Pleasant Township (part 17 of 18)

Some eighteen years before the death of my wife, she experienced a wonderful cure from a very serious sickness. One of her hands became strangely affected, being much swollen and almost useless, giving her at times great pain. In addition, she had great difficulty in breathing; so much so that she dared not lie down for fear of suffocation. From these afflictions, she was much reduced in strength, and at last was entirely prostrated - unable to walk and needing some one to watch with her day and night. This had been her condition for a long time; we had begun to despair of her recovery. On a certain evening she said to the person waiting on her, that she must arouse her up, in case she went to sleep, as she very much feared if she did not she would be sure to smother. In a few moments she dropped into a doze, and beginning to smother we raised her up and she was relieved. I being weary, laid down to rest, and in a few moments was sound asleep. Presently my wife lay down again. She afterward told us that as she did so she prayed, saying, " O Lord, do with me as Thou seest best." She soon fell asleep, and without any further trouble in breathing, slept soundly for about two hours. At the expiration of that time, I was awakened by her talking. She told the lady who was watching with her, that she felt she was made new, and that she was sure she could get up and walk across the room as well as she could twenty years ago. The lady expressed her astonishment, and I said, " I have no doubt you think so, but I don't believe you have strength to do it." She replied, " My dear, I will show you," and rising from the bed, she walked rapidly back and forth across the room, clapping her hands, and saying, " I am made whole, soul and body." And strange to say, her hand so badly swollen, and for so long a time nearly useless, was entirely restored, the swelling going down and its ordinary strength immediately returning. The same was true of her general debility; it was removed instantly.

After this change, she was spared to us for eighteen years, dying January 19, 1855, and never, in her life enjoyed better health than during that time. Her own statement was that during the sleep referred to, she was taken to heaven; saw the beauties of the place; heard the sweetest music that ever fell on her ears; that, she was told she could not remain, but must return to earth and publish these things to as many as she could reach. The neighbors came from all directions and great distances to hear her strange account and see for themselves the wonderful cure that God had wrought in her. To them, she would tell her experience, and confessed to having been sanctified during this time. And such was the earnestness c*f her Christian life, and the consistency of her daily life, as to confirm her confession.

There are many incidents of deep interest to myself that come to my mind as I think of the past. Some of them might be considered worthy of a record in this sketch: and it may be that some of my friends, who have heard me speak of them, will wonder why I have not written them. But upon the whole. I do not deem them of sufficient importance to justify their notice in this place.

In conclusion, I may say I am now an old man. and have lived for more than sixty years on this spot. I shall soon go the way of all the earth; and in view of this solemn fact, it is an unspeakable pleasure to me to know that during all that time I have lived in peace with my neighbors, no serious misunderstanding having occurred in all these years. I have witnessed numerous and great changes, and rejoice to believe that the majority of them have resulted in good to my fellow men. I do not sigh for the days or usages of the past, believing that, the present is immeasurably better than the past. If what I have written shall aid in keeping fresh in the memory of my friends anything worthy of their remembrance, and in showing the young people of to-day their superior advantages, I shall feel that I have not written in vain. David Watson, Sr.

MADISON A. BASKERVILLE, farmer and stock-raiser, P. 0 London, was born in Paint Township. February 15, 1840. His father. William Baskerville, was born in Virginia, and died in Ohio August 4, 1867. His grandfather, Samuel, was born east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Va. , and in 1807 removed to Ohio. In 1810, he was one of the Associate Judges of the county, and on June 7. 1813, he received from the Government a land warrant for 333^ acres of land. Our subject was raised by his father, with whom he remained until his father's death, when he took possession of the farm, which consists of 202 acres. In 1850, he married Mahoney Creamer, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Benson) Creamer, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Virginia, and both are now living at Mechanics- Imrg. They had six children, of whom Mrs. Baskerville was the oldest of three girls and the fourth child of the family. She was born December 13, 1844, and by Uer Mr. Baskerville has had six childreu, viz.: Mahoney (deceased); Maud (deceased); Icie (deceased); an infant, deceased; William B. born May 6, 1867, and Jacob H., born December 28, 1875. Mr. Baskerville is a Republican in politics, and has been Trustee of the Township.

GEORGE W. BOTKIN, farmer, P. 0. South Charleston, was born near South Charleston. Clark Co., Ohio, October 10, 1829. His grandparents came to Ohio from Virginia, in 1802, and settled for a time in Warren County, but afterward moved to Clinton County, near Todd's Fork, three miles from Wilmington, where they remained until 1808, when they permanently settled in Clark County. The father of our subject, Jeremiah Botkin. came West with his parents and followed their fortunes to their settlement in Clark County. He married Anna Elsworth, December 9, 1800. and had by her nine children, viz.: Jesse, Levi S., Ruhama, Mar garet. Amos, Moses E. , George W., Annie and William I. Our subject remained with his father, farming in summer and teaching school in winter, until April 5. 1849, when he married Eliza Maxey, daughter of Stephen and Fanny Maxey. By her he had six children, viz. : Frances E., Albert C. , Mary

E. (wife of Henry H. Snyder, London), Florence J. (deceased, wife of Franklin Pierce, of Franklin County), Stephen H. and Annie J. After marriage, our subject engaged in farming for himself, and has so continued, now owning 180 acres of good land. He is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the Grand Army of the Republic.

VINCENT L. BUEL, farmer, P. O. Walnut Run, was born in Vermont July 1, 1828. His father came to Ohio in the fall of 1833, or 1835, and located at Cleveland, where he remained five years. He then moved to Circleville, and two years later came to Madison County, Ohio. He was a farmer and lumber dealer by occupation. His family consisted of eleven children, viz.: Julia E., Eliza A., Fannie M., David O, Jane W , William H. , Mary M., Vincent L., James E., George W. and Caroline E. Our subject was raised on the farm and attended the public schools, in which he received his only education. On March '25, 1854, he married Nancy H. Farrer, who was born September 1, 1834. By this marriage five children were born, viz.: Albert L., born October 20, 1858; Luther, born January 15, 1800, and died in infancy; John W., born in January 25, 1801, and died September 4, 1803; Edward Grant, born November 28, 1807, and

F. M., born May L0, 1871. Mr. Buel cast his first vote for a Democratic candidate, bnt since then has always voted with the Republicans. He now resides on 187 acres of good land on the London & Washington Turnpike, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising.

JAMES E. BUEL. farmer, P. O. Walnut Run, was born in Vermont September 11, 1830. He is a brother of V. L. Buel, in whose sketch an ac count of the family's settlement in Ohio is given. Our subject was raised on a farm mostly in Ohio, and received his educatiou by an irregular at tendance at the public schools of his neighborhood. He enlisted in the war against Mexico, was sent to Madison, Ind. . from there to Jefferson barracks, and two weeks later to Vera Cruz, where he remained until marched to the City of Mexico. When he returned home, he engaged in farming on seventy acres of land in Range Township. He was married, in L854, to Isa belle Bethards, whose father was born in Maryland in 1800, and died in this county in L871, and whose mother was born in 1809. They were the parents of nine children, all now living and married. Mr. Buel by his mar riage became the father of five children, viz.: Theodore, William, Elizabeth, Charles A. and Ada M. Mr. Buel now lives on the London & Midway pike, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising.

JAMES S. CLEELAND, carpenter and storekeeper, Newport, was born in Pennsylvania October 1.8, 1825. He is the son of John and Sarah (Stewart) Cleeland, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania. Our subjecl received his education in the graded schools of Clark County and in Wittenburg College, Springfield He remained on the farm until nineteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed twenty-three years. 11" also opei a saw-mill, which he sold in ISiU. In IS71, he rem »ve I to Ohio and oper ated a store at Newport, in which he still continues. He also works at his trade and owns eighty acres of land in Indiana. In 1861, he married Mary

Jewell, who died in 1873, leaving one child -James - born in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Cleeland were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, iu which he is a local preacher. He formerly voted the Free-Soil ticket, but is now a Republican. He has been Township Clerk and is now ;i Justice of the Peace.

JOHN G COBERLY, farmer and stock- raiser, P.O. Walnut Run, was born on his present farm January 1, 1818. Thomas Coberly, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia, and emigrated to Ohio about 1810. He came to Madison County, purchasing 100 acres of land, in Paint Township, where he resided till death. He was a pioneer citizen of this part of Madison County, and an industrious man through life. He reared a family of three daughters and four sons - William, Job, Andrew, James, Eva (wife of William Watson), Polly (wife of James Sutton), and Hannah (wife of William Sutton). One son, William, the father of John G, was born in Virginia, and after coming to this county served in the American Army during the war of 1812. He was a farmer and trader and followed those occupations through life. He was joined in marriage to Amantha Green, a native of Virginia, who presented him with live children, all living - John ( r. : James, a resident of Missouri; Betsey, wife of John Berry, of Newport; Hannah, wife of Augustus Watson, of Bates County, Mo. ; and William, residing at Georgesville, Franklin Co. , Ohio. Mrs. Coberly departed this life in 1822, and Mr. C. married for his second wife Mrs. Sarah (Miller) Hamilton, widow of Thomas Hamilton. Of the nine children born to this latter union, five survive - Catherine (wife of Jackson Willoughby, of London), Andrew Jackson (in charge of the Newport saw-mill), Samuel (a farmer, residing in Newport), Thomas (same occupation and residence), Sarah (wife of James Crawford, of Paint Township), and Mary (wife of John Murl, of Chester Township, Clinton Co., Ohio. Mr. Coberly died in June, 1865. John G. Coberly grew to manhood on the old homestead, his educational fa cilities being rather limited. He remained with his fathor until thirty-three years of age, when he purchased 130 acres of land, located between his present farm and the Madison & Fayette pike. He resided there six years and then rented the '* Job Plowman farm." now owned by Richard Florence, ex -Treasurer of Madison County, where he farmed for one year. He then removed to the home farm, and a year later built his present residence. From 1862 to 1865, he lived on John Dunn's farm, in Deer Creek Township, and subsequently on land owned by John Houston, in the same locality. He then came to his present farm of fifty acres, having previously sold his first purchase. Mr. Coberly is a member of the Republican party, but has never been an aspirant for office. He was married, in 1851, to Eliza, daughter of Thomas Hamilton. Five children were born to these parents - Winlield, Sorepta, Perry 'residing at Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio), Robert B. and Rodney. Mrs. Coberly was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and departed this life in December, 1880.

SAMUEL COBERLY, farmer, P. O. Walnut Hun. son of William Coberly, whose sketch appears under the name of JohnG. Coberly, of this township, was born in Madison County July 4 1832. He was raised as a farmer and has spent his entire life in that occupation. He received a limited education in the district schools of his neighborhood, which he attended when work on the farm was slack. He married Eliza Simpkins, of Clark County, Ohio, by whom he has had four children, viz.: Darius, born October 6, 1852, married Lavina Clark and has three children; Mary, born March 8, 1860; Dora, born April 4, 1862, married David Suth, and has two children: and Samuel W., born July 31, 1869. Mr. C. remained on his father's farm five years after marriage, when the farm was sold to Samuel Watson, with whom he remained as a tenant eighteen years. He then moved to Clark County, and remained two years, after which he went to John G. Coberly's. and from there to where he now resides, in Paint Township, having lived there three years. He is a vigorous, industrious man, a good, practical farmer and steadv in all bis habits.

JOHN CRAWFORD, farmer, P. O. London, is son of William and Sarah (Blizard) Crawford. His father came to Ohio from West Virginia, about 1814, and located on a farm two miles west of London; from there he moved to Midway, and then to the farm occupied by our subject, on the Madison & Fayette Turnpike. He was hardy pioneer and good farmer, and lived until 1875. Subject's mother was alsc an early pioneer of the county, her parents having come from the neighborhood of Chillicothe in 1811. They had twelve children. Our subject's grandfather was born near Culpeper Court House, W. Va., where he lived and died. John was raised and born in the county, where he has since resided. He attended the public schools at intervals, and received the rudiments of an English education. He is a Democrat in politics, having cast his lirst vote for George B. McClellan, and in 1874, served as Township Assessor. He occupies 190| acres of land, where his father settled, and is engaged in farming and stockraising.

STEEL DOUGLASS. James Douglass, the father of our subject, was the eighth child of William Douglass who.it is said, was born in Ireland and emigrated to America when a youth. On June 21, 175-5, he married Elizabeth Matthews, of York County. Penn. , where he afterward lived, -lames Douglass was born in York County October 8, 176^*. and on October 27, 1797, married Polly Taylor, oldest child of James and Martha (Steel) Taylor. There were born to them nine children, seven sons and two daughters, viz.: Levi, born April 4, 1799; Elizabeth, born July 29, 1801; Absalom, born October 22, 1804; Jeptha, born September.il. 1806; Thompson, born April 2, 1808; Steel, born March 10, 1810; Milo Adams, born August 12, 1812; Seymour Austin, born July 15, 1815, and Mary May. born May 15, 1818. All grew up and raised families, Hxcept Levi, who died in Columbiana County, Ohio, in his sixteenth year. Only two, Thompson and Steel, now survive. Mr. Douglass moved t<~> Columbiana County. Ohio, in April, 1800; thence to Warren County in 1815. and one year later to Clinton County, where he settled on what was known as Hinkson's Prairie, on Anderson's Fork. He died August 21, 1835, leaving the home place of 232 acres to the four youngest sons. Our subject was raised to hard work on the farm, attending country schools during the winter seasons. Shortly after his father's death, Thompson, the eldest, son, sold his interest in the home farm to the other three sons, and our subject being the eldest left, assumed the management of the farm. In the spring of 1840, he sold his interest to the others and moved to Madison County, where ho devoted his time to farming in summer and teaching in winter. In 1843, he married Sarah Ann Thompson, eldest daxtghter of Charles and Rebecca (Graham) Thompson. After marriage, he settled in Union (now Paint) Township, on a farm of 160 acres. In 1854, he sold this place and bought 220$ aa IB near Newport, in this township. This he has since divided between his children, reserving for himself only a nominal rent for life. His wife died of consumption January 3, 1876, having borne him six children, viz. : Charles Anderson, born June 11. 1844, married Emma J. Morris January

7, L869, and has two daughters; James Porter, born December 15, 1846, married Charlotte Belle Postle December 24, 1868, and has two children; Mary, born October 31, 1848, and died August 18, 1872; Rebecca Jane, born June 11, 1853, and died May 27, 1880, married John Harrow, October 16, 1873, and has three children; Dora Ann, burn August 10, 1857, and died February 12, 1858; and Milo, born September 21, 1859, married Anna May Gil'tin. of Sabina, Ohio, May 10, L881, and lias no children. Mr. Douglass is, as was his wife, a member of the Methodist Church. He was an Old-Line Whig until the formation of the Republican party, since which time he has voted with the latter party. Ho has never taken an active in terest in politics, but has served his township in the capacity of Justice. Trustee and Clerk. Ho is a firm advocate of temperance principles, and has been a member of the temperance society, but is opposed to abolition

JOHN W. EACHUS, farmer, P. O. London, Ohio, was born near Rich mond, Ind. , October 4, 1829. His mother, Elizabeth Troxel, was a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Troxel, who came from Virginia to Ohio during the second decade of the present century. Our sub ject's father went West after marriage, and rented land until 1833, when he returned to Ohio and remained until his death, which occurred in August, 1856. He had a family of nine children - four sons and five daughters. Of the latter, the survivors are Sal lie, wife of Thomas Cul lumber, of Franklin County: Elizabeth A., wife of Moses Seads, of Picka way County; and Caroline, wife of William Keg, of Franklin County. The subject of this sketch remained at home in Franklin County with his parents until his marriage, when he rented a farm for five years, and in 1864 he came to where he now lives. [n 1854, he married Sarah L. Hut son, daughter of John K. Hutson, whose sketch appears under the name of Austin S. Hutson. Mr. Eachus, by his marriage, has had six children, viz., Viola (wife of Frank Mitchell), Or i anna (wife of John Sifrit), Eugenia J. (wife of Harry Barker), John W., Scott M. and Holton. Mr. Eachus is a prominent man in his township, and for nine terms served as one of the Board of Trustees. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church.

ROBINSON FLORENCE, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 25, L809. His father, William Florence, native of Virginia, and came to Pickaway County «t an early day. He was a prominent farmer and stock raiser of that county during life, and accumulated a large property. His political opinions were Republican. He rep resented his district in the Ohio Legislature, an I for many years was a Judge of the Common Pleas Court of that county. He married Fanny Rob inson, a native of Virginia, and by her had eight children - five daughters and three sons - of whom only two are now living Mrs. K add iff. oi I Hi nois and our subject. Mrs. Florence died about 1819, and Mr. Florence married Mrs. Isabella (Barr) Denney, who had a family of four children - three daughters and one son. Her marriage to Mr. Florence was without issue. She died in L852, lie havi ng died previously, while in his ninety sixth year. Om- subject was raised on a farm and has made that occupation the work of his life. When twenty-three years of age, he married Elizabeth Williams, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of John and Mary (Phifen Williams. She inherited one-fourth of 1,800 acres of I and from her father, from which the young couple commenced their married life. By earnest and faithful labor, Mr. Florence has provided for a large family of children, and has accumulated sufficient property to enable him to live comfortably without work, for the remaining days of his life. He has sold a goodly part of his lands, now owning about 400 acres. He is a Republican in politics, but has never taken a very active part in politics, his official career consisting only of one term each as Township Trustee and Supervisor. He has had eleven children born to him, seven now living, viz.: Richard (ex-Treasurer of Madison County). William, Mary, Eliza, Fannie (widow of Rev. John B. Clark, deceased, of Pittsburgh, a Presbyterian minister and a Colonel in the Union army, during the rebellion), John, Charles and Edward. Mrs. F. has been a member of the Methodist Church many years.

JOHN L. GALLAGHER, farmer, was born in Sligo County, Ireland, on the good Friday before Easter, of the year 1826. His parents, Patrick and Ann (McDermont) Gallagher, emigrated to America in 1849, and located in South Charleston, where they remained one summer, after which they moved to Madison County, where the mother died in 1857. The father still lives, and resides with a daughter at Newport, Ky. Our subject came to America two years before his parents, and landed at New Orleans. He came to South Charleston, after spending two years in Cincinnati, and engaged with his father in working out a lease in that county. Teu years later, he took a lease himself on David Herold's land, where he worked six years. He then purchased 1 53 acres, where he now lives, to which he has added, from time to time, until now he owns 515 acres. When twenty-five years of age, he married Bridget Gilmore, of Cincinnati, by whom he had one child - Mary Jane, born eighteen months after marriage, and died in infancy. Three months after the child's death, the mother died, and one year later Mr. Gallagher married Ann Dare, of Xenia, by whom he has had thirteen children, viz. : Frank, Margaret (died aged one year), John, Anna, Mary, Peter, Catharine, Mary, Ellen, James, Thomas, William and George Edward. Mr. Gallagher is a Democrat and a member of the Catholic Church. He is a steady, hardworking man, and by dint of industry has become one of the large landholders of the county.

AUSTIN S. HUTSON, P. O. London, Superintendent of the Buffenburg farm - probably the largest one in Ohio - was born near South Solen, in Stokes Township, this county, August 14, 1839. His grandfather, Skinner Hutson, was a native of London, England, and came to America and settled in Kentucky. He came to Madison County, locating in Stokes Township, in 1804, where he resided till his death. One son, John Hutson, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky in 1799, but was reared mostly in this county. He was the owner of a farm of 266$ acres, a portion of which is the site of the village of South Solon. Mr. Hutson laid out this portion of the farm in village lots, which he donated to those wishing to locate thereon. He married Hannah Mahaffey, a native of Adams County, Ohio. They were the parents of twelve children - five living. One child, Angelina, present wife of Richard T. Colburn, of Elizabeth - town, N. J., married for her first husband " Major" Peter Buffenburg, the owner of this large estate. He departed this life in 1878. Mr. Hutson died in 1874, and his wife in 1874. The subject of this sketch was early educated in the district schools, and when thirteen years of age left his home to reside with " Major" Peter Buffenburg, where he remained until September 17, 1861. On that day, he enlisted in Company B, Fourth Ohio ( avalrv. at Cincinnati, and formed a portion of the ten thousand men under Gen. Ormsby McKnight Mitchell, and always known as the old Army of the Cumberland. He subsequently served under Gens. Burnside and Grant, re-enlisted as a veteran, and was musterd out as a non-commissioned officer, after a term of service covering four years and two months. He returned to the Buffenburg farm, and was united in marriage on December 7, 1865 ("Thanksgiving Day "), to Fannie, daughter of Jesse and Charlotte (Patterson) Curtis, the former an early brick maker, of London. The hitter's grandfather, Patterson, was a glass-blower by trade, and subsequently owned the " Judge Hurt farm." near South Solon, in Stokes Township. After marriage, Mr. Hutson became an assistant to " Majoi Buff," as he was known, and upon the latter's death was placed in charge of the vast estate, then consisting of 5,200 acres. The farm has since been reduced to 4,100 acres, and is considered the best blue-grass farm in the State of Ohio. Besides being the Superintendent of these many acres, Mr. Hnt son rents from 500 to to 600 acres for his own use, >vhich he annually farms. He is very careful in the management of this estate, and during the panic of 1873, when other land-holders suffered from non-payment of rents, Mr. Hutson was fortunate in not losing a dollar. There are some fifty -two tenants on this farm, all of whom have business relations with Mr. Hutson, as Superintendent. Mr Hutson raises a large amount of cattle, and handles only the best grades. He is a member of Fielding Lodge, No. 192, Masonic, of South Charleston, and the Chapter at London. Politically, he is a Prohibition Republican; has been a member of the School Board for many years, and is now one of the Board of Township Trustees. Mr. and Mrs. Hutson have twc adopted sons - William Rudel and Austin S. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Hutson are members of Pancake Chapel of the Methodist Episcopal denomination in Stokes Township, the former officiating as Trustee and Recording Steward.

JOHN C. JONES, P. O. London, a prominent and well known retired farmer and stock-raiser, of this township, was born in East Tennessee June 11, 1817. His grandfather, Solomon Jones, was a native of England, and came to the United States at an early day. One child, Zacheus .1 ones, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Tennessee. He came to Ohio in 1821, locating in Somerford Township, of this county, in the "Arbuckle neighborhood,'' on Deer Creek. He owned a farm of 110 acres, where he resided till his death, in 1823 or 1824. He was buried in the old " Baptist Churchyard," now the present site of the " Link Mill," on the " Wilson land." His wife was Elizabeth Key. also a native of Tennessee, who bore him four children, of whom two are now living- Sarah Ann (widow of John Bradley, now residing on Spring Fork, in Darin Township), and our subject. Mrs. Jones subsequently married Charles Atchison, who died five years later. She departed this life August 24, L853. " Squire Jones." as he is familiarly known, grew to manhood on the home farm, receiving only a common school education. Having been reared to an agricultural life, he resolved to devote his further time in life to that useful occupation. On October 30, 1829, he married Sarah A., daughter of Thomas aiid Isabella Hume, a native of Boss County, Ohio, near Chillicothe. Mr. Jones reside.] in Deer Creek Township until ten or twelve years after marriage, when he removed to his present farm. He has been an active laborer through life, and has accumulated some property. He is the owner of 390 acres of fine land in this and Union Townships, and 000 acres in Southern Missouri. He was an earnest Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he united with the latter organization. He served two terms as Infirmary Director of Madison County, and one term each at Township Trustee and Justice of the Peace. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living - Mary E. (wife of David Watson, a member of the Board of County Commissioners and a very prominent man in agricultural and stock circles), William (married Sallie Minter, and resides on a farm near La Fayette, in Deer Creek Township), I. Dewitt (an attorney of Columbus, Ohio, who married Laura Harringer), Marion (at home). George (an attorney at law, of Columbus, Ohio, married Eva Lattimer), Ada, Flora and Fannie. John and Thomas are deceased Mrs. Jones is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lou don. Squire Jones and wife are well known throughout the county, and equally respected for their admirable traits of character.

JACOB KULP, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Montgomery Coun ty, Penn., June 18, 1828. He is a son of David and Elizabeth (Shultz) Kulp, natives of Pennsylvania, where they married, lived and died, the former in 1867. and the latter in 1876. Our subject, when eight years of age, was put to work on a farm at $10 per month, and thus he continued until he was married, when he engaged to work for 50 cents per day. Four years later, he began farming as a renter, and twenty years after first renting, he purchased 130 acres of land in Delaware, and paid $3,000 on his purchase, but being unable to pay the balance, he had to give up his land. In 1876, he emigrated to Madison County. He married Lavina Longacre, a Dative of Pennsylvania, February 3, 1849, and by her has had ten children, viz. : Dan iel, Francis. Virginia, William, Henry, Mary J.. Albert, Levi, Webster and Hannah E. Mr. and Mrs. Kulp are members of the Methodist Church. He is an honest, industrious citizen.

BENJAMIN LINSON (deceased) was born in Madison County, Ohio, September 16, 1820. He was a son of George and Elizabeth (Hutsenpil ler) Linson, natives of Virginia, where the former was born January 7, 1790, and the latter December 24, 1792. They were married in Virginia, and iu 1815, emigrated to Ohio, locating in this couDty, where they both died, he April 14, 1855, and she June 5, 1845. Our subject, when twenty-nine years of age, purchased fifty acres of land and engaged in farming and stock- rais ing, at which he continued through life, at his death owning 536 acres of good land. He married Maria Anderson, August 7, 1849, and by her had nine children, four living, viz. : Amanda, Benjamin. William and Lizzie Mr. Linson died October 5, 1876. His widow has been a member of the, Methodist Episcopal Church forty years. She now resides on 167 acres of" the old homestead farm.

G. LINSON (deceased) was born in Madison County, Ohio, July 17, 1827. He was a son of George and Elizabeth (Hutsenpiller) Linson, who are mentioned in the sketch of Benjamin Linson, deceased. Our subject married Martha P. Latham, on September 2, 1856. She was born November 21, 1831. After marriage he engaged in farming and stock-dealing At his father's death, he inherited 300 acres of land, to which he added until at the time of his death, June 6, 1875, he owned 710 acres. He was a man of limited education, but honest and industrious. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and for a long time served as trustee of Paint Township. His family consisted of seven children, of whom four survive, viz.: Gilbert B., Adda, Molly L. and George T.

CHARLES S. MAXEY, farmer, P. O. Loudon, was horn on the farm where he now resides, April :!. L856. His father, John T. Maxey, was born in Madison Count) November 10, L81 1, and died on the farm of his birth July 29, L867. He was a son of Stephen and Fannie (Troxel) Maxey, natives of Virginia. He married Charily Stan- a daughter of Abram and Mary Starr, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of South Carolina. By this union six children were boru, viz., Stephen \V., Mary 1.,

Elizabeth E., Laura. Charles S. and Pearl. The mother died in Madison County January 26, 1882. Stephen Maxey, the grandfather, of our subject, came from Virginia to Ohio at an early day, and located in Greene County, but after a short residence there, located in this county previous to 1814. Our subject grew up on the farm, receiving a common school education. From 1876 to 1881, ho engaged in teaching school, but since that time has devoted his time and attention exclusively to farming. In 1879, he married Susan Reed, of Madison County, by whom he has had one child, a daughter, born September 3, 1880. Mr. Maxey is a Republican in politics, and cast his first vote for G-arfield for President. He owns 156 acres of good land, on which he lives. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His father was prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, served the county for a term as County Commissioner, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church

DANIEL MULCAHY, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Limerick County, Ireland, August 15, 1829, and emigrated to America in 1852. He was a son of Daniel and Margaret Mulcahy, natives of Ireland, where the latter died. Oar subject, when twenty-three years of age, engaged in working on a farm as a" hand," and thus continued one year, at the expiration of which time he commenced working on the railroad. Three years later, he became a renter, and fifteen years after that he purchased 118 acres of land. where he now lives. He married Margaret Sullivan, August o. 1851, but has had no children. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church. He is an industrious man, and stands well in the community.

ROBERT S. NEIL, P. O. London, a prominent farmer and stock-dealer of this township, was born at Columbus, Ohio, February 23, 1834. His father, Robert Neil, is a native of Clark County. Ky.. and formerly operated a stage line from Washington. D. O, to Lexington, Ky. He was President of the Little Miami Railroad for some time, and its principal executive officer for many years. Ho located at [Jrbana, Champaign County, Ohio, in 1811, and was tkere during the war of 1812. He removed to Kentucky, and subsequently to Columbus, Ohio, where he has since resided. He is probably the oldest living pioneer in thai city. He married Mary M. , daughter of the Rev. John Hoge, D. D., who preached the first Presbyterian sermon in the village of Franklinton (now Columbus), Ohio, and who officiated as pastor of the Presbyterian Church of that city Eorover fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. Neil were the parents of eight children, seven living, two in this county. Mr. Neil is still living, in his eighty-seventh year, his companion having departed this life. Our subject early attended the Ohio University, at Athens, and subsequently spent four years in the scientific department of Yale College. He returned from college in 1853, with the expectation of engaging in some manufacturing enterprise, but yielding to the solicitations of his mother, he abandoned that idea, and engaged in banking ashort time; subsequently entered the employ of the Little Miami Railroad. He remained in this company's employ for thirteen years, at the end of which period (1866), ho located on his present farm of 1,065 acres in this township, which his father had previously purchased. Since that time he has been mgaged in farming and stock-dealing, meeting with moderate success. In his political opinions, Mr. Neil is in sympathy with the Republican party, and since his residence in Paint Township he has served on e term as Township Trustee. He was united in marriage in October. 1864, to Parmelia, daughter of Joseph Sullivant, and a native of Columbus, Ohio. Of the three children born to them, two are living - David B. and Joseph S., both

NATHAN C. RICE, farmer, P. O. London, was born March 8, 1839, in Paint Township, near Newport. His father, Dr. Rice, was a slave-holder of Missouri, who came to Ohio over forty-five'years ago, married Amy Sayles, and returned to the South, where he died. Mrs. Rice, with Nathan, an infant, came North and made her home with her father, David Sayles. She died within a few years at Columbus. Nathan was raised by his grandmother until fourteen or fifteen years of age, when he went to Iowa and there engaged in farming for about five years. He then returned to his old home, where he resided until after marriage. On May 29, 1873, he married Sarah A. Hume, daughter of James S. and Rebecca (McMurray) Hume, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio, where they both came with their parents when quite young. Mr. Rice by his marriage had five children, viz. : Effie Belle, born June 17, 1874; Frederick Hume, born October 14, 1877; Nettie Cole, born December 22, 1878; Rebecca Maud, died May 0, 1881, aged three months; and an infant son, deceased. Two years after marriage, Mr. Rice became a tenant on bis uncle's farm, and in 1878 he purchased eighty-two acres of his present farm, which now consists of 106 acres. He is a farmer and stock-raiser, and in politics a Republican. He served his township two terms as Trustee. Mrs. Rice is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her grandfather, Hume, was an early settler of Paint Township, and owned 1,500 acres, where our subject now lives.

GEORGE SCHURR, P. O. Walnut Run, a prominent farmer in this township, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, July 31, 1823. His parents, Matthias and Christina (Heller) Schurr, were natives of Germany, and came to the United States in the spring of 1829. Mr. Schurr came to Madison County, and in company with his brother John purchased from 100 to 150 acres of land, but sold this soon after and removed to Columbus. A year after, he purchased a tract of land on "Possum Run,'* lying in Madison and Pickaway Counties, consisting of 100 acres. To this he subsequently added thirty acres more, and resided on that portion lying in Pickaway County until his death. His wife died in 1841 or 1842, and three children at the same time, the fatal disease being the flux and measles. There was a family of eight children born to them, our subject being the eldest and the only living survivor. Mr. S. married for his second wife Mrs. Catherine (Tipton) Gray, widow of Benjamin Gray. They were the parents of three or four children, only one now living - William, a farmer of "Washington County. Iowa. The subject of this notice was reared a "farmer's boy.*' and when quite young was sent to school. He soon learned to speak English quite fluently, only using the German language at home. He remained with his father until twenty-two years of age, and then hired out to do farm work in Madison County, and a short time in Illinois, until his marriage, which occurred December 28, 1849. Hiswife was Elizabeth Carter, a native of this county, and a daughter of -lames Carter and wife natives of Eastern Virginia or Pennsylvania, who located here in early times. Ten children have been sen! to bless this union, nine living Mary E., wife of Johi S. Bunch, a farmer of Range Township; John A., married Ida Stroup, and residing in London; William L. ; Charles, a farmer of Payette Ohio; -lames. Esther, George (a school-teacher), residences in Paint Township. He has been thrifty and enterprising all through life, and by such, methods has gained a good name and a comfortable competency. He is Republican in politics, and served a term of three yeai's as Justice of the Peace of this township. Mr. Schurr and wife are members of the Antioch Church of the Christian denomination in Pleasant Township, this county.

MARTIN SIFRIT, of the firm of Withrow & Sifrit, proprietors Nowport Tile Works, P. 0. Walnut Hun. was born in CJnion Township, this county, May 22, 1S52; he is a son of John Sifrit, a native of Union Township, who was a son of James Sifrit, native of Virginia, who came to this county at an early day. His father was reared in Union and Paint Townships, and now resides in Union Township, near the Midway & London pike Ho has been a farmer through life, and married Melissa Harper, a native of Clark County, where she was reared. They had three children - Charlotte, wife of a farmer of Hardin County, Ohio; our subject, and John, a farmer in this township. The mother died in L855, and Mr. Sifrit subsequently married Lucinda Norton, a resident of this county. They have one child, Melissa. Our subject was reared in Union Township, living there nearly all his life. He received a good common school education, farmed on his father's land, and was married, December L3, 1S71, to Permestia Webb, a native of this county. After mai*riage, he engaged in farming, remaining at it until the spring of 1882, and was also engaged in running a threshing machine for eight years. He was moderately successful in that and has boon very successful in his present business. He is Republican in politics and has been Road Supervisor. He has had five children, four living, viz.: Lula May, John M., Clark B.. and one infant son. Loo. deceased.

JAMES SIFRIT (deceased), was born in Virginia February 27, L796. He was a son of Andrew Sifrit, who came to Ross County, and two years later to Madison County, when our subject was ten years old, and located 200 acres of land on the Yankeetown pike, in Paint Township, probably in 1806. Ho was asoldier from Virginia in the Revolutionary war, and obtained a land grant Erom the Government. He lived there until his death, twenty-five or thirty years. Our subject was reared on the home farm, attending school a short time only. Ho stayed with his father until twenty-four or twenty-five years of ago, when ho married Elizabeth Higgins, who came from Virginia to Pennsylvania, and subsequently to this county, with her father, Martin Higgins. After his marriage, Mr. Sifrit engaged in farming on the homo farm and remained there six years. He then located in Union Township, renting land of Jacob Gibson, and stayed there six years. In L832, he came to his preseni farm, whore he bought 200 acres of land, and subsequently increased it to ->1 4 acres, lying on both sides of the pike. He lived hero the rest of his life. He was always a farmer, but for the last eight or ten years of his life was too old to work. He died April 1,1881. He was a Democrat until Harrison was elected, when ho turned Whig, aud then became a 1 Republican in after life, but he never held any office. He had six children, three living - Nathan; John, a farmer of Union Township; and Lavina. Nathan and his sister reside on the home farm. He is a Republican in politics, and was former lv a Whig.

JESSE ST ROUP, farmer. P. (). South Charleston, was born in this county in 1S28. His grandfather. John Stroup, was a native of Pennsylvania, and located in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1798. David Stroup, the father oE our subject, was born in Pennslyvania June 18, 1795, and was three years old when his parents came West In 1805, he moved to Madison Comity with his parents, and located on a farm. He died April 30. 1876, on the farm in Paint Township, that he had occupied for over half a century. He married Mary Kay. a daughter of Andrew and Mary Hay. old settlers of the county. She was born September 6, 1804, and died June 3<>. 1SM. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four survive, viz.: Jesse; Alfred, born August 11, 1833, married Charity Thompson, and has two sons and two daughters; Rebecca, married Seth McCollum, and has four children living - one dead; and William L.. married Helen King, who died four years after marriage, and in February. 1880, he married Ida Lemon, with whom he lives in Elk Falls. Kan. The deceased children are: Jacob, born November 24,1822, and died January 31. 1 S 7 1 » . married Phebe Dixon: Nancy, born June 4. 1824, married John Linson. and died January. lssi: David, born June 15, 1826, married Mary Cams, and died July 19, 1867; Mary Cr.. born February 27, 1830, married Thomas Gain, and died December 16, 1870; and Martha, born February *JT. 1835, and died August 01. 1839. In 1866, our subject married Lavina Woosley, daughter of Beujainin and Keturah (Hunt) Woosley. and by her has had four children, viz.: lveturah Woosley. born May 1. l^'iT: Mary Ellen, August 4, ls,»s: Rebecca Hunt, August 4, 1ST0: Emma L., born February 8, ls74: and Jessie B.. born March 20, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Stroup are members of the Methodist Church. He held the office of School Director for several terms. He has been successful in life, and now own- 668 acres of land in Madison and Clark Counties.

A. M. SFKBAFCtH. farmer. P. O. Cross Roads, was born in Kane County. 111., February 3. 1854, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Shafer) Surbaugh, natives of West Virginia, where the former was born May IS. 1 ^*2 1 . and the latter January 14. 1822. They were married in West Virginia in 1Mb aud in 1853 moved to Kane County. 111. In 1860, they returned to inia, and in 1862 came to Ohio. In 1868, they mov.nl to Missouri, and in l^T"* settled in Madison County. Ohio. Our subject, when twentyears of a^o. commenced farming at $20 per month: then began for himself as a renter, and finally purchased the property where he now re- Oi\ May Is. '. s's. he married Amanda Linson. a daughter of Benjamin Linson (deceased), whose sketch appears in this work. By this union three children were born, two living, viz.: Ada May, born June 10, 1879; and Lena L.. born Jm 382. Mr. and Mrs. Surbaugh are members

URIAH THORNBURGH, wagon-maker. Newport. Thomas Thornburgh, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Tennessee. He came North and settled in Clinton County, from there moving to West Lancaster, and thence to this county in 1855. He was twice married, tir-t to K.'becca Mann, by whom he had two children. By his second wife he had - children. Our subject was born near Jamestown, Greei eC , O] \uj:ust 11. 1827, where he was reared and educated. On June 26, 1S-">1. he married Mary C^x. who was born in Randolph County. Ind.. February s.

. Mary Belle, born in 1866; Almira, born January lb 1870; Louella, born March 1 -" " married in March. 1875, and died at the age of twenty two years two months ami seven day-. The rest died young. Uriah, the father of our sub; - born in Tennessee, June IT. 1791, and married

Sarah Hiett, who came to this country when quite young and died Jun< 1815. He then married Sarah Hill, who was born August IT. 1793, and died March26, L835. He had the following children, Elizabeth, G. W., Qriab, Margaret, Sarah, and others thai r I i - >* 1 in infancy.

DAVID W. TWITCHELL, farmer, P. 0. South Charleston, was born Augusi 27, 1831. His father, Luther Twitchell, was born in Vermont in 1802. His grandmother, who was born in Vermont, is .--till living at an advanced age. Our subject grew upon the farm, receiving such education as his Labor and facilities permitted. He has been twice married Hisfirsl wife was Miss Catharine Coons, and by her had born to him two children. IJy his second wife, whose maiden nam*' was Julia Kennedy, ho had born to him five children, two sons and three daughters.

DAVID WATSON, farmer, P.O. London, was born on the farm where he now resides, June 2 1. 1830. Hr is a son of David Watson, whose sketch appears under the name of Stephen Watson, of London. Our subject, the ninth child of his father's family, and the youngest of bhe four survi was educated in the country schools and engaged with his father in working the farm. His father divided his property among his -children, and David, in addition to the share that fell to him, purchased the shares of some of the other children, and now owns 500 acres of the old home farm. He also owns 100 acres of prime land lying south of it. On March 16, 1871, he married Elizabeth Jones, a native of this county, where she was born September 11. 1840. She isadaughter of John C. and Sarah (Taylor) Jones, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Ohio. They had a family of ten children, of whom Mrs. Watson was the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have had three children, viz. : Roberl J., born January 23, 1872; Mary, born Ma\ 9, 1ST:!, and Louis... born November 5, 1878, Mr. Watson occupied the office of School Director for many year-, and in 1879 was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners. He is a Republican, and. with his wife, is a member of the Methodisl Church. He is prominently identified with the banks of London, and a heavy stockholder of National Hank stock. He has given his attention principally to farming and dealing in stock, and is also concerned in several business enterprises abroad.

WASHINGTON WITHROW, P.O. Walnut Run, the oldest native resident of this township, was born in LTnion (now Paint) Township, this county. February 27, 1813. His grandfather, William Withrow, was a native of England, and upon coming to th- United State- located in Pennsylvania, where he resided till his death. One son, James, a native of that State, emigrated to Ross County, Ohio, in 1801, and live years later (1806), came to this county. He located 250 acres of land on Walnut Run, where he lived during life, and gained considerable property. He married Mary Stockton, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Robert Stockton. They were the parents of eight children, four now living, and all residents of Madison County. Mi'. Withrow died in August, I and his wife (who was born in 1778) in April, 1841. Both were buried on the home farm, the place now being a portion of the Paint Township Cemetery. Our subject was the sixth child and fourth son of their par* and was reared a "farmer - boy." At this time, schools were not as plentiful as at present, and the schooling then obtained consisted only of the three "R's" - "readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic." Mr. Withrow attended school whenever it was possible for him to be absent from the duties of the farm, but never after arriving at his fourteenth year. The death of his father in

L823, deprived the mother and family of a support, and the sons - three in number - stood up manfully, and although young in years, bore the farm burdens with fortitude. When the two elder were married, the duties of the farm devolved upon our subject. He supported his mother until her death, residing <~>n the home farm. When fifteen years of age, he had left home, and hired to work on a farm at $4 per month. He remained at this for two years, and subsequently bought 107 acres of good land. Being of an industrious and economical nature, he steadily increased his landed possessions until he once owned L,200 acres. He has always been engaged in farming and stock-raising, but of late years has somewhat retired from active labor. He was a Whig, subsequently a straight Republican, and can justly be termed a Prohibition- Republican. He served one term as County Commissioner, and is now one of the Township Trustees, having held the latter position for many years. In early life, he was a member of the " Washingtonians," and " Sons of Temperance," and when forty years of age, he became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In this latter organization he is now serving as Trustee, Steward and Class-Leader of the Newport Church. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. No man is better known in Paint Township, and no family is better respected than that bearing the name of YVithrow. Mr. With row was united in marriage January 27, 1833, to Catherine, daughter of Martin and Catherine (Grillett) Trumain, and a native of New York. She accompanied her parents to this State wheu six years of age. Her father died in 1823, and her mother in her ninety-fourth year. Mr. and Mrs. Wi throw have been blessed with twelve children, seven of whom grew to man and womanhood, and live now reside in this county, viz.: Margaret (widow of Albert G. Rankin, and second wife of Isaac Kemp, a farmer of Union Township), William, James, John (married to Elizabeth Ross, and residing in Osage County, Kan.), Lucy (wife of James McDonald, a farmer of Deer Creek Township, in this county), David, and Fannie (wife of Richard Arsmtrong, of Oroya. 111.). Three of the above are more fully mentioned in the following: William Withrow, of Withrow & Sifrit. proprietors of the Newport Tile Works, and of Roland & Withrow, dealers in general merchandise, was born in this township August L840. He grew to mature years on the old homestead, and obtained a fair common school education. He remained with his father on the farm until October 3, 1861, when he married Mary J., daughter of Calvin Morris. After marriage, he went to Indiana, where he was engaged in farming and trailing for four years. He then came back to Paint Township, locating in a portion of the home farm, and four veal's later rented a farm, where he lived two years. In 1876, in company with a Mr. Durkef>, he built the Newport Tile Works. Soon after, Mr. Withrow bought Mr. Durkee's interest, and rented the works to the latter for a period of three years. He then operated them himself until the spring of 1882, when Martin Sifrit first became a full partner, the firm being now known as Withrow & Sifrit. In the winter of 1881-82. Mr. Withrow, with T. H. Roland, purchased the grocery stock of Charles Douglass, and in both these business operations, Mr. Withrow has been very successful. He is a member of the Sods of Temperance Lodge, of Newport, the Republican party, and has officiated as School Director. Himself and wife are the parents of five children - Allie (wife of Albert BueJ, a farmer of Union Township), J. Russell (a clerk in the store), Minnie, Wash ington and Fern. Mr. Withrow and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. James Withrow. farmer, stock raiser and dealer, resi- dence London, was born in Paint Township January 18, 1842. Like his brothers, he was reared amid rural scenes, obtaining only a common school education. He remained at home until July 22, L861, when ho enlisted in Company K, Twenty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and was mustered out anon-commissioned officer, July 2 1 . L864, having served a three years' term. At the battle of Mission Ridge, be was severely wounded in the left arm, from the effect of which he has since suffered. After returning home, Mr. Withrow engaged with bis father in farming and stockraising for five years. He then purchased 100 acres of the home farm, where he has since been engaged in farming. He also raises and deals in live stock. In December, 1880, he removed his family to London, where he resides. He is Republican in politics, but has never been an active politician. He was married, October 2, 1865, to Clara, daughter of Gideon and Deborah (Kilgore) Peck, the former a native of Rosa County, Ohio, died in September, 1879, latter of Fayette County, Obio, now living in her sixty-seventh year. Mr. and Mrs. Withrow had three children born to then), two living - Addie and Sarah; Jennie is deceased. Mr. Withrow, wife and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. David M. Withrow. farmer and stock-raiser, on the Danville pike, was born on the Wash ington & Charleston pike, and has resided in Paint Township during his life. He grew to manhood on the home farm, and in early life attended the dis trict schools, and subsequently the National Normal University at Lebanon. Ohio. He is now residing on a portion of the old bomestead, and succeed ing admirably in life. Mr. Withrow is a Republican in politics. He was married in March, 1874, to Miss V. H. Ham, native of this county. Her grandfather, John Hatn, was a native of Maryland, and died in 1859. They have one daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Withrow are members of the Meth odist Episcopal Church.

JAMES CLARK, farmer, P.O. London, was born in Anne Arundel County Md.,Augus1 L6, L826; he is the son of Henry and Mary (Collier) Clark. His mother dying when he was very young, he was taken in charge by an uncle. Henry J. Sothern. a resident of Guernsey County, Ohio, with whom he came to this county in L840, settling in Somerford Township. He was married February 2s. L861, to .Miss Martha .lane ! oster, and has a family of four children, viz.. Miranda, Kimball. Ada and Dellie.

DANIEL B. FOSTER, P.O. London, a well known farmer of this township, was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 7, L828. His grandfather, John Foster, was a native of Virginia, and came to Ross County, Obio, about tic commencement of the nineteenth century. One son. John Foster, Jr., was born in Ross County. Ohio. March I, 1802. He was there reared, and in L833 came to Madison County, locating on the of our subject, which then comprised 875 acres. He was an early sett. Oak Ran Township, a Whig, and su Republican, but never took an active part in politics. He was an hones! and industrious citizen, and departed this life November 19, L880. He married Eliza Bowyer, a native of Pike County, Ohio, and daughter of Daniel Bowyer .There were ten children born to tli"! ii eight now living. Mrs. Foster is still living.

Daniel B. was the eldest son. and was reared mostly in this county. He received a good common school education, and has resi I on his present farm through life. He has been engaged in agricultu pursuits during this time, also the raising of all kinds of stock, principally sheep. His land consists of 515 acres - in three farms. Mr. Foster is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years has been a Class Leader in the congregation that meets in " Foster's School house." He is also connected with Bradford Grange of Range Township, Sons of Temperance of Divison No. 4, and the Republican party. He has been twice married. His first union occurred January 22, 1852, when he was united to Miranda McClimans. Three children were born to them, two living - Bernard, and Jennie, wife of John Van Wagner, of London. Mrs. Foster died August 13, 1860, and Mr. F. married for his second wife Margaret Johnston, daughter of George Johnston, and born January 1, 1837. They have eight children - Jessie. Allie, Kemper L., E. Bruce, Eva, W. Irvin, Frank E. and Maud.

T. C. FOSTER, farmer, P. O. London. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Oak Run Township, Madison County, November 12, 1849. His parents were John Foster and Elizabeth (Bowyer) Foster. On December 25, 1874, he was married to Ida F. Clingan, a daughter of A. J. Clingan, an old settler of Somerford Township. By this marriage three children have been born, viz., Forest, Blanche and Belva. Mr. Foster was reared on a farm, and receiving such an education as the surrounding schools afforded, and has spent his life as an agriculturist. Though comparatively young, he is energetic and industrious, and has gained for himself, the respect and esteem of his fellows.

CARLTON E. GREGG, farmer, R O. London, was born at Brownsville, Fayette County, Penn., September 18, 1813. His parents were John and Margaret (Allan) Gregg, the latter being a daughter of Nathan B. Allan, an old Indian fighter of Hampshire County, Ya. Our subject came to this county with his mother and two younger brothers in 1829, and settled in the township, where he has since resided. He was three times married. By his second wife he has two children, John and Mary, and by his last wife, Minnie (Plimell) Gregg, he has had three children - Carlton A., Amy and Noah. Air. Gregg owns a water-power grist-mill on Oak Run, which he has operated for twenty years. It was built in 1831 or 1832, the site having been chosen two or three years before. Mr. Gregg is well known and generallv respected for his many good qualities.

THO.M \S LADLEY, farmer, P* O. London, was born in "Union Township, in this county, November 1, 1829. He is the son of Andrew Ladley, an old pioneer of the county, who came from Preble County, in this State. and settled here in about 1828, locating first in Union Township, and finally settling in Oak Run in 1854.

ACHILLES C. MOORMAN, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Lynchburg, Va., February 7, 1833. He is the son of Thomas and Martha lane (Jennings) Moorman. They emigrated to this State in 1836, settling at Galloway Station, Franklin County, where the subject of this sketch was raised and educated. <>n November 12. 1854, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hambleton, daughter of Stephen G. Hambleton. by whom he has a family of four children living, viz., Thomas A., Delos B., Lillian and E. W. ; and one dead - Frances Mary. In 1855, he moved to Washington County, Iowa, and after a residence there of three years, removed to Franklin County, where he remained until L864, when he moved to his present home ii ladison County. His educational facilities were, to a certain extent, li. ed; he had the good fortune however to spend the win ters of L851-52 arid '53, attending the Otterbein University at Westerville, where he Btudied the profession of land survej ing. He owns a very extensive farm in Oak Run Township, consistingof 650 acres, and is recog nized as one of the leading men in his neighborhood.

CEPHAS PANCAKE (deceased) was born in this county February 21, 1819. He was the son of Joseph and Susan (Linton) Pancake. The family emigrated from Virginia and set lied in Range Township this county, at a very early day. Our subject's early days were passed on his father's farm, during which time he managed to secure a moderate education. He was first married, February I. 1M1. to Miss Nancy Cooper, daughter of Peter Cooper; she died July 29, L855. The children by tin- marriage were as follows: Margaret (deceased), William (deceased), Mary .Jane (deceased), Thompson (deceased), John and David S. (deceased). On Nbvember21, l85o, he was again married to Miss Caroline V. Mahoy, daughter of Joseph Mahoy, by whom he had live children, viz., Joseph, Edmund B., E. Iva. Aquilla T. (deceased) and Cephas Pearl. in 1860, he moved into Oak Run Township where in course of time he became a large land-holder. He was a wn pop ular man and was known throughout the county as one of the most enter prising farmers and stock raisers. His death took place October 12, L874.

JOHN PANCAKE, farmer. P. 0. London. This well-known citizen of Oak Run Township was born in Paint Township, this county. November 15, 1851. He is the son of Cephas and Nancj (Cooper) Pancake. He was married, December 9, 1875, to Ann L. Ilea, daughter of Robert Pea. He is a live, energetic tanner, and has, by his gentlemanly demeanor, ac quired quite a prominence in the section in which he lives.

MATTHEW RE A (deceased) was horn in Rockbridge County. \a.. June 22, 1793. His father. Joseph Pea. was of Irish and Quaker extrac tion, and was born near Philadelphia. In 1810, young Matthew emigrated with his parents to Ross County. Joseph Pea'.- family consisted of nine children: Robert, who was a stock dealer at Coshocton, and died in middle life; Matthew, Joseph, John and Jesse, all farmers and Btock raiser Madison Countv: Sarah, who married John Lindsley and removed with him to Marion County; Elizabeth, who was the wife of Richard Wilson, a blacksmith of this count)', and who late in life went to Indiana: Nancy. wife of Willhim Jackson, a farmer of Madison County, and Mary, who married William B. Slyh. and settled in Wyandot County. When hostilities began in L8 12, young Matthew was a member of a militia company which was called into service. Ee served six months, commencing in August. L812, on the Ohio frontier, under Gen. Harrison. While marching to the front he passed through the site of London, which locality he then saw for the first time A few years later, he began the business of Btock-raising, which became his life pursuit. For a few years in earl) life he was engaged in buying pork and shipping it by flat-boat from the mouth of Deer Creek to New Orleans. This proved remunerative at first, but a decline in the market value afterward resulted in losses bo him, and de stroyed Ins previous profit-. His father came from Ross County to .Madison in 1818, settling about a mile south of London. Matthew preceded him several years in the occupancy of Madison Countysoil, having been engaged in herding cattle on the prairie land south of London. He was married, in 1823, to Ann Amos, whose father had emigrated to Madison County from Marvland. Soon after this important event in his history, he settled on the site of London, and there remained until 1835. He then removed to his large farm in Oak Run Township and lived there till his decease, which occurred September 23, 1873, in his eighty-first year. He had been an active man in business affairs and remained in charge of his extensive business until within a short time of his death. He was fond of the saddle, and when engaged in superintending the management of his stock always rode horseback. His wife preceded him to the grave about sixteen years. Of their seven children, but four grew to maturity - Jeremiah, of Oak Run Township: Joseph, who died in November, 1873, Robert, of London; and Margaret, wife of F. M. Chenoweth. of Fairfield Township.

JEREMIAH REA, R O. London, is a life resident of Madison County, and a prominent stock-raiser and farmer of Oak Run Township. His. grandfather, Joseph Rea. was born in January. 1754 (probably in Pennsylvania). He was married, January 10, 1783, to Elizabeth Conn, who was born January 1*7. 1762. They were residents of Rockbridge County, Va. , and removed to Ross County, Ohio, in 1810. They came to Madison County about 1818, locating on Walnut Run, in Union Township, where both died about 1829. They were the parents of nine children, all reaching maturity, but none now living. One son, Matthew Rea, the father of our subject, was born in Rockbridge County, Va., June 22. 1793. He came to this county with his parents in 1818, and resided in Union Township until 1835, when he removed to a farm on Deer Creek, in Pleasant (now Oak Run) Township, where he resided till his death, September 23, 1873. He was a man highly respected and enjoying the full confidence of all his acquaintances. He took a deep interest in stock matters, and the prosperity and advancement of Madison County. He married Ann Amos. born in Harford County. Md., November 15, 1802. They were married in London by Squire Patrick McLeue. Mrs. Rea departed this life February 22. L857, aged fifty-four years. They were the parents of seven children, three dying in childhood, one at the age of forty-four, and three now living - Robert, in London; Margaret, wife of Marion Chenowith, of Fairfield Township: and Jeremiah. Mr. Rea was a large land-holder, once owning 2.000 acres, and at his death leaving an estate of 800 acres. Both parents are buried in Kirkwood Cemetery. Union Township. Jeremiah Rea was born on the home farm in Union Township (now within the corporate limits of London). August 10. L824, and remained ' with his father till twenty-six year.-, of age. On August 23, 1850, he was married to Catherine Leach, a native of Pleasant Township, and daughter of Benjamin Leach. The following winter his father gave him some land (a portion of his present farm), where lie has since resided. He had 260 or 270 acres at first, w herited some, and purchased over 500, his present farm, consisting of over 1,400 acres. Mi-. Rea resides in a very handsome residence, and his land is supplied with all the conveniences necessary to successful farming. He is Democratic in politics, and has seiwed as Trustee and Clerk of Oak Run Township. Seven children have been given to himself and wife, two living - Matthew A. and Sarah L.. both residing at home. Mr. Rea has about retired from active life, and his son has entire management of the farm.

.1. C. SMITH, P. O. London, a prominent farmer and influential citizen of Oak Run Township, was born in Christian County, Ky. . April 7, 1M7. H< is a son of William W. Smith, a native of Virginia, who emigrate. 1 to Kentucky about 1815. After the birth of our subject, he went to Rockingham County, Va. , where he died in 1S'!T. Ee married Elizabeth Chrisman, a Qative of Virginia, and daughter of Jacob and Barbara Chris.

man. Mrs. Smith was the mother of only one child, our subject, and departed this life when he was but a few months old. The father then re turned to Virginia, as previously stated, and Jacob C. lived with his ojandmother till ten years of age. He was then taken by an uncle, with whom he remained till of age. He obtained only a limited education, and when twenty-three or twenty-four years of age. came to Ohio and engaged in mercantile pursuits at South Charleston. Clark Coirnty. He remained there nine years, and then came to Oak Run Township. He purchased what was known as the " Oak Run Mill." running it for eighteen month-. The mill was then destroyed by fire, and Mr. Smith subsequently removed to London, and was there engaged in business for six or seven years. He then bought 228 acres of the old Chrisman laud, and since added to it until it now comprises 260 acres. Mr. Smith formerly traded in stock, and deals largely in cattle and sheep. He has on the farm about sixty head of cattle and 1,100 head of sheep. He resides in a very neal and comfortable residence on the farm, and is a man well esteemed by his neighl tors and friend-. He is Republican in politics, and has officiated as Trustee and School Director in his township. He was married, March 14. 1844. to Amanda J. Evans, a native of Clark County, but reared in this county, and a daughter of Robert Evans (deceased). Nine children have been born to them, only two surviving - Peyton R. . a farmer and stock-raiser of Douglas County. Kan., and William P., at home. Peyton R. married .Mrs. Myra Clark. They have one child - Maud. Mr. Smith and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN WALTERS, farmer, P.O. Big Plain, was born February 18, loll, in Ross County, this State. He is the son of Levi and Sarah (Rile} ) Walters. In his seventh year he lost his father, and the family then moved into Pickaway County. May 26, L861. He enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, and followed the fortunes of that regiment until -Inly. 1864. sharing in the engagements of Shiloh. Stone River. Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. He then returned to Pickaway County, where, in October 11, 1865, he was married to Miss Mary E. Robison, daughter of Thomas Robison. The family now consists of five children, viz.. Effie Florence. Thomas F., Carrie, Sarah A.. Daisy Ellen. He first located near Antioch. in this county, in IST'J. residing there some two years, then returned to Pickaway County, and linally in L878, moved back to this county He now rents the Wilson farm, in Oak Run Township, which consist about 1,200 acres. Tn politics, he is a Republican.

Source changes here: from History of Madison County, Ohio : Its People, Industries and Institution with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by Bryan, Chester Edwin, published 1915; 2,843 words in this source stream.

Pleasant Township

Pleasant township fills the southeast corner of Madison county, being bounded on the north by Oak Run and Fairfield townships; on the east by Pickaway county; on the south by Fayette county, and on the west by Range and Oak Run townships. It was organized in 1810, and was put into running order by an election held by order of the commissioners of the county at the home of Fergus Graham; but who the officers elected were is not known as all the records of the township prior to 1869, have been lost or destroyed by fire.

Surface, Soil And Streams

In its natural features, Pleasant township is much like the remainder of the county, since the general surface of the entire county is level. Nearly all the surface of Pleasant township, except along the creeks and other small streams, is one extended plain, and were the forests stripped from the face of the country, there would be great resemblance to the rolling prairies of the West. South and southeast marks the general course of all the streams and creeks of the township. Deer creek is the principal stream of the township and enters the northwestern portion, courses south and southeast until it reaches the boundary line between this township and Pickaway county; thence it flows nearly south on the line for nearly a mile, when it re-enters Pleasant township, flows south and enters Fayette county, near the southeast corner of the township. Sugar run is its main tributary. It empties into Deer creek near the center of the township. Sugar creek finds its source near the western line of the township, by the junction of Mud run and Bradford's creek. These, with Duff's fork, in the south part of the township, are the principal streams. The soil is a rich loam and clay, very strong and productive, equally good for grass or grain. During the last few decades the land has been extensively ditched, tiled and drain. Large portions of the township were originally oak openings and prairies, of which the soil was remarkably deep and rich, consisting chiefly of a black loam, with clay and disintegrated limestone subsoil. The timber upon these portions was principally bur oak. hickory, elm, black and red oak. Along the creeks and the northern and eastern portions of the township were heavy forests, consisting of the various species of oaks, hickory, elm and, on the creeks, considerable walnut; on the rolling lands, white oak predominated.

The Pioneers

Pleasant township was one of the earliest settled portions of Madison county. This was undoubtedly due to its position geographically and its close proximity to the older counties, especially Ross county. Chillicothe, in Ross county, early became a sort of asylum and trading center for the pioneers and settlers in all the counties around. From the Ohio river up the valley of the Scioto, early settlements were made, and Chillicothe early became the principal trading point of the frontier. From this base of supplies, the pioneer and huntsman pushed up the Scioto and its numerous tributaries - Paint, Deer, and the Darby creeks - and it seems that the two last-mentioned streams were early visited by those in quest of game and a location, as it soon became known that along these streams were found, in plenty, herds of deer and immense flock of wild turkeys, and, what was more important than all, as good a body of land as the sun ever shone on.

The first settlers were James and William Hewey and David Martin, who built their cabins on the northeast bank of Deer creek in 1797. This afterwards became known as tlie Gabriel Alkire farm. They emigrated here from Kentucky, but are believed to have come originally from Virginia. To the southeast a short distance from where they built their cabin was an Indian camping ground and also a' burial ground. James Hewey was married, but William remained single and lived with his brother. They erected a cabin, made some improvements and here they remained until their deaths. Nothing further is known of them. David Martin built liis cabin on the same farm, a little northwest of the Heweys. He also came from Kentucky. Nothing further is known of either of these families of pioneers. No children were left to preserve their name or fame.

The next to venture into the wilds of the present Pleasant township was William Alkire. He had emigrated to America with his brothers, Monus, Michael and John, from Scotland before the outbreak of the American war for independence, and all four of the brothers served in that struggle on the side of freedom. They later all moved to Maryland, but finally Michael and William removed to Kentucky, one of the others to Tennessee and the fourth remained in Maryland. William Alkire, son of the previously mentioned William, came with three of his sons to the Northwest territory in the fall of 1799 and purchased fourteen hundred acres of the Baylor survey, No. 4(14. on Deer creek, in what is now Pleasant township, Madison county. The sons erected a cabin and began clearing the land that fall, while the father returned to Kentucky and in the spring of 1800 brought the remainder of the family to their new home. Mr. Alkire was the father of fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters', all of whom grew to maturity. The sons were Robert, Isaac, Abraham, Jacob, Monus, William. Joseph and John. Of the daughters, three married and moved to the West, one died, and Margaret and Lydia married and settled here. Mr. Alkire died in 1825.

Peter Long, of German descent, who settled in the northeast part of the township soon after 1800, was one of the earliest settlers of the township. Two of his sons. Jacob and John, never married and spent their days on the old home farm. One daughter married John Oglesbee and lived on a portion of the place. William Woods, a native of Maryland, born near Washington, D. C.. married Elizabeth Dickinson and soon afterward removed to Greenbrier county, Virginia; thence, about 1801. he came to Ohio and settled on Duff's fork in this township, and there resided until quite aged, when he removed to the home of his son, William D., who then owned a mill east of Mt. Sterling, and resided with him until his death. When he came to this county he purchased six hundred acres of land on Duff's fork, and during the War of 1812 the army opened a military road through his farm, known as the "Langham trace," over which the soldiers passed to join General Harrison's army in the Northwest. Mr. Wood was the father of the following children ; William D., Anna, Jonathan, Phebe, Rhoda, John and Mary.

John It. Robinson, a native of South Carolina, settled on land in the southeastern part of the township about 1800. and became quite an extensive farmer and stock raiser. He was a prominent and reliable citizen, and served the township for several years as a justice of the peace. He was the father of seven or eight children.

John J. Smith married Rachel Alkire and, with his father-in-law, came to Ohio about 1S05-0, settling in Pleasant township. Smith was a native of Kentucky. Mr. Alkire. his father-in-law, settled on the east bank of Deer creek, just in the edge of Pickaway county, and a few years afterwards, probably about 1810-12, built a grist-mill on the west bank of Deer creek in this township, just opposite his tract of land. This mill was built of logs, with ''raccoon buhrs," and was run by water power, with a bolting attachment that was operated by hand. This mill was operated by him for several years, when it came into the ownership of his son-in-law. Later Mr. Alkire moved to Sangamon county, Illinois. Mr. Smith rebuilt the grist-mill and attached a saw-mill; finally, he sold it to

Otho Williams and William Leach, who were succeeded by William D. Wood, and he by Elijah Atkins. This was one of the first, if not the first, gfist-mill erected in the township.

Forgus Graham, a native of Virginia, married Elizabeth Trimble and emigrated to Kentucky ; thence, in 1806, moved to Pickaway county, Ohio, and in February, 1807, came to Madison county and settled. Here he lived betw'een fifty and sixty years ahd then removed to Indiana, wherd he died at an advanced age. His wife died while living in Madison county. They had twelve children, one dying in infancy : James, Washington,

Joseph, Walker, Jane, Margaret, Malinda and Eliza, all of whom married and moved to the West ; the others, John, Polly and Robert, married and remained in this county. Mr. Graham was an earnest worker in the Christian church and a minister in that church for a number of years. He and George Alkire organised a Christian church in Pleasant township that was known as the Antioch church. Mr. Graham's house was a preaching place for several years prior to the building of the church edifice, and his "latch-string" was ever out for the admission of the ministers, brethren and friends of the Christian work. He began life poor, gave largely and liberally, and labored earnestly all his life for the Christian cause. He owned about five hundred acres of land.

William Creath, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Kentucky ; thence about 180S, to Ohio and settled in this township, one mile north of Mt. Sterling, where he and his wife. Margaret, ilved and died. They were the parents of seven children: James, John,

George, William, Samuel. Margaret and Jane M. Jamds, the eldest, served in the War of 1812, while William, Margaret and James married and settled in this township. Thomas Anderson, also a native of Virginia, emigrated to Kentucky in an early day, thence, about 1805-6, removed to Ohio and settled on Oppossum run, in Franklin county, and, about 1811, removed to Pleasant township and settled near Mt. Sterling, on the Loveberry farm, where he devoted his attention to farming for the remainder of his life. He served as a lieutenant during the War of 1812. He married Rebecca Cochran, of Virginia, by whom he had eight children.

John Riddle, a native of Pennsylvania, born near Mifflintown, emigrated to Ohio and settled at Staunton, near Troy, Miami county. He was one of the pioneers of that county, and served during the War of 1812 as a teamster, being surrendered to the British by General Hull at Detroit ; but he was afterward recaptured and his team returned to him. About 1815, he removed to Madison county and settled in Pleasant township, on land afterwards known as the Puckett farm, and a few years after moved to what is now the north part of Mt. Sterling, on the London road. He remained a resident of this township the remainder of his life, and died at Mt. Sterling, on January 9, 1858. He was twice married; by his first wife he had seven children, and by his second wife, three.

Others that should be mentioned as early settlers and residents of this township are William Ware, E. Fitzgerald, George Kious, David Heath, John Puckett, Robert Abernathy and Isaac Moore, the Davidson family, Elijah Bragg, G. W. Ingrim, the Timmons family, Drs. Samuel and William McClintock, Dr. D. E. McMillin. These were hardly pioneers of the township, but were among its most prominent early residents and were founders and promoters of the progress and prosperity of the township.

rieasant township was one of the original and first erected townships of the county. The boundaries of the township at that time were very much different than at present, as part of the territory which was at first embraced in this has been taken off to' help form Fairfield and Range townships. The original boundaries are given in the following transcript from the commissioners' records under date of April 30, 1810 :

"Ordered, that all that tract of country comprehended in the following boundaries compose a township to be known and designated by the name of Pleasant, and is bounded as follows:

"Beginning at the southeast corner of Union township, on the Franklin county line; thence to the corner of Pickaway county line: thence with the Pickaway county line to the corner of Fayette county ; thence with the Fayette county line to the corner of Stokes township ; thence with Stokes township line to the place of beginning." The erection of the townships of Union, Jefferson, Deer Creek, Stokes, Darby and Pleasant, although occurring on April 30, 1810, were not recorded for nearly five months, the day being September 4.

The first change in the township boundaries was made on June 1, ISIS, when it was "Ordered, that hereafter the boundaries between Range and Pleasant townships be as follow, viz :

"Beginning on the North fork of Paint creek, at the Fayette county line, thence eastward along the said line to Duff's fork : thence up said fork to the crossing of the Federal road ; thence northward to the line between Union and Pleasant townships, so as to make'the upper line of Range township one mile and one-half, extending along Pleasant township."

On March 2, 1S24, a change was made in Pleasant and Range townships when it was "ordered by the commissioners of Madison county now in session, on petition being presented, that part of Range township be. and is hereby, attached to Pleasant township: Beginning at the county line between Fayette and Madison counties, where the same crosses Duff's fork, running west one mile with said line; thence in a north direction to where the Federal road crosses Duff's fork in the line of Pleasant township, all that part hereby stricken off of Range to be attached to Pleasant township. Again, on December 1, 1851, the line between Fairfield and Pleasant townships was, on petition, changed as follows: Commencing at that point in the county line near James Adams; thence south with the county line to the lower corner of R. Means' survey. No. 5,766 ; thence west with said survey line and the line of Edward Fitzgerald's land to the northwest corner of Henry Fleshour's survey, No. 5,190 ; thence to the northeast corner of the Hardin & Grady's survey, No. 5,799. and with the north line of said survey. No. 5.799. to the county road near Levin Jones' house ; thence with said road to Deer creek ; thence up the creek to the present corner of Fairfield township."

The first mill in the township was undoubtedly that of John Alkire, which we have described above. Farther up Deer creek, just above where the cemetery is now located, at a later period William D. Wood erected a grist-, saw- and carding-mill. At just what date this was built is not known, nor just how long it was run. But it has long since passed out of existence and out of the memories of all but the very oldest residents of the county.

William Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania, located in about 1820 in the northern part of the township and erected a grist- and saw-mill where the Wood mill stood. Wilson ran the mill for several years, when he sold out to John Kious. After running the mill several years, he tore it down and rebuilt and improved it with a much larger capacity. He was succeeded by Michael Sullivan, who was afterward succeeded by William Wood, and he by his son. Courtney Wood.

A tannery was built in or near Mt. Sterling in about 1830 by George Puckett and carried on quite an extensive business for nearly twenty years. At that time leather tanning was an important and reasonably profitable business. There were then no railroads or other shipping facilities by which they could get either leather or shoes from tlie East, or, if they could get them by the slow process of being hauled through by wagon, it made their cost prohibitive to the pioneers. In those days, the quick process of tanning leather by chemical means was unknown and the operation required weeks and months. Neither had they machinery for making shoes, by which men could make several pairs a day, but everything must be done by slow hand processes. Therefore, a tannery in this country at that time was a great convenience to the people of the community and a source of great profit to its owner.

As this township was among the first to be settled, it is not surprising to also find that one of the earliest school buildings in the county was erected within its limits. As the first settlements were made on Deer creek, in the eastern part of the township, so here we find, in the Alkire neighborhood, a primitive log school house erected in about 1812. These early log school houses have been described elsewhere and this one was no exception to the rule. The first teacher in this building was Adam Alkire. The building has long since disappeared.

Source changes here: from History of Madison County Ohio, by Chester E. Bryan, published 1915; 2,822 words in this source stream.

Pleasant Township

Pleasant township fills the southeast corner of Madison county, being bounded on the north by Oak. Run and Fairfield townships; on the east by Pickaway county; on the south by Fayette county, and on the west by Range and Oak Run townships. It was organized in 1810, and was put into running order by an election held by order of the commissioners of the county at the home of Forgus Graham; but who the officers elected were is not known as all the records of the township prior to 1869, have been lost or destroyed by fire.

Surface, Soil And. Streams

In its natural features, Pleasant township is much like the remainder of the county, since the general surface of the entire county is level. Nearly all the surface of Pleasant township, except along the creeks and othet small streams, is one extended plain, and were the forests stripped from the face of the country, there would be great resemblance to the rolling prairies of the West. South and southeast marks the general course of all the streams and creeks of.the township. Deer creek is the principal stream of the township and enters the northwestern portion, courses south and southeast: until it reaches the boundary line between this township and Pickaway county; thence it flows nearly south on the line for nearly a mile, when it re-enters Pleasant township, flows south and enters Fayette county, near the southeast corner of the township. Sugar run is its main tributary. It empties into Deer creek near the center of. the township.- Sugar creek finds its source near the western line of the township, by the junction of Mud run and Bradford's creek. These, with Duff's fork, in the south part of the township, are the principal streams. The soil is a rich loam and clay, very strong and productive. equally good for grass:or grain. During the last few decades the land has been extensively ditched, tiled and drain. Large portions of the township were originally oak dpenings and prairies, of which the soil was remarkably deep and rich,.consisting chiefly of a black loam, with clay and disintegrated limestone subsoil. The timber upon these portions was principally bur oak, hickory, elm, black and red oak. Along the creeks and the northern and eastern portions of the township were heavy forests, consisting of the various species of oaks, hickory, elm and, on the creeks, considerable walnut; on the - rolling lands, white oak predominated.

The Pioneers

Pleasant township was one of the earliest settled mortions of Madison eonnty. This. was undoubtedly due to its position geographically and its close proximity to the older counties, especially Ross county. Chillicothe, in Ross county, early became a sort of asylum and trading center for the pioneers and settlers in all the counties around. From the Ohio river up the valley of the Scioto, early settlements were made, and Chillicothe early became the principal trading point of the frontier. From this base of supplies, the pioneer and huntsman pushed up the Scioto and its numerous tributaries - Paint, Deer, and the Darby creeks - and it seems that the two last-mentioned streams were early visited by those in quest of game and a location, as it soon became known that along these streams were found, in plenty, herds of deer and immense flock of wild turkeys, and, what was more important than all, as good a ee of land as the sun ever shone on.