Pike Township (part 2 of 2)

HENRY SHELL, farmer; P. O. Christianburg. The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch is one of the old pioneers and stanch men that have made the Buckeye State what it is to-day. He was born in Montgomery Co., Va, Feb. 1, 1800; at the age of 11 years, he came to Ohio with his parents, and settled in Elizabeth Township, Miami County. March 6, 1823, his marriage was solemnized. with Mary Peilliman. They have had fourteen children, of whom five are now living, viz: Eliza, Henry, Elizabeth, Francis M. and Louisa, who have always remained at home with their parents. Mr. Shell purchased the beautiful farm where he now resides in 1830, in an unimproved state, and the improvement that has since been added is the energy and indomitable will with which he is possessed. His good and industrious wife died Jan. 16, 1873, at the advanced age of 72 years. Her religious views were identified with the German Baptist Church. Mr. Shell, in politics, is a Democrat. He and his daughter, Louisa, are members of the Christian Church.

HARRISON SHROYER ; P. O. New Carlisle. The subject of our sketch was born in Bethel Township, Miami Co., Ohio, July 27, 1837. His youth and early manhood were passed on the farm with his parents; he received his education in the common district schools of the vicinity, and in the year 1864, Nov. 10, was united in marriage with Harriet A. Dille, who was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, April 7, 1843. This union was blessed with three children, namely: Emory B., born Jan. 9, 1870; Batie M., August 8, 1871; and Daisy B., Jan. 13, 1878. Mr. Shroyer, after his marriage, remained in Miami County one year, then came to his present place of residence. He possesses a good farm of 163 acres, upon which is a fine residence and good buildings. His parents were John Shroyer and Eliza Rall, the former a native of Maryland, Frederick County, and mother of Clark Co., Ohio. The father came to this State in 1823, stopping for a time in Montgomery County; thence to Miami County, where he died Jan. 11, 1866, in the 56th year of his age. The mother died Jan. 3, 1880, in her 64th year. Our subject's wife's parents were Alexander and Elizabeth Dille, both natives of Montgomery Co., Ohio, born in 1816 and 1818 respectively ; both are yet living, being residents of Osborn, Ohio.

SAMUEL SPRINKEL, farmer; P. O. New Carlisle. The gentlemen of whom we now write was born Jan. 8, 1809, in Rockingham Co., Va. George and Catharine Sprinkel, his parents, were born in Pennsylvania, and came with their parents to Virginia, where they were married. Mrs. Sprinkel died in Virginia, but the exact date cannot be ascertained. Samuel removed with his father to Cass Co., Ind. His advantages for education were moderate; he attended the common county school He learned the trade of millwright under his father, and continued with him until he arrived at his maturity. In the year 1830, he came to Warren Co., Ohio, and followed his trade there one year, and went to Miami County, where he remained twelve months, and purchased 174 acres in this township. In 1852, he disposed of his farm, and bought 1663 acres in Section 26, where he has since resided. Mr. Sprinkel has been twice married. His marriage with his first wife, Miss Anna Stafford; was celebrated Sept. 29, 1833. She was the daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Williams) Stafford, natives of Giles Co., Va., and came to Ohio about 1810. She was born May 5, 1808, and is the oldest child of the family. She encountered many hardships and privations. She built the first fence around her father's house, which house is built of logs, and now stands as a relic of the past. By this union they had five children - Susan C., born April 8, 1835 ; Catherine J., born June 4, 1839 ; George W., born June 25, 1842 ; and.

two deceased. Mrs. Stofford died Feb. 2, 1870. On Nov. 14, 1872, he married Leoniza E., daughter of John and Barbara Thomas, natives of Virginia, and came to Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1823.

MARY SPENCE, farmer; P. O. North Hampton; was born in German Township, Fayette Co., Penn., Oct. 18, 1826, and came West to Clark County in 1837. At the age of 24 years she united her destinies with Mark Spence (deceased), who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 10th of September, 1820. On the 25th of December of the same year, he moved with his parents upon the farm his wife now occupies. Their union was blessed by the birth of a son, on Jan. 30, 1852. He resides at present with his mother, and is indeed all she desires. Politically, Mr. Spence was a stanch Whig; his first vote was cast for Henry Clay. The Whig party having been disruptured and the Republican party organized, Mr. Spence joined the latter party, and has ever since given it a hearty support. He was not a church member, yet he contributed liberally to the maintenance of religious interests. He believed that the interests of society and government are linked with the success of the common schools, and used his influence in their encouragement and support. Appreciating the value of good roads, Mr. Spenee urged their construetion, and liberally lent his time and gave his money to that end. As evidence, from a total cost of a single turnpike, of $7,500, his contribution amounted to about $1,200. Jan. 8, 1878, Mark Spence departed from this life, leaving an only child to care for the bereaved widow. He was married on the 12th of February, 1880, te Miss Anna Friermood. 'They have one child, born Jan. 15, 1881.

JOHN SPENCE, farmer; P. O. North Hampton. This gentleman is the fifth son of William and Elizabeth, both of whom were born in England and came to this country in 1818, settling on a piece of land adjoining the farm now occupied by our subject, who was born March 21, 1824. He lived with his father and assisted in the work of the farm until he arrived at his majority, when he left the home farm and commenced working at the cooper trade. In this he continued seven years, after which he entered the mereantile business, in which he continued two years, when he exchanged his store for Western land. He married Louisa Bailey, daughter of Charles and Martha Bailey, July 3, 1853, and moved onto the farm where he now lives. He has had born to him four children, viz.: Mary Ann, born April 13, 1854; Elizabeth, born Nov. 3, 1856, died Mareh 6, 1858; Marcellus, born Jan. 19, 1860; Warren, born Dec. 14, 1864. Mrs. Spence died Dec. 8, 1865, and the eldest daughter (Mary Ann) died Aug. 9, 1869. Mr. Spence was again married Aug. 25, 1867, to Henrietta Crawfis, by whom he had three children, as follows: Arminta, born Aug. 18, 1868; Arwilda, born Feb. 22, 1870; Carrie M., born Oct. 18, 1872. Mrs. Spence, the second wife, died Aug. 26, 1880. Little Arminta has had one of her limbs broken eleven times by falls, etc., and is now crippled for life. In May, 1880, she had the other limb broken while trying to preserve the crippled one from injury.

PETER SMITH, farmer; P. O. New Carlisle. This gentleman was born in the county of Botetourt, Va., Dec. 14, 1811. At the age of 2 years he came to Ohio with his parents, Christian and Christianna Smith, and settled near Chillicothe. They remained one year in their new home, and came to this (Pike) township, and located near New Carlisle. In the year 1821, Christian purchased the farm where he resided until his death, which occurred in Nov. 27, 1855. His educational advantages were limited ; he was early trained to farm labor. In his 25th year, he rented the farm now owned by Samuel Harshberger for one year and then purchased 80 acres of timber land, which he cleared and put under cultivation. He soon added 80 acres to his original purchase, making in all 160. In the spring of 1873, he disposed of the place and purchased the farm he now occupies. December 5, 1836, he was united in marriage with Jane, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Mixon. She was born Dec. 26, 1813. They were the parents of eleven children, viz.: Christian M., born Sept. 14, 1837 ; Perlena and Elsina (twins), Sept. 12, 1839; Christianna, May 22, 1842; Sarah, Feb. 8, 1844; Lydia, Feb. 28, 1846; Ruth, Aug. 3, 1848; Jesse M., April 8, 1850;

Charles, Aug. 4, 1852; Peter M., Sept. 25, 1854; Mark, June 3,1858. Perlina died Jan. 25, 1855; Ruth, died Jan. 21, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, with four children, are members of the German Baptist Church, and one daughter a member of the Baptist Church.

JOHN J. STAFFORD, farmer; P. O. New Carlisle; is the son of Thomas and Catharine (Williams) Stafford. Thomas was a native of Ireland, and his wife a native of Virginia. They came to Clark Co., Ohio, and purchased 160 acres of land in Pike Township. John J., the subject of this biography, was born Jan. 8, 1821, and lived with his father during his (John J.'s) minority, and at the age of 21 years, he commenced life for himself by renting land of his father, which he cultivated until his marriage was celebrated with Catharine, daughter of John and Elizabeth Stafford, Oct. 3, 1854. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters, viz.: William F., born July 3, 1855; Clara, born March 19, 1858; Theodore E., born March 28, 1861; Edith EF., born Dec. 19, 1869; Marcellus E., born Nov. 22, 1859, died Dec. 8, 1859; Ida E., born Oct. 19, 1865, died Oct. 30,1865. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford are consistant members of the M. E. Church.

DANIEL R. TAYLOR, minister; North Hampton; was born in Prince William Co., Va., near Hay Market, Dec. 31, 1835. A few months after his birth, his father came to Muskingum Co., Ohio, and after securing a location and empioyment, sent for his wife, Mary E., and infant son, Daniel. About eight months after the family had been gathered together in their new home, a cloud of sadness came over the familv circle, occasioned by the sudden death of the husband and father, by accident. The mother, thus suddenly made a widow and her child fatherless, commenced the struggles of life with no means of assistance save womanly courage and strength of willing hands. For eight long and wearisome years she labored, with her son, D. R., ever by her side, to keep the "wolf from the door," when she was again united in marriage with David Southwick, and soon after settled in Alexander, Licking Co., Ohio. At about the age of 12 years, D. R. united with the M. E. Church, under the preachings of the revivalist, S. A. Shaffer. In the month of September, 1848. Daniel R. left home to try the struggles of life alone, first entering the cooper-shop, to learn the use of tools and a trade. He worked at this business at different places, until Jan. 4, 1854, when he married Harriet A. Mercer, the second daughter of Dr. N. Z. Mercer, then of Licking Co., Ohio. He then located in Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio ; remained about two years, when he moved to St. Paris, of the same county, living there some nineteen years, during which time, owing to force of circumstances, he learned the trade of harness and carriage trimming, and the art of photographing. When the war broke out, the first call for three years' volunteers, he enlisted in the 44th O. V. I., at Springfield, Clark Co. Re-enlisted in the 113th O. V. I., and remained until the close of the war. On returning home, he was elected Mayor of St. Paris, and served in that office some six years. In the year 1874, he entered the ministry in the Reformed Church, and in 1875 was licensed to preach, and ordained by the Miami Classis of the Ohio Synod. He labored in the Bradford charge for three years, and then removed to his present place of residence. He is the father of four children, viz., Harry N., Lena L., Allan L. and Ellie; all of whom are living, death having never entered their home. During his labors in the ministry, he has delivered, up to the present date, 1,250 sermons, fifty-seven funerals, held forty-five communions, baptized forty-two infants and 150 adults, and received 335 into the church, and married twentyfive couples.

WILLIAM THACKREY, farmer; P. O. Dialton. This gentleman was born in Jackson Township, Champaign Co., Jan. 30, 1852. He is the fifth son of Duncan and Susan Thackrey. His father was born in Yorkshire, England, Dec. 10, 1813, and emigrated to America with his parents in 1829, and worked with them on the farm in Jackson Township, Champaign Co., until he was 25 years of age, having in the meantime married Susan Ray, who was born in Clark Co., Ohio, Jan. 6, 1820. Our subject's youthful days were spent on his father's farm in Champaign Co. On Jan. 27, 1876, he married Lucretia C. Shaffer, of Mad Hiver Township, Champaign Co., a daughter of Reuben and Sarah A. Shaffer, who were natives of Virginia, and came to this State when small children. By his union with Miss Shaffer, Mr. Thackrey became the father of two children, viz., Edward, born June 24, 1876, and Emmet, born April 3, 1878. Mr. T. and wife are pleasant people, and have the confidence of all who know them. :

THOMAS P. THOMAS, farmer; P. O. Dialton; was born in Bucks County Penn., Feb. 19, 1807. He is the son of William and Susan (Hanway) Thomas, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Delaware, and of Welsh extraction. Thomas emigrated to this county in 1827 and located in German Township, and took for wife Phoebe Kizer, May 20,1830. In 1835, he moved to Pike Township and purchased the farm where he now resides. Mr. Thomas is the father of six children, of whom three sons and two daughters are now living. Mrs. Thomas was summoned from earth to heaven Feb 3, 1872, at the advanced age of 64 years 8 months and 14 days. In 1873, Mr. Thomas married his second wife, Anna D. Pence. Mr. Thomas has at present 100 acres of land under a good state of cultivation and a nice, commodious farm-house and many material improvements to correspond, and has won a large circle of friends. ]

WILLIAM WINTERS, P. O. Dialton; was born March 10, 1813, in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio; his father, Lewis Winters, was born in the State of New York in the year 1768, two of his brothers having served in the Revolutionary war, one of whom, John Winters, being captured by the British, suffered the rigors of confinement in prison ship. Anna Prilleman, his mother, born in the year 1777, in Virginia, of which issue were twelve children - Jacob, Elizabeth, Obdiah, Margaret, John, James, Daniel, William, Susan, Sarah, Mary and Thomas. The latter was united in marriage to Nancy A. Fuller Feb. 28, 1837, her father, Robert Fuller, born in Virginia in the year 1785, having early removed from that State and located in Pike Township, where he entered quarter section land. Her mother, Margaret Thompson, born in Virginia in the year 1794; there were thirteen children born to them: Andrew, William, Nancy, Cynthia, James, George, Mary, Robert, Northrop, Archibald, Minerva, Irvin and Wesley. William Winters, the subject of this biography, bought one hundred acres of land in Sec. 22, Pike Township, in the year 1838, which has continued to be his home. He has added thereto until he now owns upward of three hundred acres. He has always been a consistent, upright man, attending strictly to his own business and letting other people's alone. He united with the M. E. Church at Beech Grove in 1840; his wife having in the year 1835 joined the same church at McKendree. Their issue was one child, Cynthia Ellen, born Aug. 9, 1842, who was married on the 8th day of March, 1863, to W. H. Sterrett, a resident of same township.

A. S. ZINN, farmer; P. O. Dialton. This gentieman is the son of D. R. and Matilda (Sturgeon) Zinn, who are mentioned in P. S. Zinn's biography. Our subject was born Jan. 28, 1845, and acquired a practical knowledge. His time was chiefly devoted to his father's assistance until Oct. 26, 1866, at which time he took for wife Mary V., daughter of Joseph and Mary A. (Littlejohn) Davis, natives of Virginia. Mr. Zinn has always remained on the homestead which he became owner of at the death of his parents. As an evidence of the popularity with which he was held in his school district, he was elected one of the Directors, and by them to the position of Clerk, and is also Secretary of the Beach Grove Grange, of which society he is a member. Mr. and Mrs. Zinn are both members of the Reformed Church, and he is a warm supporter of the Sunday schools, and is now a teacher. Mr. Zinn is the father of eight children, of whom seven are now living, viz.: Joseph W., born Sept. 25, 1867 ; Theodore D., April 1, 1869; Daniel F., Sept. 9, 1870; Rosella, Jan. 28, 1872; Mary M., Aug. 28. 1873, and died Sept. 13, 1873; Ida V., Aug. 25, 1874; Jesse O., Dec. 13, 1876; Lillie M., Aug. 25, 1879.

PETER S. ZINN, quarryman; P. O. New Carlisle. The gentleman whose name graces the head of this sketch is the son of D. R. Zinn, who was a native of Pennsylvania and came to this county about 1836. In the year, 1840, he purchased 80 acres of land in this township, which he occupied until the year 1865. At this date, he disposed of his farm and purchased 52 acres near North Hampton, where he remained until his decease, which occurred Jan. 12, 1870. Peter, the subject of this biography, was born in Pike Township Sept. 25, 1841. His education was obtained in the district schools of the county. At the age of 21 years, he commenced life for himself by renting land of his father and giving agricultural pursuits all his time and attention. Success crowning his labors, he purchased a farm of 47 acres, in 1876, and disposed of it in 1878 and purchased the farm he now occupies. March 16, 1865, he and Miss Elzina, daughter of Peter and Jane Smith, celebrated their marriage. Four sons and four daughters were the result of this union, viz.: Matilda J., born Feb. 6, 1866; Willard A., born March 11, 1868; Ettie C., born Dec. 10, 1869; Sarah E., born Jan. 29, 1872; Goldwaithe, born Feb. 26, 1874; Lydia F., born Sept. 28, 1876 ; Warren, born March 4, 1878; Everett E., born Oct. 2, 1880. Mr. Zinn has never been an aspirant for office, but has been hongred with the office of Township Trustee; is also a worthy and consistent member of the German Baptist Church, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

North Hampton Business References

and Hotel keeper. Ream, Daniel, Township Treasurer and Farmer. Rector, James W., Blacksmith. Richards Jos. L., Blacksmith. Taylor, D. R., Minister.

DIALTON. Arnett, Wm. A., Carriage and Wagon Manufacturer. Jenkins, Wm., Notary and Farmer. | Mitchell, A. W., Physician. Myers, John, Manufacturer Farmer.