Perry Township (part 1 of 2)

Perry Township

Perry Township antedates Shelhy County, having been organized as a part of Miami County June 10, 1817, thus forming one of the original townships of this county. The first election was held by order of the Commissioners of Miami County, at the house of James Dingman, on the 28th of June, 1817. The officers at this election consisted of Edward . Jackson, chairman; James Dingman and John Bryan, judges ; and David Henry and John Francis, clerks, who, after being duly qualified, opened and held an election for town officers. The result of this election is shown by the official roster of the township.

On July 7, 1817, the Trustees met and were severally sworn into office. Present: Edward Jackson, Samuel Robinson, Charles Weeks, and David Henry, clerk.

Win. Drake, constable elect, came forward, was qualified, and gave bond with John Francis as security. Daniel V. Dingman, treasurer elect, was qualified and gave bond with John Francis and James Dingman as securities. Board adjourned.

September 20, 1817. The electors met at the house of David Henry and chose Samuel Robinson, James Dingman, and John Bryan, judges, and David Henry and Daniel V. Dingman, clerks, who being qualified, opened and held an election for one justice of the peace, when David Henry was elected.

Ordered, that the annual elections for county and township, and town meetings, be held at the house of David Henry until otherwise ordered. Adjourned.

Ordered, that the old road from Piqua to Brandon and Park's mill, or so much as is in Perry Township, and the new road up Musquito Greek from Dingmansburg to the county line from said town to the Five-mile-tree, be District No. 1, and that said new road from the Fivemile-tree to the beginning, be District No. 2, and that Win. Drake be supervisor of District No. 1, to have all the hands along the Miami River to work under him in said township, and that Wm. Marrs be supervisor of District No. 2, and have all the hands on Musquito Creek to work under him.

March 2, 1818. The trustees met. Present: Jackson, Weeks, Robinson, and clerk, Henry. Dec. 3, 1817. Orders No. 1. David Henry, clerk, one book, $1 ; onequire paper, 37^ = $l 37£. No. 2. Wm. Drake, supervisor, for one dsy's service, 75 cents. No. 3. Edward Jackson, for one day's service attending this meeting, $1. No. 4. Charles Weeks, order as above, $1. No. 5. Samuel Robinson, same as above, $1. No. 6. David Henry, for one day's service as clerk of Board, $1.

Proceeded to choose as grand jurors, Enos Thompson, John Hathaway, and Daniel Vandemark; and as petit jurors, John Medaris, John Bryan, Rodham Talbott, and Wm. Marrs.

Ordered, that an election be held at the house of David Henry for the election of one clerk, three trustees, two overseers of the poor, two fence viewers, two appraisers, two supervisors of roads, one constable, and one treasurer. Adjourned.

April 6, 1818. This being the day of annual meeting, voters did not attend in sufficient numbers to hold an election, and the trustees proceeded to choose officers for the township with the following result: Trustees: Henry Sturm, Daniel Vandemark, and John Hathaway. Clerk: David Henry. Treasurer: Daniel V. Dingman. Supervisors: A 8a Hubble, James Dingman. Overseers: James Dingman, Jr., John Medaris. Appraisers: Rodham Talbott, John Francis. Fence Viewers: James Bryan, John Hunt. Constable : Henry Sturm, Jr.

Proceeded to district the road as follows: That the road from the east line of the county, down Mosquito Creek to Dingmansburg, be District No. 1. That the road up Leatherwood Creek, thence south in the direction of Dayton, be District No. 2. That the Wapakoneta road, so much as is northwest of the Miami River, be District No. 3. That the Wapakoneta road, so far as is southeast of said river and the old State road, down the river to the county line, together with the road from the northeast corner of section 6, town. 1, range 12, thence to Piqua, be District No. 4.

On the 10th of June, 1817, the Commissioners of Miami County ordered an election to be held in Perry Township, at the house of James Dingman, on the 28th of said month. On said date the electors assem- bletl as ordered; chose Edward Jackson, chairman, James Dingman and John Bryan, judges, David Henry and John Francis, clerks, who were duly qualified, and proceeded to hold an election for township officers, when the following named persons were elected to fill the respective positions: -

The second election was held at the house of David Henry September 20, 1817, on which date David Henry was elected justice of the peace. Since that period officers have been elected from year to year, as shown by the following list : -

The nine votes cast at this election were given solid for the following named Presidential electors: Edward W. Tupper, Thomas Kirker, James Mills, Benjamin S. Cox, Jeremiah Morrow, Allen Trimble, Wm. H. Harrison, and James Fergus.

At the time of the organization of Shelby County (in 1819) Perry Township embraced all the territory now included within the townships of Perry, Orange, Green, Salem, Jackson, and a portion of Clinton. In September, 1819, Orange Township was struck off In March, 1820, Green was detached from Orange. The following is a record of the metes and bounds as established by the Commissioners in 1825, and entered by their order: Perry Township begins on the southeast corner of section 4, town. 2, range 13, east line of Shelby County; thence north with said line to the northeast corner of tiie county; thence west with the county line to the line between sections 29 and 30, town. 1, range 7; thence south with the line between the said sections; continued on to the Miami River, and across said river; thence with the river clown to the line between sections 1G and 9, town. 1, range 13; thence with last said line east to continue on to the place of beginning. In March, 1826, a portion of the township was attached to Clinton. In June, 1826, the north tier of sections of Green Township was attached to Perry, and all that part of Perry lying north of the Miami River was created a new township under the name of Salem. In June, 1837, all of fractional township No. 1, range 14, which belonged to Perry, was attached to Salem. This included that part of said fractional township lying south of the river, which in 1854 was again attached to Perry.

The first settlement made within the present limits of this township was made by Judge David Henry in February, 1814. He located in section 28, on the farm now owned by Wm. R. Ried, Esq., on the bank of Mosquito Creek. We cannot learn that there were any others who came that year. The following year Samuel and William Robinson, with their families, found their way to the same neighborhood. They were followed by Win. Marrs in 1816; he by George Chiles, Charles Johnston, Thomas Wilkinson, Peter Musselman, Wm. Richardson, Charles Weeks, and Benjamin Manning, all of whom were here prior to the organization of the county in 1819.

The first frame barn was erected by Wm. Marrs. The same is still standing on the farm of Henry R. Miller. The lumber was sawed for it in this township, on a mill built by Peter Musselman on Mosquito Creek.

The first flouring mill was built by Charles Mason, a colored man. He built a log mill on Mosquito Creek, near where the Manning & Line mill now stands. It had a corn and wheat buhr, the bolt was turned by hand.

Iudeed, there are but few miles of mud roads in the township. The township is crossed from east to west by the C. C. C. and I. R. R., on which is situated the station of Pemberton, near the east side of the township.

There are seven school districts within the township, in each of which is a good, substantial brick school-house, furnished with all the modern furniture and fixtures of the day.

On this 29th day of January, 1852, before the undersigned, an acting justice of the peace in and for said county, personally appeared Benjamim C. Wilkinson, John H. Elliott, Leonard T. Elliott, and George R. Forsythe, proprietors of said town of Pemberton, and acknowledged the survey and plat of said town to be their act and deed.

This thriving village is situated on the C. C. C. & I. R. R., seven miles east of Sidney. It was platted January 24, 1852, by J. H. Elliott, L. T. Elliott, B. C. Wilkinson, and George R. Forsyth. The first store was a grocery store, owned by Calvin Morris. The proprietors of the first dry goods store were Isaac Wilkinson and Irvin Nutt; the second were Joseph Smith & Smith Gano. The first blacksmith was Wm. Johnston. The first wagon shop was owned by David Lemon. The first hotel opened in the town was by J. V. Wilson. The first P. M. was Joseph Smith. The first physician probably was Dr. Edward Stockton. The town at the present time has one dry-goods and grocery store, two grocery stores, one grocery and drug store, one graiu elevator, one sawmill and shingle factory, one blacksmith shop, one shoe shop, one hotel, one butcher shop, one concrete stone works, two churches - Methodist and Baptist - one school-house, and two physicians.

The town was named in honor of a brother of Gen. Pemberton, of rebel fame, who at the time the town was platted was civil engineer on the railroad that was being constructed through the town.

The first Baptist society organized in Perry Township was at the house of James Wilkinson, in the 3 'ear 1830, by Rev. Willis Hance, Moses Frazer, and Moses Frazer, Jr. The constituent members were Peter Kiser, Cath. Kiser, Michael Cox, Mary Jackson, Nancy Wilkinson, and Sarah Manning. First deacon was Peter Kiser. Meetings were held here for some length of time. In the year 1835 the Baptists on the border of Shelby and Logan counties built a church in Quincy, Logan - County, where they continued to worship until the year 1873, when the church building was destroyed by a tornado. Action was then taken by the society to remove their place of worship to Pemberton. The following 3 'ear - 1874 - the 3 T erected a very neat brick church, size 36 X 60 feet, at a cost of about $4000. The church was dedicated Nov. 15, 1874. The dedicatorial sermon was preached by the Rev. Thomas Allen; the prayer was offered by Rev. Daniel Bryant. The membership at that time residing in the county was 17; the present membership on roll is 148. T. J. Shepherd was pastor from 1874 to 1875. From that date to the present the Rev. Z. Ross has been the pastor. The trustees of the church are Joseph Wilkinson, John S. Jordon, and N. W. DeWeese. The deacons are Jos. Wilkinson, N. W. DeWeese, and Jacob Kerns; clerk, U. M. Styles. There is a Sabbath -school connected with the church, under the supervision of Joseph Wilkinson, with an enrolment of eighty scholars and teachers.

The surface along the streams is somewhat broken and hilly. The balance is generally level, especially in the central and southern parts of the township, but is sufficiently rolling for ample drainage.

The soil is a rich sand, clay, and black loam, and well adapted to the raising of grass or grain. This township has the credit of being one of the best agricultural townships in the count 3 r . They can show as good crops of corn, wheat, or grass as can be shown anywhere throughout the country.

The drainage of the township is to the north, and is complete. The north boundary is formed by the Great Miami. The southwest part is crossed by Mosquito or Tawawa Creek. The central portion by Turkey Foot. The eastern part by Big and Little Indian Creek, all of which empty into the Miami.

The roads are the pride of the enterprising people of this township, they having more gravelled roads than any other township in the county.

The first M. E. society in Perry Township was organized by the Rev. - Sims at the house of Booth Burditt, half a mile north of where Pemberton now is, about the year 1833. The first class consisted of Booth Burditt and wife, George Pool and wife, Wm. Moore and wife, Isaac Rundall and wife, Marcus Peck and wife, and - McVeigh and wife. The first class-leader was Marcus Peck. The Rev. Sims was followed by Daniel D. Davidson and Jos. Smith. Meetings were held in private houses and in the school-house until the year 1843, when a small frame church was built on the cemetery ground, half a mile north of Pemberton. This church was occupied until. 1857, when the present one was built in Pemberton. This society and church was known as the Indian Creek Church. The pastor who was over the society at the time the present church was built, was Rev. Lewis. The present number of members is about 100. The present pastor is Rev. Wm. S. Scoles. The first Sabbath-school in all this region of country was held by Win. McVeigh at his own house, l£ miles south of the present site of Pemberton, and Sabbath-schools have been kept up nearly every year from that time to the present. At the present time there is a school kept up all the year round.

Of this pioneer church but little can be written, as its first members have all passed away, and no record has been kept. But we learn that back prior to 1820, the Rev. Jacob Antrim preached and formed a class at the house of Judge David Henry, Mrs. Henry being one of the first members of the society. From this time down to 1863 we can learn nothing. In that year they erected a frame church on Mosquito Creek, on land donated by Samuel Young, and is known ns Tawawa U. B. Church. The church was built under the supervision of the Rev. Charles Miller. The present pastor is Rev. Wm. Kiracboff. The trustees are, John Peckham, Wm. Marrs, and John H. Pepper.

Biographical

About the year 1720 Wm. Marr, a nobleman of Scotland (leaving a vast estate in Scotland, which now of right belongs to his American descendants), emigrated to America, in order to avoid being put to death or severe torture as a religious heretic. The dominant religionists had passed his sentence, which was that he be tied to the tail of a wild colt, and it be turned loose in the streets of Edinburgh. To avoid this fearful fate he fled his country, and left friends and property behind. Originally the name was spelled Marr, but he, to avoid detection, added an s, since which time it has been written Marrs. Upon his arrival in the land of religious freedom, he located at or near the town of Little York, Pennsylvania, where he reared a family of three sons, Samuel, Henry, and Barnabas. Samuel, the eldest, was-born about the year 1740, and remained there to marry about the year 1759 or 1760. A few years later he removed to Rockbridge County, Va., but remained there but a short time, when he moved to what is now Tazewell County, where he remained until 1793, when he moved to Jesamine County, Kentucky. Whom he married, or when he or his wife died, we have no account, but of his family we know that he had eleven children, viz., Henry, Phillis, Elizabeth, Christopher, Ruth, Samuel, William, John, James, Josiah, and Abigail.

Wm. Marrs, the pioneer of Perry Township, was one of the above eleven children. He was born in Virginia, October 13, 1770, and married Jane McClure November 25, 1794, in the State of Kentucky. About the year 1808 they came to Champaign County, Ohio, where they remained until 1816, when they settled on the bank of the Mosquito Creek, within the present limits of Perry Township. He and two of his sons are known to have been here as early as 1814, but did not permanently locate until 1816. He entered his land in 1812 at the land office in Cincinnati. Their family consisted of five children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: John, 1796; Samuel, 1798; William, 1800; Betsey, 1801; and James, 1809. Tills old pioneer departed this life March 12, 1844; his wife survived him until April 6, 1847, when she, too, was taken away.

Betsey Marrs, one of the above mentioned, was married to Wm. Pepper October 23, 1817. They lived in Champaign County, Ohio, until 1820, when they settled on Mosquito Creek, four miles east of Sidne3 - , where they lived until Wm. Pepper departed this life, December 11, 1854. His widow remained on the home place until May 5, 1876, when she was called home. Their family consisted of four children: Greenup, born 1819; Marshall, born 1822; James, born 1825; and John, born 1828. Greenup, the eldest of the family, died 1*40. John, the youngest, died in 1854. James resides in Pulaski County, Indiana.

Marshall Pepper, Esq., one of the four sons of Wm. Popper, was born and lived all his life in Perry Township, until recently he moved to the town of Sidney. While living in Perry the people of that township honored him with the office of justice of the peace for eighteen years. In March. 1845, he was married to Elizabeth Hollopeter, by Thompson Vaughn, Esq. Their children consisted of six sons and four daughters, all of whom died in childhood except one, Rudolph James, who was born in 1854. In 1875 he married Harriet E. Frazier, of Plattsville, Ohio. Four children have been born to them, three of whom are living.

The grandfather of the above (Lewis Kempt was born in Maryland, and came to Ohio in 1806, and located where Dayton now is. Here he helped to lay out the town, and build the first house. He remained in Dayton until he died at the age of ninety-six years. Jacob Kemp, the father of Joseph L., was born in Maryland; in 1788 came with his father to Ohio. Here, in 1809, he married Mary Musselman. By this marriage there were six children, who lived to become men and women. Of this family Joseph L. was the fifth. He was born in Montgomery County in 1821. He lived with his parents, and brought them to Shelby County in 1847, and located on section 11, where he now lives. The same year he married Rachel J. Elliott, with whom he lived until

1873, when she died, leaving four children, viz., Mary M., Margaret V., Martha M., and Joseph 0. The mother of Mr. Kemp was a daughter of Peter Musselman, Sen., and sister of P&ter Musselman, Jr., who built the first saw-mill in Perry Township.

To give the origin of the Wilkinsons we go to Antrim, Ireland. As early as 1750 Joseph Wilkinson came to America. The place of his first location is not known. We first learn of him in Virginia, where he married Polly Hollands worth. Thomas Wilkinson, Sen., was a son of the above, and born in Virginia in 1763, where ho lived and married Jane Anderson, and raised a family of eleven children. About 1805 he removed with his family to Champaign County, Ohio, where he lived until the year 1818, when he moved to what is now Shelby County. Five of his children came with him, viz., Samuel, Rachel, Thomas, Jaue, and Isaac A. Thomas Wilkinson, Jr., father of Joseph Wilkinson, was born in Virginia in 1799, consequently was nineteen years of age at the time of their settlement in this county. They located in Perry Township, on section 6, and were the first settlers in the east part of the township. In 1825 he married Anna Kirtland, and located on part of the same farm with his father, where he lived and raised a family of seven children. Joseph Wilkinson, a son of the above, was born on this farm in 1832, and lived with his father until 1856, when he married Louisa Nutt, and located on section 10. By this union he had two children, viz., Anna and Ella. Mrs. Wilkinson died in 1876. In 1878 he married Dorcas Lilly, of Columbus, Ohio. By his second marriage he had one child (Thomas), born in 1880, and died in 1881. Mr. Wilkinson has retired from the farm, and moved to the village of Pemberton. His father died in January, 1875; his mother in 1852.

a son of Isaac A. Wilkinson, was born in Perry Township in 1841. He was raised a former, and was taught early the habit of industry. Being of a nervous disposition, he has not been able to content himself with farming alone, but turns his attention to dealing in stock and brokerage. In 1864 he enlisted in the army, and served his time of enlistment. In 1878 lie married Miss Francis L. Weaver. They have born to them one child, Anna R., born April 27, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson commenced life empty handed, but have made for themselves a comfortable home of one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land, all gotten by industry and good management.

Isaac A. Wilkinson, the father of the above, was born in Virginia in 1805, came with his father, Thomas Wilkinson, to Champaign Co., O., in 1805, from there to Perry Township, Shelby County, O., in 1818, where in March, 1831, he married Ruth R. Persinger. They raised a family of eight children, viz., Jacob P., Thomas F., Wm. R., George P., Isaac N., Joseph E., Mary, and Laura J. Of this number five are still living. Wm. R. was killed at the battle of Cliickamauga ; George died in the hospital in the army. Mr. Wilkinson died April, 1862; his wife died in 1879. Jacob P., whose name is at the head of this sketch, was born in Perry Township in 1832; he resided on the farm with his father until he arrived at his majority, when he engaged in the mercantile and grain trade, which he followed about fifteen years' - he, with his father, built the first grain warehouse in the town of Pemberton. After quitting the grain trade he, together with his brother Newton, bought a farm, which he afterward sold his interest in to his brother and bought where he now lives, on section 12. In 1865 he married Miss Louisa A. Dunham. By this union they have two children, viz., Nettie M. and Bertie L.

was born in Montgomery County, O., in 1800. ne is a son of Peter Kiser, and was the tenth of fourteen children. In 1823 he was married to Elizabeth Baker, with whom he lived seven years, when she died, leaving four children. About two years afterward Jie married Mary Knoop, with whom he lived twenty-one years when she died, leaving no children. Shortly afterward he married Nancy Knoop, a sister of his second wife. By this marriage there were two children. He lived with his third wife fourteen years, when she died. He then married Rebecca Fannestock (nee Rebecca Bender), with whom he has been living some fourteen years.

Mr. Kiser was among the early settlers of Perry ; he has been an industrious and energetic man ; has been one of the strongest men of his day ; was a great woodman, both with the axe and gun ; has cut and split his four hundred rails in a day. He has been noted as a hunter, as also was his father before him. Mr. Kiser is now in his eighty-third year, being born in the year 1800. He has spent a long life of hard toil. For thirty years of his life he has been in the ministry of the German Baptist church, to which he is fondly attached. About six years ago Father Kiser had his thigh broken, from which he has never recovered, being compelled to walk with crutches. He now spends his time reading his

Bible and other hooks and papers. He has seen the same place where he used to meet the red man, become the site of the church and schoolhouse. Many were the deer and wolf that met their fate at the crack of his rifle ; also, the catamount and other wild animals.

Peter Kiser was born in Virginia in 1755, eame to Montgomery Co., O., about 1799, where in 1802 Elisha Kiser was born, he being the eleventh of fourteen children. They lived in Montgomery County until 1807, when they moved to Miami Co. where he lived until 1829, when he married Amilla Corben, and the same year moved to Shelby Co. and located on sec. 7 Perry Township. The land on which he located was all in timber, without a road to or near it. It was here with his new wife he located in a rude cabin, without any means of support, except as he earned it by days' work, having to go to Miami Co. to get work to do. He cleared his own land at intervals as fast as be could, and in a few years had a comfortable home, living happily in their self-made home until 1850, when his wife died, leaving him with seven children, viz., Susan, Thomas, Orrin, Laban, Elisha, Ann, and Matilda Jane. In 1851 he married Mary A. Wilkinson, his present wife, by whom he has five children, viz., Win. R., Sarah E., Emma A., Mary B., and Alta M. John C. died 1880, aged twenty-four. Mr. Kiser had four sons and one son-in-law in the late war, who served their full time of enlistment. In 1878 Mr. Kiser retired from the farm, and is now living in Pemberton in tiie enjoyment of the fruits of his hard labor. May his last days be bis happiest.

Jacob Jackson was born in Tennessee, February 8, 1793. When quite young he was taken to Kentucky, and remained there till he was seventeen years old, when he came to Miami County, 0. Here, in 1821, he married Catharine Redinbaugb, of Shelby County. In 1823 they located in Perry Township, on section 27, on the land now owned by Wm. Hnncc. It was here the January following (in 1824) that Win, li. was born and rocked in a sugar-trough, grew up to manhood, and received his education in the cabin school-house. In 1847 he married Miss Hannah D. Maxwell. They have had seven children, only two now living, Mary I. and George W. Mr. Jackson is located on section 34, one and one-half miles east of Sidney, where he located in 1866. Mr. Jackson has always had the esteem and confidence of his neighbors, who have elected him to fill different positions of honor and trust. He has filled the office of trustee of his township, director of county infirmary, and has just closed his second term as commissioner of the county.

the second son of Jacob Jackson, was born in Perry Township in 1825, anil never has lived or voted anywhere else in his life. In 1852 he married Catharine E Persinger, by whom he had eight children, only four now living, viz., John F., Amy C. B., Daniel H., and Alonzo E. Mrs. Jackson died in 186-. Mr. Jackson again married in 1871. His second wife was the widow of John Vaughn, deceased. Her maiden name was Mary Walters. By his second marriage he has two children, Walter B. and Catharine A. Mrs. Jackson had by her former husband one child, Loretta June.

was born in Shelby County in 1848. He is a son of Richard and Barbara Henry. Richard Henry, the father of E. F., was a son of Judge David Henry, and was the oldest of the family. In 1829 he married Barbara Jackson, a daughter of Jesse Jackson, who was among the first settlers of Shelby County, having come to the county prior to the war of 1812. They built a block-house on the land of Edward Jackson, in which they lived or resorted to during the Indian trouble. This was on the bank of the Miami River, two miles south of the site of Sidney. They lived on this place some ten .years, then moved to where Port Jefferson now is ; lived there two years, then located on section 27, Perry Township. It was here that E. F. was born. In 1877 he married Miss Anna B. Fish, who was born in the county in 1856. They reside on part of the old homestead.

was born in Orange Township in 1838. His father, Peter G. Thompson, eame from New York State to Huron County, Ohio, in 1834, where they lived three years; then removed to Miami County, and remained there only a few months, when they came to Shelby County in 1838, where the subject of this sketch was born on Christmas day. He has lived In the county all his life, most of the time in Perry Township. In 1862 he married Miss Maggie E. Kiggins, by whom he has had three children: Lizzie S., born 1863; Carrie F., bom 1846; and Dolly B., born 1873. The Kiggins were among the early settlers of Shelby County; they located as early as 1817. The grandfathers of Mr. and Mrs. Kiggins were both revolutionary soldiers.

was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, December 30, 1831 ; was brought by his parents to Shelby County in 1832. His father, John Staley, was born in North Carolina in 1799. Married Elizabeth Bolden in 1820. The date of his coming to Ohio cannot !>e gotten. He died in Shelby County' in 1864. He was located in Salem Township. In the year 1852 David Staley married Mary Manning. From this union they have four children, viz., Hattie, born 1856 ; Emma, born 1859; Mattie, born 1864 ; and Nellie, born 1871.

was born in Shelby County in 1844. He married Ellen Bruce in 1867. They have two children: Elizabeth J., born 1868; and Jennie May, born 1875. Eugene Bruce, the father of Mrs. Staley, was born ip Germany, and came to the United States in 1847, and first located in Cleveland, where he lived till 1858, when he came to Shelby County, where he lived, until during the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in the army, and was killed at the battle of Atlanta, August 11, 1864. Mr. Staley is located in fractional section 36, on the old homestead of Benjamin Manning, settled in 1819.

was born in Clarke County, Ohio, in 1835. His parents were William and Delia (Colbert) Pence, who were among the very earliest settlers of Clarke County along the Mad River. They settled there as early as 1800. Some of the family still own and reside on the old homestead. A. I. Pence in the year 1862 married Mary J. Loudenback, by whom he has nine children, viz., Rosezella, Emma A., Noah W., Jonas W., Abraham E., Etta May, Walter Scott, Hattie L., and Susie A. They are located on fractional section 8, where they located in the year 1862.

The ancestors of the Ferrees were French and Protestant, and were banished from France on account of their religious belief, when the edict was issued for all to become Catholics, flee the country, or die. They came to America, and settled in Pennsylvania, where they lived and died, and all their descendants lived until about 1834, when Daniel Ferree came to Ohio, and located in Seneca County, where he lived one year, then removed to Miami County, thence to Shelby County in 1843, where he located on Plumb Creek, Salem Township, and built a woollen and carding mill, which he ran about thirty-five years. It was here that Jeremiah D. was born iu 1845. As soon as old enough he was put in the mill to work, at which he was engaged until eighteen years of age, when he enlisted in the First Ohio Cavalry, and served under Gen. Wilson as first sergeant, and participated in the capture of Jeff. Davis, and drew his share of the reward of $100,000 offered by the Government for the capture of Davis. After the close of the war lie returned to Shelby County, and again engaged in the woollen mill with his father as a partner. In 1870 he married Arvista Line. By this union they' have three children: Ernest F., born 1872; Judson A., born 1874; and Clarence E., born 1877. He is located on section 23.

Edwin A. Ferree, a son of Daniel Ferree, was born in Shelby County in 1850. In 1876 he married Miss Alice G. Steel. They have one child, Elmer, born 1877. Mr. Ferree is engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber, being the proprietor of a saw-mill, on which they can cut eight thousand feet per day, having a forly'-horse power engine.

In tracing back the ancestors of the above, we can only go back to David Stephenson, who was born in Kentucky, but removed to Virginia, where, in the year 1805, Charles Stephenson was born. In 1813 they emigrated to Greene County, Ohio. Shortly after their location there Mr. S. went to Champaign County, and entered a piece of land, and built a cabin upon it; then started to return to bring his family, when he was taken sick, and died before he got home, and was buried on his new home in the woods of Champaign. His widow, with her family of eight children, removed to this new home in the woods. They lived here about one y'ear, when they' traded for a place in Clarke County, where they lived until all the children grew up to majority. In 1829 Charles Stephenson was married to Miss Rachel Johnston. They remained in Clarke County until 1835, when they removed to the western part of Logan County', and settled on land he had entered there. It was here in the woods, with not even a garden spot, cleared, and with only three dollars in money, that he commenced his pioneer life. He was compelled to leave home to work by day's work to provide for his family, leaving home on Monday morning and not returning before Saturday night; his wife and her four small children remaining at home, and not seeing the face of a person during her husband's absence. They lived in this way about one year, when they became discouraged, and sold their place, and bought a smaller one with some improvements. It was then they began to live, and from that time to the present they say have always had plenty. They had a family of twelve children, ten of whom grew up, and eight of them still living, viz., Sarah, Joseph, Jane, Rebecca, John, Ann, Mary, and David. Mr. S. lias been noted as a hunter, having spent many days and night with his gun. lie has killed deer by the hundred, and other smaller game without number; also a few bears. He followed hunting every year more or less, until the last few years he has become so badly crippled that he has to forego the privilege. He says every summer and fall he would work just as hard as he could to get his work out of the way, then would take his gun and camp equipage and start for the northwest woods to take his annual hunt, never returning without having killed some deer.

Mr. Stephenson tells of an almost improbable instance that came under his observation, the truthfulness of which is verified by his wife. One day he killed a deer, and brought it home before dressing it. When he was taking out the entrails he felt a hard substance in the heart; he examined it, and called his wife to show it to her. Upon cutting open the spot in the heart, they found a bullet that had been imbedded there at some time previous, and the wound had healed over, leaviug the bullet remaining in the heart.

was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 1839, and came with his father, Charles Stephenson, to Perry Township in 1855. In 1863 he married Miss Caroline Leach. He is located on section 16.

was born in Perry Township in 1845. He lived with his parents on the farm ; received a fair common education; at the age of eighteen he commenced teaching district school, which he followed until 1875, at which time he engaged in the grocery trade at Pemberton, and is engaged in the same business at the present time; he is also post-master and township clerk. In 1874 he was married to Miss Kate Wilson. They have two children: Maud, born 1877; and Mable, born 1879.

Wm. Miller, the father of the above, was born in Pennsylvania in 1802; came to Franklin County, Ohio, in 1816, where he remained until 1824, when he came to Shelby County. Here he married Lucinda Goble, a daughter of Caleb Goble (who located in Shelby County in 1814 or 1815), in 1826. They raised a family of twelve children, eight of whom are still living.

Thomas Wilson, grandfather of the above, came to America about 1750, and located in New Jersey, where, in 1754, he married Martha McCracken, by whom he had six children. John, the eldest of the six, was born in 1755. At the age of eighteen years he entered the army under Washington; was at the battle of Trenton ; was with Washington when he crossed the Delaware: was in the battle of Princeton and at Monmonth; was present when Washington received the news of Arnold's treason; and was at the trial and hanging of Major Andrl.

Thomas Thompson, the grandfather of Mr. Wilson on his mother's side, came from Ireland about 1750, and located in New York City, where he married, and shortly afterwards moved to New Jersey, and raised a family, of which Jane Thompson, the mother of Mr. Wilson, was the youngest. John Wilson and Jane Thompson, the parents of Jacob V. were married in 1799. They raised a family of five children, of which Jacob V. is the youngest. He was born in New Jersey in 1807. When a young man learned the wagon and carriage trade; commenced a shop for himself in 1824. In 1833 he married Elizabeth West. By this union they had a family of eight children, viz., Samuel, Jennie, Vincent, J. Wesley, Susan, Kate, Hattie, and Jacob. They moved to Shelby County in 1858, and located in Pemberton, where he started a shop, and opened the first hotel in the town of Pemberton. He filled the oIBce of justice of the peace nine years in New Jersey and six in Perry. Mrs. Wilson died in 1867. Mr. Wilson is now making his home with his daughter, Mrs. J. S. Slagle, having retired from business on account of ill health.

This early pioneer and settler of Shelby County was born in Pennsylvania in 1770.* The first place we know of him living was in Kentucky; his next place of residence was Champaign County, Ohio. February, 1814, he moved to Perry Township, then in Miami County, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 28. He was the first white settler in Perry Township. At the time of his location there was not a settler within three miles of him. In the spring of 1817 he was elected clerk of his township, and acted as such for a number of years. In the fall of the same 3 'ear (1817) he was elected justice of the peace, and received his commission from Thomas Worthington, then Governor of Ohio. He was re-elected to the same office in 1821, 1824, 1826, 1829, and 1832. Also was the first commissioner's clerk of the county, which position he filled from the organization of the county until the fall of 1820, when he was elected as commissioner of the county, hut resigned the same in the fall of 1821. He was also appointed by the court as director for the survey and sale of lots of the town of Sidney. In the year 1826 he received a commission from Governor Jeremiah Morrow as Associate Judge for the Court of Common Pleas of Shelby County. To his papers, which have been kept on file, and preserved by his daughter, Mrs. Ried, we are indebted for much of our information in regard to the county' as wqll as to Perry Township. Judge Henry was one of the prominent and leading citizens at the organization of the county, and filled some official position in both county and township from their organization to the time of his death, which occurred March 29, 1834. He raised a family of ten children, only two of whom are now living in the county', viz., David Henry, Jr., and Mrs. Wm. R. Ried, both of Perry Township.

David Henry, Jr., was born February 17, 1815. He and a sister who were twins are said to be the first births in what is now Perry Township. David Henry' is now the oldest settler in the township, having had his home in the township for over sixty-seven years. lie has seen the woods of Perry become a fine, fertile, and well-improved portion of the county.

James Forsyth, father of the above, was born in Pennsylvania in 1776. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Shelby County, having settled here as early as 1820, first locating in the town of Sidney, where very shortly afterward he was elected treasurer of the county, which position lie filled some eight years. In 1824 he moved to Perry Township, where he died in 1837. Allen S., the subject of this sketch, was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, in 1818. When but a few days old his mother died. His father married again when Allen was about three years old. When he was four years of age his father bound him out to his brother-in-law, who lived in Licking County, until he should be twenty-one y'ears of age. He lived with his brother-in-law until he was nine years of age, when on account of bad usage he ran away, and started to find his father. Barefoot and alone, without money or help, and not knowing where his father lived, he fled as fast as he could, not caring which way he went, only so that he was not caught and taken back. Without food all the day he trudged along, and before night he was in Columbus. Wandering along the street tired, hungry, and forlorn, he was observed by a man, who soon saw that he was running away. The man stopped him, asked him where he was going, where he came from, and many other questions, all of which young Allen answered honestly. The man took him home with him, gave him his supper and a good bed ; but the boy mistrusted that the man intended to return him to his master in the morning; and being determined not to go back, he was up in the morning before an 3 ' of the family, quietly slipped out of the house, and was again on the road. Before leaving town he heard of a horse-race that was to be run that da 3 ', several miles out in the country. Having been trained as a jockey to ride races, he thought to himself he would go to the races, and perhaps he could get a chance to ride one of the horses and make some money to help take him on his way'. After arriving at the race ground he met a man who had a horse there that he knew ; the man also knew the boy and had seen him ride. He agreed to let the boy ride his horse. While they were talking, another man who was sianding by asked the boy his name; he told him Allen Forsyth. He then asked him if he was any relation of James Forsyth, of Sidney. As quick as Sidney was mentioned he then remembered that that was where his father lived. He then learned the direction and the road, did not stop to ride the race, but made his way as fast as he could toward Sidney when night overtook him. He stopped at a house, and asked to stay over night. The man asked him his name, and where he was going. He told him his name, and that he was going to his father in Sidney The man told him his father did not live in Sidney, but had moved on to a farm. This man was Henry Sturm, of Green Township. He took the boy in, kept him all night, and the next day (as it was rainy). The following day Mr. Sturm took his horse, and told the boy' he would go with him, as there was no road and was woods all the way. Mr. Sturm went with the boy to within sight of home, when he left him. This was in the north part of Perry Township. When the boy entered his father's house he did not know him at first, but soon recognized him. He heard the boy's story of misusage without reproving him, kept him a short time, when he was again seut away from home, and from that time on he made his way through the world without the advice or assistance of parents or friends. For a number of years he made his home with Isaac Wilkinson. in 1841 he married Elizabeth Smoot. By this union they had three children, only one now living, viz., Jacob M., born 1845. Mr. Forsyth for many years followed buying and shipping stock, but has now retired from active life, having seen all the hardships of an orphan boy raised in the woods, he having spent sixty-two years in Shelby County.

The Harbours came to America from England about the beginning of the eighteenth century, and settled in Virginia, where the grandfather and father of Mr. Harbour were born, and lived till 1818, when thev came to Champaign County, Ohio, where Henry was born in 1825. In 1849 he married Nancy Hall, by whom he had one child, viz., Jennie, at present the wife of David Pool.

Mr. Harbour's wife died in 1856. In 1860 be came to Shelby County, and the same year married Elizabeth Persinger, with whom he has three children, Charles W., Elmer E., and Harry. He is located near Pemberton on the old homestead of Booth Burditt. The grandfather of Mr. H. was a soldier of the Revolution. His father (Jesse Harbour) was in the war of 1812. His grandmother (who was a Packard) when quite young was taken a prisoner together with all her brothers and sisters by the Indians. They were taken to where Chillicothe, Ohio, now is, and all massacred except her. She was rescued by the whites, and restored to her friends in Virginia.

Leonard Elliott, the father of the above, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1786. He lived here until after the war of 1812 (having served as a soldier in that war), when he moved to Butler County, Ohio. Here his wife died, and he afterwards married Melinda Holden, and came to Shelby County in 1830, and located on section 5, Perry Township, and died in 1864. His wife died in 1850.

John H., the subject of this sketch, was born in Butler County in 1822; came with his father to Perry when he was eight years of age. Here he grew up to manhood in the wilds of Perry, and was educated in her cabin school-houses, and has never had a home elsewhere than on the old homestead. In 1843 he married Jane Burditt, with whom he lived till 1856, when she died, leaving two children, viz., Elizabeth M. and Sarah M. In 1857 he married Sarah Burditt, a sister of his first wife. By this union they have two children, William T. and John B. When Mr. Elliott commenced for himself his father gave him one hundred acres of land in the woods, on condition that he pay to the balance of the heirs $650. This is all the aid he has ever had. He was one of fifteen children, only two of whom are now left in the county.

Booth Burditt, the father of Mrs. Elliott, settled in Perry in 1820, where Mrs. Elliott was born in 1825. He was one of the pioneer local preachers of the count}*, and was a member of the first class organized in Perry Township. It was at his house that the first meetings were held. He died in July, 1843. Mr. Elliott also has been identified with the M. E. Church since he was fifteen years of age.

was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1827. Came with his father, Leonard Elliott, to Shelby County in 1830; has lived in the count}*, and on the same farm from that time to the present. In 1848 he married Elizabeth Kemp. They have had born to them two children, Irwin V. and Lillie L. Mr. Elliott is located on part of the old homestead of his father.

The grandfather of the above was of German birth; came to America just previous to the Revolutionary War, and settled near Philadelphia, where he bought two large farms. These he sold some time afterward, and took his pay in Continental script, which was good at that time, but before he disposed of it was not worth a dollar. It was here that Jacob Barringer, the father of Jacob L., was born in 1778. From there they removed to Virginia, and married Lucinda Linsey, and moved to Williamsport, Maryland, previous to the war of 1812. It was here in 1818 that Jacob L. was born, and in 1820 was taken to Virginia, where he remained till 1831, when he came to Montgomery County, Ohio, lived there till 1838, when they removed to Miami County. It was after this that Jacob L. learned the brick mason trade in Springfield, Ohio; worked at his trade a few years. In 1842 he married Susan Black, and moved to Clarke County, Ohio, lived there a few years, then returned to Miami County, where he remained until 1851, when he came with his wife and three children to Shelby County, and located on section 12, Perry Township, where he bought eighty acres of land in the woods. He has made of this piece of land a fine home with good buildings. Mrs. Barringer died July 15, 1881, having raised a family of six children, whose names are as follows: Jane, Oscar J., John A., Jacob I., William T., and Henrietta F.

son of J. L. Barringer, was born in Miami County in 1846; came with his father to Shelby County in 1851, and has lived in Perry Township from that time to the present. In 1878 he married Miss Sally S. Thorn. By this union they have one child, Eda, born 1879. Mr. B. was thrown on his own resources at the age of nineteen years. Having acquired a fair common school education, he taught school and clerked in a store for several years. In 1873 he engaged with J. E. Wilkinson, of Pemberton, in buying and shipping grain, at which business he is still engaged. In 1875 he was appointed agent for the C. C. C. and I. Ry. at Pemberton; also agent for the United States Express, which position he fills at the present time. Mr. B. has the confidence of the people of his township, as shown by his being elected treasurer of the township for a number of years.

Three brothers by the name of Stiles came from England to America as early as 1750. One of them located in New Hampshire, one went to the Carolinas, and one to New Jersey. The direct ancestors of Uri M. settled in New Hampshire. It was here that Asel Stiles, the father of the above, was born in 1783, and lived there until manhood, at which time he went to New York State, where he married Urana Johnston in 1805. In 1813 they removed to Ohio, and located in Greene County, where they lived until 1832, when they removed to Logan County. Their family at that time consisted of father, mother, and eight children. It was here that Uri was brought when but a few months old. Here he lived, and was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood. He remained with his parents while they lived. His father died in 1859 ; his mother in 1862. On December 24, 1862, he married Rachel A. Wilkinson, and the following year settled in Perry Township, on the same section settled on by the grandfather of Mrs. Stiles in 1818. Mr. Stiles remained on this place until 1878, when he removed to his new home in Pemberton, where he has built a fine brick dwelling, one of the best in the township. Mrs. Stiles died January 14, 1881, leaving two children, viz., Ann U., born 1868, and Stella M., born 1877.

There are but few who have had more ancestors who have taken an important part in the freedom of our country from the British yoke than did the ancestors of Mr. Stiles. His grandfather Stiles served five years in the army of the Revolution. His grandfather Johnston, together with seven of his brothers, also served throughout the war. One of them was killed at the battle of Bennington. They were present at the surrender of Burgoyne. Also Mr. Johnston was by the side of Gen. Washington when the news was brought to him of Benedict Arnold's treason.

was born in the State of New Jersey in 1826. His parents were Jacob Lippincott and Debro Burge Lippincott. He came to Shelby County in 1847, and married Sarah J. Line in 1856. They have raised a family of five children, viz., James, John, Edward, William, and Frankliu.

was born in Illinois in 1855 ; came with his father, William Marrs, to Shelby County in 1860. In 1879 he married Jane Key. From this union they have two children, Myrtle D., born 1880, and Harry Lee, born 1881.

About the year 1750 Conrad Staley, a German by birth, emigrated to America, and located in the colony of Pennsylvania near Lancaster. It was here, in the year 1762, that John Staley, the father of the subject of our sketch, was born. About 1780 he went to North Carolina, and a few years afterward married Mar}* Smith, and had a family of fourteen children, eleven of Whom lived to grow up to manhood and womanhood. Isaiah W. was the twelfth child, and was born March 8, 1808. He lived with his father till he was eighteen years of age. His father was a blacksmith by trade. Isaiah learned the trade with his father. At the age of eighteen his father gave him his time. He then started out to travel and see the country. He spent five years travelling from place to place. He would stop and work at his trade a short time in a place, then start again and travel until his means were nearly exhausted, then stop and work awhile. In this manner he did until he had travelled over North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, without any object in view except to see the country. As early as 18*27 he visited his relatives in Shelby County. He finally in 1832 brought up in Little York, Montgomery County, where he formed the acquaintance of Susan Hutchins, to whom he was married the same year. At the time of his marriage he had but $40; with this he started shop, and worked a short time until ague and sore eyes compelled him to quit work. By the time he was able to work again he found himself $85 in debt, and not a dollar to pay with. He went to work again as soon as able and paid his indebtedness, and worked on until he had saved $100. With this money he took his wife and two children to Allen County, Ohio, near Fort Amanda, and entered eighty acres of land. This was in February, 1836. They soon got tired of their home in the woods, and the following June he traded his land for eighty acres in Perry Towuship, Shelby County (the same is now owned by Daniel Vandemark), agreeing to pay $200 difference. He moved on to this land in 1837. At the time he settled on it there was not a stick cut. He remained here until he had cleared sixty-two acres, when he sold it to Daniel Vandemark for $4000 cash. A short time previous to the sale of this land he had bought one hundred and thirty-five acres in Logan County, and moved on to it. This also was all in timber, which he cleared, and built upon it a saw-mill on the Miami River opposite Nicewonger's mill. Mr. Staley within the next fourteen years bought some six hundred and sixty-two acres, and during the same time bought the Nicewonger flouring mill. In 1876 he sold bis six hundred aud sixty-two acres and mill for $14,000, and moved on to another tract of one hundred and six acres, for which he paid $5000, and afterward sold the same. Mr. Staley has owned in Logan and Shelby counties fifteen hundred acres of land. He now owns in Perry Township seven hundred and seventy acres, all well improved. Mr. Staley has cleared with his own hands over three hundred acres - perhaps more than any other man in the county. When he located in the woods first, he took a lease on some land that had been deadened. On this he raised his first grain. From that day to this he has never bought a bushel of grain. Mr. Staley has made what he has got by industry and economy, never having had a dollar given him Neither would he ever receive a gift or present from any person. His father, when he died in North Carolina, left a large estate, but Isaiah would never accept a dollar of it. He said his proud spirit would never let him receive help. He says he started without anything, and determined when he started to make a success of life by his own industry, and has adhered to that resolution to the present. Mr. and Mrs. Staley have had a family of eleven children, viz., Roswell P., Amanda E., Catharine E., Preston C., Martha, Mary J., Columbus, Milinda, Napoleon B., Harriett, and John. The first five named only are living, the others are buried in the cemetery at Pemberton.

The Vandemarks are originally from Holland. They came to America previous to the Revolutionary war, and settled in Pennsylvania. Here, in the year 1782, Daniel Vandemark, Sen., was born, and lived until 1809, when he moved to Fairfield County, Ohio. In 1806 he married Catharine Bush, born in Pennsylvania in 1784. They remained in Fairfield County until December, 1814, when they came to Shelby or rather Miami County, and located two and a half miles south of where Sidney now is. The family at that time consisted of father, mother, and three children. Henry B., the fourth one, was born alter their arrival in Shelby County. Elizabeth, the eldest one, was born in 1806. She afterward married Hiram WiUon. Catharine was born in 1810. She married Judge William A. Carey. Daniel was born in 1812, and Henry B. in 1815. Mr. Vandemark died in 1840; his wife died in 1848.

Daniel Vandemark, Jr., was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 3, 1812, consequently was less than three years of age when brought to this county. He lived at home with his father until 1839, when he married Margaret Duboise, and shortly afterward located in Green Township, where he lived until 1865, when he removed to Perry, where he now resides. Mr. V. has raised a family of four children, viz., Laura, Marcus E., Elizabeth, and Josephine. His opportunity for education was limited. He had to walk two and a half miles through the woods to Sidney, and cross the river to get to the school-house, made of buokey-e logs, where he received his first school instruction. Mr. Vandemark has been one of the large land owners of the county. He at one time owned over one thousand acres, some of which he has given away, but still owns over six hundred acres. He has been quite an invalid for a number of years, and has retired from labor, but has a competence for his remaining days.

was born in Scotland, and came to America prior to the Revolutionary war, and served in the Federal army all through the war. Was taken prisoner by the British, parolled, took the oath, but did so under compulsion, and again joined the Federal army, and served throughout the war.

Joseph Magie, the father of Oliver, was born in New Jersey in 1770, migrated to Hamilton County, Ohio, as early as 1793. Here he married Abigail Crane. He had learned the tanning trade previous to coining to Hamilton County, and it is said he tanned the first leather that was tanned in Cincinnati. Served in the war of 1812. He died near Cincinnati in 1850.

Oliver Magie. the subject of this sketch, was born in Hamilton County in the year 1812, where he lived until 1834, when he married Miss Nancy Clark, and the following j'ear came to Shelby County. He bought eighty acres of land in Perry Township, for which he was to pay $200. He and his wife had one hundred dollars, which they paid on their land. They lived on their place a year or two, became discouraged, and starved out, and returned to where they had come from, rented land, and remained there until 1840, when they returned to their laud in the woods, where he has remained to the present time. His wife died in 1851, leaving eight children. In 1852 he married Polly Castle, by whom he had three children. His second wife died in 1856. He married his present wife, Miss Sarah Richardson, in 1857. From this union they have two children. Mr. M. has been the father of thirteen children, only six of whom are now living. He has passed through afflictions and privations that but few have met with. He says he has paid out for doctor bills alone not less than three thousand dollars. He has seen the time when they had eaten the last morsel of meal that was about the house, and had not a cent with which to buy more; was refused corn by a heartless neighbor who had plenty, because he had no money to pay for it. No wonder they became discouraged, and returned to where there was plenty. Mr. M. now has a pleasant home, with a competence for the remainder of his days. It is to be hoped that the bitter cup of affliction has been passed for the future of his remaining days.

The father of James was Charles Johnston, one of the first settlers of Mosquito Creek. He was born near Lexington, Ky., in the year 1 790. He was brought by his father, Silas Johnston, to the head-waters of Mosquito Creek, within twelve miles of where James now lives, in the year 1799. Here he married Miss Nancy McCaw. After marriage he moved to Urbana, where he engaged in trade. His principal trade was with the Indians for furs, skins, etc. They lived in Urbana until the spring of 1818, when they moved to Perry Township and located on the N. E. quarter of section 21. Silas Johnston, his father, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and also a major in the war of 1812. Charles and two of his brothers were in the war of 1812.

Charles Johnston was said to have been the first white boy that lived on the banks of Mosquito Creek. An incident is related of Silas Johnston and two of his sons who came to the head-waters of Mosquito Creek to build a cabin previous to their moving to their land. They were camped near where the} - purposed building their cabin. There was an Indian camp close by. One evening as they were sitting around their camp fire, a couple of Indians came to their camp. They were drunk and became quarrelsome. Johnston's gun stood beside a tree close by. One of the Indians started to get the gun, but Johnston anticipated him and got the gun first, drew up to shoot the Indian, but changed his mind and hit him with the gun and knocked him down. The Indians then left, but Johnston knew they would soon return with others; so they put out their fire and went and secreted themselves in the woods elsewhere until morning. They then returned to Kentucky and remained there some nine months, when they again returned to their home in the woods. Charles Johnston was one of the early Commissioners of Shelby County. He continued to reside on his farm until about 1863, when he moved to Pemberton, where he resided until his death in 1865.

James Johnston was born in Perry Township in 1826, on the place entered by his father, Charles Johnston. His father's family consisted of fourteen children, twelve of whom were born in Perry Township. In 1848 he married Miss Lephia Newman. By this union they have had three children, two only now living, viz., Nancy J. and Charles W. Mr. Johnston has lived in Perry Township fifty-six years, never having had a home anywhere else. He now resides on section 15, where he has a fine farm with good improvements. He commenced for himself when he was nineteen years of age. He bought his time of his father, agreeing to pay him one hundred and fifty dollars. The first money he earned for himself was by scoring timber at forty cents per day; the next was to work for ten dollars per mouth. In this way he made his start, working by the day and month until after he married, when he still worked at fifty cents per day for furniture to keep house with. In this manner he kept on until he had saved enough to Lnij' forty acres of land. From this small beginning he has now got a comfortable home of 140 acres of well improved land.

and wife came to Perry Township in 1831 or 1832. Mr. Line died in 1846, leaving a wife and six children, whom she raised to become men and women. By her own- efforts she supported them while young. George, the oldest son, entered the army and died at Bermuda Hundred in 1864. The second son remained at home and died. The third son, Martin, entered the regular army in 1863, served to the close of the war, was with Sherman in his march to the sea, returned home, and died of consumption. Of the three daughters only two are living, Mrs. Lippincott and Ann. Mrs. Line, the mother of the above family, after raising them and devoting her life for their comfort, and finally seeing them, all but two, taken from her - she and her youngest daughter were living by themselves - on the 18th day of June, 1880, in her sixty-ninth year, she went to pay a neighbor a visit. After being in the neighbor's house a short time - she was seated on a chair - when David Shank, a blacksmith of Pt. Jefferson, entered the house. There was no one about the house except Mrs. Inskip, the lady of the house, and her daughter and a child. When the assassin entered the house and saw the old lady sitting there, he said, " What are you doing here?" and ordered her out of the house, and immediately took hold of the chair and upset her on the floor. Mrs. Inskip picked up a stick to drive him away : he grabbed the stick, took it from her; she then ran out of the house, he after her; the old lady then followed out of the door. The villain seeing her, picked up a wash-tub and knocked her down with it; then picked up a piece offence rail and beat out her brains, mashing her face and killing her instantly. He then ran after Mrs. Inskip, who was running for help. Mr. Lippiucott and his son, who happened to be working close by, heard the screams and came just in time to save her. The murderer then ran away, was followed by parties who overtook him at the river, was taken to prison, tried, and found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to the penitentiary for life.

son of James F., was born in 1849. In 1869 he married Miss Maggie Young. They have three children, viz., Frederick T., Rosanna, and Harly. They reside on the homestead with their father.

Alexander Johnston, the father of the above, was born in Kentucky. Came with his father to Ohio at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and located in Montgomery County. Shortly afterwards they moved to Clarke Count}', Ohio. It was here that James F. was born in the year 1819, and rocked in a sugar trough in a rude cabin near Springfield, Ohio. Kducated in the cabin school-house, his first book was the alphabet, printed on a board, and suspended by a string around his neck. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed for three years to learn the blacksmith trade, for which he received one hundred dollars. In 1840 he married Miss Rosanna Shattler, and the next year (1841) moved to Shelby County, and located at Pt. Jefferson, where he built a small log shop, and commenced work.

When Mr. J. and his wife moved to the county they brought the whole of their effects, together with his blacksmith tools, in a two-horse wagon. His cash capital was three dollars and a half to commence business on. At that time there was very little money in circulation. He received in exchange for his labor, corn, venison, saw-logs, etc. The corn and produce he shipped by canal to Cincinnati to get the cash with which to buy iron. He ironed the first broad wheeled wagon ever ironed in the county.

In short, to show what industry and economy will do, he commenced with three dollars and a half, worked at smithing about ten years, and quit with between five and six thousand dollars, all made at the anvil, and by buying and selling land. In 1854 he moved to Pemberton, and worked a short time at his trade, then, the same year, he bought his present home in section 9, where he has resided since that time. Mrs. Johnston died in 1876. They have had two children, Lewis M. and Thomas J.

Mr. Johnston has filled the offices of township trustee, township clerk, and director of county infirmary. His father and grandfather were both in the war of 181*2, his father having been wounded in battle. The Merandas, the ancestors of Mr. Johnston's mother, Were of Irish and Scotch descent. We first find them after coming to this country located in Kentucky, where Mr. Johnston's mother was born. They lived in Kentucky during the Indian troubles along the Ohio River. Grandfather Meranda had a sister who was scalped by the Indians, and lived for several days afterwards. The settlers at that time never thought of leaving their houses without their rifle, not knowing what minute they would be attacked by some lurking Indian.

One time Mr. Meranda saw two Indians making for his house. lie ran to the house ahead of them, and shot one of then; the other fled. Another time, while passing through the woods, he heard a noise; upon investigation he discovered an Indian in a tree top pulling bark. It took him but a moment to bring his rifle to bear upon him and fire. The Indian fell, when Mr. M. discovered that another Indian was at the foot of the tree; but he hastily fled. Prior to Ohio becoming a State the Merandas settled in Clarke County near Springfield, Ohio.

was born in New Jersey in 1826, came to Shelby County in 1847, and married Sarah J. Line in 1856. Mrs. Lippincott is a daughter of John Line and the old lady who was so foully murdered by David Shank. They have raised a family of five children, as follows: James, born 1861; John, born 1864; Edward, born 1866; William, born 1868; and Franklin, born 1874.

The first we can learn of the Sturms is that in 1757 Henry Sturm was born in Virginia, and came to Ohio, and located in Clarke County; but the time is not known, but was prior to the War of 1812, for he had three sons in the army who went from Clarke County. He was married to Elizabeth Weaver, and had a family of fourteen children. George and John, twin brothers, were the youngest of the family, and were boru in Clarke County, January 31, 1813.

In August or September, 1814, Henry Sturm and his family moved to what is now Shelby County, and located in Green Township. The nearest white settler to them at that time was David Henry, nearly six miles distant, and A. Wilkinson in Champaign County, six miles distant. Here in the woods George Sturm was raised without the privilege of schools, the Indians being far more numerous in those days than the whites. George and John at the death of their father in 1832 bought the old homestead. This they owned together for a number of years, when George sold his interest to his brother, and removed to Illinois, but remained there only a few months, when he returned and bought the homestead of his wife's father - Isaac Stout - in Perry Township, section 9, where he now resides. He was married to Mary A. Stout in 1833. They have raised a family of five children, Matilda, Rebecca, Martha, Hannah E., and Rachel A. Isaac Stout located in Perry in 1831. Mr. Sturm has retired from labor, being afflicted with a nervousness that prevents him from labor. His wife also has been a sufferer for years, and is compelled to walk with crutches. Mr. Sturm has been living in the county sixty-eight years.

was bom in Hamilton County, Ohio, in a block-house near the mouth of the Little Miami River, in the year 1793 Here his father - John Manning - built a mill on the Little Miami at Round Bottom. In the year 1799 they removed to Miami County, and built the first mill in the town of Piqua, or where Piqua now stands, for Mr. Manning was one of the proprietors of that town. He ground the flour for Gen. Harrison's army for their march to Northwest Ohio. Here, in 1815 or 1816, John Manning died.

Benjamin Manning came to what is now Shelby County as early as 1817 or 1818, and settled in the south part of the county, in Orange Township, for a year or two, then removed to Perry Towuship between Christmas and New Year's in 1819. He settled on fractional section 36, which he had entered some time prior. In the year 1831 he built a saw-mill on the Miami River, in which he built a corn cracker, lie lived in Perry until the year 1861, when he moved to the town of Sidney, where he died in 1868.

was born in Shelby County, May 20, 1837. John M. DeWeese, the father of the above, was born in Virginia, and came to Ohio at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and located in Miami County. He was but a small boy at the time. He remained in Miami until 1833, when he came to Perry, and located on section 12. His home consisted of two hundred and seventy-two acres, all in the solid woods, llis family at the time of their settlement consisted of his wife and five children. He soon made an opening in the woods, erected his cabin, and commenced life in earnest. Year after year the forest disappeared before his axe, until in the year 1849 he had about one hundred acres cleared, and a comfortable home established, when He who doeth all things for the best called him away in the prime of life, leaving a wife and eight children. The widow after a few years married again. The children kept the homestead among themselves, and farmed it as before, and as fast as one of the heirs wished to sell the balance would buy them out. This course was pursued until the whole place was owned by two of the boys, viz., Newton owns one hundred and twenty acres, and Leonidas one hundred and fifty-two acres. Leonidas, with whom this sketch starts, in 1864 married Miss Margaret A. Thompson. By this union they have eight children, whose names are as follows: Laura D., born 1865; Hamilton G., horn 1866; Wyant A., born 1867 ; Thornton N., born 1869; Lagurna, born 1870; Bertha P., born 1876; and Thurman G., born 1878.

Mr. DeWeese now has one of the fine 6tand best improved farms in Perry Township. He has built for himself a fine brick dwelling-house at the cost of $4000. Mr. D. has made his home by his own industry and economy, never having inherited anything but the one-eighth interest of his father's farm, which was worth at the time of his father's death about $300.

was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1810. He was a son of Joseph and Catharine (Coble) Staley. In the year 1830 Nicholas came to Shelby County to make for himself a home. The first money he earned was making rails at twenty-five cents per hundred. He followed making rails for several months until he had saved a little money. He then borrowed some money and entered 160 acres of land in Salem Township. He then rented some land and raised wheat and sold it for thirty-five cents a bushel, to pay his borrowed money. His first entry of land was in 1831. He would work at clearing his laud until he was out of money, then would go back to Montgomery County and work to get some money, then return to his land and work till he was compelled to recruit his purse again. In this manner he worked along till 1837, when he married Miss Mary Baker and commenced life in earnest. Their neighbors at that time were the Hartmans, Skillens, Kirtlands, Robins, Counts, and McVeighs-. Of that number there is not one left who was the head of a family at that time. For their market he used to go to Sandusky with a load of grain, taking eight days to make the trip. He would buy salt and leather and return and sell them to his neighbors. Mr. Staley has raised a family of six children, viz., Margaret A., born 1838; Uenry, born 1840; John T., born 1844; Sarah, born 1845; Susan D., born 1850; and Squire N., born 1862. Mr. Staley has made for himself a good home of 386 acres of land with fine improvements. He now holds two patent deeds for the entry of lands that he took out himself, which he has since improved, same never having changed hands.

Jethro DeWeese, father of the above, was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1808. He married Lydia DeWeese in 1834. In 1837 he moved to Shelby County and located in Franklin Township, on land he had entered several years previously. They raised a family of nine children, seven still living. William, the fourth of the family, was born in l«39. In 1869 he married Miss Amanda Key, with whom he has one child, Carl E., born 1875. They reside on sectiou 15. Jethro DeWeese died 1870. His widow died 1876.

was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1816. His father, John Key, was born in Virginia in 1781, came to Montgomery County about 1800, where he died in 1815, leaving a wife and four children. John, the fifth child, was not born until some six months after the death of his father. His mother remained in Montgomery until 1836, when she came to Shelby County and located in Jackson Township. The subject of this sketch came with his mother and remained about one year, then returned to Mon tgomery, where he lived until 1840, when he made his permanent home in this county. In 1841 he married Miss Lillie Lucas, by whom he had two children, Norman and John H. Mr. Key's wife died July, 1846. He then married Anna Rhinehart in 1847. By his second marriage he has seven children, viz., Amanda, born 1848; Rachel, born 1850; Elizabeth, born 1853; Jane, born 1856; David R., born 1858; Sherman, born 1864; and Orlando B., born 1870. Mr. Key, when he first came to the county, had fifty dollars, with which he entered forty acres of land in Jackson Township. He then went to work by the day and month until he had saved one hundred dollars, with which he entered eighty acres in Indiana. He then worked on until he saved one hundred dollars more, with which he entered another eighty acres in Indiana. These two eighty-acre lots he traded for the eighty-acre lot he now lives on. It was nearly all in the woods. This he has cleared and improved, and has since added to it two other eighty-acre lots, making his home place consist of 240 acres, all of which is well improved with a good brick dwelling. Beside his home place he owns 300 acres more of improved land in Perry Township. Altogether, with what he has given to his boys, he owned 743 acres in Perry Township. Beside this he has 141 acres in Champaign County, and property in the towns of Sidney and Millerstown. All this has been accumulated by his own industry and that of his family. There are but few, if any, in the county who have done more hard work than Mr. Key.

was bom in Perry Township in 1843. He is the second son of John Key by his tifist wife. In 1866 he married Miss Hannah C. Lane. Wm. Lane, the father of Mrs. Key, was born in Oxfordshire, England, came to America in 1838, 'first stopped in Canada, where he was immediately drafted into the British army, in which he served nine months. At the expiration of his time he came to Daj'ton, Ohio, where he remained a short time, then came to Shelby County, where, in the year 1843, he married Miss Eliza Jackson, a daughter of Jacob Jackson, who settled in the county in 1822. They raised a family of five children. Mr. Lane died January, 1868.

the eldest son of John Key, was born Feb. 1842. In Feb. 1865, he married Miss Sarah P. Rike (daughter of Enoch Rike). They have two children, viz., William F., born 1867, and Olla May, bom 1871. They are located on section 22.

The Bakers, the ancestors of William Baker, were of German origin. Their first location in the United States was in Virginia, but the time of their settlement there is not known. Here they lived till 1812, when the father of Mr. B. moved to Clarke County, Ohio. Here in the year 1815 the subject of our sketch was born, grew up to manhood, qnd married. He married Elizabeth Loudenback in 1837, and in 1842 moved with his wife and three children to Shelby County and settled in the north woods of Perry Township, on the banks of the Miami River. When Mr. Baker lauded on his place there was a rude cabin, and a few acres underbrushed. It was here in the wilds that Mr. Baker commenced without a dollar, working by days' work for bread for his family, until he could clear land and raise a crop for himself. He owed two hundred doliars on his land. This he had to make, which, he says, was the hardest money to raise he ever tried. Mr. Baker has been one of the successful farmers of Shelby County. He commenced in the woods with an indebtedness of two hundred dollars on his 140 acres of land. He has added to his farm until he has bought 890 acres of well improved land. Esquire Baker has made for himself and each of his family a comfortable home, and now retires from active toil on the farm to enjoy the fruit of his early labor. He has ever had the esteem arjd respect of his fellowcitizens, who have honored him with the various offices of honor and trust of his township. They had a family of eight children, five of whom are living, viz., Sarah J., born 1841; Mary Elizabeth, born 1844; Margaret A., born 1848; Martin A., born 1852; Lewis W., born 1859.

The Redinbaughs are of German descent, and came to the United States at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The direct ancestors of the Shelby County Redinbaughs emigrated to the territory of Ohio at the close of the eighteenth century, and located in Hamilton County, near Cincinnati. It was here, in the year 1804, that David Redinbaugh was born, and lived till the year 1818, when he came with his father's family - which consisted of six boys and four girls - to Shelby County and located in what is now Orange Township, four miles south of Sidney. Here, in 1830, he married Peggy Lucas, by whom he raised three children. The Lucases are of English descent. The grandfather of Mrs. R. came from England and located in North Carolina, where the father of Mrs. R. - John Lucas - was born in 1784. He married Lillie Medaris and moved to Clermont County, Ohio, in 1807. Here, in 1809, Mrs. R. was born. In 1822 the Lucases moved to Shelby County. David Redinbaugh died in 1879, and is buried at Pt. Jefferson. Mrs. R. now has her home with her son, Solomon D., on the old homestead in Perry Township.

The subject of this sketch was born in Kentucky in the year 1800. When four years of age he was brought by his parents to Ohio. They located in Clermont County. Here young John grew up to manhood, and lived until he came to Shelby County, where he now lives, never having voted in but two townships in his life. The Crumbaughs are of German descent, but the time of their emigration to the Uuited States is not known.

Mr. Crumbaugh received but a limited education, only such as was gotten at the primitive log school-house. He was raised on a farm, and has been a farmer all his long life up to the present time. He eutered his land from the Government, cleared it himself, and made all its improvements without the aid or help of any but his own family. In the year 1823 he married Elizabeth Medaris. In 1830 they came to Shelby County, and stopped for a few months in the town of Sidney (during which time he entered his land in Perry Township where he now lives). He thougnt the rent of his house in Sidney was too high - he paid one dollar per month rent. So in the middle of winter he moved his family to a cabin on a place close to his land, until he could clear a patch of ground, and erect a cabin for himself. He relates an incident that happened the morning he left Sidney to move to his land. He had used the stable of a man by the name of Hull, who was sheriff of the county, to keep his team in during his stay in town. On the morning he left he went to the sheriff, and told him he wanted to settle with him. The sheriff, who was a rough spoken man, and profane with all, but noble and generous, replied in a rough manner, " What do you want to settle? I don't owe you anything." " Yes, but I owe you for the use of your stable, and want to pay you," replied Mr. C., somewhat embarrassed. The sheriff replied, '"I don't charge anything for that; for if you had not had it some other damn rascal would have had it."

Mr. C. raised a large family of children, only seven of whom are living at the present time. Their, names and dates of births are as follows: Peter C., born 1827 ; Willmath, born 1825; Mary E., born 1829; Daniel H., born 1835 ; Thomas D., born 1841 ; Hannah J., born 1844 ; and Samuel P., born 1847.

Mr. Crumbaugh lost three sons in the service of his country during the rebellion, one of whom was a prisoner for fifteen mouths, and died in the hospital. Some seven 3 r ears ago his companion, who had journeyed with him by his side for half a century, passed away, and he is left to finish his journey alone, with the esteem and respect of all who know him.

was born in Miami County in the year 1833; was brought by his parents, Jacob G. and Catharine Shunk Smoot, to Shelby County in the year 1839. In 1856 he married Miss Eliza J. Stone. They have three children, viz., Charles E , born 1866; John A., born 1869; and Frank L., born 1872.

was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1823; came to Shelby County in 1833. In the year 1851 married Miss Mary A. Redinbaugh, by whom he has two children, viz., David S., born 1859, and Henrietta, born 1864. The parents of Mr. E. were William Ethrington and Elizabeth Runalds. Mrs. Ethrington's parents, David and Peggy Lucas Redinbaugh, came to Shelby' County in the year 1818. First located south of Sidney in what is now Orange Township.

James and Christeua (Runner) Ried, the parents of the above, came from Berkeley County, Virginia, in the year 1810, and settled in Champaign County, Ohio. lie served as a soldier in the war of 1812.

William R., the son, was born in Berkeley' County, Virginia, in the year 1810. Was brought by his parents to Champaign, where he lived until 1840, when he came to Shelby County. In the year 1835 he married Miss Susannah Young. By this union there were five children, only one of whom is now living, viz., Dr. S. M. Ried, of Indianapolis,

Esq. Ried has been one of the prominent and well-to-do farmers of Perry. Has always had the respect and esteem of his neighbors Has filled the offices of justice of the peace and trustee of his township. In the year 1863 his wife died. The follo'wing year (1864) he married Jean Henry, a daughter of Judge David Henry (the first settler of Perry Township). Mr. Ried had two sons who served in the war of the Rebellion. Both served their full time, and were honorably discharged. Mr. Ried bought the old Henry homestead, on which he now resides. He has retired from active labor on the farm, having gained a competence for himself and family.

Tradition, together with old records, go to show that the Peckhams are of English descent, and emigrated to America on the Mayflower in 1620, and landed on Plymouth Rock, as also the Winslows of the same family connection. Caleb Peckham, the father of the above, was born in Massachusetts in 1746, and died in 1846. Philip, the 3 'oungest child of Caleb, was born in Massachusetts in 1798, married Julia Haskins in 1827, emigrated to Huron County, Ohio, in 1829, where he lived until 1855, when he moved to Shelby County, and located in Perry Township, where he died in 1872. John M., his son, now owns and resides on the same place.

was born in Ireland in 1835. His parents in the year 1849, during the famine, removed to England to prevent starvation. Here John remained till the year 1859, when he came to the United States to seek a home. He located the same year in Shelby County. In 1865 he married Ellen Shea. By this marriage they have seven children, viz., John, Mary A., Ellen, Thomas M., Elizabeth M., Bridget, and Jane. Mr. Dillon has become a citizen of the United States, and is thoroughly republican in his principles, and is proud of the land of his adoption.

was born in Germany in 1849. When seventeen years of age he came to the United States, and landed in New York City with only fifty cents in his pocket. He remained in the city until he sent to his brother in Cincinnati for means to take him to that city.

Mr. G. was a butcher by trade. He worked at his trade in Cincinnati some five years, then went to Chicago, from thence to St. Louis, then returned to Cincinnati. From there he went to Bellefontain and Dayton, working in each of these places. Finally in 1871 he located in De Graff, and started a shop for himself, which he ran until 1878, when he sold and bought his present farm in Perry Township, for which he paid $8000, nearly all of which has been made by the industry and economy of himself and estimable wife. In 1873 Mr. Griep married Miss Mary Miller, of Logan County. By this union they have five children, viz., Harry, born 1875; Frank, born 1876; Anna, born 1878; William, born 1879; and Ella, born 1880.