Washington Township (part 2 of 16)

The United Presbyterian Church is located in Decatur, and was built in the year 1849 by Daniel Bayless and William Kane. It is a frame building, 40x50, and cost about $1,000. At the time of its organization, the membership was small, and members from the Cherry Fork Church moved their membership here. Rev. Alexander McClennhan was the first minister. He departed this life in I860, and was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Waddle. The con gregation was without a pastor until 1876, when the Rev. Thomas Mercer re ceived a call, which he accepted; he continued as their pastor until 1881, when he turned his attention to farming. The church has no pastor at the present day, and the organization is about broken up.

The Christian, or Disciple, congregation that worships at Liberty Chapel dates its origin back to 1810. In that year, Elder Archibald Alexander organized the church. The members at this time, or shortly afterward, included individuals from the Gardner, Devore, Pickerill, Ramey, Rislino, Hughs, Fisher, Reeves, Hatfield and Longley families. In 1812, John Longley began to preach for the church, and continued six years. In 181), a great revival was held in the peach orchard, near the upper end of the present burying grounds, and many conversions made. The following year, old Liberty Stone Meeting-House was built. Many of the neighbors, church members and others, turned out with teams and hauled the stone; others contributed money. The building committee consisted of David Devore, Jeptha Beasley and Samuel Pickerill. The masons who built the walls were Daniel Copple and Joseph Hughes. Matthew Gardner did at least part of the carpenter work. The walls are 44x34 feet, two feet in thickness and perhaps twelve feet to the square. About 1832, this organization united with a Disciple congregation which had formerly been a Baptist organization at Bed Oak, but was won over in the reformatory movement by the followers of Alexander Campbell. The union of the two churches was harmonious and complete. John Barney, Lovel Pickerill and Florence Shoafstall were among the first Elders of the church. After them came William N. Barney, Ackles Geeslin, T. J. Pickerill, G. E. Hatfield, D. B. Hatfield, B. P. Fisher and Joseph Stitt. The ministers have been Jesse Holton, David Hathaway, John Boss, John Bogers, J. B. Lucas, John Young, David Thompson, B. F. Sallee, W. D. Moore and J. S. West. For about seventy years, the average membership has been about seventy-five. Two churches have sprung up under her influence, one at Bussellville about 1843, and one at Bethlehem soon after. The change in the pike -road, which formerly ran in front of the old church, made the location undesirable, and the house needing repairs a new frame church was built at a cost of $1,200, and dedicated December 13, 1874, by Elder J. S. West.

Eagle Chapel Church is situated on main Eagle Creek, about two and a half miles south of Decatur. It is of the New Light denomination, and was erected in 1876 at a cost of $1,200. Bev. B. H. McDaniel was the first preacher; he continued in charge until 1881. Bev. J. F. Burnett succeeded him, and is their pastor at the present day. The church is growing in membership and great interest is being manifested.

The Sons of Temperance, Grand Army of the Bepublic, Patrons of Husbandry and Freemasons each had an organization here, but they are now no more. The first Freemason Lodge in the county was instituted at St, Clairs - ville, now Decatur, about the year 1817. Capt. James Carr, now a member of Union Lodge, No. 71, of Bipley, was one of the charter members.

Politics

This township has been Whig and Bepublican since its organization, and it is of little use for a Democrat to be a candidate for a township office. The Democrats have carried an office or two, but it has been by hard and persistent work. Byrd Township is one of the three Bepublican Townships in the county, and it generally polls a strong vote. The campaigns of 1840, 1863, 1876- and 1880 gave evidence of the very intense heat to which political feeling can be aroused, and many incidents might be recounted showing the extent of party enthusiasm in 1876 and 1880.

The vote of the township from 1875 to 1880: 1875, Governor, B. B; Hayes, Bepublican, 162; William Allen, Democrat, 103 votes; 1876, Secretary of State: Miltou Barnes, Bepublican, 158; William Bell, Jr., Democrat, 102; 1876, President: B. B. Hayes, Bepublican, 174; Samuel J. Tilden, Democrat, 113; 1877, Governor: William H. West, Bepublican, 150; Bichard Bishop, Democrat, 100; 1878, Secretary of State: Milton Barnes, Bepublican, 163; David B. Paige, Democrat, 101; 1879, Governor: Charles Foster, Bepublican, 179; Thomas Ewing, Democrat, 125; 1880, Secretary of State: Charles Townsend, Bepublican, 179; William Long, Democrat, 126; 1880, President: James A. Garfield, Bepublican, 184; W. S. Hancock, Democrat, 132; 1881, Governor: Charles Foster, Bepublican, 168; John W. Bookwalter, Democrat, 119; John Seitz, Prohibitionist, 3.

The present Township Board of Education is composed as follows: District No. 1, J. P. Moore; District No. 2, William Rickey; District No. 3, John Stevenson; District No. 4, James Woods; District No. 5, Col. J. W. Henry; District No. 6, John McPherson; District No. 7, colored, in charge of the Board of Education. Average length of the school year is eight months. Average wages paid to teachers, $30. Population of Byrd Township, in 1860,

James A. Stevenson, of this township, in 1865, was elected to the office of County Auditor by the Republican party; he served two years. William B. West, Democrat, was County Commissioner from 1874 to 1880, and in 1882, Samuel W. Pickerill was also elected County Comm issioner from this township.

The War Record

The citizens of Bvrd Township have reason to be proud of her soldiery during the great contest of 1861-65. In common, the men of . this township gave a prompt response to the call at the outbreak of the. war. The following is a list of the men who bore arms from Byrd Township, so far as the names could be obtained. It is not strange, however, if some have been overlooked. It was designed to be a complete list, but the means of information at command prevent it:

Neal

This is a small village, situated three miles from Decatur, in the southeastern part of the township. It is on main Eagle Creek; also on the Decatur & Aberdeen Free Turnpike. It contains a store and post office, a blacksmith shop and a few dwellings. The population is about twonty-fivo. The post office was established in June. 1882. The present Postmaster is A. E. Neal. It is on the mail route from Decatur to Aberdeen. The mail is carried twice a week, Thursday and Saturday. This is a good trading point, and many goods are sold here; butter and eggs are the staple productions, and find ready sale in this market.

This is a small village of 260 inhabitants, and is situated in the eastern part of Byrd Township. This village was laid out about the year 1802. It was named in the first place St. Clairsville, in honor of Gov. Arthur St. Clair, but there being another St. Clairsville in the State, it was changed For awhile it was known as Hard Scrabble. The name Decatur as then agreed upon, and it so remains up to the present date. The first house in the village was built by Nathaniel Beasley, about the year 1802, or when the town was laid out. It was a double log cabin, with one entry, and covered with clapboards, but afterward weather -boarded and covered with shingles. It was said to have been the finest house in the country in its day. It remained as a dwelling until April, 1882, and was the property of Amelia Thompson, who sold it to George E. Howland to make way for a handsome storeroom. The first hotel in the township was kept in Decatur in a log cabin, where George E. Howland's dwelling stands. This building was built about the year 1804, and the hotel -keeper was Thomas Moore.

About the year 1830, Silas Thomas started a hotel in the village, and did quite a successful business. It was the usual stopping point with farmers in going to Maysville with their produce. Ripley was no market in those days. The public square would be crowded with teams several times during the year, going to market. This was the great thoroughfare to Washington City, and several of our Presidents and Congressmen have stopped here on their way there. The first schoolhouse known in the village was a log one, but in what year it was built and who taught is not known. Decatur contains two stores, two blacksmith shops, one woolen factory, one carpenter and wagon-maker shop, one hotel, one saddlery and harness-making shop, three churches, one schoolhouse, one paint shop, one butcher shop.

The Postmasters of Decatur since 1830 have been Silas Thomas, Wesley Pierce, Benjamin Eckman, Joseph Stevenson,. W. W. Salsbury, Joseph Stevenson, James Snedaker and Eliza Snedaker. In 1841, a large carding and fulling mill was operated in Decatur by John Fearis. It burned down during the winter of 1846-47, and soon after a large woolen manufactory was erected by the citizens in thi3 community and carried on until within several years. Jacob Zerker formerly owned and operated a carding-mill near Decatur. The village was once a station on the Underground Railway, and many negroes were here assisted onward on their way to freedom.

The Decatur business directory for 1882 is: John Sheeler, butcher; J. S. Smith, saddler; Dr. J. W. Frisler, physician; D. B. Hatfield, teacher; W. Scott Stevenson, salesman; H. N. Wallace, St. Cloud Hotel; H. G. West, farmer; G. W. Smith, painter; John M. Thompson, insurance agent; William Pittinger, carpenter; John D. Gordon, boot and shoe maker; John Sowers, cooper; Rebecca Campbell, milliner; J. P. & J. W. Thompson, blacksmiths; John Stevenson, Justice of the Peace; George Pittinger, carpenter; W. E. Moore, teacher; John Yanners, broker; Samuel Montgomery, carpenter; Joseph Kerr, Justice of the Peace; John Kirkpatrick, carpenter and wagon maker; Gen. Williams, blacksmith; R. J. Smith, harness-maker; Joseph Gayley, carpenter; John Wilson, barber; Miss Sallie Henderson, dress-maker; L. O. Depty, minister; Joseph Walters, brick and stone mason; William Emrick, grocer and confectioner; Miss Eliza Snedaker, Postmistress; William R. Snedaker, Assistant Postmaster; S. W. Evans, dealer in general merchandise; George E. Howland, dry goods, boots and shoes, hats, caps and hardware.

Biographical Sketches

CHARLES ABBOTT, farmer, P. 0. Georgetown, is the son of one of the earliest pioneers of Brown County, John Abbott, who was a native of New York, of English ancestry, and came to this county toward the close of the last century. The wife of John Abbott was Hannah Reynolds, also of New York. Charles was born in this county July 15, 1809, and has always resided within its bounds. His school days extended back to the times when the instruction was only rudimentary, and even this not regular, and the buildings in which the schools were held of the rudest description. Mr. Abbott applied his energies to farm work, and has made it a decided success. The farm he occupies and owns in the northeast part of the township, consists of 1 66 acres. By careful management he has preserved the fertility of the virgin soil, and now raises large crops. His farm was the seat of the first court, and he remembers the term of court held there, when he was a boy of nine or ten years. He recollects that he was attracted by the unwonted occurrence and creeped up to the rude log structure and peered in seeing the attorneys engaged in writing and loud confab, a scene very impressive to the backwoods boy. Mr. Abbott is a man of positive mind and resolute purpose. His politics are Democratic. In 1830, he married Sarah Brown, and by this marriage had three children. His son, E. 0., is married and leading an agricultural life in this township. Another son, Lewis, also married, is farming in Union Township. The wife of Charles Abbott died in 1856, and, in 1865, re-united in wedlock by his marriage to Mrs. Arnhart, whose maiden name was Frankie Winters. Himself and wife are members of the Christian Church.

E. C. ABBOTT, farmer, P. 0. Georgetown, was born in Pleasant Township December 23, 1833. His parents, Charles and Sarah (Brown) Abbott, were natives of this county. His father still lives in what is known as the old county seat. The subject of this sketch received a common school education, and then selected his father's occupation as his own, and applied himself earnestly to farming. Quiet and unassuming, and ever attentive to his business, he has made it very successful. He favors the Democratic party. Sarah F. Davidson, who was born in this county in 1831, became his wife in 1855. They have six children, all living - Flora K. (wife of Isaac Rainey), Charles W., Henry T., Frank, Hester A. and-Lena M.

LAWRENCE ARZENO, watchmaker and jeweler, Georgetown, was born in Italy December 23, 1845. He is a son of Joseph Arzeno, a native of Italy, and a small farmer of that' country. He came to America in 1847, locating at Cincinnati, where his wife and only son (our subject) joined him the year following. Mrs. Arzeno died in 1865. Mr, Arzeno is still living in Cincinnati, and engaged in the confectionery business. When fifteen years of age, Mr. Arzeno learned the jeweler's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three and one-half years. He worked as a " jour " two years and after the death of his mother assisted his father in business for six months. In the fall of 1865, he commenced business for himself at Laurel, Ind.,and. in December, 1867, came to Georgetown, where he has since resided. In 1872-73, he was engaged in the stove and tin trade, which did not prove a financial success. With this exception, Mr. Arzeno has been very successful in bis line of trade, and enjoys the largest trade of any in the village. Mr. Arzeno is a member of both lodge and Encampment in the Odd Fellow fraternity. He is also Republican in politics and a member of the M. E. Church, these two latter positions being almost without precedent in a person of commenced, lie was appointed Drafting Commissioner of Brown County, holding that position one year. He subsequently took affidavits of damage done by " Morgan's raid,' while passing through Brown County. In 1864, Judge Biehn was chosen Elector at Large for Ohio, on the Lincoln and Johnson ticket, and stumped the State during the succeeding canvass. After the war, he resumed his practice, leading a quiet and uneventful life until 1875. In the fall of that year, he was nominated and elected to the office of Probate Judge of Brown County, serving two terms in this position, and until his successor took the bench, in February, 1882. Judge Biehn speaks German fiuently, and in 1872, during the Greeley campaign, stumped the State for the Liberal party, making thirty-six speeches in thirty days, both in English and German. He was Secretary and member of the Democratic Executive Committee of Brown County for many years. In the practice of his profession, Judge Biehn has been very successful, having accumulated considerable wealth, and a large amount of valuable village property. He is connected by membership with the Masonic Lodge, Chapter and Council, at Georgetown ; Confidence Lodge, 307, I. 0. 0. F., of Georgetown, and the Knights of Pythias Lodge, at Bussellville, in Jefferson Township. Judge Biehn's parents were members of the German Protestants, and the Judge was reared in that faith. He was married, January 4, 1853, to Elizabeth, daughter of Matthias Arn, a prominent farmer of Franklin Township, residing near Arnheim. Five children have been born to this union, three living - Mary A., who served as Deputy Probate Judge under her father ; Henry, and Lisette, operator in charge of the Western Union Telegraph office at Georgetown. The eldest daughter, Lillie D., was an excellent musician, but died of consumption, contracted while attending a conservatory of music at Cincinati. The other child, Howard G., died at the age of six months. Mrs. Biehn is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In 1869, Judge Biehn was suddenly attacked with small pox, probably contracted through correspondence. He suffered severely during the winter months, and in the spring of 1870 decided to pay a visit to his birthplace. and the " scenes of other days." He left New York for Ireland, thence to England, having some business to attend to in each country. He next visited Belgium, Brussels, Aux la Chapelle ; thence to Cologne, and up the Rhine to Alsace, Lorraine, his native country. The Franco-Prussian war was in progress, and Judge Biehn visited Sedan three days after the battle ; was at Strasbourg next day after the surrender, and subsequently visited the battle-field of Woerth, which is only six miles from his native town. While in the latter place, he was pointed to a large granite schoolhouse, built by the village while his -father was its chief officer, and which bore the latter's name over the door. Since retiring from office, Judge Biehn has become a Director of the First National Bank, and also a Director and Treasurer of the Columbus & Ohio River Railroad Company. In these latter positions, he has worked faithfully and earnestly to secure for Georgetown and Brown County a railroad on which to ship the many products, and to decrease the cost and time of freight landed within the county's borders.

E. F. BLAIR, dealer in hardware, and manufacturer and dealer in tinware, Georgetown, was born at Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio, November 4, 1829. His father was Brice R. Blair, a native of Tennessee, and a cabinet-maker by trade. He resided at Cincinnati during early life, and while a citizen of Batavia was an Elder in the First Congregational Church, under the pastorate of Rev. Charles Beecher, a brother of the great Brooklyn divine. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Ezekiel Dimmett, an early pioneer of Clermont County. She departed this life in 1852. at Cincinnati. Mr. Blair subsequently married Margaret Kilpatrick, who now resides at Georgetown. Mr. Blair died in 1875. The subject of this notice was the oldest of eight children, four sons and four daughters. He resided at Batavia till 1840, when he accompanied his father to Brown County. He received a fair common school education, and when eighteen years of age, learned the tinner's trade Soon after, he commenced in business for himself, on Market street, Georgetown, employing experienced workmen from Cincinnati, for three years. He then removed his shop to a point on Main street not far from his present location, and since then has been in active business in his line of trade. His business has prospered exceedingly, and to meet, his increasing trade, he has lately remodeled his place of business, now occupying an iron and freestone front, seventy-five by eighteen, and two stories in height, making a neat and commodious salesroom. When the great Republican party was organized at Jackson, Mich., in 1854, Mr. Blair became a charter member, and has since battled manfully under its banner. Gov. Bishop appointed him as a member to fill a vacancy existing in the Board of Directors of the Ohio Penitentiary. He was subsequently twice re appointed by Gov. Foster, and at present is President of the Board. Mr. Blair has been a candidate for Probate Judge, and lately as Treasurer of Brown County, and on the latter vote received 500 more votes than Gov. Charles Foster, but the large Democratic majority in the county proved an unsurmountable barrier. He has been a member of. the Masonic fraternity for twenty-one years, and has presided over the Lodge, Council and Chapter for a number of years, and connected with the order of High Priesthood, at Cincinnati, and the Odd Fellows Lodge and Encampment. Mr. Blair is an earnest and consistent member of the M. E. Church, and has served both as Steward and Trustee, and at present is Superintendent of the Sunday School. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, and is Master of the Lodge of A. 0. U. W. Mr Blair was married in 1853, to Elizabeth C., daughter of Gideon Dunham, subsequently elected Clerk of Brown County, on the Republican ticket. Four children have been born to them, two now living - Frank D., in business with his father, and Anna. Mrs. Blair, son and daughters, are also members of the M. E. Church.

GUSTAVUS A. BOEHM, farmer, P. 0. Higginsport, was born in Saxony, Germany, July 18, 1841, the son of Frederick Joseph and Caroline (Scnday) Boehm, who emigrated to America in 1851. He received a common school education In Germany, and chose farming as his occupation. In it he has been successful, and now owns a farm of 158 acres, under a high state of cultivation, well adapted for tobacco raising. He enlisted in Company G, Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, under Capt. Kautz, and was discharged in 1865. In 1866, he married Christine Gray, a native of this county, but of German parentage. They have one child, Caroline Rosa Both are members of the Lutheran Chtirch. Mr. Boehm commenced life by working by the mouth, and has accumulated his property by his own industry. He is a Republican. His father died in Lewis Township in 1881.

CAPT. JOHN T. BRADY, farmer, P. 0., Georgetown, was born in Jackson Town ship, Brown Co., Ohio, September 17, 1836, the son of John and Mary (Moore) Brady, both of whom were natives of this county. His grandfather, Thomas Brady, settled in Brown County in 1800. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools, and adopted farming as his life pursuit. He has cariied it on with complete success, and is the proprietor of a fine farm of 290 acres, near Georgetown. In 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company A, Seventieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the war. He was with Sherman in his grand inarch to the sea. He rose from the ranks to the command of his company, and was discharged with it at Little Rock, Ark., in 1865. In 1875, he was elected Sheriff of Brown County, and served two years. His marriage to Rachel Rhoten was celebrated in 1873. They have three children - Rosa Belle, Sarah A., and John W.

JOHN E. BROSE, farmer, P. 0., Georgetown, was born in Baltimore, Md , September 19, 1829. His parents, John G. and Maria (Kober) Brose, emigrated from Wurtembcrg, Germany, to the United States, in 1827. They lived in Maryland four years; then came West to Cincinnati, and in 1833 to Brown County, settling seven miles north of Georgetown. John G. Brose was a baker and confectioner by trade, and became a highly respected citizen of Brown County, and a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. His death occurred in 1877. John E. worked with his father at the baker's trade till he was twenty-three years old, then commenced the busi ness of farming, and has followed it with success since. In 1852, he was married to Miss M. E. Fyffe, a daughter of Perry Fyffe, of this county, and has the following children : Lucinda J. (the wife of J. D. Richards, of Clark Township), Frank A., John P., George, and E K. Mr. and Mrs. Brose are members of the Presbyterian Church. He has served his township as Justice of the Peace, and Trustee; is a Democrat, and prominent Freemason, and member of the lodge of United Workmen.

SAMUEL BURGETT, Georgetown, is one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Pleasant Township, and Brown County. He was born on the farm where he now resides January 25, 1812. His parents were Valentine and Mary (Lane) Burgett, natives of Virginia, the former of German and the latter of English parentage. Mr. Burgett was raised a " farmer's boy," and has been a farmer through life. In 1829, his father died, and soon after Mr. Burgett purchased the farm of 240 acres of the heirs. When twenty-three years of age, he engaged in boating on the Ohio River, and followed it for five years. His father gave him $300 when he attained his majority, which has been all he has received, except from his own labors. In 1874, he commenced dealing in leaf tobacco, barreled pork and flour, having at one time 75,000 pounds of tobacco, 1,000 barrels of flour and 250 barrels of pork. Investments in these products proved quite satisfactory in a financial point of view, and were continued until 1881, when Mr. Burgett turned over his business to his son-in-law, John A. Tweed, a former partner, who is still engaged in buying and shipping tobacco. Mr. Burgett has been twice married. His first wife was Harriet Parker, daughter of William Parker. They were married in 1831, and one daughter is living - Harriet, wife of Samuel Brazelton. Mrs. Burgett departed this life November 18, 1832. Mr. Burgett was again married, in 1839, to Mary G. Brazelton, a native of Gibson County, Ind. Of their six children, three are living - George, John V. (a soldier in the late war), and Cordelia (wife of Jacob Rainey). Mr. Burgett and wife are members of Olive Chapel, of the Christian denomination, in which body he has been a Deacon from date of organization. Politically, he is Republican, and has served two terms as Township Trustee. Samuel Burgett was born, reared and educated in Pleasant Township, and has there lived during his long and useful life. He was present at the erection of the first brick building in Georgetown, and has watched with strange interest the progress made in all parts of the county during these intervening years. Not only has he watched, but the better part of his life energies have been given to advance the cause of morality, social life, business and agriculture. For seventy years he has toiled earnestly, early and late, to make a home for his children, and * county of which they will be proud. Mr. Burgett is probably the oldest inhabitant, by birth, in Pleasant Township, and none is more highly esteemed. Himself and wife are genial and kindhearted, and by their acts of benevolence and charity have endeared themselves to one and all. His long life has not been a failure financially, for he has amassed a sum sufficient for old age, and to benefit those who survive him.

GEORGE BURGETT, farmer, P. O. Georgetown. Mr. Burgett was born in this township March 24, 1840. His parents are Samuel and Mary (Brazelton) Burgett, the former a native of this county, the latter of Gibson County, Ind. He attended school in his own township, and has followed the avocation of farming. In 1863, he united in marriage with Louisa Mitchell, the daughter of George Mitchell, an early settler of Brown County. Five children have blessed their marriage - Emma, Felix S. (deceased), Everett Lewis, Ella and Samuel. The religious connections of Mr. and Mrs. Burgett are with the New Light Church.

JOHN V. BURGETT, farmer, P. O. Georgetown. Mr. Burgett was born in this township in 1842, and is the son of Samuel and Mary (Brazelton) Burgett. He received a good common school education in his home district, and then gave his attention to farming. He has a pleasant little home of sixty-eight acres, and has recently erected a neat and substantial residence. In politics, he is a stanch Republican, and is outspoken in the expression of his political opinions. His marriage to Mary Milburn, of Gibson County, Ind., occurred in 1865. Three children have blessed this marriage - Clara Lee, Clark Milburn and Cordelia Florence.

THOMAS CAHALL (deceased) was born in this county September 18, 1819. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Parker) Cahall. His father was a Kentuekiau, his mother a native of Ireland. His youth was spent in the common schools, and when he approached manhood he devoted himself to farming. Beginning a poor boy, he acquired property by hard toil, and at the time of his decease, in 1875, was owner of 500 acres. In 1839, he married Rachel Cahall, daughter of A. P. and Elizabeth

(Harding) Cahall. She was horn in 1822. Her parents were of Maryland birth, her father of English, and her mother of German extraction. The subject of this sketch had twelve children - Robert W. (deceased), James H, (deceased), A. P., Caroline, Elizabeth P. (deceased), Thompson Milton. Augustus L , Mary T., Perry, Sarah Ella, Flora A. and E. M. The entire family are members of the Christian Church. Six children live in this township. Mrs. Cahall still occupies the home farm and operates it successfully.

THOMAS S. CAHALL, farmer, P O. Higginsport, was born in Union Township June 1, 1831. His father, Solomon Cahall, was born in Maryland, and was of Scotch-Irish descent ; his mother, Elizabeth (Parker) Cahall, was of Irish parentage. Both were early settlers of Brown County. Solomon Cahall was a boatman, and con veyed cargoes to New Orleans, and walked back to May^ille, Ky., eighteen times. Thomas S. was one of a family of nine children, He acquired an education at the log schoolhouses sufficient to enable him to teach school, but after two years' teaching, he applied himself exclusively to farming, and now owns a well-improvad farm of 118 acres. Politically. Mr. Cahall favors Republican administration. He was married in 1858, to Sarah A. Dunham, a daughter of Stephen Dunham, of this county. Their children are Minnie, C. F. A., William, Edwin and Bessie.

A. P. CAHALL, farmer, P. 0. Higginsport, was born in Pleasant Township, March 26, 1845, the son of Thomas, Jr., and Rachel E. (Kilpatrick) Cahall. His father and grandfather were early settlers of this county. A. P. was reared on the farm, and in early life was a school teacher. He has received a liberal education, attending the Pennsylvania Medical College and other educational institutions. He has devoted himself to the farm, and succeeded remarkably in the occupation. He began life with a team and $400, rented land of his father, raised corn and wheat enough to pay all expenses, and the first year sold his tobacco for $1,126 ; the second year his tobacco crop yielded $1,300 ; the third year, $1,450 ; and the fourth, $1,607. In six years he had paid his father $4,700 for rent, and sold $11,000 worth of tobacco. In 1869, he married Emma L. Daugherty, of Union Township, daughter of Rev. J. P. Daugherty, present pastor of the Higginsport Christian Church. They have five children - -Zua, Mattie L., L. P., Ida, and Homer E. Himself and wife are members of the Christian Church at Higginsport. He is a Democrat, and has twice been Assessor of this township. He now owns 133 acres of land.

WILLIAM PERRY CAHALL, farmer, P. O. Higginsport, was born in Union Township, Brown Co., Ohio, January 14, 1825. He is the son of Thomas and Sarah (Parker) Cahall. His education embraced the studies taught in the subscription schools in vogue during his youth. In early life, William developed a fondness for public reading, and became very proficient in the art, so much so that he has frequently been called out to read at public gatherings in his district. He keeps himself well informed of what is transpiring in the world. His life has been spent on the farm, and he is the proprietor of a pleasant, well-improved little place of 100 acres. August 26, 1875, he married Virginia Ann Phillips, sister of Columbus Phillips, of this township. His marital bliss, however, was of short duration, for death called his beloved companion home the year following. Mr. Cahall is a Democrat, and has never sought nor held office. He is of a cheerful and contented disposition, temperate in his habits and diligent in business.

NELSON CAHALL, farmer, P. O. Higginsport, was born in Pleasant Township May 31, 1830, the son of Thomas and Sarah (Parker) Cahall. James Cahall, the grandfather of Nelson, was one of the earliest pioneers of Lewis Township. He had served through the Revolutionary war to its close, witnessing the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. At its close, like many other active spirits, he wandered westward, and finally reached the north banks of the Ohio, in this county. He was a man of strong mind and possessed powerful physical abilities, living to the age of one hundred and five years. His wife died at the advanced age of ninety-eight years, after a married life of eighty years' duration. The day Mr. Cahall attained his one hundredth year, he went to the harvest field where his men were at work, picked up a sickle, and leading his men. reaped a swath of the goldea grain. He had a sound set of teeth in his head at this time, not having lost a single one ; nor was there a gray hair on his head. He had three sons - James, Thomas and Solomon. They married three sisters named Parker. James wedded Margaret, Solomon wedded Betty, and Thomas, Sarah. All raised families, and most of the Cahalls now in Brown County are their descendants. They are all honest, hard-working farmers, and own an aggregate of about 2,000 acres. They are attentive to their business, and only one, it is said, ever held an office - that of Assessor. Nelson Cahall, like his relatives, has devoted himself strictly to rural life ; he owns 140 acres of good land on the Ripley pike, three miles east of Higginsport. He was married in 1850, to Nancy J., daughter of Jesse and Catharine (Drake) Heizer, early settlers of Brown County. Mr. and Mrs. Cahall are members of the Christian Church, in the Sabbath School of which he has been Superintendent. Their children are William, Louise, Jesse, Sarah J., Thomas, Warren N., Elenor and L. W. Mr. Cahall votes with the Democratic party.

R. E. CAMPBELL, of Campbell & Fite, attorneys at law, Georgetown, was born in Jackson Township, Brown County, Ohio, March 23, 1854. His father, William Campbell, is a native of Adams County, Ohio, and at present a farmer of Jackson Township, this county. Mr. Campbell's mother was Fanny Evans, a native of Brown County. Mr. Campbell grew to manhood on the farm in Jackson Township, attending the district and public schools during the winter months. He subsequently attended the Academy at North Liberty, Adams County, two years, and Dennison University at Granville, Ohio, one year. He then came to Georgetown, and commenced to read law with Thompson & Fite, and was admitted to practice at the bar April 28, 1879. Soon after he opened an office in Georgetown, and in the fall of 1880 Albert G. Fite was admitted as a law partner. The firm of Campbell & Fite enjoy a fair practice, and are highly esteemed by the citizens of Georgetown and vicinity. Mr. Campbell is Democratic in politics, and in early life served one term as Clerk of Jackson Township. He was united in marriage, September 5, 1879, to M. Lizzie, daughter of Dyas Gilbert, of Huntington Township, Brown County, Ohio. They have one son - William D. Mrs. Campbell is a member of the M. E. Church.

HON. ROBERT COCHRAN, Georgetown, Representative from Brown County in the Ohio Legislature; was born in Huntington Township February 26, 1838. His great-grandfather was a native of Ireland, and with three brothers came to America about the middle of the eighteenth century. They located in Pennsylvania, and at the outbreak of the Revolution enlisted in different regiments. When that conflict closed, Mr. Cochran was unable to find trace of either of his brothers, and never heard from them again. Robert Cochran is a grandson of Gen. John Cochran, whose biography appears in this work, and a son of Joseph Cochran, a sketch of whom appears among the biographies of Lewis Township. Robert lived on the old homestead in Huntington Township until nine years of age. He then accompanied his parents to a new farm in Lewis Township, where he grew to manhood. His early life was spent in assisting his father in the duties of the farm, attending, in winter months, the distriat school. On January 4, 1860, he married Sally Chunn, a native of Adams County, Ohio, and a daughter of Robert and Sally (Grimes) Chunn. After marriage, he decided to locate in Adams County, and, in 1861, bought a farm there, remaining four years. He was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the First Regiment State Militia of Adams County, serving in that capacity during the war. At its close, he returned to Pleasant Township, Brown County, where he purchased a farm of 200 acres, located on the Ripley pike, three miles southeast of Georgetown. Mr. Cochran is a practical farmer, and has made his profession a decided success. His farm is one of the best in the county, is well cultivated, and supplied with all modern improvements necessary to lucrative husbandry. Mr. Cochran also owns ninety acres of land in Lewis Township, and a tract of 500 acres in Adams County, Ohio. Mr. Cochran's father and grandfather were Jacksonian Democrats, and it was but natural that our subject should follow in their footsteps. He has been an ardent Democrat through life, although never a politician. In the fall of 1879, he was nominated and subsequently elected to his present position.

being re-elected, and commencing his second term January 1, 1882. During his first legislative service, he was an earnest advocate of the Eggleston tobacco bill, and introduced the Coehrau substitute thereto. This bill provided for the regulation of the sampling and selling of tobacco on the market at Cincinnati. The bill and its substitute caused one of the strongest fights known in the House for years. Mr. Cochran has introduced many bills for the betterment of his constituents socially, financially and otherwise, and enjoys the satisfaction of seeing all but one become laws, fie is a man of energy and force of character, of a frank, genial nature, aud possessing a remarkably retentive memory. We desire to extend to him our thanks for favors shown to us while laboring on the compilation of this volume. Mr. Cochran is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge and Encampment at Georgetown, and has passed all the chairs in both bodies. Himself and wife are members of Olive Chapel, of the Christian denomination, near their home. Four children have been born to them, three living - Charles H. (a cadet at West Point, of the class of 1833, and a young man of rare promise), Joseph S. and Jesse, an infant (deceased).

JOHN R. CROSBY, farmer, P. 0. Georgetown, was born in Mason County, Kentucky, October 18, 1818, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Jackson) Crosby. His mother was distantly related to President Jackson, and was a native of Maryland, with Irish parentage. Mr. Crosby's grandfather, John R. Crosby, was a Revolutionary soldier. The subject of this sketch came to Brown County in 1843. He has been twice married ; first to Mathilda Tresler, by whom he had one child, a daughter, now married and living in Indiana. Mrs. Crosby died in 1841. Two years later, Mr. Crosby was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Baker, daughter of James and Ruth Woods, of Scotch-Irish descent. By a former marriage, Mrs. Crosby had two- children, Godfrey Baker, and Elizabeth May, wife of John Clinton Day. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby adopted a child, William Johnson, taking him from the county infirmary and giving him a collegiate education. He graduated with the highest honors at Marietta College and returning home had just started in business at Georgetown, when be became ill and died in 1881.

His death was a severe blow to his foster-parents, who had become greatly attached to him, for he was of a lovable disposition, honest and industrious. Mr. Crosby is a member of the Democratic party. He is a straightforward, conscientious citizen, industrious and economizing. He is the owner of two good farms, one in this, and one in Franklin Township. Himself and wife have united with the Christian Union Church. Mrs. Crosby's parents were amongst the earliest settlers of Brown County.

A. W. DAVIS, farmer and stock-raiser, P. 0. Higginsport, was born August 26, 1826, in Pleasant Township, four and one half miles south of Georgetown, the son of I. and Lydia (Parker) Davis. His father was born in Kentucky, of German parentage ; his mother in Ohio, of Scottish descent. His grandfather, Issachar Davis, settled on the farm A. W. now occupies, in 1802, and his father occupied it after his grandfather's death. On the farm are three apple trees planted by Issachar Davis in 1805; they still bear fruit once in two years. Mr. Davis has turned his attention to agriculture, as his ancestry did before him. He is Republican in politics and a mem- ! her of the Christian Church. His residence was destroyed by fire in 1876, and was rebuilt at a cost of $1,800. He was married in 1849 to Amanda, daughter of Forsyth McCanaughy. Their children are Belle J., Edward E., Anna L., Lulu J., Carrie F.

JOHN CLINTON DAY, farmer, was born in Pleasant Township, this county, December 20, 1831. He is a son of Isaac E. and Miriam (Mann) Day, natives of Brown County. His father was a prominent farmer of Pleasant Township, and resolved to give his son a good education. He was sent to the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, where he remained some time. He then returned home, and engaged in j agricultural pursuits, which he has* made his life work. He owns 150 acres of good land, the result of years of toil and industry. Mr Day is a Democrat in politics, and : has been a School Director for fifteen years in succession. He was united in marriage, in 1858, to Mary E., daughter of G. H. Bahrer, a native of Brown County. The latter is of German and English parentage. Mr. Day and wife have eleven children, all at home - Edgar E., Leonora F., Eva A., Minnie E., Richard Lee, Frank 0., Julian E., Ernest E., Cora E. and Jasper Alwin (twins), and Lula Dell. Mrs. Day is a member of the Disciples' Church.

HUGH P. DAY, farmer, P. 0. Georgetown, was born in Pleasant Township March 30, 1837, son of Isaac and Miriam (Mann) Day. They were natives of Brown County and of English descent. Mr. Day is the fifth child of a family of seven. He is engaged in farming on his place of 108| acres, situated one and one-fourth miles east of Georgetown. His educational instruction was what the common schools afforded. In the year 1874, he was united in wedlock to Sarah Blair, a native of this county, and daughter of James Blair. Their marriage has been blessed with two children - Marion and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Day are members of the Presbyterian Church at Georgetown. His political preferences are with the Democratic party.

BENJAMIN DELANEY is one of the oldest and most prominent colored citizens of Brown County. He is a son of Benjamin and Juda (Rogers) Delaney, and is about eighty years of age. His father was a slave, and very old when the Emancipation Proclamation set him free. Our subject was raised in Brown County, and in early life was employed as a hand on the river boats. He has been a farmer since, and his economy and perseverance are fitly represented in the farm of 109 acres which he possesses. He is Republican, politically, and has been a School Director. Mr. Delaney married Emily Harrison, who bore him eight children, five living: Amanda, wife of George Hughes, a blacksmith, of Pleasant Township ; Josephine, wife of Edward Jennison, a farmer, of Union Township; Sallie, wife of Caleb Snead, a farmer, of Union Township ; Martha, wife of James Brown, a farmer, of Pleasant Township ; and Luella, wife of Harrison Payne, a farmer, of Pleasant Township, Mr. Delaney educated all of his children at home. Himself and wife have lived together about fifty years. She is a member of the M. E. Church.

WILLIAM H. P. DENNY, editor of the Georgetown Gazette, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, June 3, 1811, and was the son of George and Sarah (Higgins) Denny. His father, George Denny, one of the first printers and editors of Ohio, emigrated from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati before the close of last century, and worked as a printer on the Centinel of the Northwest Territory , the first newspaper printed at Cinnati, afterward on the Western Star , at Lebanon, for Judge John McLean, and later, was editor and publisher of the Scioto Gazette, at Chillicothe, from 1806 to 1816. George Denny and his wife both died on the same night at Wilmington, Ohio, in 1823. Young William, when only nine years of age, commenced learning the art of printing in the office of the Ohio Interior Gazette , published at Xenia by Kendall & Denny. In 1821, he removed with his father to Wilmington, and set type on the Galaxy until the death of his father, when the paper passed into the hands of Hon. J. N. Reynolds, with whom he worked for a short time. In the winter of 1824, he was an apprentice to Cameron & Sellers, in the publication of the Western Star, at Lebanon. Subsequently, he worked as a printer at Xenia, and at Cincinnati, on the Crisis and Emporium, at Columbus on the State Journal, and again at Cincinnati on the Liberty Hall and Cincinnati Gazette. In 1829, then in his eighteenth year, he commenced at Wilmington the Clintonian, which he continued until 1831, when he sold out to John Crichfield, and removed to Louisville, Ky., and became foreman for George D. Prentice, of the Louisville Journal. He remained in that city until 1834. In 1835, in partnership with Jacob Morris, he published the Western Star at Lebanon. For twentysix years he was connected with the Star as apprentice, editor and publisher. From 1846 until 1858, he was the sole publisher of that paper. From 1858 until 1861, he published the Dayton Daily and Weekly Gazette. In 1861, he started the Circleville Union , which he published for six years. In 1871, he purchased the Wilmington Journal , and continued it until 1878, when he returned to Lebanon and started the Lebanon Gazette, which he disposed of, and in 1880, established the Georgetown Gazette, which he still publishes. While a resident of Warren County, he represented Warren and Greene Counties in the Ohio Senate in the years 1841-42 and 1843-44. In 1856, he was a Presidential Elector on the Fremont ticket, and was Postmaster at

Circleville from 1865 to 1872. In politics, he has been an Anti-slavery Whig and a Republican. Mr. Denny is probably the oldest newspaper man in the State of Ohio, having been engaged in the printing business, with but brief intervals, for sixty-two years, and as an editor for more than fifty years.

JACKSON DUGIN, farmer, P. 0. Higginsport, was born in this township October 22, 1815, son of Joseph and Debora (Norman) Dugin ; his mother was of Scotch, his father of Irish descent, and they were early settlers of Brown County. Mr. Dugin, after attending the subscription schools in the vicinity, engaged in flat-boating, and has made twenty trips to New Orleans. He was married, August 12, 1840, to Elizabeth Drake, a native of this county. Their children, seven in number, are all living. They are Anna S. (wife of J. W. Wall), Adeline, Shafer, Charles L., Porter (wife of Robert Drake), Alice (wife of Elmer Lucas) and Bradford. Mr. Dugin is a prominent Mason, and has been a member of the order for thirty-seven years. He has been Master Mason of the Higginsport Lodge seven years, and is a member of both Chapter and Council. Both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church, of which he has been Trustee ; also member of the building committee before he joined the church. His political faith is Democratic.

F. W. DUNHAM, farmer, P. 0. G-eorgetown, was born in Perry Township, this county, and is the son of Gideon and Susannah (Heasley) Dunham. Gideon Dunham was born in Kentucky, of English parentage. His wife, Susannah, was a native of this county, and was of Welsh extraction. The subject of this sketch received a collegiate education at the Ohio Wesleyan University. His father was a merchant, and F. W. spent his early life clerking for him ; he subsequently accepted a position as salesman at Cincinnati, then opened a grocery business for himself in that city, and for sixteen years conducted it with a marked degree of success. His sales during one year amounted to more than $300,000, a sum, it is believed, equaled by no other house. He was a partner with William Glenn & Son. In 1878, he sold his business, purchased a farm one mile east of Georgetown, and has since that year engaged in the lighter pursuits of agriculture. His means he has amassed by his own exertions. In 1870, he was married to Miss Alice M. Horner, daughter of Thomas Horner, of Cincinnati. They have two children - Lucy and Frank W. Mr. and Mrs. Dunham are members of the Georgetown M. E. Church. He is a Republican, and at present Trustee of this township.

JOHN E. ELLIS, farmer, P. O. Georgetown, was born in Pleasant Township May 24, 1817 ; the son of Noah and Margaret (Evans) Ellis, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, his parentage being Irish ; hers Scotch and Irish. Noah was in the war of 1812. John E. was reared in the country and received the limited education his neighborhood afforded. He adopted farming as his life pursuit, and has made a success of it. In 1837, he was married to Mary Wright, born in 1818, the daughter of Robert and Lydia (Waters) Wright. Her father was of Irish ; her mother of Dutch extraction. Their children are Samuel, Lydia (wife of Samuel Burris, of Clark Township), Matilda, Arminda (wife of Matthew Dooley), G. L., Sally May (wife of Henry Andrews), Margaret A. ( wife of William Page), Charles and Alcinda Isolina Douraman Devargus Dust. This rather remarkable name of the youngest child has this origin. Her eldest brother had been on a visit to Pike's Peak and out west met a young lady, Alcinda Dust, to whom he became greatly attached. On his return , he wanted his baby sister named after her, but his father had seen an American heroine, so good and kind to disabled soldiers that he wished to perpetuate her name in his family. They compromised the matter by giving her both names. The family is noted for great physical development. The average weight of the children exceeds two hundred pounds ; three of the girls have a combined weight of 647 pounds, while the young lady, who revels in the quintuple given name, now a blooming lass of twenty summers, tips the scales at something over 200 pounds. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are members of the Union Church. He is a Democrat.

G. L. ELLIS, Recorder of Brown County, Georgetown, was born at Pleasant Township, Brown County, Ohio, December 13, 1850. His grandfather, Noah Ellis, was a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio when a boy. He was a farmer of Brown County till his death, in his seventieth year. Mr. Ellis' father is John E. Ellis, also a native of this county, and at present a farmer of Pleasant Township. His mother was Mary Wright, a native of this county, and a daughter of John Wright, also a native of Virginia. Mrs. Ellis is also living. Our subject was reared on a farm, and when fourteen years of age, was taken with a severe attack of intermittent fiver, and white swelling, from which he was a constant sufferer for three years. During this period, he lived in a darkened room, seeing the light of day but very little. His disease prostrated him to such an extent, that on two occasions he was supposed to be dead, and his grave ordered dug by his father. Upon final recovery, he was too weak to do any labor for the succeeding three years. He then attended school, and subsequently taught steadily for six years, attending school in the spring months. On September 11, 1879, he married Clara A. Snedaker, a native of Feesburg, Lewis Township, this county. Mr. Ellis has been a Democrat through life, and in October. 1881, was elected Recorder of Brown County. He took possession of his office January 2, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis had one daughter born to them, now deceased.

GEORGE M. ELLIS, farmer, P. 0., Higginsport, was born in Pleasant Township, March 15, 1828. He is the son of Samuel and Sally (Ellis) Ellis. Though bearing the same name before marriage, his parents were not akin to each other. He was reared to manhood in this township, gaining the education that the country schools afforded in his youth. Farming then became his life work and he now owns a desirable little farm. He is a member of the Democratic party. In 1850, he and Emily Jones, a native of Brown County, were made one by the holy bonds of matrimony, and their home has been cheered with three children - Mollie, Hattie and Albert.

A. M. ELLSBERRY, a practicing physician of Georgetown, was born at Bethel, Clermont County, Ohio, March 25, 1824. His father was Michael Ellsberry, a native of Kentucky, and by occupation a farmer and brick-maker by trade. He located in Clermont County in 1805, and there resided during the remainder of his life - dying in his seventieth year. He married Elizabeth McClure, also a native of Kentucky. She died previous to the death of the former. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom are living, two daughters and three sons, our subject being the youngest. He was reared at Bethel, obtaining a fair literary education. At eighteen years of age, he commenced the study of medicine, still assisting his father in the brick yard, and the duties of the farm. He subsequently attended a course of lectures at the Cleveland Medical College, during the winter of 1846-47, and graduated from the Starling Medical College of Columbus, in the class of '50. He first opened an office at Bethel, Ohio (where he had practiced medicine with his brother, before graduating), and remained there two years. He then came to Brown County, locating at Georgetown, where he has since practiced his profession. Dr. Ellsberry is the second oldest practicing physician in Georgetown, and a man bearing the respect and esteem of a large acquaintance. He owns a fine farm of 60 acres, 25 of which lie in the corporate limits of Georgetown. He is a member of the Brown County Academy of Medicine, and is a member of the Village Council. He is connected with the Masopic order, and for two years was President of the Brown County Agricultural Society. He has served as School Director ; was a member of the School Board some years, and is a regular attendant on the services of the M. E. Church. Dr. Ellsberry was united in marriage, in 1851, to Jane Clark, of Cincinnati. Two children were born to them, one living - Jane. Mrs. E. died in 1854. She was a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church. He was again married, in 1859, to Mary Lou Blankensop, a native of Wellsburg, W. Va. Seven children have been given them, four now living - Sallie E., Frank, Josephus and Lucy. Mrs. Ellsberry is a member of the M. E. Church.

N. W. ELLIS, farmer, P. O. Higginsport, was born in Pleasant Township September 27, 1826, the son of Samuel and Sarah Ellis, both of English descent and pioneers of this township. His education is what the common schools afforded ; his occupation is farming and dealing in tobacco. Mr. Ellis has traveled extensively through the West, and at one time owned a mill in Kansas, which was destroyed by fire in

1879 at a loss to him of $5,000. He is the possessor of 130 acres of well-improved land in the southern part of the township, and in his business transactions has been successful. In 1849, he was married to Elizabeth Jane Frost, who died In 1865. By this marriage he had four children - Samantha B. (wife of W. A. Thomas), Emma Ann, Allie J. and Charlie. Mr. Ellis was a second time married to a daughter of Nehemiah and Sarah (Barr) Matthews, who are natives of the Sunny South. Mr. Matthews was of English extraction, his wife of German.

W. W. ELLS BERRY, Georgetown, a prominent, practicing physician of George town, was born in Scott Township, Brown County, December 18, 1832. He is a son of E. M. Ellsberry, a well-known regular physician of Brown County for over fifty years. He died at New Hope, in this county, November 25, 1854. Dr. Ellsberry's mother was Eunice Morris, a daughter of John Morris, of Clermont County, Ohio, who was among the first to settle on the bottom land of the Little Miami River, and was subsequently Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of Clemont County. Mrs. Ellsberry was also a niece of Thomas Morris, who was a cotemporary of Webster, Clay, Calhoun and Benton, in the United States Senate, and who introduced to first abolition resolution in that learned body. He was also the law precepter of Hon. Thomas L. Hamer, so well known in the early history of Brown County. Mrs. Ellsberry departed this life in August, 1876. She was the mother of nine children, eight reaching maturity, and three of whom yet survive - our subject, Elizabeth (wife of A. J. Beaman, of New Hope), and B. F. Ellsberry (a merchant of Ironton, Ohio). The subject of this notice was reared a " a farmer's boy," obtaining a fair literary education in the public schools of Brown County, and a private school at Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio. When eighteen years of age, he commenced the study of medicine with his father, who died while our subject was attending his first course of lectures at the Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio. He subsequently graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College, and, in 1875, from the Ohio Medical College. Dr. Ellsberry first commenced his practice at New Hope, where he remained eleven years ; he then removed to Georgetown ; he has always been a sound Democrat, and, in 1862, was elected Auditor of Brown County, serving a term of two years; he then went to Russellville, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession five years. In 1871, he removed again to Georgetown, where he has since resided. Dr. Ellsberry is a member of the Brown County Academy of Medicine, State Medical Society and the Ameri can Medical Association. He was formerly connected with I. 0. O. F. fraternity, and is an active member of the Masonic order. Dr. Ellsberry was married, in 1856, to Helen M. Porter, a native of this county. Six children have been given them ; four living - Clara M. is the elder. She attended a course of lectures at the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and subsequently visited a hospital in Boston, Mass. She is a practicing physician of Cincinnati, a member of the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati, and Vice President of the Obstetrical Society of that city. The other children are John E.. M. J., and a little daughter, named Frank. Harriett died of consumption in November, 1879, and a little son in infancy. Mrs. Ellsberry departed this life in 1872, mourned by a large number of friends and acquaintances.

DR. S. P. EVANS, Georgetown, was born in Jackson Township, Brown County, March 23, 1823. His father, Samuel Evans, was a native of Monongalia County, Va., who located at Hillsboro, Ohio, in 1811 or 1812. During the first general call for volunteers in the war of 1812, he offered his services, and served six months as a Second Lieutenant, under Capt. Abraham Sheppard, of Huntington Township, this county. In December, 1813, he located on the farm in Jackson Township, where our subject was born. He was there engaged in agricultural pursuits all through life, and died the death of an honored pioneer, March 5, 1864. Dr. Evans' mother was Harriet Wilson, who departed this life November 4, 1855. Our subject is one of a family of eight children, four of whom are living ; he passed his boyhood and early manhood days on the old homestead, remaining there till November, 1851, when he married Caroline Smith, a native of Adams County, Ohio. Soon after marriage, he removed to Winchester,

Adams Co., Ohio, where he resided till the fall of 1854; he there studied dentistry, and enjoyed a good practice for over twelve years. In 1864, he removed back to Jackson Township, purchased the home farm of 355 acres, and there resided until June, 1878, when he removed to Georgetown. In the fall of 1880, he purchased his present property, where himself and wife intend to pass the remainder of life. In his agricultural operations and the practice of his profession, Dr. Evans has been moderately successful, and accumulated enough to live in peace and comfort. He was an original member and organizer of the Christian Union Church of Jackson Township, and has since been connected with that denomination. Mrs. Evans is also a member of that church. They have two children - Worth R., an attorney at law, of Georgetown, and E. W., studying medicine with his father.

DUNCAN EVANS, farmer, P. 0. Higginsport, was born in 1826, and raised in Pleasant Township, this county. His father, John B. Evans, was born in Kentucky in 1800, and in 1801 came with his parents to this township, settling four miles south of Georgetown, where he was raised and spent his life as a farmer. John B. was married, in 1823, to Sarah Moore, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jonathan Moore, who emigrated to Brown County in 1805. Of their ten children seven are now living, five in Pleasant Township, one in Lewis Township, and' one a physician in Colorado. Duncan is living on the old place ; he learned the blacksmith trade in early life, and worked at it six years. In 1850, he was married to Mary A. Martin, a native of Brown County. She was born in 1832, and is a daughter of Samuel Martin. They have had eleven children, of whom the following survive : Emma F. (wife of J. J. Warner), Louella, Charlie, Sallie, Mollie and Jennie D.

D. W. C. EVANS, farmer, P. O. Georgetown, was born in Pleasant Township, on the farm he now occupies, one mile south of Georgetown, December 5. 1830. His father, Elijah Evans, was born in Pennsylvania. His mother, Lucinda (Curry) EvaDS, was a native of Rockingham County, Va. Her father, Robert Curry, emigrated from Virginia to Brown County in 1801, and settled on the 1,000-acre survey of Maj. James Curry, his uncle, from whom he purchased the patent for the land. The subject of this sketch owns 130 acres of this tract, and lives here with his sister. He was the ninth of a family of ten children - William (deceased, who was a farmer), Phebe (deceased, who was the wife of W. McClure), Robert (deceased), Sarah (wife of James Henderson, of Hamilton County). Jemima, Elizabeth, Albert G. (deceased), Mary Louisa (wife of R. D. Hewitt), D. W. C, and Judia Ann (wife of William S. Laycoek). All the children lived to attain their majority, and all were members of the Christian Church. D. W. C. has made farming the business of his life, and is greatly attached to it. He takes pride in keeping about him good horses. His political principles are Democratic.

DR. ENOS B. FEE, ex-Treasurer of Brown County, Georgetown, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, October 4, 1817. His father, Elisha Fee, was probably a native of Virginia, and in early life resided in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. He removed to Ohio about the date of the first settlement in what is now Brown County, locating in Adams County, and subsequently in Clermont County, where he died in the fall of 1828. He was a farmer and miller through life. He was a Major in an American regiment at the siege of Fort Meigs. Dr. Fee's mother was Nancy Brown, a native of Pennsylvania. Her father was a member of Braddock's command, in the French and Indian war, and when Braddock was ambushed near Fort Du Queens, was shot through the thigh by a musket ball. He immediately sought the friendly shelter of a log lying near, and by crawling partly under the same, caused the victorious savage to overlook him. He, Jay in this position for six days, suffering the indescribable pangs of hunger and thirst, and the tortures of a shattered and bleeding limb. On the third day, he caught a rattlesnake, skinned him, and eagerly devoured the raw flesh. On the sixth day, he caught a loose horse, dragged himself to a friendly stump, mounted, and rode to the lort, where he was joyfully received, and his wounds kindly cared for. Mrs. Fee departed this life in the spring of 1828. Dr. Fee is the sixth child and fourth son of a family of eight children, himself being the only survivor. He was reared on a farm in Clermont County, receiving the educational advantages afforded by the schools of that day. When eighteen years of age, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Fee, of Williamsburg, in that county, remaining with him nearly four years. He subsequently graduated from the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, and first commenced the practice of his profession at New Hope, in Scott Township, of this county. Since that time, Dr. Fee has devoted almost his entire time to his practice, and is well known and esteemed throughout the entire county. Politically, his views have always been Democratic, and, in 1849, he represented Brown County in the Ohio Legislature, serving a term of two years. He was re-elected, and served in the same capacity during the winter of 1862-63. In 1869, Dr. Fee removed to Georgetown, where he has since resided. In October, 1878, Dr. Fee was elected County Treasurer, the office being unsolicited by him. In 1880, he was re-elected. In the practice of his chosen profession, Dr. Fee has always borne a high position among the physicians of the State. He was appointed, in company with Drs. Ackley, Woods, Smith and Messrs. Cist and Gilliland, to locate and build the Ohio Asylums for the Insane at Newburg and Dayton, and subsequently with Drs. Ackley and Woods, was appointed to finish and superintend the Asylums. These appointments were made him by Govs. Wood and Medill. Dr. Fee served but a short time while on the latter commission, and then tendered his resignation. He is an active member of the Brown County Academy of Medicine and of Georgetown Lodge, No. 72 (Masonic). Dr. Fee was united in marriage October 3, 1850, to Amanda Blair, a native of Maysville, Mason Co., Ky., and reared and educated at Lawrenceville, 111. They have seven children - Lillie, Charlie, Addie, Robert, Lucian, Mary and Willie. Mrs. Fee is a consistent member of the M. E. Church. Dr. Fee's health has been quite poorly for some time, and his professional and official duties have been carried on by mere force of will, resolving not to give up active labor till actually compelled so to do.

CHARLES B. FEE, Georgetown, attorney at law and ex-Mayor of Georgetown, was born in Scott Township, Brown County, Ohio, August 15, 1853. He is a son of Dr. E. B. Fee, Treasurer of Brown County, and a practicing physician in the county for the past forty years. Mr. Fee's mother was Amanda Blair ; both parents are living. Mr. Fee resided on the old homestead in Scott Township till he was sixteen years of age, when he removed to Georgetown. He attended college at Augusta, Ky., one year, and was subsequently placed under the instruction of a private tutor at Cincinnati. He taught school in Brown County about one year , during this time read law, finishing his studies with Devore & Thompson. He subsequently attended the Cincinnati Law School, graduating in 1873. In 1874, he opened a law office in connection with David Thomas, but the firm was discontinued a year later. Mr. Fee then went to Cincinnati, remaining there in the practice of his profession about eighteen months. He then returned to Georgetown and accepted the position of Deputy Treasurer under his father, which position he still holds. He was elected a member of the Village Council in 1879, and the Mayor, J. T. Stevenson, dying three months later, he was elected to fill the vacancy. In 1880, he was re-elected by the people, serving till the spring of 1882. Mr. Fee has met with very fair success in his law practice. He is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellow and Knights of Pythias Lodges, and has always been a Democrat.

RUFUS L. FITE, of Thompson & Fite, attorney at law, Georgetown, was born near New Hope, Scott Township, this county, August 17, 1848. He is a son of Jefferson Fite, a native of this county, and a farmer and miller by occupation. He now resides in Scott Township. Mr. Fite's mother was Elizabeth Pickering, also a native of this county. Our subject is the elder of seven children, and resided on the home farm until seventeen years of age. He attended the college at Augusta, Ky., for two and a half years, and at twenty years of age attended a course of lectures at the Ohio State and Union Law College, Cleveland, Ohio. He was admitted to practice in the United States Courts June 29, 1870, and September 22, of the same year, to the courts of Ohio. He was a law partner of James P. Kimball, of Georgetown, for about six months, and in May, 1871, became junior member of the law firm of Devore, Thornp- son & Fite. On January 1, 1876, Mr. Devore retired from the firm, and the two remaining partners enjoy a very fair practice. Mr. Fite is connected with the Knights of Pythias Lodge, and Georgetown Lodge, No. 72 (Masonic), being also a Master Mason. He was married, March 27, 1872, to Hattie L. Power, a native of this county. They have one son, William E. Mrs. Fite is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Fite is an active Democrat.

ALBERT G. FITE, of Campbell & Fite, attorneys at law, Georgetown, was born in Scott Township, Brown Co., Ohio, December 16, 1850. His father is Jefferson Fite, a native of Brown County, and a farmer and miller of Scott Township. Mr. Fite's mother was Elizabeth Pickering, also a native of Scott Township. Mr. Fite was reared on the homestead farm, and was engaged in farming until 1878. He received a good education in the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, where he attended in. 1869 -70 and 1871-72. He was married, October 30, 1873, to Flora F daughter of Hiram and Wilhemina Day, pioneers of Scott Township. After marriage. Mr. Fite engaged in farming in Scott Township till the fall of 1878, when h< same to Georgetown and commenced the study of law with Thompson & Fite, the latter a brother. In the fall of 1879, Mr. Fite attended a course of lectures at the Cincinnati Law School, graduating in May, 1880, and was admitted to practice at Columbus a few days later. He remained at Cincinnati till the following fall, when he came to Georgetown and entered into a law partnership with R. E. Campbell. The firm is meeting with good success. Mr. Fite is a true-born Democrat, and in April, 1882, was elected Justice of the Peace of Pleasant Township for a term of three years. In January, 1878, Mr. Fite suffered the loss of his estimable wife, leaving to his care two sons, Lucian, born August 10, 1875, and George, born July 24, 1877. He was again married, September 5, 1881, to Mary E. Armstrong, a native of Georgetown. Mrs. Fite (deceased) was a member of the M. E. Church, as is the present wife.

JOSIAH FROST (deceased), was born in Brown County June 10, 1809, the son of James and Elizabeth (Burgett) Frost. His father was of English ancestry, his mother of German. His education was received in the subscription schools of his neighborhood, and for a few months in early life he taught school. His principal business, however, was farming and trading. He began life a poor boy, but accumulated a goodly share of property, though in his business transactions he did not escape reverses. He resided in Ripley several years, and while there erected one of its fiuest residences. He dealt in all kinds of produce, quite extensively in tobacco, but his greatest success was accomplished on the farm. Margaret L. Armstrong, a native of this State, of German and Irish extraction, born December 16, 1813, became his wife June 17, 1830. Their family consisted of five children - Elizabeth, wife of Noah W. Ellis, of this township, and mother of four children; Cynthia, deceased; James, a boatman, married, and owner of a steamboat ; Mary A., wife of Mr. Heizer, and mother of three children ; and William E., deceased. Mr. Frost died in 1880. He was a consistent member of the Christian Church for fifty years, a Deacon of the church, and an unwearied Sabbath School worker. His widow is a member of the same church, and resides on the farm t wo miles south of Georgetown, where she expects to spend the remainder of her life in peaceful retirement, and in the company of her granddaughter, Miss Allie Eilis.

W. B. FROST, farmer, P. O. Georgetown. Mr. Frost was born in Union Township, this county, July 20, 1818, the son of James and Elizabeth (Burgett) Frost. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch and Irish descent ; his mother was of German extraction. His education was received in the rude, old-fashioned country schools, that then prevailed and farming became his life vocation. His success in it is vouchsafed by the fact that he now owns a good farm of 208 acres. He wedded Sarah Mitchell, a daughter of James Mitchell. Their only child, J ames B., is now a prominent farmer of this township. Mrs. Frost died in 1832. Mr. Frost married, in 1851, the sister of his former wife, and seven children have blessed the union; only three of them are now living - Ella B., residing in Union Township, John B. and Ellen J.

Trumbull Go., Ohio, September 23, 1819. He was the oldest child in a family of thirteen children, whose parents were Robert and Susanna Bacon (Winslow) Gordon. Robert Gordon was a native of Washington Couuty, Penn., and came with his father's family, when in his fourth year, to the " Northwestern Territory." He was partially educated as a physician, but followed mechanical pursuits through life, and became prominent as a master mechanic. His demise occurred February 12, 1872. Thomas Gordon, the grandfather of Hr. Gordon, a native of Scotland, was an early pioneer in the West, settling in what is now Poland Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, in November, 1799. The mother of the subject of this sketch was a native of the town of Naples, N. Y., her father, Seth Winslow, having removed from Massachussetts just before her birth. She was descended in a direct line from Edward Winslow, one of the immortal Pilgrims, who crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower. The various members of her family were intimately identified with the Revolutionary struggle and active and useful participants therein. She died, in J 849, in Warren, Ohio. The early education of Thomas W. was received in the common schools and at Warren Academy.

His more advanced, literary and scientific education was obtained !>y his own untiring, individual efforts and from private tutors, noted for their scholastic attainments. During vacations, he assisted his father in the manufacture of brick and in building. In his fourteenth year, he began the study of anatomy and physiology under the guidance of Dr. Sylvanus Seely, of Warren, Ohio. Subsequently, for a period of almost ten years, he pursued the study of the various departments of medicine conjointly with sciences and languages. In this time he traveled through the West, investigating the nature and peculiarities of disease, prevalent in the regions visited. He frequently found difficulty - being quite young - in obtaining the permission of physicians to visit their I the more severe or abstruse studies of his profession, he used to take his botany .and proceed to the forests and there investigate the laws of that science as a recreation. In I

Willoughby University, and during the regular sessions of 1844, '45 and '46 attended lectures at the Cleveland Medical College, where he graduated with honors, in 1846 - having passed an examination by the faculty the year previous - and received from it a certificate of qualification to practice his profession. He began the active practice of medicine in Bazetta, Trumbull Co., Ohio, where he remained until 1850. He then 1 of Cleveland, Ohio, before leaving the North. After his removal to Georgetown, he read law regularly for more than two years, devoting all his spare time to its study, !

Association, and in 1856 was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Etiology and Pathology of Epidemic Cholera by that association. In the autumn of 1854 and the !

following winter and spring, he edited the Independent American , a weekly literary and political newspaper published at Georgetown. In 1857-58, he was Professor of Materia Mediea and Therapeutics, and in 1858-59-60 Professor of Chemistry and Pharmaev in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery. Tn the war of the rebellion, J he was Surgeon of the Ninety seventh Regiment OhioVolunteer Infantry, and served in that capacity, and as a Brigade Surgeon, from August, 1862, until June, 1864, when he was obliged to resign his commission on account of disability arising from a wound received in the merm rable battle of Missionary Ridge, fought November 25, 1863. He was appointed United States Examining Surgeon for Pensions in November, 1862, which position he continues to hold. He has delivered several popular lectures, which have been highly extolled, especially his lecture on the " Miracles of Man." He has written many articles on literary and scientific subjects, which have been published in various papers and magazines. Over various nom de plumes, chiefly that of Orion, he has published many poems. He was for several years President of a literary club formed by writers of Brown and Clermont Counties, called the " Poetical Union." He was a member of the first Meteorological Society formed in the West, if not the first in the United States, and was made its temporary chairman. He was the first President of the Brown County Academy of Medicine. He is also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the Seismological Society of Japan. He has contributed many articles of acknowledged ability to prominent medical journals. His essays, read before the Ohio State Medical Society on " Cholera," " Scarlatina," etc., deserve special mention, as reports of very careful investigation. In 1874, he was a candidate for Congress on the Republican ticket, in the district composed of the counties of Ross, Pike, Highland, Adams and Brown, one of the strongest Democratic districts in the State, making a gain on the Republican State ticket, when all other districts lost ground. He has always evinced an earnest interest in the political questions and movements of the day, and cast his first vote for Gen. Harrison. Religiously, his views are liberal, and not hedged about by the doctrines of any particular creed, but he is a firm believer in an All-wise Supreme Being. He was married, November 14, 1836, to Minerva Elvira Scoville, a native of Trumbull County, Ohio, whose decease occurred December 20, 1869. By her he had eight children. His eldest son, S. C. Gordon, M. D., was a surgeon during the war. He was again married, November 14, 1872, to Elizabeth Norman Dugan, a native of Brown County.

G. W. HANSELMAN, farmer, P. 0. Georgetown, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 5, 1832. He is a son of John and Christina (Hartso) Hanselman, natives of Germany. They came to America in 1813, locating at Cincinnati. In 1832, they came to Brown County, and settled on a farm in Franklin Township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living - all residing in Brown County. Mr. Hanselman was reared on a farm, and has always retained a desire for agricultural pursuits ; he received two months' schooling in early life, but has put his time to practical things, and now owns a farm of fifty-seven and three-quarter acres, mostly under cultivation. Mr. Hanselman was reared in the belief of the Lutheran Church, and politically is Democratic. He was married, in 1855 to Margaret, daughter of John and Oriter (Rice) Lucas, a native of Brown County. They have eight children living - Charles, a carpenter, married and residing in Higginsport ; John, a resident of California; Joseph, a farmer of Pleasant Township; Washington, Emma, Albert, Ruth Ella and Maggie. Mrs. Hanselman is a member of the Christian Church.

GEORGE W. HARDING, of Moore & Harding, attorneys at law, Georgetown, was born at Ripley, Brown Co., Ohio, November 22, 1847. His grandfather, William Harding, was an Englishman, but during the war of 1812 fought in the American army ; he was a farmer and brickmason. James S. Harding, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in January, 1813; he accompanied his parents to Brown County, where he grew to manhood ; he has been engaged in various kinds of business, and is now residing at Ripley, in his seventieth year. Mr. Harding's mother was Levina Frazier, a native of Pennsylvania. She was the mother of nine children, eight of whom are living. Our subject was the sixth child, and only son, and resided in Highland County from 1855 till 1860; he received a liberal education in the Ripley Public Schools. In 1862, he commenced working on a farm, and was subsequently a dry goods clerk for three years. In December, 1868, he came to Georgetown, and was Deputy under David Tarbell, Probate Judge of Brown County, for over one year. During this time he read law, and finished his studies with W. H. Sly, of Ripley ; he was admitted to the bar September 20, 1871, and soon after opened an office at Aberdeen, where he remained till 1874. On November 22 of that year, he went to Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio, and formed a law partnership with Henry A. Sheppard, now compiling the history of Ohio. In June, 1875, he went to Ripley, and, in October, 1879, came to Georgetown. On November 3, 1879, he formed a partnership with A.

E. and John R. Moore, under the firm name of Moore, Harding & Moore. Since November, 1881, the firm has been Moore & Harding, and the firm has met with good success. Mr. Harding is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, at Ripley, and politically has always been Democratic. He was married, June 30, 1873, to Emma E. Simpson, a native of Adams County, Ohio. They have two children - Mary L. and William G. Mrs. Harding is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ADAM HAUCK, farmer, P. 0. Iligginsport, residing on the Straight Creek and Heizer Ford Pike, was born in Pleasant Township September 15, 1839. His parents are Francis and Elizabeth (Bauer) Hauck, natives of Germany. They settled on a farm in Brown County about forty-five years ago, but now reside in Georgetown. Six of their children are living. Mr. Hauck is seventy-eight years of age, and his wife seventyfour. The subject of this sketch was reared on the old homestead, and received a fair education; he has been a farmer through life, with the exception of the years 1861-62, when he engaged in buying and shipping cattle. Mr. Hauck has been moderately successful in his farming operations, and owns a farm of sixty acres, all under cultivation.

Mr. Hauck was married, in 1859, to Elizabeth Bauer, a native of Brown County. They have eight children - Elizabeth (wife of Charles Sturm), Laura B., Anna M., Katie, Adda L., Maggie, Albert Lee and Clara Etta. Mr. and Mrs. Hauck are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, in which the former has been Deacon and Trustee. Politically, he is a strong Democrat.

WILLIAM HEIZER, farmer, P. O. Higginsport, was born in Pleasant Township, Brown Co., Ohio, March 28, 1833. He is the son of Jesse and Catharine (Drake) Heizer. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Ohio. His father was of German, his mother of English descent. By occupation, he is a farmer, which business he has followed all his life. He is the owner of 100 acres of land in this township. He has worked hard, and made most of his property by his own exertions. In 1875, he met with a sad accident. By the falling of a tree, he lost his left arm. But he runs his farm himself, and with success. He is a Democrat in his polit-. ical views, but does not allow politics to deter him from voting for the man that he I thinks is the best fitted for the place. He has been twice married, first to Eliza J. Abbott, a daughter of Charles Abbott. She was a native of Brown County. They had one child, Eva A., now the wife of Cornelius Wood. Mrs. Heizer died in 1861, and in 1866 he married Rhoda Winters, a native of Clermont County, Ohio. Their union has been blessed with a family of five children - Clara Belle, Emma Elzina, Levi T., Charles F. and Carrie Dell.

J. P. HELBLING, Sheriff of Brown County, Georgetown, was born in Union Township November 26, 1838. His father, Joseph Helbling, was a native of Bavaria, and a brewer by trade. He was engaged in that business in his native land, but thinking to better his condition, in 1832, he came to America. He subsequently located at Ripley, and was the first brewer in Brown County. He followed this business for many years, and only retired on account of old age. He died at Ripley, April 20, 1882, in the eighty-third year of his age. Mr. Helbling's mother was Margaret Fichter, also a native of Bavaria. She departed this life in 1878. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Helbling, six of whom are living. J. P. is the fifth child and third son, and was reared in Ripley, receiving a good English education in the public schools of that place, and in early life assisted his father in the brewing business. He subsequently engaged in the butcher trade with Henry Koewler, under the firm name of Helbling j & Koewler, which business has proved quite profitable to the present time. Mr. Helb- j ling has always been an earnest and outspoken Democrat, and in 1880 was nominated and subsequently elected by that party to his present position. Since assuming the duties of his new office, Mr. Helbling has made many warm personal friends among the people, irrespective of party, and no man in Brown County enjoys a higher reputation for integrity and good business qualifications. He is still engaged in his former business, which yields him a good annual sum, in addition to his official salary. Mr.

Helbling was married, in 1861, to Louisa Rubenaker, a native of Baden. Of the ten children sent to these parents, six are living - Joseph W. (Deputy Sheriff), J. P., Jr., Edward, George, Frances and Marion. Mr. and Mrs. Helbling are members of the Catholic Church.

ROBERT H. HIGGINS, Georgetown. There is no family in Brown County whose official relations to the county stand out with such prominence as those of the Higgins family. Col. Robert Higgins was a native of Virginia, and the owner of a large plantation on the South Branch of the Potomac River. He was a large dealer in cattle, driving them to the different Eastern markets. An incident is related of him : While participating in his periodical drives, he chanced to stop at a hotel, where he found a Guinea negro, strangely tatooed, chained to a pillar of the front porch. The owner wanted to sell the negro, and the price asked was $40. Col. Higgins examined the negro, found him perfect, in regard to physical condition, and asked the negro if he would like to become a laborer on his plantation. After surveying the Colonel from head to foot, the negro replied that, believing from his appearance, the Colonel was a humane and just master, he would be willing to enter his service. The Colonel immediately purchased the negro, who was of immense proportions, rather inclined to be vicious, and told him to assist in the drive. The negro did as requested, and after the Colonel had removed his chains, accompanied him home. He became a faithful servant. About this time the Revolutionary war commenced, and the Colonel became a Captain in the Virginia Volunteers of the Continental Line. Upon leaving home, he put the plantation and its inhabitants in the care of " Old Jack," his new purchase, and started for the war. During the battle of Germantown, he was captured by the British, and confined on Long Island, New York Harbor, where he was kept imprisoned for three years and nine months. At the expiration of this time, the Colonel returned home, and found that " Old Jack " had made an excellent manager and overseer. The plantation and buildings were in good shape, the crops large and well housed, and the servants in good condition. Also, during his absence, the Colonel's wife had died, and Old Jack " was caring for the motherless children as only a beloved servant can. Col. Higgins subsequently removed to Kentucky, where he married Mary Jolliffe, a native of Winchester, Va., and where " Old Jack " proved his faithfulness till his death. The Colonel was possessor of a land grant in the present Brown County, and in 1798 settled on the present site of Higginsport, which place was named after him. l! He was the only officer in Virginia who settled and occupied his own land grant in the State of Ohio." (So says a good authority.) Col. Higgins resided at Higginsport until a few years before his death, when he removed to Georgetown, and there died in 1825. He left three children by his second wife - John J., Robert V. and Lydia. He had eight children by his first wife, but none of them settled in Brown County. Mrs. Higgins departed this life in 1866 or 1867. John J. Higgins, their eldest son, was born on the site of Higginsport, and there reared. He attended school at Augusta, Ky., and subsequently read law at Georgetown, where he located in 1822. He practiced his profession awhile, and afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1838, he was elected Sheriff of Brown County, and served two terms. He then removed to a farm in Clark Township, but in 1845 was chosen to represent Brown County in the State Legislature. In 1851, he was elected the first Probate Judge, under the new State Constitution, and died at Georgetown in 1857. He married Martha C. Heterick, of Winchester, Va. Mrs. Higgins died in July, 1880. Capt. Robert H. Higgins, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest of eleven children, seven of whom are living. He was reared in Georgetown, and in 1848-49 was an attendant at Hillsboro Academy. After leaving college, he read law with David G. Devore, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1854. The same year, he accompanied a friend to Kansas, where he soon after was appointed Clerk of the Territory of Kansas, under Gov. Reeder. He served in this position eighteen months, and then resigned. He returned to Georgetown, and opened a law office for practice. In 1857, he was elected Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, of Brown County, and re-elected in 1860. In 1881, he raised Company D, of the Fiftyninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was elected Captain, and accompanied them to the field. He served three years and one month in this position ; was in command of the Regiment in East Tennessee, and the Atlanta campaign, and was honorably discharged November 1 . 1864. He engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in 1866 was again elected Clerk of Common Pleas Court; re-elected successively in 1869 and 1872, and subsequently served as a clerk in the Adjutant General s office, of Ohio, assisting in compiling the list of volunteer soldiers from Ohio to the late war, for publication. In 1881-82, he was book-keeper for a large firm in Cincinnati. Capt, Higgins is a member of the Odd Fellow and Masonic fraternities, and connected with Cincinnati Commandery. Knights Templars. He was married September 14, 1858, to M. B. M. Buckner, a native of Georgetown, and daughter of Philip J. Buckner, a prominent physician of Brown County. Mrs. Higgins' mother was Sophia Hewitt, a native of Uniontown, Penn., born at the foot of* the " Laurel Hills." Eight children have been given Captain and Mrs. Higgins, six of whom survive - Henry B., Robert H , Laura B., M. Bessie. Beatrice and Sophia. Willie T. and Blanche are deceased. Mrs. Higgins is a member of the Presbyterian Church. She was educated at the Ohio Female College, of College Hill, and finished her studies at the Wesleyan Female College of Cincinnati, under the tuition of the eminent Prof. E. B. Wilbur,

Henry B. Higgins, oldest child and son of Capt. Robert II. Higgins, was born in Georgetown August 30, 1859. He grew to manhood in his native village, and received a good education in its public schools. In 1875, he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas by his father, and the latter's successor, John Lafabre, retained him. In the spring of 1882, he was re-appoiated by C. C. Blair, the present Clerk. Mr. Higgins is a promising young man, aud an active member of the Democratic party. In April, 1882, he was elected Village Clerk, which position he also holds. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.