Union Township (part 2 of 5)

7 vpAra l Vania' in 1840, where his early boyhood days were spent At the age of he to Ohio w*th his parents, and soon entered mercantile life, which fnllv in k- "l* "ls. location here in 1866 ; since that time he has operated successoneraHnn are gentlemen well educated in their business, all them IT Performed with safety, and to the satisfaction of all who patronize tion in ^ edu<?t*on was received in the common schools, where a close applicacessfiil a 2* an<* a lOI1g experience in active business life, bespeak for him a sucoconrro^T ^^a?*0118 bfe. His marriage with Sarah E., daughter of Thomas Vore, nAVTrJ6^873- ®er parents were among the early settlers of Miami Co. his f»tk V - EELEMAN, farmer ; P. O. West Milton ; born on the place where Our suhTTk^ m 8ec' 6' in 1833 J is a 8on of Enos and Margaret Elleman. he woo 9i 8 b°ynood days were spent on his fathers farm, where he labored until ter of Pi - k8818!0^ *8®* was married to Esther Coate in 1855 ; she is a daughwere no*- ^becca Coate, who were born in Miami Co. Her grandparents were th ' ®ringuig their effects with them, one walking while the other rode. They of the' 6 P^®11^8 pf twelve children, of whom ten lived to man's estate and had families Rehe^°^Jr^.*^*am,t7osePb> Thomas, Benjamin, Susan, Isaac, Aaron, Elizabeth, an faitif aD? .jab? who is the father of our subject's wife, is a minister of the Wesleyfathpr n * y^ides in Wayne Co., Ind., where he is laboring in the church. Grandand h °a^ bved to be upward of 70 vears of age ; his first wife died in middle age, ceasJi \Win married to Mary Bangham, by whom he had four children, all delivino- . bjah and Rebecca Coate are the parents of nine children, of whom five are ter tAJ1Zu Maiy, Linley, Susan and John ; the deceased are - Hiram, Leicescarnonf Pb aud Zelora. After our subject's marriage, he farmed and worked at the ter trade until 1865, when he settled on the place where he now resides, farmin118? k^8 Paid his attention mostly to farming; he has 132 acres of choice TmntJ* aJ1<^' w^b No. 1 buildings erected thereon. He is one of the pre®fP amiflM88 °«£, township, having been elected in the spring of 1879. He and his Dennis ^fe are "embers of the Society of Friends, and are every-day Cbnstian Hnraf* are the parents of nine children, all living, viz., John, Seman ha,

Wiliam, Mary R., Zelora E, Linley M., Horace M. and Francuk John as married to Ann Cress in April, 1877 ; they have one child, viz., LaJiren^a one Aheua^ha was "arried to Joseph W. Beck in January, 1877 ; they ^ohave child, viz, Francis E. Her husband is one of the leading teachers of the county.

, ft(. THOMAS ELLEMAN, farmer ; P. O. West Milton ; borp in this Unship in 1841 5 18 a son of Enos and Margaret (Ward) Elleman ; his father was bom m viz., John, William, Amy, Mary, Elizabeth and Hannak .Our father was the parent of twelve children, of whom only two are livmg, tna and his fa'ther, Enos ; the decked am Elizabeth Temperan^ Drusdla, Hannah, Tace, Enos, Aaron, WiUiam, Norman and one who ^ J wWch early days of our subject's father were spent at home until his father's dea , " # occurred7 wjicn Enos was only 16 years old ; he labored for ""J* Hved place, then bound himself out to his brother-in-law Isaiah ; in this township, and for him worked four yews, when the »"denta ^ " Wng before the expiration of time ; he then worked as a farm > y. ^ q0 an<i he could get to do that was honorable ; in 1823, he went back to , LarniL with purchased 80 acres of land in Wayne Township. He was ^ * ;"^5erscy, Margaret Ward, Dec. 9, 1824 ; her father, David Ward was bom in Ne ^ army, and was through seven year? of the smuggle ; he caDtured Stony intrepid ones, who, under the leadership of the gallant Way , P .neerg Point He was married to Margaret Swasick ; they were among the ea y p of Virginia ; the Indians entered their cabin one day went to work with might and main for a few years on his Darke Cojand then^ne disposed of it and came in 1831 to where he now resides ; here *^1 forTearly for nearly half a century, going hand in hand down the pathway o nded

Lee score years, and SgShef they are enjoying their "mg years ^um»»nd«l by every comfort ; they are the parents of nine children, of whom ^v® arj^ ^ viz., Mary, David, William, Joseph, Thomas, Rebecca and kam; thedecw^ Elizabeth and John. Thomas Elleman (our subject), was reared on his ttt^ farm, where he labored until his marriage, which was celebrated 1 Martha C. Jay, a daughter of Moses Jay, who was born m this to^mp, nw Frederickstown - his father, James Jay, was born in North Carolina, and ^ to Ohio in a very early day ; he departed this life on the land he en , about 70 years. His marriage with Martha Coppock was celebrated . Carolina ; they were parents of the following children, of whom five . tu' viz., Mary, Jesse, James, Furnas and Isaac ; the deceased are R > her father, departed this life in 1840. Her mother's second marriage w brated with Elijah Jay, whose father, Layton Jay, was one of.the pioneers, an remains the first interred in the Union Cemetery. To her second marriage children were Moses, Joseph, Alfred, James, William and Enos; An (deceased). Mrs. Margaret Jay departed this life April 14, 1874, aged 56 years, her husband is living, and at an advanced age. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. iuieman nine children have been given, of whom five are living, viz., Dony, Ella, Calvin, Allie and Walter ; the deceased are Margaret, Viola, Minnie P. and an infant.

ELLEMAN, retired, Laura; born on Sec. 18 in this township, in i- 1 !8.a5°n of. Isaac "d Mary (Jones) Elleman ; they were bom in South Caroma - his father in the year 1798, and his mother in the beginning of the nineteenth century ; they came to this township with their parents in 1805 or 1806 ; they were married about 1822, and were the parents of four children, two of whom are living , m Owen and Jordan ; the deceased are Dorcas and William W. ; Mrs.

dle<* 0n P^806 W^ere Owen W£« born, in February, 1831, aged f!nn uyearf' ^r' ®^eman s second marriage was celebrated with Elizabeth ppocK by whom he had six children, three of whom are living, viz., Benjamin, 0- » Mr. Elleman departed this life at the age of 61 years. Owen all ^rfn' boyhood days being spent in a manner customary with tato after atta^n*n8 a proper age, he assisted in the labors on his father's es- U u-e ^ 22 years of age, at which time he began working at the carpenter's rp which he followed for six years ; in the fall of 1850, he moved to Cass Co., Cn ', W^re "e ^ve(^ two years and followed carpentering ; he then went to Grant wnrt*yhf same State, and for three years worked in a carding-mill, but afterward shu* r ftli ^de f°r eight years ; in 1863, he returned to Laura, where he has _i> , *vej~ » on his return, he established himself in the mercantile business, trati ft followed since ; he was appointed under Lincoln's adminisvnt J\ aftfrwar(^ resigned, and was again appointed under Johnson's reign, has mSft an^ aPP°^nted the third time under Grant's administration ; he "|e Justice's office three terms, and was elected for a fourth, but re- Edn *- he *la8 a^° been Trustee, School Director and a member of the Board of » thu8 we see Mr. Elleman's executive ability is fully recognized by his an? *8 demonstrated by his frequent re-elections. In September,

. .e marned Rachel McDonald, by whom he had seven children, three of whom Mino1Vm^~~^arki William J. and Joseph A. ; the deceased are Sarah, Jane, 5'aro^e. Mrs. Elleman is a daughter of Joseph and Temperance who were among the early pioneers of Ohio ; both are now dead ; they ha]* 5? P?rents °f ten children, of whom only two are living - Rachel and Ma- T*) me deceased are Elizabeth, William, Mary, Phoebe, Dennis, Sarah, Aaron throo ^r* McDonald's first marriage was with Sarah Mote, by whom he had thP <^ren' two living, viz-, John and Charles ; Mark is deceased; he died in vpor*. hyear bis age ; his wife, Temperance, departed this life at the age of 60 ' Mr. and Mrs. Elleman are members of the denomination of Friends, and

,9® B^TER, farmer ; P. 0. West Milton ; born in Bucks Co., Penn., m th« a 1828 > i® a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Etter ; his father was also bom m ^ n^.me ®°unty and State. There they were married and lived till their removal 8ohn.i°J,ih)f father ^ed in Germantown, Ohio, in 1833 ; his mother was bora m laatlJ ^.^2*' Benn., and was thrice married - secondly, with Joseph KJem, an w.lth David Landis. After his death, she resided with our subject till her w2* m *865' By ber marriage with Mr. Etter, she had five children, three of are living, viz., Jacob, John and Levi ; George and Catherine (decea^)- terW reafed on the farm, and after becoming old enough learned the <»rpenf°H°wed for eleven years. In 1850, he came to O » bomrh+al?118 co,m1y> following his trade exclusively five years. After

Biographical Sketches

C. ; John H. deceased, aged 1 year 11 months and 14 days He has never been* political aspirant ; hut has held the office of Supervisor and School Director. He Sd his wbb are members of the German Baptist Church, with which have belonged for a number of years. He is one of the Deacons, which distinction he has held three years. Mrs. E. died Jan. 8, 1873, aged 41 years. His second marriage was celebrated in February, 1878, with Mary H. Harlacher . she was bom in Montgomery Co. in 1835, and is a representative of the same church, as is hlS ^E^^LK^^Wactondth ; P. O. Laura ; bom in Darke Co. in the year 1837 ; is a son of John and Elizabeth Falknor, who were bora in this State, m which they made their home till their decease. His father was killed in a saw-mill in Phillipsburg in 1849 ; his mother died in the year 1876 They were Parsnto of seven children, viz., Mary A., Harriet, John W Albert, Margaret and Sarah j. Our subject was reared on the farm, and after his father s death remain wi widowed mother until he attained his majority. In 1857, he was married to ^Mary McCool, by whom he had four children, three of whom are living, viz., Semantna Erskine L. and Emily W. ; Viola, deceased. After his mamage he contanued farming in Darke Co. for a year, after which he came to this county and stall worked on the farm, having, in the meantime, purchased a house and lot in Laura. In 1869, he abandoned the farm, moved to Laura and engaged in the^ smithing business, which he has since successfully followed. He owns 72 acres of Me lan , 13 acres of which adjoins Laura, the balance near, on Ludlow s Creek. His long acquaintance with the people, combined with his skill as a workman, c^n?a'J? for Mr. F. a Ml share of patronage. He and his wife are members of the Obnstian Church, with which they have been connected for eighteen yeare, always tatong a lively interest in the cause and development of the Christian religion. Mrs. F. is a daughter of Richard and Martha McCool ; her father is deceased, but her motner is living, and resides with Mr. Falknor ; both were born in Ohio, but their paren came from South Carolina ; they were parents of four children, of whom only tn wife of our subject survives. n lfl

ANDREW N. FALKNOR, West Milton; of the firm of Falknor & Hale, dealers in agricultural implements etc., etc.; was born in Montgomery Co. Get > 1824. At 12 years of age, his father died, and Andrew remained at home assi ing his mother upon the farm until he attained his majority, during this time obtaining a good common-school education. He then followed carpentering an farming some eight years in Montgomery Co., and in 1853, came to Miami to; m 1861, he located upon his present firm of 80 acres, two miles southwest from Yves Milton, where he now resides ; in the spring of 1880, he associated with T. Hale in the above business, dealing in all the improved farm machinery, agriculture implements, pumps, wagons, etc., etc. Upon the 9th of December, 1847, he was united in marriage to Catherine Niswonger, of Montgomery Co. Two children now living - Granville N. and Amanda. .

HENRY FESS, farmer ; P. 0. West Milton ; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in the year 1837 ; is a son of George and Louisa B. Fess, who were bom in Germany ; emigrated to this country, and settled in Montgomery Co., where his father died. His mother is living and resides near him. They were the parents °f eight children, of whom only three are living, viz., Lavina, Catherine and our subject ; the deceased are Mary, Jacob, George, Frederick and John. Mrs. F. was *8^" married, to John Root, by whom she lias had one child, viz., Sarah. Our was raised on the farm, on which he labored until he was 21 years old, at which time he began life for himself, and engaged in farming. In 1858, he was marnea to Miss Mary J. Harshbarger, by whom he has had nine children, seven of whom are living, viz., George, Mary, Samuel E., John Jacob, Lloyd and Charles A. ; the deceased are Sarah and Floyd, the latter a twin brother of Lloyd. Mr. Fess owns 80 acres of land, on which he resides, all being in good condition) and fkirly improved. He and his amiable wife are exemplary members of the Brethren in Christ Church, with which they have been connected eighteen years, and are con- sistent Christian people ; he is one of the Trustees of the church. Mrs. F.'s parents were bora in Ohio, her father in Montgomery Co., in 1815, her mother in this country in 1821. They are the parents of five children, four of whom are living, viz., Mary J., Samuel, Lloyd and George ; Anna, deceased. Mr. H. is a member of the German Baptist Church ; Mrs. H. belongs to the Brethren in Christ ; Mary and George, children of Mr. and Mrs. Fess, are members of the church to which their parents belong.

GEORGE FILBEY, retired, West Milton ; bom in Berks Co., Penn., April 9, 1809 ; is a son of William and Elizabeth Filbey, who were natives of Pennsylvania. I hey removed to Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1855 or 1856, and lived there until their aerawe ; Mr. F. died April 19, 1858, he was bora Aug. 18, 1781 ; his wife, Elizabeth Sellers, was born June 11, 1788 ; she departed this life Sept 20, 1879, aged 93 years 3 months and 9 days ; they were the parents of the following children, of whom six are known to be living, viz., John, Mary, George, Ellen, Robert and Catherine ; the deceased are Thomas, Michael, Oliver, [Elizabeth and William. G. F. was a mechanic and learned the sadler's trade in Strasburg, Penn., with his uncle, John Seller, with whom he worked five years as an apprentice, mastering his trade, and continued with him two years longer. On the 31st day of March, 1833, he niamed Miss Barbara, daughter of Philip Folckamer, who was a native of Pennsylvania ; after his marriage he opened a shop in Wrightsville, Penn., in which he t ^ t^Uree ^ear8' then moved to Jefferson, Greene Co., Penn., where he started a shop, and for ten years, successfully prosecuted his business, after which e removed to Galion, Ohio, where he labored on a farm for three years, then came 1 Milton in 1849, and immediately engaged in his trade, which he has foloww nearly all the time since. He owns 74 acres of us fine land as is to be found m Miami Co. On this he permanently located in 1870 ; since he has regularly resided on the farm, which is all in a high state of cultivation. His location is §°Qd, his house and barns are very commodious, and their construction and finish prove Mr. F. to be a man of good taste ; his grounds are large and well kept, which renders his home a very desirable one ; he is one of our self-made men, having begun we without capital. His first shop was started with $10, but by hard work and good management, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, they *we overcome the difficulties and obstacles met with in life's journey, and made a good home, the fruits of labor and frugality. Together they are enjoying their eclining years, surrounded by all that conduces to render old age enjoyable ; to p.^ir Orion nine children have been given, of whom seven are living, viz., Oliver,

Bebecca, George, Frank, Josiah aud Margaret ; the deceased are Samuel yilliam. The latter was a member of Co. D, 94th 0. Y. I. ; he died of smallpox, in Nashville, Tenn., May 14, 1863. They were raised in the Lutheran Church, are consistent Christian people. Mrs. Filbev was born Dec. 9, 1808.

JOHN FOUTS, deceased ; born in this township July 22, 1814 ; was a son o «!* and Susanna Fonts, who were bora in North Carolina, and emigrated to O o, settling in this township in 1803. Our subject was reared on his father s fann, on ^mch he labored till his marriage with Rosanna Waymire, which was celebrated pnl 7, 1836 ; to them nine children were born, seven of whom are living, viz., enry W., Caroline, Davis, John, Lyman, Susanna and Allen C. ; the deceas are Pamel and Harrison. While living, Mr. F. made his home on the place on which , 18 *ldo* and children now reside ; this place was the home of his P8*®® ,» , . has been in the family name for three-quarters of a century. Mr. F. dePf^~ me 7, 1857, the twenty-first anniversary of his marriage; he w «n^Zeare.Ti!'h dyspepsia, which became chronic : and Anally termm ted ,g t,!8llfe Jnly 19, 1859, aged 76 years 1 month and 4 days. They Katie Betsy, thirteen children, nine of whom are living, viz., Davis, Darnel, > ' twelve children, who grew to manhood and womanhood, and .the ^nrsi aea at the age of 49 yearn ; as husband and wife hand in hud ^hey watt^ down m pathway of life three score and two years, sharing ®j£j ®f uf had marked fourtaking alike of each other's joys and sorrows ; the <tol of life ad wife had borne the fatigues of the day fourscore years 1 '^ment in hardships which are to be encountered by tb^ who Mke the fl t^ ^ a new country, before her mission was completed ; these two old 8*^^t quietly away after a long and eventflil life. The father an . which they four children, two of whom are living, viz, Susan and Aaron .the debased are John, aged 11 years, and Amilla Furnas, nee Fouts, aged 2 y - Martiiir^redTthe farm on which he now lives ; in 1853, he mamed ^hd. Mrtn dale ; to their union nine children have been born, six of ® j0hn

Henry, William, Ella, Lizzie, Elam and Robert ; the deceased are E > anT&car. After his' marriage, he located on the old home far^^b.ch had been the home of his parents, and on which he still resides and has ing in the aggregate 750 acres of land, well situated and wrttajMg -m proved, thus making a most desirable home, embracing M p0ut8 is

' viz, Elizabeth, Robert, Mary, Samuel, Rachel, John Steward, Mtu^I"'B^ nty.flve Martha. Mrs. Fouts is a member of theChristian Church of more than tw y years' standing ; Mr. Fouts' parents were members of the same enure .

JOHN B. FOUTS, Postmaster and dealer in notions, West MUton , born . West Milton in the year 1848 ; is a son of John Fouts, who also was born county ; his father is deceased, but his mother resides near here, on toe o stead, which was pre-empted by the family many years ago. Our subjec on the farm, on which he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits ta , yew, when he enlisted in Co. D, 5th O. Y. I., Feb. 14, 1864 ; he was imrnemawy transferred to the front, where he took an active part in the closing scen®® onn(j witf ; he was in the engagement at Kenesaw Mountain, and received a , v giving Mr. F. much trouble ; after being wounded, he lay in the hospitalior teen months, after which he was mustered out of the service, in September, under, Adeline, Martha and Margaret To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kessler four children were given, of whom two are living, viz,, William and Frances ; the deceased are Mary (Mrs. Hickman) and John H. Mrs. Kessler was previously married to Henry Siler in October, 1826 ; to this marriage one child was given, viz., Mans, now Mrs. William Hall ; Mr. Siler was bom in 1804 and died in 1827 ; Mrs Kessler was born in 1806. Frances was united in marriage with Samuel P. Ax tell, *875 ; to their union two children have been given, viz., Leo Ray, bom Dec. f?'io ,and Thomas bora March 10, 1879. Mr. Ax tell was bom July

AMOS KLEPINGER, farmer and carpenter ; P. 0. West Milton ; bom in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in the year 1831 ; is a son of John and Elizabeth (Boyer) Klepinwas born in Pennsylvania, his mother in Virginia. Mr. John Klepinger with ms parents, came to Ohio and settled in the above county in 1808, in which they now reside ; they were parents of nine children, all living, viz., Amos, Frank, Newn, Samuel, Harvy, Oliver, John, Matilda and Harriet. Amos was reared on the "rm, and remained with his father till he was 18 years old, then began learning the ^rpenter 8 trade, which he followed extensively for about seven years, then took p anning again. In 1853, he was married to Magdalene Ruse, by whom he has l?r« cbildren, nine of whom are living, viz., Charley M., Sarah B., John C., ifi&i k ' A., Jesse T., Cora E., Jeannette and Mary ; Clara deceased. In bv n u Purchased 80 acres of land, on which he now resides, and has since added j purchase, till now he owns 95 acres, which is all in a good state of cultivation fW ; he has paid considerable attention to his trade, and many havinholSP !^tness bis skill ; Mr. Klepinger is one of our self-madb men, b^gnn life without capital, and with only slight assistance he has made a ?^)"0,ne is surrounded by all the comforts of life. He and his wife are u ^e German Baptist Church, with which they have been connected

The parents of Mrs. Klepinge,r John and Sarah Ruse, are TpcTa 5 taey were parents of eight living children viz., Elizabeth, Eve, Lydia, Jesse Susm! Mary, Phoebe and Magdalene.

thP 'mt"e year 1842 ; is a son of John and Elizabeth Klepinger ; he was bom in Mftnf 1416 °* Pewi8ylvania, she in Maryland. They emigrated to and settled in abonfufin^ *n wblch they now live. He was born in the year 1802, she Nftwt . ^bey were parents of nine children, all living, viz., Amos, Franklin, the f ^ ^at^da, H. A., Samuel, Harvey, John and Oliver. Harvey was reared on life rmh1-' 0n wbich he labored until he obtained his majority, after which he began 170th att0?1 re8POI18ibility and engaged in farming. He was a member of Co. K, won . j 8enring till the close of the war ; discharged in 1865. In 1870, he

Ty|ji. arrJ®d to Sarah J. Hyer, by whom he has had four children, viz., Hattie .M., reairt Dora B* Rollin. In 1872, he moved to the place where he now He owns 80 acres of land, which is all in fine condition, and well improved, dionh UCa^on was reived in the district schools, in which he fitted himself to the duties which attach to life. His estimable wife is a member of the r?®811 Baptist Church, and is a daughter of Moses and Rebecca (Stoner) Hyer, Ir0 in Montgomery Co. They are the parents of four children, three of

; is a son of Peter and Catherine Kreider, who were nativ w: ? Which they lived. His father died in 1844, aged 42 years ; h» 1 mother ThflJ>°ni m bving, as, also, is her mother, who is 9 J Joseph,

^'weU-knomi John Spitler, whose sketch appears in this work. Mr. Kreiderhas followed the fortunes of the farm all his life, and for twenty years taw Sis county ; he owns 75 acres of land, which is all and handsomely improved with more than ordinary buiidingB. Kpoun life with self-made men, in the broadest sense which the term implies, haT,hg g" only small capital. He invested in a steam saw-mdl which w^ d^yed^by fire, involving him in a loss of *2,000. His farm and stock are the fruit of his own ston ; his early boyhood days were spent on the farm, but his fathw pa more attention to educating his children than was common wt ? iQn(J April 11, 1848, he left home to learn the carpenter s trade, his -b£Sd hard and the shivering blasts of the north wind whistled through the chmta ofttieo^ log schoolhouse, Benjamin occupied a seat therein, and strove with m g to penetrate the misty depths of knowledge, which was so difflcj^ to del ve into in those days; in March, 1850, he began Practicing his trade on ^hisi »w account, which he continued in until March, 1851. March29 of the sa J ' was married to Rebecca Wheelock, a daughter of Lyman Whedock, an old setoer, who died Nov. 25, 1850 ; our subject has adopted and reared ft

Rosella ; also adopted and partially reared four others. viz., John Westtall, *-«*- Langston, M. PeaTson, deceased, and Geo. W. Beck ; the latter, ho > 'D remained with him from his 16th year until he was 19 years old, Mr. Langs worked on leased land till March, 1853, at which time he purchased the o d nome stead form for the sum of *2,300, paying *1,000 down ; here he remained nmu August, 1860, when he sold his personal effects, moved to the Brush j ment and, during the years 1861, 1862 and 1863, worked at his trade and (htebargw the duties of some of the township offices ; in November, 1863, he return ed - farm, and May 2, 1864, was called on by Gov. Brough to accept a Second Lieureuantcy in Co. D, 147 O. N. G., which was soon transferred to the scenes ot war, on placed in charge of Fort Ethan Allen, which was situated in Virginia, .

a portion of the time ; he was mustered out at Camp Dennison, Aug.jW, t i J the home-guard companies were continued, of one of which he was [elected ' QflR bv in July, 1865 ; he was mustered from the service of the State May A, 18 'J proclamation of the Adjutant General of Ohio, thus ending his military * which is finely improved and in a high state of cultivation ; Oct. 8, 1878, ne elected one of the County Infirmary Directors, which position he now holds , and his estimable wife have been members of the Christian Church since Augu, 1851, and are exemplary Christian people ; he is, and has been, an earnest wo in the cause of Sabbath schools, as well as a powerful champion in the . temperance ; he has been remarkably healthy, never paying but $2 to a physici > with the exception of one case - a chronic complaint, which was completely era ' cated by Dr. A. E. Duncan, of Yellow Springs ; Mr. Langston has traveled exten- og. lb, 1834 ; is a son of Leonard and Frances (Christ) Langston ; his father was bom in Georgia, his mother in Maryland ; they came to Ohio in 1807, and left !JVi!V j °me a two-wheeled vehicle, but, while crossing the mountains, the rose down, which necessitated its abandonment ; their earthly effects were transferred to the backs of their steeds, as were also grandmother and the children, m a Un.e enc^ure the fatigue of travel, while grandfather, rifle in hand, Se;he e^re jpunrey on foot; they first settled in Preble Co., in which they land* qV* then removed to this township, in which he entered 160 acres of hi« fl1Dw f V » while on a return trip to Preble Co., the wolves made a raid on h " sheep, and devoured every one ; they were the second lot of sheep , . the township ; a Mr. Duncan had brought a few previously ; he with * 8 famd^ "to a cabin, and began the great* labor of clearing ; he was Ohirttt* mea^8.' having spent the last shilling for tobacco, when he crossed the ° K1Vefr ' a'8 was 8uPPort, supplying both food and raiment ; he was a of nunter,and the crack of his rifle was never heard but what some inhabitant M 8 ^ T°uld ^ a victini to his prowess and unerring aim. They were the 18 * io* n children, seven daughters and a son. Grandfather L. died in the her £ °f a' a^ed ^ juurs ; his wife died at the advanced age of 96 years ; to 8hp if8?60 .t® 8he used to describe scenes of the Revolutionary war, in which

. e more unfortunate ones who were burning with fever, caused either by fog wounds or the malaria which arose from pestilential swamps. Peace be ffladiftt a8ae8.°^ these veteran pioneers. They have done a good work ; like the ured ° u arena> they bared their arms for the conflict, and, with measlahvri hT68' . wed their wa>' into the heart of a wilderness, in whose winding iutK . ,8 P^ls of every nature met them at each advancing step. David's whom 18i, Vmgl .ai|d resides to Darke Co.; they are the parents of ten children, of Mfti+k &T\a^e but one, Leonard; the living are Benjamin N., John C.,

"*» David> Henry C., Mary A., Hannah E., Jesse S. and Parolee ; Leonard and the 8th O. V. C., and was one of the daring and successful spies ' °( the. Union force8, who did so much for the success of our armies ; he fhrth K' ^ ^th the enemjT in disguise and was one of them, so far as he could wnni^k 18 PurP0®e- to one instance, he was taken prisoner by our own men, and bora ^aVe offered death, had not his brother recognized him ; the blood of the thiv U^' and they would listen to no explanation he might make, thinking evertr^i Cau^bt a spy, and were bound to have an execution ; he passed through ( * anS®r incident to his calling, and was, in November, 1864, decoyed by a strinoj1!^ .enemy who were dressed in blue uniform, and flying the stars and death ' Q?°n discovering their true character, he refused to surrender, knowing ,wo. be his portion if he did, made the attempt to cut his way out, and, aftm. their Captain and others of tiie party, he himself was shot, and soon from the effects °f the terrible wounds he received. His remains were drilliJt ^ome ftnd interred in the cemetery on Greenville Creek. Our 8ybject w ®Wed for two years in the Covington Blues, after which he was appointed drdlw^aftnth!ilth Ohio' to Co. K, and given a Sergeant's commission He

T)LdA^TG wa8 taken to his regiment. The Chaplain summoned the he wo 8 ^unera^ s^nnon was preached in good earnest. Upon his re inn-dav men ^ ^ the commission of a 1st Lieutenant, in Co. G, 147th Regi ' . the is in a good state of cultivation and well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Lan^wn oeioug to the Christian Church. Four of his brothers were in the army PS wa^Jo" Captain of Co. E, 11th O.VJ, ^afterward C^of Co^B.^th O V. L, and was mounted at Lewisburg May 23, 1862. d j . « j)

*L d 69 years 11 months and 14 days ; they were parents of teochUdren, seven whom are living viz, Beniamin, David, Henry, Sarah, Anna, Fanny . ' the deceased are Esther, Isaac and Elizabeth. 0u^ ®^^"^^g°an learning assisting in its cultivation until he was 24 years of age, and then Began i ^ the smith's trade, which he followed about twelve years. D^. 13, 1838^te w married to Rebecca Welbanm ; they ^vehadsix childrenfiveof^^ g viz, Sarah A, Jeremiah, Samuel, Joseph and Henry (twins), om died m mia jr. Mrs. Longanecker departed this life July 26, 1848, aged 31 J®*".. Aprils,

Harvev, Ella and Willie; Mrs. Longanecker was bom Nov. 1, 1825^ daughter of Abraham Welbaum, who came from Pennsylvania and settied n TL ly day; he died Sept. 24, 1863, aged 60 ves« 6 months. md 1 12 days, her mother, Rebecca, is now the wife of Emanuel Martin, to Mis. - eleven children were bom, eight of whom are living-Magdalene Lyd^Fh Eve, William, Joseph, Levi and Rebecca .the deceased are Barb^Ob "hoge Amos ; his first wife was a daughter of Chsurles Elizabeth Welb ,^^ sketch appears in this work under the head of Jacob Welbaum , afte March,

1856 ; he owns 310 acres of land, 70 of which is situated in Newberry ^Totosmpthe land is all in a good state of cultivation and well improved ; hw b Jjous the home farm are of more than ordinary character ; a large house and co barn, with their pleasant surroundings, make his home a very attractive place , held some of the offices of the township, of which we mention Schoo ^

Supervisor, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Longanecker are members of the Gcrmim v ^ Church, he having been connected with it for a period of forty years, ana

Joseph, Henry, Sarah, Caroline and Susanna - belong to the same church > is a minister in the Christian Church and resides in Frederickstown, this .

N. C., where he was reared, and from which he removed to umo m ,luc °{\Trnce 1831. They were parents of the following children, all deceased, viz., UDem (Mrs. John Quilling, who gave birth to the first white child born north of Dayw > Rebecca (Mrs. David Sheets), Sarah (Mrs. Solomon Way mire), Nancy (Mrs. ) and Absalom. The latter was married to Mary Johnn, of Montgomery the year 1818, by whom he had ten children, six of whom, are living, viz., Llwa ' Johnson P., Wesley J., Cynthia A., Asher C. and Mary J. The deceased are Harris David, Madison and Arabella. Mary Johnn, wife of Absalom Mast, was do in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1799, and with her parents came to Ohio and settled

Wotf Creek, in Montgomery Co., in 1810 ; she ilreil Ang. 23, 184C. In an early nay, Absalom Mast had command of a Light Horse Company, of which he was Lapt&in. Be was a good horseman and a lover of the equine race. He died at the residence of his son, Asher C., Dec. 15, 1877. Our subject was reared on the form, laboring for his father till his 21st year, when he opened a hotel in West Milton, which he conducted for ten years, after which he dealt extensively in stock, and was also proprietor of a livery stable. In 1859, he abandoned these pursuits a turned his attention to the lightning-rod business,1 and since 1870 has given is lull attention to this business. J uly 7, 1847, he was married to Sarah, daughter v. .kenng. They have four children, Josephine (now Mrs. Will H.

re of Pennsylvania ; her mother in Maryland ; they removed to and settled in . 1(?' State they lived till their decease ; he died at the age of 76 years,

.V1 . e * year of her age. They were parents of seven children, four of whom vljJ Jacob, who resides in Menard Co., HI.; Nancy ; Mary, now Mrs.. « rjer ' a ou.r ®QbjGCt. The deceased are Christian, Catherine McGool . nee- Der,i5nduone !n infancy. Her grandfather was bora in Germany, and was 3* jrears old when his parents came to this country. Mrs. Mendenhall has been twiceamed ; first, to David Syler, in 1829, by whom she had four children, two of' om are hving, viz., Milton and Susan ; the deceased are John and Joseph. Miv dZrW *n 1835, aged 34 years. Her second marriage was cele-

-a ^ W1. Thaddeus Mendenhall in 1840. To them four children were bora, one- « y®18 viz., Priscilla ; the deceased are Angeline, Thaddeus and Emily- . Mendenhall died in 1846, aged 45 years ; was bora in North Carolina in 1801 r n is connected with the Mcndcnhalls whose very interesting sketch appears in Wvu Mary Garber was married to David Pearson in 1838, by whom she had rr ^Id - -Milton, deceased. Mr. Pearson died July 12, 1840, aged 24 years. pK-L 8ccond marriage was celebrated, in 1844, with Peter Moshier ; to them five uni Pr1 Tere born, all them deceased, viz., William, Eliza A., Mary C., Elmira th ^jl^bcth. Eliza and Nancy arc members of the Christian Church, of more j it years' standing, and are exemplary Christian ladies, taking much interest lilr ?cau.8e* Their sister, Mary, is a member of the Methodist Epfscopal Church, and, aersi8lJer8) ha® been a long worker in the vineyard of the Lord. Mrs. Menden- . 76$ acres of land, all well improved, thus making her a comfortable home fw enj°y ber declining j'ears. Her sisters, Nancy and Mary, were burned on the 10th of April, 1880. They are now erecting a new home on the site of we old one. Mary was born in Virginia in 181 5 : Nancy, her sister, in the same th JA(?0BT. MILES, physician and surgeon, Laura ; born in Newton Township in » *® ason of Wade and Maiy Miles. His father, was bora in this county, mother in the State of Indiana ; his father died in 1 855, aged 35 or 36 years ; his tuer was bora about the same year, and departed this life at the age of 30 years ; o wS?e ^be parents of eight children, of whom five are living, viz., Abijah W., raroii, Charity, Vachti and Jacob T.: the deceased are Jane, Naomi, and one in S . Bis boyhood days were spent on the farm ; and, at the age of 18, be wted m Co. K, of the 86th O. V. I. : his regiment was in the Army of the Tennessee, under Burnside's command. While on a scout in Western Virginia, lie a wound in tbe right knee, which deprives the Doctor of the free use of his . . ® be also lost one eye while in the service, from the effects of small-pox ; home, he studied and taught school until 1870, at which time he began he study of medicine undor Dr. A. E. Duncan, who is a very able physician ; wad nfM^ction® he read mcdiciuc four years, then entei*ed the Cincinnati Co ege- Medicine and Surgery, studying in the classes of 1873-74 and S^uata JL f ttechweof 1875 . he" returned to Laura, in which place he began the Medicine, since when he has built up a large and increasing practice. His.

Co. inlll3 andufsonTMichaeland Sarah Miller; hi. father was tolose to the Pennsylvania and Maryland line ; his *"°*k"wM 'J^e was only 10 years Ohio; Michael, with his parente, went to Kentucky wh^ h rf 1 a*d ,Jk up old, in which State they remained seven years, then crossed ' ' . thJ.? then went to their abode in Clermont Co. in which they lived ^ some t , th y fether died at Montgomery Co., Ohio, in which they lived till their deceas ' * te of tweive the age of 74, his mother, when 46 years of age ; they were th P ^ Abra. children, nine of whom are living, viz., John, Da^d' dac?b' ^ Man and Nancy ; ham, Benjamin, Andrew and Aaren ; the ^ceased are Joseph, Maiq S y by Ks second manage, with Elizabeth 'Brumbaugh , he h^ tencmia^_ ^ whom are living, viz., Emanual, Sarah, Elizabeth, » ^ homestead was on the farm, on which he labored until he was of age, at which tinie he Mg^ for himself, and worked as a day laborer, in .which iwayhe made chase the land whereon he now resides In 1839, g"Jh E John A., to them ten children were born, nine of whom are living, ^vi ., d DaviJ second marriage was celebrated with Elizabeth Falknor in 1 86 , Catlierwhen upward of 60 years of age. His third marriage w^ celebrat^ wite La ^ ine Bowser in 1877 ; in 1840, he settled on the place on which "e now at that time his land was all in the woods, he has "adeit what it ^ world place, well cultivated and improved ; Mr. Miller tegan th gp ^nortion ; he and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church, with which they^av ^ connected many years, and are every-day Christian peop - fully upon the were the parents of seven children, four living, viz., ^eter' ^braM ' married to Catherine; the deceased are David, Isaac and John. ' i?iizabeth John,

BaPtJOHNU A^MILLER, farmer ; P. O. West Milton ; born in this ^wnship^n year 1844 ; is a son of David Miller, whose sketch appears in this reared on the farm, on which he labored for his father till his 21s 3 » on the aged 7 months, and Anna, at about the same age. Mrs. M. 18 a d?u^ tv . both and Elizabeth Fortner, who were among the early settlers of this co J > ^ deceased. She was born here in 1844. They are members of the erm . tent Church, with which they have been connected twelve years, and are c Christian people, and endeavor to discharge every Christian duty.

he owns 77 m>r»a Wln*?r, 1852, he came to the place on which he now resides ; been pYfona' T8 land, on which are erected excellent buildings. He has thresher in 'th/ eng^ed in. threshing for a number of years, and is the oldest patrons 8Atisf«r»f 0011 flowed it for thirty years, always giving his of the Ohristio nik' **y dping a Ho. 1 job. He and his wife have been members 1830 Thoiv T ^kureh for twenty years. Mrs. M. was born in Ohio in the year and is nnp nf ?ifU^Jter' Mary *® the wife of George W. Beck, who resides near, JAPnnf ^ ^ueators of the county.

another nf 2. M^LEE' undertaker, and dealer in fiirniture West Milton, ; is is a son nf 7 6l of Miami Co. ; he was bom in Virginia, in 1826, and

1801 - h« ^banah Miller, who is a native of the same State, and was bora in is vet a roo /?10!6^40 oonpty with his family in the fall of the year 1832, and in the voarr °t^ ^nnty- His wife was bora in 1802 and departed this life living ^ On 01 T , r<* ***66 ' they were the parents of five children, who are all father in p ff.8U^!ect ? boyhood days were spent on the farm, where he assisted his 8hin in thpU tlvatln8 it until his 20th year, when he began to serve an apprenticereturned tn ?fr^fnter trade in this village ; he labored twelve years here, and then here he - T?11 after bis m°ther,s death, so as to make his father a home ; in the mam f - twe*ve years> when he returned to West Milton and engaged trade - hi rac.nn8 °f furniture ; in connection, he does a general undertaking fair (j' ij ® business relations in Miami Co. cover a period of forty years, and by age. Ria a t 888 w.on confidence of the people, who give him a liberal patronchild v\v a marria8e was celebrated with Sarah Werts in 1848 ; they have one 1853 offpd tT now Mrs. A- J- Pearson ; Mrs. Miller departed this life in Mary 3* a. ut 30 years. Mr. Miller's second marriage was celebrated with Edgar P nfu lrl > two children are the fruits of their union, viz., Ida M. and the count' t farmer deceased, aged 18 months. He owns 60 acres of fine land in the villas *s *.n a 8°°d ®tate of cultivation ; also owns a fine property in

Vt in iftiR - MORSE? farmer; P. 0. West Milton; born in Bennington Co., in thp Qt i5; *a 8011 John and Abigail (Himes) Morse ; the former was bora in a v ** , Connecticut, and removed with his father, Noah Morse, to Vermont, fours/v^ t8er® ^eir bodies were consigned to the tomb ; his mother lived to see threp y^ ; they were the parents of ten children, of whom only did i6?? YlZ'1 Nancy. Daniel and Henry ; the rest died of consumption, as cultivotf fath®r- Henry's boyhood days were spent on the farm, assisting in its to Monf 0n ' grappled with the heavy tasks to be found ; in I860, he remov ~ Davt.n^J116^ ®°*» Ohio, where he engaged in school-teaching, in the vacmity ^ shin in n^e[.e labored for some years, after which he moved to Monroe o P> Bai-ke Co., where he purchased 120 acres of land, on which he lived for place where he now resides, in 1862 ; he has 108 acres of land which is all in a fine state of cultivation, with good bmldings erected fbawa In the year 1841, he married Miss Catherine, a daughter of Jacob Laruse. who wasa St of Montgomery Co. To the union of Mr and Mrs Morse ..x chddren have been riven viz., Aldeba, Mary, Clara, Alice, Minerva and Laura. Mr. M.is one of our self-made men, having begun life empty-handed, but ^du^ good management, coupled with frugality, he has accomplished the great object in life - made a good home - and is now enjoying the shades of retirement

LUKE SMITH MOTE, farmer ; P. 0. West Milton ; was born Aug. 21 J81A in Randolph Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio ; his parents were Lav d Mote and Miriam (Mendenhall) Mote ; they settled first m Montgomeiy Co. mlSllbutm 1822 moved to Miami Co. Persons bearing the surname M°te ("««

Motte) and those in marriage connection with the family, were and bore a conspicuous part among the first settlers ^ Union Township, Miami Co., Ohio, not only in clearing out farms m the forest but also in "Jk 8 P first church and civil organizations ; the first emigrants of this . tbey from England, near London, to Pennsylvania, soon after its firet secernent , th y were thile brothers, John, Jonathan and William ; John went into the Southern States, and settled in Northern Georgia ; William died of smaU-^x whUe ice of the Colonial army (unmarried); Jonathan remained ng in Chester Co.; the early settlers in this township bearing the family nMQ, were his descendants ; his son David, who married Dorcas 'Nichols j ^ remov^ to the South, and settled in Columbia Co., Ga.; they had ten chddre them, six sons and four daughters ; their names and relative ages a*e A

Jesse ; all reached adult age (except Dorcas, who died in ^hildhood), married and raised up families (except David, who died in his 27th j ) » on the borders of civilization, where much wild game abounded, an ^ became very expert in the use of the rifle ; he mentioned, among otb . his experience in hunting, that he had killed two deer at a shot thi ' and twice he had killed three ; this expertness in the use of the rifle PPf rently handed down to some of his descendants, a few of whom de l8 the chase, and could number the slain of the wild herds of the fores j score, and even hundreds ; in person, he was of medium height, °\ S<1 rather heavy build, thoughfhl and given to taciturnity ; he and his wne p nied their children when they came to Ohio in 1802 ; his mental and pny ulties were little impaired as ripe age advanced, his step being elastic an j sight clear up to the close of life ; he died at his son John's, of gastritis,

4th of March, 1817, aged 84 years, being the oldest of the first emigrants township ; his wife, Dorcas, died the following November, in her ot> y * As above stated, said David Mote, Sr., and his sons and daughters and tnei . * lies, were of the first emigrants in these parts ; Jeremiah and William, accomp by their father and mother, came in September, 1802, and the rest soon to them. This part of the county being noted for its many large cold spnngs, discharge their waters, tumbling over the rocks, into the time-worn gorges fifty or sixty feet on their way to the river, affording many mill pnvileges, early sought out and selected for homes and sites for mills ; Jonathan Mot® those on the farm now owned by Mrs. Thomas Yore ; he built the first bnck _ there on this river, north of Dayton, in 1810, which is still standing ; he died away in April, 1839, of gastric derangement, like his father, in his 81st year ;n^ bearing the family name of his descendants remain in these parts. William Mo farm adjoined his brother Jonathan's on the southwest ; John's and Jeremian farms were three miles directly south, on the Montgomery Co. line. J0^^.8?^ physician, and widely known as Dr. Mote ; the early settlers were much afmctt» with ague, chills and malarial fevers, from impurities of the atmosphere caused oy stagnant water and decaying timber ; he being the only doctor in these parts, his time was much taken up in administering to the sick and afflicted ; hence his large practical experience in that day ; there was a greater mortality in his family, after his cnildren had married and settled in life, from pulmonary disease. Jeremiah was also accounted a good nurse among the sick, and more of a ready writer than ordinaiy inthat early day ; he was Clerk or Secretary of the Friends' Monthly Meetmg at West Branch in its first organization, and the old church records are in his ^awnting; his wife was Mary Butler, a native of Durhamshire, England ; they naa the following children born to them, viz., William, David, Aaron, Ann and I/Orcas (twins, died in infancy), Jeremiah, Isaiah, Mary, Susanna, Sarah, Miriam, aimab and Enoch, all of whom grew to mature age, were married and had famine8 ; he removed to Vigo Co., Ind., where he died in 1820, aged 50 years ; their ns and daughters nearly all remained and lived in that State. Daniel Motte, r., son of Jeremiah, married Miriam Mendenhall, daughter of Caleb and Susanna euaenhall, and settled in Randolph Township, Montgomery Co., adjoining Miami they had five children (sons) born to them, viz., Luke Smith, Zeno, Marcus, inus and Enos, who all grew to adult age, married and settled in life ; in 1820, orem5>ved to Vigo Co., Ind., but, on account of malarial fevers, that attacked all , earI?if5tt-ers Western prairies, he returned to Ohio in the fall of 1822, settled in this township ; he was a prominent member of the old Friends' urch at West Branch, as its records show ; he lived on a form, but had a carpe ter shop, being handy with tools ; he made house fhrniture, worked part of his e at the carpenter's trade and in the machine-shop, setting up machinery for oo en mills ; he taught, also, his eldest boys the use of tools ; hence they always employment enough in rough weather in his shop ; he often spoke of the disvantages he labored under by lack of more literary knowledge ; very few of the y settlers had any opportunity for school learning, save in the common rudi- P^tod by what little he did get, and was accounted competent to hett !Sme earl-v schools, and was careful that his children should have in f k eduucati°nal advantages than he had ; he died at his own homestead, adjoinhia c"ur<:h tot at West Branch, Sept 23, 1862, in the 70th year of his age ; three of of 1 tC *n . Luke Smith, the eldest, married Charity J ones, daughter

Arenah E., William Alden, Celestia S., Mary M., Arrie L., M. Benson and CoTdeha k 8?ns and five daughters ; the eldest, Elisha J., is a photographer, m all its i f,c i lIJ Richmond, Ind.; William A. is a portrait painter in the same place, claiming to do no work of the ordinary class ; the daughters are handy in and ornamental work. L. S. Motte is the originator of some very choice . .. ln8

Source changes here: from The History of Miami County, Ohio : Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of Miami County; Constitution of the United States; Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc, by W.H. Beers & Co, Publisher, published 1880; 49,567 words in this source stream.

Union City

Nearly eighty years ago the sturdy pioneer might have been seen standingupon the picturesque banks of the Stillwater ; nothing disturbs the sublime and oppressive silence of the primeval forest that surrounds him, save the gentle plashing of the murmuring stream below, and the occasional song of the wild- bird, as it flits from branch to branch. Yet how sweet and beguiling soever may have been the siren voice of nature, his purpose here is not to yield to her seductive influence* but, turning his back upon all her fascinations, he boldly advances still deeper into the profound recesses, and anon the death-like stillness of these umbrageous solitudes is broken by the music of his ax, resounding throughout their illimitable depths, which had hitherto re-echoed but to the howl of the wolf, the scream of the stealthy panther, or the savage whoop of the blood-thirsty red man.

The giants of the forest soon yield to the steady strokes of his ax, and erelong the smoke from his cabin chimney may be seen curling through the tree-tops * the rays of the sun, piercing the gloom, generate new life ; the germ of civilization is planted, which, through the vivifying influence of advantageous surroundings* has developed into the present thrifty and vigorous community, now known as Union Township.

It will be observed that the local history of the above township is so closely interwoven with the general history of the county that, in many instances, it will be almost impossible to confine ourselves to its specific narration. Notwithstanding we shall use every precaution to avoid repetition of facts, and tautology of language* yet, in our endeavor to disentangle the one from the other, this may, at times* unavoidably occur.

The exact time at which the tract of land, embraced within the present limits of what is now known as Union Township, became an organized body seems rather indefinite.

Diligent research, however, reveals the fact, that prior to July, 1807, when the first election for county officers was held, the entire county constituted but two townships, viz., Elizabeth, comprising all the terrifouy east of the Miami River, and Randolph, embracing that portion west of the same river.

At the October election following, it seems Randolph had disappeared, and the territory formerly known by that name, was subdivided into five townships, of which Union, lying in the extreme southwestern corner of the county, is one. It embraces a rectangle eight miles long and six miles wide, containing an area of forty -eight miles, being the largest township in the county. Traversed by the Stillwater River on the east, the two branches of Ludlow Creek on the north and west* and numerous other fine streams, a great portion of the township is, therefore, rendered gently undulating, thus forming a complete system of natural drainagewhich very materially enhances the productiveness of the soil.

Early Settlement

The most attractive elements of a new county in the eyes of a pioneer are itstopography, productiveness of soil, water facilities, etc. Nature, therefore, offers to the observer the only lucid solution why the country in the immediate vicinity of the almost classical Stillwater and its tributaries should have been chosen by our forefathers as a resting-place and nucleus, around which should cluster the forest homes of succeeding generations ; for here she has lavishly displayed her power, in blending the grand with the beautiful, the sublime with the picturesque.

The precipitous banks of Stillwater are gradually mellowed into irregular elevations, these into gentle undulations, until, as they recede, they are finally blended into the level plains that stretch far away in the distance.

The many perennial springs that escape from the placid lakelets that give them birth, flow gently along the descending plain, increasing in velocity as they near their end, till at last the}- leap from rock to rock, man}' feet to the river below. We need not, therefore, wonder that Union Township is invested with a history that ante-dates the admission of the State into the Union.

There appears to be some diversity of opinion in regard to the first of those resolute men who invaded the wild domain of nature in this township and wrested from her giant grasp the gifts with which she so reluctantly parts.

The weight of authority seems to be in favor of Henry Fouts, who, in company with Leonard and Adam Eller, in the year 1801, erected the first cabin nestled in - this forest primeval." The Ellers located in the southern part of the township, east of Stillwater, while Fouts settled on the west side. Part of the land owned by Fouts seventy -nine years ago, is still in possession of his posterity, he having been dead about fifty-seven years. The next year, Caleb Mendenhall, with a family of six, increased the same night of his arrival by the birth of a daughter to seven. The next year, 1803, John Mast and son-in-law, Frederick Yount, came, and located a mill-site higher up. They were followed in 1804, by David Mote, Sr., with his sons Jonathan, Jeremiah, William, John and Jesse, all except William, with families, settling further westward and northward. About this time the portion lying east of the river, was settled by Leonard Fincher, William Fincher, William Neal, Benjamin Pike, Jacob Byrket, and many others whose exact time of settlement is not known.

David Mote was born in 1733, and was doubtless the oldest man who emigrated to this township. At the time of his arrival he was seventy-one years old He and his wife both died in 1817, at the residence of his son John. They had been married over sixty years. Their eldest son Jonathan purchased Section 20, and settled by a splendid spring not far from its center. He was so proucPofhis home that he called it " the garden spot of the world."

He came here at the age of forty-six, accompanied by five sons and five daughters. His wife dying on the way, he buried her by the wayside, in a very rude coffin, the best that could be provided.

His children grew up, married, and many of them settled, for a time, around him. It is not known that any of them are living, and few of his grandchildren are in this township. Jonathan married again in 180G or 1807, having kept his family nearly, if not all, together. In 1810, he built the first brick house in this township, and the first on Stillwater. Like the other immigrants, he cleared a farm and taught his children to labor..

Having lost his second wife a few years after marriage, he remained single until 1819, when he married the third wife. She died in a few months, and he never married again. The Motes were all Quakers, or Friends. Jonathan had been disowned by them about the close of the last war with England, and never regained his membership. After the death of his last wife, he lived for some years like a hermit. His youngest son, Jeremiah, marrying, he transferred his farm to him, reserving his house and a life maintenance on the farm. This was not very large, as he had previously bequeathed and sold the greater part of his land. It contained, however, more than 100 acres. The son soon traded off his interest in the farm, which was again transferred to a third party. In the spring of 1839, the old man, ill and unhappy, went to the house of his nephew, who lived adjoining, and shortly after died there.

Jeremiah Mote removed from this State at the time of his father's death, and died soon after. He left a numerous family, a part of them being yet in their minorit}'. Three of his grandchildren are living here at an advanced age.

William Mote married about 1814, and lived here until 1830, when he died, leaving three children. He was a very quiet little man, and is said to have killed more deer than any man in the country.

John Mote, the Doctor, requires particular mention, being the first and longestpracticing physician in the township. He was born in 1767, the birth-year, also, of John Q. Adams and Andrew Jackson. He possessed all their firmness, and, though but slightly educated, much of their ability. He appears to have been the first on the west of the river to settle away from a spring, the first to have a well and sweep, upon which was suspended what Wordsworth calls

The Doctor was an industrious and prosperous man, carrying on farming with his medical practice. Vomiting, blistering and blood-letting were his favorite remedies. Very tenacious of preconceived opinions, he could hardly be convinced that there was such a disease as sick stomach or vegetable poison. When called to a patient suffering with that disease, he treated him for bilious fever, and the patient died. It was not until after he had been afflicted with it himself, and was told by a visiting neighbor that he had the poison, because he (the neighbor) could smell it, that he concluded there might be such a disease, and took remedies for it. He practiced forty years, and died in the harness, for, having returned from visiting a patient, he fell between his house and barn, receiving a severe injury in the hip ; he was helped into the house, but never walked afterward, having received, it was thought, a light paratytic stroke. After a few weeks of patient suffering, he died, having survived his wife but a few years. This occurred in 1845. His children were four sons and five daughters, namely, Elizabeth, John, two Daniels, David, Rachel, Anna, Rebecca and Mary, not one of whom is now living. But two of his grandchildren are living in this township. Dr. Mote was a warm-hearted and conscientious man, opposed to secret societies, and an Abolitionist of the highest type. If the world had more such as he, it would be better. Jesse Mote, the other brother, died so long ago that little is known concerning him worth publishing.

Of the immigrants of 1805, the family of Samuel Jones, from Georgia, of whom mention has already been made, appears to have been the most prominent. Abiathar Davis, from the same State, came here about the same time, accompanied by his four sons, Samuel, Amos, John and Benjamin, and three daughters, viz., Mary, Lydia and Sarah. He established all his sons on Section 17, except Amos, who resided but a short time in the county. Davis evidently knew the value of good water, for he chose a place well supplied with never-dying springs ; he improved his farm, and by industry and economy, secured a competency. The greater part of the township's earliest settlers seem to have been actuated by these sentiments :

It is not to be wondered at, then, that they succeeded in leaving large quantities of both land and money to their children. Mr. Davis and family belonged to the denomination of Friends ; he died in 1838. In 1805, a large number of immigrants came from Newberry, S. C., the greater number of whom were Friends. Of these, Isaac, J ames and George Hollingsworth brought families, while their brother Nathan, who accompanied them, had no family. Isaac occupied a portion of Section 20, and James a part of Section 32. The Hollingsworths were a stalwart and powerful race of men. " Big Isaac," as he was called in the South, though a Quaker, knew no such thing as fear; he was born in 1748, and married in 1773 ; consequently, was the father of a family during the Revolutionary war. In those terrible times, when law was unregarded, and the countay overrun by British and Tories., he was bold in speaking his mind, to either. On one occasion, he remonstrated with an English officer, who was in the act of approaching his corn-crib for grain ; the officer unsheathed his sword, and threatened his life, but Mr. Hollingsworth advanced boldly, and, taking the sword from the Englishman's hand, said, " Thus far shalt thou go, but no farther," causing the officer to give up the attempt as useless. After coming to this country, the 3Toung Quakers began wearing suspenders, a practice which Mr. Hollingsworth considered as savoring of pride, and often at log-rollings, if the .young men were not on the alert, he would slip his fore-finger under their suspenders, and then the button had nothing to do but to fly. Notwithstanding his rough exterior, he had an excellent heart. Once an irishman applied to him for work, when he put him to work at removing a pile of rocks, which task completed, he had him carry them back, after which, he paid him for his labor. His wife frequently attended missions, and he used to say that his corn never grew better than when she was out on a preaching tour. He died in 1809, and was buried in the West Branch burying-ground.

Elisha Jones, a son-in-law of the preceding, settled on the same section in 1807. He was a chair-maker, and general mechanic, by trade, as well as farmer, and was more successful in his business transactions than any of his neighbors. He cleared and worked a large farm with his own hands, and saved some money besides his expenses each year ; this he judiciously invested in improvements, and in purchasing more land for his children. He owned 550 acres of land in this township, which, added to what he owned elsewhere, made a total of 1,600 acres. At his death he left this land, together with considerable money at interest, to his wife and ten surviving children. A circumstance, most remarkable in its character, happened to this family. On the morning of May 22, 1817, Mrs. Jones, stepping to the door to attend to some household duties, was struck dead by a flash of lightning from a passing cloud. The cloud from which the electric fluid proceeded was of exceedingly small dimensions, but the peal was heard miles awa}7. Although ever}7 means were taken to restore the unfortunate woman, she was never seen to breathe or stir again. Her niece was not far from the spot, and was rendered unconscious by the stroke, but finally recovered, and is now a resident of Iowa. On the day succeeding the catastrophe, the remains of Mrs. Jones were followed to the grave by the largest concourse of people that had ever convened at that place. One year from this time, Mr. Jones married Rebecca, the daughter of Enoch Pearson, of Monroe Township, witli whom he lived twentytwo years, and died at the age of fifty-five years. In many respects, Mr. Jones was a remarkable man ; though possessing but a limited education himself, he was the ardent patron of learning, was a great reader, and especially delighted in reading the grand epic of Milton. He was a man industrious, energetic and skillful in business, conscientious in the observance of all religious duties, and honorable in all transactions with his fellow-man.

Joel Hollingsworth, born in 1778 ; he came here with a small family in 1806, and settled in Section 11, on the North Branch of Ludlow's Creek. Strong and fearless as his father, he encountered and overcame every difficulty that presented itself, and in the course of years had a large farm under cultivation ; being also of an adventurous spirit, he repeatedly built flat bottomed boats upon the Stillwater, which he loaded not only with his own pork and flour, but with that of his neighbors, and transported to New Orleans. These were enterprises both difficult and dangerous, }'et Joel delighted in them. At such times, he left the management and work on his farm to his sons. From one of these trips, he brought home the first telescope ever possessed in this township, which was an object of wonder to his neighbors and their children. They would draw it out and view distant objects with wonder. He reared twelve children, of whom, not one is now a resident of this township, and onty about half are living. In 1839, he removed to Indiana, where he died about twent}^ years ago. His neighbor and cousin, Thomas McCool, settled adjoining him on the west, about the same time ; he was a farmer also, but had in addition, a taste for office. He was accordingly repeatedly elected magistrate for what was called the Creek nation. He settled many a controversy between them, if not with the wisdom of a Hale, at least with the dignity of a Mansfield. Some of these suits, conducted without attorneys, were most unique if not ludicrous in their character. One of these cases I must briefly notice. A man whom I will call I. F., known not only as the laziest man in the township, but most likety the laziest in the State, once rented a rather desolate little farm, which he had acquired in early times, to W. F., reserving a favorite apple-tree and little cabin as a residence for himself. W. F.'s geese making a raid upon I. F.'s apples, the latter brought suit against the former to recover damages. The trial ended, the magistrate rendered a verdict in accordance with the facts, which verdict was that W. F. pay to I. F., 6^ cents damage, and each party pa}r his own costs. The laughter of the spectators can better be imagined than described. Squire McCool's chirography was somewhat like the late Senator Choate's, of Massachusetts, which is said to have resembled the track made by a spider crawling out of an inkstand. A transcript from McCool's docket once came to court which could not be deciphered by the writer himself. He remained on his farm during the war, a firm believer in the doctrines of Abolition, after which he removed to Iowa, where he died.

Isaac Hasket, a pioneer noted for his great physical strength, came here about the same time as the preceding ; he came accompanied by his wife and child, the three having journeyed here from South Carolina on horseback. By trade Mr. Hasket was a carpenter ; a barn, built bjT him in 1819, is still standing ; it is the property of Frederick Yount, and is probably the oldest in the township. Mr. Hasket moved several times, but in 1823 he settled permanently on Section 19, at the age of fortyfive. He was the father of five sons and three daughters ; of these, Thomas is a prosperous farmer, living near his father's last residence, while John, the fourth son, lias a farm which joins him on the west, and also a large amount of land in different places. Joseph, the fifth son, now resides in Indiana. With the help of his children, Isaac cleared a large farm and provided land for his children. He died in 1849, leaving a name which for honesty and sobriety cannot be excelled. Henry Coate, with his father and five brothers, came from South Carolina at about the date of the preceding, and settled on Section 6, on Ludlow's Creek. He was not only a farmer, but also a skillful blacksmith ; he did all the work required by the farmers, such as making trace-chains, hame-hooks, log-chains, mattocks, hoes, axes and sickles. The most important of all his shop productions were his sickles. In those early days, all grain, except oats, was cut by them, and to be provided with them was quite a requisite with the farmer. No livelier time was known to the farmer than when a company of merry reapers, falling into diagonal line, thrust their sickles into the teeming fields of golden grain. Much skill was required to reap with speed and neatness, and men prided themselves in the acquirement. The fields being laid off in regular two-handed lands, the work went on with order and precision until the field was finished, when, if the farmer had no more, the reapers would go to his neighbors. From twenty-five to thirty dozen of wheat to the hand was a day's labor, and 50 cents per day was the price. For many years, Henry Coate's shop furnished sickles for the surrounding country, until they were nearly superseded b}- the scythe and cradle. During all this time, Henry Coate had the clearing of his lands and farming operations going on. He accumulated much land and money by his industry, and was able to give all his children a good start in the world. The names of them were Lydia, Isaac, Mary. Esther, Samuel, Rachel and Rhoda, all dead. When age had come upon Henry Coate, he gave up his trade, his business, and spent the residue of his life in quietude. Born about the year 1770, he had witnessed the terrors of the revolution when quite a boy. When a man, he assisted in opening up the wilderness and building up our country. Thricie married, he died in 1848, leaving a widow who survived him several years. His name is held in honorable remembrance by those who knew him.

The year 1808 experienced a revival of immigration, onl\r part of which, however, swelled the weak settlements in this township. Among those who came about this time we may enumerate John Pearson, who, after following a romantic life for about two years, settled permanently near the south bank of Ludlow's Creek, in Union Township.

The greater portion of the foregoing list were the heads of families, and settled in this township prior to the year 1810. The States of South and North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, all seem to be the reservoir from which flowed this almost unprecedented tide of emigration, which not only fed Union Township, but also Warren, Clinton, Montgomery and Miami Counties ; and, while it swelled the thin settlements of these counties, reflexively decimated almost to extinction the districts from which it flowed.

In evidence of this, we are informed that it extinguished two large Friends meetings, one in Georgia and one in South Carolina ; from which we conclude, and the facts confirm it, that this township was first settled by the Friends, or Quakers, hence giving rise to the soubriquet of Quaker Township, which it has by common consent received.

The stream of immigration seems to have exhausted itself during the years 1808, 1809 and 1810, after which it almost wholly ceased, and thenceforth the township received accessions principal^ from Pennsylvania and the New Flngland States, which, in comparison to the Southern current, was very meager, diminishing, in fact, almost to complete cessation for several years, never fully regaining its former impetus. Subsequently, the war with England engaged the public mind and called out the whole energy of the nation, paralyzing the spirit of emigration. As a natural consequence, therefore, the southwestern, northeastern and northern portions of the township remained undisturbed and safe in the repose of nature.

The other portions of the township having been occupied, and the labor of -clearing off little homesteads been accomplished, the inhabitants manifested no -desire to leave them to erect new homes in the virgin wilderness ; therefore, so late as the year 1825, all the territory previously referred to remained a vast wilderness, uninhabited, save by its native denizens, who held forth in wild revelries in their gloomy solitudes.

Stillwater

In noting the various attractive features of a country that play an important part in rendering it habitable, and conduce to its settlement, we know of none more deserving of recognition in this township than the Stillwater : and, as we have in our introductory remarks but cursorily alluded to it and its tributaries, we shall now endeavor to describe that portion of it within the limits of this township more definitely.

Stillwater takes its name from the sluggishness of its current, frequently appearing to be in a state of tranquillity, or so lazily moving along in a deep, unbroken volume, that its progress is almost imperceptible.

This beautiful stream enters Union Township near the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of Section 4, flowing southwesterly until it nears the center of the section, when slightly turning it divides, inclosing a long, narrow island ; re-uniting, it pursues its course toward the southeast till it approaches the corner of the section, when it takes a line nearly due south, which it continues nearly to the center of the southeast quarter of Section 9, where it takes a course a little south of east to the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of the section, when it flows south, slightly deflecting to the east, pursuing a meandering course till it reaches the center of the northeast quarter of Section 34, where it flows in a semi-circle ; dividing in its recurve it incloses an island, after which, uniting, it flows southwesterly out of the township, near the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 34.

A peculiar characteristic of this stream is distinguishable in the fact that throughout nearly its entire course in this township, the left or east banks are lofty and abrupt, presenting a bold, rocky front to the water, while on the opposite side the land recedes for a considerable distance, nearly on a level with the river, when it gently rises and stretches away in undulating plains. As a natural consequence, therefore, all, or nearly all, the " bottom " lands are on the west side ol the river.

The Main, or North Branch of this stream takes its rise from the junction of two small creeks near the center of the northwest quarter of Section 1 1 ; thence flowing across the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the same section, it passes east through the southern portion of Section 1; deflecting slightly south, it continues about a mile, when turning, after receiving the Southwest Branch, it flows meandering in a generally northeast course, and empties into Stillwater, near its entrance into the township.

Ludlow Falls

A short distance below the crossing of the Dayton and Covington pike, the stream glides along, gently plashing from ledge to ledge in its descent until it trembles on the brink of the precipice; then, leaping thirty feet over rocks whose dark heads are thrust through the foaming water, it bubbles and boils, then rushes on its mad career along the canon through whose rocky cleft we can trace the meandering course of the stream hewn from the solid rock ; cascade fountains within, a beautiful cedar grove and green ascending sward in the conservatory, with an outlook through the descending vista, along which the foaming stream finds its way still tumbling down - massive buttresses, and dark alcoves, in which grow beautiful mosses and delicate ferns, while springs burst out from the further recesses and wind in silver threads over floors of lime rock.

To these grand and beautiful combinations is attributable the almost constant influx of visitors during the pleasant seasons to this Niagara of Miami County.

The physical conditions of a country determine in an eminent degree the direction of development, as well as the character of the people in so far as character is dependent upon occupation. In some localities we observe the full development of agricultural pursuits, in another pastoral, in a third manufacturing - all, to a great extent, influenced inceptively by the physical conditions of the localit}^. Chief among these are the numerous magnificent ever living springs located in this township, in the vicinity of Stillwater. Without trenching upon the general geology of the county, we may say in this connection, that these springs issue at the immediate outcropping of the Clinton limestone, which is overlapped by the Niagara. The vast surface of porous Niagara rock, many feet in thickness, receives the water as it percolates the drift, which grows deeper as it recedes, gradually sinking down until it reaches the impervious Clinton, and flows out over it to its outcropping as previously remarked.

Hence, the foregoing premises stand out as lucidly explanatory of the early manufactories, and the various directions of development the different branches of industrial pursuits have taken. The soil of this township is rich and productivey yielding abundant harvests of all the cereals and grasses, and possessing within itself all the chemical elements of regeneration.

By means of artificial drainage, such as tiling, etc., almost the entire township has been utilized and brought up to a high state of cultivation, as is evidenced by the many fine farms, splendid residences, blooded stock and heavy crops.

In addition to these, nature has deposited in this township untold riches in her quarries of limestone, suitable for quick-lime and all kinds of building.

Hydraulic, or water-lime, is also found in some localities. This is so called because it will set under water. It is composed of lime-clay, silica, or sand, and sometimes magnesia. But this will be treated of more at length in the general history of the county.

The gravel banks, afford ample material for the building of the many excellent pikes with which the township is intersected. Sand of excellent quality is also found in vast quantities in the drift.

Valuable timber of all kinds, such as oak, ash, sugar, maple - from whose sap great amounts of sugar and that boys' delight, " home-made molasses," was manufactured - hickory, elm, walnut, poplar, beech, and many others, whose names will appear elsewhere.

The mast of the oak afforded a nutritious supply of food for the hogs, and the hickory Tnuts and walnuts were the delight of the pioneer fireside during long winter evenings, when the huge back-log was rolled on, and the forestick placed upon stones in front, with space filled in between, and the cheerful, crackling blaze lighted up the whitewashed cabin wall. But with the influx of people and the rapidly expanding population, the timber is fast melting awa} , and not many generations will have passed ere the once unbroken forests of this township will have disappeared, and in their stead waving fields of wheat and corn will be seen, and the Indian's wigwam and the pioneer's log hut will have given place to the stone mansion of completely developed civilization. Such, throughout the countless ages of the world, have been the transitions marked by the footprints of time.

Pioneer Times

The ordinance, by Congress, of 1787, forever prohibiting slavery in the Northwestern Territory, while slavery was allowed to exist in the South, were the two principal reasons which caused at that time the great tide of emigration. The emigrants were anti-slavery in their character, and, though those from North and South Carolina passed through the fertile regions of Kentuck}", where slavery existed, they would not stop there, but traveled on to the land of freedom west or northwest of the Ohio River. Continuing on above the settlements already made, many of them pitched their tents, as already stated, in Union Township, truly glad that their long and perilous journey was ended. They found here what they expected, and what the poet calls

The first thing in order was, for those who were able, to select and purchase their lands. In those days, land could be entered only b}T the section, and that at $2 per acre, rendering it impossible for the poorer ones to buy themselves homes. The Government, however, allowed them, on paying 20 per cent down, to pre-empt the land and pay the balance in four annual installments, without taxes, which conditions, if complied with, entitled them to receive from the Government a patent, or deed in fee simple, and then their lands were brought under taxation.

Those who were unable to enter a section of land would sometimes put their money together, enter the land in the name of one of the party, then survey and divide it. By this means the emigrants inostly obtained hojnes.

It was not long, however, until Congress reduced the price of its lands to $1.25 per acre, and also allowed the entry of quarter-sections, or 100 acres. In process of time, the downward sliding scale adopted by Congress allowed the entry or purchase of public lands to reach the low amount of fort}r acres, but we think the lands in this township were taken before this law was enacted.

The next thing after purchasing homes from the Government was to make them such. Like the children of Israel, they found the land possessed (not so much by men, as in their case,) by the denizens of the forest, the bear, the wolf, the wildcat, the deer, the rattlesnake, with numberless minor inhabitants, who seemed disposed to hold it, if not by force, at least by the title of pre-occupancy. The writer well remembers hearing the terrific howling of the stealthy wolf at midnight, causing his hair to rise, and seeing the half-devoured carcasses of sheep that had become their prey in the pasture.

Simultaneously with the extirpation of wild animals came the erection of houses, stables, barns, and clearing away of forests for cultivation. The tools necessary for subduing the forests, and erecting their rude buildings, were at once brought into requisition. The chopping and hewing, or broad ax, the hand and crosscut saw, the mattock, the froe, the beetle or maul, and the iron and wooden wedges, were either brought along or procured for the occasion. The sight of the grand and lofty forest trees of gigantic proportions, with interlocking branches, with earth-hiding undergrowths, presented a scene appalling to any heart but those of the heroic pioneer. They came to conquer, and were no more dismayed than were Hannibal or Napoleon at the Alps looming up before them.

A common friendship and fellow-feeling pervaded the hearts of the first settlers. The first who had come and made a start (as it was called), by living in their wagons until a tent or house was built, readily threw open their doors to those who followed, and assisted them also in making a start , the first object being, after selecting a site, to clear it off, erect a house for the family, and a stable for the horses. On such occasions, they made what were called " chopping frolics," the neighbors gathering in with their axes, crosscut saws, etc., and assailing the forest simultaneously with a most hearty good will. These scenes continued for many years, and were conducted with sport, animation and gayety. The writer remembers them during the years of long ago , being by them reminded of the description of the poet :

The fall of the forest giants would be attended by shouts of applause from the jolly wood-choppers, who proceeded immediately, if it was an ash, oak, hickory, poplar or black walnut of proper size, to work it into rails, stakes, boards or shingles. I may remark that but few shingles were made in those earty times, the roofs being mainly constructed of clapboards, four feet long, upheld by rib- poles below, and kept to their places by weight-poles above. A mud-and-stick chimney, some eight or ten feet in width, would be joined at one end of the building on the outside, a suitable opening having been cut in the wall for it. The first ten feet of the chimney were joined to the house or hut, were built of cleft timber called slabs, being securely lined with stone laid in clay mortar. The upper part of the chimney was detached from the building, and made of riven sticks and clay mortar, being about three and one-half feet in width and two and one-half in thickness, reaching two or three feet above the roof to secure it against fire. The chimneys being considerably narrowed in at about ten feet distance from the ground, afforded a safe roosting place to poultry from the prowling wolves, and warm, comfortable quarters in winter ; they even roosted on the chimney tops, enjoying the warm columns of air ascending from the covered fires. A friendly co-partnership appeared to exist between the chickens and their owners in this recognition of mutual rights, the latter enjoying the fire by day, and the former by night. Many a time did the toil-worn pioneer hear from his chimney's summit the clarion tones of the chanticleer ringing out upon the air, and telling him of approaching day.

The industrious pioneer would obey the call, and quickly look around to see if any contributions had been levied upon him during the night by his wild neighbors the wolves and foxes ; if he found all safe he would consider himself fortunate.

The cabins of those early days were about eight feet high by twenty or twenty-four in length, and eighteen or twenty in breadth, being somewhat larger than the one described by the poet as " The Hoosier's Nest " -

Containing from four to five hundred square feet, they at once answered the purpose of kitchen, dining-hall, bedroom, sitting-room and parlor. They often, particularly during the winter, contained the inevitable hand-loom for weaving both summer and winter apparel. In some cases the people had an upper halfstory on their houses, which gave them much bed room.

Though it could hardly be said of these people as of some of old, that they loved darkness rather than light, yet so little appreciation had they of light that their windows were not only like angels' visits, few and far between, but small in dimensions, ranging from four to eight and nine panes to the window. The writer well remembers seeing a cabin, in which .3 family of seven or eight persons resided, having but one window, and that having but four panes or lights, all told ; it was even deemed necessary to have it inclosed by a shutter, which was upheld by one hinge in its center, thus allowing it to swing somewhat awry. Instead of chests and bureaus, they had broad pieces of elm bark bent around in the form of lardcans, in which they put such clothing as they had not room to hang upon the nails around the walls. It might be remarked that this house received additional light coming through its capacious chimney and fire-place ; this, with the aid of the blazing fire, rendered the room not exactly one of darkness. Was not this primitiveness in its most primitive form ? Everything connected with this family - their education, thoughts, pastimes, costumes and aspirations - was adapted to their mode of living. Being muscular and industrious, they cleared away the dense forests, killed deer and wild turkeys in abundance, wore deerskin breeches, and seemed to possess the philosophy of adaptation to condition and animal enjoyment. I would not have my readers believe that the above-described family was a sample of the early settlers in general, but only of those who were possessed by " forest philosophy."

Before finishing the history of the primitive cabins, I would tell something of the mode of cooking in them. Having described the chimneys, I must further state that a strong pole, called a lubber-pole , placed at a safe distance above the fire, reached across the fire-place ; on this was suspended an iron pot-rack or trammel, composed of two parts, each about three feet long ; the upper part had a hook supporting it on the pole, with a clasp at the lower end, and a row of holes a few inches apart between. The other part had a catch at the upper end, and ahook at the lower. By means of the holes and catch, a sliding scale was estab lished that enabled the cook to adjust the pot or kettle at the proper distance above the fire. The pot, kettle, Dutch oven, skillet and long-handled frying-pan constituted about all the cooking utensils of those primitive days. The grease or oil lamp, holding about a gill of lard or grease, with its curved handle, to which was attached a little bar, with hook, spike and wick-picker, thus allowing it to be hung or fastened to a crack in the wall, was then thought to be a cheap and valuable substitute for the tallow candle. These lamps, when filled with oil, gave forth a brilliant light, superior to that of the candle ; but when the oil was low, their light became dim and flickering.

Wood being handy and abundant in those days, the reader may well believe that, during cold weather, large fires were not wanting. Back logs, such as would require two men to carry, would be placed against the back wall. Near each jamb would be placed either two large dog-irons or two large racks to hold up the burning fore-sticks. A fire, such as would send forth light and heat throughout the house, would then be made, around which the inmates would while away the tedious hours in calm domestic enjoyment, thinking that they enjoyed as much happiness as the rest of mankind. Who is there to dispute it ?