Trenton Township

Trenton Township

FISHER WHITE, farmer ; P. 0. Kingston Center ; is a son of George and Elizabeth (Leonard) White ; his father was born in the State of Delaware, and emigrated to Pennsylvania when 11, and, when 25, came to Delaware Co., Ohio, settling in "^ Brown Township ; he died in Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, in 1859, and had seven children ; he was a carpenter by trade, and a member of the M. E. Church. His mother is now living in Porter Township, and belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Fisher White was born in Brown Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, where he remained until 25 years of age. He was married, Jan. 1, 1850, to Catharine, a daughter of Peter and Sarah (Kilpatrick) Collum ; her father was born Feb. 14, 1794, and mother, Oct. 20, 1796 ; her mother was a relative of Gen. A. J. Kilpatrick ; her parents had seven children ; five died in infancy, and one lived to be 7 and then passed away ; her mother died March 20, 1835 ; father was again married, Aug. 5, 1838, to Ehoda Wigton, a daughter of Rev. Thomas Wigton. Mrs. White was born in 1827 in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. White have had five children - Sarah E.

(married W. H. Rowland and living in Knox Co.), Charlie (deceased), Florence B., Rosa (deceased), Frank 0. In 1853-54, Mr. White bought twenty-nine acres of land in Brown Township, adjoining Eden, and laid out what is called Leonard & White Addition ; he then rented land in Kingston Township until 1859, when he moved to East Liberty, Porter Township, and soon engaged in the mercantile business with his brother, Z. L. White, continuing the same two years, and then sold out to W. E. Harris. Mr. White then ran a notion wagon over the country, and, by having a first-class salesman, they exchanged about $12,- 000 worth of goods yearly for four years ; he then began buying stock and farming 100 acres of well-improved land, which now adjoins the village of East Liberty, in which he owns twenty-five lots. He has been connected with township offices, as Treasurer, eleven years in succession. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has taken deep interest ; has been Superintendent of Sunday school. He paid out $700 for war purposes.

THOMAS ANDREWS, farmer; P. 0. Sunbury ; is a son of Ira and Bethiah (Jenkins) Andrews ; his father was born May 30, 1798, and married June 16, 1823 ; his mother was born Aug. 31, 1804; they came from Connecticut; he bought 100 acres of land where the Columbus depot now stands ; both are deceased, the father Oct. 6, 1854, and the mother March 21, 1864; they had two children - Chauncy B., born May

17, 1831, in Syracuse, N. Y., and was married Feb. 8, 1855, to Alsina, a daughter of Jacob Boyd ; she was born May 16, 1833, in this township ; they have two children - Medora, married John Longwell, now living in Sunbury ; Charles, now attending college in Delaware. Our subject learned the cooper's trade with his father, and and continued the same untU 25 ; he also worked at the hat trade in Mt. Vernfm and Trenton Township. After marriage, they settled on their farm, which consists of 200 acres, in addition to which they own sixty-five acres in another lot. He is scrying his fifth year as Treasurer of the township. He is a member of Sparrow Lodge, No. 400, A., F. & A. M., in which he was elected Treasurer for six terms in succession ; is also Treasurer of the Delaware (Ohio) Fire Insurance Co. ' JOHN ARMSTRONG, farmer ; P. 0. Van's Valley ; is a son of David and Sarah (Draper) Armstrong; his father was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., Aug. 14, 1780; married Oct. 1, 1805, and emigrated to Ohio by team in 1807, settling near Sunbury, where he began life in the wilderness ; his personal property consisted of a cow and six bushels of frost-bitten corn ; Mr. Armstrong made his start on the farm now owned by George Peck, where he erected a log cabin 18x18 feet, and there they spent their early married life ; they had nine children - Catharine, Charles, Nancy, John, Hannah, John the 2d, Amy, Mary and David. Mr. Armstrong's mother was a daughter of Nathan and Hannah (Courtright) Draper ; she was born May 27, 1787, and died

Biographical Sketches

January 12, 1860; John was born Aug. 17, 1820, in Berkshire . Township ; in 1850, he went to California to seek for gold and found it, clearing about $3,500. Feb. 5, 1851, he was married to Caroline, a daughter of Gilbert and Magdalena (Voorhees) Van Dorn ; her parents were early settlers of Delaware Co., making their home in 1817 on the farm now owned by our subject; they had eight children ; the father died Aug. 26, 1862, and mother Sept. 7,1863; Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have two boys - Charles V., graduated in the Cleveland Commercial College, / and was bookkeeper in the Central Bank at Columbus for three years, is now fanning with his father ; Wilber P. is a teacher of efficient qualifications. Mr. Armstrong was in the mercantile and stock business at Gardington from 1851 to 1856 ; he owns 264 acres of well-improved land, and makes a specialty in baling and selling hay ; is also engaged in the stock business. They are members of the M. E. Church at Van's Valley, in which he has taken an active interest ; he was one of the commissioners for erecting the court house in Delaware Co.

HENRY BOYD, farmer ; P. 0. Sunbury ; is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Anderson) Boyd ; his father was born in ^ew Jersey, and his mother in Pennsylvania ; thfey came to Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1829-30 ; they had twelve children, eleven now living, eight in Delaware Co. ; the father died in 1868, the mother is still living, making her home at Charles Perfect's, in Trenton Township. Mr. Boyd was born Dec. 28, 1827, in Luzerne Co., Penn., and was married, Nov. 14, 1861, to Elizabeth, a daughter of .Nicholas and Nancy Mariville ; had two children^ - Amy E., born 'Sept. 20, 1863, died Aug. 25, 1866 ; Charles N., born June 20, 1865 ; died Aug. 19, 1866 ; his wife died Jan. 31, 1867. He was again married, Jan. 14, 1868, to Sarah Longshore, a daughter of George Clark (>she being the widow of Minor Longshore, who died June 15, 1856). They settled east of Sunbury, where he was engaged in a grist and saw mill, which he sold in 1872, to Jacob Burrur ; he then bought the present farm of fifty acres, in addition to which he owns twenty-four acres of the homestead of his father. His parents made their first settlement northeast of Sunbury, on which now stands their old stone house ; a portion of the stone that entered into its construction was wheeled by Henry ] he was then a mere lad. Mr. Boyd has been Trustee of the township two years.

BISHOP BOYD, farmer ; P. 0. Sunbury ; is a well-to-do farmer of Trenton Township, a brother of Henry Boyd, whose sketch appears in this work ; he was born, in 1839, in Trenton Town^ ship, on the banks of the Black Walnut. When a boyj he attended the usual' winter school of those times, and, in 1862, enlisted in Co. H, 121st 0. V. L, and served six months, when he returned. Nov. 29, 1863, was married to Eliza, daughter of George Clark; she was born July 28, 1844,, in Trenton Township. By this union, there were born two boys - Clement L., born June 12, 1866, and George W., April 5, 1869. After marriage, they settled on his farm of eighty acres, where they have since lived ; this has been acquired by industry and economy. Mr. Boyd has filled several township positions and is in the enjoyment of health and prosperity. Mrs. Boyd is a member of the Baptist Church.

J. P. BOSTON, farmer ; P. 0. Van's Valley ; is a son of Philip and Sarah Boston ; his father was born in Frederick Co., Md., about 1783, and emigrated to Ohio in 1840 ; he is now 97 years of age, and makes his home with our subject ; the mother died Aug. 4, 1859 ; they had ten children ; but seven survive. Mr. Boston was born Feb 12, 1823, and came to Ohio by team with his parents, with whom he remained, engaged in attending school and farming, until married, Dec. 25, 1852, to Mary A. Feazel, a daughter of Jacob Feazel ; after marriage, they settled in Harlem Township, where they lived on a farm for ten years, and then moved to the present place of 15 acres ; he owns 83 acres in Harlem Township, all under good improvement. He was drafted into the ariny, but afterward enlisted in the home guard for three years. They have had eleven children - David L., Sarah C, J. P., George W. (died 1872), William H., Abram M., John R., Charles R., Albert U. S., Marietta and Flora D. Mr. Boston makes a specialty of raising fine horses.

B. CULVER, farmer and merchant; P. 0. Condit ; son of John and Catharine (Johnson) Culver; his father was born about 1770, in New Jersey, and came to Ohio in 1811, and died in 1823 ; his mother was born in Pennsylvania about 1779, and came to Ohio with her husband ; after his death she married Mr. Beard, and moved with him to Missouri ; she had twelve children by her first marriage, three of whom now survive. Mr. Culver was born March 28, 1811, ia what is now Berkshire Township, then Sunbury ; Feb. 20, 1834, he was married to Elizabeth, a daughter of

Murdecai Thomas, when they settled In Trenton Township, on a tract of 40 acres, a portion of his present farm, which now consists of 183 acres, well improved. His wife was born April 1, 1811. They have four children - Truman, Martha J., Mary and John W. In 1867, Mr. Culver bought the Condit store of Wayman Perfect, and, with the exception of three years when he rented to a Mr. Barnes, has remained in the business, runnino; the post office in connection with it ; Martha J. has been Postmistress since 1872, and manages her father's business. Mr. Culver owns a pleasant home in Condit, and is in the enjoyment of the fruits of the industry of his younger days. When game was plenty, he was a noted hunter, and in the settlement of the country was active in assisting the pioneers to "roll up" their cabins ; he takes just pride in being the owner of one of the finest span of mares in the county - one weighing 1,620 pounds, the other 1,740.

E. J. CONDIT, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Condit; born Nov. 27, 1837, in Delaware Co., Ohio ; his father, Jonathan Condit, was born July 17, 1794, and his mother, Mary (Mulford) Condit, Oct. 3, 1796 ; both were natives of New Jersey, and were married Jan. 14, 1824, and came to Ohio in 1835, settling upon the land where Mr. Condit now lives. They had six children - Joho K., born Nov. 22, 1825, and died Jan. 22, 1849; Mary J., born Dec. 7, 1827; Susan M., born April 13, 1830, and died Aug. 30, 1831; Whitfield S., born Dec. 22, 1834; Elias J., born Nov. 27, 1837 ; and Susan E., born Nov. 27, 1837. Mr. Condit was married, in 1864, to Jennie, a daughter of Middleton Perfect ; by this union there has been born five children - Mulford S., Lizzie A., Edward G., Minnie B. and Mile J. Mr. Condit is the owner of a tract of land in Delaware Co., and another in Paulding Co., and devotes his attention largely to stock-raising, dealing in a fine grade of Spanish merino sheep ; also keeps grade sheep for wool and mutton. The father and mother of Mr. Condit started in life without aid, but, by hard labor and economy, became the owners of about 1,200 acres of land, which was subsequently divided among the children ; the father was in the saw-mill business in an early day, in which he was successful ; the mother is yet living on the old homestead, and is now 83 years old.

this township about 1835, where he died in about one month, leaving a family of ten children ; the mother died in 1875. Our subject was born June 4, 1830, in New Jersey ; he remained with his mother until 18, and then engaged in blacksmith- ing in Logan Co., serving an apprenticeship with John Cary for three years ; he then went to Iowa, and in a short time returned to Ohio, and engaged in bfacksmithing on a small farm near Condit ; he afterward moved to the present farm, where he remained until the death of his first wife, Adaline Dawson, whom he married in 1858 ; he then spent some time in traveling, making trips East to New Jersey and West tjFIowa. He was again married, March 28,- 1876, to Mary E., a daughter of Rev. D. and Elizabeth Adams ; the father was from Pennsylvania, and the mother from New Hampshire; this wife bore him two children - Clara M. and Edgar P. He has a snug little farm, well improved, upon which they live. They are members of the Presbyterian Church in Trenton Township.

J. A. CROWL, farmer; P. 0. Condit; is a son of James and Sarah (Maloney) Crowl ; his father was born in Chester Co., Penn., and was of Scotch-Irish descent ; his mother was of Welsh descent; he was born Nov. 7, 1844, in Pennsylvania, where he remained attending school and working at stone and bricklaying. In September, 1863, he enlisted in Co. C, 87th Penn. V. I., and remained until the war closed ; was in the battle of Winchester ; was in most of the battles of Grant's campaigns, and was wounded at Coal Harbor, and went to the rear ; he soon after joined his regiment at the yellow house in front of Petersburg, and carried his musket until the surrender of Lee ; he was, however, taken prisoner at Winchester, and kept in prison at Libby and Belle Isle for two months ; was then paroled, and entered the camp at Annapolis, Md. Was married, in 1869 (two years after his coming to Ohio), to Cornelia Parr mer; they have had three children - Nora A., Fannie B. and David E., who died in 1870. They settled on their present farm of forty-five acres soon after marriage, where they have since remained. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Centerburg, Knox Co., also member of Centerburg Lodge, No. 666, I. 0. 0. P.; is now L. S. in the same.

E. M. CONDIT, farmer ; P. 0. Condit ; son of Joseph S. and Asenath Condit ; the former was born in Essex Co., N. J., and came to Ohio in 1835, settling in Trenton Township, where he died ; he was a mechanic ; the mother died Jan. 27, 1875; they had ten children, and were both members of the Preabyterian Church. E. M. Condit was born in 1811 in Essex Co.,N. J., and, at the age of 15, began learning the carpenter's trade with his father. When 17, he walked to Ohio, in company with Jotham Condit (his uncle), making the trip in fourteen days. In 1832, having returned, he came again to Ohio by team. In 1835, he made another trip to New Jersey, where he was married, July 15 of the same year, to Jane Mulford, returning to Ohio on his third trip, making it by canal and rivers. Soon after arrival, they began erecting a cabi^ working at times into the night, when Mrs. Condit would hold the light,' while her husband felled the trees. They we're obliged to go in debt for their passage West, and, on beginning of housekeeping, they were in debt over $300, which necessitated hard work and rigid economy until liquidated, From this discouraging start, Mr. Condit has been prospering, until he now owns 500 acres of well-improved land, 160 acres of which he bought, in 1832, from the Government, the patent bearing the name of Gen. Jackson. They have raised one girl - Mary Brown, from the Home in New York ; she was married, in 1877, to Thomas Robinson, and moved to Missouri on a farm, Mr. Condit having helped them to eighty acres. They also raised a boy - Zenas Chippy, whom they took at 20 months old; he married Fannie, a daughter of Samuel Rineheart, of Sunbury, and moved to Kansas, where they are farming 240 acres through Mr. Condit's aid. Mr. and Mrs. Condit have been members of the Presbyterian Church for forty- seven years. He has the credit of being the owner of the first frame barn put up in Trenton Township, which was raised without the use of whisky.

MATILDA DOMIGON, Condit ; was one of the first white children born in Berkshire Township, which took place in 1813, and was raised in Sunbury ;,she is a daughter of Norman and Sarah (Williams) Patrick ; her father came to Ohio from Pennsylvania on horseback, and diec^ in 1874. She married John Domigon, who was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, in 1810 ; he died Oct. 2, 1869, and was a member of the M. E. Church. They had two children - Sarah, married Thomas Jackson ; H. C., who was born in 1844 in Delaware Co., was married May 5, 1872, to Sarah, daughter of Samuel Alden, who was born in New York in 1800, and came to Ohio about 1820 or 1821, settling in Johnstown ; he was one of the first settlers of the place, and died in 1862 ; there were in the family thirteen children but four are now living ; she was born in 1844 in Johnstown, Ohio ; has taught twenty terms of school, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church ; Mrs. Domigon has also long been a member of the same denomination.

GEORGE PARRES, milling; P.O. Condit; was born in 1835 in Belmont Co., Ohio, where he remained untill 15 years of age, when he came to Delaware Co. with Noah Dillon, with whom he engaged in farming for some time ; his father was born in Virginia, and his mother in Maryland, the former died about 1838. Mr. Farres was married in 1855 to Lorain Eggleston, a daughter of Harris and Barbara Eggleston ; she was born in 1838 in Licking Co , Ohio ; they had five children, three of whom now survive - Daniel, who married Amy, daughter of Truman CuWer, May 4, 1879, and Hiram and Delia ; the two deceased are William and George. In 1863, Mr. Farres moved to Illinois ; was there about one year, and meeting with some reverses he enlisted in Co. H, 48th I. V. I., and served from 1863 until 1865, when he was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark. He farmed after returning from the war until 1875, when he bought a saw-mill near Marengo, Morrow Co., of J. W. Hall, and moved the same to Condit, which he has since been running with good success ; this mill, for which he paid $1,000, is situated upon a tract of fifteen acres of land upon which he also has two excellent dwellings. Mr. Farres skillfully manages his mill business, and with the aid of his two sons is being prospered ; he has sawed and shipped over 500,000 feet of elm lumber to the Columbus Buggy Co. ' "*

C. P. GORSUCH, farmer ; P. 0. Condit ; is a son of Nathan and Lorena Gorsuch ; his father was born in September, 1816, in Knox Co., Ohio ; the mother was a daughter of Solomon and Betsey Overturf ; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio ; they endured the hardships incident to pioneer life ; the father died in December, 1866 j the mother is still living in Trenton Township. Mr. Gorsuch was born March 26, 1854, in Harlem Township, Delaware Co., where he remained until 20, when he moved to this township, where his mother rented of G. W. Perfect ; he worked by the month for three years, and was married. May 2, 1878, to Alice, a daughter of John and Catharine Blamer ; she was born in 1856, near Johnstown, Licking Co., Ohio ; they have one child - Eva B., born June 24, 1879. Mr. Gorsuch has fifty-two acres of land well improved, and well watered by Perfect Creek ; he has a good start in life, and with the advantages that generally come from being in the prime of early manhood, will succeed to the benefits that accrue from application and a sound judgment.

MRS. M. J. GREEN, farmer; P. 0. Condit; is a daughter of Jotham and Mary (Mulford) Condit, and sister of E. J. Condit ; she was born in 1827, in New Jersey, and came to Ohio with her parents by team, as was customary in those days. She was married in 1847, to E. Green, a son of E. and Elizabeth Green ; her husband was born in Kent Co., England, and emigrated to America about 1 840 ; after marrifige, they settled on the farm wherei Mrs. Green now lives, then about one hundred acres ; they added, by hard labor and skillful management, until they possessed about eight hundred acres, and improved the same ; he died in July, 1873 ; their children are Susan C. , married Charles Deeds, now living in Licking Co., a farmer and stock-raiser ; Carrie E., married W. L. Mills, now living in the family (they have two children - Charles W., deceased, and George); Charles E. and Annie L., both living at home. Her husband was a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which organization the rest of the family belong.

ALVIN GRANDSTAPF, farmer and teacher; P. 0. Green; is a son of Moses and Amanda (Bowers) Grandstaff ; they were both natives of Virginia, and had ten children, seven of whom now survive. Mr. Grandstaff was born in 1842, in Licking Co., Ohio, and remained with his parents, attending school and farming until 19, at which time he enlisted in Co. D, 18th U. S. I., serving three years ; he was wounded several times - once in the shoulder very severely ; he was tendered a lieutenant's commission for bravery in taking a soldier of the 32d 0. V. I. off the field in the midst of the battle ; he was in the battles of Chickamauga. Stone River and Perryville, and on the Atlanta campaign with Sherman ; he served three years, and was honorably mustered out ; after his return, he attended school at Johnstown, Galena, Lebanon and Delaware, teaching at intervals ; having taught in all about twenty-three terms - seven months at Johnstown, in the public schools, and afterward bought a building, and started a select school at the same place, in partnership with Prof Vaughn. He was married, Nov. 20, 1872, to Luella, a daughter of Sylvester and Elizabeth (Walwrath) Granger ; her father was born in Granville ; they had eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Grandstaff lived on his father's farm in Licking

Co., for one year, and then came to his present place of sixty-four acres ; they have three children - Maud, Edwin and Mabel. Mrs. Grandstaff is a member of the Christian Union Church ; he is now making a specialty of fino Spanish Merino sheep, and promises great success in the undertakiug-

CHARLES LONGSHORE, farmer; P. 0. Condit ; is a son of David and Elizabeth (Warner) Longshore ; his father was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1806, settling in Berkshire Township, west of Sunbury, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Grist, where he lived until his death; it was then a dense forest, there being but one house between Delaware and Johnstown, and -that where George Gibson now resides ; the only neighbor for some time was a brother ; their first nights were spent in the woods around a fire, with a friendly Indian as company ; his mother died in 1840 ; they had eight children, three now living. The subject of this sketch was born in 1818, in Delaware Co., and married Ida Sharp in 1840, and, at the age of 21, began farming for himself, and renting land for several years, when he bought a farm of forty acres, having added to it until it contained 145 acres, 100 of which he sold in 1871 ; he now lives on the remaining forty-five acres, which is in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Longshore and wife have had five children, one only now living - Eugenie, who married Johnson Carpenter ; they had two children - Fred and Frank. Mr. Carpenter was born in 1836, and died in 1870 ; was a soldier in the late war over four years. Jasper Longshore was in the war three years, and died in March, 1867 ; Clark died July 18, 1868 ; Seth, in March, 1867 ; Clinton, in 1848.

MRS. E. LANDON, farming ; P. 0. Sunbury ; is a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Taylor) Patrick ; her father came to Ohio, in 1809, by team, and had on arrival 50 cents ; settling in Kingston Township, where he bought for his first farm the one now owned by David H. Elliott, and the birthplace of the subject (which was April 6, 1812). She was married in 1829, to George Landon, a son of Samuel and Hannah (Atherton) Landon ; he was born Aug. 23, 1806, in Luzerne Co., Penn., and came to Ohio by team with his father. The result of this union was four children - Elizabeth, died at the age of 2 years; John, born in 1832, in Berkshire Township, in 1856 he went to Califor- j nia, and there and in Nevada he mined nine years, when he returned ; Hannah was married, July 26,

187 L, to Lyman Carpenter, who died Aug. 25, 1872 ; Joseph P., born May 2, 1838, he served about eighteen months in the army, during the late war, in the 96th 0. V. I. The father died Nov. 26, 1850, when the family moved to Sunbury, and there remained until 1858, when they bought a farm west of Sunbury, known as the Gilbert Carpenter farm ; in 1873, they moved on to their present place. This farm contains 205 acres, and belongs to the two boys, John and J. P.; they have recently bought 67 acres, known as the old Longshore farm in Berkshire Township. Mrs. Landon is the owner of 100 acres of fine land in Berkshire Township. Her father was Treasurer of Delaware Co. for several terms, and was Commissioner for some time, and also Justice of the Peace, for years. The great-grandfather Landon emigrated from Scotland, at an early day, and settled on Long Island.

MARGARET LONGSHORE ; P. 0. Condit ; was born July 2, 1804, and a daughter of Christian and Sallie (Linderman) Young; her father settled in Ohio about 1816, and farmed near Galena until his death in 1838. She was married June 22, 1826, to Cyrus Longshore, by whom she has had six thildren, four are now living ; her husband was born Nov. 24, 1804, in Muskingum Co., Ohio, and came with his parents to Delaware Co. about 1808, settling west- of Sunbury on a farm now owned by the Landon brothers, and in 1836 on the farm owned by Mrs. Longshore; he died May 3, 1870. Her son, I. N. Longshore, was born June 14, 1839, and worked by the month for five years. He was married, Nov. 23, 1865, to Angeline T. Bourn, a daughter of Almerian and Elizabeth (Jewett) Bourn ; her parents were born in Massachusetts, and came to Ohio in 1839. I. N. Longshore and wife have two children - Alvey S., born May 17, 1867, and Mark A., Sept. 27, 1868 ; after marriage they settled on the old homestead where their residence now stands ; in May, he sold this little farm for $1,000 cash, and soon after bought one of forty-seven acres in Trenton Township of A. C. Bowers at $60 per acre ; he also works eighty-three acres of his mother's farm. They are members of the Christian Union Church in which he is Elder, and has been Superintendent of Sunday schools ; he once carried the mail from Johnstown to Newark, making daily trips for one year ; he also worked at carpentering for tw;o years.

MILLS & GREEN; P. 0. Condit. These gentlemen are thrifty and enterprising stock-dealers and farmers, located in the northeastern part of this township, where they have a farm of several hundred acres, well adapted for the successful prosecution of their business ; their specialty, perhaps, is in Spanish merino sheep, of which they have the finest specimens to be found in the country ; their experience dates back a number' of years ; this, coupled with their financial ability and enterprise, places them in the foremost rank of success in this particular ; this, however, is not permitted to detract from other classes in which they are interested ; the greatest care and attention is given in every branch of their calling, and their stock is noted for its superiority far and near. Mr. Mills is also interested in Norman horses, and has some noble animals of this kind. This firm, through their enterprise and painstaking, are not only doing a good thing for themselves, but are contributing largely to the improvement of the stock throughout the country, and are well deserving the patronage of stock-growers.

W. D. MILLER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Galena ; is one of the most extensive farmers of Trenton Township ; he was born, in 1833, in Knox Co., Ohio, and remained with his parents until married. His father, John Miller, was born in Washington Co., Penn, and came with his parents to Ohio in 1811 ; his mother carrying him and a brother on horseback ; they settled in Knox Co. His father married twice, and had seven children by each wife ; he is now living in Utica. Mr. Miller's parents have been members of the Christian Church for forty years. In 1855, he engaged in the daguerreotype business, with Hartsock, in Iowa, and, in 1856, he built a car for the same purpose, and was then engaged in Iowa City and Washington, same State, untU 1858, when he returned to Ohio,- where, in December - of that year, he married Melissa, a daughter of WiUiam King, of Utica, by whom he had two children - Nettie, married J. Stookwell, and Monroe, who died when but 1 year old ; his wife died in 1862. He was again married, in 1865, to Mary, a daughter of James Paul ; her father was born in Washington Co., Penn., and was one of the early pioneers of Knox Co., Ohio, and now makes his home in Morrow Co. Mr. Miller has five children by his last marriage - Henry, Fred, John, William and Sarah E., who died in September, 1875. Mr. Miller began farming by renting for five years, he then bought 272 acres of land io Trenton Township, to which he subsequently added quite extensively. In connection with his farming, he branched into the sheep business, which has grown into such magnitude, that he now ranks among the most extensive stock-dealers of the county, having about nine hundred head of Spanish merino of fine quality. To his wife is due much credit for her efforts in contributing to the prosperity of her husband, having saved up about $600 from her resources as a housekeeper. He is a member of the Trenton Christian Church, and also of the Grange Lodge.

ALLEN MOORE, farmer ; P. 0. Sunbury ; was born in 1825 in Licking Co., Ohio ; he is a son of Jacob and Mary (Dixon) Moore; his father was born in Virginia, and came to Ohio in 181.3, settling in Burlington Township, Licking Co.; he died in Utica in 1864 ; the mother died in 1844 ; they had eight children. Mr. Moore remained at his paternal home until married in 1851 to Sarah, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Harris) Matthews ; her father was born in 1792, in Alleghany Co., Md., and emigrated to Ohio at an early period ; he was in the war of 1812. Her mother was born Nov. 11, 1792; they had ten children. Mrs. Moore was born in 1827 in Knox Co., Ohio ; they farmed in Licking Co. until Mr. Moore enlisted in Co. B, 142d 0. V. I., and while he was in the service his wife bought their present farm of 102 acres, -which is under good improvement and worth $60 per acre. They have three children - Henry, who has taught school, clerked for Judge Sprague, at Sunbury, and engaged in other kinds of occupations ; Theodore, who is at home and Josephine, who married Eli Zigler, now living in Richland Co., Ohio. He is a teacher and farmer ; she has also had considerable experience and success in teaching. Mr. Moore has been called upon to serve his township, and is at present Trustee. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, in which he is Deacon. They are now in the enjoyment of a pleasant home, the fruit of their combined efforts and provident care.

NORMAN PERFECT, farmer; P. 0. Con dit ; was born Oct. 9, 1830, on a farm in Trenton Township, where he remained with his father and mother (Middleton and Huldah Perfect) until 21 years old, when he came to the farm where he now lives, then 145 acres, to which he has added until he now possesses 323 acres, well improved. He was married, March 13, 1856, to Susan E., a daughter of Jonathan and Mary Condit, by whom he had ten children - Edgar N., Mary A., Mark A., Cariie J., Waldo and Claude; and four deceased - John C.

died June 26, 1861; Addie A., Oct. 9,1865; Elias, July 15, 1874, and an infant March 10, 1857. Mr. Perfect is in the general stock business, making a specialty of short-horned thoroughbred cattle, and is in partnership with Mills & Condit, in breeding fine Norman horses, having at this time two fine stallions recently imported from France. He recently came into possession,' by purchase, of twenty-five acres of the old homestead of his father. Mr. Perfect and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Source changes here: from 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, by Lytle, James Robert, published 1908; 2,655 words in this source stream.

Trenton Township

The first church society organized in Trenton, we believe, was that of the Presbyterians about 1836, by Rev. Calvin N. Ransom, with twenty members. The first elders were Silas Ogden, A. P. Condit, and Robert Lewis. This church until the reunion was connected with the Franklin Presbyterian, New School. Among the original members were Simeon Condit, Silas Ogden, A. P. Condit, Robert Lewis, Squire Wheaton, Elizabeth Condit. Elizabeth Leak, Magdalene Van Dorn, Maria Condit, Mercy Wheaton, Mary Condit. Jane Os:den and .Andrew Herrons and wife. The facts leading to the organization of this church were something as follows: After holding a meeting in June, 1835, with reference to the formation of a society, Messrs. A. P. and J. S. Condit were sent to Alexandria to confer with the minister of that place, but receiving no encouragement from him, they next visited the Presbyterian Church in Genoa Township. From Mr. Ransom, the pastor of that church, they received but little more encouragement than at Alexandria. He prevailed on them, however, to unite with the Genoa Church. In the September following these visits, a gloom was cast over the community by the death of J. S. Condit. Mr. Ransom being called upon to preach his funeral sermon, took occasion to refer to the visit of Mr. Condit and the object of his mission to him some time before. He said upon further reflection, he had come to the conclusion that he had done wrong in discouraging their project, and believed the time had come for them to organize a church in their neighborhood. Accordingly, a meeting was called at the Ogden School house to consider the propriety of at once organizing a society. At that meeting, A. P. Condit was appointed to present the matter to the presbytery, which body decided in favor of the movement, and Rev. Mr. Ransom was directed to establish a church. He was the first pastor and preached to them for one year, for which he received the sum of $18.50, all that could be raised by the members. The second preacher was Rev. Mr. Allen for one year; the third. Rev. Ezra G. Johnson ; the fourth. Rev. Ahab Jinks. "But," adds our informant, "he being a farmer, and judge of the Court of Common Pleas, only a part of his time could be given to the church."

At a meeting held February 21, 1837. the practicability of building a church edifice was discussed, and finally a resolution was passed to proceed at once with the undertaking. Soon after, their first building was put up, which served them as temple of worship until 1855. The following is a transcript of the proceeding of a meeting held February 5, 1875 : "At a meeting of the members of the First Presbyterian Church, of Trenton Township, Dela- ware County, a motion was adopted that a committee be appointed to circulate a subscription paper for the purpose of building a new meeting house, and if a sufficient amount for the purpose is secured, they are authorized to act as a building committee, and to select a site and build the house." A. P. Condit, John E. Ketcham and E. M. Condit were appointed the committee, and the further duty imposed upon them of selling the old church building. This they accomplished April 1, 1875, selling it for the sum of $100, to the United Brethren Church for a house of worship. Air. Miles and Mr. Skinner gave their obligations for the payment of the amount, and also agreed to either move the house or secure the lot upon which it stood for the benefit of their society. The new building of the Presbyterians cost $1,000 and was dedicated by Revs. Warren Jenkins and John W. Thompson. This building was erected about one-half mile west of where the new building now stands, and was sold to Mr. L. A. Pierson, who now uses it for a barn. It served the congregation until 1879, when a new church was erected at a cost of $3,000, and was dedicated May 25th, by Rev. Nathan S. Smith, of Delaware, assisted by Rev. Carson, of Westerville. Five years ago a Sunday school room was added, and with changes made in the audience room, it cost as much as the main room. It is now the best country church in Marion Presbytery. The church is in a flourishing condition, and has exercised a wide-spread influence in the entire community. The following ministers have served the church since Rev. Ransom:

The Methodist Episcopal Church dates back almost to the organization of the Presbyterian Church. Sometime between 1835 and 1840. a society of this denomination was formed in a school house, embracing in its original membership many of the early settlers of the township. The first minister who preached to the congregation in the little school house was Rev. Curtis Godhard. Another of the pioneer preachers of this society was Rev. Mr. McDowell. The present church was built in 1855, and was dedicated by Rev. Samuel Lynch. Its early ministers were : Revs. John Mitchell, William Morrow, Alexander Blamfield, D. R. Moore, and others. The church cost originally about $700. It has been repaired and is prosperous. A Sunday school is maintained most of the time. This church has been productive of much good in the neighborhood, and many souls, through its influence, have been brought home to Christ.

The Old School Presbyterians organized a society and built a church in this township, but did not exist any great length of time. In 1850 thep built their church, but became lukewarm and sold out to the Methodists. This society moved over into Porter Township, and established what is known there as the Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church. It is more fully noticed, however, in the historv of that township.

The United Brethren had an organized society in the township and a church building was erected, but the society has gone down, and the church has not been used for five years.

Trenton Christian Union Church. This church was organized on the first Saturday of July, 1849, by Rev. William H. Ashley. Their church building was erected in 1863, and was dedicated by Rev. Mills Harrod, November 9, 1863, the sermon being preached by Rev. James Marion. The church is located near the road leading from Sunbury to Trenton village. Rev. Miles Harrod served the church twenty-one years. The present pastor is Rev. A. D. Mann. Jacob Fisher has been clerk from the beginning, [849, to 1892, since which time his son. R. W. Fisher, has taken his place. The present membership is seventy-nine. The principles of this church are: First. The word of God as our only rule of faith and practice; second. Christian character and spirit as the only test of fellowship ; third. Christian as the only name by which the church shall be known. This church is the only one of this kind in Delaware County, and is connected with the Ohio Central Christian Conference.

The name of this township was originally Sunbury. The present township is but a small portion of the original township of Sunbury, which was the third township to be created after the organization of Delaware County. It dates back to June 16. 1808. and was originally bounded as follows : Beginning at the northeast corner of Section 2, Township 5 and Range 17, of the United States Military Survey, thence south with said line to the south line of the count)-, thence east with said county line to the east line of said county, thence north with said county line to the Indian boundary line, thence west by said bundary line, to the east line of Marlborough Township, thence south with said line to the southeast corner of said township, thence west to the place of beginning. This immense township included the present townships of Harlem. Trenton. Porter, and half of Berkshire and Genoa in Delaware County, and the following townships in Morrow County : Peru, Bennington, Lincoln and Harmony. On September 1 1 . 1 8 10, Harlem was set oft" from Sunbury, and Kingston followed on June 8, 1813. Three years later Genoa was set oft* from Harlem, and one half of the new township was taken from the original Sunbury. One slice after another was cut off this territory until the present dimensipns of Trenton Township we,e reached, its present name having been given to it sometime in the early *3o's. We quote the following account of the way in which the change of name was brought about: "Messrs. Van Dorn, Leak and Condit, all early settlers and prominent men of the township, were sitting on a log one day talking over general business matters. Finally, the conversation turned upon the question of the village of Sunbury being in Berkshire Township, while their own township bore the name of Sunbury. It was suggested that the name of the latter be changed in order to avoid confusion, a suggestion that was unanimousl) agreed to. Mr. Leak proposed the name 01 Chester - his native town; Mr. Condit wanted it called Orange, but there was an Orange Township in the county already; so Mr. Van Dorn suggested Trenton, for the capitol of his native State - New Jersey. The name was agreed to among themselves and sent to the county commissioners, by whom it was adopted. Thus Sunbury Township became a thing of the past, while its place was filled on the map of Delaware County by Trenton." This township is now bounded on the north by Porter Township; on the east by Licking County; on the south by Harlem and on the west by Berkshire. It is five miles square and contains 16,000 acres of land. The surface of this township, while it is not wholly level, can scarcely be called hilly or broken. Along the water-courses it is a little rough and uneven, while back from the streams it is somewhat rolling, until striking the table-land, when it becomes rather level. Van's Valley, as it is called, is somewhat low. as well as the west central part, while the western and northern portions rise to quite an elevation, and incline to an almost rolling surface. The township is well drained by natural streams. Big Walnut Creek, which is the principal stream, enters the township near the northwest corner, and runs a little west of south to the township line, where it passes out southeast of Sunburv. Rattlesnake Run is the next largest stream. The large number of rattlesnakes that were found in the cliffs and rocks bordering this stream led the early settlers to give it its name. The North Fork enters the township near the center of the east line, and unites with the South Fork in the south central part of the township, thence it flows in a westerly direction and empties into the Big Walnut near the center of the west line of the township. < )ther streams of minor importance are Culver's Run and Perfect's Creek, named for early settlers in the township. These streams empty into the Big Walnut. Dry Run empties into Perfect's Creek and Mink Run flows into Rattlesnake near its mouth. There are many quarries of fine building stone in this township, some of which were opened at an early day. The township was well timbered with the various hardwoods indigenous to this region. William Perfect and Mordecai Thomas were the first settlers in Trenton Township of whom we have any record. They with their families came here in the spring of 1807 from Kentucky. Each purchased a hundred acres of military land from Pearson Spinning, who had a tract of 1,000 acres. At this late date comparatively little that is new can be learned concerning the earliest pioneers of the county, and we have to depend largely upon the researches of earlier historians ; for this reason, we will make use of some of the material contributed by Middleton Perfect to the County Atlas published in 1875. Perfect and Thomas settled near the mouth of the creek that later was named for Mr. Perfect. His death in 1812 was the first in the township. In 1810 another Kentuckian, Bartholomew Anderson, settled on a tract of land east of Perfect's. "Trenton is justly proud of its pioneers. New Jersey furnished skilled tavern-keepers ; the northern part of the township was settled by industrious people from the little Blue State. A colony from Ithaca, New York, settled in the south part, and another from Pennsylvania in the west part. One of the early settlers kept two 'asheries,' and supplied Delaware with salt and window-glass for twelve years." The two latter articles of merchandise were wagoned from Zanesville. Michael Ely and John Culver settled north of what is now Culver's Creek in 1809, and soon after them a single man named John Williamson came into the settlement and purchased land from Ely, whose daughter Rosanna he married in 1810. It is claimed that their son, Madison Williamson, was the first white child born in the township. A man named Pressing, John Ginn and William Kidgway came to the township in 181 1 from the State of Delaware. Other early settlers were James and Owen Hough from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

And Representative Citizens

When Gilbert Van Dora came here from New |ersey in 1 S 1 7 , there were only two families living on the road between the Licking County line and the village of Sunbury. He purchased 1,000 acres of land in a beautiful valley, which has ever since been known as "Van's Valley." It is claimed that the tavern which he opened here the next year was the first in the township. He had a gilt sun painted on his sign and underneath it the words, "Center Inn." At first this pioneer tavern was a rude log structure, but as travel increased and his reputation as a Boniface grew, a second cabin was added to the first, and then another and another, until he had lour log cabins connected together for the accommodation of the traveling public. At the end of eleven years he put up a brick "hotel," in front of which he hung the same old sign that had cheered the weary traveled with the prospect of entertainment for so many years. This structure, built in 1829, was the first brick building erected in the township. It would appear that Van Dora was a man of some business ability, for we find that he also kept a kind of grocery store at his tavern, and continued it until 1854. John Leak, who also came from New Jersey, bought land from Van Dora and settled east of the Inn. In 1820 Silas Ogden settled on what was known as the State Road and opened the first tannery in the township.

In 1823 Oliver Gratrax settled in the township. Air. Perfect said, "He wore leather breeches full of stitches, a fawnskin vest ana a coonskin cap." About 1832 or 1833 Jonathan. Alvin P. and Smith Condit came from New Jersey. Jonathan settled on Big Walnut Creek. Alvin settled near him and Smith died about a month after his arrival. Lyman Hendricks came from Rutland, Vermont, and settled in Berkshire in 181 2. but later moved into Trenton. His brother William was a soldier in the War of 1812. The first permanent settler on Rattlesnake Run was a man named Roberts.

to help on its prosperity, making the shipment of timber, stone and livestock an easy matter. As we have already said. Van Dorn kept a kind of store at his tavern, but the first merchant of importance, so far as we can learn, was George Akerson, who established himself in business a little north of Condit. The story of the early mills, schools, and churches will be found in the chapters devoted especially to those subjects.