Washington Township (part 2 of 2)

JOHN MILLER, farmer, P. 0. Round Head, was born March 31, 1827. He is of German descent and one of the enterprising farmers of this township. His parents were Adam and Elizabeth Miller, natives of Germany, whence they emigrated, locating in the town of Newton, Hardin County, Ohio, in the year 1835. His father first worked a farm he had rented, then entered 175 acres of land on which he and his children moved, his wife having died soon after their arrival in Hardin Count}^ His decease occurred January 3, 1867. They were the parents of four children, two still living - Adam, of Goshen Township, and John, our subject. The latter was married, April 18, 1850, to Geneva Poe, born in Fayette County, Ohio, December 28, 1830, and a daughter of David and Elizabeth Poe, both deceased. Of the eight children that resulted from this union, four are living - William H., married; Ada; James A. and Finley P. The deceased were infants. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the church, he of the Lutheran and she of the Methodist Episcopal. He has filled the offices of Township Trustee and Treasurer of McDonald Township, and has been a member of the School Board. He started out in life as a clerk in the mercantile trade in which he continued until, by great economy, he was enabled to purchase a store. Some years after, he disposed of his stock, and bought 200 acres of land, on which he and his family are now residing, and to which he has since added, until it now comprises 303 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Miller is one of those men who start out in life with literall}^ nothing and work their way up by energ}'^ and perseverance.

HENRY C. NORMAN, farmer, P. 0. Kenton, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, February 11, 1834. His parents, James and Mary Norman, were natives of Virginia, who moved to Ohio, settled in Jefferson County ; thence, in 1843, removed to Hardin County, where they remained up to the time of their decease. Mr. Norman died about 1855, and Mrs. Norman about 1867. Our subject came to Hardin Count}^, in 1843, and settled in Taylor Creek, then moved to McDonald Township in 1876, where he has sinceresided. He was united in marriage, March 17, 1858, to Mary J. Collins, born in Hardin County, Ohio, January 30, 1834, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Collins, the former deceased. Nine children liave blessed this union, seven living - Olive, Isabella, William, Minnie M., James, Frank and Nathaniel. The two deceased are Helen M. and Alexander. Mr. Morgan has always followed the occupation of a farmer, and owns a well cultivated farm of 115 acres of land.

JAMES H. RAY, farmer, P. 0. Kenton, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, September 25, 1850. He is a son of John W. and Mercy Ray, the former a native of Maryland, the latter of Ohio. His mother died in Adams County, Ind., JanuaVy 17. 1880. His father is still living and is a resident of Indiana. Our subject was united in marriage, February 29, 1872, with Martha H. Gilpin, born in Adams County, Ind., March 1, 1851 ; she is a daughter of Jonathan and Nanc}^ Gilpin. Mr. Ray and his wife are the parents of five children, viz.: Leonidas B., born December 18, 1872 ; Leona A., born September 24, 1874; Katie 0., born July 4, 1877 ; Otto F., born December 8, 1879, and Edna M., born September 19, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Ray are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ray is young and industrious and is one of the rising farmers of McDonald Township.'

JOHN SHELDON, farmer, P. 0. Jumbo, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Februaiy 6, 1826. He is a son of William and Sarah Sheldon. His father was a native of England, his mother of the State of New York. They emigrated to Delaware Count}", Ohio, whore they were married in 1837, then came to Hardin County, and were among its first settlers. Mrs. Sheldon died | in September, 1850. Mr. Sheldon remarried, his second wife being Tennie A. I Shadley, deceased. Mr. Sheldon departed this life in September, 1870. The subject of this sketch was married, April 17, 1857, to Mary Fuls. she was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 1829, and is a daughter of John and Mary A. Fuls.

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon are the parents of seven children. Mr. Sheldon has been engaged in farming for a number of years. He owns 176 acres of well improved land, all secured b}^ his own industiy as he started out in life with nothing.

HENRY SIRKS, farmer, P. 0. Belle Centre, was born in Ohio January 26, 1816. He is a son of David and Ruth Sirks, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio, and first settled in Ross County, afterward moving to Allen County, Ohio ; here they remained until the death of Mrs. Sirks, which occurred May 15, 1835. Mr. Sirks subsequently remarried and lived in Hardin County until his decease, March 4, 1863. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, October 6, 1847, to Elizabeth Fry. She was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, April 17, 1826, and was a daughter of David and Elvira Fry, both deceased. Her father died August 12, 1847, her mother October 20, the same year. Mrs. Sirks is a member of the Disciple Church. Mr. Sirks pursues the occupation of a farmer and | owns forty-seven acres of land, where he is residing. To Mr. Sirks and his wife f have been born ten children, nine living, viz.: Elmira, David, Eliza -J., Rachel E., George W., Mary E., Amanda A., William W. and Francis H. Samantha A. was born August 10, 1857, died on January 27, 1867.

JOSEPH WARD, farmer, P. 0. Round Head, was born in Clark County, j Ohio, April 17, 1839. His parents, Debigia and Nancy Ward, were natives of Champaign County, Ohio, whence they emigrated and located in Clark County, j where they remained until their decease. Mr. Ward died in 1842, and Mrs. Ward subsequently married William Roberts, who has since died. Mrs. Ward is now living in Champaign County, Ohio. Our subject acquired a common school education, and has pursued the occupation of a farmer ; he owns i sixty-two and a half acres of improved land. On October 28, 1865, he was | united in marriage to Harriet Elizabeth Ford. She was born in Perry County, f Ohio, May 18, 1843, and is a daughter of Jacob and Nancy Ford. The latter f died in April, 1849. Her father is still living and is a resident of Hardin | Count}". Mr. and Mrs. Ward have been blessed with seven children, as fol- ! lows : Jacob C., William J., Rachel D., Mary M., John B., Fannie B. and , Robert N.

M. WOOLLEY, farmer, P. 0. Belle Centre, was born June 19, 1838, in Athens County, Ohio. His father, William Woolley, was a native of New Jersey, his mother was born in Virginia. They migrated to Ohio, to Indiana, thence returned to Athens County, Ohio, which they afterward left for Union County, and finally, in 1868, came to Hardin County, I where they remained until the death of Mr. Woolley, which occurred on July 6, I 1880. Mrs. Woolley subsequently removed to Logan County, Ohio, where she ji is still residing. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage October |i 15, 1857, with Hannah Keith, who was born in Allen County June 2, 1839, i and is a daughter of John and Julia Keith. Her parents are both deceased, j living are as follows : Mary A., Ralph, Martha J., Frank, William M., John C., j David E. and James C. Mr. Woolley has always been engaged in farming, [ and owns fifty acres of land where he is residing.

CORNELIUS WILLIAMS, farmer, P. 0. Jumbo, was born in Licking |[- County, Ohio, January 6, 1835. His parents are Joseph and Jerusha Williams, i' the former deceased in December, 1880. Our subject was united in marriage February 3, 1860, to Phebe Fuls, who was born in Hardin County, Ohio, in November, 1839, and is a daughter of Jacob and Anna Fuls. Her parents, both deceased, died in McDonald Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born six children, viz.: Elmira, wife of Joseph Remick, Ann M., Nevada, Holmes, Ira and John A. Mr. Williams has been engaged in farming most of his lifetime, and is the owner of 243 acres of land, with good farm buildings. He came to Hardin County when a boy, and has been generall}^ successful. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has filled the office of Township Trustee for two terms, also that of a School Director.

JAMES W. WILLIAMS, farmer, P. 0. Kenton, was born in Licking County, Ohio, November 14, 1837. He is a son of Joseph and Jerusha Williams, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of New York State. They were married in Licking County, Ohio, and moved to Hardin County in 1839, settling in McDonald Township. Mrs. Williams died in November, 1880, in McDonald Township, after which Mr. Williams removed to Missouri, where he re- married and is still residing. The subject of this sketch was married, April 7, 1864, to Sarah J. Liles, born July 27, 1838, in Logan County, Ohio, a daughter of Jeremiah and Elander C. Liles, the latter deceased. Seven children resulted from this union, five living - Frederick, Oren L., Elender R., Norman and Sherman. The deceased are Lewis C. and Nora A. Mr. Williams and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Williams has followed the occupation of a farmer, and is the owner of 130 acres of well-improved land. He has filled the office of a Township Trustee, and is a useful citizen of Mc- Donald Township.

JOSEPH ZAHLLER, farmer, P. 0. Jumbo, was born in Pennsylvania, January 17, 1815 ; his mother, Margaret Zahller, a native of Pennsylvania, died in 1860, at the age of sixty }mars. His father, Christian Zahller, was born in G-ermany, whence he emigrated with his parents when one year old. In 1836, he came with his wife and family to Ohio, located in Hardin County, where he lived to the time of his decease, 1878, at the age of eightyseven years. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, September 28, 1843, to Harriet Hemphill, born in Ross County, Ohio, October 25, 1822. and a daughter of Andrew and Anna Hemphill, both deceased. Five children have resulted from this union, of whom two are living, viz.: Sarah A. and Margaret M. The three deceased are William H., John A. and Joseph. Mrs. Zahller is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Zahller has resided in Hardin County since 1836, and has been a life-long farmer. He is the owner of a fine farm of 200 acres of mostly improved land, with fine farm buildings, and has been generally successful.

ELIJAH D. ZIMMERMAN, deceased, one of the old pioneers of Hardin County, was born in Ross Count}^, Ohio, July 4, 1815. His parents were Andrew and Ruth Zimmerman, both natives of Pennsylvania. They emigrated to Ohio, locating in Ross County, from which they subsequently moved to Hardin County, where they finall}^ settled. Mr. Zimmerman, Sr., died September 14, 1844, and his wife on November 24, 1855. Our subject was reared among the hardships of a new country and labored hard in clearing his land to bring it under cultivation. He was married in September, 1838, to Calista Stamats, born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1816, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Stamats, both deceased. This marriage resulted in seven children, six living, viz.: Augusta, born Jul}^ 1, 1839, wife of Gilfred Carnes; Margaret J., born January 1, 1842, wife of W. T. Patterson; Elizabeth C., born March 31, 1844, wife of C. W. Henkle; Martha, born December 27, 1847, wife of Hamilton Harrod; Hiram L., born November 27, 1849, married to Mary B. Borden, and Byron L., born June 18, 1853. The one deceased was Peter, born April 30, 1840, died ; March 15, 1851. Our subject was engaged in farming and stock dealing, and ; at the time of his decease owned 520 acres of land. He died on the homestead, July 26, 1866, and his widow on September 16, 1867. His two sons. Hi- \ ram and Byron, resided on the home farm, consisting of 90 acres, of which By- i ron owns 60. The}" are engaged in farming and stock dealing, and are generally successful. Hiram L. owns a good farm one mile distant from the old homestead, and both he and Byron L. own land in Anderson County, Kas.

HUMPHREY ZIMMERMAN, farmer, P. 0. Round Head, was born in Ross j County, Ohio, October 7, 1828. He is a son of John and Rebecca Zimmerman, natives of Ohio and Pioneers of Hardin County. His father was born January 19, 1800, his mother, on August 7, 1806. They were married on November 3, 1825, and in 1837 settled in McDonald Township, where they spent the remainder of their years. Mr. Zimmerman died October 6, 1864, and his wife on November 3, 1878. Our subject was married September 18, 1855, to Susan Wright. She was born on April 9, 1832, and was a daughter of Jacob and Anna Wright. She departed this life on August 15, 1867, and Mr. Zimmerman subsequently married Emily Dolph, January 17, 1870. This lady was born January 11, 1847, and was a daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Dolph, the for- j mer deceased. Mr. Zimmerman is the father of seven children, four living, viz.: \

John W., born July 29, 1857; Jennie, born October 10, 1860, is the wife of j G-eorge W. Tidd; Samantha, born August 4, 1863, is the wife of Wesley McCoy; j and Levi L., born April 4, 1865. The deceased are - Sarah, born Feb- f ruary 28, 1859, died August 4, 1860; Susan, born July 28, 1867, died Septem- | ber 2, 1867, and an infant. Our subject has been engaged in farming, and by i his industry and perseverance, has accumulated 137 acres of land, all under cul- f tivation and well improved. |

THOMAS J. ZIMMERMxAN, farmer, P. 0. Belle Centre, was born March 28, 1847, on the home farm in McDonald Township, Hardin County, Ohio. He is a son of John and Ptebecca Zimmerman, natives of Ohio, one of the old pio- [ neer families of McDonald Township. His father was born January 19,1800, j died October 6,J864. His mother was born August 7, 1806, died November 3, |

1878. They were married November 3, 1825, and settled in McDonald Town- j ship in 1837, at a time the country was covered with timber, and the Indian i still wandered through the forest. Mr. Zimmerman, Sr., cleared the farm where i his son Thomas now resides, which farm at first consisted of 450 acres. It now | belongs to Thomas Zimmerman, and comprises 175 acres of land. The subject f of this sketch was united in marriage, April 22, 1875, to Braska McWilliams, , born in Ohio, April 22, 1857, and a daughter of James and Belinda McWill- -j iams. This union has resulted in four children - Alice M., Cora, Charles W. | and James. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman belong to the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Zimmerman follows farming and stock-raising for his occupation; has been generally successful in life, and is one of the useful citizens of McDonald fi Township. ;