Springfield Township (part 36 of 69)

George J. Tippie received a district school education, such as was afforded the youths in his neighborhood, and his life has been devoted almost continuously to agricultural pursuits. In 1881 he purchased his present farm of James McMillen and James Sprague. He has made many substantial improvements on it and has put the land under fine cultivation. Besides hay and the usual cereals he raises some cattle and other live stock. When the Ohio Electric Road was seeking a right of way through this section, Mr. Tippie sold the company five acres of his land and now the line runs directly in front of his residence.

Mr. Tippie was married in 1863, in Athens County, Ohio, to Orcha Stephenson, who was born in that county, October 29, 1845. Her parents, Jerome and Anna (Southerton) Stephenson, had ten children - Orcha, Bruce, Beulah, Priscilla, Jerome, Hattie, Media, Zelphia, Forestine and Dollie. Mr. and Mrs. Tippie have had four children - Eva, Decatur, Owa and Etna. Eva, the eldest daughter, who married George Olinger, died in 1895, leaving one daughter, Mary, who was born in 1890, and who resides with her grandparents. Decatur, the eldest son, born in 1865, married Fannie Smith and they reside at Vienna. They have two children, Edna and Frank. Owa, the second daughter, was born in 1869, and in 1890 married George Kephart. They have had two children, George Henry, born in 1895, who died in 1899, and Ruth, who was born in 1899. Etna, the youngest daughter, born in 1871, married Fred Kemp and they reside at Dayton, Ohio. They have five sons - Fred B., George L., Homer F., Russell L. and Harry S.

Mr. Tippie has always been an active and public-spirited citizen. He has served three terms as township trustee and has shown his interest in the public schools by consenting to act as school director. He is a member of Lodge No. 345, Odd Fellows, at Vienna, in which he has held all the chairs.

JOEL L. LITTLE, a prominent citizen of Villa, formerly postmaster and also justice of the peace, was born in Ross Township, Greene County, Ohio, December 20, 1836, and is a son of Cyrus and Susanna ( Dalbey) Little, and a grandson of Jacob little.

Cyrus Little was born in Frederick Coimty, Virginia, in 1814, and died July 21, 1905, aged eighty-nine years. When he was three years old his parents came to Ross Township, Greene County, this being in the fall of 1^16, and between that and 1820, Jacob's brothers, Martin, David and John, came also to this section of Ohio and all boua^bt large farms. Their father, George Adam Little came from Germany to Virginia, in 1795. His trade was that of nail-maker and he manufactured some of the spikes that were originally used in the construction of the White House, at Washington City. After the death of James Demint, who laid out Springfield, Ohio, his widow, Mrs. Nancy Demint, became the second wife of Jacob Little, the ceremony taking place July 12, 1821. A brother-in-law of Jacob Little was a somewhat noted character of that day. His name was Joseph Thomas, but he was known all through Ohio as the Singing Pilgrim or the Wliite Pilgrim. He traveled all over the country preaching and singing his hymns, having published a hj^mn book of his own. He always dressed in white, hence his appellation, and he was a welcome visitor wherever his wanderings led him. He married a sister-in-law of Jacob Little. He was born in Orange Comity, North Carolina, March 7, 1791, and died at Zanesville, Ohio.

Cyrus Little and his brother Joseph learned the blacksmith's trade with their father, and Cyrus ran a blacksmith shop in Ross Township. Greene County, until 1864, when he moved his shop to Van Wert, retiring after working as a blacksmith for fifty-two years. He married Susanna Dalhy, who died December 6, 1904, aged eighty-five years. The celebration of their sixty-seventh wedding anniversary had been planned, but Mrs. Little died three days before.

in the Civil War, he entered into partnership in a blacksmith business, with his father, at Van Wert, which continued for eighteen montlis. Mr. Little then came to Spriiigfield and worked at his trade for eleven years, five of these being spent in the Champion Works. On December 13, 1863, he enlisted in a heavy artillery regiment, at Yellow Springs, Ohio, but at Camp Cleveland he was transferred to Company I, One Hundred and Twentyeighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until July 13, 1865. He was in the Department of Ohio and during the larger part of his service, was under the command of Gen. Joseph Hooker. During fourteen months of this time he was stationed at Johnson's Island, Sandusky Bay, as a guard over Confederate prisoners.

In 1877. Mr. Little came to Villa and started a blacksmith shop which he operated for fifteen years and then went into a grocery business for eleven years, during nine years of this period being postmaster of the village. He succeeded his brother, Daniel Little, who had been postmaster for six years previously.

On Feln-uary 4, 1858, Mr. Little was married to Charity Gordon, who was born in Bethel Townshi]!, Clark County, Ohio, on a farm adjoining the one on which her grandfather, Richard Gordon, had settled. Her father, Richard Gordon, was born in Frederick County, Virginia, and was nine years old when his father settled on a farm south of Springfield. The elder Richard Gordon had made a previous settlement in this region but had gone back to Virginia on account of the hostility of the Indians in Ohio at that time. Subsequently he returned to his former farm on wMch he lived out the rest of his life, and on which he reared a family of seventeen children all of whom reached maturity. When Mrs. Little was ten years old her parents moved to Ross Township, Greene County, where she was residing at the time of her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Little have three children, namely: Willis, who is engaged in a blacksmith business at Urbana, his father owning the property ; Cyrus Gr., who died December 9, 1907, was a resident of Denver, Colorado, and he had been in an express business for the past twenty-two years, until 1906 being agent for the Pacific Express Company, at Cleveland; and Ida M., who married Peter Ljnich, who is principal of the Eastern School, at Spring-tield. Mr. and Mrs. Little have fifteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

In 1881, Mr. Little joined the Odd Fellows and was a member of Ephraim Lodge, which he subsequently left in order to become a charter member of Lone Star Lodge, No. 732, Lagonda. He is a member of the United Brethren Church at Lagonda. For nine years, Mr. Little was a justice of the peace and is still familiarly addressed as Squire Little.

JOHN FREDERIC OTSTOT, residing on one of his father's farms, which is situated in section 20, Springfield Township, and consists of ninety-four and one-half acres of valuable land, was born in Springfield Township, Clark County, Ohio, September 26, 1882, and is a son of John and Sallie (Kershner) Otstot.

His father was William Otstot, who was a native of Pennsylvania and an early settler in this section. AVilliam Otstot built this commodious brick house in 1832 and at that time it was one of the finest residences in all this part of the country, and many a social gathering has been held here and kind hospitality dispensed. It is still known as the old William Otstot place. John Otstot was reared in Springfield Township and trained to be a good farmer. When he reached manhood he married Sallie Kershner, who was also born in Springfield Township, and is a daughter of William A. Kershner. To John and Sallie Otstot were born four children, namely: William A.; Mabel, who married August Getz ; John Frederic ; and Harry, who remains at home. John Otstot is a large farmer residing east of Springfield, and is a member of the Springfield Township School Board.

John F. Otstot was reared in Springfield Township, and attended school during his boyhood and youth, in the neighborhood of his home. He grew to manhood acquainted with all the practical details of farming and has ever since given his attention to this business. For some months following his marriage he lived at home and then moved to the present farm which he has successfully operated for the past three years. He raises wheat, corn, oats and hay, also some stock, and keeps enough cows to have a good private dairy. He is one of the sensible, industrious and enterprising young farmers of the township.

On June 1. 1903, Mr. Otstot was married to Florence Self, who is a daughter of Joseph and Lettie Self. Mrs. Otstot was left an orphan when she was five years old and was reai-ed by her grandfather, James Self, of Madison County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Otstot have one son, a bright little child, whom they have named John Edgar.

W. H. STACKHOUSE, manager of The Bettendorf Metal ^Vheel Company, at Springfield, has been identified with the interests of this city for the past ten years. He was born at Harrisbnrg, Pennsylvania, in 1865, and was reared and educated at Davenport, Iowa.

His early business efforts were connected with railroading and he subsequently became cashier at Davenport, for the Rock Island Railroad, and he served also as private secretary to the assistant president of the road, for eight years. He then turned his attention to life insurance, representing the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Mlwaukee. About this time he also entered actively into politics, becoming an important factor in the Democratic ranks. For some years he continuously represented his party at district and state conventions, and he was sent as a delegate to the Democratic national convention, in 1896, and was still further honored by an appointment as a member of the committee selected to notify the vice-presidential nominee. From 1889 until 1893, he was associated with the Democratic national committee. During the second administration of President Cleveland, he was appointed collector of internal revenue, for southern Iowa.

Metal Wheel Company, becoming its manager in August, 1903. He has numerous other interests and is a director of the Springfield Street Railway Company.

He is also identified with various public enter]3rises, his fellow-citizens having long since learned that he is a man of sound sense and unusual business capacity. He is one of the three members forming an advisory board appointed to look after the investment of the endowment fund of the Springfield City Hospital. For the past year he has been president of the Springfield commercial club, and he belongs also to the Ohio State board of commerce and is a member of the committee on business corporate law.

On July 16, 1890, Mr. Stackhouse was married to Elizabeth Lenihan, of Dubuque, Iowa, and they have a family of four sons and four daughters. Mr. Stackhouse and family belong to St. Raphael's Catholic church.

WILLIAM H. OVERHOLSER, a much esteemed resident of Lawrenceville, and owner of a farm of fifty acres in German Township, was born two miles northwest of Lawrenceville on the farm which he owns, October 20, 1853, and is a son of Moses and Eva (Rust) Overholser.

Moses Overholser, a native of Virginia, came to Ohio when six years old with his father. Christian Overholser, who first settled at Newark, Ohio, moving from there to Terre Haute, Champaign County, and thence to German Township, Clark County, where he purchased a tract of 200 acres, of which the subject of this sketch owns fifty acres. Moses assisted his father in clearing this land and made his home on the place all his life. He married Eva Rust, who was born in Clark County, a daughter of Abraham Rust, a native of Virginia. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Overholser, namely: Abraham; Susan, who married James Reckner; Elizabeth, who married William Roach; Sarah Jane, the wife of Frederick Michael; William H., whose name begins this article; Martha, who married Daniel Myers; and Moses. Mrs. Overholser died November 19, 1900, and her husband on May 7, 1904, aged seventyeight years.

William H. Overholser grew to manhood on the old homestead in German Township and has always been a farmer by occupation. Although a resident of Lawrenceville since November 1, 1906, he still continues to manage his farm. Mr. Overholser owns a fine residence in Lawrenceville, and also erected a large barn when the house was built.

Mr. Overholser was married October 20, 1875, to Mary Davis, who was bom and reared in German Township, Clark Countj', and is a daughter of Elkanah and Rachel (Baker) Davis, who weve prominent farmers of German Township. Mr. and Mrs. Davis had six children, five of whom are living - Edward, Samuel, Smith, Sylvester, who died aged eleven years; Mary (Mrs. Overholser), and Dr. Elisha B. Davis of Troy, Ohio. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Overholser, namely: Minnie, who married John Marshall and has the following children: William, Stewart, Everett, Howard, Carroll, Adrian ; Florentine, who married John Hallstine, and Roger Eugene, who still attends school.

Junior Ox'der of American Mechanics, and Mrs. Overholser belongs to the Daughters of America. The former is a member of the Reformed Church, of which he has been deacon since 1900.

ADOLPHUS H. SMITH, Jr., an enterprising and progressive citizen of Mad River Township, has been a continuous resident of Clark County since 1864, and throughout his entire business career has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in this community. He was born October 1, 1850, in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the first fourteen years of his life were spent.

After Mr. Smith's father became possessed of land in Clark County, the family spent the summer months on the farm here, returning to the city for the winters. His early education was obtained in his native city, and this was supplemented by a two years' course in a military college at Springfield, conducted by Chandler Robins, and later he attended Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana, for two years. In 1864 Mr. Smith came to Clark County and resided on his father's farm until after his marriage, when he rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres located two and one-half miles .west of Enon. This he cultivated with much success and was enabled to lay aside sufficient capital to ])urchase a farm for liimself in 1877. He also became manager of his father's large interests in this locality and at his father's death inherited an equal share with the other children in the estate.

taining his majority, Mr. Smith was joined in marriage with Sarah J. Shellabarger, a native of Mad River Township, Clark County, Ohio, and a life-long resident of this community. She is a daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth (Baker) Shellabarger, the former of whom passed out of this life in 1889. His wife died in 1873. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith : Amelia, who is the wife of L. Baylor of Springfield, has three children ; Maria L., who is the wife of P. Johnson, has one child; May K., who is the wife of Clarence W. Engledue of Springfield, Ohio, has four children ; Rilla J., who is the wife of J. E. Drake, has one child; Justin B., who married Amelia Smith, has had six children, and follows farming in Mad River Township ; Gertrude E.; and Helen V.

Mr. Smith has always been a man of public spirit and enterprise, giving his support to all measures which tend toward the advancement of his community. He cast his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley and is a staunch advocate of the Democratic party. Although never seeking political preferment, he has filled the office of township _ trustee of Mad River Township for about twenty-two years and has taken an active part in securing and maintaining good roads. He is fraternally affiliated with the Yellow Springs Lodge No. 441, F. & A. M., and New Carlisle Chapter No. 57, R. A. M. He is also a member of the subordinate lodge and encampment of Odd Fellows at Fairfield, Greene County, Ohio, and holds membership in the Knights of Pythias order at Enon, having filled all the chairs and served as a representative to the Grand Lodge.

JACOB LESLIE McCLELLAN, who died on his farm in Springfield Township April 30, 1892, was one of the highly esteemed citizens of this section, in which a large part of his useful life had been spent. He was born May 2, 1821, in Pennsylvania, and was a son of George and Isabella (Leslie) McClellan.

In his infancy Mr. McClellan was brought by his parents to Richland County, Ohio, where his father followed shoemaking. He was educated in the country schools and at Wittenberg College, at Springfield, after which he began to teach school. He became very popular as a teacher, first in Springfield Township and later in other sections. He was the teacher at the Sinking Creek School for several years, also at the Reid School, and during a part of this time he was a boarder at the home of Caleb Tuttle, the leading farmer of the community, whose daughter Rachel he subsequently married. He continued teaching for several years after marriage, and then turned his attention to farming and moved to the fai-m of one hundred and four acres on which Mrs. McClellan resides. It was formerly the property of her father, Caleb Tuttle, who owned about a thousand acres of land in Clark County. Mr. Mc- Clellan resided on this farm and carried on a general line of agriculture. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

On AprU 8, 1852, Jacob L. McClellan was married to Rachel Tuttle, who is a daughter of Caleb and Mary (Prickett) Tuttle. Caleb Tuttle was born in Virginia in 1799 and was a son of Sylvanus Tuttle, who came to Clark County in 1806 and settled on a farm in Moorefield Township, near the present home of Mrs. Mc-

Clellan. Caleb Tiittle married Mary Prickett, who was a daughter of Nicholas Prickett, who came from Claremont County to Clark County, Ohio, and ran the first flour mill at Lagonda. Of Caleb Tuttle's large family but two survive - Mrs. MeClellan and Miss Laura Tuttle. In her' girlhood Mrs. MeClellan taught one term of school, but otherwise her attention has always been directed to looking after her domestic affairs and to providing for the happiness and comfort of her family. Mr. and Mrs. MeClellan had five children born to them, as follows : Mary Isabella, who married John H. Gower, resides in Harmony Township ; Eliza Jane, who married G. W. Yeazell, resides in Springfield Township; Emma, who married W. B. Curtis, resides at Springfield ; Alice, who married M. D. Doyle; and William Leslie, who died February 18, 1903. For eight years he was money order clerk at the Springfield postoffice. He married Maud Leuty and she survives with two sons, John Leuty and James Henry.

Mrs. MeClellan attended school in the building that is now utilized for a religious edifice and is known as the Union Sinking Creek Church. Mrs. MeClellan belongs to the Presbyterian faith. She has resided on her present farm since 1857.

NATHAN GRIEST, residing on his well-improved farm of seventy-nine acres, which lies in Sections 19 and 20, German Township, was born on this farm, November 25, 1839, and is a son of Willing and Hannah (Thomas) Griest.

and reared in York County Pennsylvania, where they were married in 1828, immediately coming to Clark County, Ohio, and settling in German Township, but they occupied two other farms before locating on the one which Nathan Griest now owns. They were people known for their worth and they lived in peace and good fellowship with their neighbors for many years, and finally died on this farm. They had seven children, five of whom grew to maturity, the two survivors being: Nathan and Isaac.

Nathan Griest obtained his education in the district schools and from boyhood has been accustomed to an agricultural life. With his two sons he is engaged in general farming and in truck gardening.

Mr. Griest is a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting in February, 1864, in Company F, Eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. The larger part of his service was in West Virginia and he was made a prisoner at Beverly, in that state, and confined for a month in Libby Prison. He w-as fortunately then exchanged, rejoined liis company and was mustered out at the close of the war, at Clarksburg, Virginia. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Griest was married (first) to Harriet Amelia Callison, who died six months later, in the spring of 1860. He was married (secondly), in November, 1867, to Emeline Getz and they have had nine children, namely: Edward C, who is deceased; Mary Belle, deceased, who married David ]\I. Haulman and left two children. Alma and Orrin W., both of whom live with their grandfather, Mr. Griest; Cora, who married Samuel E. Callison; Kffie Ellen, who married Silas Horton;

Forrest; Clarence D., who married Pearl Ballentine and resides in German Township; Minnie, who married Charles Kiblinger; Esther Blanche, who married Scott Kiblinger; and Cyrus, who is a student in the Lawrenceville High School.

WILLIAM J. GRAM, a well known general farmer and dairj^man of Springfield Township, Clark County, Ohio, residing on a farm of fifty acres, situated about three miles south of the city, on the Possum road, was born November 13, 1855, on the old Gram farm just south of Leffel Lane, and is a son of Jacob and Isabella (Dory) Gram.

Jacob Gram was born in Lancaster Coimty, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Cornelius Gram. When about seventeen years old, Jacob Gram came to Clark County with his father, who bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres running a mile north and south, and a half a mile east and west. Cornelius operated a distillery for some time. The family lived first in a log house, but later a brick house was erected, which has been torn down. Jacob Gram married Isabella Dory, who was born in Cincinnati, a daughter of James Dory, who was a nalive of England, and a gardner by occupation. When a babe her parents moved to Spring-field, where her father ran a garden on Grand Avenue, that section now being known as the Dory Addition. Jacob and Isabella Gram had four children: William J. ; Hari'iet Elizabeth, who married S. C. Rebert of Springfield; Martha C, who married Oliver H. Leffel of Green Township, Clark County: and Charles J., who is a resident of Springfield, Ohio. J acob Gram and wife first went to housekeeping on the old Gram farm, moving in 1857 to the farm on which William J. now resides, which then contained eighty acres. They subsequently removed to Springfield and built a home on Grand Avenue, where the mother died in January, 1890. Jacob then came to live with his son William J. He died April 3, 1894, while on a visit at the home of his son Charles, who then resided in Green Township.

William Gram was reared on his present farm and received his schooling at the Possum school. He has always followed farming and for twelve years also operated a dairy, recently having sold his I'oute to his son George. He usually keeps about fifteen head of cattle.

Mr. Gram was married October 28, 1880, to Mattie Otstot, who was reared in Springfield, Ohio, and is a daughter of Adam Hunter and Sarah (Parsons) Otstot. Adam Hunter Otstot, who is now deceased, was born in March, 1827, in Pennsylvania, and was a carpenter by trade. His widow and one son, L. Burt Otstot, reside in Santa Ana, California.

Mr. and Mrs. Gram have had eight children, seven of whom are still living, namely: Robert C, resides in Santa Ana, California, where he is employed in a drug store; Dola, married Walter Minnich of Springfield Township, and has two children, Ralph, and Robert; George W., married Emma Deeter of Pleasant Hill, Ohio, and has one child, William; Lewis Jacob, married Mabel E. Patten and resides in Springfield ; Burt, mai'ried Ethel Celeste Woosley, on November 20, 1907; Isabella, who attends High School

WILLIAM W. REYNOLDS, residing in Section 1, Springfield Township, where he operates a fine farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, is a representative citizen of this neighborhood. He was born in Green Township, Clark County, Ohio, August 20, 1846, and is a son of Henry and Julia Ann (McKinney) Reynolds.

The first member of the Reynolds family that appears to have come to Clark County, from Virginia, was James Reynolds, who was a brother of William Reynolds, the latter being the grandfather of William W. James Reynolds settled in Harmony Township, not far from Plattsburg, probably some years prior to Christmas Day, 1826, when William Reynolds reached the same place. He lived for one year in Harmony Township and then moved to Green Township, where he bought the farm on which his grandson, William W., was born. His family consisted of his wife and children, together with his aged mother.

Henry Reynolds was born in Virginia and was almost eleven years old when the family came to Clark County, December 25, 1826, his birth having been in January, 1816. He married Julia Ann Mc- Kinney, who was born and reared in Clark County, where she died September 24, 1878. Her father, John McKinney, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in young manhood. He was married near Dayton, where he lived for a time, and then bought a farm in Green Township, Clark County, which he owned at the time of his death. Henry Reynolds and wife had the following children: Nancy, deceased, was the wife of John Warren; Olive is the widow of Thomas Hill and lives in Kansas ; William W. ; John H. resides in German Township, Clark County; Elizabeth, residing with her brother, William W., owns a part of the home farm; and Rachel Jane, who married James P. Titus, resides in Springfield Township.

In October, 1850, Henry Reynolds and family moved to the farm Mr. Reynolds now occupies, having purchased it in 1845, from Dr. Samuel Canada, who had entered the land. In 1865 Henry Reynolds built the large, handsome brick house, making the brick on his own farm with his own hands. He died July 6, 1884.

William W. Reynolds was four years old when his parents came to the present farm and he remained on the home place until the year 1869, when he made a trip to Illinois, where he silent one year. He then returned to Clark County, and on March 30, 1876, he was married to Mary A. Pilcher, who was reared in Green Township and is a daughter of Jonathan and Margaret Ann (Elwell) Pilcher. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have had seven children, all of whom survive except the oldest, William, who died aged seven months. The others are : Ralph Carey, residing in Spring-field, a moulder, married Grace Zimmerman, and they have two children, Mary Elizabeth and Margaret Jeanette; and John Henry, Hortense, Laura Elizabeth, Rachel Evelyn and James Olin Elwell, all residing at home.

Township and then moved for one year to Green Townshi^j, and from there to Marion County, where they remained for two years, at the end of which time they came back to Clark County. They lived in this county for the following six years and then moved to Logan County in 1888, and in the following year to Putnam County, Ohio, for a short time, but November, 1889, found them in Minnesota, where they resided until April, 1894, when they returned to Clark County and spent two years in Green Township, two years in Moorefield Township and two years in Mad River Township, and settled on the present farm in 1900.

JAMES N. HAUK, residing on his fine farm which contains 500 acres, situated in Madison Township, is one of the representative men of this section. He was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, June 22, 1845, and is a son of Columbus B. and Johanna (Norton) Hauk. The maternal grandfather, Elijah Norton, was one of the earliest settlers at Cincinnati, a cotemporary and friend of the first Nicholas Longworth. Mr. Norton was a progressive man. He built one of the first ice cellars at Cincinnati, and engaged in the ice industry.

Columbus B. Hauk, father of James N., was bom at Athens, Ohio, and was reared on the farm which is now the site of the Children's Home. He spent thirty years of his life on the river and was known to river men from Pittsburg to New Orleans. In 1865 he bought a farm near South Charleston, Clark County. He married Johanna Norton, who was born at Cincinnati, and they had three sons and one daughter, namely : James N. ; Charles D., who is a university graduate, formerly was in business at Springfield, but is now residing on a farm at Bemis Point, New York; Mary Ella, who married Gomer E. Hiley, resides at Chicago ; and Harry, who is in business at Jackson, Michigan.

James N. Hauk was seventeen years of age when he entered the Federal Army in which he served through the war and was honorably discharged in 1865. He was a member of the Seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and took part in many of the most impoi'tant battles of the war, fighting at Nashville and Franklin and participating in the whole Atlanta campaign. After his return from the army, Mr. Hauk was married to Catherine Comrie and they settled on a farm of 160 acres given Mrs. Hauk by her father, this being the nucleus of the large property they now own, having gradually added to it by hard work and good management. The father of Mrs. Hauk was William Comrie, who was born in Scotland. When Mr. and Mrs. Hauk came to this farm the only cleared part was the spot on which the old house, still standing, not far from the present commodious residence, had been erected. Mr. Hauk cleared the whole place and has made all the improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Hauk have had four children, the two survivors being, William Comrie and Elizabeth S., both residing at home. They belong to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hauk is a Republican.

JESSE IRVIN MAXSON, a prominent citizen of Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, and owner of eighty-four and onehalf acres of farm land, located about fif- teen miles northwest of Springfield, was born December 31, 1854, in Champaign County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Lovitha (Carmen) Maxson and a grandson of Cornelius and Mattie (Sills) Maxson.

Joseph Maxson, father, was born in Indiana, in October, 1830, and after the death of his father, which occurred when he was but a lad, his mother moved with her children to Champaign County, Ohio, and lived with her father on a farm situated one-half mile south of Christiansburg. Joseph Maxson was reared on this farm and followed agricultural pursuits through his subsequent life. Several years after his marriage he rented a farm in Champaign County, from which he moved to Jay County, Indiana, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres and died there aged sixty -nine years. He married Lovitha Carmen, a daughter of Benjamin Carmen and wife, who came from Maryland to Ohio and settled in the wilds of Clark County. Lovitha was the youngest of a large family of children born to her parents and died in March, 1906, aged eighty-eight years. Three children were born to Joseph and Lovitha Maxson: Jesse Irvin; and William and Benjamin, both of whom reside in Jay County, Indiana.

Jesse I. Maxson was bom on his father's farm in Champaign County, in a oneroom log cabin, which had a stick chimney covered with mud. At that time but few public improvements had been made, bridges had not even been built across the creeks, and settlers were few. Here Mr. Maxson was reared and what schooling he received was obtained at the old Honey Creek district school, which he recalls was taught by Carry Lynn. The greater part of his time was given to farm work. After his marriage, he moved to Jay County, Indiana, where he engaged in farming for ten years, then returned to the home farm in Champaign County for two years. He next rented the Peter Studebaker farm, in Clark County, which he operated for ten years and also owned, in partnership with Mr. Studebaker, a tract of sixty acres, known as the John Bright place, which he cultivated in connection with the Studebaker farm. On July 28, 1907, he sold his interest in this land and bought his present farm of eighty-four and onehalf acres, from Susan Black. All of the large buildings on the place were here at the time of his purchase.

On October 19, 1876, Mr. Maxson was united in marriage with Ada Davis, who was born in Champaign County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Ananias and Phoebe (Sutton) Davis, both of whom died in Champaign County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of nine children: Jane, who married Lewis Ray, both deceased; Lydia, who is the widow of A. Eust ; Charity, who is the widow of David Beaty; David, deceased; Lida, deceased, who was the wife of Adam Bright; and Jasper Newton, Ada, Albert, and Jerry. Mr. and Mrs. Maxson are the parents of five children: Ernest, who lives at home; Joseph Orva, residing in Pike Township, married Daisy Etchens, and they have four children, Lewis, Glenna, Ethel, and Paul ; Walter W., who lives in Pike Township, married Blanche Mumphert; Harry H., residing at home, teaches school and conducts a store in partnership with Emery Thackery ; and William, who also lives

ELI FRANCIS McCLINTICK, carpenter, contractor and general farmer, residing on his father's farm of fiftyacres, is- one of the well-known and respected citizens of Pleasant Township. He was born in Ohio, September 12, 1853, and is a son of William and Eliza Jane (Runyan) McClintick, and a grandson of Alexander McClintick, who came to America from Ireland.

William McClintick, father of Eli F., was born October 11, 1827, and resides with his wife at London, Ohio. His wife, Eliza Jane Runyan, who was born October 2, 1836, is a daughter of David Runyan, an old resident of Clark County. They had three children, namely: Eli F., subject of this sketch; James H., who was born in 1856 and now residing in Madison County, was married, first, to Ida Mitchell, and, secondly, to Lida Bland, his two children, Leila and Carrie, being by the first union ; Isaiah C, born in 1859, who died in 1883, married Ida Miller, who survives him and resides in the West.

Eli F. McClintick learned the carpenter's trade with Edward Edwards, at South Charleston, beginning his apprenticeship in March, 1876, and serving three years. He has been engaged in contracting for a number of years and has erected many of the best residences in Clark and Madison Counties. For the past seventeen years he has resided on his father's farm, the latter having retired to London. He makes som.ething of a specialty of

Mr. McClintick was married, first, December 28, 3876, to Alice Wilkinson, who died October IG, 1896. She was a daughter of Wesley and Martha Wilkinson. They had three children, namely: Dora F., born September 19, 1878, who married M. Dye, of Champaign County and has two children - Paul and Leroy; Carl, born February 7, 1884, who resides at Springfield; and Bessie Carrie, who was born April 12, 1887. On December 1, 1897, Mr. McClintick married, for his second wife, Alice A. Curl, who is a daughter of John and Tilitha (Longbrake) Curl. The father of Mrs. McClintick was born in 1847 and died in 1896. In 1871 he was married to Tilitha Longbrake, who was born in 1847 and died in 1881. They had five children - Venilla, who died when an infant, Alice A., Charles, George and Marion.

Mr. McClintick is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics and is connected with Lodge No. 167, at Catawba, of which he is a trustee. He is also a member of the Junior Posrt Association, which is a higher branch of the former organization and has served in all of the offices in this body.

HITGH RUSSELL, who has been a prominent business man and citizen of Springfield, Ohio, since 1867, formerly head of the firm of Russell Bros., one of the oldest and most reputable contracting firms in the city, was born in Creetown, Scotland, January 12, 1846, and is a son of Hugh and Elizabeth (Conning) Russell.

Hugh Russell, Sr., moved with his family to the United States in 1866, having been preceded to this country some five years by two of his sons, Anthony C. and William. He located first at Xenia, Ohio, and later at Springfield, where he died on October 3, 1902. His wife died in 1898. They were parents of seven children. Anthony C, who for many years was associated with his brother Hugh as a member of the firm of Russell Bros., was born in Galloway, Scotland, in 1844, and came to the United States in 1861 with his brother William. On October 3, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Tenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and served until May 16, 1865, participating in many of the hottest engagements of the war, among them the battle of the Wilderness, in which he was severely wounded. February 15, 1883, he became a member of Mitchell Post, G. A. R. His death occurred July 7, 1901, at the age of fiftyseven years. William, the second son of Hugh and Elizabeth Russell, also enlisted in the army and, it is presumed, was killed in battle, as he never returned. Hugh was the third of this family. James and Michael live in Springfield. Mrs. William McCullough, a daughter, resides in Spring-field, and Mrs. Andrew Burnett, deceased, was a resident of Wichita Falls, Texas.

Hugh Russell, Jr., spent his boyhood in his native land, but at an early age left school to follow a sea-faring life. He continued on the water four years, then returned home and became apprenticed to a stonecutter at Creetown. He was twenty years of age when he accompanied his parents to the United States and with them located at Xenia, Ohio, where he followed his trade. He subsequently went to Lima, Ohio, where he assisted in the construction of the jail, and in 1867 moved to Springfield, Ohio. Here he formed a partnership with William Mowett, under the firm name of Russell & Mowett, and engaged in stone contracting. After one year Mr. Mowett was succeeded in the firm by Hugh Russell, Sr., and later Anthony C. Russell became a member of the firm, which for a period of ten years was known by the title of Russell & Sons. Mr. Russell, Sr., then retired and the style and title became Russell Bros., which continued until 1903, when our subject continued under his own name, Hugh Russell. The business prospered and continued without interruption until in April, 1898, when Mr. Russell was elected to the board of public service in Springfield, necessitating his entire time to be devoted to the discharge of his public duties. However, upon the death of his brother in 1901, he resumed charge of the business of Russell Bros., as his term of four years in office had nearly expired. The fii-m has done an extensive business in stone work and is a pioneer one in cement work. Mr. Russell has been employed in the construction of many churches, school-houses, public buildings and residences throughout this section of the State, and the character of the work has been such as to give the firm an enviable reputation.

In 1879, Hugh Russell was joined in marriage with Miss Helen Sheets, a native of Delaware County, Ohio, and a daughter of Daniel and Malinda (Lake) Sheets, who were farmers. They have five children, as follows: John Sherman, who is now identified with the business of Hugh Russell, his father, was for a time engaged as bookkeeper at Jamestown, N. Y., and also served in the Spanish- American War; Anna W., who is the wife of Byron W. Riffell of Springfield; Carrie S.; Ella S. ; and Earl S., the latter of whom died at the age of eight years. Mr. Russell is a member of the Free Presbyterian Church, has served on the board of trustees many years and is at present a deacon. T\Tiile on a visit to Scotland in 187-4 he was made a Master Mason, and at the present time is a member of Anthony Lodge No. 455, F. & A. M. ; Spring-field Chapter No. 48, R. A. M. ; Springfield Coimcil No. 17, R. & S. M.; Palestine Commandery No. 33, Springfield. With Mrs. Russell he has made sis voyages to the old country, and in February, 1908, visited his mother lodge in Scotland, where he spent seven weeks, going over on the Muritania and returning on the Lusitania.

JACOB VOLLMER, one of Harmony Township's leading citizens, the owner of forty-eight acres of excellent land near Harmony and also of town property, has been engaged in farming and wagon-making in this vicinity since the close of the Civil War, in which he earned the title of veteran soldier. Mr. Vollmer was born December 11, 1840, and is a son of John and Susanna (Eberle) Vollmer.

The grandparents of Mr. Vollmer lived out their lives in Germany. His father, John Vollmer, was born in Germany in 1800 and died in Clark County, Ohio, in 1876. He eam_e to America in 1828 and resided in Pennsylvania until 1835. when he settled in Springfield, Ohio. Here he remained a few years and then moved to ZanesviHe, Ohio, and resided there until 1851, when he returned to Clark County, where he died. A brother, Andrew, and a sister, Maria, came also to America, but after staying a short time, returned to their native land. In 1830, John Vollmer married Susanna Eberle, who lived in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, and they had nine children bora to them, the earlier ones dying in infancy. Those who survived were the following: John, born in 1833, resides in Clark County; George, born in 1837, died in 1864 ; Jacob, subject of this sketch; Mary, born in 1844, married Sigmond Kember, residing in Clark County, and they have four children; and Amelia, born in 1849, married Frederick Fiosel, residing in Clark County and they have six children.

Jacob Vollmer was a sturdy young man of twenty-two years when he entered the army in 1862 and was broken down in health, with a body racked with pain when he escaped the tortures of the southern prisons, and, a mere shadow of himself, crept back to those who loved him. From these hardships he has never entirely recovered. In 1862, at Springfield, Ohio, he enlisted in Company A , Ninety-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and took his part in all the battles and marches of his regiment, courageously performing all the duties of a soldier. In September. 1863, at the terrible battle of Chickamauga, he was captured by the Confederates and from that time until April 28, 1865, he remained a prisoner of war. He was taken first to Belle Isle, where he was confined for two weeks, being transferred from there to Libby

Prison, Richmond, where he was introduced to hardships and to surroundings that the young man had never imagined in all his free young life before. In spite of the chill weather, the prisoners slept unprotected on the ground, with scarcely any food provided, and from there they were taken to quarters just aS bad at Danville, Virginia. In the dungeon where the Federal prisoners were herded, some of the Germans had been ingenious enough to discover the possibility of making a tunnel by which they could hope to reach liberty. Only German prisoners had the confidence of the workers and Mr. Vollmer was made a guard for the work. Of its difficulties and dangers no one could have a conception unless he was permitted to hear the story from the lips of a participant, but it may be here briefly stated that the tunnel was successfully bored and through it sixty-two imprisoned men escaped. It is sad to have to relate that very few of them succeeded in reaching liberty and Mr. Vollmer, with three companions, were recaptured two weeks later. They had been succored by the negroes, but in spite of this, and their own efforts, in their exhausted condition they were unable to escape their enemies and they were recaptured and taken back to prison to Richmond. In the latter part of February, they were introduced to the kind of treatment accorded the unfortunates who were sent to Andersonville, which celebrated prison was not entirely completed when Mr. Vollmer and his comrades were placed within its stockade. "WT^ien General Sherman was on his vic- , torious march to the sea, in the following Septem.ber, Mr. Vollmer and his unfortunate companions were taken to

Savannah and kept in a stockade there until December, when he was removed to Camp, Lawton, farther in the interior where he was kept for a short time. When General Sherman's forces had approached that point, the prisoners were hunied to Thomasville, Georgia, near the present fashionable winter resort, and were concealed in the woods for a few weeks, after which they were marched fifty-six miles to a railroad that ran to Andersonville and they arrived there on Christmas day, 1864. In that place Mr. Vollmer was confined until the following April. All the prisoners who were left, were then taken to Florida, and there turned loose. During the larger part of this time of hardships, Mr. Vollmer was sick and it is no wonder that he still feels the effects of those dreadful years. After finding themselves free, the Federal soldiers hastened as fast as their enfeebled condition would permit, to the nearest Union forces at Jacksonville. There they shipped on a steamer that conveyed them to Annapolis, Maryland, and from there Mr. Vollmer soon reached Columbus, where he was discharged.

After the close of his military service Mr. Vollmer returned to his home in Clark County and in 1866 he located on his present property. By trade he is a wagonmaker and this industry he continues to be engaged in together with general farming. He is considered one of the township's substantial citizens. He has always taken considerable interest in public matters since permanently locating in Harmony Township and has been elected to office on numerous occasions - on the Democratic ticket to the office of townsbip trustee - and has a record of being the only member of that political party to serve three terms in that office. Mr. Vollmer would make a good public official under any party's wing and at present he is identified with the Prohibition party. He has served also as a school director and has been liberal in his contributions 10 public-spirited enterprises in bis section.

In 1870 Mr. Vollmer was married to Olive (Laybourn) Stevens, who was the widow of Henry Stevens and a daughter of Joseph and Anna (Kirkley) Laybourn. Mrs. Stevens had one daughter, Hattie, who was born in 1864. She married Frank Mark and they have one son, Maurice. Mr. and Mrs. Vollmer have had four children: George, Charles, John and Daisy. The eldest son, George, was born in 1872, was well educated and now occupies the responsible position of cashier of the Germania Bank, at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Charles, the second son, was born in 1874 and died in 1894. This brilliant young man was a student at Wittenberg College, at Springfield, and was preparing for the medical profession. John, the third son, was born in 1878, married Lida Baird, and they have two children, Paul and John H. Daisy, who was born in 1879, remains at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. VoUmer are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, of which he is one of the trustees.

Christian Laybourn, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Vollmer, was born in England in 1745. He was there married in 1777 to Margaret Newlove, who was born in 1758. They came to the United States in 1794, bringing with them six children. They remained in New York state for a period of eighteen years, during which time he served as mayor of New York city two years. In 1812 they came to Ohio and settled in Harmony Township. He died in 1842 on the farm now owned by his son Amos and grandson Joseph Laybourn, the father of Mrs. Vollmer. Joseph Laybourn continued to reside on the old home place until his death, which occurred in January, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Laybourn had seven children, five of whom are still living, Mrs. Vollmer being the second in order of birth.

JOSEPH D. TROUT, a prominent farmer of Harmony Township, residing on his fine farm of ninety acres, was born in German Township, Clark County, Ohio, December 1, 1855, a son of Philip and Sarah (Baker) Trout. His parents were natives of Virginia and Maryland respectively. Philip Trout came to Clark County with his father, David Trout, when a child. Here he met Sarah Baker and they were married in 1839. They settled on a farm in German Townsliip and there they lived and died. Philip Trout was a Democrat. Religiously, he and his wife were Methodists, while his father David was a Dunkard and was a preacher of that faith. Philip Trout and his wife had fourteen children, of whom nine are still living. They are: Mary (Conard), residing in Springfield, Ohio; Lydia (Huffman), residing in Iowa; Rev. Philip, a Methodist Episcopal minister of Waynesville, Ohio; John F., of Springfield Township; Joseph D., subject of this sketch; Cassie (Bevitt), residing in Springfield; Carrie (Callison), whose husband is a farmer of Pike Township; Stephen A., a farmer of German Township; and Jacob B., also a farmer of German Township. Those deceased are: William Edward, Eliza, Sarah and an infant daughter. Philip Trout, the father, died at the age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Trout died at the age of seventy.

Joseph D. Trout received his education in the local schools and was graduated from the German Township High School in the class of 1877. He taught school for eight years, since which time he has been engaged in farming.

In 1878 Mr. Trout was married to Emma E. Stephenson, a native of German Township and daughter of James and Sabina (Overpeck) Stephenson, both of whom were natives of Clark County. Mr. Stephenson, who was a farmer and stock dealer of German Township, was born September 23, 1824. His wife was born September 12, 1823, and they were married in 1847. They had eleven children, of whom six survive, namely: Harvey, "William, Nancy (Bowers), Mary (Nissley), Emma E., and Sallie (Hartman).

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph D. Trout have had a family of ten children, of whom nine now survive, namely: Orval, who marlied Laura Cotrel, lives in Springfield, and has one daughter, Dorothy; Maud, who is the wife of Albert Frantz, of Royal Center, Indiana; and has three children - Roger, "Russell, and Irma; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Clarence Heath, of Dayton, Ohio, and the mother of two children - Sherman and Alta; Daisy, who is the wife of Crawford Minter of Dayton, and has one son, Ronald ; the others being, Elza, Jessie, Harvey, Russell and Loyd. The one deceased was Roger, who died at the age of nine months. The children who are single are all at home.

Mr. Trout is a Prohibitionist in politics. Religiously, he is a Methodist and is a local preacher in the Methodist Church, having supplied the pulpit at Vienna Cross Roads, Ohio, for two vears.

CHARLES F. WISE, a prominent citizen of Green Township and a prosperous farmer, residing on a quarter section of land lying about ten miles southeast of the city of Springfield, Ohio, was born in Spring-field Township, and is a son of Lewis and Melinda (Hatfield) Wise.

Lewis Wise was born near South Charleston, in Clark County, in 1829, and died in February, 1906. He was a son of Jesse Wise, who came from Virginia about one hundred years ago and located near South Charleston. He followed farming all his life and died near Selma at the age of sixty-eight years. He first married a Miss Strong, and of their three children, one was Lewis, the father of Charles F. His second union with Muriel Hann resulted in the birth of six children. Lewis Wise lived under the parental roof until he was married, at the age of twentysix years, then, moved on the Hatfield farm, in Springfield Township, where Charles F. Wise was born. Lewis Wise followed farming through his active years. He married Melinda H. Hatfield, a daughter of James Hatfield, an early resident of Clark County, whose family came originally from Wales. They settled first in Pennsylvania, then went to Virginia, and then to Kentucky, later coming to Ohio. Six children blessed this imiou, three of whom are now living.

during his early days. He remained with his parents until his marriage, then set U13 housekeeping in Harmony Township, where he carried on farming about one year, returning then to the old home place. After conducting this farm for one year he purchased his present property, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres situated in Green Township. He follows general farming and stockraising and success has attended his efforts.

Mr. Wise was joined in the holy bonds of wedlock with Miss Minnie A. Schickedantz, a native of Clark County, and a daughter of Christopher Schickedantz, who was a farmer and stock dealer near South Charleston. They have three sons : Blaine C, Clarence L. and Jesse C. Politically, Mr. Wise is a Republican and is now serving his township most efficiently in the capacity of township trustee. He is also a member of the School Board, having been appointed to serve out an unexpired term. He belongs to the Pati'ons of Husbandry. With his family, he is connected with the Baptist Church.

JOHN M. MILLER, who resides in Spring-field Township, Clark County, Ohio, is a successful business man, who in addition to farming maintains stall No. 42 in the Springfield market. He has a fruit farm of thirty-three acres in Springfield Township, on which he has 600 bearing cherry trees, besides a large number of apple, peach and plum trees. During the winter he butchers and dresses poultry for the market. He also rents and farms the Bitner place of 100 acres in Springfield Township. Mr. Miller was born on his father's farm in Franklin

Emanuel Miller, father of John M., was one of ten children and was born on a farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. At the age of eighteen years he came west to Ohio with a party of men on horseback, Clark County being at that time largely forest land, but he soon returned to Pennsylvania, and followed farming in Franklin County until his death in June, 1890, when aged seventy-two years. He married Anna Kendig, who was born in Pennsylvania and is now living there with her oldest son, at the advanced age of eiglity years. They had fourteen children, ten of whom grew up, as follows : Jacob K. ; Melinda, wife of H. Frantz; Jerry, who died at the age of thirty-four years ; Barbara, wife of John C. Miller; Abraham; Benjamin F. ; John M. ; Susan E., wife of George Geltzinger ; ]\Iartin R. ; and Harry.

John M. Miller was reared on the home farm and attended the common schools. When nineteen years old he began learning the trade of a machinist, and for three and a half years was in the employ of Frick & Co. in their engine and boiler works at Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. He subsequently followed the trade of a tool maker. In 1886 he came to Springfield, Ohio, and worked for the William N. "\^^teley Company continuously until 1890, except for a short time spent at Dayton, Ohio, and from 1890 until 1892, for the Rogers Iron Company, now the William Bailey Co., of Springfield. In 1887 he purchased ten acres of land in Spring-field Township, from Henry

Frantz, upon which he moved on March 1, 1888, removing from there to his present location in October, 1899, having purchased this place in the fall of the same year. He was always considered a skilled machinist and has also been successful in agricultural work and his business undertakings.

Mr. Miller was married December 5, 1886, to Anna L. Bair, who was bom in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Daniel H. and Barbara (Weber) Bair, the latter of whom died after the birth of the following children : Benjamin W., Mary, Anna L., Martha, and Elizabeth. The father of Mrs. Miller formed a second marriage with Clara A. Resh, by whom he has a son, Daniel I. Mr. Bair is living at the age of seventytwo years. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are parents of five children, namely : Arthur R., Mary A., Harvey D., Harrold L., and Oscar B. The family l^elong to the Mennonite Church.

DANIEL KIBLINGER, a substantial farmer and highly respected citizen of German Township, residing on a fine farm of 145 acres, situated just north of Lawrenceville on the Ballentiue Road, was born September 25, 1838, in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob M. and Elizabeth (Pence) Kiblinger.

Jacob M. Kiblinger was a son of Daniel Kiblinger, who, with his wife and family, came from the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, to Clark County, Ohio, at a very early period and bought farms in Gennan and Pike Townships, but settled on the land in German Township on the Mad

River. Daniel at one time owned three farms, and gave the one in Pike Township to his son, Jacob M., the father of our subject. Jacob died on our subject's farm in 1897 at the age of eighty-three years, and was survived by his widow until 1904, when in her eighty-fifth year, she died.

Daniel Kiblinger was reared in Pike Township, and in 1855 came to his present farm with his parents and has been a resident of German Township ever since. Mr. Kiblinger has made many improvements on the farm, including the erection of a fine brick residence. He was married in February, 1868, to Elizabeth Littrell, who is still living, and who is a daughter of Henry Littrell. They have had five children, as follows : Amy, who married William Michael and has one child; Clara, who married Elmer Overholser, and has two children; Scott, who is married to Blanche Greist, and has four children; Nettie, who lives at home; and Mary, who died at the age of fourteen months. Mr. Kiblinger is a member and an elder of the Reformed Church of Lawrence\'ille.

Thomas Edward Harwood

who was prominently identified with the jarinting and publishing Imsiness at Springfield for forty years, was born May 26, 1846, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and died February 13, 1906, after a short illness, at the home of his son, Frank C, who is president of the Gazette Publishing Company, of this city. Mr. Harwood was of Virginia ancestry, a son of Francis Lee and Mary (Coffman) Harwood.

Springfield in 1865. Thoroughly understanding all the practical details of the making of a newspaper, he soon displayed also a facility in editorial work, and in the course of time became city editor of the "Weekly Gazette," a journal he bought in 1873 and continued to issue weekly until 1876, when he founded the Daily Gazette. Later he admitted his son, Frank C, to partnership, and in 1898, when the business was incorporated, Mr. Harwood became president, and the name of the T. E. Harwood Printing and Publishing Company was assumed. Later the name was changed to the Gazette Publishing Company. This enterprise was successfully conducted until the death of Mr. Harwood, when his son succeeded to the presidency, continuing the policy of the old organization. The Gazette is the leading Republican organ of this section of the State. Mr. Harwood was a man of recognized ability, public spirited to a large degree, and with disinterestedness fostered many of the city's useful enterprises. For a number of years he resided in a beautiful home on South Fountain Avenue.

At Springfield, October 19, 1868, Mr. Harwood was married to Anna M. Hartstone, and they had ten children, the following of whom survive: Frank C, residing at No. 1054 East High Street, who is president of the Gazette Publishing Company; Fi-ederick H., who was an officer of the Tenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Spanish- American "War, and served also for two years in the Philippines as sergeant-major of the Thirty -first Regiment; Lee Edward, Charles A., who resides at Birmingham, Alabama; Ralph C, who lives at Cleveland; Kenneth S., who resides at Birmingham, Alabama; Jessie Manton, who married John L. Bushnell, of Springfield ; and Nannie L. Carter, residing at Cleveland .

HOWARD SULTZBACH, a leading citizen of Moorefield Township, part owner of 200 acres of very valuable land which is situated in Section 32, on the Urbana Turnpike Road, about three miles from the center of Springfield, was born in German Township, Clark County, Ohio, March 20, 1856. He is a son of Joseph and Catherine (Longenecker) Sultzbach.

Both parents of Mr. Sultzbach were born in Pennsylvania, the father in York County, and the mother in Lancaster County, both stanch old German strongholds. After their marriage they lived for some years on a farm of 100 acres near the town of Hellam, York County, and on that farm thirteen of their fourteen children were born. In 1855 Joseph Sultzbach brought his family to German Township, Clark County, Ohio. He had sold the York County farm and for the first year in the new locality he rented land and then purchased 346 acres of land in Clark County, sixteen of which were in German Township. The former owner was John Grube, and he had built a large brick house, so that there was a comfortable home on the new farm. Joseph Sultzbach prospered and in 1860 he built what is still one of the largest barns in Clark County, its dimensions being 112 feet in length by 50 feet in width. He was an intelligent, reliable man and soon became a leader among his fellow citizens and was frequently elected to responsible oflSces, serving both as trustee of German Township and of Moorefield Township, and also as county commissioner of Clark Coimty. After a life of usefulness he died, in 1886. His widow survived until 1892.

The children born to Joseph Sultzbach and wife were the following : Henry, who lives in Harvey County, Kansas; Elizabeth, who resides on the home farm; Frank, who lives in Mad Eiver Township; Joseph, who is engaged in farming in Bethel Township; John, who lives in Mad Eiver Township; Catherine, who is the widow of J. J. McLean, formerly a grocer at Springfield, resides with her brother, Howard; Amanda, residing at Seattle, Washington, married Mark Wood; Hyman, who resides at DuBois, Iowa; Webster, who died in 1907, was a resident of Harmony Township; Bayard, who is deceased; Calvin, who was accidentally killed at Detroit, Michigan; George, who resides on a farm in Moorefield Township ; Anna, who married John Humbarger, residing in Mad Eiver Township; and Howard, the latter being the only member of the family born in Ohio..

Howard Sultzbach was one year old when his parents settled on the present farm, which is jointly the property of himself and his two sisters, Mrs. Catherine McLean and Miss Elizabeth Sultzbach. Two railroads run through this farm, the Erie and Big Four and the Urbana Traction. Mr. Sultzbach manages the farm, carrying on general farming, stock-raising and dairying. He has never married. His sister, Mrs. McLean, attends to his domestic affairs and makes his home comfortable. She has one daughter, Bessie, who married J. J. Cromwell. Like his late father, Howard Sultzbach is a stanch Eepublican. He takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs, but has never sought office, his preference being for the quiet, enjoyable life of an independent farmer.

JOHN TEMPLETON STEWAET. It is deemed fitting and proper to give representation in this work to one who, though long deceased, left an imj^ress on the affairs of Clark County which more than half a century of time has not effaced. A pioneer, coming in 1805, prior to the organization of Clark County, Mr. Stewart took an important part in the work of development, improvement and progress in this part of the state, both in private and official capacity. Aside from this, he gave to the community a large family of children, who became influential and of large affairs and have done much as individuals, some of them as public officers, to add materially to the welfare and prosperity of Clark County.

John Templeton Stewart (1) was born in Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1781, and was a son of Samuel, Jr., and Nancy (Templeton) Stewart. He came of a prominent old colonial family in this eoimtry and traced his ancestry in Scotland back to John Stewart, a Scotch Covenanter of the seventeenth century, who fled from Scotland to County Down, in the North of Ireland, at the time when Charles II. of England was trying to force Episcopacy upon the Scottish nation, some time between the years 1660 and 1685. Of this early ancestor we have record of but one son.

Robert Stewart, who was born near G-lasgow, Scotland, in 1665. The latter did not go to the Emerald Isle until the death of his father in 1720, then located in Drumore Township. County Down, where he died ten years later.

Sarouel Stewart, Sr., a sou of Robert, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1698, and in 1720 emigrated to North of Ireland with his father. In 1735, with his only brother, Hugh, he came to America, and after landing in Philadelphia, went to Lancaster Countj^ Pennsylvania, where he died in 1770. He married Mary McClay, and one of their ten children was Samuel, Jr.

Samuel Stewart, Jr., was born in County Down, Ireland, and came with his parents to America. He was reared in Lancaster County, where, about the year 1750, he settled on a farm of 100 acres in Hanover Township, for which he held a warrant dated May 17, 1754. He served as a private in a battalion commanded by Colonel Tim Greene in the defense of the frontier, and in 1776 he became a member of the company commanded by Captain James Rogers of Lancaster, fighting for American Independence. He moved to Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and in 1785 served on the first grand jury of that county. He first married Nancy Templaton, a daughter of Robert and Agues Templeton, and after her death married Agnes Calhoun, a daughter of William and Hannah Calhoun. He died September 16; 1803, and was buried in Hanover Cemetery.

John Templetou Stewart lived in his native county until 1805, when, with an older brother, Samuel E., he came west to what is now Clark County, Ohio, then a part of Greene County, settling on the bank of the Little Miami River. In 1813 he was elected justice of the peace, serving continuously until 1838. He was the first clerk of Green Township, and served from 1837 until 1840 as associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In company with liis brother he purchased about 500 acres in Section 15, Green Township, erected a log cabin and set about clearing the land aud converting it from its wild state to one of cultivation. There he lived and prosi^ered, adding largely to his landed interests. His death on April 16, 1850, was mourned as a sad loss to the entire community.

Mr. Stewart was married March 2, 1815, to Miss Ann Elder, who was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in May, 1798, and was a daughter of Robert and Ann Elder, her people moving to Ohio in 1812. This union resulted in the birth of ten children, eight sons and one daughter growing to maturity, as follows : Juliana, wife of David Anderson, died in 1901, at the age of eighty-six years; Perry, a record of whom may be found in the sketch of David Wilniot Stewart ; Elder Robert, a resident of Springfield; Samuel, who died near Kenton, Hai'din County; Charles, a resident of Springfield, died October 26, 1902; Hon. James j\I., of Xenia, Ohio; Thomas, a resident of Green Township; Oscar N., a resident of Harmony Township; and William C, a resident of Green Township.

JOSEPH F. CRABILL, general farmer and stock-raiser, of Springfield Township, residing on a highly cultivated farm of 253 acres, part of which is the old

CraMll homestead, was born on this farm February 1, 1859, and is a son of Thomas V. and Sidney (Yeazell) Crabill. He is the youngest of a family of fourteen children and has always lived on his present farm, engaged in agricultural pursuits. His education was obtained in the disti'ict schools' of the township. Mr. Crabill is one of the most successful farmers of the township, and is extensively engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of cattle, horses and sheep. With the exception of twenty acres of timberland, the entire farm is under cultivation and in pasture, and is well equipped with commodious and substantial buildings.

Mr. Crabill has been twice married, first to Minnie J. Smith, a daughter of Andrew J. Smith. She died September 27, 1897, leaving two children - Glenua L., a graduate of the Springfield High School, who also took a Normal course at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and now teaches at Benson's School, Springfield Township, and Robert E., who lives at home. Mr. Crabill was married secondly to Mrs. Flora J. (Jones) Lawrence, a widow, from Detroit, Michigan. She has one daughter liy her first marriage, namely, Helen E.

GIDEON HARTMAN, a leading citizen of Pike Township, where he owns a valuable farm of 118 acres, was born ]\Iarch 6, 1832, on his father's farm in York County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Peter and Hannah (Myers) Hartman.

The parents of Mr. Hartman sold their farm in York County in the spring of 1837 and came to Ohio by wagon, stopping for one month at S]iringfield on the way to German Township, where they bought the farm on which they both died. Peter Hartman died in 1872, aged seventy-seven years. His widow survived imtil 1889, dying in her eighty-seventh year. They were members of the German Reformed Church. Their four children were: Maria, who married Eli Keiser; and Amos, Gideon and Lewis M., the latter of whom was born after the family settled in Ohio.

Gideon Hartman was five years old when bis parents took up their residence in German Township and he can remember many of the incidents of their early settlement there. He assisted his father in clearing up the land and after the death of the father he came iuto possession of a part of the home farm, to which he added until he owned 158 acres. This property he sold to Americus James in 1891. In January, 1883, he bought his present farm in Pike Township and moved on it in the following March, and here he has been actively engaged in a general farming line until recently, when he retired. In 1897 the residence was destroyed by fire, but Mr. Hartman soon built a larger and more substantial one. In addition to farming ^Ir. Hartman also conducted a dairy and for nine years sold milk in Springfield, his largest customer being the old St. James Hotel.

Mr. Hartman was nunried in German Township to Barbara Snell, who was born in Clark County, Ohio, a daughter of Daniel Snell, who came to Ohio from Virginia at an early day. Mrs. Hartman died March 22. " 1884, aged forty-four years. There were seven children born to Mr. and IMrs. Hartman, namely: Oscar "W.. residing at Atchison, Kansas, married Clara Kline; Harrison F., died aged four years ; Ellen F., married George Lavey, residing in Clark County, and they have three children, Harvey, Bessie E. and Dorothy; Ida A., married Jacob Baugh, residing in Champaign County, Ohio, and they have the following children, ]\Iaude, wife of Wiley Gundolf, Jessie, Cecil S., Noah and Nola, twins, and Luther ; Peter, died aged six months ; Effie M., married David Floiy, who farms the homestead, and they have the following children, Clara M., Emma C, Russell H., Inez M., Elmer F., Lavina E., Verna E. and. Nellie A. ; and Elmer C, who is engaged in a mercantile business, married Crista Bush, and they have had four children, I^udwig, Lucille, Christina and Louise. Mr. Hartman has a tine family of descendants. Several children and grandchildren have not survived infancy, but the larger number have developed into men and women and boys and girls of physical strength and beauty and of mental capacity. Mr. Hartman 's family belongs to the German Baptist Churcli, of the old order. He is one of Pike Townshi])'s most respected residents.

CHARLES PARTINGTON, a retired farmer of Mad River Township, who owns eighty acres of valuable land on which he resides, was born in Fairfield County. Ohio, July 17, 1836, and is the youngest child of James and ]\Iary (Wilson) Partington.

James Partington was born in England and came to America in boj^hood, accompanying his parents, who settled at Brandvwine, Delaware, where he later became superintendent of the Dupont Cloth Manufacturing Works. From there he went to Pennsylvania, where he was also engaged in a manufacturing business, and he was married in that state to Mary Wilson. After their marriage they came to Ohio, and settled in Fairfield County. James Partington manufactured blankets, carpets and woolens at Knisley's mill in that county. About 1839 he came to Clark County and bought the farm now owned by his son, Charles, acquiring a paper-mill and water-power. This mill he changed into a woolen mill and engaged in a manufacturing business quite extensively, giving employment to a number of men. Both he and wife died in advanced age on this farm. They had eight children, namely : James W., Richard, Jane, Eliza, Mary, Martha, John and Charles, the latter being now the only survivor.

Charles Partington was a child when his parents came to the Mad River Township farm. The mill then stood on the land, but all the surroundings were in a wild state, and even when Charles had grown old enough to be trusted with a gun, squirrels and turkey were yet plantiful on the home acres. As he grew to manhood he assisted in clearing the land and also worked in his father's factory. He obtained his education in the log school-house near his home, his teacher being James Hagen. After he had reached manhood he began buying land, and kept on adding to the original tract until he owned 155 acres, seventy-five of which he has recently sold. After a time he opened up a stone quarry on his land, which was worked for a number of years, as long as it was profitable, and he still sells sand and gravel, furnishing a great deal of the gravel used in mending the roads in the township. Mr. Partington has always been considered a good business man. In addition to his other interests he was engaged in dealing in horses, buying and selling for the Dupont Banding Company, of Brandywine.

Mr. Partington has never married. He resides in the old comfortable stone house which was built by his father and with him live Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Sparrow and their son, Ralph, the latter of whom now looks after the horse business. In politics Mr. Partington is a Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

GEORGE L. KEDZIE, one of the early settlers of Mad River Township, an esteemed citizen and prominent agriculturist, residing on a fine farm of 207 acres, was bom August 5, 1821, and is a son of James and Margaret (Hume) Kedzie. The grandfather, Adam Kedzie, a native of Scotland, brought his family to America in 1795, and settled on a farm in Delaware County, New York, where he remained until his death, some years later.

James Kedzie was one of his family of eight children : George, James, William, Adam, Elizabeth, Janet, Isabella, and Nancy, all now deceased. James Kedzie was married in New York State in 1804, to Margaret Hume, a native of Scotland. She came to America on the same vessel as Mr. Kedzie, accompanying her parents, Robert and Allison ( Will sou) Hume. In 1837 James Kedzie and family removed to Ohio and settled in JMad River Township, buying a large tract of timbered land from Henry Bechth, who had entered it from the government. The family lived for a time in a log house which was found on the place, but in 1842 a frame house was erected. Three years later this house burned down. In 1852 the large ten-room brick house in which George L. Kedzie now resides was erected, and here both James Kedzie and his wife died, the former on May 28, 1860, and the latter in 1865. They were the parents of nine children: Adam, deceased; Allison, married Robert Hyde, both deceased; Margaret, married Orrin Penfield, both are deceased; Isabella, deceased; Robert, died while attending college in Now York; John H., deceased, went to Chicago in 1847 and became a large real estate owner, and his widow, Mrs. Mary E. (Kent) Kedzie, still resides there; Elizabeth, married John Dewey, both are deceased; George L., and Jane Ann, who died, aged nine months.

George L. Kedzie was born on his father's farm near Delhi, New York, and at the age of sixteen years came with his parents to Clark County, Ohio, and settled on his present farm. The trip from Delhi required about two weeks time, the travelers going first to Utica, New York, in a lumber wagon, thence to Buffalo by canal, from there to Cleveland, Ohio, by steamboat, then down the canal to Columbus, and from there to Clark County in wagons. Mr. Kedzie 's education was received in the common schools previous to coming to Ohio. After reaching Clark County, although only a lad, he began clearing the farm and experienced many of the hardships common to pit)neer life. He subsequently purchased the place from his father and assumed entire charge of the farming and stock-raising, in which he has always been verj^ successful. Mr. Kedzie is a stockholder in the Mad River Bank, the First National Bank and in the Lagonda Bank, of which he was one of the organizers. He is a Republican in politics. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder.

LEON H.HOUSTON, who has the reputation of being one of the shrewdest and most capable and successful business man of Central Ohio, as a merchanl, banker and farmer, was born in South Charleston, Clark County, Ohio, March 1, 1842, a son of Thomas F. Houston. His paternal grandparents, Joseph Houston, and his wife, Nancy (Fisher), were among the early settlers of Clark County. They were born and married in Sussex County, in the State of Delaware, lived a short time in Kentucky, and came to Ohio in 1812, settling about three miles northeast of Springfield, near what is now Lagonda.

There was a large family of children who married and had homes in Clark and adjoining counties of Ohio and other states. Thomas Fisher Houston was the youngest son of Joseph and Nancy Houston, and was born October 7, 1818, in their pioneer home. He was married to Rachael A. DeLashmutt, December 25, 1839, in South Charleston, where they lived many years, and after five years spent on their farm in Pleasant Township, Clark County, they moved to Spring-field, and in their East High Street home Thomas Houston died Jime 28, 1874, and his wife, Rachel, died November 8, 1886. Their family consisted of ten children, namely :

Catherine, William L., Charles, Thornton, Mary, Emma, Leonidas Hamlin (subject of this sketch), Edwin DeLashmutt, Foster B., and Elissa J. The six first mentioned have all passed away, while of the living members of the family Leon H., Edwin D. and Foster B. are residents at South Charleston, Elissa being a resident of Spring-field, Ohio.

Leon H. Houston was their eldest son. Edwin D. Houston was their fourth son, and was married to Ethel A. Jones February 22, 1905. Foster B. Houston was their youngest sou, and was married to Ida Rose Arbogast June 24, 1890, in Spring-field, where he had lived until he was twenty years old. They have a son, Roger, and daughter, Rachel.

"William Laws Houston was their second son, and was one of the progressive farmers of Clark County. He died in London, Madison County, leaving a wife, two sons and a daughter.

These Houstons are lineal descendants of Robert Houston, of Sussex County, Delaware, who was a recog-nized patriot and rendered material aid to the cause of independence during the Revolutionary War, and also of Robert R. Houston, of near Paisley, Scotland, whose name is found on the land register of Virginia and Maryland as early as 1664. He died at Pokomoke City, Maryland, in December, 1692. The parish, castle, and town of Houston, in Scotland, near Glasgow, are objects of present interest.

On April 1, 1859, Leon H. Houston commenced his business career with the firm of Houston & Brother, composed of Henry Clay Houston and John R. Houston, at a salary of $50.00 per year and board for the first year. He continued as

C. Houston, J. R. Houston, and Leon H. Houston, which partnership lasted until January 1, 1867. John R. and Henry C. Houston then retired and the firm of Houston & Murray was organized and continued until January 1, 1875, with Leon H. Houston and Peter Murray as partners, when Peter Murray retired, and the firm of Houston & Brother was organized by Leon H. Houston and Edwin

D. Houston. This firm continued until January 1, 1893, when Foster B. Houston was admitted under the firm name of Houston Brothers, this co-partnership continuing up to January 1, 1904, when the business was incorporated under the name of The Houston Company, with Edwin D. Houston as president, Foster B. Houston, vice president, and Leon H. Hojiston, secretary. The business conducted from the beginning was the selling of general merchandise to farmers and others, and the operation of grain elevators, lumber and coal yards, including also extensive dealings in wool.

Mr. Leon H. Houston has been actively engaged in the said general business from April, 1859, to the present time. In 1892 the Citizens' Bank, of South Charleston, Ohio, was organized, Leon H. Houston and Edwin D. Houston owning more than three-fourths of the institution, Leon H. Houston acting as president, Edwin D. Houston as vice president, and William A. Malsbary, cashier. This is regarded, as the strongest bank in Clark County, as it is a co-partnership, and all the property of each and every co-partner is bound for the liabilities of the bank. Thev

Mr. Leon H. Houston has been several times elected to the village council, and has taken much interest in beautif jing the village of South Charleston. He was instrumental in the construction of the modern cement sidewalks and macadamized streets, which are known to be the best of any village in the state. He served with credit as county commissioner from 1878 to 1881 ; was a member of the State Board of Equalization in 1890 and 1891, and was accredited with accomplishing great good for the farming and other interests of the state.

Leon H. Houston owns over 4,000 acres and Edwin D. Houston over 1,500 acres of the best farming lands in Madison, Clark, and Green Counties.

Their Woodlawn Farm, about seven miles north of London, in Madison County, is known as the best farm in the State. They also own large tracts of timber land in Mississippi.

To operate these farm kinds there has been recently organized The Houston Farm Company, with a capital stock of $100,000.00 - Leon H. Houston, Edwin D. Houston, Foster B. Houston, Elissa J. Houston and Howard Yeazell being owners and directors of said farm company.

Leon H. Houston has been quite an extensive traveler between this country and Europe, having crossed the Atlantic twelve times, and profited much liy his observations in this and foreign countries. Edwin D. Houston has made two trips around the world and one to South America.

wLich place he is one of the foremost and respected citizens, and is known for his liberality and helpfulness to all worthycauses, and has contributed largely to the benefit and welfare of the community by aiding private and public interests.

AVALTER S. MICHAEL is a well known citizen and successful farmer and stockraiser, residing on his valuable farm of eighty acres, which is situated on the Flick Turnpike Road, eight miles northT west of Spring-field, and two miles west of Lawrenceville, in German Township. Mr. Michael was born in German Township, Clark County, Ohio, January 14, 1872, and is a son of Alexander and Rebecca (Overholser) Michael.

Alexander Michael was also born in Clark County, where his father, David Michael, settled at an early day, and owned the farm adjoining the one now owned by his grandson. Alexander Michael was married twice and had twelve children. Walter S. Michael has two surviving brothers, D. I. and John, both residing at Springfield. He lost his mother when a babe only eleven days old and he was reared by Peter J. Hause and wife, who had no children of their own and who gave their adopted son a chance to obtain a good, common school education. Mr. Michael loved them as his parents, as he now reveres their memory; in every way he was a son to them and from them inherited his present farm. Peter J. Hause died in 1895 and his widow in 1899. After his marriage Mr. Michael remained for one y*^ar on the farm and then moved to Herbst, Grant County, Indiana, where he worked for two years in a tile factory, after which he returned to the farm. He carries on general farming, raises excellent stock and keeps eight cows, shipping his milk to his brother, John Michael, who is a milk dealer at Spring-field. Mr. Michael married Maggie Rust, who is a daughter of Henry and Drusilla (Cost) Rust, farmers, of German Township. They have two children - Ernest Leroy and Glendon Ray. Mr. Michael is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, at Northampton.

ISAAC KAY, M. D., whose long and uninterrupted career as a physician and surgeon at Springfield has made him the oldest resident medical man in this city, has also brought him the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, as well as deserved honors and fitting emolument in his profession. Dr. Kay was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, not far distant from the beautiful city of Chambersburg, December 8, 1828. He is a son of William and Susanna (Unger) Kay, a grandson of John Kay and a great-grandson of John Kay, who, at the date of the Revolutionary War, was already a man of business enterprise in the city of Philadelphia. It is not difficult to trace the family still farther back, even in the days when its early settlers accompanied William Penn to Pennsylvania and assisted him in his civilizing efforts.

In 1836, when Isaac Kay was a boy of nine years, his parents left the old family home in Pennsylvania and journeyed over the mountains in the primitive manner of the time and established a new home in Ohio. Other members of the family took up the burden of clearing the land and developing a farm in the wilderness, but from early youth Isaac had made up his mind to be a physician. Through many obstacles he pushed his way and in 1849 he secured his diploma from Starling Medical College, at Columbus. On May 18, 1853, he came to Springfield, having already had four years of medical experience at Lewisburg, Ohio, and with the growth and progress of this city, for a half century, he has been indissolubly connected. One of his early and continued interests has been the spread of medical knowledge within his own profession, and early and late he has worked to establish organizations of this character and to make them fulfil their mission. Almost since its inception he has been an active member of the Clark County Medical Society, in which he has frequently held official position, and for many years his name has been one oT those most honored in the Ohio State Medical Association. Colleges and conventions, associations and societies have conferred degrees ujion him for valuable services rendered, all feeling that they liave profited from his scientific researches, his valuable literary contributions and his enlightening lectures on subjects of the gravest importance.

Dr. Kay was married November 4, 1852, to Clara M. Deckert, of Miamisburg, Ohio. They have two sons, Charles S. and Clarence H. During almost the entire period of his mature life he has been an active member of the Baptist Church. Politically he is a Eepul)lican, always earnest in his efforts to encourage good government, but never descending to the methods of mere party politicians. His connection with the Masonic fraternity dates back to 1850 and he has felt it to be one of his great privileges to live up to the demands and aims of this brotherhood.

MILTON J. BAIRD, a representative farmer and well known citizen of Pleasant Township, residing on his valuable farm of seventy acres, which is situated on the Columbus Road, was born in Clark County, Ohio, November 27, 1870, and is a son of William J. and Nancy J. (Kimble) Baird.

His grandparents on the paternal side were residents in 1794 of Pennsylvania, whence they migrated to Kentucky, coming from the latter state to Clark County, Ohio, in 1808 and settling in Harmony Township. William Baird, the greatgrandfather, had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War, fighting for American independence. At one time he was placed as a guard over certain Hessian prisoners, and accidentally overhearing several of them express sentiments favorable to America, and declare that they would never return to Germany, but would, if they could escape, become citizens of the new republic against which they had been hired to fight, he purposely relaxed his vigilance, with the result that they got away, and, it is to be presumed, fulfilled their intentions, to the benefit of the land of their adoption. The family tradition is that the Bairds originated in Scotland, were driven to Ireland by religious persecution and subsequently came to America. In Kentucky they intermarried with the Breckenridges and other prominent families.

Mr. Baird's grandparents, Peter C. and Frances (Wilson) Baird, were born, respectively, in Kentucky and North Carolina. They resided in Harmony Township, Clark County until their death, about 1872. Peter C. Baird came to Clark County in 1808. His ten children bore the following names, respectively: William 3., Clara J., Willis, Caroline, Susan, Lewis E., John. Robert, Dorothy and Mary Ann.

William J. Baird father of Milton J., was born March 27, 1826, in Clark County, Ohio, and was married twice, first to Frances Hayward. Three children were born to that marriage: John, who married Susan Slagle, resides at Springfield, and they have two children, Lewis and George; Margaret F., who married George Eberhart, residing in Clark Coimty ; and Lewis R., who resides in Kansas, married Tjena Perro, and they have five children. February 19, 1867, William J. Baird was married (secondly) to Nancy J. Kimble, and the following children were born to them: Clara E., boi'n in 1868, married Frank Jones, and they reside in Clark County and have had four children : Milton J. ; Nellie, born November 2, 1872, married C-lark Jones; Eva, born November 2, 1875, resides at Vienna Cross Roads ; and Laura, born November 14, 1877, married Minor Slagle and they have two children. William J. Baird died February 20, 1907. His widow survives.

Milton J. Baird was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools. His main occupation has been farming, lu 1902 he purchased his present property from Andrew Goodfellow, and has been engaged in improving it ever since.

On December 26, 1900, Milton J. Baird was married to Floy Neer, a daughter of Nathan 0. and Millie (Comstock) Neer. The father of Mrs. Baird was born January 8, 1850, and in 1875 he married Millie Comstock, who was born Novemlier 8, 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Neer had the following children: Floy, wife of Milton J. Baird. was born October 24, 1876; Anna B., born July 18, 1879, married Eugene Grubb, and they have two children, Evlyn and Mildred; Benjamin, born October 31, 1882 ; Laura, born May 20, 1887 ; Ruth, born April 13, 1894; Mahlon, born April 20, 1898 ; and Clark, who was born March 16, 1885, died in the same year. Mr. and LIrs. Neer still survive.

Mr. and Mrs. Baird have four children, namely: Herbert, who was born January 8, 1902; Roland, who was born July 11, 1903; Howard, who was born September 14, 1905; and Florence, who was born March 26, 1907.

Mr. Baird takes a good citizen's interest in township affairs and gives liberal assistance to many public-spirited enterprises. In politics he is a Republican. He is a valued member of the township school board.

LEVI KAUFFMAN, who is engaged in agrieidtural pursuits on a .well improved farm of 166 acres, located about twelve miles west of Springfield, on the north side of the Valley Pike, was born September 3, 1833, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Christian and Anna (Erb) Kauffman.

near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where the family later became very prominent. Christian Kauffman, grandfather, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming all his life and acquired a full section of land. He married Anna Miller, also a native of Lancaster County, and they became the parents of three sons and three daughters.