Prospect Township (part 4 of 5)

Zion's Reformed Church. - Of this denomination, meetiugs began to be held in 1845, in the Middletown Schoolhouse, Rev. H. Hess, minister. The church was organized April 18, 1846, with twenty-five members, namely, J. J. Wottring, George Butz, Philip Wottring, Samuel Bachman, Abraham Bechtel, Daniel Williard, Samuel Bechtel, Jr., Jonas Bechtel, Lewis Wottring, John Moyer, Samuel Moyer, Jonathan Bechtel, Elizabeth Bech. tel, Hannah Wottring, Elizabeth Wottring, Elizabeth Hess, Rosena Moyer, Mary Bechte!, Nancy Seifle and Catharine Bechtel.

Prospect Cemetery

These grounds, wherein lie so many of Prospect's pioneers, are located within the corporation limits of the village, on the west. bank of the Scioto River. The south end of the ground was used as a burial-place as early as nated, when he laid out the village, land for that purpose on the east side of the river, it being the first lot north of Lot 81 of the original plat, where seven or eight bodies still (1883) lie buried. This burial ground was thought to be too near the center of the village, when Mr. Gast proposed that as the location of the burial-place was to be changed, that ground for the purpose might be selected at any other place on hia land that the citi. zens might choose Mr; Knight and W. W. Patten also offered to donate © land for the purpose, and finally the site was selected on Patten's land. It at first contained but about half an acre, but subsequently ason of Mr. Patten made an addition and laid it out into lots, which were sold to different parties. Previous to this, it had been a free burial-place. When the grounds, under the statute, became the property of the township in 1881, there was an addition made, so that the grounds now comprise seven or eight acres, occupying the land from the gravel road to the river. The surface slopes to the east, and the situation generally is very beautiful, First burials: Mary Jeannette Knight, September 28, 1836; B. S. Knight, October 2, 1837. 4 SOCIETIES,

Prospect Lodge, No. 444, F. & A. M. - The first who met under a dispensation were Dr. E. R. Cook, C. B. Linsley, W. J. Woods, George Van Brimmer, John Van Brimmer, Henry Hain, John F. Utz, J. P. Brookins, Jr., John M. Edelman, S. S. Shoup, Reuben Lavender, Clark Decker, P. C. Sells, J. S. Harman, B. M. Hord and John A. Kyle. - The above petitioned the Grand Master for a dispensation, which ,was granted June 7, 1870, under which the following were appointed officers: Dr. E. R. Cook, W. M.; C. B. Linsley, S.W.; W. J. Woods, J. W. The lodge, at its, first meeting, appointed Gecrge Van Brimmer T.; Henry Hain S.; J. P. Brookins, S. D.; John F. Utz, J. D.; and P. C. Sells, Tiler. Charter for a lodge was granted October 19, 1870. The lodge now numbers fifty-four members, and is in a prosperous condition. Meetings, every Wednesday evening on or before the full moon. Present officers: B. N. Hord, W. M.; J. H. Wishek, S. W.; M. Strelitz, J. W.; F. M. Cook, Treas.; Henry Hain, Sec.; Joseph Cratty, S. D.; J. D. Griffith, J. D.; J. P. Penry, Tiler.

Prospect Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 483. - This lodge was instituted the 18th of July, 1871. The charter was granted from the Grand Lodge of the State on the same date. The charter members were A. D. Neimeyer, J. W. Statler, L. H. Wottring, Judson N. David, Reuben M. Butz, W. A. Dill, F. C. Freeman (Noble Grand), J. V. Boyd, Austin A. Boyd, Alvin D. Mohr, John Reithanaier, Reuben Neimeyer, John H. Thomas, Perry McAdams, James W. Noble.

Durward Lodge, No. 155, Knights of Pythias, was instituted January 2, 1888, by the Grand District Deputy, S. A. Court, of Marion. The members under the dispensation, which had been granted December 26, 1882, were J. H. Wishek, P. C.; Charles Rosenthal, V. C.; Mitchell Stre-

Woman's Christian Temperance Union. - This association, auxiliary to the State Women's Christian Temperance Union, was organized at the Baptist Church in Prospect December 1, 1882, after a temperance address delivered by Rev. L. A. Belt, of Marion. The organization was superintended by Mrs. Search, of Marion, delegated for the purpose. Present number of members, seventeen, who meet alternately in the Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist Episcopal Churches the second Wednesday of each month. Mrs. A. J. Wiant, President; Mrs. E. E. Rigour, Secretary; Mrs. Sarah Jennings, Treasurer.

Brass Bands

The village supports two excellent brass bands, supplied with the best of musical instruments, and having a reputation, at home and abroad, of being equal to the best. j

Van Guard Band. - This was started in April, 1872, with eleven pieces; it now has fifteen pieces. First they were under the directorship of S. E. Hull; since April, 1877, J. Albert Davis. They have silver instruments, of French manufacture, valued at. $400. td

Star Band. - This also was organized in 1872, with about the same number of pieces, under the directorship of S. Kenyon; since 1881, J. F. Mohr. They have brass instruments, valued at $300, American manufacture.

Each of the bands retains a majority of its original members, are all neatly uniformed and have good band-wagons, especially the Star Band, whose cost about $700.

When the Columbus & Toledo Railroad was first surveyed, the line was run straight from Marion to Columbus, about two miles east of Prospect; and had it not been for the energetic exertions of a few of the citizens of Prospect Village, who had the foresight to appreciate the advantages it. would furnish to the place, the road would have been built on the line first surveyed, as it was nearer between the two points. The first move that was made to change the line and bring the railroad to Prospect was made by David Gast, who went to Columbus, and represented so strongly to the officers of the company the advantages that would accrue to them by making a change in the line, that they finally consented to consider the matter, and appointed a meeting to be held at Prospect to discuss the question. At this meeting the officers were so favorably impressed, that they appointed a final meeting at Columbus, to further discuss the question and come to a decision. At that, meeting, the following citizens of Prospect were present: David Gast, George Gast, C. L. Mohr, Watt Watkins, P. C. Sells, S. H. Gast and J. J. Wottring. At this meeting the officers decided to bring the railroad to Prospect, providing the village and township would make a donation to the road of $10,000, and also subscribe for $25,000 stock.

This ultimatum of the company was presented to Mr. David Gast. He immediately, in the name of the citizens of Prospect, promised that the money would be given and the subscription and stock raised. He, with those present. at the meeting and other citizens, took energetic measures, and David and S. H. Gast were appointed as a committee to get subscrip-

But for the work and energy of the citizens named, Prospect Village would never have been, but the place would have retained the name of Middletown, and would have been two miles at least, or over, from railroad communication. Among the principal contributors of money and stock may be named David Gust, J. T. Davis, Herbster & Reeser, Christian Gast, Watkins Brothers, $1,200 each, and others.

New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad. - This railroad runs through the northwestern corner of Prospect Township, where there is a small station called Centerville. i

Business Enterprises

Elevators. - There are two steam grain elevators in the village of Prospect, both owned by Wyatt & Watkins Bros. The one on the west side of the track was built in 18/7, by S. E. De Wolfe, of Marion. It has a capacity of 7,000 to 8,000 bushels. The one on the east side was built by the present proprietors in 1881, at an expense of $6,000. It has a capacity of 12,000 bushels, and is fitted with all the modern improvements for cleaning, handling and shipping grain. The firm has shipped, on an average, from this elevator 200 car loads per annum.

Prospect Bank. - This, the first bauk in Prospect, was organized in 1880 by B. K. Herbster and W. H. Mohr, with the former as President. It was a private bank, and proved of great advantage to the business interests of the community. March 8, 1582, it was re-organized by a stock company, comprising B. K. Herbster, President; W. H. Mohr, Cashier; David Mohr, Reuben Wottring, B. C. Adams, L. H. Wottring, J. Q. Roads, J. L. Farnum, Cook Bros., Evan T. Jones and Jacob J. Wottring. At the election March 8, 1883, G. W. Cook was elected Cashier. They have a neat and commodious banking-room adjoining Cook's drug store, fitted with firstclass fire and burglar proof safes und all other conveniences necessary to the business.

Citizens' Bank. - This was established April 26, 1883, by Morris Humphreys and Watkins Bros. F. C. Freeman, President, and Joseph Oratty, Cashier. Cash capital, $18,000. The stockholders are personally and individually liable for all deposits and obligations of the bank. For this institution there is now in process of erection a brick building, to be fitted with fire and burglar proof safes and all the conveniences and essentials of a first-class bank building.

Wottring Bros. & Co.'s Saw and Planing Mill was put in operation in December, 1882, with a six-horse power Huber engine. The firm consists of W. C. and S. L. Wottring and L. O. Wasser.

Brenizer Block. - This is one of the finest business blocks of the village, and was erected through the enterprise of Brenizer Brothers, consisting of W. G. Brenizer, of Cardington, Ohio, and C. H. Brenizer, of Prospect. It was commenced in the spring of 1881, and completed in 1882 at a cost of about $12,000. The block is built of brick, three stories high. The lower floor is fitted up and occupied by stores; the second floor has six con. venient offices, while the third and upper floor was specially built for and fitted up as an - - one of the neatest halls for the purpose found in towns of the size of Prospect. It has a seating capacity for 800 to 1,000 people. The stage is 28x65 feet, and fitted up with tasteful and appropriate scenery and all the modern paraphernalia. The whole building speaks well, not only for the enterprise of the builders, but of the town. The opera house, consisting of the third floor, is now owned by C. H. and Dr. N. O. Brenizer.

Village Officers

Clerks - M. W. Pettey, 1876-77; J. F. Wottring, 1878-79; Charles A. McFarland, one month, and J. F. Wottring the rest of the year and to the present time.

Middletown was incorporated April 8, 1871, when C. L. Mohr, C. R. Thomas and Joseph Gast were elected Trustees - Mr. Gast, President, and Mr. Mohr, Secretary. Afterward, the Trustees were: 1872 - Joseph Gast, C. L. Mohr, J. T. Davis; 1873-74 - O. L. Mohr, J. T. Davis, B. K. Herbster. ;

Prospect Post Office Biographical Sketches

About 650 letters per week are delivered at this office, 1,500 papers, 400 circulars and 500 postal cards. About 550 letters per annum are registered. Postmasters, with the date of their appointment - Jonathan P. Brookins, March 2, 1837; Chester W. Sherman, December 20, 1849; Isaac W. Taylor, October 11, 1853; Edwin S. Adams, May 24, 1861; John M. Tucker, December 26, 1879; John J. Roberts, October 3, 1881, the present incumbent. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

To complete a history it ts essential that the persons who contribute to make subjects for its pages should be dealt with particularly. In loca! history this becomes an absolute necessity, for without personal sketches of its principal citizens, much of all'that could interest and instruct would be lost. Consequently, the plan has been extended to this, department of the work, as well as to the other chapters of township history, with the result, we hope, of giving perfect satisfaction.

CHRISTIAN ABEL, carriage and buggy manufacturer, Prospect Village, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 29, 1843. His parents' names were George and Gottlieben (Fiegle) Abel; the father is deceased, and the mother is still living in Germany. October 1, 1865, our subject arrived at the port of New York, then being twenty-two years of age. He immediately came to Ohio and commenced learning the blacksmith's trade with Jacob Smelzer, one mile southwest of Marion, with whom he remained three and one-half years, when he went to Bethlehem and operated a blacksmith shop for six years, shoeing horses and doing all kinds of repair work. At this period, about 1874, he commenced the manufacture of buggies, at which business he has succeeded. He remained at Bethlehem till 1881, when he came to Prospect Village, where his factory occupies two large buildings. The paint shop and show rooms two stories high and 40x60 feet; the blacksmith and wood shop 22x95 feet. In the establishmeut he employs twelve hands the year round and manufactures about 100 different vehicles per annum, which sell at prices averaging from $145 to $250 each. The establishment also does a large amount of repairing. It is one of the most important business interests of Prospect, as well as one of the most prosperous. Mr. Abel is a thorough and energetic business man, and his success is owing to his own industry and business tact. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Catharine Isler, a daughter of Samuel Isler. They have six children - Edward, Nelson, Lydia, Charles, and Flora and Cora are twins.

BENJAMIN C. ADAMS. Abraham Adams, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was probably a native of England. He afterward lived in Luzerne County, Penn., and came with his family to Ohio in 1807 or 1808, locating on a farm in Harlan Township, Delaware County,^where he and his wife both died. The father of Benjamin C. Adams was Elijah Adams, born January 2, 1778, in Luzerne County, Penn. He was married in Pennsylvania to Nancy Carey, daughter of Comfort Carey, and came to Ohio in the fall of 1810, bringing his wife and family of three children, as follows: Merey Ann, born October 5, 1804; Simeon, born September 3, 1806, and died aged fourteen years, and Julia Ann, born March 4, 1809.

two and a halt miles south of what is now Prospect Village. During this winter, he also built a log house on this land, 18x20 feet in size; and in March, 1811, moved into it with his family. They had the following children born on this place- - Benjamin C., June 24, 1811; Abraham, March 4, ruary 19, 1824, and died aged seven years; James G., May 7, 1826. Hight of their children lived to have families. Elijah Adams was a Justice of the Peace for thirty years, besides serving in nearly all the offices of the township. In politics, he was a Whig, and afterward a Republican. He was a sianck member of the Methodist Church, and was a firm friend and supporter of the cause of education in the pioneer schools. He taught school for several winters in this township. His wife died in 1834 or 1835,

Adams was born in the pioneer home of his father, two and a half miles south of Prospect Village, June 24, 1811, as will be seen, only three months after his parents had moved into their log house, then located in a perfect wilderness. Here he passed his early years, assisting on the farm and also becoming an adept, when a boy, in hunting all the wild animals then abounding in the forest The taste for hunting while a boy still adheres to him in his advanced years, and now, when making visits to his married child in distant Dakota, he invariably takes his hunting tackle, and there, in the western wilds, with his grandson, re-enacts the scenes of his boyhood and pioneer days. He learned the carpenter's and blacksmith's trades when a young man; the latter business he followed in Prospect Village for seven years; at this place he was also engaged in the mercantile business for several years. Mr. Adams was married, September 24, 1833, to Nancy Woifley a daughter of Ludwig and Mary Wolfley, and they had fwo children

B. C. Adams' wife died September 12, 1836, and September 12, 1842, he was married to Rachel Waters, a daughter of Samuel B. and Mary (Adams) Waters. The children by this marriage that lived to grow up were these: Spencer G., bora August 7, 1844, married Nancy Williams and lives in "Dell Rapids, Dak., where he acts as a Gospel minister in the missionary work, and Ida F., born December 6, 1858. married George M. Curtis, and lives in Radnor Township, Delaware County, Ohio. Benjamin C. Adams'. second wife died September 27, 1863, and April 25, 1867, he married Catharine E. Williams, a daughter of John T and Kittie E. Williams; no children by this marriage. Mr. Adams commenced the battle of life in his young manhood, with little of this world's goods. With his axe and hands he started even-handed with fortune, and has, by a career of industry and straightforward, honest conduct through life, been successful in not only acquiring a comfortable competence, but also in earning and holding the re. spect and confidence of all who know him. Besides being engaged in blacksmithing, merchandising, carpentering, etc., at different times, he was for from business. Heisa stockholder in the Prospect Bank, and occupies himself | in looking after his invested interests of different kinds. He has been amember of the Methodist Church for over forty years, serving during that time

JACOB ALMENDINGER, farmer, was born in Waldo Township, June 15, 1841, and is a son of David and Louisa C. Almendinger. Mr. Almendinger has lived on a farm all his life, with the exception of one year that he spent at carpentering. He bought the farm of eighty acres on which he resides in 1878. He was married ir 1864 to Lydia Book, and they have had four children - Louisa C., Mary A., John W. and Clara. His wife died in 1875, and he married Tabitha Johnson, and by this marriage there are three children, namely, Jesse,B., William D. and an infant. Mr. Almendinger lives in the north part of Prospect Township, and is one of the substantial farmers of his vicinity.

FRIEND BIGGERSTAFF, farmer, died November 17, 1874, aged seventy-four years. He was an early settler in Marion County, and entered and settled npon eigthy acres of land in Prospect Township in 1821. He was a native of Hampshire County, Va., born March 20, 1790, a son of William and Phebe Biggerstaff. He was married to Phebe Harlan, and they had the following children: Rebecca, born November 18, 1817, in Alleghany County, Md.; Mary, born in Fairfield County, Ohio, February 17, 1820; Rachel, same county, August 23, 1822; Nancy, March 28, 1824, and William, August 19, 1826. Friend Biggerstaff lost his wife by death, and he was again merried, in Fairfield County, Ohio, February 26, 1829, to the widow of John Cool, whose maiden name was Hannah Rice, a daughter of Michael and Rachel (Kester) Rice, all natives of Pennsylvania, where she was born December 18, 1796. By her marriage with Friend Biggerstaff, there were the following children: Phebe, born December 31, 1829; Michael R., born November 11, 1832; and Elizabeth, July 31, 1836.. The mother died December 23. 1878. By her. marriage with Jobn Cool there were the following children: Sophia, born April 25, 1822; Elsie, January 18, 1824; and George, June 17, 1826. Michael R. Biggerstaff, farmer, a son of the preceding, has always been engaged in farming and stock-raising, and now resides on his farm of 150 acres, one and a half miles north of Prospect Village, on the east side of the Scioto River. He was married, June 14, 1855, to Lavina Welch, daughter of Solomon and Lavina (Smith) Welch, the former a native of Vermont and an early settler in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Biggerstaff have had a family of five children - Rachel, born July 18, 1856; George, March 29, 1858; Elizabeth, January 3, 1861; Hanna R., August 18, 1867; Martha L., January 10, 1880. Politically, Mr. Biggerstaff is a Democrat.

MEEKER BOTTENFIELD, farmer, was born near Waynesburg, Green County, Penn. August 23, 1818. His parents, John and Mary. (Woodruff) Bottenfield, with their family, including the subject of this paragraph, moved to Knox County, Ohio, in 1839, where the father and mother both lived until their death. Meeker Bottenfield was married in Knox County, March 16, 1842, to Miss Bethiah Hubbel, born April 27, 1827, a daughter of John and Annis (MeIntyre) Hubbell, formerly of Tioga County, N. Y., but then of Knox County, Ohio; both died in Knox County. For two years after Mr. Bottenfield's marriage, he lived near Galena, Delaware Co., Obio, where he leased Jand and cleared fifty acres for other parties, taking as pay fifty acres of unimproved land; the property is located east of Prospect Village, and is now owned by John Q. Roads. They lived here six years and in August, 1852, bought the farm of 101 acres where they now reside; about twenty acres of this farm was cleared at that time; there are now seventy acres of the homestead in a fine state of cultivation. They lived there just twenty-eight years in a log house, und then built, at an expense of $1,500, the fine frame building in which they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Bottenfield have had eight children - Mary Annis, born December 15, 1843, and died January 24, 1861; John H., born January 19, 1845, died September 28, 1875; Stephen J., born August 30, 1846: Carey J., February 20, 1849; Rozetta J., January 3, 1851; Helen Drusella, June 6, 1854; Emma H., June 23, 1857; William M., October 1, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Bottenfield have been members of the Baptist Church since 1847.

AUSTIN A. BOYD, farmer, was born in Waldo Township, this county, January 6, 1841, and was the son of Sylvester and Melinda S. (Selanders) Boyd. Mr. Boyd has always been engaged in farming, and is now farming forty acres of the old homestead in Prospect Township, which was bought by his father in 1862. His father died on this farm January 31, 1871, and the widow still resides there. Our subject was married November 2, 1871, to Mary E. Wasser, a daughter of Charles Wasser, of Prospect Township. They have three children - -Edna May, born December 1, 1874; Charles Carey, November 23, 1876; and Mary E., August 18, 1878. Mr. Boyd is a member of Prospect Lodge, No. 483, I. O. O. F., and in politics, is a Republican.

JOHN WESLEY BOYD, farmer, was born in Licking County, Ohio, October 5, 1817, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Devol) Boyd, both born near the Potomac River in Maryland, who came to Ohio about the year 1814, and located in Licking County, and in 1825 or 1826, came to Marion County and entered eighty acres of land three miles north of Waldo. They subsquently bought 160 acres of land in Pleasant Township, some three or four miles west of their first farm. The father died on the old farm in 1850, and his wife died at the same place four years afterward. They had four children - Edwin, Sylvester, John W. and George. Previous to his marriage to Sarah Devol, he was married to Miss Scott, by whom he had the following children: Joseph, Hiram, William, Eleanor, Ann and Mary, all deceased. He was an old-line Whig in politics, and served the township as Justice of the Peace two terms. John Wesley Boyd, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and when twenty-one years of age his father deeded the 160 acres in Pleasant Township to him and his brother Sylvester, where he resided forthe next ten or twelve years. During this time, he was married to Isabel M. Davids, daughter of William and Margaret Davids, of Pleasant Township. The ceremony was performed April 21, 1845. From this marriage there were two children; one, C. J. Boyd, married Christina Smith, and died January 19, 1883, leaving four children; the other one is deceased. Mr. Boyd's wife died in 1856 or 1857, and he was again married, January 10, 1861, to Mary E. Roads, daughter of John and Margaret (Winegardner) Roads; by the last marriage there were six children - Mary E., Alice K., Henry H., Louisa and Wilson G., and Frank E., who died in infancy. In 1852, Mr. Boyd bought the 100 acres of land where he resides, at $14 per acre. It is now valued at $100 per acre. It was then nearly all wild land; at present it is all improved except fifteen acres of timber. His present residence was built in 1877. It is one of the finest farm residences in the township. The farm lies two miles east of Prospect Village. Mr. Boyd is a Republican, and although this is a Democratic township, he has been elected and served as Trustee two terms; also as Judge of elections. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd and their two eldest children are members of the Baptist Church.

N. O. BRENIZER, B. S., M. D., a practicing physician at Prospect Village, was born in April, 1854, at Cardington, Morrow County, Ohio; and is the son of William G. and Anna (Shaw) Brenizer. The Doctor's youth was passed on his father's farm in Morrow County, in the meantime attending the common schools of the neighborhood. When nineteen years of age, he became a student at Otterbein University, of Westerville, Ohio, where, at the end of five years, he graduated in the scientific course. The last year of his university course he applied himself to the study of medicine; after graduating, he continued his medical studies, and in the fall of 1878, became a student at the Homeopathic Hospital College, at Cleveland, Ohio, graduating at that institution in 1880. On completing his medical course, he located at Prospect Village, where he is still practicing his profession. The Doctor was married, December 30, 1880, to Anna Clime, a daughter of William Clime, of Columbus, Ohio;. They have one child named Vivian Perses.

DR. E. R. COOK (deceased). This gentleman during his lifetime was one of the most enterprising and best esteemed citizens of Prospect Village. He had an extensive practice professionally, and for many years, in addition to his practice, carried on the drug business at Prospect Village; the drug store that he established in 1869 is still carried on by his sons under the firm name of Cook Bros. He was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., September 12, 1816, and was the son of Eli and Elizabeth (Rider) Cook; he was married, April 6, 1845, in Mercer County, Ohio, to Mary A. Sands, a native of Lisbon, Cumberland County, Penn, and daughter of John and Hannah Sands. He studied medicine with Dr. Stimpson, of Albany, Franklin County, Ohio, and came to Marion County in 1849, locating at Latimberville, and in 1883 at Prospect Village, where he died, November 6, 1879. Thus it will be seen that the Doctor was a practitioner in this county for a period of thirty years, though about three years of this time was spent in traveling in the West. He was a Democrat in politics, and took an active and leading part in the polities of this section. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and was a charter member of Prospect Lodge, No. 444, F. & A. M. He was its first Master, and, with the exception of two years, held that position the balance of his life. He was one of the most active members of the lodge, and took a prominent part in getting stock subseribed wherewith to build the present Masonic Hall at Prospect. He was buried in the Marion Cemetery, where a fine monument marks his last resting place.

FRANK M. COOK, of Cook Bros., druggists, and son of Dr. E. R. Cook, is a native of Morrow County, Ohio, and was born February 24, 1847; until twenty-one years of age, his time was mostly passed in attending . School. During this period he also took a course of study at the Commercial College in Delaware, Ohio. From there, in 1868, he entered as a clerk in the drug store of his father. In 1874, he became a partner in the drug business, under the firm name of Dr. Cook & Son; this partnership continued until the death of Dr. Cook, in November, 1879. The next month, December, 1879, G. W. Cook was admitted as a partner, and the firm name changed to Cook Brothers. F. M. Cook was married in Clinton County,

Mich., to Miss Alice R. Myer. He is Democratic in politics, and has served the citizens as member of the Village Council and of the Board of Education.

G. W. COOK, druggist and cashier of the Prospect Bank, is a son of Dr. E.. R. Cook, and was born in Prospect' Township, Marion County, October 27, 1856. His early years were passed at school and clerking in his father's drug store in the village of Prospect.- In 1879, he became a partner in the drug business with his brother, F. M., the firm being Cook Brothers, in which he is still interested. He was elected cushier of the Prospect Bank on the 8th of March, 1883, in which position he is now acting. Mr. Cook was married, May 4, 1882, to Miss May Dix, daughter of Blijah Dix. Mr. Cook has served Prospect Township as Treasurer three terms; in politics, he is a Democrat.

COOK BROTHERS, druggists. This business was established by Dr. E. R. Cook in 1869; it is the oldest drug store established in Prospect. The present business is carried on by the Doctor's sons, F. M. and G. W. Cook. They carry a fullline of goods pertaining to a first-class general drug and prescription store, and command an extensive trade.

JOHN J. COURT, farmer, is a son of Joseph and Maria (Sherman) Court, and was born in Pleasant Township, this county, May 28, 1849. He lived in that township until twenty-one years of age, when he bought the farm of 133 acres in Prospect Township, in which he now resides Mr. Court was married Septemper 5, 1872, to Miss Anna Clark, who was born August 15, 1855, and a daughter of William B. and Harriet Clark. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. A. D. Matthews, of Marion. . They have three children living - Eva Maneta, born August 28, 1873; Clara Idella, September 29, 1876; and Lulu, May 11, 1881.

WILLIAM F. COURT, farmer, was born in Pleasant Township, this county, December 19, 1836. He was reared on the homestead of his parents, Joseph and Maria (Sherman) Court, in Pleasant Township, and when twenty-two years of age, bought land in Green Camp Township, which he sold two years later, and, with his brother George as partner, kept a general store; subsequently, he sold his interest to T. Cratty and bought 100 acres of land southwest of Richwood. After living on this farm eighteen months, he entered trade with his brother in the merchant tailoring business at Richwood, which continued for two years, when he bought the farm of 182 acres where he resides, in the southwest part of Prospect Township. He was married, in 1863, to Charlotte Watkins, who was born October 6, 1845, and was a daughter of Thomas Watkins, an early settler of Prospect Township; from this marriage there were six ehildren - John F., born January 4, 1864, and died September 8, 1864; Thomas J., born December 29, 1865; Margaret M., August 4, 1867; Ida B., August 2, 1869; Joanna L., March 17, 1875; and Mary Elizabeth, November 27, 1880. Mr. Court is one of the substantial farmers of the township.

JOSEPH CRATTY is a son of Robert and Ellen (Porter) Cratty, and was born on the homestead, one mile east of Prospect Village, July 12, 1842. In March, 1861, he went to Illinois, and in September, 1861, enlisted in Company L, Third Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, for three years, to serve in the war of the great rebellion. The regiment was soon ordered into active service, and with it he participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Ark., siege of Vicksburg, Champion Hills, Carrion Crow Bayou, La. He was at Memphis when Forest made his raid, the Third Regiment taking a prominent part, and in various skirmishes in the States of Missouri, Arkansas and

Louisiana. On the expiration of his term of enlistment, he was honorably discharged at Memphis, Tenn., September 19, 1864. He then returned to Prospect, Marion County, and attended school until 1866. On leaving school, he engaged with various parties as clerk, and about the vear 1870, became a partner in the general merchandising business at Richwood, Ohio, under the firm name of T. P. Cratty & Co. About 1872, he bought his partner's interest; in 1874, he moved his goods and opened at Ashland, remaining three months; then to Shawnee and to Orbiston, February 19. 1877, and from there to Prospect Village, in May, 1878; here he formed a partnership with J. M. Tucker, which continued six months. He carried on business alone until 1880, when. he formed a partnership with P. C. Sells, continuing until February 1, 1883, at all the above places he was engaged in general merchandising. Mr. Cratty was married October 1, 1872, to Miss Isabella J. Hamilton, a daughter of the Rev. William Hamilton, of Licking County, Ohio. Mrs. Cratty died January 22, 1882. By this marriage there were three children - Arthur H., Robert J., who died aged four years and eleven months; and Helen M. Mr. Cratty is a member of Prospect Lodge, No. 444, F. & A. M., of which he has been Master for four years. He is a Prchibitionist Republican in politics. He is one of the most energetic and enterprising business men of Prospect Village.

ROBERT CRATTY, pioneer farmer, is the oldest person now living in Marion County, and was born August 24, 1784, at Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn. His parents' names were Thomas and Jane (McKinney) Cratty, the former a native of Ireland and the latter born on the same farm as our subject. His maternal grandparents were natives of Ireland. The father of Robert eame to America as a soldier in the British Army about 1750 to 1755, and married his wife in Franklin County, Penn. They had ten children, our subject being next to the youngest. The family moved to Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1786, and in 1797, to Butler County, Penn. In the latter county, Mr. Cratty was married to Elizabeth English, a daughter of Samuel English. He, with his wife and family of seven children - Samuel, Thomas, William, Robert, James, Jane and Eliza Cratty - came to Ohio in 1817 and lccated near Ostrander, Delaware County, where they remained three years. In the fall of 1819, he purchased, at $3 per acre, 114 acres of land, one mile east of Prospect Village, joining the boundary line. The folllowing winter, he built on this land a round log house, 18x20 feet in size, and March 3, 1820, took up his residence in it, with his family. The neighbors were mostly Seneca Indians, only three other white families: living near; they were the families of Thomas Pugh, one mile north; Ephraim Markley, one and a half miles northwest; and Elijah Adams, about three miles southeast. The first season the family were much attlicted with chills and fever. Mrs. Cratty died in the fall of 1820, leaving seven children. Jn the fall of 1821, Mr. Cratty was married at Milford Center, Union County, to Ellen Porter. By this marriage there were twelve children, as follows: Mary, John, Harvey, David, Hiram, Madison, Jane, Harvey W., Joseph and three died at birth. December 24, 1844, Mr. Cratty's second wife died, and in October, 1845, he was married to Sarah Bur. rell, who died May 26, 1860, leaving no children. He was married the fourth time, July 23, 1861, to Mrs. Sarah W. Kilburn, now eighty-six years old, daugbter of Ezra and Mary Wyatt. Mr. and Mrs. Cratty are now living on the old homestead that Mr. Cratty bought in 1819, and where he has continuously resided. This land was originally covered with a heavy growth of white oak, hickory, walnut, ash and beech timber. For many years ufter his settlement here, his taxes were only about $2.50 per annum, having as much or more stock than he has'ever had since, though no stock at that time was taxed until after three years of age; now on the same property the taxes amount to $180 or $140 yearly. But he adds that it was as hard to get the $2.50 then as it is to get the $130 or $140 now. Then he was obliged to haul his wheat over dreadful roads to Delaware for 37$ cents per bushel, and the best of pork for $1.50 per handred pounds, and has hauled loads of forty bushels of wheat to Sandusky City, getting 62 cents per bushel, starting Monday morning and arriving home Saturday or Sunday night, at times bringing back a load of salt, leather, etc., for merchants. He has in fine cultivation eighty acres of the homestead, principally cleared through his own exertions. Mr. Cratty is now in his one hundredth year, and is exceptionally hale and hearty for a man of his age. He served as an Ensign at Fort Erie in the war of 1812, and four of his sons and two grandsons served in the war of the rebellion. Mr. Cratty was Supervisor of the township for several years, and supervised the clearing up of many miler of the present township roads. Since the age of twentyone, he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics was formerly a Whig, and of later years a Republican.

JOSIAH T, DAVIS, residence and post office address, Prospect Village, was born at Port Byron, Westchester County, N. Y., December 27, 1815. His youth was spent in farming, and at the age of eighteen years he commenced learning the carriage-maker's trade at Unionville, Broome Co., N. Y. When twenty-one years of age, in company with his parents, one brother, Hubbard, and three sisters, Eliza, Sally Ann and Mary Jane, he eame to Ohio and located at Sunbury, Delaware County, December 2, 1836. He was married September 2, 1845, to Cathrine Gast, born February 12, 1822, a daughter of Christian Gast, the original proprietor of the plat of Middletown, now Prospect. From this marriage there were five children; two died in infancy unnamed. Lafayette, born June 26, 1853; and died November 14, 1863; J. Albert, born September 26, 1849, is now residing at Prospect with his parents, and is a teacher of instrumental musie; E. Eugene, born November 14, 1858, married Mary A. Kelly and now resides in Cincinnati, where he is the proprietor and director of the musical school known as the "Cincinnati Grand Conservatory of Music." Our subject was actively engaged in the carriage-making business at Prospect Village, but has now retired from active business, his time being mostly occupied in looking after his real estate interests. He has made two additions to the village plat. The lots extending from the old town nearly to the depot on Water street were nearly all laid out and sold by him - about thirty-six lots. The other addition was eighteen lots on North street. Mr. Davis has erected four dwelling houses in Prospect Village, one of which he occupies as a residence; it is une of the neatest and best residences in town, and cost about $2,000. Mr. Davis has been a life-long Democrat, taking at times an active part in politics. Himself, wife and children are members of the Lutheran Church. His father was Daniel Davis, a native of Horseneck, Conn, who was a son of Thomas Davis, a native of Wales. The latter during the reign of King George II, bought the township of land in which the city of Norwalk, Conn; is now located, and was the original proprietor of the first village plat of the present city of Norwalk. His mother's name before marriage was Priscila Belden. Daniel Davis died March 31, 1899, and his wife Priscilla October 5, 1866, both deaths occurring at their son's, Hubbard's, house, who then resided three miles southeast of Prospect, on a farm now occupied by William Ludwig, the first aged seventy-nine years, and his wife aged eighty-one years. à;

ELIJAH DIX, farmer, Prospect Township, has been a resident of Marion County for thirty-eight years. His first visit to the county was as à teacher, a calling which he followed for some ten years. He was born in Troy Township, Delaware County, Ohio, August 6, 1822, and was a son of David Dix,a native of the State of Vermont, and the first settler in Troy Township, Our subject's mother's maiden name was Mary Main, a daughter of Peres and Rebecca Main, natives of Connecticut, and also early settlers in Troy Township. Elijah Dix was married July 2, 1848, to Phebe Bigger staff, a daughter of Friend Biggerstaff. They have the following named children: Medill M., Charles S., William Warren and May. Mr. Dix is the owner of a valuable and highly improved farm of 125 acres nearly adjoining the corporate limits of the village of Prospect. He purchased this property in 1846, then all wild land; now 100 acres are subject to the plow. He is a Democrat in polities and has served the county and township in various offieial positions, among which were County Surveyor for two terms of three years each, Justice of the Peace for six years, Township Trustee repeatedly, and at different times nearly all of the township offices. He is one of the most substantial and best respected citizens of Prospect Township. Himself and wife have been members of the Baptist Church for upward of thirty years.

DIX BROTHERS, clothiers, Prospect Village. The members of this firm are M. M. Dix, C. S. Dix and W. W. Dix. They opened up their clothing establishment, consisting of a fine stock of clothing and gents' furnish. ing goods, on the 15th of March, 1883. It is the only store in Prospect that deals exclusively in men's furnishing goods. They carry a choice; selected stock of upward of $5,000 worth on their shelves, and buy their goods direct from the largest manufacturers and dealers of Eastern cities. The firm are also operating a store at Paulding, Ohio, which is doing a prosperous business under the management of C. S. Dix. M. M. Dix, of the firm above, was born December 24, 1855, in Prospect Township, fol lowed the life of a farmer until 1882, since which time he has been connected with mercantile pursuits in Prospect Village. He was married, July 27, 1882, to Miss Ella Wottring, a daughter of Philip Wottring, of Delaware. OC. S. Dix, of this firm, was born September 8, 1858, in Prospect Township. He graduated at the Normal Department of Denison University in 1881, and since that time has engaged in mercantile pursuits. W. W. Dix, also of this firm, was born in Prospect Township, May 17, 1861; is first leader of the Prospect Star Band. He is junior partner of this firm, and is living at home with his father.

JAMES L. FARNUM, M. D. This gentleman is one of the oldest practicing physicians in Prospect Township. He was born in Pleasant Township, Marion County, September 28, 1825, and is a son of Erastus and Nancy (Robinson) Farnum. Two months before he was twenty-one, by agreeing to pay his father 50 cents a day tor all the "fair days" in these two months, he was permitted by him to leave home and strike out for himself. He immediately took a job of cutting and putting up hay, which, when completed, averaged him $1.06 per day for his labor, the amount earned being $25.84. Of this money he paid his father $12, being part of the amount due him for the two months. Thus he had $13.84 left. With this money he paid for three months' board and schooling at Marion, and the following winter he taught school inWyandot County at $10 per month and his board. At the close of his school, he returned to his father's and worked for him one month as final payment for the month lost before of age. He then attended school at Millville, Delaware County, for three months, worked at harvesting after his school ended, and in the fall attended another term of three months at the Millville School, and in the winter taught school four months, in Radnor Township, Delaware County, at $15 per month. The next summer he commenced reading medicine in the office of J. P. Blake, M. D., at Prospect Village, and taught another term of school in Crawford County in the winter at $15 per month. On the completion of his medical studies in 1850, he became a partner in the practice of his preceptor, Dr. Blake. At this time Dr. Farnum was in debt for his education $200, with only 25 cents assets, which it took a couple of years to pay off. With very brief intermissions, the Doctor has practiced his profession in Prospect Village up to this dute. He was so afflicted with rheumatism at one time as to be obliged to give up his practice, when he taught school one term in the village, and afterward removed to Richwood and taught a spring term of three months and a winter term of four months' school; this was the last school the Doctor taught. Having regained his health, he returned to Prospect and again commenced the practice of his profession, to which, in connection with farming, he has given strict attention up to this time. The first seventeen years of his practice through the country was attended to wholly on horseback, his rides extending fifteen miles north and west of town, through a newly settled country, especially toward the north, which was dense woods for miles. He would frequently be ealled on dark and stormy nights to ride through these woods several miles away, with nothing but a bridle path to follow, over great logs three feet through, which his horse would be obliged to leap. In 1861, the Doctor bought his first piece of land, sixty-six acres in Pleasant Township, for $2,000. He now owns 321 acres of land, its average value being about $100 per acre. A portion lies within the corporation of Prospect Village. He made an addition to the village plat that was recorded in the spring of 1888, on the west side of the Scioto River. He owns a fine residence in the village where he resides, as well as some other property. He is one of the wealthiest men of the township, as well as one of its most enterprising and honored citizens. .He is a Democrat, and has filled various offices in the township, among which was Township Clerk for several years. Dr. Farnum was married in March, 1850, to Ann Eliza Wottring, daughter of Jacob J. Wottring, an early settler. The Doctor and his wife have three children - M. Ellen, Samuel J. and William H. Samuel J. was married June 3, 1881, to Miss Addie Davis, daugther of David J. Davis, of Union County, Ohio. He is a farmer, residing half a mile north of Prospect Vil- Pe ACOB F. FOX, Sn, farmer, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 4, 1812. His parents were born at the same place and left Germany January 28, 1834, and the same year in the fall settled in Prospect Township. Jacob F. was next to the oldest child. The names of his parents were Christian and Magdalena Fox. His father bought ninety-seven acres of wild land, which he and his boys cleared up. Himself and wife are deceased. Mr. Fox was married, in November, 1841, to Mary Ann Sells, by this union there were six children - J acob F., Jr., Eliza J ane, Caroline, Mary, Martha Ellen and John. His wife died and he was married to Catharine Engelhardt, by whom there were six children - Sophia, Joseph W.,

William, Susannah, Samuel and Rachel. This wife also died, and he was married again, to Mary Anna Sintz; by her there were three children - Herman, Elizabeth M. and Philip H. This wife died, and he was married October 3, 1879, to Elizabeth C. Milhaus, widow of John Milhaus. Her maiden name was Loebrich. Mr. Fox owns 149 acres of land, on which he resides, 100 acres of which he has cleared. It was formerly covered with heavy timber, some oaks measuring six feet in diameter.

JACOB F. FOX, Jr., farmer, was born in Prospect Township, and is a son of the above mentioned. He enlisted, August 15, 1864, in Company I, . One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a soldier in the civil war, and served to the close, being mustered out of service at Camp Tod, Columbus, Ohio, in July. He was present at the following battles: Averill's Creek, the Cedars, Tennessee, and of Wise Forks, N. C. He was married, March 8, 1867, to Maria Ludwig, and they have had six children - John Harvey, Flora Mertie May, Carey Elmer, Elsie Ellen, Kelsie and Minnie, the last two being twins; Kelsie is deceased. Mr. Fox is the owner of forty acres in the northwest part of Prospect Towuship, where he resides.

CHRISTIAN GAST, born April 23, 1726, and his wife Christina, born in 1729, were both natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. About the year 1750, immediately after their marriage, they emigrated to America, first settling in Maryland, not far from Philadelphia, Penn., and subsequently moving to Center County, Penn., where they passed the remainder of their lives. They had two sons and one daughter who grew to maturity and raised families. Their names were John, Nicholas, Catherine and Christian. The last mentioned bought a farm on the banks of the Juniata River in the town of Frankstown, Huntingdon Co., Penn., where he and his wife both died, he at the advanced age of about eighty years. They rasied a family of ten children, who grew to be men and women. Their names were as follows: Catherine, born February 12, 1789; Christian, August 9, 1790; John, November 18, 1793; George, February 8, 1796; Jacob, March 24, 1798; William, March 15, 1800; Mary, March 21, 1803; Margaret, December 15, 1805; Sarah, December 17, 1807; Samuel, January 19, 1810.

CHRISTIAN GAST, one of the children last mentioned, was married in Huntingdon County, Penn., about the year 1818, to Elizabeth Moyer, a daughter of Philip Moyer, and settled on a farm in Greenfield Township, Bedford County, Penn. The y emigrated to Ohio in 1882, bringing with them a family of nine children, who were named as follows: Margaret, born March 3, 1814; Elizabeth, March 14, 1816; Philip, February 24, 1818; Christian, November 10, 1819; Catharine, February 12, 1822; George, November 16, 1823; Sarah, April 1, 1826; David, December 17, 1828; Mary, November 25, 1830; the next and youngest child was Abigail, born in Marion County, May 23, 1883. On the arrival of the family in Ohio they located in what is now Prospect Township, Mr. Gast buying 600 acres of land at $4 per acre. It was then a wilderness, only fourteen acres having been improved at all. On this clearing there was an old round-log house, into which the family moved, April 27, 1832, and occupied as a residence until 1840, when he erected a stone house on nearly the same site. In this house he and wife passed the remainder of their lives. His son David now owns and occupies this bouse as his residence. It is situated on the east side of the road and is the first house going south from Prospect Village after crossing the bridge that spans Battle Run. The 600 acres of land that he purchased was on the east side of the Scioto River and in- cluded the land now occupied by the village of Prospect, formerly Middletown, of which he was the original proprietor. He caused to be surveyed and laid out in lots and streets the original plat for the village September 17, 1835, then consisting of eighty-one lots, besides lots donated by him for church, school and burial purposes. Subsequently he made three additions to the village, consisting of 119 lots. He was a man of decided religious convictions and a firm friend and supporter of the cause of education. Himself and wife were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which denomination he served in various offices for many years, and the first church built in the village, a small frame structure that stood on the site of the present brick schoolhouse, was built principally by contributions from him; he afterward contributed largely in the erection of the present brick Lutheran Church. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, his first vote being cast for Gen. Jackson for President; he subsequently became a Whig, and in the latter days of his life a Republican. While living in Pennsylvania, he served his community as Justice of the Peace, and during his residence in Prospect Township served in many of its local offices. He was a man of sterling worth, a sympathizing and valuable counselor for those who needed and asked advice, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens to an eminent degree. At his death, which occurred the 29th of December, 1858, the township lost one of its most worthy citizens and pioneers. His worthy wife departed this life some eight years afterward. They had lived a happy married life together for upward of forty-five years, and now lie side by side in the village cemetery overlook. ing the waters of the placid Scioto. At the funeral of Mr. Gast, a sermon was preached in the German language from the fourteenth chapter of John, first and second verses; also in the English language, from the second epistle of Paul to Timothy, fourth chapter and seventh and eighth verses. Mr. Gast in his early years learned the trade of a wagon-maker, aud during his residence in Prospect followed that business to a greater or less extent, in connection with his farming and other interests. Ata meeting held in Prospect a year or two since, there were thirty-six families present who lived within two miles of Prospect Village that were descendants in some degree of relationship of the pioneer Christian Gast. His descend: ants are now among the best and most respected citizens of Prospect Township. By. hee CHRISTIAN GAST, born November 10, 1319, and a son of Christian and Elizabetb (Moyer) Gast, before mentioned, passed his youth on his father's farm, and lived with his parents until twenty-three years of age. During this time he learned the wagon-maker's and earpenter'strade. He was married, February 17, 1842,to Miss Mary Cratty,a daughter of Robert Cratty, with whom he lived seven years, when he was, on the 29th of June, 1348, bereaved of his wife by death. By this marriage there were the following children, all of whom are living: William W., born September 2, 1843; John M., November 16, 1845; and Mary Ellen, May 12, 1818. The follow. ing year, on July 5, 1849, Mr. Gast was married to a sister of his former wife, Miss Jane Cratty, who was born January 1, 1533. By this union there were three children - Philip M.,born February 2, 1854; Matilda A., December 28, 1855, and now deceased; and Ida L., November 28, 1868. Mr. Gast is one of the most substantial and respected citizens of Prospect Township, and all those enterprises that advance the prosperity and enlightenment of the community he is ever ready to promote and aid by his personal influence and liberal donations. Himself and wife are DE of QQ the Lutheran Church, in which he has held some office, such as Trustee, Deacon, etc., for many years. He has made farming the business of his life; in this calling he has been successful, and now owns 100 acres of valuable land with fine improvements, adjoining the corporation of the village of Prospect. In politics he is a Republican.

DAVID GAST. This gentleman is one of the leading citizens, financially and socially, of Prospect Township. He is a son of the original proprietor of Prospect Village mentioned above, and was born in Frankstown Township, Bedford County, Penn., December 17, 1828. He was married at Circleville, Ohio, May 9, 1852, to Miss Catharine M. Row, a daughter of David and Catharine (Hoffman) Row, of that place. From this marriage there were seven children, only two of whom are living, as follows: George F., who married Mattie Boxwell, is a farmer and resides in Prospect Township, and Samuel, who lives at home. Mr. Gast has lived on a farm since infancy, and has been engaged in farming pursuits all his life, and, as he was the youngest son, always resided with his parents at the homestead, where they settled in Prospect Township in 1832, and of which he is now the owner, including 180 acres of land, mostly adjoining the corporation of Prospect Village. In connection with his farming and other interests, for the last thirty years he has devoted much of his time to the study and treatment of diseases of horses and stock. In the treatment of these diseases he hus been eminently successful, and he is known as a successfu] veterinarian over a wide extent of country. He has for the last few years devoted much time to the successful treatment and cure of cancers, his method being by outward appliances and internal remedies, but in no case using the knife. His treatment in many cases has proved a cure, restoring the patients to perfect health. Mr. Gast is a Republican in politics, and although the Democrats are in the majority in Prospect Township. he has been elected to many of its local offices. He was Justice of the Peace nine years, Township Trustee three years, and Township Supervisor for many years. He has been a member of the Lutheran Church for thirty-eight years, and his wife thirty-five years. He has held the office of Deacon of this church for about eighteen years, and some kind of church office continuously for thirty years. In all matters pertaining to the welfare of the church and Sunday school, he takes &n active part, and for the past four years has acted as Superintendent of the Sunday school, a position he had previously filled for several years. As a representative citizen of this township, we give the portrait of Mr. Gast in this work.

GEORGE GAST isa son of Christian and Elizabeth (Moyer) Gast, and was born November 16, 1828, in Pennsylvania. He passed his youth and early mauhood on the homestead with his parents, during this time following the vocation of a farmer and also learning the carpenter's and wagon-maker's trades. When about thirty-three years of age, he was married to Miss Margaret Edelman, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Edelman, of Marion County. The marriage ceremony was performed January 1, 1856. From this union five children were born, as follows: Arthur L., Mary Elizabeth (who is now the wife of Dr. G. H. Masters, a practicing physician at Prospect Village, and they have one child - Emma); Eva and Amelia - al| living with their parents except the married one. They lost one child, an infant, named Jesse Raymond. Mr. and Mrs. Gast are members of the Lutheran Church. He has officiated as leader in the Lutheran Chureh choir continuously for nearly thirty years, and also as Sunday school teacher and librarian for several years. Mr. Gast has an excellent farm of 100 acres adjoining the village of Prospect, on which he has a large and commodious residence, with other fine improvements. A fine barn was destroyed by fire, supposed to be the work of incendiaries, who were enraged at the very decided stand he took against intemperance and the traffic in spirituous liquors in the vicinity. Heis a firm advocate of temperance, a good citizen, and a liberal, conscientious Christian gentleman, and a worthy descendant of his pioneer father. ile lL n his possession an Indian relic which he found near Battle Run many years ago. It is an Indian tomahawk of fine make, inlaid with six pieces of silver, the hammer end being made hollow for use as a pipe. From its fine workmanship it is inferrable that it once belonged to a chief.

G. F. GAST, a native of Prospect Township, was born August 25, 1856, a son of David and Catharine M. (Row) Gast. This gentleman has dlways followed farming, and now resides one mile west of Prospect Village, adding to his farming the raising of fine poultry. He was married, January 2, 1881, to Mattie A. Boxwell, daughter of Titus and Lucetta Boxwell, of Pleasant Township.

JOHN B. GAST was born September 18, 1827, and is a son of William Gast, who was born March 15, 1800; his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Lingerfelter. At the age of sixteen he learned the tailor's trade, and afterward learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which business he carried on in Prospect Village for eighteen years, when he bought sixty-six and one-half acres of land west of the village, where he has ever since resided. He was married, January 1, 1832, to Miss Sarah Smith, a daughter of Jacob and Frances Smith, who came to Ohio about 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Gast have two children - Elizabeth Frances, born March 16, 1853; and Candace Ann, born August 5, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Gast are members of the Lu. theran Church.

JOHN M. GAST, teacher of vocal and instrumental music, was born on November 16, 1845, and isa son of Christian and Mary (Cratty) Gast. He passed his youth and young manhood at the homestead of his father near Prospect Village, during this time acquiring a good literary education at the Prospect Schools. Exhibiting a decided taste and talent for music, he early applied himself to its study, under some of the best teachers of vocal and instrumental music in the country, among them Prof. Minelli, of Delaware, when attending the Academy of Music at. Xenia, Ohio, and Dr. George F. Root, of Chicago, Ill. For the past eighteen years, Mr. Gast has been a successful and popular teacher of vocal and instrumental music in this county, and is at present teaching six different classes in vocal music, besides having thirty-six pupils in instrumental music. He has a fine farm of eighty-five acres adjoining the corporation of Prospect Village, valued at from $100 to $150 per acre, on which he has an elegant residence, within a few rods of the corporation line and near the railroad depot. Mr. Gast was married, December 15, 1872, to Mellusina Leist, born January 5, 1849, a daughter of C. B. and Isabel Leist, natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Gast have a family of three children - Cora Estella, born August 1i, 1877; William A., born September 25, 1880; and Carrie Belle, born March 20, 1882. Mr. Gast is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is a Republican. na.

REV. PHILIP GAST (deceased), was a son of Christian Gast, the proprietor of the original plat or Prospect. He was a Lutheran minister, coming to Prospect in 1832. In 1857, he became the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at this place, where he preached about nine years, when he was prostrated by the typhoid fever and died October 20, 1865; about the same time, two of his sons fell victims to the same disease. His widow, whose maiden name was Lucy A. Dressler, was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Samuel Dressler. She died in Prospect in 1881; and both are buried in the village graveyard on the banks of the Scioto River. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters, two sons and four daughters living; one died when an infant. Matthias aud William both died of typhoid fever, aged respectively nineteen and eight. een years Samuel H. is living in Prospect Village, a partner in the hardware business with B. K. Herbster, the firm being Herbster & Gast. He has been Mayor of the village one term, member of the Council, School Board, etc. In politics, heis a Republican. 'The other son, Edward C. Gast, is now living in Fremont, Ohio, following the hardware business. Samuel H. Gast was married, May 24, 1883, to Miss Louisa C. Herr, of Galion, Ohio; they reside in Prospect Village.

PHILIP M. GAST is a son of Christian and Jane (Cratty) Gast, and a grandson of Christian Gast, the original proprietor of Prospect Village. He was born February 2, 1854. When twenty-four years of age he engaged at clerking in Prospect Village, a business he followed the greater part of the time for five years. He owns sixteen acres of valuable land, in and adjoining the village corporation, on which there is a fine residence, where. in he lives with his family. He is now engaged principally in farming, and has charge of the homestead, 100 acres, owned by his father. Mr. Gast was married, March 11, 1877, to Miss Hattie C. Jelley, a daughter of John H. Jelley, of Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio. She was born November 24, 1859. They have three children - Metta Gertrude, born February 11, 1878; Christian Scoth, May 10, 1880; Robert Roy, May 18, 1882. Mr: and Mrs. Gast are members of the Lutheran Church.

WILLIAM W.GAST is a native of Prospect Township, and was born September 2, 1843. He is a son of Christian and Mary (Cratty) Gast; he lived ab the homestead of his parents until twenty-one years old, meanwhile receiving the advantages of a common school education. At this age, he commenced business for himself by buying forty-eight acres of land a half mile east of Prospect Village, for $2,300, which he sold in 1870 for $3,600. He subsequently bought 110 acres one and a half miles east of Prospect Village, for $5,000, which he still owns, and is valued at $100 per acre. In the fall of 1882, he bought five-eigbths of an acre of land just east of the railroad depot in Prospect Village, for building purposes, on which he has erected a large and commodious brick house for his residence, at a cost, with outbuildings, of nearly $3,000. In addition to his farming business, he has for the past five years been successfully engaged in the sale of agricultural implements. He is of an energetic disposition, enterprising and progressive, and is known and respected as one of the best citizens of the township. He was married January 3, 1867, to Esther G. Grigsby, of this township, and a daughter of John Grigsby. They have a family of three children - Elida, born February 22, 1871; Clara M., born December 20, 1875, and Mary Jane, born December 2, 1880. Mr. Gast is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

T. J. GLIDDEN, M. D. Dr. Glidden is a native of Westfield, Morrow County, Ohio, and was born in June, 1836. His father, T. P. Glidden, was a physician and practiced at Cardington, Morrow County,formany years. T. J. commenced reading medicine in the office with his father in 1857; after reading with him four years, he entered Starling Medical College at Colum- bus, Ohio, as a student and graduated in 1865. On finishing his medical course, he began practicing in Radnor, Delaware County, remaining there until 1872, when he removed to Prospect Village, continuing his practice there until the present time. He has a practice extending for miles around Prospect, and owns and operates a drug store in the village. He has retained the most of his old patients in Radnor Township, where he first commenced, they having followed him. He was married, at Cardington, Ohio, to Miss Millie Liggett, daughter of Alexander Liggett, of that place. They have three children - Nellie M., Edna V. and Anna A. - all living at home excepi Nellie, who is now the wife of Dr. Gorslene, of Radnor. The Doctor is a Republican.

HENRY HAIN, Eso, Notary Public at Prospect Village, was born in what is now Liverpool Township, Perry County, Penn, August 2, 1812. 'His parents' names were Daniel and Elizabeth (Young) Hain, both natives of Pennsylvania, and mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Henry Hain was raised on a farm and worked out at different kinds of labor until twenty-one years of age, his father receiving the proceeds. When he became of age, he was working at a steam mill, and remained there until December 23, 1833, when he obtained a position as clerk with T. M. Sloan, of Marion, with whom he remained three years. During this time, January 31, 1535, he was married to Hannah Noble, of Pleasant Township: by this marriage there were two children. He lost his wife by death, September 25, 1843; one child had preceded her, and the other child died June 25, 1844, aged about four years. He was married again, November 14, 1844, to Susannah Barnhart, who died in Clay County, Ind., June 30, 1872. For several years after 1835, he followed clerking at various places - some fifteen months at Norton, Delaware County, and six months at Letimberville. His health having failed, he fcllowed farming three years, living in the house where he was married. On regaining his health, he returned to Marion, and commenced clerking for T. Search & Son; while with them in 1844, he was elected Recorder of Marion County, which office he filled for nine years, also attending to his duties as Clerk at the same time. In 1853, he was elected Auditor of the county, serving two years, and in 1859 was elected Infirmary Director, which office he filled for six years, and since his residence in Prospect Township has acted as a Justice of the Peace for twelve years and a half. He is now a Notary Public, this making the fourth year that he has filied that office. Since 1880, Mr. Hain has, with the exception of three years spent in Indiana and fifteen months in Norton, been a continuous resident of Marion County up to this time. He is very popular in the section where he resides, and is honored and respected by all who know him. He has been fairly successful in a financial sense, having a comfortable fortune for his support and enjoyment, and follows out the maxim " to live and let live," both in theory and practice.

L. D HARSHBERGER, farmer, was born October 31, 1845; his parents were Leonard and Margaret Barbara (Snider) Harshberger; the father died in June, 1845, about four months before L. D. was born; his widow afterward married C. F. Hopkins and died in May, 1875. The subject of this sketch was married, April 4, 1866, to Elizabeth Andrew, born August 25, 1845, a daughter of Peter and Mary (Hopwood) Andrew, the former a natiVé of Maryland, and the latter of Fairfield County, Ohio. They were married July 10. 1842. Peter Andrew settled in Green Camp Township at a very early date, where he served as Justice of the Peace for many years. He was a man of good education and greatly respected for his many excel.

lent qualities. He died June 9, 1863; his wife died February 10, 1861. L. D. Harshberger and wife have five children - Maggie Lillian, born January 17, 1867; Jennie Leora, July 19, 1870; Daisy L, October 31, 1873; Dora H., June 2,1876; and Hattie May, born March 30, 1879. Mr. Harshberger has always been a farmer, and now owns 120 acres of excellent land, two and a half miles north of Prospect Village, on Section 31, Prospect Township. The farm is finely improved, lying along the east side of the Scioto Hiver. A few rods from its banks is Mr. Harshberger's residence. Its site is one of.the prettiest locations in the county. Mr. Harshberger is a member of Prospect Lodge, No. 444, F. & A. M., and has served as its Treasurer for several years. He has resided where he now lives since April 4, 1857, and is one of Prospect Township's most substantial men. Mr. Harshberger enlisted, August 8, 1864, in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at Charlotte, N. C., June 28, 1865. He was present at the battle of. Averill's Creek, December 4, 1864; the Cedars, December 7, 1864, where he was in the skirmish line all day; the evacuation and burning of Decatur, Ala., November 27, 1864; Kingston, N. C., and at the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army in 1865. i BENJAMIN K. HERBSTER, merchant, was born in Albany Township, Berks County, Penn., December 6, 1843; his parents were Benjamin and Lydia (Kumrer) Herbster; the father of Benjamin' was John. The Herbsters came from Wurtemberg, Germany, at a very early date and settled on a farm in Pennsylvania, where our subject was born, he being of the fourth generation born on this farm. He was reared to the life of a farmer; at the age of twenty-one years, he commenced learning the trade of a mil ler in'Schuylkill County, Penn. ; after remaining there eighteen months, in the spring of 1866, he came to Ohio and worked as a miller in Delaware, Prospect and Marion until 1871, when he formed a partnership with Will. iam Reeser, under the firm name of Herbster & Reeser, and bought the Prospect mill, which they operated until 1877, when they sold the mill to "Morrow Brothers. In 1878, the firm built the two large brick dwelling houses where they now reside, at an expense of about $10,000. They were then the best private dwellings in town. The first bank ever started in the village was the Prospect Bank, organized in 1880, by B. K. Herbster and W. H. Mohr, with Mr. Herbster as President. It was then a private bank. Its establishuent proved a great convenience to the business community, and on March 8, 1882, it was re.organized into a stock company, Mr. Hersbter still acting as its President. In 1882, Mr. Herbster became a stockholder in the Richwood Importing Company, which has been the means of introducing some of the finest stock horses from France into this and adjoining counties. In February, 1882, in connection with his other interests, he formed a partnership with S. H. Gast in the hardware business at Prospect, under the firm name of Herbster & Gast, which business is still continued. They carry a full line of all kinds of hardware and agriculturalimplements. In politics, Mr. Herbster adheres to the principles as represented by the Democratic party, and has served in various official posi tions, among which were Village Cou..cilman six or seven years, Township and Village Treasurer two years, and Township Trustee two years. He takes an active and leading part in the politics of his vicinity. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Henrietta Wottring, a daughter of Philip Wottring. They have had three children, only two living - Richard and Mary.

The one deceased was named Raymond, and died in infancy. Mr. Herbster eon of the most substantial and enterprising business men of Prospect illage.

JOHN H. HOWISON was born near Brentsville, Prince William Co., Va., August 9, 1830; his parents were John and Louisa (Cornwall) Howison, who came to Muskingum County in 1838, remained two years and returned to Virginia; came to Ohio again in 1847, locating on land in Delaware County in 1850, where his youngest son - Stephen G. Howison - now lives. He died in April, 1865; his widow now resides with her son, John H. In 1853, John H. Howison, in partnership with his brother, Charles O., bought 212 acres of wild land on Survey 6,162, Prospect Township; the same year they divided this land, each taking 106 acres; here Mr. Howison has lived ever since. He has cleared sixty-five or seventy acres of this land and still owns seventy-seven acres of the original purchase. In addition to the home farm, he has cleared some forty acres of land once owned by him, but now by Simon Rogers, in Claibourne Township, Union County. He was married, March 28, 1861, to Mary A, Adams, born in Sussex County, near Brighton, England, October 2, 1840, and was brought to the United States by her father, Robert Adams, when she was but two and a half years old. Robert Adams was an early settler in this neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Howison have had eight children - Amanda J., born January 10, 1863; Henrietta L., January 25, 1865; Thomas E., February 16, 1867; Angelina A., December 26, 1869; Walter G., November 12, 1872; Sarah E., March 1, 1875; Alfred H., May 19, 1877, and died July 31, 1877, and Ivy D., March 28. 1881, and died June 9, 1883. Mr. Howison is a Democrat, and has served the township as Trustee two years, Justice of the Peace six years, and is now serving his third term. Esquire Howison and wife are both members of the Methodist Church and are among the best respected citizens of Prospect Township.

EVAN HUGHES, farmer, was born December 9, 1837, in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, and is a son of David and. Mary (Evans) Hughes, who emigrated from Wales and located in Radnor Township, Delaware County, in 1838; they were the means of a large colony emigrating from Wales, who settled in that township. Evan Hughes has always followed the calling of a farmer. The first land that he bought was 130 acres, one-half mile south of Richwood, Union County. Two years afterward, he sold this farm, when he bought the farm of 201 acres where he now resides, in Prospect Township. He has since added to this so that he now has 217 acres. His father died when Evan was but eleven years old, and he was left the chief support of his widowed mother. When he was fonrteen years of age, his mother died, after a sickness of eighteen months, during which time she was confined to her bed. and cared for by her son Evan. To his good mo.her and ber guidance in his youth he ascribes much of his present success in life. When he was eleven years of age, in order to keep him from idle company in town, she hired him out to a farmer, at $2 per month for six months, thus teaching him the habits of industry and frugality. The Evans family in Wales was a very ancient. one, and the farm called " Nant J. Deffaid," belonging to the family in Wales, has been handed down from father to the eldest son for the past 500 years. Evan was married, March 12, 1859, to Sarah Kyle, daughter of David and Margaret Kyle. The former is deceased and his widow is now the wife of Adam Dilsaver, of Union County. Mr. Hughes lost his wife by death, January 9, 1874, leaving to his care six small children, the youngest only two years of age and the oldest thirteen. Their names are as follows: Mary Florence, now the wife of James F. Decker, of Prospect Township; Margaret Ellen, David, Kate, Orrel, Lee and Sally.

JAMES JOHNSON was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, September 16, 1814; his father's name was James Johnson, a native of the North of Ireland, who located in Pleasant Township, Marion County, about the year 1820. His wife Elizabeth was of German origin and died in Fairfield County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch was married September 9, 1834, to Catharine Clay, born March 9, 1820, a daughter of John and Mary Ann (Heiser) Clay, all natives of Pennsylvania. The family of the Clays lived near Carlisle, Penn., and emigrated to Ohio about the year 1832. Their ineans of conveyance for the family and household goods was a heavy wagon drawn by one team. Mary Ann Heiser Clay, the mother of Mrs. Johnson, died in Pennsylvania, leaving three children. Her father married "his second wife, and when they started for Ohio the party consisted of her stepmother and her three children, Mrs. Johnson and her brother, George Clay. They were four weeks on the trip, and Mrs. Johnson walked the whole distance except one day that she rode in the wagon. Her father and the family located on a farm in Prospect Township, where Mr. Romoser now lives. It consisted of seventy-three acres. Her father was of feeble health and died on this farm. James Johnson and his wife, in the spring of 1848, bought a farm of twenty-nine acres in Prospect Township, mostly wild land, located near where Mr. Dunbar now lives. The farm was increased to forty-two acres, and in the fall of 1857 they moved to Thompson Township, Delaware County, where they bought a farm of fifty acres, but remained there only until 1864; they then returned to Marion County and bought the farm of 100 acres in the northwest part of Prospect Township, where the family now reside. Mr. Johnson died on this farm in 1876. During his life, he took an active and prominent part in the affairs of the community where he lived. While in Delaware County, he served two years as Justice of the Peace, and for ten years in this county he acted in the same capacity. One of his sons, Peter S. Johnson, was a soldier in the cavalry service of the Union during three years of the war of the rebellion, and in an engagement was wounded severely in the head. James Johnson and Catharine (Clay) Johnson had a family of the following named children: John C., born June 23, 1835; Naomi, March 13, 1837; Nathan C., April 30, 1838; Susannah C., September 13, 1840; James W., November 4, 1842; George W., June 25, 1844; Peter S., March 16, 1846; Tabitha E., January 24, 1848; Eliza J., December 3, 1849; Samuel L., March 23, 1851; Mary C. M. E., February 21, 1858; Ammi Cassius, January 8, 1855; Jes. sie F., May 6, 1856; Lewis Olney, March 29, 1858; Andrew J. F., February 25, 1860; William Theodore, March 30, 1863. The widow still lives at the homestead with several of her children, genial and happy in her declining years. She has sixteen grandchildren living, and five great grandchildren.

WILLIAM KIRTS, farmer, was born in Prospect Township, March 5, 1827; his parents' names were Michael and Elizabeth (Simpson) Kirts, natives of Pennsylvania, near the Maryland State line. They were of Scotch and German parentage; are both now deceased and buried in the Otterbein graveyard in Prospect Township. They came to Marion County in 1826, locating near Prospect Village. and subsequently bought the farm now owned and occupied by William B. Thomas and cleared it up. The buildings on this farm were erected by them. They had ten children - Mary

Ann; George; Henry, deceased; Julia Ann, deceased; William; Daniel, deceased; David and Jane (twins), Matilda and Isaac. Himself:and wife are members of the United Brethren Church and were much respected. William Kirts, the subject of this sketch, lived with his father until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Upper Sandusky and worked at making rails and gathering cranberries for two years. During that time he made 28,000 rails and helped to clear 100 acres of land. He then came home and farmed his father's place for three or four years, when he bought 106 acres of land, at $6 an acre, where he now resides. The land was then covered by a dense forest. He immediately made a clearing and erected a log cabin; the same year (1853) he was married to Ruth Ann Williams, a daughter of John Williams, one of the early settlers of the county. They moved into the log cabin February 27, 1854. He has since added to the home farm, so that it now consists of 230 acres, of which 190 acres are cleared. He has 110 acres in Union County, fifty 'of which are cleared. The old log cabin has been superseded by a fine frame residence, surrounded by convenient barns and out-buildings, with a fine well of water. This last was very expensive to obtain, as Mr. Kirts dug seventeen different wells before securing a good one; and, as he says, among all of his improvements it has cost as much as any one of them. He has assisted in rolling logs at thirty-one places in one spring. Mr. Kirts is one of the self-made men of the county; he acquired all his home farm by hard work and industry, though afterward he received a legacy of $2,500 and forty acres of land from his father's estate. Mr. and Mrs. Kirts have the following children: Mary Ellen, Albin D., Elizabeth Sivonia, John Michael, Silas Spencer, Eva, Ada Thalia, Thomas Edwin. Mary Ellen, who married Frank Butts, lives with her husband on her father's farm in Union County. Elizabeth married Samuel Johnson, and lives on the home farm; Eva Florence married Fuller Johnson; the rest of the children are living with their parents.

EMMANUEL KNACHEL, meat market, Prospect Village, was born June 22, 1830; his parents were George and Maria (Aulsebouse) Knachel, who came to this county in 1841 and settled on wild land in the woods, one and a half miles west of Prospect. The father died in the spring of 1879, aged seventy-seven years: the mother is still living, aged seventy-eight years. Our subject passed his youth on his father's farm. In 1850, he went to California, where he prospected and mined for gold, meeting with fair success. He returned in 1852, and in 1853 was married to Rosina Tyler, a daughter of Richard Tyler, of this county and formerly of Virginia. From this union there are three children - Bertha R., born March 28, 1858; Wilson F., October 24, 1860; Jennie,P., August 9, 1866. Mr. Knachel en. listed as a soldier in 1864, in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry to serve in the war of the rebellion, and . took part in the battle of Kingston, Tenn., August 26, 1864. At the close of the war in 1865, he was honorably discharged and mustered out of service. He is a Republican.

DAVID D. LITTLE, drayman and carpenter, was born in Union Couniy, Ohio, February 23, 1843, and is a son of Simon Peter and Mary Mag. dalene (Shafer) Little, both early settlers in Union County. The latter was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1808, and came to Harrison County, Ohio, with her parents when she was but eleven years old. Simon Peter Little was born in Maryland in 1807, and was the sonof Adam and Mary (Hendrickson) Little, he of New England parentage, and the latter of and resides with her son, David D. Little. The latter, in the spring of 1864, enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infa ntry for three years, and was present with his regiment at the battles of Murfreesboro, Stone River, and in a number of skirmishes in Tennessee. He went with Gen. Sherman's army on his' famous march to the sea us far as Columbia, Ala., where, being taken sick, he, with some 200 others, was returned to Franklin, Tenn. Here they lay two weeks awaiting transportation. Owing to the hurried movements of the army, sufficient rations had not been furnished to these invalids, on account of which they suffered considerably, especially as the country was swarming with bushwhackers and guerrillas. Mr. Little was finally sent to Harwood Hospital, at Washington, D. C., where he remained until the war ended, during the latter part of his stay there acting as hospital steward. On his return home, he engaged in farming for one year. The succeeding years up

1870, in Radnor Township, Delaware County, by the Rev. Mr. Lyons, a Baptist minister, to Mary J. Kyle, daughter of James and Elizabeth Kyle, old residents, Mr. Kyle being the second white child ever born in that township. Mr. and Mrs. Little have three children- - Mary E., born July 10, principally engaged in the drayage business and in contracting for and building grades for yravel roads. He is a Republican in politics and since, his residence in Prospect has served the village as its Marshal for three years. Himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

BRYAN -MALONEY, farmer, was born June 13, 1835, in the parish of Kilgobbin, County Kerry, Ireland. The names of his parents were John and Mary (Shayhan) Maloney. The mother died in Ireland; subsequently the father, with his five children, emigrated to America, landing at the port of Quebec, Canada, July 4, 1847. The names of the children were Bridget, Bryan, Mary, Patrick and Julia. From Quebec the family passed to Kingston, and thence to Syracuse, N. Y., where they located, and _ in 1852 the family moved to Delaware County, Ohio. Bryan Maloney was married in 1858, at Delaware, Ohio, to Margaret Deen, a daughter of John Deen, now of Galion, Ohio. Seven years after his marriage, on April 5, 1865, he came to Marion County and bought 110 acres of land in Prospect Township, where he now resides. It was then mostly wild land. He has since added to his farm so that the homestead now consists of 196 acres. Of this farm, Mr. Maloney has cleared of its timber 125 acres. December 15, 1874, Mrs. Maloney died, leaving six children, named Mary E., Josephine, Julia, James, Margaret and Bridget. Mr. Malony was married the second. time May 2, 1876, to Johanna Tobin, a daughter of William Tobin, and by this marriage there are two children - William and Bryan. The subject of this sketch is one of the foremost farmers of Prospect Township and enjoys the respect and esteem of its citizens in a high degree. * He is a member of the Catholic Church.

C. L. MOHR, senior partner of the firm of C. L. & J. F. Mohr, general merchants, of Prospect Village, was born in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Penn., August 13, 1838. When fourteen years of age, he learned the tailor's trade a: Delaware, Ohio, where he remained two years and re- turned to Prospect; for the following four years he was engaged in that business, and in 1859 he removed to Essex, Union County, Ohio, and started a general store; this proved a success. In 1802, he returned to Prospect Village, since which time he has been engaged in general merchandising there. Politically, he advocates the principles represented by the Democratic party, in the affairs of which in his section he takes an active and influential part. He has served his fellow citizens in various offices, among which was Township Treasurer for several years, City Clerk, Councilman nine years, and as a member of the School Board for the special district, which he helped to organize, for fifteen years, a position which he also filled while living in Union County. Mr. Mohr has always taken a deep interest in the educational and religious matters of the township, freely contributing of his time and means for the support of institulions of the kind. He was one of the Building Committee of the Reformed Church of Prospect, in the erection of which he contributed largely. He has been a member of the church consistory and has filled other offices in the service of the church at different times. Mr. Mohr was married February 26, 1863, in*Prospect Township, by Rev. J. H. Stepler, pastor of the Reformed Church, to Miss Mary H. Adams, a native of Delaware County, Ohio, and of English descent. There have been four children born from this union, only two of whom are living - Lydia C. and Eliza C. The deceased were Charles F. and Edwin V.

DAVID MOHR, Prospect Village, was born in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, Penn., May 19, 1804. He was reared to the business of a miller, commencing as helper in his father's mill at the age of eleven years, where he remained until nineteen years oid, when he contracted to pay $40 and work nine months as pay to learn the tobacconist's trade. He worked at this three years; the following seventeen years he worked at farming and milling, a part of the time on his own account. In 1848, he bought fifty acres for $3,300, on which he lived some four years, and in the spring of 1852 came to Ohio and located with his family on a farm north of Prospect Village, adjoining the corporation, where he remained until fall, when he moved to Prospect Village, where he has resided ever since. He has been engaged as miller at Marion and Prospect Village at different times, and in 1858, in company with his son, W. H. Mohr, entered into trade in a general store at Prospect Village, under the firm name of W. H. Mohr and Co. This firm continued till 1862, when C. L. Mohr bought out W. H. Mohr's interest and the firm became D. Mohr & Son. This was continued until 1869, when David Mohr sold his interest to his son, James F. Mohr, and the firm has ever since been C. L. & J. F. Mohr. Mr. David Mohr has now retired from active business and still resides at Prospect Village. The ancestors of Mr. Mohr were all of German origin and very early settlers of Pennsylvania. His father and grand. father Mohr were both named Frederick, and were also natives of Pennsylvania. His farther was a miller by trade, and also carried on farming; he died in Pennsylvania. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Eckel, a native of Pennsylvania; her father's name was Henry Eckel, a native of Germany. David Mohr was married, October 12, 1834, in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Penn., by the Rev. Daniel Zeller, of the Reformed Church, to Miss Catharine Neimeyer, born May 8, 1817, a daughter of Conrad and Lydia (Diefenderfer) Neimeyer, all natives of Lehigh County, Penn. The father of Conrad Neimeyer, above mentioned, was also named Conrad, and was born on the Atlantic Ocean while his parents were emigrating from Germany to America. His father died on the voyage. The father of Lydia (Diefenderfer) Neimeyer was named Henry Diefenderfer; his wife's name was Susannah Jarret. He died in Macungie Township, and she in Berks County, Penn. When David Mohr came to this county in 1852, he brought with him his wife and family of five boys, as follows: William H., Charles L., James F., Mandes M. and Alvin D. The first two were born in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Penn., and the others in Upper Milford Township. One son - Albert C. - was born in Prospect, Ohio; all are now living.