Springfield Township (part 37 of 69)

Christian Kauffman, father of Levi, was bom in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and became both a farmer and miller. For many years he operated a water-power grist mill. He was married to Anna Erb, a daughter of Jacob Erb, of German extraction, and a native of Lancaster County, Peunsylvauia. In 1840, Christian Kauffman and familj- moved to Ohio, making the trip, which required three weeks, in wagons. They passed through Spring-field, theu a small village, and located in Bethel Township, Clark Countj', on the farm which is now partly owned by Levi Kauffman, purchasing 500 acres of timberland from Samuel Burnett. The family began life here in a small cabin, which was standing, later building a brick house, which was one of the first erected in this section, and was made of bricks of their own manufacturing. Mr. Kauffman engaged in farming here the remainder of his life, and he also operated a water-power sawmill, which he sold shortly before his death, which occurred in 1870, when aged seventy-one years. His widow sun-ived him a number of years, her death occurring when past seventy years of age. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman, all of whom but the four youngest, were born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Emanuel, deceased; Jacob, deceased; Christian; John; Elizabeth, deceased wife of H. Huber; Mary, wife of Benjamin Kneisley, both deceased; Levi; Benjamin, deceased; Eeuben, deceased; Anna, widow of Samuel Musselman; Henry; Sarah, wife of J. H. Monk; and Abraham.

Levi Kauffman was a small child when his parents moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where the greater part of his boyhood days were spent in assisting his father in clearing and placing the farm in a tillable condition. His education was such as could be obtained in the district schools at that time, which were of the pioneer type, with slab benches, and these he only attended about four mouths during the winters, when his services could best be spared. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Kauffman enlisted in the army, serving under Captain McKinney, in Company E, One Hundred and Fiftythird Eegiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and participated in several important skirmishes. Mr. Kauffman remained at home engaged in farming imtil his marriage. In 1870 he purchased his farm from the Kauffman estate, where he has since been engaged in general farming and has added many improvements to his place.

On March 7, 1861, Mr. Kauffman was imited in marriage with Anna Haruish, a daughter of John and Esther Harnish, and to them have been born the following children: Laura, who is the wife of George S. Lotterett ; Benjamin, who married Melvina Herr; Hattie, and Hettie, twins, the former of whom died yoimg, and the latter of whom, ]*Irs. H. K. Smith, with her son. Ward L., lost her life during the Johnstown Flood, while on the train when enroute to Pennsylvania; Susan S., who died aged fourteen years; Anna E., who died aged twenty-five years, was the wife of Clarence Tannyhill, also deceased; Emma B., who is the wife of Norman R. Bear, has three children, Robert, Lawrence, and Anna Vii'ginia ; Elizabeth ; Dora and Cora, twins, the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. Kauflfman and his wife are members of the Reformed Mennonite Church.

WILLIAM W. HYSLOP, residing on a well improved and highly cultivated farm of 140 acres located about four and onehalf miles northwest of Springfield, on the Jordon and Miami Pike, has been a resident of German Township since the spring of 1894, and is one of the enterprising and substantial farmers of this section. He was born October 1, 1862, on the old home place in New Jasjoer, Greene County, Ohio, and is a sou of Robert and Martha (Bogle) Hyslop.

Robert Hyslop is also a native of Greene County, Ohio, having been born on the same farm on which our subject was born, and is a son of George Hyslop, a native of Scotland, who came to this country at a very early period and settled in the woods of Greene County, near New Jasper. There he built a log cabin, cleared a large tract of land and died at an advanced age. Robert Hyslop, father of Wilham W., was reared on this farm and followed farming there throughout his life. He married Martha Bogle, who was a sister of Col. James Bogle, formerly a well known and highly respected citizen of Springfield, Ohio, now a resident of California. There were eleven children born to Robert and Martha Hyslop, but five of whom are living. Mrs. Hyslop died about 1867 and Robert Hyslop died in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, in 1896.

AVilliam W. Hyslop was reared in Greene County, and has always followed farming in a general way on a scientific basis. Subsequent to his marriage he rented a farm near Clifton, Green Township, Clark County, for a period of six years, but in 1894, he bought and located on ninety acres of his present farm in German Township. To this he added twenty acres in 1900, and thirty acres more in 1907. Here he has made many improvements, having built in 1902 a large, modern frame house with all modern improvements, including furnace, natural gas. etc. A lane formerly ran from Miami Pike to the old house, but Mr. Hyslop has opened a lane from Jordon Pike to his new residence, which is located in German Township, but part of the land lies in school district No. 11, Springfield Township.

Mr. Hyslop was married February 27, 1888, while still a resident of Greene County, to Mary Crawford, a daughter of Harper Crawford, who was a well known agriculturist of Greene County, Ohio. Two children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Earl, who is taking a special agricultural course at the Ohio State LTniversity; and Frances, who lives at home.

Mr. Hyslop served as a member of the Springfield Township School Board two years, 1905-1907, inclusive, having been elected on the Independent ticket, and when a resident of Greene County served two terms as township clerk of New Jasper Town.ship, being elected on the Re- publican ticket. He is affiliated with the Rockway Grange, No. 1626, and his religions connection is with the United Presbyterian Church of Springfield.

CHARLES J. BOWLUS, proprietor of the Bowlus Fruit Company, manager of the National Stogie Company and exmayor of the city of Spring-field, Ohio, was born December 17, 1866, in Bowlusville, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of George C. Bowlns, of this city.

George C. Bowlus, one of the leading real estate men of Springfield, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, and in about 1851 came to Clark County with his father. Captain Samuel H. Bowlus, who was a member of a local military company of Maryland and subsequently became a farmer and grain dealer in this county.

Charles J. Bowlus was reared and obtained his educational training in Clark County, and early in life became a grocery clerk in Springfield, where he subsequently engaged in the wholesale fruit business. In 1891: the Bowlus Fruit Company, well known wholesale and retail dealers of foreign and domestic fruits and l^roduce, was established, and is now recognized as one of the leading business enterprises of the city. Mr. Bowlus is also interested in various other enterprises of the city, among them the well known Ridgely Trimmer Company, of which he is vice president and a director. He has always taken an active interest in the political atfairs of the city and served his first term as mayor of Springfield from 1899 to 1901. He was again elected mayor in 1903, serving until 1905.

joined in marriage with Fannie Lee Duvall, of Springfield, and four children were born of this union: Roger C. ; William D., who is attending college at Elberton, Georgia: Charles J., Jr., and Thelma, who died in infancy.

Fraternally Mr. Bowlus is a thirtysecond degree Mason, holding lodge membership at Dayton ; he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the Commercial Travelers. He is a director of the Children's Hospital, of Cincinnati, and, religiously, is affiliated with the Heavenly Rest Episcopal Church, of which he is vestryman.

TUNIS FERMAN MUMFORD, residing on a fine farm of 100 acres, situated in the northwest corner of Pike Township, has been a life-long resident of Clark County. He was born in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, July 4, 1860, on the old homestead farm of his maternal grandfather, and is a son of William H. and Nancy (Carmen) Mumford.

William H. ^Mumford was bom in the old log cabin on his father's farm in Pike Township, Clark County. March 1, 1835, and is a son of Richard Mumford, who came from Maryland to Ohio on horseback and was one of the pioneers of this section. The latter died here at a ripe old age, and was the father of the following children: William H. ; Alexander; Mary, widow of Peter Barley; John A. and Daniel, deceased. William H. Mumford helped clear the farm and has followed farming all his life, except the time spent in the army during the Civil War. He was a member of the Seventj'-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and dur- ing his service of three years and six months participated in many important engagements. He married Nancy Carmen, who was born in a log cabin on the pioneer farm of her father, John Carmen, who came with his wife from Pennsylvania, at an early date, and lived in Pike Township until his death, at the age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Mumford became parents of the following children: Mary, who is the wife of Henry McCrosson, of Dayton, Ohio; Sarah, who is the wife of Sharon Scott, lives in Miami County, Ohio; John A., deceased; Tunis F.; Charles R., deceased; Wilbert H., who resides in Miami County; and Clara Adella, who is the wife of David Littlejohn, lives in Champaign County, Ohio. Mrs. Mumford died in xVpril, 1900. Mr. Mumford resides at the home of his youngest daughter.

Tunis F. Mumford was reared on the home place and received his educational training in the district schools. He early engaged in agricultural pursuits and rented a farm from the time he left the paternal roof until 1896, when he purchased forty-five acres of his Grandfather Carmen's old farm. To this he added twelve acres of the Henry Shell farm, and continued to reside on that place until 1908, when he traded it as part payment on the David Strock farm of 100 acres, where he now lives. He has always followed general farming, and in addition to this, during the past twenty -five years, has operated a threshing machine all through this section. For three years he was deputy for the Threshers' Association, an organization national in its extent, its object being the protection of threshers. and during his term of office organized

On February 20, 1878, Mr. Mumford was united in marriage with Martha Wrightsman, a daughter of Richard and Minerva (Adamson) Wrightsman, of Indiana. Her father died in July, 1901, and her mother now resides in Portland, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Wrightsman had the following children: Munford; William, deceased ; John ; Martha ; Adolphus, deceased; AUie, deceased; Phoebe, deceased; Charles; Thomas; Effie; and Florence, who died young.

Tunis F. Mumford and his estimable wife are parents of three children, as follows : Clarence, who lives in Troy, Ohio, married Mary Hill, and has a daughter, Grienna May; Glenna, who died aged nine years; and Blanche, who is the wife of Wilber Maxson. Fraternally Mr. Mumford is a member of Castown Lodge No. 426, I. 0. O. F. He is a Democrat in politics. Religiously he is a member of the Honey Creek Church.

CHARLES N. RITCHIE, one of Pleasant Township's leading citizens, owning a valuable estate of ninety-eight and twothird acres, all in one farm, situated in Sections .37 and 42, about three miles southeast of Catawba, was born July 4, 1847, and is a son of Solomon and Eliza Ann (Ropp) Ritchie.

The parents of Mr. Ritchie were born in Virginia and they lived near Harper's Ferry. They had the following children: Mary E., deceased, who married Oliver Young, also deceased, had four children, Effie, Willie, Tillie and Bertha, Effie and Tillie being deceased ; John S., who was a soldier and was killed during the Civil War; "VYilliam, who was bom in 1845, married Mary Ann Brown, and they have three children, Edward, Celia and Anna, all being residents of Champaign County ; Charles N. ; Edward, who married Lueinda Curl, had four children, Nina, Ora, Elta and a babe that died in infancy ; and Martin Luther, who died aged six years.

Charles N. Ritchie was married in Pleasant Township, September 24, 1876, to Mary Wiet, who was born February 15, 1851, and is a daughter of Michael and Ann (Runyan) Wiet. Michael Wiet was bom in Virginia and his wife in Clark County, Ohio. They had nine children, as follows: James, who was born in 1847, married Hannah Potee; Eli F., who was bom in 1849, married Savilla Paine, and they had two children, Hattie May and Sallie; Mary, who became Mrs. Ritchie; Katherine, who was born in 1853, married Amos Smith, and they had six children, Clifford. Sylvia, Leona, Nina, Fostora and Kate; Sarah, who was born in 1855, died aged two years; Asa, who was born in 1857, died unmarried, aged twenty-six years; Lucinda, who was born in 1858, married Harry Tavner and they had six children, and she died March 17, 1906; Amelia, who was born in 1860, died at the age of thirteen years; and the youngest child, a son, was born and died in 1862.

Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie have had three children, the two survivors being Howard and Lora Estyl. The eldest, a son, was born May 19, 1880, and died an infant. Howard Ritchie was born January 16, 1882, and married Nellie Bumgardner, and they have one child, Gwyneth, who was born December 10, 1904. They reside on their farm of twenty-five acres.

Howard operates both his own and his father's farm. Lora Estyl Ritchie was born March 27, 1884, and was married August 25, 1904, to Paul Bronson. Both children of Mr. Ritchie received an excellent jmblic school education.

Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie have lived in Pleasant Township ever since their marriage and on the present farm for the past seven years. It is a valuable property, situated conveniently on the Ellsworth Turnpike, near Catawba, and has been well improved. For a term Mr. Ritchie served as a member of the township School Board and terms as road supervisor. Both he and wife belong to Pleasant Chapel, of which he is one of the trustees.

JOHN RAY, the oldest resident of Clark County, Ohio, residing in Pike Township, was born July 29, 1812, and has lived here all his life, a period of over ninety-five years. He makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. George Freeman, who lives on the old home place near Dialton.

Lewis Ray, father of John Ray, was born in Virginia and after his marriage to Elizabeth Zigler, in 1812, came to Ohio, making the journey in wagons. They settled in the woods in Pike Township, made a clearing and erected a log cabin. They subsisted largely on wild game, deer and other wild animals abounding, and corn bread, but once a week, usually Sunday, they had a change to white liread. Lewis and Elizabeth Ray spent the remainder of their lives on the quarter section of land they owned here, he dying at the age of sixt}'-six years and she at ninety. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ten children were born to them, eight grew up, as follows: John; Mary, who was wife of Timothy Wones, both deceased; Henry, deceased; Susan, widow of Duncan Thackery, is one of the oldest women living in the county; Michael, deceased; Samuel, deceased; Lewis, deceased; and Sarah, who was wife of Rev. John Black, both now deceased.

John Ray was reared in Pike Township and has witnessed a remarkable change in conditions since his boyhood days. Then wild game was plentiful and Indians still roamed about this section, some times their hostility driving his parents to leave their home for a place of greater safety. He attended school in the old log schoolhouse, and assisted in clearing the home place of its wild growth of timber, experiencing many hardships of pioneer life. He engaged in farm work there for a time, then picked up the carpenter trade, which he thereafter followed, and as a carpenter and builder for more than thirty years, sometimes employing a large force of men. He put up many of the fram.e houses and barns of this township, some of which are standing today. AVhile a young man he purchased of Jacob Harner eighty acres of land for $600. being given six years in which to make payment, without the requirement of interest. He later bought an additional eighty acres for $800, and from time to time added to his original purchase until he had 300 acres. He was always successful in a business way, but success came only through hard, persistent and well directed effort. Upon retiring from business activity he divided his property among

In April, 1837, Mr. Ray was united in marriage with Margaret Overpack, who was bom near North Hampton, Pike Township, and was a daughter of George and Martha (Kerns) Overpack, who came from Virginia. She died in March, 1892, aged seventy-two years, being survived by her husband and three children: Lewis, who married Jane Davis, both now deceased; George, who married Sarah Howell, both deceased; and Mary, with whom Mr. Ray now lives.

In 1862 Mary Ray was married (first) to David Otewalt, who died in 1882, leaving a daughter, Rosella, who is now the wife of Elihu Hiatt, of Columbus, Ohio. Her first union was with Matthew Wones, and they had one son, Ross, who married Cora Hardin. Mrs. Otewalt was married (second) in 1892 to George Freeman, who is now operating the old Ray farm. Mr. Freeman was born in New York state and is a son of Warren Freeman,

ROONEY WASHINGTON JONES, residing on his valuable fruit farm of three acres, situated within the limits of Vienna, in Harmony Township, fills the important office of treasurer of the village. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, January 18, 1875, and is a son of Newton R. and Frances (Sullivan) Jones.

Samuel Sullivan was born in 1800 and was an apprentice to an officer during the War of 1812. He came from Baltimore, Maryland, to Clark County, in 1837, and settled near Vienna, where he conducted a cooper shop for many years. At the time of liis death, in 1898, he was the oldest man in Clark County. His wife died in 1881. They had three daughters: Mary Catherine, who married William Young; Frances Ann, who was born in Marj^and in 1834; and Clarissa.

Newton R. Jones was born in Virginia in 1836 and died in 1890 in Clark County, Ohio. He served in the Federal Army during almost the entire period of the Civil War, enlisting November 2, 1861, at Vienna, Ohio, in Company C, Eleventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and being honorably discharged at Omaha, Nebraska, April 1, 1865. This regiment was mainly used to fight the Indians and their service was constantly one of great danger. On one occasion Mr. Jones was among the mountains in very inclement weather and was almost frozen to death. After his military service was over he returned to Clark County and resided near Vienna during the remainder of his life. In 1860 he was married to Frances Ann Sullivan, and they had three sons born to them, all of whom survive, namely: Vancy, who was born in 1868, resides with his brother, Rooney W. ; Noah, who was born April 18, 1871, married Sylvia Smith, a daughter of Amos Smith, and they have one daughter, Gladys ; and Rooney Washington.

Rooney W. Jones was educated with a view of becoming a teacher, taking the course at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, and subsequently engaging in teaching for a number of years. On May 26, 1900, he was married to Cora A. Stafford. They have a little adopted daughter named Bessie. Mrs. Jones was also educated at the Ohio Normal University and is a lady of high attainments. She formerly taught school.

Mr. Jones is a Republican and has taken an active interest in politics ever since he became a voter and has been honored by his party on many occasions. In 1900 he took the census in this vicinity. He has served as chairman of the Clark County Central Committee of his party, and at present is corporation treasurer of Vienna, having previously served two terms as township treasurer. In 1908 Mr. Jones was nominated by his party for county recorder, a nomination in Clark County on the Republican ticket meaning an election. Mi*, and Mrs. Jones are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Vienna, in which Mr. Jones is a trustee and a steward. Mr. Jones is one of the prominent members of the order of Knights of Pythias at Vienna, belonging to Lodge No. 660, and also to Lodge No. 15. Junior Order United American IMechanics. He is a valued member of the Franklin Society.

GEORGE GRIESER, a prosperous farmer living on a farm of eighty-three and one-half acres in Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, was l)orn November 8, 1844, in Hessen, Darmstadt, Germany, and is a son of John and Maria (Gearon) Grieser, both of whom died in that country, he at the age of fifty-four years, and she at seventy years. The father followed farming throughout life. They had eight cliildren, as follows: Mark, deceased; John; Margaretta, deceased, who was the wife of John Domesberger ; Philip ; George ; Gertrude, who is the wife of Jacob Gearon; Adam; and Gerhardt. The four youngest of the family came to America, but not at the same time. Mrs. Gearon being the first and George the next to come across the ocean.

George Grieser was reared on a farm in his native province, and there received an excellent education in the public schools. In May, 1872, he left home for America and reached Fort Wayne, Indiana, just three weeks later, to the hour. Crossing on the same steamer was his bride-to-be, Elizabeth Stineman, who came from the same neighborhood, and upon arriving at the home of her brother, in Fort Wayne, they were married. Two weeks later they moved to Clark County, Ohio, where his sister, Mrs. Gearon, lived, and there he worked in a stone quarry for five years. He then rented a farm of 110 acres in German Township, of Samuel Nesser, which he operated for four years, and later, the Henry Snyder place of 200 acres, near Enon, for two years. He next rented 110 acres of Gen. Rust, in Northampton Township, for four years, after which he was again located on the Nessler place for three years. He then conducted the Anna Schooley farm of 160 acres for four years, after which he purchased his present farm of eighty-three acres, on which stands a large brick house. He subsequently added more land and erected good substantial farm buildings. He put up a commodious farm-house containing six large rooms, in which he now lives, and rents the brick residence. He has followed farming and stock-raising in

It was in June, 1872, that Mr. Grieser and Elizabeth Stineman were married. She is a daughter of Adam and Eve Elizabeth (Klinger) Stineman, who followed their children to America from Germany, late in life. Mr. Stineman died in Indiana and his wife died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grieser. They were the parents of eight children : Adam, who crossed the Atlantic in 1860, being the first of the family to come to America; Peter, who lives in Germany; Eve Elizabeth; Catherine, who is the wife of Jacob Bowers; John, who died in Indiana; Agnes, who is the wife of Charles Helms ; and two who died in childhood.

George Grieser and his estimable wife have also had eight children, namely: Catherine, who died April 20, 1908, was the wife of Adam German, and had three children, Effie, Lena, and Edna; Agnes, who died in 1904, aged twenty-nine years, was the wife of Philip Roder, and left three children, George, Nellie and Florence ; John, who married Iva Boyers, has a son, Ralph; Adam, who married Julia Florey, has one child; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Elliott Neese, lives in the State of Washing-ton; Effie, who is the wife of William Parks has two children, Alfred and Edward ; George, who is employed as a bookkeeper at Springfield, Ohio, and Margaret, who died in 1906, aged eighteen years. Mr. Grieser is a Republican in politics. Religiously he is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church at Springfield, Ohio.

ing to this country with little means, a foreigner, unused to Americans and American methods, it was an uphill fight from the first. Meeting adversity with a brave front, he struggled on until now he is reckoned one of the substantial men of his home community.

HON. MELVIN L. MILLIGAN, president of The Fairbanks Company, and vice president of The Indianapolis Switch and Frog Company, is a leading citizen of Springfield. Mr. Milligan was born in Perry County, Ohio, July 28, 1860, and is a son of Alfred P. and Rachel (Iliff) Milligan.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Milligan were George and Priscilla (Thrap) Milligan, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio among the pioneers of Perry County. In the home they established Alfred P. Milligan, father of Melvin L., was born September 1, 1831. In early manhood he married Rachel Iliff, who was born in Perry County, Ohio, February 16, 1840. They reside at Deavertown, Ohio. Alfred P. Milligan was engaged in agricultural pursuits through his active years.

Melvin L. Milligan attended school in both Perry and Morgan Counties, completed a thorough business course at Zanesville, and then entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, where he was graduated in 1884, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Several years of close study of law followed and he was admitted to the bar at Columbus, in May, 1886, and later, at Kansas City, Missouri, in which city he engaged in the practice of his profession.

Springfield, Ohio, Mr. Milligan was led to locate in this city in 1891, since which time his connection with her important enterprises has been strengthened. Mr. Milligan, with trained intellectual faculties, is also a man of very practical business conceptions, and the ability with which he has, for years, conducted large transactions, has served to make him a very notable factor in the commercial life of this section. He has filled high official positions with great industrial concerns. Since 1902 he has been president and general manager of The Fairbanks Company, which formerly did business as The Springfield Foundry Company, and which employs 325 people. For four years he served as president, and since then has been vice president of The Indianapolis Switch and Frog Company, which is one of the largest houses in the country engaged in the manufacture of switches, frogs and railroad specialties. It was incorporated in 1892, with a capital stock of $300,000.

Although Mr. Milligan is necessarily greatly absorbed in his private business enterprises, he has always found time to devote to civic interests, and in such measure as to win the full confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. In April, 1901, he was elected mayor of Springfield, and during his service of two years the city made marked progress. Politically he is identified with the Republican partv. Mr. Milligan is one of the board of directors of the American Trust and Savings Company, at Springfield, a corporation which occupies the substantial nine-story structure to which the city points as its largest and finest building.

On August 30, 1887, Mr. Milligan was married to Jennie Fairbanks, who is a daughter of Loriston M. and Mary Adelaide Fairbanks, of Columbus, and a sister of Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks, vice president of the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Milligan have five children, namely : Loriston F., Harry S., Mary Adelaide, Robert L., and Rachel lolene. The family residence is located at No. 1029 South Fountain Avenue, Springfield.

JOHN HENRY BLOSE, one of German Township's substantial and representative citizens, resides on his valuable farm of 150 acres, which lies directly north of Tremont, on both sides of the road. Mr. Blose was born in Mad River Township, four miles west of Urbana, ChampaigTi County, Ohio, August 29, 1838, and is a son of Daniel and Susanna (Pence) Blose.

Daniel Blose was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, and was a son of John ^and Amelia Blose, who moved to Champaign County, Ohio, when Daniel was a child of two years. The latter grew up on a farm situated four miles north of that on which his son, John Henry, resides. In early manhood he married a daughter of Henry Pence, who came from Virginia to Champaign County, in 1801, and in that county Mrs. Blose was born; This marriage was a very early one and the couple went to live on the old Pence farm, where four children were born, of whom John Henry was the eldest. The other three were, Minerva, who died aged one year ; Eunice Elizabeth, who married Samuel Sowers, and, with her husband, is now deceased, they being survived by five children ; and Marietta, also deceased, with her husband, who married Christian F. Rohrer. The first wife of Daniel Blose died in 1816 and he was married (secondly) to Louisa Colbert. They had seven children, namely: James Irvin, who follows farming and is also in the grain business at Urbana ; Leroy, who is engaged in the grain business with his brother ; Daniel, who is a travehng salesman; Emery, deceased, who was also in the grain business; Edward, who died in young manhood; and two children who died in infancy. The father of the above mentioned family died in 1871, aged fifty-three years.

John Henry Blose was reared in Champaign County, where he attended the country schools, and when about seventeen years of age he also taught school. His father owned a flour mill and also a distillery, and he worked in both of these and also engaged in farming. At the age of nineteen years he was married to Caroline Steinberger, and for two years afterward they lived on one of his father's farms. Mr. Blose then came to German Township, Clark County, and bought an interest in a farm of 200 acres, which was jointly owned by his father and a Mr. Jacob Seitz, and this he operated from 1859 until 1871, in connection with milling and distilling. He built a house near his mill, but occupied it only a short time, moving then to his present farm. After retiring from the milling and distilhng business, which he did in 1871, he settled down to farming and stock-raising, serving at various times in the important pubhe offices to which his fellow citizens have frequently elected him.

Alpha Williams, Charles Vallandigham, Ollie Estella, Frank Pendleton, Clyde Edward, Mary Elizabeth and Lettie May. The eldest son. Alpha Williams, has been a successful teacher for the past fifteen years and resides at home. The second son, Charles V., married Lida Dingledine and they have three children - Hazel E., Lucy May and Mary Margaret. Olhe Estella married Charles K. Collins, and they have had seven children - Martha Eunice, Tandy Blose, Euth, Eoger A., Pauline and Lucy and Edna, the latter two being deceased. Frank Pendleton, who is a teacher, and is also serving in the office of justice of the peace in German Township, married Nora Weigel, and they have one child, Helen lona. Clyde Edward Blose, the third son, who is train dispatcher at Springfield for the D., T. & I. Railroad, married Viola May Kiplinger, and they have had nine children - James Elwood, Ruhl Willard, Lettie Eileen, Ethel Caroline, Emily Josephine, Florence Nell, John Henry, Joseph Philip and Mary Louise. Mary Elizabeth Blose married U. Gr. Karg, and they live near Tremont.

In politics Mr. Blose is a Democrat. From 1863 until 1893, he served as a justice of the peace in German Township, and during this long period in this important position adjusted many important cases and gave many valuable decisions. He was chosen as one of the Congressional district delegates to the Democratic National Convention held in New York City in 1868, at which Horatio Seymour was nominated for President. He was at that time a great admirer of George H. Pendleton, and earnestly worked for his nomination. Again, in 1872, he was chosen as one of the Congressional district delegates to the Democratic National Convention held at Baltimore, Maryland, which nominated as its candidate for president, Horace Greeley.

In 1873 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of Ohio, which met then at Columbus, but was adjourned to Cincinnati, on account of the prevalence of cholera at that time in the former city. In 1875, Mr. Blose was elected a county commissioner of Clark County and served faithfully as such for a term of three years. He is a member of the local Grange. As an active and interested citizen, he has always performed joublic duties with an eye to the welfare of his community, and is held in high esteem by his neighbors, and by the public generally.

JOHN OTSTOT, a prominent citizen of Spring-field Township and a member of the township school board, owns three valuable farms which aggregate 290 acres. He was born on the fai'm which is now occupied by his son, John Frederick Otstot, in Spring-field Township, Clark County, Ohio, March 28, 1847, and is a son of William and Rebecca (Knaub) Otstot.

The Otstot family came to Ohio from that old German stronghold, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Adam Otstot, the grandfather of John Otstot, came to Columbus, Ohio, in 1831, and was accompanied by his son, William Otstot, who had been born in Pennsylvania, December 25, 1811. The family remained at Columbus for two years and then came to Clark County, settling on the farm on which John Otstot was born. William Otstot was married in Clark County to Rebecca Knaub, who died in December, 1902. She was a daughter of George Knaub and was born in York County, Pennsylvania. The thirteen children of Wilham and Rebecca Otstot were reared on the farm south of Springfield, and all of them, with one exception, reached maturity. William Otstot died July 16, 1895, aged eighty-four years.

John Otstot attended school in the neighborhood of his home, but early began to assist in the farm work and has continued to be interested in agricultural pursuits up to the present time. His early training was not lost, for there is little pertaining to farm work that he does not thoroughly understand. After his marriage he went to housekeeping on the William Perrin farm, in Springfield Township, where he lived until the spring of 1883, a period of seven years, and then came to the present farm, which he bought in the spring of 1882.

Mr. Otstot married Sarah Kershner, who is a daughter of William A. and Ellen (Way) Kershner. Mrs. Kershner was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Capt. Michael Way, who operated a shoe factoiy there. He was an officer in the War of 1812. After coming to Clark County Ellen Way attended and graduated from the old Springfield Seminary, and for a number of years afterward taught school both in Springfield and in the country. She married William A. Kershner, who was born in Clark County and who was a son of Jacob Kershner,' who came to this section from Hagerstown, Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Otstot have four children, namely : William A., who married Minnie

Hayman and has two children - Anna Ruth and Christel; Mabel who married August Getz and has one child - Lewis; John Frederick, who married Florence Self, and they have one child - John Edgar ; and Harry, who is residing at home. Mr. Otstot has always taken a good citizen's interest in public affairs and on several occasions has consented to serve as a member of the school board.

Benjamin Franklin Prince

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PRINCE, A. M., Ph. D. Benjamin F. Prince was born December 12, 1840, near Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio ; he is a descendant of some of the first settlers in western Ohio. His maternal grandparents settled in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1805, and his paternal grandparents in 1809; grandfather participated in the War of 1812. Benjamin was raised upon a farm, and received the usual education in the country schools. In 1860 he entered the preparatory department of Wittenberg College (Springfield) and graduated from that institution inl865. He entered upon the study of theologj", but was appointed instructor in his alma mater in the spring of 1866, and has been connected with that histitution since that date, serving for more than twenty years as professor of Greek and History, and now occupying the professorship of History and Political Science. He is ex-president of Clark County Historical Society and a life member and trustee by appointment of Governor Bushnell, and re-appointment by Governor Nash, of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society.

Ellen Sanderson of Springfield. She was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, her mother for many years was postmistress of Springfield. They have been blessed with four children, Gracella, Flora, Walter and Mabel. Dr. Prince has always taken an active interest in public affairs, having sei^ved for many years in the city council, and is today, perhaps, one of the best known persons connected with Wittenberg College. Notwithstanding his nearing three score years and ten, he is exceedingly active and energetic and bids fair to add some years to his already long service with his alma mater.

WILLIS JACOB DRAKE, a prosperous farmer of Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, is located on a farm of seventy-one acres about eighteen miles northwest of the city of Springfield, and in addition has a tract of twenty-five acres in Jackson Township, Champaign County. He was born on what is now known as the Jacob Sultzbach farm in Pike Township, March 20, 1861, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Deaton) Drake. Thomas Drake was born in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, September 18, 1836, and was a son of Jacob Drake, who came from New Jersey to Miami County during pioneer days. Jacob Drake was first married January 12, 1814, to Phoebe Stout, by whom he had two sons, Thomas and William. He was again married June 27, 1839. to Ruth A. Titous, and they had four children, Ezra H., Willis H., Albert and Mary A. (Lamme).

which he assisted in clearing. They lived in a log house for many years, and in 1853 Mr. Drake erected a magnificent frame house, the finest in the county at that time. After his marriage he moved to the Fuller farm in Pike Township, Clark County, which he rented for two years ; then, during the following three years, lived on the farm of his wife's mother. At the end of that time he moved to Champaign County, farming near Addison for five years, and then moved to a farm on the Clark Coimty line. The family next lived on the Sheets farm near Tippecanoe for a period of eigbteen years, then on the Strock farm in Pike Township for nine years. From there they moved to Jack-. son ToT\iiship, where they remained but a short time, locatmg soon after on a small farm that Mr. Drake bought near Addison. Three weeks after moving on the place, Mrs. Drake died, on December 13, 1907. Mr. Drake is now retired and lives in the village of Addison. His wife, Mary (Deaton) Drake, was born in Pike Township and was a daughter of William and Catherine Deaton, early pioneers of the county. Six children were born to them: William, Willis Jacob, Elizabeth F., who died at nine years; Sherman, who died at eight years; Grant and Levi.

Willis J. Drake was reared on the farm and attended the district schools. He began dealing in stock in a small way when a young man and also followed general farming. He lived at home until one year after his marriage. October 30, 1891, he purchased his present farm from the Samuel Lind heirs and erected a fine nine-room frame house, a good barn and other buildings. He makes a specialty of

December 20, 1883, Mr. Drake was united in marriage with Catherine Widener, a daughter of WUliam and Amie (Rollins) Widener, her father coming from Pennsylvania and her mother from Indiana. Mrs. Drake is one of eleven children, as follows: Charles, deceased; Catherine (Drake) ; William Elmer; Warren E. ; John E. ; Harry F. and Hattie F., twins, the latter, wife of James Dick; Caroline E. (Staley) ; Hays; Ross; and Laura (Cottingham). Mrs. Widener died in 1896 and is survived by her husband, who lives in Troy, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Drake have three children, as follows: TuUy L., who was married December 15, 1907, to Amelia Group, and is now farming in Champaign County; Florence E., who died in infancy; and Eva E., who attends the Willis Business College in Spring-field. Mr. Drake is a Republican in politics, and served as supervisor in Elizabeth Township, Champaign County; and many years as road superintendent in Pike Township. He and his wife are consistent members of the Christian Church.

WILLIAM H. BURTON, a general farmer, stock raiser, and dairyman of Bethel Township, Clark County, Ohio, residiag on a well improved farm of 189 acres, situated about seven miles west of Springfield, was born July 6, 1856, on his father's farm in Gallia County, Ohio, and is a son of James and Armenia (Blankenship) Burton.

James Burton and his wife were both natives of Virginia, where they were married. He was a collier by trade, which occupation he followed for the greater part of his life. He came to Scioto County, Ohio, in his later years, and settled on a small farm, where he resided until his death, at thed age of seventy-eight. Eleven children were born to James Burton and wife, namely: Janette, Sally Jane, James Harvey, Ruth L., Isaac Milton, Amanda, wife of Asa Cander; Nathaniel, George Riley, Eliza Jane, wife of Thomas McGilvery ; Harvey M., and William H., the subject of this sketch. The five first mentioned are now deceased, as also is Harvey .M.

William Burton was reared on his father's farm in Scioto County, and for a short time attended the district schools. At the age of twenty he went west, to Hastings, Minnesota, and worked for some time ia a wheat elevator and at various other odd jobs, remaining there for twenty-two months. Then he returned to Scioto County, Ohio, for a short time, after which he came to Clark County and worked by the month on various fanns in the county. He continued thus occupied for some time after his marriage, and then rented the Charles Thomas farm in German Township for three years, after which he rented the Demormandie farm for one year, moving thence to the Peter Ebersole farm, which he operated for five years. He then hved for one year on the Sipes farm, near Urbana, and in November, 1906, bought his present farm of 189 acres from the Wittenberg College estate, where he has since been engaged in general farming, stock-raising and dairying, and is recognized as one of Bethel Township's most enterprising and successful farmers.

Mr. Burton was united in marriage December 27, 1883, to Clara Belle Callison, who was born October 5, 1841, in German Township, and who is a daughter of Jacob and Margaret Jane (Argabright) Callison, who came to this county from Virginia. Mrs. Burton was the eldest of a family of five children, namely: Clara Belle, Lucinda Jane, widow of Fred Wert; Charles A., John M., and George, the three last mentioned being now deceased. Her mother is still living. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burton, as follows: Lawrence E., Ira A., Clifford J., Joseph D., William Russell, who died aged fourteen months; James Dwight, George H., Elsie M., and Nellie I.

Politically Mr. Burton is a Prohibitionist, but was formerly a Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the German Baptist Brethren Church.

ROBERT ELDER, owner of a large general store in the village of Selma, and president of the Miami Deposit Bank, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, was born in this vicinity January 16, 1872, and is a son of Robert and Julia Ann (Stewart) Elder. Tlie old Elder homestead in Green Township was established by Robert Elder, grandfather of our subject, and a native of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio when. eleven years of age, locating in Clark County. He married Nancy Elder, a native of Clark County, and reared a family of nine children, three sons and six daughters, of whom five are still living.

farm in Green Township and there spent his entire life, engaged in farming. He married Julia Ann Stewart, a daughter of Perry and Rhoda Stewart, of Green Township, Clark County, and they became the parents of eleven children, of whom six still survive, the subject of this sketch being the eldest of those living. Robert N. Elder's death, which occurred July 18, 1907, was caused by his sustaining a fall in the barn of the home farm.

Robert Elder, subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm and received his educational training in the district schools of the township, after which he assisted with the work at home until twenty-three years old. He then engaged as clerk in the store then operated by AVildman & Company and two years later bought a half interest in the store, of which he took entire charge the year following, and has conducted same ever since. Mr. Elder is also financially interested in the Miami Deposit Bank, of Yellow Springs. In 1895 he and his uncle, P. M. Stewart, bought the defunct Citizens' Bank of that town, and again put it in operation, it now being known as the Miami Deposit Bank, Mr. Elder acting as president and P. M. Stewart as ca.shier.

Politically Mr. Elder is a Republican and has served as a delegate to County, District and Congressional Conventions, is clerk of the School Board, and ca.shier of the Ohio State Fair. The school district of this vicinity was the second organized under the New Special School District Law of 1904, and it was through the efforts of Mr. Elder and others who have always taken an active interest in all affairs which tend toward the advancement of the communitv that this fine

Mr. Elder was joined in marriage September 14, 1898, with Rachel T. Wildman, a daughter of William and Eliza Wildman, now residents of Springfield. They are the pai-ents of four children, Robert Newell, Lois, Malcolm and Julia, two of whom are attending school. Religiously Mr. Elder is a member of the Methodist Church and his wife is a Friend.

SILAS BAKER, a well known resident of the pleasant village of Lawrenceville, and the owner of 103 acres of valuable farming land in Uerman Township, was born in Clark County, Ohio, on land he still owns, February 16, 1824. His parents were Samuel and Mary (Nawman) Baker.

Samuel Baker was born in Virginia and in young manhood, in 1811, came to Springfield, Ohio, and pai-ticipated in the War of 1812. He was a blacksmith by trade and after he returned to civil life he built a shop in the woods, in German Township, Clark County, where he had acquired a small farm. He married Mary Nawman, who had accompanied her parents to German Township from Virginia, and they lived out their quiet, useful lives on their farm in this township. Samuel Baker died at the age of seventyone years, and his wife at that of seventynine.

Silas Baker grew to manhood on the home farm, attending the district schools for three months during the winter seasons in his boyhood, but from youth assisting in the duties pertaining to the raising of stock and cultivating 'the land. For many years he gave his whole attention to his farming interests and has owned his present property since the death of his parents. In the spring of 1906 he bought his comfortable cottage in Lawrenceville, where he and wife are passing their declining years.

In 1849 Mr. Baker was married to Elizabeth Friermood, who was bom in German Township, a daughter of Reuben Friermood, who came to Clark County from Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have four children living, four others being deceased. The fonner are: Alice, who is the widow of Harry Ryman; William Wesley, who is in the optical business at Troy, Ohio; Emory, who resides at Springfield : and Martha Ellen, who married Thomas B. Ream, a leading grocery merchant at Springfield. Politically Mr. Baker is a Democrat. During his residence in the county he sei'ved fourteen successive years as clerk of German Township and frequently as township trustee.

JOSEPH ULERY, who is engaged in farming on a tract of eighty-two acres in Pike Township, comes of one of Clark County's well known pioneer families. He was born September 12, 1851, on his father's farm near Liberty, Pike Township, and is a son of John R. and Mary (Ziegler) Ulery, and a grandson of John and Elizabeth Ulery.

His great grandparents were the first of the Ulery family to come to this country, their native home being Germany. John Ulery, the grandfather of Joseph, was bom in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where also he was reared and married. He subsequently came to Ohio to enter land, walking the entire distance of 500 miles, both ways. In 1842 he brought his family and household goods overland to Ohio in wagons and located on a tract of 200 acres near Liberty (two and onehalf miles northeast of New Carlisle), the family living for some time in a log cabin which stood on the land. Here John and his wife Elizabeth spent the rest of their lives, dying each at an advanced age. They were the parents of five children, of whom but two are now living - Jacob, and Nancy, the widow of David Nysewander. John R. Ulery, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in 1825, and at the age of seventeen years came to Clark County, Ohio, with his parents, who, as above noted, located at Liberty. Here he married Mary Ziegler, a native of Maryland, also of Grerman descent, whose parents came to Logan County, Ohio, at an early period, when the Indians still inhabited this section. She saw the last of the tribes leave, and well remembered them stopping at her father's house to trade their bead-work for food. After his marriage John and his wife located on a farm adjoining that of his father, and there spent the remainder of their lives, engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mrs. John R. Ulery died in 1897 when she was seventy-one years of age, and she was survived by her husband until April 2, 1907. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: Sarah, Anna, Joseph, whose name begins this article; Lydia, David, Elizabeth, Mary Catherine, George, Daniel and Emery. Of these children the following are deceased: David aged three, Sarah aged thirteen, Anna aged ten, Lydia aged twelve. Catherine

Joseph Ulery was reared on his father's farm near Liberty and received his educational training in the common schools of that locality. Much of his time was devoted to work on the farm and his entire industrial career since has been devoted to agriculture. For five years subsequent to his marriage he farmed the home place and then, in 1878, moved to his present farm of eighty-two acres, purchasing the land from. George Cramer, it having been originally entered by the grandfather of Mrs. Ulery. Mr. Ulery erected the large house which the family occupy, and also made other important improvements. He was engaged in operating a cane factory and hydraulic ciderpress in connection with his farming operations and has met with success in both lines of activity.

February 2, 1878, Mr. Ulery was joined in marriage with Mary Evelyn Mock, a daughter of Samuel and Mary A. (Bodkin) Mock. Her father was a native of Pike Township and was bom, lived and died on the same farm. His death occurred in 1877, when he was fifty-seven years old. He is survived by his wife, also a native of Ohio, who makes her home on the old place and is now about eighty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Mock were the parents of eight children, namely: Melissa, Lucinda, Evehni (now Mrs. Joseph I^ery), Ella, John. Julia, George, and Vesper. Of these children. Melissa, George, Vesper and John P., who was the husband of Crilla (Mitchell) ^fock. are now deceased.

resident ol' Springfield, Ohio, who married Florence Jenkins, June 17, 1907; Aldo, who died in infancy; and Ilo V., wlio is a pnpil in the Spring-field High School. In politics a stanch Democrat, Mr. Ulery has served his township as trustee for five years and as justice of the peace for one term. The religious connection of the family is with the Honey Creek Christian Church, of which Mr. Ulery is a deacon, trustee and the treasurer.

SAMUEL S. ZERKLE, who owns almost one hundred and one acres of fine farming land in German Township, was horn on a farm lying on the line between Clark and Champaign Counties, Ohio, October 29, 1835, and is a son of Jonathan and Regina (Zerkle) Zerkle.

Jonathan Zerkle, who was a son of Jacob Zerkle, married a daughter of Abraham Zerkle, who was a brother of Jacob Zerkle. Jonathan Zerkle was born and reared in Virginia. His wife was born in what is now West Virginia and she was brought to Clark County, Ohio, in girlhood. Jacob Zerkle owned a part of the farm now occupied by Samuel S. Zerkle, and Abraham Zerkle owned a farm that lay in both Clark and Champaign Counties, his residence standing on the county line. Jonathan and Regina Zerkle had eight children, all of whom grew to maturity and married, but there are now only three survivors: Samuel S. ; Michael, residing in Indiana; and Mary, who is the widow of John Tshan. The father of the family died in Clark County, Ohio, but the mother died in Illinois.

Samuel S. Zerkle had the advantage of living in two counties during his boyhood and attended the schools situated nearest to his home. Farming has been his main occupation in life, but not the exclusive one, as he ran a sawmill for eight years at Terre Haute, in Champaign County. Prior to coming to his present place he resided on a farm on the Valley turnpike, south of Treraont. On March 16, 1892, he took possession of his present farm, which, to be exact, contains one hundred and seven-tenths acres of land and is situated about nine miles northwest of Springfield and two miles northwest of Tremont, on the road that runs from Lawrenceville to Terre Haute. He carries on general farming, grows fruit and raises a considerable amount of good stock.

Mr. Zerkle married Catherine Michael, who died in 1890, leaving one son, Walter. The latter married Clara Belle Swartzbaugh, who is a daughter of Philip Swartzbaugh, and they have two children: Ernest and Mertie. Walter Zerkle assists his father on the farm. Both are highly respected citizens and are widely known through both Clark and Champaign Counties.

A. C. HARRAMAN,* who is vice president of the Spring-field Planing Mill and Lumber Company, and is also interested in a general insurance business, with offices in the New Zimmerman Building, Springfield, was born in 1869 in Preble County, Ohio. Mr. Harraman was reared and educated in his native county. In 1888 he came to Springfield and for ten ten years was interested in a general insurance business, representing the Cooper

Fire Insurance; the German, of Pittsburg; the Concordia, of Milwaukee; the Cincinnati Underwriters; the Philadelphia Casualty and the United Surety of Baltimore, during his twentj' years of residence here becoming very prominently identified with insurance matters. As vice president of one of the city's large industries, he occupies a prominent place among her business men. He has also borne an active part in political life in Clark County, having served as a member of the Republican Central Committee, a very influential organization. From January 1, 1903, until 1908, he held the office of justice of the peace.

In May, 1904, Mr. Harraman was married to Anna E. Johnson, who is a daughter of Albert Johnson, one of the pioneer settlers of Clark County. They have one child, Blanche L. Mr. Harraman is a member of the fraternal order of Eagles, of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, of the Odd Fellows and of Camp Ben Hur, Red Men.

GEORGE S. STEINBARGER,* one of Moorefield Township's prominent citizens and large farmers, owning 206 acres of valuable land, was born in Urbana Township, Champaign County, Ohio, August 10, 1830, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Pence) Steinbarger. The Steinbarger family came from Germany to America and settled in Virginia, in the person of the great-grandfather of George S. Steinbarger.

David Steinbarger was born in Virginia in 1800, and was a son of John Steinbarger, who was also a native of Virginia and was the founder of the family in

Ohio. David Steinbai'ger was five years old when his parents settled near Millerstown, Champaign County, Ohio, the father securing a farm on Nettle Creek. He remained on that fann imtil 1819, when he removed to Taylorsville, about thirty miles south of Indianapolis, Indiana, where he secured a very valuable farm in the bottom land along the White River. On that farm John Steinbarger died, his son, David, subsequently leaving Indiana and returning to Champaign County, Ohio, where he became a leading citizen and successful farmer of Urbana Township. In Champaign County, David Steinbarger was married to Elizabeth Pence, who was born in that county and was a daughter of John Pence. The Pence family was also of German extraction, and John Pence was born in Virginia. After the death of his first wife, David Steinbarger was mariied to Lucy Gains and he was the father of fifteen children.

George S. Steinbarger was reared in Urbana Township and attended the district schools. He assisted on the home farm until he was twenty years of age, when he went into the mill and distilleiy business with his father and thus continued for ten years. In 1862 he moved to Spring-field, where he lived for three years, during which period he was engaged in a wholesale liquor business, after which he removed to a farm south of Springfield, just north of the Spring Grove Park. On this farm Mr. Steinbarger resided until 1876, when he settled on his present farm, where he carries on general agriculture and raises Sliorthorn cattle. He has made many improvements on his property, completely remodeling the house and erecting farm buildings. He

On March 11, 1856, Mr. Steinbarger was married to Barbara Elizabeth Funk, who was born in Pennsylvania and who is a daughter of John Funk. She was six months old when her parents brought her to Ohio. She was reared in Clark County and was married in Springfield. Their three living children are : David R. ; Mary Elizabeth, who is the widow of A. D. Holman, and has one child, John Roy; and John Brutus, who was married (first) to Clara Benedict and (secondly) to Lou Peters. A child survives from both marriages, both wives being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Steinbarger have three deceased children - an infant; James Edward, who died aged nineteen months; and George Christy, who died aged twenty-two years.

CHARLES P. DUNN,* a well-known citizen, whose public-spirited efforts while serving as a member of the City Council from the Second Ward, have resulted in great advantage to Springfield, was born at Springfield, Ohio, in August, 1870, and is a son of the late Charles Dunn. Charles Dunn was born in Ireland and came to America and settled at Springfield as early as 1849, which city remained his home until his death in 1896.

Charles P. Dunn was reared and educated in his native place and after leaving school worked for some years in various factories. He then embarked in a laundry business which he conducted until 1903, when he became identified with the Central Union Telephone Company. He is one of Springfield's leading Democrats, is a member of the Democratic Executive Committee and has been a useful member of the City Council. He worked hard for the measure which has resulted in the draining of Buck Creek, which will add materially to the sanitary condition of the city. He is an earnest, progressive and reliable citizen.

In 1900 Mr. Dunn was married to Jane F. Kelly, who was born and reared at Springfield and who is a daughter of William Kelly. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have four children - Charles, Frances, Louise and William. Mr. Dunn and family belong to St. Raphael's Catholic Church. His fraternal connections are with the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the National LTnion.

J. S. HARSHMAN,* one of Springfield's capitalists and most prominent business men, who has been closely identified with many successful enterprises in this section of Ohio, is perhaps best known in connection with the establishment, control and management of electric railroads. To name these is to designate the most important lines in which Springfield capital is interested. Mr. Harshman is the president of the Dayton, Springfield and Urbana Electric, president of the Columbus, London and Springfield Electric, president of the Springfield and Western Electric, also of the Urbana, Bellefontaine and Northern Railway Company and of the Columbus, Delaware and Marion Electric Railway. Other large interests with which he has been associated are: the Citizens' National Bank of Springfield, of which he was formerly vice president; the Victor Rubber Tire Company, the Kyle Art Glass Company,

Mr. Harshman was born at Harshman, Montgomery County, Ohio, January 26, 1863, and is a son of George W. and Anna V. (Rohor) Harshman. The family is of German extraction and its founder in Ohio came from Maryland. The father of J. S. Harshman was born in Ohio and died at the village named in his honor, where he had been manufacturer, farmer, merchant and prominent man for many years, in 1898.

J. S. Harshman completed his education in the public and select schools of his native locality and then spent one year in the employ in the office of the American Express Company at Dayton. After returning home he became interested with his father in many of the latter 's business enterprises and subsequently became buyer and seller of grain and farm products for his father's mills and farms. He continued thus engaged until 1886, when he became associated with his brothers in the business of buying and shipping grain. Subsequently he sold out his interests to his partners and located at Enon, Clark County, where he entered into the grain business on an extensive scale. His elevator was once destroyed by fire and was rebuilt, but since 1893 he has been mainly interested in electric railway lines. His office is at Room No. 128 Bushnell Building, Spring-field.

Mr. Harshman was married in 1887, to Mary Snyder, who is a daughter of Henry and Anna (Hertzler) Snyder. The late Henry Snyder and a brother were prominent citizens of Clark County and the name is perpetuated not only in the village of Snyderville, but also in Snyder's

Park, which was a gift to the city. Mr. and Mrs. Harshman have three children, namely: Anna S., George W. and Virginia V. The family home is in the environs of Springfield.

JOHN W. SULLIVAN,* president of the City Board of Review of Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, was bom in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1856. Mr. Sullivan was reared and educated in Champaign County and early in life learned the molder's trade at Mechanicsburg, Ohio, after which he spent about twenty years engaged in following that business. He has been a resident of Springfield since 1882 and a member of the Board of Review since the time of the organization of that body. In 1880 Mr. Sullivan was married to Mary Dolan and to this imion have been born five children, namely: Mattie, James, Josephine, John, and Maurice. Mr. Sullivan is a member of the St. Raphael Catholic Church of Springfield, and is fraternally a member of the Elnights of Columbus.

L. F. DIFFENDAL,* a prominent citizen of South Charleston, Clark County, Ohio, has for many years been extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock. He is a successful business man and a substantial citizen, and has a wide circle of acquaintances and friends throughout this section of the county. He is a native of Frederick County, Maryland, the date of his birth being January 11, 1860. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Eyler) Diffendal, and on both sides of the house comes of old Maryland families.

Samuel Diffendal was born and reared in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where his father had for many years been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In early life he moved to Maryland, and was there joined in mai-riage with Elizabeth Eyler, whose father was a farmer in Frederick County. They later lived in Washington County, Maryland, and in the spring of 1877 Samuel moved west with his family, locating near South Charleston, in Clark County, Ohio. Here he continued to farm until his death. He and his wife were parents of nine children, sis of whom are now living, and of these our subject is the youngest.

L. F. Diffendal was but one and a half years old when his mother died. He was reared and educated in Washington County, Maryland, and in 1877 came to Clark County with his father. He also took to agriculture and upon leaving the home place was for ten years engaged in farming for himself. He has always been an expert judge of stock and stock values, following his inclinations along that line even in his younger days. Since locating in South Charleston, he has operated on an extensive scale and success has crowned his efforts. For fifteen years prior to his marriage he made his home at the Ackley House in South Charleston.

Mr. Diffendal was united in marriage October 30, 1907, with Miss Anna Myrtle Walker, a daughter of R. P. Walker, a respected citizen of South Charleston. Politically, he is a stalwart Democrat, and although his party is very much in the minority, he was elected mayor of the village by a large majority, and this in spite of the fact that he made no effort to win votes. He was the first man of his party to hold that office, and although strongly urged to make the race a second time, he declined for business reasons. He also ran for county commissioner, receiving a large vote that evidenced the esteem in which he is held, but the odds against him were too great to be overcome. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow, serving as district deputy one year; a member of Blue Lodge, F.'& A. M., at South Charleston ; Adorian Chapter at London, and the Knights Templar Commandery at Springfield. Religiously he belongs is the Methodist Church.

JOHN L. EOWLUS,* postmaster of Bowlusville and proprietor of the largest general store in the town, is a leading citizen of this section of Clark County. He was born in Moorefield Township, Clark County, Ohio, September 9, 1858, and is a son of Samuel H. and Lucinda (Michael) Bowlus.

The Bowlus family came to Ohio from Maryland. Samuel H. Bowlus was born near Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland, grew to manhood on his father's farm, and was married in that neighborhood, and when he came to Clark County in 1853, he already had a family of seven children. He settled on what is now known as the Rupsum farm, on which his son John L. was subsequently born, and engaged in farming that property initil 1865. He then built a grain warehouse on the Erie Railroad, at the point now known as Bowlusville, giving the name to the place. He was a man of great business enterprise and in addition to dealing in grain and later in coal, he started a general store. His son, John

L., succeeded to all his interests. Samuel II. Bowlus invested largely in land and as liis judgment was good, his various purchases were intelligently made and he became a man of large fortune. He died November 26, 1897.

Samuel H. Bowlus married Lucinda Michael and they had the following children: George C, who resides at Spi-ingfield; Samuel W., who lives at Bowlusville; Charles F., who died in Michigan, in 1906; Mary A. C, who lives at Bowlusville ; Maria Nettie, who is the wife of T. C. M. Shindler, who is private secretary to United States Commissioner Garfield; Millard McCauley, who resides at Kansas City; Warren L., who is a high official with the Wabash Railroad, at Springfield ; John L. ; Henry C, who lives at Springfield; and Clement L., who died in 1891. Two children died in infancy, in Maryland. The mother of the above mentioned family survived her husband but seven weeks.

John L. Bowlus was reared in Moorefield Township, where he attended the district schools. Before he had reached his )najority he entered into the mercantile business which his father had established and in the same year, 1878, he was appointed postmaster, an office he has continuously filled until the present time, with the exception of some ten months during the administration of President Hayes. Mr. Bowlus conducts a large business and he is well and favorably known over a large territory, enjoying the high regard of his fellow-citizens as public official, business man and as private citizen.

and Columbia (Jennings) Dunlap, and was born and reared near Urbana. Mr. Dunlap was born at Lexington, Kentucky, He assists Mr. Bowlus in the store. The three children born to the above marriage were: Anna Dunlap, Gwendolyn M. and Edward Jennings, the last mentioned of whom died in 1898, at the age of fourteen months. Mr. Bowlus was married (secondly) in May, 1905, to Mrs. Adeline Laughrey.

CHARLES T. RIDGELY,* a wellknown resident and highly respected business man of Springfield, was born here in February, 1856, and is a son of J. F. Ridgely, one of the leading business men of the city, who came here in 1852 from Maryland, where he was born.

Charles T. Ridgely was reared and educated in Springfield and early in life began learning the painter's and paper hanger's trade, at which he worked for about seven years when he was obliged to give up painting on account of ill health. He then devoted his time wholly to decorating for eleven years, during which time he was employed by C. H. Pierce, and in 1885 invented the first trimmer. In 1890 he took charge of the wall paper department for another fii"m in Springfield, remaining there one year, when he organized the Ridgely Decorating Company, later selling his interest in the business and also his trimmer patent. On August 15, 1903, he became one of the incorporators of the Bookwalter Hotel and also operated a news and cigar stand until 1906. In July of that same year he organized the Standard Trimmers Company for the manufacturing of wall paper trimmers, straight edge folding pile tables and boards, seam rollers, smoothing rolls, base and casing cutters, and plumbs and level combination tools, in fact a full line of paper hanger's tools. Mr. Eidgely is president and general manager of the Standard Trimmers Company, which is incorporated and has a capital stock of $50,000. He is also financially interested in the United States Nursery of Rich, Mississippi. Mr. Ridgely was united in marriage to Nellie Sharp of Troy, Ohio, and to them have been born two sons - Charles Verrey, and Roderick Leigh. Fraternally Mr. Ridgely is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, and the B. P. 0. E.

JOHN B. HIRONS, M. D.,* a prominent physician engaged in the practice of his profession at Tremont City, was born in Highland County, Ohio, May 18, 1862, and is a son of Joseph C. and Melissa J. (Gardner) Hirons.

Dr. Hirons was reared mainly on his father's farm in Highland County and attended the country schools. After his father became a merchant at Buford, he assisted both on the farm and in the store and also taught one term of school. "When twenty-one years of age he began the study of dentistry and remained under the instruction of Dr. J, R. Callahan, at Hillsboro, Ohio, for one year, after which he studied medicine there for a year. He then accompanied his brother, Dr. Joseph Gardner Hirons, now of New York City, to Europe and studied medicine and surgery at Heidelberg University and at Leipsic. The brothers were students at Heidelberg in 1886, when that famous old

Upon his return to his native state. Dr. Hirons located at Chattanooga, Mercer County, until 1889, when he came to Tremont City and easily took a leading place among the medical men of Clark County. Dr. Hirons was married at Tremont, January 1, 1893, to lora Augusta Hinton, who is a daughter of Edgar B. Hinton, postmaster at Tremont. Mrs. Hirons had been a successful school teacher for three years previously, at Terra Haute, Champaign County, Ohio.

CHARLES E. MICKLE,* general foreman of the Machine Department of the International Harvester Company of Spring-field, with which concern he has been associated for the past thirty years, was born March 27, 1858, at Delaware, Ohio.

Mr. Mickle was reared and educated at Delaware and early in life learned the machinist's trade at which he worked there until 1879. He then came to Springfield and entered the employ of the old firm Warder, Mitchell & Company, with whom he continued when the firm was changed to Warder, Bushnell and Glessner, who were later succeeded by the International Harvester Company, with which concern he has been identified ever since. He became foreman in the shops in 1880 and for the past five years has been general foreman of the Machine Department.

Mr. Mickle married May Hai'rison, a daughter of Edward Harrison of Springfield, and they have two sons, namely: Edward H., a student at the Ohio State University of Columbus and Frank, who will graduate from the Springfield High School in the spring of 1908. In politics Mr. Mickle is a Republican and his religious connection is with the United Brethren Church.

WILLIAM BALLENTINE,* general farmer and stockraiser, whose valuable farm of ninety-four acres is situated on the Terre Haute Road, about ten miles northwest of Springtield and three miles from Tremont, was born at Lawrenceville, Clark County, Ohio, November 28, 1836. He is a son of Robert and Katherine (Berry) Ballentine.

William Ballentine was reared in German Township and attended the country schools in his boyhood. His business has been farming ever since he started out to make his own way in the world. On January 5, 1850, Mr. Ballentine married Mary Clark, who is a daughter of Thomas and Susannah (Cox) Clark. Mrs. Ballentine was born and reared in Randolph County, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Ballentine have reared a fine family of nine children and thus far there has been no break in the circle. They are as follows : John, residing in Lagonda, is married and has four children: Emma married Moses Overholser and they have one child ; Rose married William Baker and they have seven children ; Mary Etta married Ralph Snyder and they have one. child ; Lenore is married and has eight children; Thomas is married and has one child; Clifford is also married; Albert, the farmer on the home place, is married and has three children, and Alpha, the youngest, still resides at home. Thus it will be seen that Mr. and Mrs. Ballentine have

For one year after their marriage, Mr. and I\Irs. Ballentine lived in Indiana, moving then to Clark County, Ohio, but two years later they returned to Indiana. After four more years in Mrs. Ballentine's native state, in August, 1866, they moved to the farm on which they reside, Mr. Ballentine buying sixty acres of it at that time. To the first purchase he added until he owned one hundred and twelve acres, but they have sold some eigliteen acres. The propertj^ is an excellent one and the D. T. & I. Railroad runs through the farm. Mr. Ballentine built the substantial house and barn and made many other improvements. Both he and wife belong to the Reformed Church at Tremont.

GEORGE S. COTTER,* superintendent of the Springfield Water Works, was born at Springfield, Ohio, in 1862, and is a son of the late James L. Cotter, who was born in Ireland, emigrated to Canada when thirteen years of age, and came to Springfield' in 1847, where the rest of his life was passed.

George S. Cotter attended school until he was thirteen years old and then entered the machine shops of AVardei-, Mitchell and Company and remained until he had learned the trade. When he was eighteen years old he went to Aurora, Illinois, and worked in the railroad shops at that city for three years, after which he returned to Springfield and continued work as a machinist until 1*^84, wlien he became engineer of the citv water works at the pumping station. He continued in that capacity for ten years and for four years more was superintendent there. In 1898 he left the city's employ and accepted a position as foreman of the machine shops of the Warder-Bushnell Company. "When the International Harvester Company came into possession, he became mechanical engineer for a time and then resigned to accept the superintendency of the city water works again, and has had charge of this important municipal utility ever since. He takes an interest in politics, but only to the extent of promoting good government.

In 1891 Mr. Cotter was married to Jennie Bryant, who died October 16, 1906, leaving four children, namely: Paul Bryant, Helen, Ruth, and George, Jr. Mr. Cotter is a member of the Elks.

CHARLES L. NISLEY,* proprietor of the leading wholesale and retail shoe store at Springfield, was born at Lancaster, Ohio, in 1847, and he was quite young when his parents moved to Springfield, where he was reared and educated. His first work was done while he was little more than a school boy, he being employed for eight months in the grocery store of S. B. Stiles & Company, after which he entered the shoe store of Starkey & Scowden. With that firm he remained for ten years and then went into business for himself, taking a partner, and for eight years they carried on a successful enterprise under the style of Young & Nisley. When this partnership was dissolved, Mr. Nisley purchased the Arcade Shoe Store and established the Nisley Arcade Shoe Company, which is one of the largest shoe stores in this section of the state. Mr. Nisley occupies three rooms, 80 by 35 feet in dimensions. This is the building in which Mr. Nisley began work, September 14, 1888, and just seventeen years later he purchased the building as the proprietor of the prosperous business. Twenty workmen find constant employment and a business of $120,000 is done annually. In 1896, Mr. Nisley was married to Minnie Flora. They are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Nisley is a Knight Templar Mason, a Knight of Pythias, and he belongs to the Springfield Commercial Club and the Lagonda Club.

DANIEL RUST,* owner of sixty-nine acres in German Township, Clark County, Ohio, has been a resident on his present place some seventeen years. He was born near Lawrenceville, German Township, March 4, 1845, and is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Cooper) Rust. His father was twice married, having five children by each union, and of these our subject was the youngest.

Daniel Rust was five years old at the time of his father's death. He was reared on the farm and lived there with his mother until 1864, when in March of that year he enlisted in Company I, Eighth Ohio Cavalry, for three years' service. While in the army he was called upon to mourn the loss of his mother. He was discharged from the cavalry in July, 1864, because of injuries received by his being thrown from a horse, and returned to his home in German Township. He soon reenlisted however in Company B, One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Regiment,O.V. I., in which he served until the war closed.

He then returned home and took vip farming on the home place, and this has since been his sole occupation, and more than ordinaiy success has attended his efforts. In the early nineties he purchased his present farm in German Township, consisting of fifty acres, and has an additional tract of nineteen acres one-half mile east of his home.

Mr. Rust was united in marriage with Catherine Freeze and they became the parents of nine children, five of whom are living, namely: Lawrence I., David S., Charles F., Carrie E. (wife of William Thackery), and Harrison B. Those deceased are Rosie, who was the wife of Albert Bowers ; Noah Abraham, Lily May, and Minnie Myrtle. Mrs. Catherine Rust died May 20, 1887, and Mr. Rust was married, secondly to Miss Lois Dorner, daughter of Adam Dorner. They have two children - Beulah B. and Eva G. Fraternally, Mr. Rust is a member of the Grand Army Post. He belongs to the German Reformed Church.

dent, Edward Wren, came from Ireland to Springfield in 1848, then being a young man, and has been identified with the interests of this city ever since. His earliest business venture was as junior member of the firm of Kumane & Wren, which became very prominent in the business world, for over thirty years being a leading one of the city. In 1903 Edward Wren, Mrs. Edward AVren, James K. Wren and James Johnson, Jr., established The Edward Wren Company, a concern which does the largest business in this city and one of the largest in the state. This immense department store occupies 105,000 square feet of floor space. The present officers are : Edward Wren, president and treasurer ; James K. Wren, vice president and general manager, and Edward Wright, secretary. In 1905, James K. Wren was married to Minnie B. Meals, of Springfield. The Wren family belongs to St. Raphael's Catholic Church.

JAMES K. WREN,* vice president and treasurer of The Edward Wren Company, the largest business house at Springfield, operating one of the most extensive department stores in Ohio, was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland, and was fifteen years of age when he came to America. Mr. Wren was reared at Springfield and was educated at St. Mary's College, Emraettsburg, Maryland, and immediately after his return, entered his father's store and has been connected with the business ever since.

HENRY OXTOBY,* who owns an excellent farm of sixty-six acres, situated in Harmony Township, has resided on the same since the fall of 1907, but he has owned the property for the past sixteen years. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, February 16, 1882, and is the only son of Robert and Mary (Henry) Oxtoby.

The grandfather, Henry Oxtoby, lived out a long life in Clark County, where Robert Oxtoby was born. He followed farming until his death in 1892. He married Mary Henry, who died in 1884.

work and prior to his marriage, was a fireman on a railroad line in Illinois. He belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman and Engineers and is connected with Riverside lodge of the same organization, at Savannah, Illinois. In 1907, Mr. Oxtoby was married to Flora Chaney, who is a daughter of R. S. and Lucinda Chaney, of Clark County, and then settled on his present farm, where he has been engaged in general farming ever since.

THOMAS D. WALLACE,* senior member of the firm of Wallace & Todd, grocers, at Springfield, is one of the city's careful, conservative and successful men of business. He was born in 1849, in Madison Township, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of John Wallace.

John Wallace was born in England and came to Clark County, Ohio, in 1844, where he was engaged first in business in the merchant-tailoring line, and for a few years he carried on a general store at Enon. He was among the pioneer merchants of this section.

Thomas D. Wallace was trained in the details of mercantile life in his father's store. In 1871 he went to the northwestern part of Missouri, where he engaged in a mercantile business for two years and then returned to Enon, Ohio, where he was a general merchant until 1881, when he came to Springfield. Here he embarked in a grocery business. Politically, Mr. Wallace is a Democrat and in 1890- 9], he served as city clerk. After that he was a member of the Board of Public Affairs and was concerned in the newspaper business. During the last administration of President Cleveland he was postmaster at Springfield. Following the close of his official life he bought the Daily Democrat which he conducted until 1906, when he sold out and has been interested in the grocery line ever since under the style of Wallace and Todd. He has long been a Democratic leader in Clark County and for eight years was chairman of the Democratic County Committee, and for twenty-three years has been a delegate to the Democratic State conventions. He has been a loyal party man and has accepted few rewards. In 1873 Mr. Wallace was married to Mary A. Shell abarger, and they have two children - Gertrude L. and Edwin S. The family belong to St. Paul's Methodist Church, Mr. Wallace being a member of its official board. For six years he has been a member of the Board of Commissioners of Snvder Park.

JAMES J. WOOD,* one of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens of Springfield Township, who resides on a tract of one hundred and seventy-five acres of land located in- Section 7, 1847, on the Clifton Pike, just beyond the city limits, was born September 7, 1847, in AVaterford, Ireland. He is a son of James and Johanna (Sweeney) AVood, the former of whom died lu'evious to the birth of the subject of this sketch, his widow later becoming the wife of James Golf.

Although a native of Ireland, Mr. AVood comes of an old English family, from whom he received a large legacy. His grandfather Wood was a captain in the British navy, and it was while his vessel was in harbor at Waterf ord, Ireland, that

James J. Wood was just one year old when he was placed under the care of his paternal grandmother, by whom he was reared. After attending school, he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he served a five years' apprenticeship. On March 10, 1866, he was married, and on April 10th of the same year he sailed for America, on his arrival here locating at Cincinnati. Thence, after a week's stay, he went to Urbana, Ohio, where he was in the employ for one year, of the Leonhard Plow Shop Company. In the fall of 1868, when that firm retired from business, he removed to Lagonda, which now forms a part of Springfield. Mr. Wood has since continued to reside in Springfield, with the exception of a short period ,iust after the great Chicago fire, when he Avent to Chicago, and assisted in the rebuilding of that city, being employed for some eight months on one building on Madison Street. He then returned to Springfield, where he engaged in contracting, and also entered into the real estate business in which he was very successful.

In 1894 Mr. AVood built his present fine coimtry home, which he named Woodville, the property at the time of his purchase consisting entirely of timberland. He has now retired from business activities, his two sons continuing the real estate business, in connection with a hardware store, which they operate in Springfield.

During the past seventeen years Mr. 'Wood has spent much time in Europe, having made thirty-four trips across the Atlantic since 1891. He is the father of seven children, of whom six are still living. For each of them he built a fine and commodious house, this magnificent present including also in each case the lot. These children are as follows : Mary E., wife of Frank Holleran; James J., Jr., Harry E., Lily, who is the wife of William Hickens ; George, Frank E., and Erin J., the last mentioned of whom died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Wood is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, at Springfield.

HENRY LEWTON FEIRSTINE,* who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on a farm of one hundred and forty-three acres, was born October 30, 1849, and is a son of George and Sarah Ann (Lewton) Feirstine.

George Feirstine was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he worked at carpentering for many years. When a young man he remo\'ed to Montgomery (,'ounty, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until his sons matured, when he engaged in farming, buying our subject's present fnnn on March 11, 1863. After the marriage of his son, Henry Lewton, he and his wife returned to J\Iontgoraery County, where they passed the rest of their lives. Hp married Sarah Ann Lewton, a native of Maryland, and they reared a family of five children, namely: Martha, married Pelasca Fairchilds, now deceased; Dellason P.; Henry Lewton, subject of this sketch; Albert; and Alice (Mrs. J. Folkorth).

Henry L. Feirstine was born in Montgomery County, and passed his boyhood days on his grandfather's farm, which was carried on by his father. He subsequently came to Clark Coimty with his father and settled in Mad River Township, where he has since-been engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of raising fine hogs. Mr. Feirstine bought his farm, consisting of one hundred and forty-three acres, from the Feirstine heirs and is one of the most successful farmers of the township. He was married March 20, 1877, to Mary Ellen Rockefield, a daughter of John Martin and Mary (Cox) Rockefield. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Feirstine: Cora, who married Clyde Burr and lives in this vicinity; Maude, who lives at home, and Laura, who died at the age of fifteen.

Mr. Feirstine is a Democrat in politics and has served as township trustee of Mad River Township. Fraternally he is an I. 0. 0. F., and is also connected with the Knights of Pythias.

M. J. LOFTTTS,* superintendent of the Ohio Electric Railway Company, with headquarters at Spring-field, has had railroad experience dating from his boyhood. He was born at Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1874, and is a son of the late M. J. Loftus, who was proprietor of the old horse-car street railroad at Wheeling, in 1887.

M. J. Loftus went to school until he was thirteen years of age and then entered his father's employ, when the old horse-cars were still valued utilities. In 1890 he went to Pittsburg and entered the employ of the Thompson-Houston Electrical Company for one year, after which he took charge of the Brooklyn & Coney Island Repair Shops for a year. He next had charge of the repair shops of the city and the suburban lines of Baltimore, Maryland, and after more than two years there, he returned to Wheeling. For the three succeeding years he was superintendent of transportation for the Wheeling & Elm Grove Railroad. He then went to Newark and for one year was superintendent of the Newark & Granville Street Railway, and for two years superintendent of the Indianapolis & Martinsville Interurban Railway. In 1903 Mr. TiOftus came to Springfield and for the past three years has occupied his present I'esponsible office. His long connection with railroad affairs in different sections has given him expert knowledge and a business acquaintance extending through many states. In 1892, Mr. Loftus was married to Christina Herman, of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and they have three children - Frank, Joseph and Ruth. Mr. Loftus and family belong to St. Raphael's Catholic Church at Springfield.

AVILLIAM S. VALE,* a life-long resident of Clark County, Ohio, trustee of Bethel Township and owner of two hundred and twenty-five acres of fine farming land situated in Clark and Miami Counties, was born January 18, 1860, a son of Peter and Sarah (Shull) Vale.

Peter Vale was born in Pennsylvania and when a young man of nineteen came to Ohio, first locating near Carlisle, Clark C;oimty, where he worked for some time on various farms. Here he married Sarah Shull, a native of Clark County and later bought a farm in Bethel Township, where they passed the remainder of their lives, his death occurring in 1894 when he was sixty-two years old. His wife died

William S. Vale passed his boyhood days on the farm, remaining at home until his marriage May 13, 1880, to Mary Johnson, a daughter of Rev. E. R. and Julia (Colton) Johnson. They have one child, Chester, who is engaged in seed growing. Mr. Vale resides in New Carlisle and always devoted his time to agricultural pursuits, until 1906, when he gave up farm life, and is now engaged in buying and selling stock, most of which is disposed of in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Vale is a Republican and has served as township trustee for the past nine years. He is fraternally associated with the Masonic Lodge of New Carlisle, and the I. 0. 0. J'\ of New Carlisle.

Rev. E. R. Johnson, father of Mrs. Vale, came to Ohio with his wife in 1841. His education was obtained at the Lane Theological Seminary of Cincinnati and he had charge of the Presbyterian Church of New Carlisle for twenty-one years, passing away in that village in 1862. He w^as instrumental in organizing the church at Addison, Tippecanoe, and at Osburn. His wife died in January, 1907, aged eighty-eight years. Rev. Johnson was the father of the following children : Laura, who died young; Frances, who married A. N. Mitchell; Emily, who married Oliver Turner; Janet, who married Robert Stafford; and Mary, who is the wife of William S. Vale.

implements at Sugar Grove, Clark County, Ohio, has been a life long resident of the county. He was born in German Township, Clark County, May 11, 1873, and is a son of Gideon and Barbara (Snell) Hartman. His mother died when he was eleven years of age, and his father is now living in Pike Township.