of a few of the older members of the neighbort >d who could not travel so far to church, the ground being donated byr Mr. Ever- sole. There are other churches in the township, built recently, with no re<mk preaching, of which we give no history. Of those in Pyrmont we will treat unde that head. ,

Early Settlers

Who the very first settler in this township was it would he difl cult, if not utterly impossible, to say, as men would sometimes settle withi what is now the limits of the township, and not being perfectly satisfied, woul move a little in the direction of some settlement without those who had aftci ward moved into the township knowing anything of their having resided theri There were others here of whom we can say no more than that they were hei and about the time they came. With this understanding that we give, general! speaking, the first settlers, without committing ourselves as to the very first, v proceed. Among the first to enter here were four families named severail Widenbicht, Cumright, Spitler and Swank. They came from Pennsylvan.il and each of them entered a quarter section of land in the eastern part of tb township, near the center. They were men of family and brought their fam lies with them. They reared their little three-sided log huts within neighbor ing distances of each other, and while clearing the land for the future cro[ lived principally on venison and wild turkey, with which the forest aboundec Especially was it so with the deer, which were so tame that they would com up to the cabins and gaze in innocent wonder at its occupants, but the gu: of the woodman soon taught them a lesson that seemed to effectually satisf their curiosity, as they began to seek the deeper solitude of the forest, shortl aft-rhe made his appearance. In 1805, John and Christian Wogoman, native of Pennsylvania, settled in the southeast part of Perry Township. John wife died in 1885, after which he went to reside with his son John, in Mad son Township, where he died about 1844. The latter was but eight years ol when his parents came to this county, having been born in Pennsylvania! 1797 ; he grew up and married Mary Burkett August 13, 1818, who bore hii seven children, six of whom are now living. She died March 2. 1881. age eighty-seven. He died on his farm in Madison Township March 13. 1882, i his eighty-fifth year. Christian Wogoman died on his farm in Perry Town ship, he also leaving a son John, who was a small boy when his father cam to Ohio. Here he grew to manhood and married Sarah Weidner, of Yirginii and daughter of David and Mary Weidner, also early settlers of Montgomei County, where both died. Of this union nine children were born, the noth: dying about 1842. He was again married to Mrs. Susanna Bilheimer. wh also died, when he took for his third wife Mrs. Catherine Barks. He move in an early day to Madison Township, but about 1850 returned to Perry, agail removing about 1871 to Jefferson Township, where he and wife now residi

Henry Shank. Sr. , was the next on the ground. He came in 1807 from 1 i ginia, and entered a half section of land just west of the present farm of in grandson, Jacob, upon which he built a cabin sufficiently large to accommodal his family of six boys aud six girls. Three of the boys died, and the rest c the children married and settled around the neighborhood. Jacob Shank, grant son of Henry, Sr., was born in Virginia, February, 1784, and in 1808 can with his father to Perry Township, who purchased part of the half sectio originally entered by Henry, Sr. They came over the mountains from Carro County, Va. , in big wagons, in the fall of the year, and occupied the cabi built by the elder Henry the year pi'evious. In 1810, Jacob married Eliz: belli Noffsinger, a native of Pennsylvania, whose parents were pioneers c Madison Township, and by her had twelve children, seven of whom are li vine viz.: Daniel, Samuel, Susanna, Henry, Eliza, Catherine and Elizabeth. H wife died January 10, 1862. He was drafted into the war of 1812, but b me means escaped from going. He is still living and is tlie oldest man in e township, and probably in the county, but he has almost reached the goal human existence. His form is bent, his breath short and his vitality nearly me. It was with the greatest difficulty he could give the writer hereof the love facts, and ere these pages reach the reader's eye, he may have entered at last long sleep, which knows no waking in this life. About the time he me here, another man and family, named Heeter, arrived. They also came sm Pennsylvania, and entered land three miles southwest of Shank' s. Peter vigg had come a year previous, and settled one mile due west of Shank's farm, rese men all brought families of no small size, as they ranged from six to teen in number. They built rude, half comfortable cabins, and commenced once their battle with the monarchs of the forest, which every pioneer had fell and clear from off the soil before planting his small crop, after which ie birds and squirrels would have to be continually watched to prevent the i struction of the winter's bread. George Brumbaugh, of Pennsylvania, came 1 Montgomery County about 1807, bought a farm in Section 86, Perry Townip, which had about six acres cleared. He was married in 1815, to Elizaith Yaniman, daughter of John Vaniman, of Madison Township, who bore ]tn two children - Samuel and Catherine, the former of whom lives on the old imestead. George Brumbaugh was in the war of 1812, and died in 18-48, 1b wife surviving him and dying in 1871, aged eighty- two. John Granger, ilo was born in New Jersey in 1766, removed to Maryland, where he married i.ss Barbara Bedrnan, by whom he had eleven children, five now living. Mr. and family settled in Perry Township in 1809, where his wife died i 1847. She was born in Maryland in 1769. After his wife's death, he lived into Clay Township, where he died in 1858. His son, George, was born i Perry Township, September 5, 1810, ar,d is now a resident of Clay Township, ither he removed after his marrage with Elizabeth Keichard, of Preble (junty, Ohio. Jacob Ay song, of Virginia, came to this township prior to the or of 1812, and here he died ; his son, Valentine, was born in Perry during t it struggle against English oppression, and spent most of his life close to Is birthplace, dy:ng in Miami County in 1876. He marrieo Lydia Barnhart, ighter of David Barnhart, of Maryland, who was also a pioneer of this crnty. Of this union seven children were born, five now living. John Diehl, i other early comer, was born in Pennsylvania in November, 1789, and came (this county in 1806 with his father, Jacob, who settled in Jefferson Town- - p. In 1813, John married Susanna Miller, daughter of Isaac Miller, and i ved to a quarter section of land in Section 35, Perry Township, which his f her had entered, which he cleared up and lived upon until his death, August 1874, aged eighty-five. He was the father of ten children, viz. : Aaron, -bob, Samuel, Abraham, John, Eli, Noah, Adam, Elizabeth and Hannah.

I ring the war of 1812, when he was but twenty- two years old, he left home ai engaged in transporting provisions and munitions of war from Cincinnati (the different military stations in the North and West. Andrew Clemmer, a e ive of Pennsylvania, who was married in Virginia to Salome Black, of that Ste. settled in Section 32 in the fall of 1814, and there his son, George L., W born in June, 1815, who is now residing in Miami City. Andrew erected t first mill in Perry Township, and lived and died in this subdivision, leav- ( many descendants, who are worthy citizens. John King, with his wife Iry, natives of the " Old Dominion," settled in Section 20, in the year 1815. ^ ginia again responded in the persons of John and Susanna Venus, who cpe about this time. They had nine children, six of whom are now living - I zabeth, Margaret, Sarah, Susan, Harvey and Lavina. Mrs. Venus died in 1861, aged seventy-nine, and her husband, September 6, 1862, in his ® hty -first year.

Another of Perry's adopted children was Daniel Mundhenk, who wi born in Germany in 1777, emigrating to this country in 1807, and landir in Philadelphia, after a stormy voyage of three months' duration. 1 came to this State and township in 1817, and entered 160 acres of land in Se tion 5, upon which he built his cabin. He was one of those sturdy, energet Germans who have done so much in building up and developing the great Wes Mr. Mundhenk was married three times, the first time in Germany, agai in Philadelphia, and again in the Western country. By these marriage he became the father of the following children : Augustus and Lavisca by ti first wife ; Daniel, Henry, Frederick, John, Mary Ann, Michael, Joseph ar Charles by the second, and Caroline by the third. These children are marrie and settled in the neighborhood. In 1834, Mr. Mundhenk built the first stea saw-mill in the township. It was run by Frederick, as engineer, and stoi on what is now Lucy Johnston's place. In 1846-47, they put up a steam gris mill on the present site of James King's farm. This mill is being run no in Clay Township, to which place it was moved in 1863, having been sold to man named Wortz. Mr. Mundhenk died in March, 1 859, leaving a large rai ily of children behind to mourn his loss. His son, John, was the only o of his boys who served in the war of the rebellion. He enlisted as a volu; teer private, and it is said valorously fought for the cause of his country ai the people's government. Henry Snyder, a son of the Empire State, came 1815, and entered a small piece of land where Johnsville now stands, or ne the present site of that town. In the year following, to-wit, 1816, Abraha King, a native of Ohio, moved to Section 21 , where he commenced cuttii down and burning the timber, then so plenty, now so scarce. The people tin did not trouble themselves with the query of to-day, " what shall we do f fuel when the woods disappear?" We have now arrived at a period in 11 history of this township when settlements were comparatively easy, with roads c and cultivated farms adorning almost every section ; yet it was several yea afterward that all the wet land had been drained and put under cultivatios We might go on and give other names of men of a later day, but our pen mu stop somewhere, and we will make that place just after the following list later settlers : Araham Neff settled on Section 38 in 1818 ; Joshua Mills,

New Jersey, in Section 8, in 1819 ; George Bowser in Section 34, in 181 Mathias Earnst, of Maryland, in 1823 ; a man named Replogel in 1815, ai Andrew Simmons three miles north of Johnsville.

This is a town of about 300 in habitants, and is located in Sections 7 and in the northwest corner of the township. It was laid out by Daniel Mundker May 25, 1835, and named in honor of his native village in Germany. Tl first house was erected by Christopher Syler, a blacksmith, who had a she where Henry Taylor's residence now stands, and his house directly across tl street from it. The first death in town was Job Hamilton, who was severe injured while shoeing a horse, and died from the effects. The first sto: opened was in 1835, by Joseph Mixwell. The post office was established afeo1 1840, Jesse Harper, or Joshua Rankin, being first Postmaster. The first re li, ious sect organized in the town was a society of Methodists, numbering tin: teen members, who formed themselves into a congregation, and in 1836 bui themselves a church, which was rebuilt during the year 1872. The congreg tion once was large and prosperous, and did a good work. The next, and on other society in the town, was the United Brethren. In 1847, they, twelve number, formed themselves into a church society, and, two years thereaftc built a small and unimposing house of worship, in which they conducted the eetings until 1866, when the old church was razed, and a larger and more tumodious building erected, in which the people of this denomination now jrship. They hold their meetings regularly, and continue to increase in imbers steadily. Many of the members of both of these churches are from aong the farmers of the surrounding country, and from them they derive a rge part of their support.

This is a town of about 200 inhabitants, lying on the southern line of the wnship, along the Dayton and Eaton Pike. It was platted June 3, 1843, by rcob Grice, and an addition in Jackson Township the same day by John rouse. An addition was also made by John Weaver in 1854. In the days : stage coaches, this pike was one of the great thoroughfares of the country, i|d New Lebanon, being a station on it, was a place of no little importance, ore the horses were changed, while the driver from his high seat looked patuizingly down on the bystanders and loungers, who looked up to him as a nn of more than usual importance, as he saw all the outside world of which t ey knew nothing, only as he condescended to tell them. He was the " lion " i the day ; nothing was too much trouble when he wanted it done. Th'ere vre also relays of horses kept here, which were used in what was called " the ejoress," a line of messengers on horses, kept going at a breakneck rate of - ;ed all day and all night. These messengers carried important mail matter id small packages that were of importance.

That was in the days of no railroads. Things are changed now; the stage ach no longer comes lumbering up to the New Lebanon House, but in its ad, a wagon is run daily from Dayton to Eaten, not deigning to stop at this i iet wayside town, unless there is a passenger to get off. The first house 1 ilt here was by Samuel Ludy, in 1838. It was a log house, in which he Ipt a store. The logs were hewed and work done by Aaron and Jacob Diehl, le post office was established in 1842. Lorenzo Yence was the first blackfill. He came in 1844. The town was incorporated in 1878, and N. S. 1 ce was elected Mayor, The present incumbent of the Mayoralty, and the y other than Price, is O. F. Edwards. There has been a hotel here since 1 10, when there were but two or three houses here. The first landlord was a a n named Goode. John Andrew Gebhart is the present proprietor. He is a man " use Dame should appear in the history of the township, as he is assuredly of of its characters. He is a relic of coaching days, having been for a long u e a driver of one of those lumbering " land ships," and is in all a singular c xacter. With this town we close the history of a township now peopled by -industrious and intelligent class of people, who owe all that they have to 1 energy and enterprise of those who first started the wedge of civilization in thirty-nine years, and during the time never asked for or received any pay for his ministerial services. He married Miss Sarah Moyer, and eight children were born to them, seven of whom are living. Sarah departed this life August 20, 1847, and the remains are buried on the farm where we now write. Again he married Miss Catharine Slotterbeck, and two children was the result of this union, one of whom is living. On the 28th of January, 1879, Mr. Winger was afflicted with apoplexy, from the effects of which he died, and his remains lie beside those of his wife Sarah. Catharine, his second wife, died July 20, 1878, and the remains rest in the same enclosure. Rev. Winger was a man widely known and universally beloved. He had written a short sketch of his life, but it has never been published ; half of his good deeds will never be known, as he speaks more of the good done by others than himself, but eternity will unfold the record of his life.

GEORGE BIXLER, farmer, P. 0. Brookville, born in Maryland, December 18, 1820; is a son of Samuel and Leah (Mausj Bixler, natives of Maryland, emigrating to Ohio in August, 1827, locating in Preble County, residing there till the spring of 1829, when they removed into Montgomery County, locating on Wolf Creek, about ten miles from Dayton, where they resided till their death. He died May 16, 1859. She died December 31, 1866. They were parents of seven children ; five now survive - George, Eliza Ann, Catharine, Anna Mary and David. Mr. Bixler was a miller by trade, which business he followed about ten years, till the time of locating on his farm in Montgomery County. When he came to Ohio to look for a location, he and his brotherin-law came through on horseback, with only one horse, riding alternately while the other walked : thus making the entire distance of over 500 miles. This was during the pioneer days before railroads existed. He made three trips back and forth from his native State in this manner, when traveling was in that day through the then thinly settled country, attended with many dangers. On his second trip, he brought with him $800 in silver, in his saddle-bags across his horse. This was in the time of the so-called "wild cat" money, when nothing but gold and silver were of any certain value at any distance from its place of issue. This silver he deposited with the landlords at the various taverns where he put up over night on his journey, for safety. At one stopping place, on the mountains, he had some fears of robbery, from suspicious appearances, but he came through safely, and invested his money in the firm above-mentioned, on Wolf Creek, purchasing 160 acres of land at $5 per acre. Shortly after their death, this same land was sold at $80 per acre, thus showing what his improvements and the advance in the value of land in this vicinity had accomplished. He was a man of industrious habits ; never went in debt ; always paid as he went. What he did he did safely, and ran no risks. Our subject remained with his brother till twenty-six years of age ; was married February 18, 1817 to Rachel Ann, daughter of John and Phebe Clemmer, natives of Virginia, but became pioneer settlers of this county, locating here just after the war of 1812, he having been a soldier in that war. Mr. Bixler and wife have had seven children ; six now survive - Samuel J., Mary E., John A. H., David M., William I. B. and Jessie Fremont. Mr. Bixler has always followed farming. He bought and located where he now lives in the spring of 1849, where he has since resided - a period of thirty-two years. Has a good farm of 185 acres, with large, fine buildings and good improvements; also owns 255 acres in Darke County. Mr. Bixler is one of the most prosperous and prominent farmers of Perry Township, holding the confidence of his people and community. Politically, a Republican, he has been Township Treasurer two terms ; is a man of integrity and honor, whose life, like his father's, has been such as is worthy of imitation by the rising generations. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

Biographical Sketches

Township, March 7, 1833 ; is a son of John and Elizabeth (Bright) Bowman ; he is a native of Warren County, Ohio, and she of Virginia. The grandfather, David Bowman, was born in Maryland, but emigrated to Ohio and located in Warren County about 1795, where he resided for a few years, when he moved into this county, and located in Madison Township, where he was one of the early pioneers ; and here he lived and died. The grandfather, Peter L. Bright, was born in Virginia, but became a resident of Jackson Township, this county, where he lived till his death. John Bowman was born in 1797. Here he was raised and grew to maturity, inured to the trials and hardships in those early days in this then almost entire wilderness ; was married and became the father of nine children, eight now living: David R., Joseph, John W., Samuel, Isaac, Mary Ann, Daniel, Peter L. Mr. Bowman, after his marriage, bought and located in Jackson Township, and opened out right in the woods ; has remained there to the present time; has over 100 acres cleared and in good cultivation ; erected good buildings, and brought the farm into its present state of improvement, with all the conveniences, making a fine farmer's residence. He lost his wife in the spring of 1877. He is still living on the home place, where he has now made a continuous residence of over half a century, and has reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. Our subject remained with his father till thirty-three years of age; was married April 7, 1867, to Catharine, daughter of John and Mary Keener. Natives of Pennsylvania, |{ but became settlers of Madison Township, this county, December 1, 1831, where they still reside. They are parents of seven children - Sebastian, Abraham, John, Elizabeth, Catherine, Jacob and David (twins). Mr. Bowman and wife have three children - Mary Elizabeth, John D. and Jeremiah A. Mr. Bowman commenced his business life on twenty acres of land, which he bought, adjoining his father's farm, where he resided till the spring of 1873, when he bought and located on the place where he now lives and has since resided. Their farm consists of seventy-six acres, mostly in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements, located juston the outskirts of Johnsville, convenient to schools, church and post office, and is a very pleasant home.

DR. J. BROWER, physician and surgeon, Johnsville, born in West Alexandria, Preble County, Ohio, February 14, 1841 ; is a son of Joseph and Maria (Spattv) Brower, he a native of this county, and she of Switzerland. The grandfather, Abraham Brower, was a native of Virginia ; he emigrated to Ohio and located near Germantown about 1805, being one of the early pioneers; he resided there a short time, thence he moved into Preble County, where he resided till his death. Joseph, who was born about 1809, or about four years after his father came to this county, was rocked in the pioneer cradle, and grew up to manhood inured to the scenes and hardships of those primitive times, receiving but a meager education, such as those days afforded ; but he possessed a natural ability and became a very popular man of his day ; was elected Justice of the Peace when only eighteen years of age ; held many of the offices of his township and county ; was County Treasurer for four years, and became a man of wealth and influence, and is still residing near West Alexandria, now over " three score years and ten," loved and respected by all who know him. Our subject, who was born and raised in Preble County, and educated in the common schools, conceived the idea in his youthful days of becoming a physician, and early commenced to prepare for that profession by entering upon a course of study under Dr. O. E. Tillson, of West Alexandria, with whom he remained several years, thence in the winter of 1875 entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati ; went through their complete course on the practice of medicine and surgery, and graduated in 1878, receiving his diploma with honors. He immediately located in Johnsville, and commenced the practice of his profession ; has now been located here four years ; has a good, lucrative practice, and from his affableness of manners and social qualities, his thorough course aud preparation for his profession, with his natural ability and love for the same, we may safely predict for him a growing practice and a success in his profession second to but few in the county.

JOSEPH BROWN, farmer, P. O. Brookville, born in this county March 20, 1837, is a son of Joseph and Marilla Elizabeth (Michael) Brown, natives of Maryland, who j emigrated to Ohio, locating first in Butler County about 1830, remaining one year, thence to Montgomery County, where they resided till their death; he died August 17, 1839, aged about forty years ; his wife died August 30, 1880, aged eighty years. They were parents of eight children, three now living - Caroline, Amanda and Joseph. Mr. Brown was a blacksmith by trade, which business he followed while living in Maryland, but after coming to Ohio he gave his attention to farming till his death. Two of his sons, Josiah and Solomon, were in the war of the rebellion ; the former died of sickness in a hospital and never returned home ; the latter contracted disease, of which he never recovered, and died some four years after his return. Our subject was in his third year when his father died, but his mother, who was a woman of courage and resolution, kept her family together and raised them all till they grew to maturity. Joseph married, January 20, 1859, to Sarah M., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hubler) Wright, natives of Ohio ; they were parents of seven children, five now living - Sarah M., George W., Oliver Perry, Jane and Samuel Michael. Mr. Brown and wife by tfieir marriage have four children - Cerella R., Perry A., Mary Elizabeth and Emma J. Mr. Brown has always followed farming during his life, and all in this county except about five years, during which he lived in Shelby County ; he has bought and sold and lived on several different farms during his life. He bought and located upon his present farm in March, 1880 ; this farm consists of eighty acres, fifty of which are in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements, and is very pleasantly situated about one-half mile southwest of Brookville.

SAMUEL BRUMBikUGH, farmer, P. O. New Lebanon, born on the farm where he now lives February 4, 1823, is a son of George and Elizabeth (Yaniman) Brumbaugh, natives of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather, Conrad Brumbaugh, was born in Germany, and came to America probably prior to the Revolutionary war, and experienced many of the troubles with the Indians ; he lived and died in Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather, John Vaniman, was born in England, but came over to America in a very early day and lived for many years in Pennsylvania ; thence, in 1805, he came to Montgomery County and located in Madison Township, and entered his land from the Government. He was truly a pioneer of the county, and experienced the very roughest and wildest of pioneer life, and there he lived and died. The first winter they lived on corn, turnips and wild game, getting their corn ground up on Mad River, carrying it on horseback through blazed paths several miles to mill. These were times that tried men's souls, and much praise is due them for the great work they done in opening out this wilderness, which now has become such a beautiful country filled with a plenty of all the comforts of life. George Brumbaugh emigrated to Ohio when a young man, about 1807-08. Was married in 1815, and located on the land where Samuel now.lives; this farm then had about six acres cleared, and here he spent his life's labors, passing through the scenes and hardships of those 'early settlers ; he died in March, 1848, aged fifty-eight years ; his wife died in January, 1871, aged eightytwo years. They were parents of two children - Samuel and Catharine. Mr. Brumbaugh served in the war of 1812. Our subject, who was born and raised on the farm where he now lives, was married, September 11, 1845, to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Rife, natives of Virginia, but who became residents of this county about 1837. They were parents of five children, three now living - Jacob, Elizabeth and Mary. Mary was born in Virginia February 11, 1823, and wa3 about thirteen years of age when brought to this county. Mr. Brumbaugh and wife have had seven children - George, Jacob R., Emanuel, Catharine A., Elizabeth E., Sarah J. and Isaac C. After their marriage they located on the old home place with his father, and here he has spent his entire life ; has now been a resident of this farm fifty-eight years ; has a good farm of 185 acres, with good buildings and improvements, and expects to pass the remainder of his days upon the place where his eyes first saw the light of day. Mr. Brumbaugh and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church, to which they have belonged for thirty years.

PHILIP CRAWFORD, farmer, P. O. Johnsville, born in Frederick County, Md., September 16, 1818; is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Mort) Crawford, natives of Pennsylvania, but who emigrated to Ohio and located in Montgomery County in 1829, where he lived till his death, which occurred in 1832 ; his wife died in 1851. They were parents of four children - Catharine, Philip, Elizabeth and Lydia. The grandfather, Crawford, was a native of England, and lived but a few years after coming to America, and bat little is now known of his life. Our subject was about eleven years of age when brought to this county by his parents, and about fourteen when his father died, after which he was raised by his mother till he grew to manhood ; was married December 28, 1843, to Jane, daughter of George and Mary Purcell, natives of Pennsylvania, but who became early settlers of Preble County and later of Warren County. They were parents of six children ; four now living - Poster, Jane, Thomas and Harvey. Jane was born in Warren County. Mr. Crawford and wife have had ten children; seven now survive - John, Mary, Leander, Daniel and Isabell (twins), Agnes and Alice. Mr. Crawford's entire life has been spent in this township since eleven years of age, and has followed the trade of bricklayer until 1875, since which he has given his attention to farming ; he bought the farm upon which he now lives in 1848, purchasing the same of Jacob Harry, and in the spring of 1849, located upon the farm with his family, where he has since resided, a period of thirty-two years. Mr. Craw ford commenced in life a poor man, and by his own labor, industry and good management has accumulated a good competency ; he now owns 150 acres of land, constituting three farms, the greater part of which is in good cultivation with good improvements. Mr. Crawford, as a citizen and neighbor, is held in high esteem ; has been Assessor of his township fifteen years. This is an example of success, obtained purely by his own labor and industry, which is worthy of imitation, and which, placed upon the pages of this history, we trust may be read by and produce its salutary effect upon -the rising generations.

JACOB DIEHL, farmer, P. 0. New Lebanon, born on the adjoining farm where his brother John now lives, February 24, 1816, whose ancestral history is given in his brother Eli's sketch in this work. Our subject was married September 20, 1842, to Catharine, daughter of David and Catharine Brumbaugh, whose history and ancestors are given in sketch of Samuel Brumbaugh. Mr. Diehl and wife have four children - John W., born July 18, 1843; Catharine A., June 20, 1846; George L., May 31, 1850, and Samuel P., born July 27, 1856. In the spring of 1844, Mr. Diehl bought and located upon the farm where he now lives and has since resided, a period of thirty-seven years. It consists of a quarter-section of good land upon which he has erected good buildings, large and commodious, with everything comfortable and convenient around him, constituting a very pleasant home and farmer's residence. Mr. Diehl, in early life, obtained a good common-school education and taught school several winters. He is a man of undoubted integrity, commanding the confidence and respect of his community ; has always avoided lawsuits, desiring peace and good will to all. He and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church, having been such for thirty-five years.

JOHN DIEHL, farmer, *P. O. New Lebanon, born on the farm where he now lives, October 31, 1826, is a son of John and Susanna Diehl, whose history is given in sketch of Eli Diehl. The subject of this biography was born, raised and grew to manhood where he now lives; was married October 2, 1851, to Susanna, daughter cf John and Elizabeth Erisman, natives of Pennsylvania, but who became residents of this county about 1832, where they still reside ; they had nine children; six now survive - Susanna, Jacob R., John, Matilda, Sarah A. and Andrew. Mr. Diehl and wife have four children - Aaron, Nathaniel, John Q. and Sarah A. Mr. Diehl has passed all his life upon the old home place, except about seven years' residence in the edge of Jackson Township on the farm now owned by William Clayton, and from 'which he moved back to the old place and scenes of his childhood, which as time advances grow more dear to him, and from which he will probably never part while life remains. Mr, Diehl and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church.

ELI DIEHL, farmer, P. O. New Lebanon, born in this county and township March 16, 1829, is a son of John and Susanna (Miller) Diehl ; he a native of Penn- sylvania, and she of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Diehl, was a native of Bedford County, Penn., but emigrated to Ohio and located iu Jefferson Township in 1806, residing there many years: thence became a resident of Perry Township, where he lived till his death. He was by trade a cabinet-maker, and followed his trade in connection with farming for many years, being one among the early settlers of this county. When there was no regular undertakers as in our present day, he was often called upon to make coffins, and often delivered them on horseback at a distance of several miles. The maternal grandfather, Isaac Miller, was a native of Virginia, but emigrated to Ohio and located in Jefferson Township iu 1805, where he lived till his death ; he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. These were true pioneers of the county, and bore their share of the hardships and deprivations of those early days, and they deserve great credit and a kind remembrance from the present and future generations for the great work they did in bringing to its present condition this beautiful and rich county, with all its productiveness and conveniences. John was about seventeen years of age when brought to this county ; here he arrived at his majority ; was married and became the father of ten children ; seven now survive - Aaron, Jacob, Samuel, Abraham, John, Eli and Noah. Mr. Diehl located on the farm where John now lives ; this land was entered from the Government by his father, and here he commenced right in the woods to make a home and a farm, and of course experienced true logcabin life with all its concomitants ; here he spent his entire life ; he died August 26, 1874, aged nearly eighty-five years. He lived in the times when it took hard labor aud industry to win ; when the principal market was Cincinnati, and Mr. Diehl did a great deal of teaming to that place over the then almost impassable mud roads. Our subject was married in October, 1861, to Mary Wilson, a native of this county, by whom he had two children, both deceased. His wife died in February, 1864. On February 22, 1866, he was married to Mrs. Mary A. Bates, daughter of Johnsey and Nancy Randall, natives of Maryland ; by this union they have had four children ; two now survive - Edwin R. S. and Nellie E. Mr. Diehl, after his marriage, located upon the place where he now lives aud has since resided, which joins on the east the old homestead farm where he was born and raised-' having lived from childhood to the present time on the same quarter section of land. His place is situated adjoining the village of New Lebanon on the north ; has erected all good buildings upon his farm, and has a very pleasant home convenient to school, church, stores and post office. Mr. Diehl is well and favorably known ; is a man of good education, and in his younger years taught school eight or nine years ; has served as Justice of the Peace ; is a kind neighbor and an excellent citizen.

SAMUEL ERBAUGH, farmer, P. O. New Lebanon, born in Rockingham County, Va., February 3, 1830, is a son of Abraham and Susanna Erbaugh, and brother of George, whose sketch appears in this work, in which appears the ancestral history. Samuel was in his fifth year when brought to this county; here he was raised and grew up to manhood. Was married August 22, 1850, to Hester, daughter of Michael and Christina Hay (see sketch of George Erbaugh), by which union they have the following children - Mary, Amy, Rachel, Susanna, Michael, Christina, Samuel, John, Harvey and Uriah. Mr. Erbaugh, after his marriage, located upon the farm where he now lives, and has since resided ; this farm he bought of his father, being a part of the old homestead place, upon which he has erected most of the buildings on the place and made other improvements, and now has a very pleasant home and residence. He and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church, to which they have belonged about twenty-five years.

GEORGE ERBAUGH. farmer, P. 0. New Lebanon, born on the place where he now lives March 20, 1841, is a son of Abraham and Susanna (Coffman) Erbaugh, natives of Virginia. The grandfather, Jacob Erbaugh, was a native of Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather, Abraham Erbaugh, was born in Germany and emigrated to this country about the middle of the eighteenth century, and located in Pennsylvania, where he lived till his death; he had two sons, Jacob and Abraham, the former growing to manhood and from whom have descended all the families by the name of Erbaugh now in America, as far as is known; the latter was a very intelligent, promising youth, but was killed when fourteen years of age, by his team becoming frightened, throwing him from his wagon, which ran over him, killing him almost instantly. The grandfather, Jacob, moved from Pennsylvania to Rockingham County, Va., where he raised his family and resided till the fall of 1834, when he, with his son Abraham and his family, came to Ohio and located in Perry Township on the farm where our subject now lives; here the grandfather lived only about four weeks, when the messenger, Death, called him from works to rewards. He lived just long enough to see the future home of his son and his descendants, when he passed away, aged about seventy-eight years. Abraham, the father, remained upon the place where they first located till his death, which occurred October 26, 1871, aged seventy-two years; his widow is still living and resides upon the old home place with her son, George, now eighty-one years of age. They had eleven children ; eight now survive - Anna, Sarah, John, Samuel, Abraham. Susanna, Hettie and George. Mr. Erbaugh was a man of firm principles, and very upright in his life and business transactions. Was a worthy and earnest member of the German Baptist Church; was elected Deacon in the church while living in Virginia and afterward became a minister in the same, and finally was ordained to the Eldership. Our subject, who was born, raised and grew to manhood on the farm where he now lives, was married September 27, 1863, to Mary Ann, daughter of Michael and Christina Hay, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Ohio, who were parents of seven children - John, Hester, Salome, Joseph, Michael, Abraham and Mary Ann. By this union Mr. Erbaugh and wife have had ten children ; five now survive - Laura Bell, Amy K., Meeda A., George Alger and Ivan Leroy. Mr. Erbaugh has now made a continued residence upon the old home place for forty years, and anticipates spending the balance of his life upon the place where his eyes first saw the light of day, and where are so many hallowed scenes and associations of his fearlv childhood.

JOSIAH A. FOSTER, farmer, P. 0. Pyrmont, born in this county and township, November 2, 1831, is a son of Isaac P. and Rebecca (Ware) Foster, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of New Jersey, emigrating to Ohio, locating in Warren County in 1828. The ancestors were of English and Scotch descent, who came to America with the u Pilgrims" in the " Mayflower," landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620, and were firm in their support of the colonies in gaining their independence, being active in service during the Revolutionary war, and again in the war of 1812. Mr. Isaac Foster, when young, was a drummer boy in gathering recruits for the army. Mr. Foster, after a short residence in Warren County, located in Cincinnati, where he followed his trade - that of a carpenter - for two years, erecting several buildings for Mr. Longworth, who filled so active a part in the early history of Cincinnati. Thence he moved to .Montgomery County, two and one-half miles south of Pyrmont, where, in a primi live log cabin, our subject was born. Here he resided twenty-three years. Thence removed to Darke County, north of Greenville, and afterward located in Greenville, where he died in January, 1875. He was married in 1821 ; issue, eleven children, seven now living - Kesiah, Josiah A., Henry S., Rebecca W., John W., Ezekiel L. and Francis M. His wife is living with her son, Henry, at Union City, now seventyseven years of age. Mr. Foster was a man of great energy, good, ability and great moral worth ; one who held the contidence of the people, a Justice of the Peace for many years, an earnest politician and public spirited, leading in all enterprises for the general public good. In the war of the rebellion, he, with nearly all his sons, enlisted in the service of their country. Even his daughter, Kesiah, entered as a nurse in the hospital. One son sacrificed his life, being severely wounded in the battle of Stone River, and died at Nashville. Our subject grew to maturity under his father's care ; was married April 15, 1856, to Elizabeth, daughter of George and Joanna Riley, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of New Jersey, their ancestors being among the earliest settlers in this county. John Van Cleve, of the maternal ancestry, is said to be the first male child born in Dayton, The grandfather, Tunis Van Cleve, was a soldier in the revolution and died at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. Our subject and wife have had eight children; six now survive - Florence E., Henry C., Jesse A.,

Joseph M., Homer M. and Vernon. Mr. Foster for a time was engaged in the manufacture of woolen cloths, thence turned his attention to farming-, which business he has since followed. He was in the war, enlisting in the One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1863, serving four months. The record of this family exhibits their ancestors as among the first pioneers of this county and taking prominent and leading positions, active in all the interests of this, then, growing county, and patriotic almost to a fault, giving their lives and their means to the defense of their country. And the same patriotic spirit of the ancestors seems to pervade the Fosters of to-day, and their record is one of which their descendants may delight to read and see recorded upon the pages of history.

JESSE D. HARRY, farmer, P. 0. Pyrmont, born in Preble County, April 12, 1819, is a son of Jacob and Mary (Davis) Harry, natives of North Carolina. The grandfather, Sampson Harry, was a native of Wales, emigrating to America prior to the Revolutionary war, serving in that war in defense of the colonies to gain their independence, and was killed in the battle of King's Mountain, in North Carolina. The grandfather, Henry Davis, was born in England, emigrated to New Jersey, thence to North Carolina, where he lived and died. He served for a long time as Surveyor, and became Judge of the court at Salisbury, N. C., in which capacity he acted as long as his health and age would permit. Jacob and family emigrated to Ohio, locating in this county in the fall of 1812, residing here several years ; thence he removed into Preble County and resided till spring of 1827 ; thence back to this county, where he resided till his death, which occurred in the fall of 1850. His wife died April 8, 1861. They were parents of seven children ; three now survive - John, Jacob and Jesse D. Mr. Harry was one of the pioneers, coming here about the time of the war of 1812, and, though not in the army as a soldier, yet he did some government service by hauling grain and provisions to St. Mary's, for the army. He was raised with few privileges for an education, but was an upright and industrious man, very robust and muscular, and endured many remarkable hardships. Our subject grew to manhood, was married September 10, 1810, to Delila, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Black) Moore, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Virginia, and who were early settlers in Preble County, locating thereabout 1812. Mrs. Moore is now eighty-eight years of age and living with our subject, remarkably robust for one of her age, has done a great deal of hard labor in her day and is able now to walk three or four miles with ease. Mr. Harry and wife have had nine children, seven now living - Mary C., Jacob, Perry, Garland, Sarah M., Mantilla and Olive A. Samuel, the eldest son, enlisted in the war of the rebellion, and died of camp diarrhoea, in the Oberlin Hospital, at Memphis, October 18, 1862. In the fall of 1841, Mr. Harry located in Preble County and resided there till the fall of 1850, when he-moved back into Montgomery County, where he has since resided ; has been an active, prominent man of Perry Township. Has served as Assessor five years, Township Trustee one year, Justice of the Peace two terms, and was Deputy Marshal for Clay, Perry and Jackson Townships, and County Commissioner for six years. This sketch embraces the history of a family and their ancestors who were among the early pioneers of the county, and whose lives are so fully identified with the progress and events of our county's growth and prosperity, that its record placed here upon the pages of this history will be read by their descendants in grateful remembrance for the great part they have taken in its development.

THOMAS HECATHORN, farmer, P. O. Brookville, born in Pennsylvania, February 1, 1826, is a son of Daniel and Mary (Boyd) Hecathorn, he a native of Pennsylvania and she probably of Virginia. They emigrated to Ohio and located in this county, near where Trotwood is now located, in the summer of 1827. Here they lived on rented farms for a time, thence bought and located on the place now owned by Jacob Comer, where they resided till their death. They were parents of ten children ; five now survive - James, Martin, Thomas, Catharine and Abigail. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Our subject remained with his father till about twenty-five years of age; was married in December, 1850, to Delila, daughter of John and Elizabeth Cox. By this union they had three children - Ellen, David and Eliza. His wife died

December 18, 1855, aged twenty-six years. On April 2, 1857, he was married to Rebecca, daughter of Richard Clayton, a native of Virginia. By this union they have had six children ; three now survive - Almedia, Maud and James. Mr. Hecathorn has always been a farmer by occupation and has spent his married life in Perry Township. He bought the farm upon which he now lives in December, 1835, and located upon the same in the spring following, where he has since continued his residence. The farm consists of about eighty acres, mostly in cultivation with good improvements. He was drafted in the late war of the rebellion, but hired a substitute. He has been Township Trustee several years, besides several other minor offices. He and wife are members of the New School Lutherans, to which they have belonged some eighteen years.

DAVID H. HEETER, farmer, P. 0. Johnsville, born in Madison Township, this county, December 3, 1825, is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Kreitzer) Heeter. natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather, Sebastian Heeter, was a native of Huntingdon County, Penn., but became a settler of this county about 1815, locating in Madison Township, and lived and died there. The grandfather, Andrew Kreitzer, a native of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio and settled in Jefferson Township about

1805, being among the early pioneers. Frederick was about sixteen years of age when brought to this county by bis father, Sebastian ; here he grew to manhood inured to the hardships of those early settlers ; was married and became the father of twelve children, and, what is remarkable, all are now living, and the youngest of whom is now thirty-eight years of age, viz., Diana, Elizabeth, David, Catharine, Absolom, Daniel, Hannah, Mary, Sarah Ann, John, Lucinda and Eli. Mr. Heeter was a farmer throughout his life, and spent his days in Madison and Perry Townships. He died in August, 1862, aged sixty -two years. His wife is still living on the old home place, now seventy-nine years of age. Mr. Heeter commenced in life a poor man, but by his industry and economy he acquired a good competency, and when he died left his family very comfortably situated. Our subject remained with his father till nearly twenty-four years of age; was married March 11, 1849, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Clayton, he a native of New Jersey and she of Pennsylvania. By this union they have had seven children ; four now survive - Alfred, Elizabeth, Allen and Ephraim. Mr. Heeter has been a resident of this township during all his married life. He bought and located upon the farm where he now lives in the spring of 1851, having made a continued residence of thirty years. He owns about two hundred acres of land, and on the home place has erected a large brick house and other buildings, having all good improvements, constituting a good home and fine farmer's residence. Politically a Democrat, he has been Township Trustee one term. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, to which he has belonged about thirty-seven years.

JACOB A. HEPNER, farmer, P. 0. Johnsville, born on Section 34, Perry Township, May 24, 1828, is a son of' John and Elizabe'h (Diehl) Hepner, he a native of Rockingham County, Va., and she of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The grand father, Henry Hepner, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1762; the greatgrandfather, George Hepner, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1735 ; emigrated to America in 1757, locating in Lancaster County, Penn. In 1760 was married to * Utilla Kline ; issue one son and one daughter - Henry and Catharine. Henry Hepner was married to Mary Hyser and soon after moved to Rockingham County, Va, in

1806, emigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio, and located in Jackson Township, entering land from the Government, a part of which was in Jefferson and a part in Jackson Townships, and here he passed bis entire life. He began right in the woods in true pioneer style, carefully selecting a spot where there was a very large oak tree, which he felled to the ground, and around the stump erected a log cabin, and carefully dressed off the " oak stump," which was utilized as a table for a long time. He died, aged seveDty-thx-ee years His wife lived to the advanced age of nearly ninety-seven years. They had six children - George and Polly (twins), John, Sophia, Lydia and Diana (twins). The four first mentioned were born in Virginia, and the last two in Ohio. John Hepner was born in 1797, being about eight years tff age when brought to this county, and here he was raised, and grew to manhood inured to the scenes and hardships of true pioneer life, and doubtless ate with good relish many a meal from the " oak stump table." He was married in 1 824-, and became the father of three sons and four daughters - George, Jacob A., Mary, Elizabeth, Rosanna, John and Lydia. Mr. Hepner, after his marriage, located on the southeast quarter of Section 34, in Perry Township. This land he obtained from his father-in-law, Jacob Diehl, who entered it from the Government. He commenced right in the woods with not a stick amiss, and here Mr. Hepner bore his full share of pioneer and log-cabin life, the fruits of his labors his descendants are still enjoying; and here he peacefully passed away from earth with all its toils and labors, in April, 1852, nearly forty-five years of age. His wife died November 29, 1849. She was born in November, 1800, being forty-nine years of age at her death. Our subject was about fourteen years of age when his father died. He remained with his mother on the home place till her death, thence Mr. Hepner and his older brother, George, took charge of the farm and provided for the minor children till they arrived at majority. On April 20, 1852, George and Jacob bought the farm and our subject resided there till August 19, 1857. He was married September 19, 1852, to Eve, daughter of Michael and Barbara Neff, he a native of Kentucky, and she of Pennsylvania. By this union they have had twelve children - Mary C., born August 22, 1853, and died March 26, 1854 ; Minerva, born September 23, 1854; Sarah A., April 22, 1856; Amanda R., October 9, 1858; Elizabeth, December 23, 1860; Emma, December 7, 1862; Clara, March 22, 1865 ; George W., January 4, 1867; Jacob A., April 12,1870; William A., June 14, 1872; Maurice, January 3, 1876, and died June 18, 1876, and Omar V., born February 27, 1877. At above-mentioned date (August 19, 1857), Mr. Hepner with his family located where they now live and have since resided. This farm he purchased of Henry Heistand, which at that time had about forty acres cleared; now he has 115 acres in good cultivation ; has erected all the buildings and made other improvements, and being located just out of the village of Johnsville, it constitutes a very pleasant home and farmer's residence. These early pioneers of whom we have here made this brief sketch, whose lives and labors have produced such extensive results in bringing this then wilderness of a country into its now beautiful farms, possessed of so many comforts and conveniences of life, and whose lives were thoroughly imbued with morality, kindness and good deeds, deserve a most grateful remembrance from their descendants and all future generations who may be the partakers of the benefits of their noble lives and labors.

ANDREW HOUSE, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, born in Preble County, Ohio, November 29, 1820, is a son of George and Catharine House ; he a native of Virginia and she of Pennsylvania, but who became early settlers in Preble County, probably about 1816, being among the pioneers opening out right in the woods. They were parents of ten children ; four now survive - John, Mary, Sarah and Andrew. Mr. House lived on the farm on which he first located till his death, a period of forty-eight years ; he died September 1, 1864, aged eighty-four years ; his wife died October 4, 1863. aged nearly eighty-two years. Andrew remained with his father till after his majority ; was married September 7, 1843, to Maria, daughter of Joseph and Ann Maria (Hennich) Reic-hard, natives of Pennsylvania. They were parents of four children ; three now survive - John J., Elizabeth and Maria. His wife died April 29, 1872, aged seventyfive years. Mr. Reichard was born December 3, 1793; is a son of Joseph and Mary Reichard, he a native of Germany and she of Pennsylvania. They lived and died in Pennsylvania ; they were parents of thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters - Joseph being the only son now surviving, and two daughters - Margaret and Anna. Mr. Joseph Reichard came to Ohio and located in Montgomery County, in what is now Perry Township, in May, 1819, and settled on a piece of land which his brother John had previously entered, and commenced right in the woods to clear up the land and put up a log cabin ; was married January 9, 1816, to Ann Maria Hennich. Mr. Reichard saw much of pioneer life ; he lived in this township till in 1866, a period of forty-six years, when he moved on to a small piece of land just in the edge of Preble County, which he owned, and here he resided till the death of his wife, after which be lived with his son-in-law. Mr. House lived in this township for two years, when Mr. House and family, with Mr. Reichard, moved on to the place where they now live and where Mr. Reichard was living; at the time of the death of his wife ; here they have since resided. Mr. Reichard has been a very industrious, hard-working man, whose integrity was undoubted, and who has always held the confidence of his community ; has held many of the public offices - as Trustee, Constable, Overseer of the Poor, etc. He was in the war of 1812, being one of the few who now survive who were in that war. He is now past eighty-eight years of age, enjoys quite good health, but is blind, having been so about four years. He is very pleasantly situated, living with his daughter, Maria, and her husband, Mr. Andrew House. Mr. House and wife are parents of four children - Joseph, Elizabeth, George and Sarah, all arrived at maturity, married and settled in life, except George, who is still single, and is now a practicing physician at Salem, this county.

HENRY HULL, Sr., farmer, P. 0. Johnsville, born in Virginia November 2, 1806, is a son of John and Mary (Rinehart) Hull, natives of Virginia, their anceS' tors being from Germany. John, with his family, emigrated from Virginia to Ohio in 1820, locating at a place called Old Town, where they lived about two years, thence located in Montgomery County, Perry Township, where they resided till their death. They were parents of five children, who are now living - Henry, David, Elizabeth, Mary and Adam. Henry was about eighteen years of age when he came to this county with his parents, being the oldest child of the family, here they were raised and grew to maturity, inured to the scenes and hardships of this then new country. Henry was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Salome Crull, to whom ten children were born, all now living - John, Josiah, Samuel, Henry, David, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Salome, Noah and Edward. He lost his wife by death March 4, 1877. Mr. Hull, after his marriage, located on the farm where he now lives, and has since resided, a period of nearly half a century. He started in life with eighty acres of land, which was in the woods, and by his own labors and industry cleared it up and accumulated more means and purchased more land from time to time till he became owner of over 800 acres of land. This is an example of success from honest labor and economy and good management, which has but few if any equals, and is a record of which his descendants may well feel proud, and from which example the poorest man may take courage and feel that he can succeed if he only practices the same industry and economy. He has since divided the greater share among his children, thus giving them a good start in life. He is now in the seventy-fifth year of his age, is very deaf, and has been thus afflicted for many years. His farm is now carried on by his two sons - Samuel and Henry - who are unmarried, and make their home with him. Mr. Hull has been a member of the German Baptist Church for many years.

JESSE D. LEHMAN, farmer and leaf-tobacco-dealer, P. O. Johnsville, was born in this county and township December 6, 1839 ; is a son of Henry and Catharine (Crawford) Lehman, he a native of Ohio and she of Maryland. The grandfather, Henry Lehman, was a native of Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Ohio, locating at New Lancaster, where he resided till about 1825, when he removed to Montgomery County, and here lived till his death. He was the father of eight children, four now survive - Elizabeth, now Mrs. Sharp, living in Indiana; Henry; Hannah, now Mrs. Hosier, residing in Dayton ; and David. The grandfather, Joseph Crawford, was born in Frederick County, Md., but became a resident of this county about 1829, where he lived til! his death. Henry was eleven years of age when brought to this county by his father; was raised and grew to maturity inured to the hardships of a new settlement; was married and became the father of five children - four now survive : Jesse D., Philip, Noah and

Margaret, now Mrs. Hull. Mr. Lehman was a cooper by trade, which business he followed about forty years, generally renting his farm, but during his later years has lived mostly retired from all active business. He has been a hard-working, industrious man, who devoted himself closely to his business, never desiring, or holding office ; commenc- ing in life a poor man, has, by his own efforts, accumulated a good competency, and now in his advanced years is able to live in comfort, free from the general anxieties of life. Our subject remained with his father, raised to his trade till about twenty-four years of age ; was married December 17, 1863, to Amanda, daughter of John and Mary King, whose history is given in sketch of Eli Wogamon, in this work. Mr. Lehman and wife have three children : Webster Corwin, John Henry and Oliver Warren. Mr.

Lehman, after his marriage, gave his attention to farming for about ten years ; thence he Entered upon mercantile trade, also in connection with that business engaged largely as dealer in leaf tobacco, and thus continued till May 2, 1880, when he sold out in the mercantile business, and since gives his exclusive attention to buying tobacco, and the superintending of his farm. The farm upon which he resides, he bought in the spring of 1876, and mot'ed onto it in the spring of 1878. Mr. Lehman, from his youth up, has exhibited a general business tact ; by his own industry and good management, before he had reached twenty-one years of age, he had saved money enough and bought twenty-four acres of land, giving him a fine start in life; since which he has improved his means and talents ; kept himself active and accumulating, till now he has a good farm and ample means to live comfortably, and conduct an active trade in leaf tobacco. Although not seeking nor holding offices, as the nature of his business and inclination forbid it, yet a confiding community _ have pressed him into service as School Director for sixteen years, and a member of the Board of Education during the same period of time.

JOHN W. LONG, farmer, P. O. Brookville, born in this county February 17, 1831, is a son of Isaac and Esther- (Miller) Long, natives of Ohio. The grandfather, Michael Long, was a native of Pennsylvania, but became one of the early pioneers of this county, settling here soon after 1800; was here through all the Indian troubles, and all the hardships of those early days. Daniel Miller, the maternal grandfather, was also a native of Pennsylvania, emigrating to this county about the same time of the Longs, and were truly pioneers of the country, enduring the trials and dangers which only those early settlers knew and realized. Isaac, being born here, amidst these scenes and dangers, grew up to manhood inured to all the many hardships ; was married, and became father of ten children - Daniel, John W., Elizabeth, Susanna, Samuel, Isaac, Mary, Henry, Joseph and Harriet. Mr. Long and wife have passed their entire life in this county ; have always followed farming, and were an industrious and prosperous family ; he is now one who has the confidence of his community ; was Township Trustee for several years. Our subject remained with his father till his marriage with Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Lydia Basore ; he is a native of Pennsylvania, and she of this county. This marriage was celebrated December 22, 1853 ; by this union they have had seven children, six now survive - -Mary E., Samuel H., John E., Elmer I., Susie A., Sadie Ida. After their marriage, they located upon the pla e where he now lives, and has since resided, a period of twenty-eight years ; he has cleared up a great portion of his farm, and erected all the buildings on the place which, with all the improvements, are good, and constitute a fine home and farmer's residence.

GEORGE MELLINGER, farmer, P. 0-, Brookville, born in Pennsylvania April 5, 1844, is a son of Joseph and Lydia (Kissinger) Mellinger, natives of Pennsylvania. Joseph spent his life at farming in Pennsylvania, until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, when in the draft made for soldiers he hired as a substitute, but being quite advanced in years and not able to stand the hardships of a soldier's life, he was discharged from the service and shortly afterward came to Ohio to this county, where he died. His wife located near Salem, this county, where she was married to Jackson McNally, with whom she lived till her death, which occurred August 16, 1863. Joseph and Lydia were parents of four children, three now living - William, George and Nancy Bell. Our subject was thrown upon the world at twelve years of age, to work his own way through life. He went here and there, wherever he could find work and a home, and thus continued till seventeen years of age, when in October, 1861, he enlist- ed in the defense of his country, in the Seventy-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Mason ; served out his time and re-enlisted as a veteran, and served till the close of the war. His regiment was in the Army of the Cumberland, and he saw and participated in twenty-two different battles, some of the hardest fought battles being those at Shiloh, Franklin, and that at Atlanta, Gfa. At the close of the war, he received an honorable discharge and returned home. He was married, May 26, 1868, to Malinda, daughter of David and Nancy Lana (McCormack) Spittler; by this union they have had five children - Ambrose, Edna Irene, Flora Bell, Clara Viola and Lottie Fidelia. Mr. Mellinger, after his marriage, lived on rented farms till March, 1880. when he bought and located upon the place where he now lives ; he has twenty acres of good land, with good buildings, constituting a pleasant and comfortable home. Mr. Mellinger has had a "rough-and-tumble" life, being thrown upon the world when onlytwelve years of age, and enlisting in the war at seventeen year's of age, having seen much of the rough side of life. He is now quite pleasantly located, and we may trust and hope that the balance of his life may be as pleasant and profitable as his past has been rough and unpleasant.

SIMON MIKESELL, general merchant, Johnsville, born in Bedford County, Penn., April 7, 1839; is a son of John and Elizabeth (Richey) Mikesell, natives of Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather, Isaac Richey, was probably a native of Pennsylvania, and lived and died in his native State ; he married Mary Whetstone ; they had four sons and four daughters. Mr. Richey was a man of good education, and followed teaching as a profession for several years ; was a devoted brother in the German Baptist Church, and became a minister and a bishop in the same ; was one of the most strenuous and exacting kind ; would not enter a house that was carpeted, or ride in a carriage with springs, believing these things tended to evil. John Mikesell was a farmer by occupation, and lived and died in Pennsylvania. He died in August, 1839, aged forty-four years. His wife died in the fall of 1857, aged fifty-nine years. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters ; four of whom are living - -Mary, Susanna, Samuel and Simon. Our subject was only six months old when his father died, and the whole care and responsibility of raising and educating Simon, devolved upon his mother, and faithfully did she perform her work, bringing him up to the honorable and healthy labor of farming, with a good, common school education. When he arrived at nineteen years of age death deprived him of his mother. In the fall of I860, Mr. Mikesell went West, and in the spring of 1861, on the breaking-out of the rebellion, he volunteered in the defense of his country, and enlisted in the Eighth Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served three years ; was engaged iu many of the hardest fought battles of the West - at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, etc., and fortunately, escaped without a wound, and in the summer of 1864, his time of service ' having expired, he received his discharge at Louisville, Ky. ; thence he entered the employ of the Royer Wheel Company, at Cincinnati, in the turning business ; this business he j followed at Cincinnati, Tippecanoe, Harrisburg and Troy about twelve years. Thence, f entered as traveling salesman for Studabaker, manufacturer of woolen cloths, for four years. Thence rented the Studabaker factory and ran it one year. Thence entered the j mercantile trade in Johnsville, in partnership with Lee Thompson, in September, 1880, in which business he still continues, and is having a good and prosperous trade. Was married, December 25, 1860, to Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Shuss, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Shuss still resides in his native State ; Mrs, Shuss is deceased. They were parents of nine children ; seven now survive - John, Jacob, Daniel, Adam, Mary Ann, Rebecca and Elizabeth. Mr. Mikesell and wife have had, by their union, eight children ; four now living - Freemont, Harvey, Daniel and Edward. Mr. Mikesell and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church, in which 1 he has been elected as a minister. *

ROBERT MILLIKIN, farmer, P. 0. Amity, born in this county Nov. 8, 1833 , is ason of Mathew and Anna (Hecathorn) Millikin, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather, Robert Millikin, was a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America some time in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and was the father of five children. The grand- father, Daniel Hecathorn, was a native of Virginia, but became a settler in this county about 1828, where he lived and died. Mathew emigrated from Pennsylvania to this county about 1830, and was the father of seven children ; six now survive - Margaret, Daniel, Robert, Anua, Andrew and Martha. Mr. Millikin was a farmer by occupation, and resided in this county till his death. He died in May, 1848 ; his wife died in June, 1860. Our subject was fifteen years of age at the time of the death of his father, but remained with his mother till after his majority; was married, August 25, 1859, to Barbara, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Garber, natives of Virginia, but who emigrated to this county about 1828, where they lived till her death in April, 1870. He is still living in this township, now over eighty-four years of age. They were parents of nine children ; eight now survive - James, Henry, Josiah, Washington, John, Susanna, Rebecca and Barbara. Mr. Millikin and wife have had seven children ; five now survive - Daniel, George W., Rebecca J., James M. and John R. Mr. Millikin has always resided in this township and followed farming as a business. He bought and located upon the place where he now lives in the spring of 1865. This farm consists of sixty acres of land, mostly in cultivation, with good improvements.

JOHN G. MILLS, farmer, P. 0. Pyrmont, was born in Dayton, Ohio, July 4, 1837 ; is a son of John and Sallie Ann (Gest) Mills, natives of New Jersey. Moses Mills, the grandfather, was a native of New Jersey, but removed to Ohio in 1806, locating in Greene County. At this time John was about one year old, and was raised and grew to maturity in Greene and Clark Counties. He became a resident of Dayton about 1834 or 1835, and engaged in mercantile trade for several years. In 1840, he was elected Auditor of the county, and re-elected five times in succession, thus serving in this office twelve consecutive years. In 1852, he bought three quarter sections of school land in Perry Township, and moved on to it in 1853. In 1854, he returned to Dayton and was elected Secretary of the Dayton & Michigan Railroad, which position he held for a short time, and was then appointed Cashier of the Dayton Bank, which position he held till 1857 ; thence removed to his farm and resided on it one year ; in 1858, was nominated by the Republican party as a candidate for Sheriff of the county ; was elected and served two years. Soon after the expiration of his office, the war of the rebellion having commenced, he received an appointment from the Government as Provost Marshal for this district, and first located in Hamilton, and thence in Dayton, holding said office until the close of the war, or till the office was abolished, since which time he has lived mostly retired from any active office or business. Having served a long and active life, ever possessing the confidence of the people, and having held many offices of trust, which were filled to the universal satisfaction of the people, and of whose record his descendants may ever feel proud, and which will ever stand on the pages of history as a monument to his memory. He was the father of six children ; three now survive - John G., Charles and Truman B. Our subject was raised in Dayton and remained with his father till his majority, receiving a good education and became a graduate of the Dayton High School ; thence he engaged in teaching school, which profession he followed three years ; thence he entered upon the business of farming, locating upon the place where he now lives and has since resided. Mr. Mills having a thorough education, is capable of filling positions of trust, and of being a great benefit to his neighborhood and community. He has been a member of the school board for twelve years or more. He was married, December 27, 1860, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of Daniel and Mary Mundhenk, he a native of Philadelphia and she of New Jersey; issue, five children - Sallie, Sherman, Daniel O., Rosa and John.

TRUMAN B. MILLS, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, was born in Montgomery County, June 27, 1847 ; is a son of John and Sallie Ann Mills, whose history appears in the sketch of John G. Mills, in this work. Mr. Mills was raised in Dayton, receiving a good education in the common schools and high school of Dayton. On the breakingout of the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in the one-hundred-day service in the One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment Ohio National Guards, under Col. John Lowe, and served through his time of enlistment and returned home ; thence entered as clerk under his father, who was then Provost Marshal, where he remained about one year ; thence attended the Commercial College of Dayton, after which he became assistant bookkeeper for the wholesale dry goods house of Darst, Herchelrode & Co., where he remained a few months, thence became book-keeper for A. B. Darst, thence Deputy Clerk in the Clerk's office at Dayton. But such business proving too confining for his health, he turned his attention to farming. On November 6, 1873, he was married to Miss Eliza Jane, daughter of Hiram and Jane C. (Williams) Lewis, he a native of New York State and she of Dayton. Mr. Lewis became a resident of Dayton about 1846; was married and resided there about five years, thence removed to Painesville, Ohio, and lived till 1855, when he returned to Dayton, where he has since resided. He has been quite a prominent and active man; was engaged in the nursery business for several years, and latterly in the insurance business, and in the manufacture of fruit tree labels. Mr. Mills and wife by their union have three children - Olive B., born December 5, 1875; Nellie C., born June 14, 1877, and Jennie W., born February 6, 1879. Ia 1873, Mr. Mills located upon the farm where he now lives and has since resided, which farm is a part of the school lands bought by his father in an early day, as mentioned in sketch of John G. Mills. The farm consists of 177 acres of land, mostly in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements, constituting a pleasant home and residence.