Pleasant Township (part 9 of 18)

ELI G. WARNER, farmer, P. O. London, was born in London September 29,1810. He is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Atkinson) Warner, of English descent, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio. Our subject worked at the carpenter's trade, with his father, who was a carpenter, until he was twenty-one years of age, when he took up the occupation of farming, which he has since followed. He owns a farm in this county which he is cultivating in the most approved style, in addition to L60 acres in Kansas. He was married in 1852 to Elizabeth Ann Maria Zartman, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Zartman, of German descent. By this union three children were born - Mattie C, Edwin Z. and Clara S. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been class leader and steward. He has long been an advocate of total abstinence, and Btrongly indorses rigid prohibition.

STEPHEN WATSON, President of the Madison National Bank, and Acting President of the London Exchange Bank, was born in Union (now Paint) Township, Madison County, June I, 1827. His father, David Watson, was born in Maryland October 17. 1783. He was a son of Walter Watson, also a native of Eastern .Maryland, who was one of six brothers - said to be the smallest, and his average weight was 235 pounds. After David's birth, he moved to Virginia, and' came to Ohio in 1806. He located in Ross County, near Chillicothe, and one year later moved to this county. David came to Madison County in 1805, to help his father-in-law, Peter P. Helpinstine, in surveying. Mr. Helphinstine's father was a Major in the Revolutionary war, and had a land grant calling for 5,011 acres. His son, our subject's father, came along to survey it. They laid it out in three places on Oak Run, Walnut Run, and Deer Creek. After the land was divided there were 100 acres overplus, which Mr. Watson purchased at $2 per acre, giving in exchange a horse valued at $100, and a watch valued at $20, and owing the balance. In 1807, he settled on the land in Madison County, boarding with Jonathan and Eleanor Minshall, his brother-in-law and sister, until a cabin was built on his land by friendly neighbors. His wife was Mary Helphinstine, a native of Frederick County, Va. . who died in 1852. Mr. Watson was a farmer and stock-raiser through life, and died in April, 1870. They had twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, of whom only four, two daughters and two sons, are living, viz.: Susannah, wife of Wesley Yocums, of Champaign County, Ohio; Isabella, wife of A. H. Nixon, a wholesale tobacco dealer of Dayton, Ohio. Our subject, the eighth child and fourth son; and David, one of the County Commissioners, residing on the old homestead, in Paint Township. Our subject was reared on the home farm, and received his early education, which was limited, in a log schoolhouse on his father's farm. When twenty-two years of age, he purchased, with his brother Samuel, 258 acres of land, which they kept three years and then sold it at an advance of $3,000. With the proceeds, he purchased 145 acres, to which he has since added until he now owns about 600 acres. He was engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1871. In 1868, he came to London, and purchased his present residence. He and Mr. Charles R. C«iver engaged in the business of brokers on November 9, i860, and have been engaged in it since. On July 1, 1870, a stock company was formed and bought the Madison County Bank of Addison Shanklin and Robert Boyd Mr. Watson was appointed Vice President, and the name of the bank changed to the Exchange Bank He has since been Acting President. In June, 1880, he was elected President of the Madison National Bank. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a trustee and treasurer of the church at London. On December 23, 1852, he was married to Elmira, daughter of John Dungan.

E. R. WATTS, of McKinnon & Watts, saddlers and harness makers, London, was born at Xenia. Greene Co., Ohio, March 4, 1828. His father Edward Watts, was a native of Virginia, and a farmer by occupation. He came to Ohio about 1816 or 1818. He tirst located at Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio, where he taught school. He subsequently located in Greene County, and there married Margaret Snively. a native of Maryland. He died in Greene County, Ohio, in 1856. Mrs. Watts died in August, 1881. They were the parents of one daughter and live sons, four living. Our subject is the only one of the family residing in this county, and was reared and educated in his native county. He learned the saddler's trade at Xenia, and subsequently traveled for a time in Central and Western Ohio. He then returned to Xenia and there remained twelve years. On January 1, 186)6, he came to London, and the same year entered into a - partnership with W. H. McKinnon, in his present business. This is one of the oldest business firms in the city, and their trade is excellent Mr. Watts is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 70 (Odd Fellows), the American Le- gion of Honor, and a firm Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Steward in that body. He has been a member of the London School Board eleven years, and its able and efficient Secretary the greater portion of that time. Mr Watts was married September 12, 1851, to Mary J. McKinnon. Of their four children, one is living - Reed in attendance at the public schools. Mrs. Watts is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

PETER WEBER, proprietor Weber House, London, also the restaurant and bakery connected therewith, was born in Rhine Bavaria, Germany, December 29, 182d. He is a son of Jacob Weber, who lived and died in Germany. He married Barbara Riddlesburger. They were the parents of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, only two of whom are in America. Our subject was reared in Germany, and there learned the baker's trade. He was a member of the Sixth Regiment of Infantry, and served five years. He then came to America, locating at Columbus, Ohio, and worked there one and a half years. He then came to London and established himself in the bakery and grocery business. His trade increased steadily, and he soon opened a restaurant. He also established a brewery, which he has lately abandoned. In 1880, he started a brick yard, and the same year erected his present building. Mr. Weber is a pioneer business man of London, and has been quite successful in his mercantile operations. He is Democratic in politics, and has been a member of the Village Council. He was united in marriage, in 1852, to Mary Hah en, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. They are the parents of six children. Mrs. Weber is a member of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

ALMIRA WILLIAMS, nee Rouse, P. O. London, is a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Piatt) Rouse, the former a native of Vermont, of English descent, and the latter a native of Connecticut, of Scotch descent. Her father was a carpenter by trade, and emigrated from the East in 1839, settling in Union Township, where Almira was raised and where they spent their lives. Our subject was born in 1826, and when eighteen years of age married Harvey Fellows, who was born in New Hampshire August 25, 1804. He was a son of Ebenezer and Deborah (Ross) Fellows. They had two children - Sarah A., wife of Col. Ross, of London; and Harvey, who died in 1881, leaving two children. Mr. Fellows w?.s a War Democrat. He was County Commissioner two terms, and Township Trustee three terms. He died in 1865, and in 1876 his widow married Vincent Williams, who died in 1881, aged sixty-five years. Mrs. Williams owns a fine farm adjoining London.

DAVID M. WILLOUGHBY, Marshal of London, was born in Paint Township, this county, June 17. 1.852. His father, A. J. Willoughby, was a native of Range Township, and a son of Laban Willoughby, who came to Ohio about 1807 or L808. A. -I. Willoughby was a farmer until about the time of the war, when a fever sore caused him the loss of one of his legs. He subsequently resided with his sons until the date of his death, January 22, 1870, in his liftv fourth year. Ee married Catherine Coberly, a native of Faint Township Of their seven children, five are living. Mrs. Willoughby is still living, n i >« 1 resides with our subject, in her fifty-sixth year. David M. grew to manhood in his native township, and in early life resided in Indiana one year. He learned the painter's trade, and for three years was employed in the Champion .Machine shoos. Springfield, Ohio. He was. a locomotive fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad, in Michigan, for a short time, and was appointed Night Police of London, in April, 1880. He was elected to his present position in April, 1882, on the Republican ticket. Mr. Willoughby was married, March 17, 1879, to Ellen Harrahan, a native of Paint Township. They have two children - Rosser and Mabel. Mr. Willoughby has made an efficient Marshal, and enjoys the esteem of all his acquaintances.

Gr. H. WILSON, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Madison County, June 6, 1852. He is a son of Eli and Atha (Prugh) Wilson, who were of English descent, and among the early settlers of this county. His father was one of the leading farmers of the county, and at the time of his death, in 1880, owned 900 acres of land, which he had made by his own industry. Our subject was educated in Oak Run Township, and adopted the occupation of farming, which he has since followed. He is the owner of 119 acres of good land, on which he resides. He was married in 1875, to Delia Wilson, a daughter of Jacob Wilson, and a native of Ohio, of English de scent. They have two children, Norman and Pearl. Mr. Wilson is a Republican in politics.

J. M. WINCHESTER, London, the oldest clothing merchant and a life resident of London, was born in the village November 9, 1828. His father, Alvah Winchester, was a native of New York, jand in early life accompanied his parents to Ohio. They came down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Penn. , on a raft, and located on the Colerain road, near Cincinnati, and soon after entered a piece of land in Clark County, Ohio, where his father, Lyman Winchester, died. Alvah Winchester came to this county a short time afterward, and was one of the first tailors to locate and do business in the then small village of London. His trade increased, and he finally opened a clothing house, and enjoyed a good trade until his death, January 8, 1803, aged sixty-five years. His wife was Matilda Barnett, a native of Tennessee, who bore him ten children, four living, and three still residents of London. Mrs. Winchester departed this life July 26, 1865, at about the same age as her husband. Our subject was the sixth child of this large family, and in early life assisted his father. He also learned the tailor's trade, and worked at it until 1853, when he became associated in business with his father, under the firm name of A. Winchester & Son. The firm did business under this name until the death of the senior partner, when his son purchased the stock and trade, and has since carried on the business. Mr. Winchester has met with very fair success in business. and is well esteemed by his numerous friends throughout Madison County. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Lodge, Chapter and Council of London, and Republican in political matters. He was united in the holy bonds of wedlock, December 31, 1857, to Margaret Southern, a native of Maryland, who accompanied her parents to Ohio when quite young. Four children have been born to this union, three living - John and Dennis \V.. with their father in the store, and Nettie. Stephen is deceased, Mrs. Winchester is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM WINGATE, farmer, I'. O. London, was born in Union Township July L6, L81 I, and is a son of William and Margaret (Warner) Wingate, natives of Virginia, of English and Irish descent. They were among the early settlers of this county. Our subject was educated in the early subscription schools of this county. He was reared on a farm and has made farming the occupation of his life, now owning 145 acres of land. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a class leader twenty years, and Trustee four years. He was the youngest child of a family of five children. He has lived in the house where he now resides since 1815. He has lived a life of retirement, never having married, and since 1870, has been suffering with impaired health. He is a lover of good literature, a practical farmer and an enthusiastic stock-dealer.

WILLIAM ALLEN, merchant, Plain City, was born in Vermont, April 15, 1811. He is a son of Calvin- and Eunice (Delano) Allen, natives of Vermont, the former of Irish and the latter of French descent, who emigrated to this county in 1818. His father was a brick-mason. Our subject was reared on the farm and worked with his father until twenty years of age. He served a two-years' apprenticeship to the brick-mason's trade, and followed his trade for nearly a quarter of a century. In 1863, he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Plain City, where he still continues. He was married, in 1839, to Harriet N. Ewing, a daughter of Joshua Ewing, who settled here in 1822. By this union eight children were born, live surviving, viz., A. W., Caroline, Lyman, Mary and Wilbur G. A. W. Allen is the junior member of the firm of Hager & Allen, dealers in groceries, boots, shoes and produce, and extensive shippers of eggs. This firm shipped in 1881, 1,200 barrels of eggs, with seventy-five dozen eggs in each barrel, making 1.080,000 eggs. A. W. Allen enlisted in 1861 in Company G, Seventeenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months, and, at the expiration of his term, re-enlisted in Company I, Forty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Col. James A. Garfield, and was honorably discharged at the end of his term of service. He was wounded at the battle of Port Gibson, and did not rejoin his regiment until they were at the siege of Vicksburg, in which they participated. Caroline is the wife of Rev. C. S. Irwin. Lyman B. is a train dispatcher and telegraph operator in California. Mary is the wife of R. C. Hager, of Hager & Allen. Wilbur G. is in the store with his father. Mrs. Allen died in J 868. She and her husband were members of the Presbyterian Church, and he has been an Elder and Deacon in the church at Plain City. He is a Republican in'politics, and has been Township Trustee and Justice of the Peace. He is a man of reliable business principles and strict morality.

CHARLES AMANN, Cashier of the Exchange Bank, Plain City, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 0. L8 12. His parents were Xavier and Bridget (Duplar) Amann, the former a native of France and the latter of Switzerland. His father emigrated to America when a young man, and, after stopping a short time in New York, located at Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade - tailoring. He was twice married, Charles being the only child by his first wife. Our subject enjoyed the advantages afforded by the graded schools of Cincinnati until eight years of age, when he went to Sidney with his father, who engaged in the merchant tailoring business there, and Charles attended the Sidney Public Schools. He then learned the molder's trade, which he followed until 1862, when he enlisted from Adams Township. Champaign County, in Compacy H, Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Rhodes. On the 20th of October, 1863, he was captured, at Philadelphia, Term., together with a large number of others, and taken to the rebel prison at Belle Isle, afterward being removed to Dan- ville, Salisbury and Florence. From the last-named place he was taken to Charleston, S. C, in 1864, and placed, with 600 Union officers and 600 Union men, in a building, under the tire of the Federal guns then shelling the city. On the near approach of Gen. Sherman, Mr. Annum was removed to the prison at Goldsboro, from whence the records show he was paroled February 24, 1865. He well remembers seeing emaciated and fever-stricken prisoners, in great numbers, left by the rebels to die. He was fever-strick en at Goldsboro, and, while unconscious, was thrown into the "dead-wagon" and hauled off for burial, the records of Wilmington, where the Goldsboro dead were buried, showing that " Charles Amann, of Company H, Fortyfifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, died March 26, 1865," and was buried in the National Cemetery. He has no recollection of his release, and does not know how he regained his release. It is said that, according to the prison records, he was a prisoner longer than any Ohio soldier, with but one exception, during the war. After the war, he engaged in business at Plain City, with marked success, for twelvo years, in the drug business, with Isaac Leonard, and in L881 he took his present position. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, and of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a Republican in politics. He has been Township Clerk and Trustee, and Mayor and Councilman of Plain City.

* WILLIAM I. BALLINGER, M. D., Plain City, is the oldest son of Joshua and Delilah (Inskeep) Ballinger, of Logan County, Ohio, where he was born October 18, 1828. The former, who was born in New Jersey, came to Ohio with his parents in 1810, and settled on the head-waters of Big Darby Creek, where he died. The latter was a native of Ohio, and still lives. The subject of this sketch spent his youth and boyhood with his parents, brothers and sisters, on a farm, until the spring of 1848. Then, having no special appetite for the gymnastics and manual duties of farm life, he was sent to the " Old Academy," in Marysville, Ohio, at that time under the auspices of the Rev. James D. Smith, who was assisted by the Rev. James A. Sterrett, as Principal. He spent three summers in this institution, the last two of which were under the tutelage of the now Hon. James W. Robinson, of Marysville, Ohio, who took charge of the academy as Principal in 1849. Here he acquired the rudiments of algebra, Latin, and of such branches as are usually taught in the high school departments in the graded system of the present day. The winters were passed in teaching district schools, and our subject remembers, with much regret, the mistakes of those whose duty it was to employ teachers, and to look after the moral and mental welfare of the youth, in employing young men and young women to perform these sacred duties, whose only qualifications were a " cer tificate to teach," and a sufficiency of muscular development to assert their authority in the schoolroom by the help of the rod. In September, 1850, he was sent to the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and en tered the Senior Preparatory Class, and remained in the university for three years, pursuing the classical course of study. In the fall of L853, be commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. D. W. Henderson, of Marysville, Ohio; taught a district school at Amity, in this county, during the following winter months; resumed his studies in the office in March, 1854. and, in October of the same year, entered Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, for his first course of lectures. In March of 1855, he returned to Dr. Henderson's office, and there remained till the October following, when he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the Cleveland Medical College, where he was graduated a Doctor of Medicine early in March, 1856.

Through the kind offices of his much -esteemed preceptor and friend, Dr. Henderson, he was introduced to Hon. Dr. John N. Beach, then in Pleasant Valley, now Plain City, this county, a partnership for business purposes agreed upon, and, on the 9th of April. 1850, the subject of our sketch became the object of curious eyes among the inhabitants of Pleasant Valley and vicinity, trying to weigh the acumen and mental force of the " new doctor. " First impressions of Pleasant Valley were not favorable. It was at a time of the year when mud reigned supreme over foot-paths and highways. Teams were bemired in the main streets, and had to be pried out with poles. Sidewalks were few and far between. The town had a railroad and depot, but to reach the same you had to travel - man, woman, child, horse, hog and cow - from McCloud's corner over the entire length of Railroad street, through a sea of mud and water, the exact depth of which no man, perhaps, ever exactly fathomed. The late sleeper was aroused from his dreams, of mornings, by the sonorous notes of " P-o-o-i-g, p-o-o-i-g, piggy, piggy!" coupled with the pleasing strain, "S-o-o-k, boss! s-o-o-k, boss! " and, upon gaining the front door, the foot-paths and streets were found to be the common feeding-yards; and for the balance of the day Mr. Porker plied his snout diligently to plowing the streets and grass plats. The moral and social status was not wholly out of keeping with the physical comforts and conveniences of the place. Although there were a number of intelligent, generous-hearted and Christian people there, yet there were a great many who had their " peculiar views" and their peculiar ways. Bad whisky then, as now, was not unknown; and for many, Saturday was the day of days for settling old scores. This element mostly came from the country. They would commence coming in about 9 or 10 o'clock A. M. , and by 2 o'clock P. M. their ranks would be full, and the early comers well fired up. Accounts were called, and the swearing would begin. After exchanging a great many oaths and vulgar epithets, and passing the bottle around several times, the preliminaries of battle would be arranged; but not many hard battles were ever fought. Pleasant Valley at the time was a dead town so far as business and building enterprises were concerned. From 1850 to 1806, one had to count in all the barns built to make an average of one building per year; and the business of the place was limited to three small dry goods stores, one grocery, one drug store and one restaurant. To return to our subject. The " new doctor " was kindly received by his new acquaintances, and, in course of time, was intrusted with a fair share of the afflicted portion of humanity to care for. He found many warm hearts, and true and genial friends. On the 18th of February, 1857, he was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Taylor, the oldest daughter of John and Eliza Mark Taylor, who were both born and raised in Madison County, and still reside two miles south of Plain City. They have had five children, viz. : Charles, who died in infancy; John T. ; Oliver, who died aged fourteen months; James Llew and Eve. Mr. Ballinger is a member of the Methodist Church and of the Masonic Order, and in politics is a Republican. The Doctor pursued his professional <luii<-> assiduously until the spring of L873, when he, in company with Mr. Richard Woodruff, a merchant of Plain City, conceived the project of building a llouring-mill in Plain City. Neither party knew anything about mills or milling, but the scheme was put into execution, and the mill, a substantial brick structure, with two run of buhrs for wheat, and one for corn, was put in operation about Christmas of the same year, costing about $13,000. Mr. Woodruff dying in 1875 left the entire care of the mill in the Doctor's hands. This so interfered with his profes- sional duties that be has given but little attention to them since. The Plain City Mills have had a tine reputation for the quality of their flour for several years, and any one visiting the Doctor's sanctum will tind his table covered with both medical and milling literature, and will tind him as ready to discuss the best methods of milling as he is to discuss the best methods of preventing and treating diseases. He is now decidedly in favor of bread pills.

E. W. BARLOW, undertaker, furniture- dealer and manufacturer, Plain City, was born in Darby Township March 6, 1835. He is a son of E. W. and Polly C. (Lawrence) Barlow, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of New York, and both of English descent. They emigrated to Clark County. Ohio, and in 1820 moved to Madison County, coming to Plain City in 1852. His father was a carpenter until he came to Ohio, when he followed farming until his death, in 1865. Our subject has worked in the shop where he is now employed since he was seventeen years of ago. He was married, November 4. 1857, to Electa I. Bigelow, a daughter of Dr. D. K. Bigelow, and by her has one child, Cora L, the wife of John R. Hill. Mrs. Barlow died March 9, 1858, and in 1859 he married Lucinda A. Kent, by whom lie has four children - Linden C, Elva R., Earl W. and Eddie B. The parents are members of the Methodist. Episcopal Church, in which the father has been a Class-Leader fifteen years. He was a Reptibiican, but is now a Prohibitionist. His father was a Major in the war of 1812.

I. W. BEACH, undertaker, and manufacturer and dealer in furniture. Plain City, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, July 21, 1850. He is a son of Uri and Elenore (Downing) Beach, the former a native of this county and the latter of Pennsylvania, and both of English descent. Our subject received his education in the common schools, at Ohio YYesleyan University at Delaware, and at a commercial college in Pittsburgh, Penn. He worked at farming until thirty-one years of age when he came to Plain City and embarked in his present enterprise, with Mr. Barlow, under the firm name of Barlow & Beach. He was married, in 1874, to Ruth Alma Slyh, a daughter of Matthias Slyh. They have one child, Lulu Ann, born January 6, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Beach are Baptists, and he is a Republican. He served one term as Township Assessor.

EPHRAIM W. BIDWELL, deceased, was born October 28, 1817, and was the fourth son of Elisha Bidwell, one of the earliest settlers of Madison County, having settled here as early as 1814. His mother's maiden name was Dorothy Willy, and they came to Ohio from the State of Vermont, and were Yankees, or New Englanders. Ephraim was one of seventeen children - fifteen sons and two daughters - fifteen of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. His parents passed through many hardships and privations, known only to the early settlers of Madison County. Ephraim was a farmer, as also were his father and most of his brothers. He received only the limited education to be obtained in the district schools of those days, and was a self-made man, being well informed on all subjects, both political and religious. He held many offices of trust, both township and county offices, and was a member of the State Legislature during the years of 1864 and L865, and was also a teacher in the district schools both before and after bis marriage. He was united in marriage to Miss Laura Lombard, November 4, 1841. Ephraim and wife were the parents of six children - three daughters and three sons - all of whom are living. The eldest daughter, Olive, is now the wife of David D. Brooks, and resides in Nuckolls County, Neb. The second daughter, Dorotha Ellen, is now the wife of J. H. McKinnon, and resides in Cass County, Neb. The third daughter, Virginia Ann, now the wife of John D. Crego, resides near Sedalia, Mo. Their husbands are all farmers. The eldest son, Monroe Bidwell, married Miss Martha C. Kreamer and resides on the old home farm, in the family homestead, where he was born and raised, and where his parents lived for thirty-three years. Monroe is a farmer and stock - raiser. The second son, Webster Bidwell, who married Miss Sarah Bur well, also resides on a part of the home farm, and is a farmer. The third and youngest son Hamilton Bidwell, married Miss Nettie Spink, of Woobter, Ohio, and now resides in Lincoln, Neb. He is by profession a lawyer. Ephraim Bidwell and wife commenced life without means, but, by their united industry and economy, they, succeeded in securing an ample fortune, consisting of a tine farm of 500 acres, situated between the Big and Little Darby. Ephraim also owned a fine town property and residence near Plain City, where he resided at the time of his death, and where his widow now resides. He and wife were firm believers in universal salvation, and members of the Universalist Church. He was very public-spirited, and well-in formed on all political and religious topics of his day, and ever ready to uphold the right and denounce the wrong. In politics, he was an ardent worker and a thorough Republican. He died July 10, 1881, in the sixty - fourth year of his age, and lies in the family burial-grounds at Foster Chapel, Madison County, Ohio. We will now give a short genealogy of Jesse Lombard and wife, parents of Laura E., wife of Ephraim Bidwell: Jesse was one of the earliest settlers of Madison County, having come here in an early day, from the State of Vermont, and settled on what is known as the Darby Plains, where his children still reside. He was a New Englander. His wife, Olive Carlton, was of German parentage, her mother being a German. Jesse and wife were the parents of six children - three sons and three daughters - five of wbom are living. Jesse was a farmer, a firm believer in universal salvation, and a Whig politically. He died in 1874, in the eighty-second year of his age. His wife, Olive, died in 1858, in the sixty-fifth year of her age.

ISRAEL ELIPHAZ BIGELOW, retired, Plain City, was born at Adamsburg, Westmoreland Co., Penu. , June 7, 1825. He was a son of Dr. Daniel K. and Lydia (Custer) Bigelow, the former a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., and the latter of Fayette County, Penn They were mar ried in Fayette County, and, coming West in 1831, settled on a farm adjoining Plain City, where both died - he November 10, 1850, and she November 14, 1854. Their family consisted of six boys and five girls, of whom four boys and two girls are living. The father was one of five sons of Dr. Is rael Bigelow, who came to Ohio in 1828. These sons were all physicians, and all, with one exception, life practitioners. The town of Plain City was for a time called Bigelow Town, in honor of the senior Dr. Bigelow. The subject of this sketch was the second of his parents' children. He came West with his parents, and remained at home until twenU two veins of age, when ho engaged in fanning on land adjoining Plain City. He had pre viouslv read medicine with a view of adopting the profession, but for reasons satisfactory to himself, decided net to continue Ids studies in that direction. On June 27. L8 17. he married Betsey M. Smith, who was born in Vermont October 31, L828, ami was a daughter of Capt. E. C. and Irona (Doty) Smith, natives of Vermont. The father was Captain of a company of militia, and for a short time served in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mis.

Bigelow have had seven children, viz.: Lydia Irena, born July 31, 1848, and died at the age of twenty-two years; Clarence E. , a grocer of Plain City, born November 20. 1851, and, on March 19, 1871, married Mary, daughter of Luther Lane, who died November 26, 1874, and on December 22, 1877, he married Catharine J., daughter of Charles and Mary Ann (Board) Shipman; an infant son died aged four months; Eliphaz McClellan, born April 10. 1862, and married Elizabeth, daughter of William and Jane (Phillips) Manning; Daniel Crocker, a farmer, at home, born September 1, 1804; Emmett Custer, born March 19, 1807, and now engaged in a jewelry store in Plain City; and Charles Smith, who died March 13, 1870, aged one year. Mr. Bigelow followed farming for ten years after marriage. In 1857, he was appointed Postmaster at Plain City, and to this occupation added merchandising. After six years' service, he resigned the office of Postmaster, and became engaged in the warehouse at Plain City, and as agent of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, in which he continued two years and four months, when he again entered the ranks as a merchant, and so continued until 1879. when he retired from active business life. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity of the Royal Arch degree, and of the Universalist Church. In politics, he is a Democrat. He recently visited the Bigelow family in the East, and paid his respects to 100 living descendants of two of his father's brothers, Drs. Lebbeus L. and Eliphaz Bigelow. He also visited over forty descendants of his Grandfather Custer, who was a full cousin to Gen. George Washington. A gold-headed cane and a gold watch, originally owned by his great-great-grandfather, Isaac Bigelow, have been handed down from generation to generation through the name of Isaac, and are now in possession of the ex-Mayor of Newark. Ohio, who represents the fifth generation, and at his death they pass to the next oldest Isaac then living. The subject of this sketch has tilled most of the minor offices of the township, including Justice of the Peace from 1870 to 1873. He was also elected Mayor of Plain City at the same time, and served one year, but then resigned the office. He was re-elected in 1881, and served one year more. He was appointed and commissioned Seventieth Census Enumerator of the Fifth Ohio District, and discharged the duties of his office to the entire satisfaction of his superiors. Mr. Bigelow has two grandchildren, viz., Bertha J., born June 30, 1879; and Charles Eber. born March 30, 1882, children of his eldest son.

FILMORE C. BIGELOW, P O. Danville, 111., born Jan. 23, 1848, at Plain City, Madison County, Ohio. His parents were Dr. Daniel K. and Lydia (Custer) Bigelow. He was engaged in farming and clerking in a grocery store up to 1866; then attended College at Columbus, Ohio, and began telegraphing in 1867.' He was married, April 14, 1875, to .Miss Annie M. Ball, at Clarksville, Tenn., after which he settled in Danville 111. Has two children. Edith I., born November 13, 1878, and Pearl K., horn November 11, 1880 Iu 1880. hequil telegraphing and commenced as hilling clerk for the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Company, which position he still holds. Mrs. Bigelow's parents were Ephraim and Sarah (Peek) Ball. Her grandparents were John and Mary (Grimes) Ball. Mrs. Bigelew was born May 10, 1857, at North Manchester. Wabash County, Ind.

MRS. EMELINE BOND, whoso maiden name was Emeline Phillips, was born in the State of New York in 1818. She was a daughter of Varon and Catharine (Lawson) Phillips, the former a native of Long Island, of English descent, and the latter a native of New York State, of German descent. They came to Ohio in 181'.). They had seven children, all of whom are deceased but oiir subject. She was married, in 1839, to S. O. Worthington, of Franklin County, and in 1841 they moved into Plain City and built the hotel in which she now resides. Mr. Worthington died in 1853, leaving one child, Wilson S., who was born January 29, 1843, and died January 7, 1876. In 1876, Mrs. Worthington married Hiram Bond, a native of Ontario County, N. Y., where he was born in 1818. He is a miller by trade, but since 1876 has been conducting the business of the hotel.

DANIEL BOYD, stock-dealer, Plain City, was born in Washington County, Penn. , May 1, 1828. He is the son of James and Martha (Millikin) Boyd, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio in 1831 and settled in Canaan Township. Our subject was reared and educated in Canaan Township, and has made stock-dealing a life occupation. He has also given some attention to the wool trade during the past thirty years. He was married, February 14, 1850, to Mary A. Smith, a daughter of Samuel Smith. By this union four children were born, viz. : John S. , a farmer of this township; Ella W., who died aged four years; Dwight S., a farmer of this township; and Charles, at home. Mr. Boyd is a Republican, and he has held the offices of Township Trustee, Treasurer and Assessor, and for three years was County Commissioner. He owns 125 acres of land, in addition to other property. His wool and stock operations are very extensive, but operated with care and sound judgment, and the profits from them have enabled Mr. Boyd to amass a comfortable competency for his declining years.

JAMES BOYD, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in AVashington County, Penn., June 5. 1826, and moved with his parents to Madison County in 1831, locating in this- township in 1852. He was a son of James and Martha (Millikin) Boyd, natives of Pennsylvania. Oiir siibject's education was limited to the common schools of this county. He early began the work of a farmer, and has since spent his life in that useful occupation. He owns a farai of 356. V acres of land, near Plain City, where he resides. He was married, November 20, 1864, to Ann E. Williams, a native of Franklin County, Ohio, and a daughter of Ebenezor Williams. They have three children - Emma, James Grant and Robert Colfax. Mr. Boyd was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, since which he has been a Republican. His grandfather, Col. Millikin, an officer in the war of 1812, was a surveyor by profession, and at one time owned 2,200 acres of land here.

J. P. BOWERS, Sr., farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Canaan Township August 12, 1820. He is a son of Daniel and D. (Phiney) Bowers, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Vermont, where she was born in 1798, being now eighty-four years of age. Daniel Bowers was one of the early settlers of this county, where he located sometime about the year L800. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Our subject's grandfathers on both sides were soldiers of the Revolution. Mr. Bowers in e,-,rh life learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for three years. at the expiration of which time he bought a farm, and since then has engaged in farming, now owning about one hundred acres. In L841, he married Ruhama Guy, who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, in 1819. She was a daughter of Jacob Guy. By this union eight children were born, of whom four survive, viz., Betsey L., Daniel E., John P. and Adda M. Mrs. Bowers died in 1871. She was a good wife, an affectionate parent, and a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. In L872, Mr. Bowers married Alvina Newton, a native of Darby Township, This union has been without

M. D. BRADLEY, farmer, P. O. Plain City. The subject of this sketch was born in Canaan Township, Madison Co., Ohio, September 25, 1854. He is a son of James L. and Elizabeth Mark Bradley. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of this county. Our subject is a farmer by occupation, and owns 202 acres of land in Darby Township and 278 in Canaan Township. In politics, he is a Republican. He was married, November 21, 1877, to Ada A. Burnham, who was born in Pike Township, Madison County. She is the daughter of John H. and Salina (Fullington) Burnham. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley are members of the Universalist Church.

ABRAM CAREY, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Canaan Township June 28, 1817. His father, Abijah Carey, was born in Pennsylvania in 1780, and married Catharine Johnson, a native of Virginia. In 1800, he came to Madison County, where he died in 1854, at the age of seventy-three years. He was a farmer, and, at the time of his death, owned 400 acres of land in Darby Township. He raised a family of nine children - three boys and six girls - all of whom reached their majority. The girls married prominent farmers, viz., May married James Guy; Sarah married Jacob Millikin; Rhoda married William Guy; Rachel married James Millikin; Eiiza married George Rickard; and Lucinda married Nathaniel Harrington. All but one live in this vicinity. Solomon died in July, 1882, and left his property to two sons, who were wealthy before his death. He had retired from business, and was in independent circumstances. Our subject has been a life-long farmer. He owns a large and well-improved farm in this township, on which he resides. He was married, in 1853, to Jane Hogle, a native of Upper Canada, and a daughter of Peter Hogle. This union was blessed with two children, Alice and Ella, who have attended to the household duties of the (arm since July, 1877, when their mother died. Mr. Carey was a Democrat until the breaking-nut of the late civil war, since which he has been a standi Republican.

DR. J. H. CARPENTER, physician and merchant, Plain City,was born in Delaware County. Ohio, November 27, 1831. In addition to the common schools of his native county, he attended Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, after which ho took a course in Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio. He then attended the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, from which he graduated in L865. He commenced practicing in his native county, where he remained three years, then spent two years in Marion County, and, in I860, cam« to Plain City, where he has since remained. In 1854, he married Catharine Andrews, by whom he had two children - Charles H. and Lellie K. She died in 1863, and in 1870 he married L. Jennie, daughter of Asa Converse. Dr. Carpenter is a Republican in politics, and has served his village as member of School Board. His grandfather was the first white settler in Delaware County, locating in 1801, on 300 acres of land, which is still in the possession of the family, being now occupied by a grandson of the old settler. In coming to Ohio, they descended the Ohio River to Portsmouth, and then embarked in canoes, and, by means of poles, pushed their way up to Delaware County, a distance of 120 miles. The grandfather was killed by being thrown from his horse down a steep embankment. He was a Captain in the Revolutionary war, and one of the pistols used by him in that struggle is now in possession of our subject. It

ANDREW GARY, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Canaan Township January 22, 1833. He is a son of Solomon and Anna (Millikin) Cary. the latter a daughter of Col. Millikin, and of Irish descent. Solomon was a son of Abijah and Catherine (Johnston) Cary, Abijah was born in Pennsylvania in 1780, of English parentage, and in 1800 came to Madison County. Solomon was born in Madison County in 1809, and died in July, 1882. His wife was born in Washington County, Penn. , in 1814. They had three children, two now living. Our subject, the oldest child, is a farmer by occupation, and he also deals largely in cattle, usually having about one hundred head on hand all the time. He breeds the Short-Horn Durham cattle and Southdown sheep. He owns 570^ acres of well- improved land, and is one of the leading fanners of the county. He is a Republican in politics; takes an active interest in the cause of education, and has served as School Director for twelve years. He was married, in 1858, to Flora E. Burnham, a daughter of Darius and Lucretia (Hunt) Burnham. and a native of this county. They have six children, viz., Anna L., wife of J. B. Smith, of Canaan Township; Henry, Nettie, Rodney, Burnham and Frank Pearl.

DR. JEREMIAH CONVERSE, Plain City. Dr. Jeremiah Con verse, grandson of Rev. Jeremiah Converse, a Revolutionary soldier, and son of Jeremiah Converse, Jr., was born in Darby Township. Madison County, Ohio, June 11, 1822, in that season of epidemic death which is well remembered by the old inhabitants as making sad inroads upon the thinly settled community of Darby Plains, and thickly populating th*e primitive grounds on Big Darby set aside and sanctified with tears as the buryingground of the dead. Malinda Converse, the Doctor's mother, was a Derby, descended from the old English titled family of that name, and was a woman of remarkable and healthy characteristics of mind. Her keenly active perceptive faculties, aided by an untiring devotion to her family, under less narrowing circumstances than those which surrounded the pioneers of the plains, would naturally have led to a careful, discriminating education of her children; but the schoolhouses and text-books of to-day were beyond the dreams of that time, and it was by studious application of all his energies and the precious little spare time he could get from labor that young Converse obtained a very common education. The thud of the grubbing hoe, the crash of falling trees and the wielding of the ox-gad in preparing land for cultivation, were interjections in his educational process until about the year 1844, when he turned his mind to a study of the science of medicine, and graduated four years later at the Columbus, Ohio. Starlin ; Medical College. At or near the time of his commencement of the study of medicine, he married Miss Hortence Hemenway, a young lady of excel lent family and fine qualities of mind and heart, by whom he had six children, the oldest, a daughter, dying in childhood. Following his gradua tion commenced a professional career of twenty-five years, and with it be gan an observance and study of the physical condition of the country at I its sanitary requirements, together with the advancement <>f social, agricultural ami general ideas which have kept him prominently before the public. He never entirely gave up his farming interests, and these, in connection with his extensive professional practice, required the major part of his attention, yet in all these the Doctor was careful to give his children excellent educational advantages, and the most of them are now engaged in teaching.

One," the oldest son, is engaged in a lucrative business in New York City, a married daughter resides in Columbus, Ohio, and the others of his family are living at home or in its immediate neighborhood. Thus, after a quarter of a century administering to the sick over an extensive scope of country, the Doctor felt himself to be breaking under the physical tax imposed by so much horseback-riding. His routes took him over mud roads, polo bridges and unbroken forests and fields, for gravel pikes were yet far in the future, and so, as far as possible, be withdrew from these exacting duties, impressed with the idea that he could render still greater services to the public by engineering labor and becoming actively instrumental in establishing pikes and ditch draining of the plains. The preventative of prevailing diseases he believed to have been better than the cure, and since the time of his withdrawal from practice, save as consulting physician, he has been closely identified with those vast improvements which, through brain, energy and " back-bone." have made our waste lands the garden spot of the Buckeye State. During these years the Doctor has also served Darby Township for many terms as Clerk and Trustee, and was elected Assessor ten years in succession. In 1860, he was elected to the office of County Commissioner, and, at the expiration of a three-year term, was re-elected. In all his public affairs, as in private life, his acts have been characterized by that rare spirit of impartial judgment which impresses communities with its intrinsic value above iln.se who court public trust and nurse it solely for the emolument of office. Had the Doctor's highest aim in life been one of wealth and self-aggrandizement, we might now write of him as a man of broad acres, grazing herds and ponderous bank account. His modest independence, however, assures us that his personal aims have been subservient to the public good, and no doubt the richest blessing he now enjoys, outside the possession of home and family, is his own knowledge and approval of the gifts of prosperity which he sees bestowed upon those around him through the agency in some measure of his wisdom, forethought and selfsacrifice. The Doctor is a man of pleasing presence, with a genial, honest handshake for all who meet him. That softer and finer part of humanity, common in some measure to all, but liberally bestowed upon him, has not been perceptibly blunted by the wear of professional experience and hardships, and his home is one in which the light of hospitality never grows dim, and from which no one turns away hungry and uncared for.

L. D. CONVERSE, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Darby Township January 31. 1826. He is a brother of Dr. J. Converse, who=*e sketch appears in this work. He attended the common schools and had the advantages of a select school taught in the vicinity. He remained on a farm until he reached his majority, when he commenced teaching school. He was married, in 1851, to Laura Thomas, a native of Champaign County and a daughter of A. H. Thomas. They have four children, viz., Marcia L. , J. L. H, Carrie C. Pearl D. and Ruby N. Mr. and Mrs. Converse are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has been a Class-Leader, Steward and Trustee, and an active worker in the Sunday school. He is a member of the Greenback party in politics. In 1845, he was elected Lieutenant of the First Squadron, First Brigade, Thirtieth Division, Ohio State Militia. He is an active worker in the cause of education, and has served as a School Director for some time.

ASA CONVERSE, merchant, P. O. Plain City, was born in Vermont February 9, 1814, and is the son of Squire Converse and Anna (Rand) Converse, of English descent. They came to Darby Township in 1814, and located in what is known as the "Converse Settlement." Our subject remained on the farm until sixteen years of age, when he began learning tanning, and soon taking up the shoe-making trade, he followed both with more than average success for several years. He then opened a general store, which he has conducted over twenty-one years, from 1861. He also owns 133£ acres of good land. In 1835, he married Thankful McCloud. daughter of Charles McCloud. They have three children, viz., Candice. wife of J. J. Morelock, of Marysville; Albert N. ; and L. Jennie, wife of Dr. Carpenter. Mr. and Mrs. Converse are members of the M. E. Church, of which he has been a Trustee. He is a Republican, and has acted as a delegate to the State convention.

RUSSEL B. CONVERSE, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Darby Township January 15, 1828, and is a son of Charles and Phebe (Norton) Converse, natives of Virginia, of English descent. Our subject was reared on a farm and received his education in the country schools. He has been a farmer and stock-raiser all his life, and has met with success in most of his undertakings. In 1849, he married Anna Lombard, a native of Ken tucky, and a daughter of Jesse Lombard. This union has been blessed with four children, viz., Amelius K., deceased; James L., Elmer E. and Charles D. Mr. and Mrs. Converse are members of the Universalist Church, in which he is a Deacon and Trustee. He has helped to build six churches in his day. He is a Republic:. n in politics, and has been Trustee and Treasurer of the township. He now owns a fine farm of 385 acres.

SANFORD CONVERSE, livery, Plain City, was born in Darby Township, three miles west of Plain City, August 11, 1841, and is the son of Silas and Diadama (Phiney) Bowers Converse, natives of Vermont, the latter being the widow of Daniel Bowers. Our subject was reared on the farm and attended the district school of his neighborhood. In 1877, he began butchering, which he followed until 1880, when he engaged in his present business, with Z. Taylor, whom he has since bought out. He keeps good stock and plenty of it and is doing a thriving business. In 1860, he married Sarah J. Sherwood, a daughter of Andrew A. and Irene (Beach) Sherwood. They have two children, Silas D. and George A. Mr. Converse is a Republican and he has been a Constable for twenty years. He is a prominent Odd Fellow and for seven years was Secretary of that body at Plain City. His father died in 1879, aged eighty-six years, two months and twenty-two days. His mother died October 6, 1882, in her eighty-sixth year.

J. QUIN CONVERSE was born in Champaign County, Ohio, November 8, 1844, being the sixth heir to C. H. Converse and Louisa L. (Ketch) Converse, both from the State of Vermont. At the age of four years, he moved into Union County, Ohio, near Unionville Center, where he resided, working on his father's farm and going to the village school six months in the year, until he was eleven years old. after which he went but three months in the winter, until he was seventeen, which was all the schooling he ever got. On September 1 1. L862, he was mustered into the service as a private, in Company I, One Eundred and Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer In fan fry. for three years, unless sooner discharged, Capt. A. B Robinson commanding the company, and Col. AY. P. Reed commanding the regiment. The regimenl was hurriedly pushed through with inferior arms (Austrian rifles) and poorly equipped, were put into the field and took the baptism of lire at Perryville (or Chaplin Hills). Ky.. October 8, 1862, less than a month from the date of muster. During that fall and winter, he served in all the marches and countermarches over Kentucky to protect supplies from the depredations of the raider Morgan. In February, 1863, he went aboard the "Jacob Strader," at Louisville, and made the trip down the Ohio and up the Cumberland to Nashville, being thirteen days on the boat, in a very crowded condition, there being the two regiments with all their supplies on the one boat. Here he experienced the only sickness of his army life, being for eleven days confined to his bunk. They arrived at Nashville and marched to Franklin, where they stayed for several months and completed the splendid line of defenses which were used with such terrible effect by Gen. Thomas against Hood in the fall of 1864. Mr. Converse served in all the raids and skirmishes that ended in the battle of Chickamauga, on the 19th and 20th of September, 1863, at which battle more than half his comrades were killed or wounded, but he came through with the toe of his snoe cut open with a rifle-ball. He was with Gen. Sherman in the winter march to the relief of Gen. Burnside at Knorville, and served on the famous Atlanta campaign, in 1864, up to Kenesaw Mountain, when, in an assault, on the 27th of June, he was wounded by a musket ball passing through his cap-box and into his right side, lodging against the right hip, from where it was cut that evening on the field. In this bayonet charge more than half his comrades were killed or wounded. He now went to the rear, and was absent from the regiment four months, thirty days of which he spent at home, where he made the acquaintance of his future wife. He rejoined the regiment in time to make the march to the sea with Gen. Sherman, then up through the Carolinas, ending with the battle of Benton ville, March 19, 1865, where he was at one time cut off and thought it best to surrender, but in the confusion got away. He was at Raleigh, N. C. , when Johnston surrendered ; marched from there to Washington; partici pated in the grand review, May 23, 1865; was discharged as Second Dut}T Sergeant June 9, 1865. and reached home June 17, having served near three years, never missing a single trick of duty, and never being under arrest or reproved by a superior officer. On March 28. 1866, be was married to Miss Mary I. Baxter, oldest daughter of William H. and C. D. Baxter, of Urbana. Ohio. He then bought land in York Township, Union County, and worked it several years, but his old wound was a constant drawback on him, and he sold his land and moved to Urbana and worked at the watchmaking bench on repairs for two years, after which he located in Plain City in the jewelry business; has now been here over seven years, and has, by close application, brought his business up from a very small beginning to its present comfortable proportions. He owns real estate in the corporation to the value of $2,500 to $3,000. He has but two children living. In politics, he is an Independent Republican, always supporting the best man in all local elections, regardless of party. He has never hold any official position whatever. He was Captain of a company of Ohio National Guards for three years. L878, L879 and 1880, but the company was disbanded in 1881. Ho is a member of no religious denomination, being free to admit the good that is in all, but too broad in his ideas of roligious liberty to accept the tenets of one to govern him in all things.

THOMAS W. CORNWELL, farmer. P. O London, is a son of Addison Cornwell, whose biography appears in Union Township. He was born in this county September 25, IS [:!. and received his education in the rural districts of his native county. lie has adopted the occupation of farming, and now owns 107 acres of land. In 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Forty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Iufantry, Capt. Watson, and served th'ree years. After 1864, he was in the One Hundred and Ninety- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as First Duty Sergeant. After the war, he came home and again engaged in farming. In 1869, he married Ellen J. Wilson, a daughter of John Wilson, by whom he has had five childr-en, viz., Otis, Willie, Leroy, Earnest and Esther - the two latter twins. Mr. Cornwell participated in some hot engagements during the war, and can now boast of an unblemished war record.

A. J. DYER, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, December 3, 1S-49. He is a son of William and Josephine (Norton) Dyer, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of Connecticut, both of English descent. Our subject attended the common schools of his native county, and finished his education at Kenyon College. He was married, in 1870, to Nora Morgridge, by whom he has one child - Christine. Mr. Dyer is a member of the Episcopalian Church. He owns 656 acres of land, and deals largely in stock. He is a Republican.

JOSEPH EDWARDS, wagon-maker, Plain City, was born in Bedford County, Penn., January 10, 1838, and is a son of J. P. and Abarilla (Stephens) Edwards, natives of Pennsylvania, of English descent. Joseph was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. At the age of nineteen, ho began learning wagon-making, which he has since followed with the exception of five years, from 1861 to 1866, spent in the Western States and Territories. In 1866, he came to Plain City and went into business with Jacob Weaver, and has since been doing a successful business. In 1863, he married Margaret Dunkin, a daughter of Reuben Dunkin, and a native of New York. They have three children - Estella, Curtis and Sherman. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has been Trustee. He is a Republican in politics.

JOHN FINCH, deceased, was born in Canaan Township January 20, 1816. In 1837, he married Emily Kilbury, who was born in this township July 20, 1816. They had a family of seven children, viz., Nancy, James E. , Samantha, Sarah, T. M., Electa and Joshua D., all married and doing well. Mr. and Mrs. Finch were members of the M. E. Church. He was a Republican in politics, a successful farmer, an affectionate husband and a kind and indulgent father, respected by all who knew him. He started in life without means, and at the time of his death owned ninety-six acres of land. His widow resides with her daughter. Mrs. Manly Feese. The parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Finch were among the earliest settlers of this vicinity. His father came in 1800, and raised a family of ten children.

WILKINSON GUY, deceased, was born in the Dominion of Canada March 6, 1813, and died in Madison County, Ohio, April 21, 1872. He was the son of Jacob and Hannah (Bean) Guy, who were early settlers in Canada. He received a common-school education, and adopted the occupation of farming, which he followed through life; in politics, he was a lifelong Republican. He served three years and four months in the late rebellion, under Capts. Haynes and Hendricks, and was present at and participated in the battles of Mumfordsville, Ky. . where he was taken prisoner on the 14th, but paroled on the 15th of September, 1862, and at Hoover's Gap, Tenn., Chickamauga, Ga., and with Sherman through the campaign and in his memorable "march to the sea." On December 2-1, 1S10, he married Rhoda Carv. daughter of Abijah and Catharine (Johnson) Gary, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia; they were married in Ohio, and had nine children, viz.. Polly. Solomon. Absalom. Sally, Rhoda, Abner, Rachel, Eliza and Lucinda, the two eldest being deceased. Mrs.

Guy was born two miles south of where she now lives, October 7, 1814, and has never lived elsewhere than on the old homestead and at her husband's. By her marriage to Mr. Guy four children were born, viz.. Sarah, deceased, wife of Chirk Harlow; Catharine, wife of Ezra Pitcher; Sylvester, who marrie ' Mai tie Davis; and Jasper, who married Ollie Lape.

ROWLAND HILL, carpenter, Plain City, was born in England July 16, 1S26. He was a son of Littleton and Elizabeth S. (Storks) Hill, natives of England, who emigrated to Ohio in 1832, andsettledin Barrison County. His father was a tanner and currier. Our subject is a mechanic, by trade a carpenter; he first worked at cabinet- making; then at building threshing machines and at house building, being now engaged in the latter branch of his trade. He received a common- school education in Ohio, and has spent most of his time in this State. In 1852, he married Catharine Ann Spring, a native of Harrison County and a daughter of Adam Spring. By this union three children wore born, viz., Virginia, John R. and Fannie E. John R. is his father's partner in business; he married Cora I. Barlow, a daughter of E. W. and Irene (Bigelow) Barlow. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the Baptist Church, in which he has been a Deacon. He is a Republican in politics, and owns eighteen aci'es of land adjoining Plain City, on which he has built a neat residence. His grandfather was a sea captain, and carried provisions to the British soldiers during the Revolutionary war. He was a loyal English subject. His wife's grandfather was in the war of 1812.

GARY HORN, manufacturer of drain tile, Plain City, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, January 6, 1824. He is a son of Moses and Sarah (Longfellow) Horn, natives of New Jersey, of German and English descent. His education was limited to the common schools; he remained on the farm where he was raised until twenty years of age, when he began working in the rolling-mills of Virginia, where he remained six years. He then emigrated to this county and engaged in farming, which occupied his attention until 1872, when he began the manufacture of drain tile, in connection with his son, who is still his associate. Mr. Horn was married, in 1848, to Sarah Spring, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Adam Spring. They have four children, viz.. Carlton A. , his partner in business; Armeda and Mah- !< >n W. and Charles W. , twins. Mr. and Mrs. Horn are members of the Plain < ity Baptist Church, in which he is a Deacon. He is a Republican in politics.

L. G. HUFF, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, October 24, 1884. He is a son of James R. and Lydia (Austin) Huff, natives of New York, the former of German and the latter of English descent. Our subject was educated at the academy in Onondaga County, N. Y.. and was brought up to farm life, in which he continued until he reached his majority. On April 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Seventeenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Haynes, and was discharged in the same year. On July 31, L862, he re-enlisted in Company K, Ohio Zouaves, and while in that command passed through some terrible experiences. He had his right arm torn to pieces by a shot, and endured the agony of his wound nine days before it was dressed; the surgeons then wanted to amputate it, but to this he stoutly objected. He was married, in 1864, to Ellen M. Baker, daughter of E. Baker, of Delaware County, Ohio. They have three children - Clara, Nettie and Clayton. Mr. and Mrs. Huff are members of the Universalist Church, of which he has been Trustee ten years. He is a Republican in politics.

EICHARD IAMS, Sr., farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Pennsylvania December 3, 1823; he is a son of Eli and Phebe (Heckathorne ) lams, the former a native of Maryland, of English descent, and the latter a native of Virginia, of German descent. They came to Ohio in 1824, and settled in Dayton, where our subject had the advantages of the graded schools. He began life by engaging in the grain business, and then spent five years in the grocery business. He was also engaged as a railroad man. and later, as a contractor, taking land for pay. In this way, he obtained sixty-four acres at Plain City, in 1854, and, in 1855, began working it. He now has 200 acres. He was married, December 3, 1848, to Phebe Jane Thompson, a native of Montgomery County, a daughter of Isaac Thompson, and a namesake of Mr. lams' mother. They have five children, viz., Alfred, Richard, Charles, Alva and Howard. Mr. lams is a Republican. His sons are all farmers.

HENRY KENT, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Jerome Township, Union County, November 9, 1823. His father, Daniel Kent, came from Virginia with his father, John Kent, in 1800, and married Dilla Shover, a daughter of Henry Shover, who lived in Union County when the Kents came to Ohio. Miss Shover was a native of Germany. Our subject was schooled by subscription in the primitive log schoolhouse, and has been a life-long farmer. On October 15, 1847, he married Melissa Norton, a daughter of John H. and Sarah Norton, and by her he has had the following children: Sylvester C, born September 9, 1848, married Harriett Pickett; Lorenzo C, born June 25, 1851, married Emma Gray, John F., born February 17, 1854, married Lottie Sape; Sarah A., born December 4. 1857; Olive, born August 14, 18<)0, married Albert Kilgore, son of Harvey Kilgore, of Canaan Township. Mr. Kent owns 170| acres of land, and deals some in horses, cattle, sheep and hogs.

JAMES A. KILE, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1S34, and, in 1839, came to Madison County, where he has since resided. He is the only surviving child of two children born to Enoch and Sarah (Needles) Kile, who were natives of Ohio, of English descent. His grandfather, James Kile, was a native of Kentucky, and became one of the first settlers of Jerome Township, Union County; he raised a family of eleven boys, none of whom weighed less than 190 pounds, and some weighing as much as 265 pounds; they were all temperate men for their day, most of them church members, and when our country's flag was assailed in 1861, seven of them took up arms in defense of the Government. Our subject is a man of about 230 pounds weight, well proportioned and one of the most successful farmers of the township. He is an extensive raiser and dealer in stock, and usually winters from 500 to 1,500 sheep, 150 to 2. mi III hogs and 50 head of cattle, and sells on an average twelve horses per year. He was married, in 1850, to Mary Martin, a daughter of David Martin, and by her has five children, viz., the oldest, deceased; R. P., Fred. W. T. and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Kile are members of the M. E. Church. He is a Republican in politics, and owns 227 acres of land.

WILLIAM LEASURE, dentist, Plain City, was horn in Franklin County, Ohio, September 7. 1S:!7, and is a son of William and Polly Swrader Leasure, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. They came to Ohio in L827, and settled in Franklin County, where our subject received his education. He was raised on a farm, where he continued until sixteen years of age, when he went to Pennsylvania and studied dentistry. After acquiring his profession, he spent five years in Indiana, and was in Union

County nine years. While in the latter county, he was engaged in selling groceries and dry goods. He was married, in 1863, to M. E. Brant, a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and a daughter of Frederick and Polly Brant. They have one child - Jennie, who is now the wife of Vernon Allen, of Plain City.

ISAAC LEONARD, Vice President of the Exchange Bank, Plain City, was born January 25, 1848. He is a son of Jacob and Lidia (Miller) Leonard, the former a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and the latter a native of New Jersey, of English descent. Our subject obtained his education in the schools of Cincinnati, and chose the occupation of a druggist, which he followed in Plain City for ten years. He has latterlv devoted his time and attention to banking. He was married, December 23, 1870, to Miss Ada Lane, a daughter of Luther Lane, whose sketch appears in Canaan Township. They have two children, viz., Orlando, an infant who died at the age of seven months, and Iona. Mrs. Leonard is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Leonard is a Republican in politics.

J. H. LOMBARD, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born March 24, 1816, and was a son of Jesse and Olive (Carlton) Lombard, natives of Vermont, the former of English and the latter of German descent. They emigrated to Ohio in 1827, and, in 1829, located in Madison County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Oar subject received a common - school education, and at an early age learned a trade which he followed with success until in an accident he lost his right arm. Since then he has devoted his time to farming. In 1828, he married Jane Owen, a native of Ohio, of Welsh descent, by whom he has six children, viz., James, Jesse (a soldier in the rebellion), Olive, Jane, Duncan and Estelle. Mr. Lombard's grandfathers on both his father's and mother's side, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war.

H. D. LOMBARD, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Campbell Con. ty, Ky., August 15, 1822. A+ the age of five years, he emigrated with his father to Ohio, and settled in Union Couuty. Two years later, his father purchased a farm on the " Plains," as it is called, on which place he now resides. He has a family of eight children, the oldest of whom is Phebe, widow of Harvey Bradley, deceased. She has two sons - Rollin and Harvey. The second, De La Mar, who follows the occupation of teacher and farmer; Samantha Alice, wife of H. C. Riddle, of Plain City; Mary S., wife of J. H. Stewart, of Plain City; Millard T. ; Frank E., also a teacher; William A. and Ora I. In December, 1844, he was united in marriage with Samantha McUmber, who was also born in Campbell County, Ky.. October 15, 1820. She was the daughter of William and Phebe Kelly McUmber. Her grandfathers, William McUmber and Beriah Kelly, both served as soldiers in the Revolutionary war. The former was of Irish and the latter of Dutch descent. H. D. Lombard was the son of Jesse, who was one of a family of eight boys. His grandfather was David Lombard, who served in the war for Independence. His mother's maiden name was Olive Carlton. The ancestors of the Lombard family in America emigrated from Italy it an early day. The vessel in which he sailed was wrecked when near the e<>;i^t. and ho saved himself by swimming ashore. He was directly descended from the " Longobards," or Longbeards, one of the tribes of barbarians who overrun the Roman Empire about the year 400 A. D., and founded the Kingdom of Lombardv in Northern Italy.

of Loudoun County, Va., the former of Scotch and the latter of Irish descent. Our subject has plied his trade in Madison County nearly half a century, and has operated a shop in Plain City for thirty-five years. He has made a study of horse-shoeing and other important parts of his trade, and does his work on purely scientific principles. He was married, in 1846. to Abigail Ann Ado-ate, a native of Boston and a daughter of Theodore A/lgate, a merchant in that city. They have three children - Malinda A., Willie C, who married Sally Wiley, in 1876, and Minnie M. Mrs. Marshall is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Marshall is a Democrat and a member of the M. E. Church, in which he has been Trustee. He stands at the head of his trade in this vicinity, and enjoys a liberal patronage.

L. M. MAESHALL, farmer. P. O. Plain City, was born in Madison County June 20, 1838. He is a son of Gr. W. Marshall, a native of Virginia, of English descent. Our subject attended the common schools of his native county, and early adopted the occupation of a farmer, which he has followed all his life, with the exception of a few years spent in Illinois as a merchant. He now owns 164 acres of good land, which he cultivates in the most approved manner. In 1858, he married Melissa Domminy, a na - tive of Madison County, by whom he has four children - Electa (wife of George Van Doren), Etta May, Jerry H and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are members of the Universalist Church. Mrs. Marshall's parents came to this county from New York in 1811. Her father was a prominent Whig, and for twenty years a Justice of the Peace. He was the parent of twenty children, twelve by his first wife and eight by his second. He owned 1,500 acres of land. Mrs. Marshall was one of the youngest by his second wife.

ANDREW JACKSON MARTIN, attorney at law and Mayor of Plain City, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, December 8, 1826. He is a son of John and Sally Martin, natives of Virginia, the former of English and the latter of German descent. He received his education in the common schools of his native county, and, until of age, worked with his father at farming and carpentering After he reached his majority, he purchased a small farm, which he operated until forty-five years of age, when he became connected with the railroad and superintended the construction of the Columbus Dummy Railroad. On Independence Day, 1852, he married Sarah Ann Stagg, a datighter of Abraham and Rebecca Stagg. They had six children, four now living - Mary L., Florella J., Charles and Frank, of whom three are married and one is in Mexico. Mrs. Martin died in L872, and, in 1878, he married Margaret (Shafer) Davis, widow of Henry Davis; she is a devoted member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Martin has been through life a hard student. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Columbus, where he practiced for some years. In 1879, he came to Plain City, and, in 1882, was elected Mayor of the village. He is a Democrat in politics, and for several years was Justice of the Peace in Columbus.

A. McCAMPBELL, baker, Plain City, was born in Union County October 1, 1840. He is a son of John and Margaret (Tate) McCampbell. His father was born in Virginia January 19, 1812, aad his mother in Warren County, Ohio, January I, .1812. His father was the fourth child of a family of thirteen children, and was a cooper until his arrival in Union County, since which he was a farmer. His parents were married in Jerome Township, in 1835, where his father died January 4, 1878. Our subject is one of a family of nine children, eight of whom reached their majority and six became school teachers. It is said of them that they never applied for schools, but always had them proffered to them. Two of the boys served in the late rebellion - J. L., enlisted in 1862, in the Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but after ten months' service, was discharged on account of disability; he re-enlisted, February 4, 1864, in Company C, Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was finally mustered out of the service in 1865. Our subject enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy -fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry for one year, and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service. His father during life was a strong friend of education, and was the prime-mover in having the High School established at California. He was an Old-Line Whig until the formation of the Republican party, after which he espoused the cause of Republicanism. He was a good Christian. and for many years an active member of the United Presbvterian Church.

HON. RODNEY C. McCLOUD, druggist, Plain City, was born in Madison County March 25, 1842. He is the son of Dr. Charles and Mary Jane (Carpenter) McCloud. His grandfather McCloud came to Ohio in 1814, and, settled iu Union County; he was a native of England and a local preacher. Dr. Charles McCloud settled in Canaan Township in 1881, and for twenty years was engaged in the active practice of medicine. He was a prominent man in politics and an active worker in the Whig party He represented his county in the Ohio Legislature, in the session of 1844-45. and was a member of the Constitutional Convention that framed the present constitution of Ohio. He was born February 2, 1802, and, in 1832, married Mary Jane Carpenter, who was born August 29, 1818. They became the parents of four children, viz., Mary, now the wife of Dr. E. C. Robin son, of Plain City; Smith N. , a druggist at Marysville, Ohio; Sophrouia, wife of Dr. Milton Lane, of Lincoln, Neb., and our subject. The latter was the second child of the family. He began life as a farm hand, but soon obtained a position in a wholesale hardware store, at Columbus', where he was employed as a clerk for five years. He was then engaged as a traveling salesman for the same firm until he purchased his present business at Plain City, which he did in connection with his brother, Smith N, who is still a partner in the business, the firm owning two stores in different towns, each of which is under the management of one of the firm. Mr. McCloud is a Democrat in politics; he has had the offices of Mayor and Councilman of Plain City, and Trustee of Darby Township, and represented Madison County in the Ohio Legislakrre in 1874-76). He was married, in 1874, to Nancy E. Noteman, a daughter of Zachariah Xoteman.

DAVID McCUNE. retired farmer, P. O. Plain City, is a brother of Dr. John E. McCune. and was born in this county August 20, L824. He was reared on a farm and received a limited education. In 1847, he married Harriett Kent, a native of Union County, and a daughter of Daniel Kent. a soldier of 1812. In L861, .Mr. McCune enlisted in the army, and served for the full term of his enlistment. He was also in the " hundred days" service. He is a life- long farmer, but has latterly retired from all active work. He is a partner with his bi'other in the possession of 100 acrgs of land and in a fine business block of Plain City. He also owns a neat brick house, now occupied by him as a residence. He started with nothing, but is now possessed of a comfortable competency. He is a Republican, and has been Township Trustee. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church. JOHN E. McCUNE, M. D. , Plain City, was born in Madison County. Ohio, November 14. 1826. He is a son of John and Polly (Hager) McCune, the former a native of Kentucky, of Irish and English descent, and the latter a native of Vermont, of English ancestry. His grandparents came to this county in 1802. Our subject attended the common schools of his native township, after which he taught school to obtain the means for further educating himself. His literary education was obtained at the Central College, in Franklin County, and his professional education at Starling Medical College, Columbus. After leaving college, he located at Plain City, and engaged in practicing his profession, and, with the exception of one year spent in the West, he has remained here ever since. He was married, in 1850, to Anna Barlow, daughter of Edmond W. Barlow, a Major in the war of 1812, who came to this county in 1833. Dr. McCune is a courteous, affable gentleman, of studious habits and an enthusiast in his profession. During his many years of practice at Plain City, be has wrestled very successfully with some very difficult cases, and has built up for himself an enviable reputation and a lucrative practice. He is a prominent member of Plain City Lodge, No. 193, I. O. O. F.,and a highly esteemed citizen. He is always to be found on the side of morality and temperance, and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his community. He has a farm of .100 acres of good land, an interest in a tine business block in Plain City and other property. He is a self-made and a well-made man.

GUS A. McDOWELL, carpenter, Plain City, was born in Darby Township January 4, 1832. He is a son of L. and Elitha (Sharp) Mc- Dowell, the former a native of New Hampshire, of Scotch descent, and the latter of New York, of Dutch descent. Our subject received a good education in the English branches, and being a constant reader, is now a wellposted citizen. He owns two acres of land adjoining Plain City, on which he recently erected his residence. In 1802, he enlisted in the United States 'Regular Army, and was one of a band of unfortunates captured by the rebels and inhumanly forced over a precipice, two of them being kilied outright, and our subject with many others seriously injured. He was discharged in 1864, alter two years' service. In 1854, he married Miss S. Douglass, a native of Darby Township, and a daughter of Cyrus and Lucy (Sherwood; Douglass. They have had five children, viz., Liicy A., wife of John Truss; Ada L., wife of M. Brown; Hester M. and Elitha. Mrs. Mc- Dowell died October 20, 1874.

A. C. McDOWELL, telegrapher, Plain City, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, May 25, IS 14. He is a son of Theodore and Elithia (Sharp) McDowell, natives of Vermont, the former of French and the latter of German descent. Our subject received a common-school education, and since twenty -one years of age, has been a telegraph operator. He worked on the Pan Handle Railroad two years, and has held the position in Plain City seventeen years In the late war, lie enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Seventy- sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Robb, and patricipated in several engagements, but was on detached duty part of the time. On February 21, 1875, he married Eoline G. Smith, of Wayne County, Ind. by whom he has two children - Grace F. and Helen G. Mr. McDowell is a member of the Grand Army, and owus a neat and substantial residence where he now resides.

JOHN W. MILLHOLLAND, brick-maker, Plain City. William Millholland. the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania; he was a son of Thomas and Maria (Overmeyer) Millholland, the former a native of Ireland and (he latter of Germany. They married in Pennsylvania, and, coming West at an earl} day, entered 100 acres of land, three miles northwest of Weal Liberty. Champaign Coimty, where two of the daughters now reside. William remained at home until about 1808, when he came to

Madison County. He married Tlacliel Ann Nichols, by whom he had ten children, four boys and six girls, two boys and three girls of whom survive. The parents are both also living. The subject of this sketch was the second child and second son. He was born in Champaign County June 16, 1844, and remained at home until 1865, when he went to the far West and engaged in herding cattle in Kansas, at Avhich he continued eighteen months, after which he moved to Illinois and engaged in farming. About fourteen years ago, he came to Jefferson Township, where, in 1871, he married Clara McCauley, who was born, raised and educated in that township; she was a daughter of Edward and Cynthia (Webster) McCauley, the latter a descendant of Daniel Webster. By this union four children have been born, one boy and three girls, of whom Edith is the only survivor. In 1875, Mr. Millholland engaged in brick-making at Plain City, at which he still continues. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and in politics formerly a Democrat, but latterly a Prohibitionist.

JACOB MILLIKIN. retired farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Washington County, Penn., October 11, 1809. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Cook) Millikin, natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent. They emigrated to Ohio in 1830, and settled in Canaan Township, where his father purchased 1,500 acres of land for 75 cents per acre. He was a surveyor, and died in 1870. Our subject received only such education as could be acquired in the district schools, but, by dint of hard study, he succeeded in laying by a good store of information. His father had a family of nine children, viz., Samuel, deceased; Martha, wife of James Boyd; Daniel; John; Jacob; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Alder; Ann, wife of Solomon Cary; lames, a retired farmer, and Andrew. Jacob was married in 1835, to Sarah A. Carey, a daughter of Abijah Carey; she was born where they now live in 1813. They have two children, William and Sarah. Mr. Millikin owns 500 acres of land. He is a Democrat, but has never aspired to official honor of anv kind.

WILLIAM MILLIKIN, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Plain City, is a son of Jacob Millikin, whose sketch appears in this work. He was born in Canaan Township and received his education in the common schools of this county. He has chosen the occupation of a farmer, and now has entire charge of his father's farm. He deals extensively in cattle, and sells some of the finest stock brought into market. He is a Democrat in politics, following the leadership of his father, who cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. Our subject was married, in 1861, to Elizabeth E. Slyh. a native of this county, and a daughter of Matthias Slyh.

R. MOOXKV. merchant, Plain City, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, March 4, 1850, and is the son of Jacob and Rosauna (Winters) Mooney, natives of Ohio, of Irish descent. Our subject was raised on a farm, and followed farming until 1876, when he engaged in his present business in Plain City. He was married, in 1872, to Electa Lane, by whom he had two children - Ida and Walter. Mrs. Mooney died in 1876, and, on June 20. 1X77, he married Emily Bigelow, a daughter of Dr. D. K. Bigelow, and by her has one child - Otto. Mr. Mooney is a Democrat of the old Jacksonian school. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, of the Scottish Rite degree. He is a thorough and successful business man, and stands high in the community where he lives.