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300 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. Ohio, in which he prosecuted his studies until the following year, when he entered the Northwestern Normal School at Fostoria, Ohio, from which institution he graduated in 1877. In 1878, he entered the Northwestern Normal School at Ada, Ohio, from which he graduated in July, 1879, and during the time he was connected with this school acted in the capacity of preceptor. From 1875, he taught school during the winter months, and in this manner supported himself while at school. As a teacher, he won an enviable reputation, and ranked among the leading educators of the county in which he taught. In 1878, he began reading law privately, and in 1879 he began reading under the direction of Smirk & Batteson, prominent attorneys at Kenton, Ohio, who were his preceptors until Juno, 1880, when he came to Hicksville, and in December of the same year, was admitted to the bar. January 12, 1881, he entered into a copartnership with F. M. Thompson. He is an honorable member of the F. & A. M, Lodge of Hicksville, No. 478. F. M. Thompson, of the firm of Thompson & Griffin, attorneys at law, Hicksville, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, December 29, 1851. Mr. Thompson's boyhood was spent on the farm, and he received his rudimentary education in the common schools. At the age of seventeen years, he entered the Academy at Newville, Ind., where for three years he applied himself closely to study. After which he attended high school at Edgerton, Ohio, one year. During the winter months of the above time he taught school, and thus maintained himself during his school days. In the winters of 1875 and 1876, he was employed as a clerk in the State Insurance Department at Columbus, and during this time he began reading law under the tutelage of Hill, Myers & Cameron, who were his preceptors until admitted to the bar of Ohio, at Toledo, March 19, 1879. Immediately thereafter, he opened an office in Hicksville and began practicing in the courts of the county. In 1876, he was appointed one of the school examiners of the county, which position he yet holds. October 12, 1876, Mr. T. was married to Mercy daughter of Rev. N. Crary, by whom he has had two children, viz. : Harry F. and Ray S. J. C. Ryan, attorney at law, Hicksville, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1837, and is a son of James and Sarah (Cams) Ryan. The advantages Mr. R. enjoyed in early life for an education were such as common schools afforded, and with an additional course of study in the Salem Seminary, completed his educational course, He began reading law in 1859, and in 1860 entered the law office, of Kennett & Ambler, of Salem, Ohio, with whom he studied until admitted to the bar, 1863. After which he entered into a partnership with his preceptors, which continued eight years. He afterward opened an office in Washingtonville, in the above county, where he practiced until 1877, at which time he came to Hicksville. He was admitted to practice in the United States Court in 1868. He has been a close student in his profession, and is one of the best read lawyers in Northwestern Ohio. A though bodily deformed, he is well developed mentally, and his well balanced mind is stored with the fruits of constant and intelligent research. In 1872, he was married to Miss Emma A. Royer, of Dundee, Mich., who has borne him four children, viz.: John G., Qtis W., Pearl J. and an infant unnamed. John Swilly, deceased, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, July 16, 1835. At the age of twenty-one years he immigrated to America, and settled in Preble County, Ohio. He learned the wagon-maker's trade, and after locating in Eaton, in the above county, he plied his trade until September, 1852, at which time he came to Hicksville, Ohio, and continued his trade, which he abandoned in 1871. In 1869, he began keeping hotel, and made a popular and accommodating landlord, and hundreds of traveling men, who enjoyed his liberality and sociability, will remember him 'as " mine host," who was always untiring in his efforts to please. October 6, 1853, he was married to Miss Maria E,, daughter of Michael and Catherine Huffman, who bore him eight children, five of whom are living, viz.: Catherine Richards, nee Swilley, Amelia, Clara M., Mina C. and Eddie H. The deceased are Ellen Tannehill, nee Swilley, Isabella C. and George W. Mr. Swilly was quite successful in his business operations, and at his death, which occurred June 19, 1882, left a handsome property in the village of Hicksville. J. C. Clay, manufacturer of lumber, Hicksville, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio; in 1832, and is a son of Benjamin and Mary (Coughnour) Clay. He was born in Pennsylvania, and she in Virginia. The early life of our subject was spent in his native county, and he obtained a good practical education in the district schools. When old enough, he began work in a saw mill, which gave him employment until 1863, at which time he located at Hicksville and founded his present business, which has been largely increased since the beginning, he having now one of the best equipped mills in the county. He manufactures about two million feet of lumber every year. and gives employment to about twenty-five employes. Mr. C. is a member of the subordinate lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellowship, and also a member of the Disciples' Church, and he has also held the offices of Trustee and Treasurer of the town- HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 301 ship, and has been a member of the School Board for quite a number of years. In 1862, he was married to Miss M. R. Sager, who has borne him two children, viz. : E. L. and A. A. Amos Forlow, farmer, and manufacturer of drain tile, Hicksville, was born in Butler County, Ohio, August 21, 1833, and is a son of Benjamin and Catherine (Emmerick) Forlow, who settled in Defiance County in 1843. The subject of this sketch was ten years old when his parents located here, and in the common schools he obtained a good, practical education, Upon attaining his majority, he launched into business on his own responsibility and purchased eighty acres of land, the same upon which he now resides. The land was covered with a dense growth of timber, which he cleared away almost entirely by his own hands. August 14, 1862, he responded to his country's call for men, in the time of danger, and volunteered as a member of Company F, of the One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Immediately thereafter the regiment was transferred to Cincinnati and thence across the river to the soif of Kentucky, on which they did duty in campaigning, and participated in the famous Morgan raid, chasing that redoubtable worthy from New Albany, Ind., to Portsmouth, Ohio, near which place the disbandment of Morgan's force took place. His regiment was then annexed to Burnside's army, and took part in the Knoxville campaign, but owing to ill health our subject did not take a part. Then came the ever-memorable campaign of Atlanta and vicinity, and in this his regiment fought in many of the battles that occurred in and around that almost impregnable stronghold. Next, the regiment accompanied the Twenty-third Corps in the chase after Gen. Hood, and eventually brought up at Nashville. When Lee surrendered, the regiment was at Raleigh, N. C. He was discharged at Salisbury, N. C., July 14, 1865, and returned to his home J. B. Forlow, brother of our subject, enlisted at the same time, and in the same company and regiment, and had a similar experience. George and William, his other brothers, also did service; the former in the Forty-sixth Regiment and the latter in the Twenty-first Regiment. All were honorably discharged and returned home. Upon his return to civil life, the subject of this sketch resumed his labors upon his farm, and has been successful to a marked degree. He assessed the township in 1866, 1867 and 1868. He is much interested in religious matters, and he and his famify are exemplary members of the United Brethren Church. He has been Class Leader and Sunday School Superintendent ten years, and Secretary to the Quarterly Conference. November 19, 1856, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Myers, who has borne him seven children, six of whom are living, viz.: Frank L., Alice E., Lucinda A., Edward A., Amanda E. and Cora B.; George, deceased, aged fifteen months. Mr. F. formerly voted with the Democratic party, but for twelve years past has acted independently of party ties, and voted for men who represented the principles of temperance and justice, rather than for a blind zeal of political fanaticism. He also takes much interest in pioneer history, and is Secretary of the Old Settlers' Society, a position he has held since its organization in 1876. A. Summers was born in Washington County, Penn., June 30, 1812. and settled in Crawford County, Ohio, in 1849, and remained there untif 1872, and then removed to Hicksville, Defiance County. He read law with Judge Avery, of Wooster, in 1844, and was admitted to the bar in 1851. He practiced in Bucyrus, and was County Clerk there six years, up to 1864, at which time he began the practice of the law, and was elected twice Prosecuting Attorney and twice Judge of Probate, and continued until 1872, when he came to Hicksville and started an office and was elected Mayor in 1880. Mr. Summers has m> family, but has adopted and raised many children. In this particular he has been remarkably generous. He has long been an active friend of the common school system of Ohio, and did all he could to aid the system. He lives in a nice residence, noted for the appearance of its architecture and worth about $6,000, built in 1877. C. V. Tannehill, dentist, Hicksville, Ohio, was born in Hicksville Township October 12, 1852. He remained on his father's farm, two miles north of Hicksville, until eighteen years of age. He then attended school at Perrysville, Ashland Co., Ohio, for a term of two years, boarding with his uncle, Charles' 0. Tannehill; on leaving school, he commenced the study of his profession with Dr. J. L. Scott, of Defiance, Ohio, and, after completing his studies, he practiced in Doylestown and Willshire, Ohio. In the latter part of 1878, he married Ella, second daughter of John Swilley, of Hicksville, and located, for the practice of dentistry, in the above-named town, where he still remains. He has one son, Charles Herbert, born in 1879. Mark W. Babb was born in England, Somerset- shire, February 11, 1812, and came to America, landing in New York in 1833; after spending a short time in the city, went to Utica, N. Y., and worked at his trade a few months, and then went to Canton, Stark Co., Ohio, and remained there a short time, and went to the town of Bethlehem, Stark Co., Ohio, where he remained until 1846. He then removed to Hicks- 302 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. a farm, all in the woods, in above township, in the fall of 1842, paying $3 an acre for it, which was the general price of land there at that time. In 1842, when he came to Hicksville Township, Hicksville was a very small village. There were eleven votes cast in the township in 1842. Mr. Babb married Miss Mary Magdalene Smith, of Stark County, Ohio, in 1836, and they lived happily together for about two years and a half, when sickness entered their quiet home, and Mrs. Babb died of typhus fever in 1839, aged twenty-six years, leaving two children-Uri ah E. and Elvira M. He married, for his second wife, Miss Mary Hollinger, of Stark County, Ohio, August 6, 1843. His children by this marriage are Alfred J., Lucinda C., Harriet E., Eliza A., Malinda J. and Mary A. Three of the children are deceased; Elvira M. died April 12, 1872; Eliza A. died July 17, 1874, and Malinda died February 27, 1879. Mr. Babb is a shoe-maker by trade. He commenced the trade when fifteen years of age, and served an apprenticeship of six years in England, and still works considerably at the bench, having worked pretty steadily at the business for fifty-six years. He still owns the farm he purchased here in 1842, but resides at present in the village of Hicksville, now a thriving town of about 1,600 inhabitants. He is in his seventy-first year of age, and is a stout, robust man for his years. William Kinmont was born in Scotland February 2, 1794, and came to America in 1824, and settled in Richland County, Ohio, in 1825, where he purchased a farm of 100 acres in Monroe Township. He remained there about three years. He married Miss Nancy Pope, of Richland County, in 1827. By this marriage he had nine "children. Their names are Alexander, Amanda, Thomas C., William, Lucy, Charles, Elizabeth, Nancy, Annie A. He removed to Cincinnati in the winter of 1827-28, where he taught the languages in Alexander Kinmont's Academy until the year 1835, when he removed to Champaign County, Ohio, on a farm, and came to Hicksville Township in 1848, where he cleared up a farm of eighty acres in four or five years, with the help of his boys. He settled on his present homestead of thirty acres in 1860. All his children are living but Charles and Elizabeth. Mrs. K. died December 13, 1881, at the age of seventy-seven years. Our subject is a highly educated man, and followed the occupation of teaching during the winters until he came to Hicksville Township, when he gave up teaching, except in his own family. He has been, and now is, a constant reader, of a remarkably retentive memory, in conversation always asking questions of old or young. He is a thorough believer in the doctrines of Emanuel Swedenborg. Dr. T. C. Kinmont, son of William Kinmont, vas born October 8, 1832, in Cincinnati, Hamilton 'Jo., Ohio, and removed with his parents, in 1835, to Champaign County, Ohio. He attended school in Champaign and Crawford Counties, under his father is teacher, in the winters, and under other teachers luring the summer, and came to Defiance County with his parents in October, 1848. He attended high school at Newville, DeKalb Co., Ind., the winters of L854-55 and 1856-57. In November, 1857, he went o the Territory of Kansas, and remained in Kansas until September, 1859, when he returned to Defiance bounty, Ohio. In 1860, he built the house his father now lives in, as he then had learned the trade of a 3arpenter. In 1861, he enlisted as a private soldier in the Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteers for three months, was honorably discharged at expiration of his three months' service, and re-enlisted in September, 1861,in the Forty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry for three years. At organization of the Forty-fourth, he was elected Second Lieutenant of Company F of said regiment. He served in that capacity until the battle of Fort Donelson, in Kentucky, when he took command, and led in the final charge at the surrender of the fort. He continued in command of Company F until the battle of Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh, when, in the first day's battle, on Sunday, April 6, he fell pierced through the thigh with a musket ball, which disabled him for life. He commenced the study of medicine while confined to his bed from his wounds, in the spring of 1863, and continued his studies with Dr. B. M. Rakestraw, at his office in Hicksville, Ohio, until he graduated at Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1866, after taking two full courses of lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., and one summer course at the Berkshire Medical School at Pittsfield, Mass., and commenced the practice of medicine at Hicksville in 1866 in partnership with Dr. B. M. Rakestraw, which continued one year. He is now in his own office. Dr. Kinmont married Miss R. C. Albertson, daughter of Edward Albertson and Abigail Albertson, of Wayne County, Ohio, December 24, 1865. He has no family. He belongs to the Medical Society of Hicksville, and also to the Northwestern Ohio Medical Society. He served first term as Mayor of Hicksville after its incorporation. He has always had a good paying practice, when his health would permit him to follow his profession. Joseph Bunnell. Byron Bunnell, the father of Joseph Bunnell, was born at Binghamton, Broome Co., N. Y., February 7, 1802; was married, June 2, 1828, to Miss Lucy Lounsberry, who was born August 4, 1804. Their family consisted of Joseph S., Emily, Sarah L., John and William. In the spring of 1836. Mr. Bunnell and his family left their home in New York, stopping six months in Trumbull Coun- HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 303 ty, Ohio, when they again resumed their journey, by laud and water, which in those days were not shortened by railways. Waiting in Defiance three days for the arrival of Lucius Lounsberry. they again journeyed on. After traveling a few miles, their infant of six months was taken sick. Mrs. Bunnell, thinking it was caused by the jolting of the heavily loaded wagon, started to walk, carrying the child in her arms; but it grew worse. She walked on as rapidly as possible, in the hope of finding a house where she might rest herself and secure help for the little sufferer. Coming upon Mr. Hamilton plowing, she asked him if he knew where she could stop and rest, as her child was very sick. He very kindly took her to his home, where everything that could be was done for its relief. The teams arrived soon after, having been delayed by the falling timber. That was a night long to be remembered by Mrs. Bunnell. They were all tired, and slept soundly, while she .watched over the sick one as none but a mother can. In the morning, she was sick and unable to travel, but the teams must go on. Mr. Bunnell, thinking rest would restore them to health, left the family with these kind strangers and went on to Hicksville, as it required one man to hold the wagon while another drove over the fallen timber. Rest or medicine could not restore the child, however, and before his return they had laid the little sufferer to rest on the banks of the Maumee. After bidding their kind entertainers farewell, with saddened hearts they journeyed on, that night stopping with Andrew Clemmer; next morning they started for Hicksville, Mrs. Bunnell alone driving five cows a distance of nine miles through unbroken forest without a single settler's cabin. It rained most of the way; late in the afternoon she arrived at Hicksville, wet and weary. The town at that time consisted of a double log cabin, standing on the crossing of the streets now known as Main and High streets, occupied by Mr. Comstock. The first man shemet at Hicksville was Joseph Clark. He took charge of the cows while she went into Mr. Comstock's to wait for the teams. Next day, went to their land near Newville, Ind., taking some men with them to cut a road. They moved into a small log cabin until Mr. Bunnell cleared a spot and prepared the logs for their cabin, bringing lumber from Fort Wayne, up the St. Joe River in a long dug-out, known as a pirogue. Men came from several miles distant to help raise the cabin. Mrs. Bunnell cooked dinner for the raisers over a fire built between two stumps, with a pole laid across on which to hang the kettles, while Sarah, a little girl of three years, was shaking with the ague. When night came, they had the logs up and half of the roof on, and lighting their torches of hickory bark, the men started homeward through the woods. No doors or windows had been cut out, and the logs were closely fitted, but finding a hollow in the ground under the logs, Mr. Bunnell put in some boards for a floor, and by lying down flat, crawled in, spread down a blanket and drew the beds in. Mrs. Bunnell and children crawled in through the same opening. Spreading their beds on the boards, they retired for the night, amid the howling of wolves and hooting of owls. Being tired, they slept soundly. On awaking in the morning, they were astonished to find their beds covered with snow four inches deep. This was the 4th day of October, 1836. In the morning, Mr. Bunnell sawed out a place For a door, the men returned and finished the house, leaving a hole in the roof for the smoke to escape. They laid up some stones to protect the logs from the fire and this served their purpose for heating and cooking. In sickness, they had to depend upon house remedies, except quinine and the like, which could be secured at Fort Wayne, the nearest trading place and the nearest grist mils. In severe sickness, they had to send to Denmark for Dr. Chandler, who was often short of supplies. Mrs. Bunnell states an instance to illustrate. On being called to see her husband, Dr. Chandler gave him all the tartar emetic he had, deluged him with warm water, and as a last resort, tickled his throat with a feather, which had the desired effect. The country at that time was inhabited mostly by Indians. They were the most frequent visitors the white settlers had, but were seldom troublesome, unless intoxicated or they found you were afraid of them. One day, two Indians came to their house, one being sober, the other intoxicated and ugly. He demanded whisky and tobacco, which he failed to receive. He raised his gun and pointed it at Sarah Bunnell, a child playing on the floor. The sober Indian snatched the gun from him, exclaiming, "Bad Indian. kill white pappoose." He then drew his knife, telling him " March wigwam." Hicksville having improved, a grist and saw mill having been built, Mr. Edgerton engaged Mr. Bunnell for miller, and they moved to Hicksville in the spring of 1839. That year Mr. Bunnell built the Hicksville House, which was the only hotel in town, and occupied it until June 25, 1855, when it was burned. Mary Lounsberry; a little niece of ten years, was burned to death; the other occupants escaped only with their lives. In 1853, Mr. Bunnell was elected Sheriff of Defiance County, and in 1855 was re-elected and was a faithful and energetic officer to the time of his death, which occurred on the evening of the 19th of August, 1856, in his fifty-fifth year. He was a man much esteemed by all who knew him, and we herewith append to this brief sketch the proceedings of 304 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. the Defiance County Bar, as published at the time in the Defiance County Democrat. "At a meeting of the Defiance County Bar, on the 21st inst., immediately preceding the funeral of Byron Bunnell, Esq., late Sheriff of Defiance County, Woolsey Wells, Esq., was called to the chair, and Edward H. Phelps, Esq., appointed Secretary. On motion, it was resolved that the members of the bar will this day attend the funeral of Byron Bunnell, late Sheriff of Defiance County, and immediately thereafter will re-assemble for the purpose of adopting appropriate resolutions. Immediately after the funeral, the bar again assembled, and on motion, E. H. Leland, William Sheffield and J. W. McKim, Esq., were appointed a committee to draft resolutions, who reported the following, which were unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the members of the Defiance Bar have heard with feelings of profound regret of the death of Byron Bunnell, Esq., late Sheriff of Defiance County, and that we sympathize with the widow and relatives of the deceased in this their bereavement. Resolved, That the fidelity, integrity and courtesy of the deceased have secured for him our respect and confidence as an officer, and our esteem as a man. Resolved. That in his death the public has lost an upright and faithful officer; and society has lost a high-minded, intelligent and useful citizen. Resolved, That these resolutions be reported to the Court of Common Pleas at its next session with the request that they be spread upon its records. Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the Defiance Democrat, and a copy of them, signed by the Chairman and Secretary of this meeting. be sent to the family of the deceased. WOOLSEY WELLS, Chairman E. H. PHELPS, Secretary." Mrs. Bunnell, who is in her eightieth year, is still living at Hicksville, and relates interesting stories of pioneer life to her grandchildren and great grand-children, having seen the vast wilderness of 1836, then the home of the red man, give way beneath the ax and strong arm of the white man, and in . their place broad acres and beautiful homes of many American people. Joseph S. Bunnell was born at Binghamton, Broome Co., N. Y., April 5, 1830. Moving with his parents to Indiana in 1836 and to Hicksville in 1839. He was married November 25, 1852, to Miss Nancy Wort, who was born January 23, 1833. They have a family of two children--Isabella and Annette H. Mr. Bunnell purchased the farm consisting of 120 acres June 25, 1860, at that time mostly in woods, but the work of improvement went on. The town having improved, the B. & 0. R. R. crossing the farm, there was a demand for more town lots, therefore, March 18, 1873, Mr. Bunnell laid out his first addition to Hicksville. In the spring of 1874, there being still a great demand, he laid out his second addition May 1, 1874. But Hicksville being a live, wide-awake place, demanded more. hence, April 21, 1875, he laid out a third addition. The house he now occupies w4 built in 1870. Mr. Bunnell has spent the greater part of his life in Hicksville, having resided here since 1839, seeing the town of one log cabin grow to the prosperous village it now is. When a lad of ten years, he and his dog were out at play when at a distance he saw a deer coming toward them. The obedient dog stood by his young master's side until told to go, when he seized the deer, and Joseph cut its throat with his jack-knife. The place where this occurred is now the home of Anthony Robertson, in Smith Township. Michael Hoffman, i native of Germany, emigrated to America in an early day, and to Southern Ohio in September 17. 1857. He was born November 14, 1809, and died August 29, 1875. Mrs. Catherine Hoffman was born January 1, 1817, and still resides on the old farm on which she toiled so hard. By the enterprise of the Hoffman family, the farm came into an excellent state of cultivation. The family consisted of Uriah, Annie L., G. W., J. A., Peter, Catharine, . Mary, Adam, Clara, Franklin and Samuel, of whom eight are living, all residing within an hour's drive of the old farm. John A. Hoffman enlisted August 13, 1862, and was discharged June 27, 1865, having passed through many hard battles, including Knoxville siege, Buzzard's Roost, Atlanta, Frankfort and Nashville. A few years after the war, he entered the ministry of the United Baptist Church, and is still in the itinerancy. In 1881 and 1882, he was pastor of the Georgetown Mission, and during that time had charge of the erection of two fine churches a brick (colored) chapel at Prairie Creek, in Washington Township, and that at Oak Grove, in Delaware Township. The first class was organized November 10, 1880; the second June 11, 1881, by J. A. Hoffman, pastor. He was married July 3, 1866, to Mary Callista, daughter of Ptolemy and S. Y. Edson, and has the following chifdren: Ernestus S., Andrew P., Lillian Lenora, and an infant unnamed. The mother of Mrs. J. A. Hoffman was full cousin to Mr. Poe, who distinguished himself by killing Bigfoot, the Indian, on the banks of the Ohio G. W Hoffman was born in Pennsylvania in 1840, and is a son of Michael Hoffman. He was married to Sarah A. Wirt in 1865, and their family consists of Franklin M., Reuben C., Hattie B., Vernon L., Burchard and Estella. Their fine farm of eighty-three acres has been cleared up from a dense forest by their untiring exertions. Amos Warner was born in Hardiu County, Ohio, IOctober 19, 1826, and removed with his parents to Crawford County in 1832. His father, Charles War- HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 305 ner, died November 17, 1873, and his mother, Catharine, died in 1874 aged seventy-four years. Amos Warner (Anne to Hicksville Township in 1857, taking up eighty acres of timbered land, which are now well improved, with good house and barn. He married Mary Kunkle, November 22, 1855, and their family consists of Alfred C., Frank G., John G., Etta B., Anna A., Carrie W., Charles R. and Mary. George Norick came to Hicksvifle, April 3, 1852, and cleared up a 100-acre farm which is now in a good state of cultivation, and Mr. Norick is both i good farmer and a good citizen. His sons are Jacob, George and Stephen H. The former enlisted, February 25, 1863, in Company E., Twenty-first regiment, and perished by sickness in the South, like so many other defenders of our country. John M. Ainsworth, a merchant of the firm of Ainsworth, Bow & Bevington, is one of the most successful and respected citizens of Hicksville. He was born at West Jefferson, Madison Co., Ohio, September 10, 1835, and is the son of William and Susan Milton Ainsworth. He lived at West Jefferson till thirteen years of age, and in 1848, went with his parents to Van Wert County, Ohio, where he remained working on a farm. till 1853, when he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and became a clerk in a mercantile firm in that city, N. B. Freeman &. Co., by whom in 1857 he was sent to Hicksville to open and conduct a store of general merchandise. He remained with this firm till it closed out its business in Hicksville, when he established the firm of J. M. Ainsworth & Co., his partner being Hon. A. P. Edgerton. This firm, under the exclusive management of Mr. Ainsworth, did a successful business, and after two years he purchased the interest of his partner and continued the business on his own account. Mr. Ainsworth remained in Hicksville during its darkest business period, but by his energy, fidelity and foresight he kept the business of the country around at Hicksville which otherwise would have slipped away to competing points then having' railroad advantages, while Hicksville had none till 1874. In addition to Mr. Ainsworth's business at Hicksville he formed the partnership of Payne, Ainsworth & Co., at Fort Wayne, which built a mill and was extensively engaged in the manufacture of staves. The firm continued in operation several years, and on its dissolution Mr. Ainsworth established the present firm of Ainsworth, Bow & Bevington. Mr. Ainsworth has always enjoyed the highest reputation for business integrity and capacity. In his business and social intercourse he is always the considerate gentleman, whose moral and Christian character could be followed to great advantage by the young men of the country. He is one of the men who make towns, and give them success and character. On the 29th day of December, 1859, Mr. Ainsworth married Sarah Parker, daughter of Allen Parker and Esther Osborn, whose marriage twenty years before was the first in Hicksville Township. They have four children— Carrie (Mrs Bassett), Nettie. Alda and Susie. Simon W. Fish has especial pride in his military record in the late war, where he rallied "with the brave boys in blue " in defense of his beloved country. He was a resident of Hicksville at the time of his enlistment in Company E, Twenty-first Ohio Veteran Volunteers for three years or the war. He was mustered into the United States Army at Toledo, January 18, 1864, but having become exposed to measles he was allowed ten days' furlough, and a few days after was taken ill, and having to rejoin his regiment before he was well, he suffered severely in con sequence, the cold settling in his head and breast. However, he went with the boys when Sherman started on his great Atlanta campaign, and was in the battles from Ringgold, Ga., to New Hope Church, but on the first of June, he was sent back to Chattanooga Hospital, Tenn ; thence to Cumberland Field Hospital, Tenn. ; thence to Totten Hospital, Ky.; then to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he got better, in September. He was then sent to Louisville, Ky., where he was one of Gen. Palmer's headquarter guards, remaining until his regiment returned, when he was mustered out and honorably discharged at Columbus, July 25, 1865, arriving home on the 29th of the same month. L. R. Putnam is aso especially proud of his patriotic record during the war. He enlisted at Lockport, N. Y., a private in the Twenty-third New York Independent Battery on February 7, 1864, for three years or during the war. He was discharged at Washington. D. C., June 28, 1865, by reason of compliance with telegram A. G. O., May 3, 1865. Ephraim Butter, private, Company D, One Hundredth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisted August 14, 1862; discharged by reason of expiration of term, June 20, 1865. Dr. B. M. Rakestraw was born at Goshen, Columbiana County, Ohio, December 19, 1818, of Quaker parents, Levi and Rebecca Rakestraw. He was raised on a farm; what schooling he received being at the Quaker school at Goshen. In his twentieth year, he studied dentistry with Dr. Thompson, but did not long pursue this avocation, entering in his twenty- third year, upon the study of medicine with Dr. B. D. Williams, of Reedtown, Seneca Co., Ohio. In 1846, he removed to Hicksville in his twenty-seventh year. He has remained there ever since, chiefly engaged in the practice of medicine, at which he obtained a good reputation. Of late, his specialty has been the subject of cancer and its cure. Politicilly, he commenced acting with the Demo- 306 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. crats in 1841, but in 1852 transferred his allegiance to the Repuhlican party, with which he has acted ever since. The platform that nominated Pierce in 1852 at Baltimore, aroused his antagonism to the Democrats by coming in contact with his abolition instincts. The Doctor united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1861, to which he still belongs. Dr. Rakestraw's habits are exceedingly regular, he being strictly temperate, never having drank a glass of beer in his life, or offered or received from anyone anything that intoxicates. He has been married four times. His first wife, Esther T. Hughes, of Berks County, Penn., to whom he was married July 4, 1840, died June 24, 1841. His next marriage was on May 14, 1846, to Carolina G. Taylor, of Seneca County, with whom he lived eleven years, when, like his first wife, she died of that terrible disease, pulmonary consumption, leaving four children--Berton W., Ann Viola, who both died in infancy, Eliza J. and Rebecca, both living. For his third wife he married Clarissa W. Ensign, of Lake County, on January 28, 1858, but March 6, 1859, she died leaving a little girl, four days old, now living at Clinton Junction, Wis. His present wife is Miss C. A. Alberton. As a professional man, the Doctor has always been ready to give his time and skull to the care of the afflicted, and not being at all of a grasping disposition he has often failed to receive his proper reward. On January 9, 1879, he delivered the address before the District Medical Association at Hicksville, which is replete with nohle and eloquently expressed thoughts. Conrad Thoman was born June 5, 1838, in Germany. When nine years of age, he immigrated to America with his father, Conrad, Sr., his mother having died in Germany. His brothers and sisters were named Mary, Catharine, Laura and Henry, who are all living. His father came to Crawford County, Ohio, where he died in his seventy-sixth year. When twelve years old, our subject struck out for himself, and when fifteen he commenced to learn harness making at Liberty Corners, Crawford County. In 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on September 26, 1861. He was at Pittsburg Landing, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Atlanta and Lovejoy, and was with the Fourth Michigan and Third Ohio when Jeff Davis was captured. He was honorably discharged August 4, 1865, having escaped without a scratch, his horse being shot down from under him at Stone River. He then returned to Crawford County aud January, 1866, came to Hicksville, taking up his trade for a time, since which he has driven team and now a dray. He married, in 1866 Melissa J., daughter of Finlay and Margaret (Gardner) Britton, by whom he has two children--Effa Bell, born in 1867, and Charles Levi horn in 1870. John Lawson, farmer, was born in York County, Penn., in 1807, and is a son of Joseph and Magdalen (Baughman) Lawson, natives of Pennsylvania and of English and German descent Joseph, father of our subject, died in Pennsylvania when John was seven years of age. His mother also died in Pennsylvania. Our subject was reared on the farm by his grandfather, Francis Baughman, with whom he remained till he was eighteen years old, at which time he began learning the shoe-maker's trade, until he came to Ohio, in 1834, and the twenty years following he lived in Richland County, Ohio, and followed his trade. In 1854, he came to his present place, having bought 160 acres three years previous to his settlement. He then proceeded to clear up his land, on which he yet resides. He has been identified with some of the minor offices of the township, but has cared little for the honors of office. He was married in 1828 to Margaret, daughter of George and Lizzie (Gilnix) Snyder of Pennsylvania, by whom he has had fourteen children, of whom nine are living, viz., Amos, Emanuel, Leah, Henry, George, Julia A., Mary, Sylvester and William F. The deceased are Peggy, Elizabeth. John, Joseph and Lydia. Joseph, John, George and Emanuel were in the service during the late war, and did active service and were all honorably discharged. John was a member of Company F, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry; enlisted August, 1862, died at Knoxville, Tenn., March, 1864. Joseph was a member of an Illinois cavalry regiment; enlisted in the beginning of the war; passed through seventeen battles and died at Angola, Ill.. July 8, 1865. George enlisted in an Illinois regiment near the close of the war. Emanuel served in the Squirrel Hunters' Brigade, enlisted in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson are members of the Lutheran Church. George W. Batchelor, a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, resides with his grandparents and is a bright, intelligent boy. Lucius Gale was born December 31, 1812, at Bridgeport, Vt., and received a common school education in his native town and also attended in 1829 the Academy of Shoreham, in the adjoining town. His preceptor was the Rev. Amzi Jones, Jr. In 1837, he immigrated to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he remained five years and then came to 'Milford Township, Defiance County, in 1842. He was married Dec. 31, 1839, to Mary E., daughter of Abner and Cynthia (Hall) Parmalee, of St. Lawrence County, N. Y. Three children were born to them, viz., Phineas A., Spaulding (died in infancy) and Sarah D. Mrs. Gale died March 20, 1853, and HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 307 Mr. Gale married for his second wife Mercy L., daughter of James and Sebrand Provines, of Huntington County, Ind., April 13, 1854. They have no children. Mr. Gale taught school three months in the winter of 1842, in the Chapman District, now known as District No. 2, Milford Township. His wife, Mary E., taught the same school in the winter of 1843 and again taught school in the same township in the winter of 1844. After this, school was taught in the cabin of Mr. Pierce, mostly for the benefit of Mr. Pierce and a neighbor. Mr. Gale says the first Presbyterian he recollects of being in Farmer Township was the Rev. Mr. Winters, but does not recollect the name of the Methodist Episcopal preacher who preached in Farmer Center. The pioneers who preceded him to the township were George W. Chapman, W, G. Pierce, J. Henry, J. Hulbert, E. Crary, D. Boyles and others. Mr. Gale kept an account of expenses for living when he came to the township in 1842, and for the year following the date of his settlement, the grand total of the cost of living for his family was $80. This amount was all that was necessary to furnish the necessaries for a family of three persons, which, when compared to the present rates for living, gives the reader an idea of the strict economy practiced by the early settlers. Ordinarily, three to four shillings per day was paid for hired help, but during the busy season of the year as much as $1.50 to $2 per day was paid, which always included hoard. William J. Henry, farmer, was born in Marion County, Ohio July 25, 1832, and is a son of. Levi and Sarah (McWhirter) Henry. The McWhirters were natives of Virginia who settled in Pennsylvania and afterward in Marion County, Ohio. The Henrys came from Pennsylvania, and first settled in Marion County, Ohio, in about 1813, and a year later in Hancock County, Ohio, for a year or so and then back to Marion County, where they made a permanent home. She died in 1866 in this county. He resides in Hicksville. The early life of our subject was passed in Craw. ford County, Ohio, after his sixth year. In the common schools he received a district school education. He was married in 1857, to Amanda, the (laughter of Isaac Wartenbee, a pioneer of Defiance County, Ohio. He located in this township in 1852, and first purchased, northeast of Hicksville three miles, eighty acres, at $2.50 per acre. Here he lived until the war broke out, and August 29, 1861, enlisted in Company E, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Was immediately after transferred to the front in Eastern Kentucky. Under Gen. Nelson, the fall and winter of 1861, the regiment was engaged in Eastern. Kentucky, and in the spring of 1862 the regiment was rendezvoused at Bacon Creek, where they re- mained, fighting the battle of Green River, when they became annexed to Gen. Mitchell's command, and participated in the capture of Huntsville, Ala., the summer of 1862. The regiment in Gen. Negle's division remained on garrison duty at Nashville. Tenn., until December of the same year, when they participated in the battle of Stone River; lay in camp till May of 1863, and then entered the Chickamauga Camp, at Mission Ridge fight and in all the fights that took place in and around that great stronghold, after which followed on in the Atlanta campaign, and he was in all the incessant fighting for five months, and followed Sherman to the sea. Was at Jonesboro, and present at the surrender of Savannah to Gen. Sherman's army, Christmas, 1864. Followed the fortunes of the army until Johnston's surrender, when the regiment was stationed on the Cape Fear River. It was then to Richmond; then to Washington and participated in the grand review of the army. Was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 28, 1865'. He then returned to his home and located on the old farm, and two years after went to Milford Township, in which he resided seven years; then located where he now lives. He now owns 140 acres of well-improved land. He was Justice of the Peace during the time he lived in Milford one term. To Mr. and Mrs Henry have been born two children, viz.. Sarah A., born February 10, 1859, and William E., born March 13, 1861. John A. Miller was bore in Jefferson County, Ohio, October 14, 1814. His parents were natives of Washington County, Penn., who married in Jefferson County, Ohio, and removed from there in 1815 to Holmes County. Mr. Miller remained with his parents until of age, having little or no educational advantages. He married, May 31, 1836, Margaret, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Davison) Boon, and they have a family of five sans and two daughters, viz. : James M., who died from the effects of disease contracted while in the army; Samuel B.; Martha; Newton, who died in the army; Dorotha. William A. and John C. They moved to Section 5, this township, October, 1845, taking up at first eighty acres of wild land, then eighty more. In 1856, he 'sold his farm and went in with Byron Works for two years, in the dry goods business; then he ran the tannery on the corner of Fort Wayne and Antwerp pike for six years. He bought the business of Ross & Boon. He then started the saw mill and shingle manufactory, and from December, 1873, till 1880, he was in the bakery business. He is now retired, enjoying the fruits of. his labor and energy. Ptolemy Edson was born in Genesee County, N. Y., December 19, 1818, and removed with his parents to Portage County Ohio, and settled in the town 308 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. of Brimfield, and remained there trll he was ibout eighteen years of age, and then removed to Henry County, Ohio, about 1857, when he settled in Hicksville Township. He married Miss Susan Y. Hartel March 4, 1850. His family is composed of four children—one boy, Samuel, and three girls, Mary C., Elizabeth J. and Arletta M., all living and married. Mr. Edson has a homestead of 120 acres. He cleared it up himself and did much hard work. His neighbors were William Babbage, David Greer, Charles Tustison, George Miller and John Ryan. These were all here when he came. At that time, milling was done at Brunersburg, Clarksville and other points. At that time there was yet plenty of wild game, such as deer, turkeys and wolves, although he was not much of a hunter. Clearing land was hard work and he worked at it with much zeal. He assisted his neighbors in the erection of many cabins and other work, such as rolling logs and the like. The game disappeared about 1865. Mrs. E. R. Greer, widow of the late David Greer, was born in Rootstown, Portage County, Ohio, March 28, 1816, and came to Hicksville Township October, 1840, being married to David Greer in Portage County, October 16, 1838, and came with him to Defiance County, where he resided until 1862, when he died, aged about forty-eight years, being born in 1814. The children at his death were Samuel, Mary, A., James H., Charles H.-three boys and one girl. Samuel C. died in the army from a wound received at the battle of Stone River, Tenn. He died in Hospital No 3, Murfreesboro, Tenn. The rest are all living and married. Great changes have taken place since Mrs. Greer landed in this township. At that time the only house between the Six Corners and Hicksville was that of Buenos Ayres, now owned by John Clemmer, and resided in by him and family. Now there are many fine residences along that road. The United Brethren Church organized about 1850. The present brick church was built in 1875 and cost $2,500. The members number about seventy. The preacher was James W. Martin, who built or superintended the church. There were three trustees who caused it to be huilt. Rev. Joseph Brown is the preacher in charge, and the congregation is increasing. The present preacher is Rev. Joseph Brown. George Warner was born November 15, 1818, near Hanover, Penn., and came with his parents, Charles and Catherine Warner, to Harrison County, Ohio, where they remained seveu years, and then removed to Crawford County, Ohio, where he remained until 1848, wheu he removed to Hicksville Township. In 1841, he married Miss Amanda Heener, by whom he had thirteen children ; their names were John, Mary Ann, Margaret Anu, Samuel, Alfred, Irena, C. E. William, Jacob, Amos, George, Sarah, Lauretta ; of these six are dead—William, Jacob Amos, Sarah, George, Lauretta. Mrs. Amanda Warner, his wife, died April 13, 1864 ; after which he married Mrs. Elizaheth Wirt for his second wife, August 19, 1866, with whom he lived fifteen years; he died, August 4, 1881. He owned a large farm, was an industrious man and a good neighbor, and had things comfortably situated around him. Of his children, John, Mary Aun and Margaret Ann are married. John was born in Crawford County, Ohio, October 1, 1842. He stayed with his father and helped to clear up the farm, now occupied by the younger children, until he became twenty-three years of age, at which time he came to Hicksville and engaged in the grocery business for some years, after which time he married, Miss Sarah A. Haller, February 11, 1875, daughter of J. F. Haller, Defiance County. She was born July 4, 1852 ; to them were born three children—W. Fletcher, Nellie E., Inez A. John Waruer's present occupation is that of a farmer and real estate dealer, at which he has been quite successful. Like his father, he ranks high in the esteem of his fellow-men, he beiug a sober, industrious, hard-working man. CHAPTER XXV. HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP—AYERSVILLE—CHURCHES—AYERSVILLE GRANGE— VOTERS OF 1845—PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP was organized in 1842. The following is a duplicate of the first election on record at the Township Clerk's office in Highland Township, then Henry County : " December 18, 1843, we met at the house of John Wiler, agreeable to the Commissioners of Henry County, Ohio, to elect township officers : John M. Sanford, Philip G. Hoeltzel and Henry Brechbill as Trustees ; Brazilla Hendrix as Treasurer ; Jacob Kraft, Clerk ; William Boucher, Augustus Skiver aud John Wiler, Fence Viewers ; Jacob T. Peterson and David Skiver, Overseers of the Poor. " JACOB KRAFT, (Auk. "April 1, 1844, we met at the house of John Wiler, agreeable to the Trustees of Highland Township, to elect township officers : John M. Sanford, Philip G. Hoeltzel and Henry Brechbill, Trustees ; Brazilla Hen- HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 309 drix, Treasurer ; Jacob Kraft, Clerk ; Jacob Peterson, Assessor ; William Boucher and William Harper, Constahles ; David Skiver and William Harper, Overseers. of the Poor ; Thomas Peterson, William Boucher and Augustus Skiver, Fence Viewers. "JACOB KRAFT, Clerk. " May 18, 1844, we met at the house of John Wiler, agreeable to the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Henry County, to elect township officers : Brazilla Hendrix, Justice of the Peace. " JACOB KRAFT, Clerk." The following are the present township officers : John W. Ramey and Jacob K. Myers, Justices ; Nathan A. Boutell, Clerk ; E. B. Mix, Treasurer; James Ashton, Henry Stone and Jerry D. Hall, Trustees ; Jacob Wise and John Stock, Constables. There are two sandy ridges extending through the township. The soil is generally good. The southwest part of the township is drained by Powell Creek. In the west of the township, the drainage is largely artificial. The southeast part of the township is but sparsely settled and quite heavily timbered, a great quantity of ship-timber is being taken from this part of the township. AYERSVILLE Ayersville is not a laid-out town. It was named after Joseph Ayers. There was a post office there as early as 1849. A mail route was established about this time, runuing from Defiance through Ayersville, New Bavaria, Ridgeland, Madrid, Leipsic, McComb and to Findlay. The present mail route extends only from Defiance to Ayersville. Mr. Nathau A. Boutell has the contract for carrying the mail, and his wife, Mrs. Boutell, is the Postmistress. Ayersville contains one store aud post office, kept by Mr. and Mrs. Boutell ; one physician, one Methodist Episcopal Church, one school house, one blacksmith shop, oue saw mill, The first physician who located at Ayersville was Dr. B. D, Ashton, about the year 1856, followed by Dr. Boutell in 1860. In 1878, Dr. I. N. Thacker located there, and remained about two years, and theu removed back to Defiance. H. H. Ziegler is the present physician, and located there about the first of the year 1882. CHURCHES. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Ayersville was built in 1860, at a cost of about $700, The congregation numbers about seventy-five members Rev. Henry Boyer is their present pastor. The Lutheran congregation have a church building which is located on Section 1. The Presbyterian Church is located on Ottawa pike. Rev. B. W. Slagle, of Defiance, preaches every other Sabbath afternoon. The New School Baptists have no church building, but hold services in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ayersville. The Rev. W. V. Thomas, of Defiance, fils the pulpit once every two weeks. The Free-Will Baptists also hold services in the same church (Methodist Episcopal), Rev. Dr. Hosier officiating. The Evangelical congregation hold services in what is known as Hills' Schoolhouse. The Dunkard's have an organization and also hold their services in the same schoolhouse. The German Evangelical Lutheran Church. situated on the South Ridge road in Highland Township, about seven miles southeast from Defiance. The congregation of this church bear the name, German Evangelical Lutheran Saint Stephen's Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession. It was founded iu the year 1853 by the following persons, viz. : G. C. A. Greenler, George Schaff, George Nikol Troeger, Simon Kollrich, John Dietseb, Henry Dietseb, Johu Schatz, Henry Schatz, Adam Schatz, Johu N. Thieroff, Nikol Goller, John Goller, Jakob Hermann, Erhard Bauer, Jakol Roth, John Troeger, John Kohenberger, etc. The first pastor was Rev. A. Detzer from 1853 to 1873, then the Rev. C. Boese was called and has remained their pastor ever since. At the present time the congregation counts about forty families. AYERSVILLE GRANGE, NO. 369. This Grange was organized in 1873, with J. W. Tate, Master, and A. C. Henry, as Secretary. The organization numbers about thirty members. Meetiugs are held every Wednesday evening at the residence of E. F. Palmer. A. T. Brechbill, Master ; I. N. Brechbill, Secretary. VOTERS IN OCTOBER, 1845. Abraham Creamer, Jacob T. Peterson, Solomon McCollock, Thomas Peterson, John M. Sauford, Jacob Kraft, Henry Brechbill, Augustus Skiver, Isaac Skiver, Brazillia Hendrix, Phillip G. Hoeltzell, Joseph Wagoner, C. B. West, John Wiler, Daniel Clark, Charles Dellette, Robert Randall, Henry Wite, Albert Stites, Hezekiah Clark, Jefferson Warren, John McBernhill, William Boucher, Henry Stiles, John M. Sanford, Phillip G. Hoeltzell, and John Wiler, Judges ; Jacob Kraft. and Brazillia Hendrix, Clerks. PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. Henry Brechbill, and Mary (Lose) Brechbill, his wife, were Pennsylvanians by birth, and were born, the former in Dauphin Couuty A. D. 1795, the latter in Westmoreland County A. D. 1799, and were married in 1818. They had a family of seven children, as follows : Susannah, Sarah, John, Elizabeth, George, Abraham Troxel and Henry K. ; the two latter were boru in this county, Defiance, the others were born in Westmoreland County, Penn. In the fall of 1835 Mr. Brechbill, with his family, 310 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. then consisting of his wife and five children, came to Ohio and settled on Section 3, Highland Township, on a farm of 400 acres of land, which he purchased from Dr. Johu Evans, then a resident of the village of Defiance. Said lands were entered by Brice Hilton, in the fall of 1832, for Dr. Evans, who had caused a small clearing to be made, and a log cahin erected previous to selling out to Mr. Brechbill, and was occupied first by Bazele Colwell. When Mr. Brechbill and family came to Defiance County, it took them about three weeks to accomplish the journey, which had to be made overland with teams, with covered wagons which formed a very convenient shelter from storms and ofttimes a lodging-place wheu they failed to reach some settlement or tavern for the night. Nothing unusual took place to delay their journey until they reached Napoleon, now the county seat of Henry County, Ohio, at which place they put up for the night, and in starting out in the morning, had gone about three miles when one of their wagons upset, causing quite a smash up, and the family were obliged to pitch their tent and camp into the woods, until they could rearrange matters, which took but a day or two ; and they were agaiu ready to resume their journey, and iu due time arrived at the cabin of Benjamin Weidenhammer's, who lived at what is now Independence, situated on the Maumee River, distant about four miles below Defiance, who had been expecting their arrival for several days and received them very cordially and treated them with the greatest kindness. They remained but a short time at Mr. Weidenhammer's, when they shipped their goods across the Maumee in pirogues. and again loaded them ou their wagons and started for their future home iu Highland Township, which was about four miles distant from Weidenhammer's, who accompanied them, and after a hard day's work speut in cutting their way through the heavy timber arrived at their journey's end and their log cabin home iu the dense and almost unbroken forest of Highland Township, being the second family to settle down within its borders. Benjamin Weidenhammer and Samuel Kepler with their families ou oue side, and John M. Sanford the first settler ou the other, distant ahout six miles, were their nearest neighbors ; and to the north of them, about the same distance, was Defiance. At this time there were no roads, only paths and Indian trais leading through the woods. Mrs. Brechbill departed this life August 28, 1859, aged sixty years. Mr. Brechhill, died November 1, 1863, aged sixty eight years. John Brechhill, the third in a family of seven children, and the eldest sou of Heury and Mary Brechbill, was born June 15, 1825, in Westmoreland Couuty, Penn. He was about ten years of age when he arrived here with his parents. The red men of the forest were their nearest neighbors, with whom young Brechbill soon got acquainted, and became quite a favorite, frequently visiting them evenings, eujoying their. Indian stories, eating jerked venisou, and occasionally accompanying them of an evening on a coon hunt until a late hour, but always felt perfectly safe and at home, as they were very friendly, aud after a lapse of a few years often accompanied them on their hunting excursions, which he enjoyed very much, and never failed to return without being heavily laden with the wild game of the forest, more particularly a saddle or two of fine venison. The Indians often. stayed over night at his father's house, and were very friendly, never molesting, anything. Mr. Brechbill, states that about the year 1837, the Ottawa Indians had an encampment or small village, ou what is now known as the Davis farm, in Richland Township, and encamped at this point for a number of years iu the winter season; the ashes of their camp-fires can yet be seen, also their signs cut on the trees are plainly visible. Many duties fell to John's lot, such as going to mill, to the blacksmith shop, to the grocery, etc. For their milling, they had to go to Brunersburg, distant eight or ten miles, which was accomplished on horseback, following the Indian trail through via Defiance, fording the Auglaize River, at what was known as " Shirley's Ford," near the old " Fair Grounds," and the Maumee at Defiance, at the foot of Clinton street, where now is the Clinton Street Bridge. He remained at home, helped to clear up the farm and was married, December 3, 1846, to Miss Susan Armel, of Westmoreland County, Penn. To them were born eight children, viz., Anu Maria E., Daniel A., Henry A., Ira N., Mary Frances, Lydia L., an infant deceased, and Henrietta, all now living except the infant. At the commencement of the war of the rebelliou- 1861-65, Mr. Brechbill had commenced to build his present residence and had let the contract to Madison and Alexander Britton. At the call for 75,000 troops, he offered Alexander $20, iu connection with the amount he might receive from the Government, if he would respond to the call, to which Madison objected by saying it would interfere with the contract, as he could not complete the job within the specified time. Mr. Brechbill replied that the country must be saved if the house was uever built. Britton enlisted in Company D, Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry April 26, 1861; served to July, the expiration of the time for which he had enlisted. Veteranized in October, 1861, and served his country faithfully to the dose of the war, aud was honorably discharged July, 1865. At the call for 300,000 troops, Mr. Brechbill was in town (Defiance) and made the same offer to William Miller, who was at work at the saddle and harness business for William Draper. He accepted the offer and enlisted iu Company D, One Hundredth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry July 31, 1862, and was honorably discharged on the 20th day of June, 1865. At the time the National Guards, to which Mr. Brechbill belonged, were called out, he went in person to Sandusky, where they were examined and weut into the United States service at Washington, D. C., doing guard duty for four months. On his return home, lie found he HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 311 had been drafted ; he then reported immediately at Toledo, and was excused on account of disability. After his marriage to Miss Armel, he moved into the old family home with his parents for oue year, working the farm, and building, in the meantime, a house on that portion of the old home farm where Mr. Brechbill now lives, into which he moved the following year, and contiuued to work the farm on shares for about thirteen years ; then purchased 157 acres of the same for $2,000, and afterward an adjoining fifty acres from other parties, making for him a homestead of over 200 acres now under a fine state of cultivation, with good buildings, surrounded with ornamental and fruit trees in great variety. Mrs. Brechbill departed this life May 2, 1869, aged forty-five years. Mr. Brechbill married for his second wife Mrs. Rebecca A. Lamhert (née Pouch), October 22, 1869. They have one child, Charley, who was born March 17, 1875. The first schoolhouse (log) built in the township was built on that portion of the old home farm now occupied by Mr. Brechbill, in Section 4 ; was built for church and school purposes ; the United Brethren denomination occupies it. The first school was taught by Miss Diana Daggart. Sarah Brechbill is the second child aud daughter of Henry Brechbill, who was horn April 10, 1823, in Westmoreland County, Penn. ; was about twelve years of age when she arrived with her parents in Highland Township. She was married, October 22, 1844; to Mr. William Rohn, and they had a family of eight children, as follows : Mary E., Margaret J., Rebecca, George H., Catharine M., Elizabeth F., Ida S. and Samuel Grant. Of this number, the following are deceased : Catharine M., Ida S. and Mary E. Mr. Rohn died September 1, 1880, aged sixty-six years. In excavating the earth on the hill where Mrs. Rohn lives, there have been found at different times several skeletons, thought to be those of Indians, and the supposition is that this was once au Indian burying-ground. The bones found were very large, and one skeleton was found buried in a sitting posture, with a small earthen cup on each side of his head. The supposition is, that they were of some tribe that lived here many years previous to the time when the white man first settled. At the time Mrs. Rohn came, this was covered with large poplar trees, showing many years' growth, one of them being not less than seven feet in diameter. Mrs. Rohn is over sixty years of age, having lived nearly half a century on that portion of the old pioneer home to which she came with her parents in her girlhood days. Abram Troxell Brechbill was born July 18, 1836, in Highland Township, about one year after his parents were settled in their pioneer home of the West, and was the first white child born in the towuship. Here " Trox," as he is familiarly called, grew up, helping on his father's farm in summer season and attending the district school in the winter season. He was married, September 22, 1859, to Susan J. Tate, at Centerville, Montgomery County, and settled on the portion of the old homestead where he now resides. The fruit of this marriage was one child, who died in infancy. Mrs. Brechbill died August 1, 1882. On July 5, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundredth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company D, and in December of the same year was discharged by reason of sickness, aud returued home and recruited in health until December, 1863 ; then enlisted in au independent company, called the Union Light Guards, or President's escort, being one of President Lincoln's body guard morning and evening, from the capitol to his country residence, until September 20, 1864, when the President moved back to the White House. He then returned to his company, remaining there until the 30th, at which time he was granted a voting furlough of eighteen days, and returned home, and cast his vote for President Lincoln for second term. Theu returned to his company, and on the 5th of December, 1864, iu company with four comrades of his company, went to Gen. Hancock’s office as mounted messengers, remaining there uutil April 17, 1865, when the office was closed and Mr. Brechbill returned to his company again, where he was detailed as guard for President Johnson, who then made his home with Senator Hooper, of New York, and had his office in the United States Treasury building, until May, when Mrs. Lincoln removed from the White House, and President Johnson, with his family from Tennessee, moved in, and Mr. Brechbill remained on guard duty until October, 1865, when he with his company, was mustered out of the United States service. Mr. Brechbill was in attendance at Ford's Theater, April 14, 1865, witnessed the assassination of President Lincoln. On March 1, 1866, Mr. Brechbill married for his second wife Lucy M., daughter of Samuel aud Rachel Kepler, who were among the first settlers of Richland Township. The fruit of this marriage has been four children, as follows : Edward S., Laura E., Burton H. and Frederick C. Susannh Brechbill, the eldest child of Henry and Mary Brechbill, was born as heretofore stated in Westmoreland County, Penn., and was married iu this county (Defiance), hi the spring of 1836, to William Rover; they had two children, John aud Sophia. Mr. Rover died in 1842. Mrs. Rover married, for her secoud husband, Abraham Bottenburg, of Butler County; to them were boru two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. Susannah named the township Highland, believing at the time it was the highest grounds in the county. She departed this life A. D. 1849. Elizabeth Brechbill was the third daughter, and married John B. Thacker, of Clermont County. Four children were horu to them—Maria, Henry W., Hester, and John B. Mrs. Thacker died A. D. 1861. George Brechbill is now a resideut of Nebraska. 312 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. Enlisted in the late war, in the Niuth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, November, 1863, and served during the remainder of the war. He was married in February, 1856, to Elizabeth F. Ashton, of Highland Township, and to them were born four children, three daughters and one son. Henry K. Brechbill was boru in November. 1842, and died in 1844. Joseph Prudden Ayers was born April 29, 1815, near Morristown, N. J., and iu 1818 came with his parents, Johu a and Jane (Prudden) Ayres, to Preble County, Ohio, and in 1826, to Warren County. March 3, 1836, Joseph Ayers was married to Miss Margaret Stites, of Rochester, Warren County, by whom he had two children —Johu Henry Ayers, deceased, and Eliza S.; his wife. Margaret, died iu March, A. D. 1864. In 1845, Mr. Ayers came to Defiance and was engaged in the hotel business for four years with his brother-in-law, Mr. Greenlee, in the old Exchange. Vi 1849, he moved to Ayersville ; kept store, and started an ashery at that place, and soon after, a post office was located there, with Mr. Ayers as Postmaster, aud the place took I he uame of Ayersville. In 1857, he returned to Defiance, and was a clerk for his brother, Alfred A. Ayers, in his store for ten years. In December, 1864, Mr. Ayers was again married to Miss Mary J. Myers ; they have two children, Ida M. and Kate A. After leaving his brother's store, Mr. Ayers, entered the dry goods store of Flickinger & Blair, of Defiance, as clerk, where he remained a number of years. Is now in business for himself_ again in the Russell House Block. Jacob K. Myers was born iu Clermont County, Ohio, December. 27, 1821, and lived there until 1850, at which time he came to Defiance County and settled in Highland Township, Section 11, where he has since lived. He was married to Miss Sarh J. Wellman December 30, 1841. Their children are Benjamin F., John W., Harriet Ann and Stunner B , all of whom are living and married. Mrs. Myers died August 12, 1848. Mr. Myers married, for his second wife, with whom he is still living, Miss Elizabeth A. Wheeler ;.of this union were born four children, viz. : Orlando 0., Alvaro P., Eliza Ada May and Willie Arnam Henry ; all are living. Orlando and Alvaro are married. Benjamin F. and John W., of the first family, were in the war of 1861-65. Benjamin F. enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, September, 1861, and served about four years, being discharged August, 1865. Johu W. enlisted in the One Hundredth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, July, 1862. Discharged June 15, 1865. Mr. Myers has been conuected with the Defiance County Agricultural Society ever siuce its organization ; was one of its directors for six years; Vice President two years ; was Postmaster at Ayersville three years, dating from November 5, 1868. -Ile has held the office of Justice of the Peace for the last eighteen years. Land was cheap when Mr. Myers first came to the township in 1850 ; for his first purchase of 80 acres of good land, he paid $1,000.. Harvey J. Hill was horn April 5, 1818, in Orleans County, N. Y., and remained there uutil he was about sixteen, years of age. From there he went to Pennsylvania with his parents, Thomas S. and Olive (Cole) Hill, at which place his mother died. His father died in New York. Mr. Hill then left Pennsylvania for Cleveland, Ohio, and from there came to Defiance County, arriving here in 1836. At the time of the building of the State dam across the Maumee at Independence, he assisted in getting out the timber, and helped to build the same, having had some experience in that kind of business, as he had previously helped in the construction of a dam at Providence, in Wood County, Ohio. He settled on the farm on which he now resides, in Section 10, of Highland Township, in 1849, where he had previously made a clearing and erected a log cabin. Mr. Hill was married January 1, 1840, to Miss Jane Peterson, of Highland Township. To them were born six children, viz., Mary L., Harvey J., William L., David, Nancy D. and Hannah E. Of these, Mary L., Harvey J. and Hannah E. are dead. Mrs. Hill died January 27, 1852. Mr. Hill married, for his second wife, Miss Matilda Ann Smith ; of this marriage, two daughters were born—Clara A. aud Hattie F., both deceased. Those who survive of the first are all grown up, married, and live in Highland Township. Mr. Hill had two sons in the army of the late war, 1861- 65. William L. was wounded in the left hand at the battle of Winchester, Va. Harvey J. enlisted in Company B, Sixty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in October, 1861, and died in hospital, Rome, Ga., June 16, 1864. Mr. Hill's father was in the war of 1812. William L. married Libbie J. Moon. Their children are Clara. J., James F., Ida, Charlotte, Henry aud an infant son. At the time when Mr. Hill came to the township land was worth from 75 cents to $2.50 per acre. His neighbors were Samuel Case, Jacob Peterson, Henry Brechbill, Charles Gardner Ames, John M. Sanford, David Skiver, P. G. Hoeltzel, John Boucher, Jacob Kraft and Joshua Kaler Cramer. There were but few Indians here at the time Mr. Hill came to the township, they having taken their departure for their Western home iu 1839. Mr. Hill speaks of an old Indian doctor by the name of Konkeyfoot, who remained here until his death in 1862. He was an herb doctor, and gave as his reason for staying, that it was the best sectiou of country he had ever seeu, to supply himself with his favorite herbs. He was quite successful in his practice, and especially in curing the bite of poisonous snakes, etc., and treated that loathsome disease, catarrh, very successfully, performing many permanent cures. He could read and write, and during his life-time distributed many of his receipts among his friends, which are yet used throughout the country with great success. He died at the Widow Egler's, on the Maumee. Mr. Hill does uot claim any notoriety as a hunter, but thinks he killed the largest wildcat ever killed in HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 313 this county, which measured about six feet in leugth. We have an account of one other killed by an old hunter and pioneer of Milford Township, J. J. Green, about the same time, its weight being eighty pounds, and its length Mr. Green gave us in this wise, that when held up so as to give its full length, was as long as he (Green) was tall, and Mr. Green is fully a six-footer ; but as we have not the weight of Mr. Hill's we are unable to say which was the " boss." John M. Sanford was born Fehruary 20, 1803, in New Jersey. His parents were John and Sarh Sanford. His father died about 1850, aged seventy years, and his mother died about 1865, aged about eighty-four years. Mr. Sanford married Miss Ella Cassiday, March, 1830, in Seneca County, Ohio, by whom he had eleven children—Jane, Rebecca, John, Eliza, Andrew, Samuel, Electa, Cass, Susannah, Volney and Franklin. Mrs. Sanford died, aud he married Hannah Aderson, December 25, 1853. His children were George, William H. and Hannh. John M. Sanford was the first Justice of the Peace, aud Mr. Brazilla Hendricks the second. Mr. Sanford was the first settler in the township, and Mr. William Boucher, David Skiver, Henry Brechbill, B. Heudricks, William Mansfield, Jacob Kraft, Richard Vanskiver, William Hoyt and James Greer were the other earliest settlers. The Wyandots, Senecas and Ottawas hunted in the township about seven years after Mr. Sanford came. Powell Creek traverses the township from the south to the northeastern part, where it empties into the Auglaize. It was so called because a man named Powell lived on the stream, and traded with the Indians, and sold deer skins and coon skins. Mr. Sanford was often visited by the Indians in his cabin, and shot at mark with them, and traded with them for skins, etc. The most noted hunter in the township was Mr. Skiver, of whom it was related that he could run a wolf track through leaves as readily as a trained hunting dog. lIe hunted wolves for their scalps, which commanded a good price. He could get about $6.50 for a wolf scalp—$4 from State, aud $2.50 from county. He killed a good many deer, and sold their pelts. The time to kill them was about October, November and December. The pelts were good during those months, which produced the "short blue hair." Mr. Sauford died recently. Jacob Kraft was born September 3, 1824,in Lancaster County, Penn., and came to Highland Township, Henry County, in the fall of 1839, and settled on Section 18, and finally located on Section 1, in 1850, and now has 180 acres. He married Miss Catharine White of Defiance County, October, 1841. His children are John, Oliver, William A., Eliza J., Jacob K., Elizabeth A. Frank M., George, Allen and Charles S. All are living. Johu, Oliver aud William were in the army of' 1861 –65. Oliver was wounded twice—once at Chickamauga, and the second time at Jonesboro. This township was organized in 1842. Jacob Kraft was First Clerk, John M. Sauford, First Justice of the Peace P. G. Hoeltzel, Henry Brechbill, John M. Sauford, First Trustees. The first election was held at the house of Chancey Ames, on Section 9. There were twenty voters present ; their names were John M. Sanford, P. G. Hoeltzel, David Skiver, John Wiler, William Boucher Richard and Isaac Vanskiver, Johu White, Brazilla Hendricks, John White, Jr., Henry White, Jacob Kraft. Solomon McCullouch, Jefferson Warren, Augustus Skiver, Henry Brechbill, Jacob Peterson, Samuel Case, Isaac Peterson and Chancey Ames ; all of these except six arc dead. The election seems to have been in 1842, One of the first, if not the first scho )s, was taught on Section 18, by " Graudpap Dunlap," about 1844 or 1845. Mr. Kraft says J. M. Sanford was the first settler in the township. Mr. Kraft has been Clerk for about fifteen years and served as Treasurer for some time. He has been a hunter of some note. Has killed many deer and coons. Augustus Skiver was boru in flocking County, Ohio, December 25, 1821, and came to Defiance County with his parents, David and Nellie Skiver, in the winter of 1837. They had intended to go through to Iowa, but found this country to be alive with game, and, being great hunters, concluded to locate here and settled down on Section 19, of Highland Township, at which place the parents died—Mr. Skiver in 1870, age sixty-seven years, and Mrs. Skiver (being very much older than her husband, yet she outlived him about ten years) February 23, 1880, age nearly one hundred aud eleven years. Mrs. Skiver, was a resident of Defiance County, for over forty years, and was the mother of eight children, six of whom are now living. Although the old family record has been lost, it appears from evidences gathered from herself and others that she was born in Rockingham County, Va., on Easter Sunday, A. D. 1769. She was seven years old when the Declaration of Independence was made. She distinctly remembered many incidents of those early Revolutionary times. She removed to Ohio after the war of the Revolution, when it was an unbroken wilderness, and, notwithstanding the many hardships of pioneer life, has never known what it was to be sick. She lost the use of her eyes about twenty years previous to her death from a cataract, but otherwise has enjoyed the use of her faculties, her mind being clear to the day of her death. Her descendants, of whom there are a large number living, are residents of Defiance Couuty. The funeral services were held at the house of Isaac Skiver. James Ashton settled in Section 9, Highland Township, in 1851. At this date there were but few settlers between the Brechbill settlement and Powell Creek. There were two school districts in the township—one schoolhouse at what is now called Ayersville Cemetery, the other, a frame building, called the Hoeltzel Schoolhouse, where the brick now stands, near Augustus Skiver's residence. In 1852, a third district was formed, 314 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. and a log cabin built where J. B. Good now lives, David Edy, a settler from Tuscarawas County being the first teacher. Mr. Ashton's grandfather (William Ashton), came from Lancaster, England, with a Quaker colony to Pennsylvania, under the supervision of William Penn. Some time thereafter he married a Quakeress named Hutchinson ; from this marriage there were two children, a daughter and son. The son, Samuel, was raised by Dr. Edward Chatman, a maternal uncle by marriage. Samuel was born in February, 1771, and 1795 married a Quakeress named Hannah Johnson. They resided in Bucks County, Penn., until the fall of 1799, when they emigrated to Fayette County, Penn., and from thence to Washington County, Ohio, in 1807. There they remained until the spring of 1811, when they settled in Clermont County, Ohio, where the family underwent all the hardships, deprivations and incidents peculiar to and unavoidably eucountered by the early settlers of Ohio. Their children were William T., Thomas H., Samuel, James, Zachariah, George, John and Lucretia. In September, 1822, James Ashton married Casandra Sly. whose father, Jacob Sly, was a native of Virginia. His father, Jacob Sly, was born on board a vessel, during its passage from Holland to Virginia, of Dutch and Scotch parentage. They settled near Lexingtou, Va. Mrs. Ashton's father, with a party of young Virginians, emigrated to Fort Washiug_ ton, Ohio, in 1791. He subsequently joined Gen. Wayne's army and was with it in the campaign against the Indians on the Maumee. Soon after Mr. Sly's father, with his family, left their home in Virginia, and went to Fort Washington, now Cincinnati. Here the Slys built a flouring mill, perhaps the first mill erected on Mill Creek. Jacob married the daughter of Mr. Prickett, who with his family had emigrated from Virginia and settled on a stream in Clermont County called Stone Lick. Mrs. Sly had two brothers (older than herself) stolen by the Indians, they were aged eight and four years. Their mother sent them to drive in their cows, the cow-bell being heard but a few rods from the house, when the boys were picked up by some skulking savages ; subsequently, the elder made his escape, and returned to his home. All efforts to recapture the younger boy were unsuccessful ; in fact nothing was ever known of his fate, until his voluntary return many years after. He stated that he had been carried away, and adopted by a chief, whose daughter he had married, had forgotten his name and never knew where his people lived, until the chief, upon his dying pallet, told him who he was, and where he would find his own people, whom he immediately visited, but was so thoroughly inured to the life, habits and customs of the people of his adoptiou, that he preferred them to those of his birth, although after obtaining positive knowledge of his identity, he educated his children, namely, two sons, who became civilized and good citizens. The fruits of the marriage of Jacob Sly and Miss Prickett were eight children—George, Joseph, David, Mary, Elizabeth, Casandra, Rebecca and Clara. The marriage of James Ashton and Casandra Sly was productive of nine children, as follows : Tolbert, Lucinda, Sarah Maria, Elizabeth, Mary, Clarinda, Isabella, Thomas H., James M. and William S. Thomas H. left the farm in 1860, went to select school, taught by B. F. Southward, and soon after commenced the study of medicine with his cousin, Dr. B. D. Ashton, at Defiance. He attended lectures at the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, also at the University of Nashville. In March, 1864, he formed a partnership for the practice of medicine with Dr. W. K. Wiuton at Wabash, Ind. Soon thereafter he received au appointment on the medical staff of the United States Army. During July and August, 1864, he was on duty in the Cumberland field hospital at Nashville. In consequence of the arduous duties, Dr. Ashton's health became impaired, when he was sent to Fort Rosecrans. Here he remained a short time, when he was ordered to report for duty in the hospitals of Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he remained until January, 1865. On the 1st of the following May, Dr. Ashton was assigned Surgeon, iu charge of United States Army General Hospital No. 4, with a capacity of two hundred and eighty-four beds. Here he remained until the following November, when he received orders to transfer the patients North, and to dispose of the hospital property by returning all undamaged supplies to the United States Army Purveyor at Nashville, and to sell all damaged goods at public sale. Thus closed the last Government hospital in that part of Tennessee. Dr. Ashton returned to Defiance and entered into the general practice of medicine and surgery, where he now resides. July 20, 1865, Ile married Miss Mary Elizabeth Kiser. They have two children, Merrill, born on the 31st day of May, 1866, aud Ethel, born on the 14th day of February, 1870. Phillip George Hoeltzel was born May 3, 1803, in Alsace, France, and came to America in 1830, landing at New York, and proceeded from there to Penn Yan, Yates County, N. Y., where his parents had settled two years previous. Being a baker by trade, he settled down in Penn Yan at his husiness, which he continued for about nine years. October 27, 1833, he was married to Mrs. Margaret Wheeler (nee Moon), who had two children by her first husband, viz.: William and Mary Anu. She was born in Columbia County, N. Y., in 1807. By this union with Mrs. Wheeler, Mr. Hoeltzel became the father of eight children, as follows : George Phillip, who married Miss Eliza Porter, who was killed while crossing the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in East Defiance, in company with John Fullmer and his wife, Isabel. The engine striking the forward part of the wagon, separative, the horses from the 'wagon and escaped unhurt, but killing the occupants instantly ; Maria Saloma, who married Jeremiah Hall ; Legin Helen ; Frederick W., who married Naoma Myers ; Jo- HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 315 sephine, married to Alvaro Van Skiver ; Hannah, married to George Burkstrazer, and now living in Yates County, N. Y.; Naoma, who died while young ; Jacob, the youngest, who enlisted in Capt. Gleason's company, Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, taken prisoner and died in prison at Atlanta, Ga., A. D. 1864. Iu 1841, Mr. Hoeltzel came to Highland Township and purchased a farm of James Grear, on Sectiou 19, a small portion of which was cleared, and on which there was a saw mill which had beeu built by Mr. Cummius, a former owner, from whom Grear purchased, where he has resided ever since. Mr. Hoeltzel has beeu Township Trustee for a number of years, and Supervisor several times. When he first came to the township, he found the following persons in Powell Creek settlement, viz. : John M. Sanford, Richard Van Skiver, William Boucher, David Skiver, Johu Wiler and George Basett. Brazilla Hendrix came soon after. Of the children of Levi Wheeler (first husband of Mrs. Hoeltzel), William married Maria Gill, and Mary A. married Isaac. Skiver, and are residents of the township. At the time Mr. H. came in no one was living between his place and Defiance, and on the Bellefoutaine road the other way, it was nine miles to the first settler, and five or six miles from there to the next. Mr. Hoeltzel was boru a Lutheran in religious belief, and after his settlement here became a member of the United Brethren, aud afterward united with the Christian Church, to which he now belongs. He owns 140 acres of well-improved land. He rented land four years ; then bought. He had very little capital at the start, but is now surrounded by all the comforts and necessaries of life. N. A. Boutell was born in New Salem, Franklin Co., Mass., August 7, 1818, aud is a son of John aud Hannah (Winship) Boutell. The early life of our subject was passed upon the farm in Massachusetts until fourteen years "old, and in the district schools he obtained the rudiments of his education. At the above age, he removed with his parents to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., where he continued to follow the fortunes of the farm, with the family, until twenty-five years of age. September 15, 1840, he was united in marriage with Miss Annis daughter of Lewis J. and Mary Wheeler, of Cattaraugus County. For two years following this event, he remained with his parents, and then engaged in lumbering for two years, after which he removed to Clermont County, Ohio, where he reuted a large farm, and in connection with it carried on a store business at Charleston, in the above county. In the fall of 1850, he settled oue mile southeast of Ayersville in this township, on a farm of sixty acres, where he lived three years. He then sold out and purchased eighty acres where he now resides, of which he at present owns thirty-nine acres. At the time he located here, he took up the carpenter's trade, and although he never served any regular apprenticeship, his natural genius enabled him soon to become a skillful workman and leading mechanic. For fifteen years he plied his trade successfully, and in the fall of 1865 he went to Atlanta, Ga., where he found employment at his trade in the re-building of the above place, which had been battered down by the engines of war, and was followed by his family in 1866. Here his genius as a master workman soon became manifest, and it was not long until he was made foreman of other men, and given full supervision in the erection of some of the finest edifices in Atlanta, among which we mentiou the capitol building, the H. I. Kimble house, the Governor's mansion and the United States barracks. He was subsequently employed in a similar capacity at Savannah, Ga., in the erection of a school building and boarding house for the children of freedmen, and at Americus, Ga., he erected a church building for the Colored Baptists. While at Atlanta, he was chosen President of the Carpenters' and Joiners' Association, an organization he assisted to found. During the time Mr. B. was in the South, he received many testimonials from the people and press, which speak in glowing terms of his sterling integrity, his uncompromising honor as a man, and as an ingenious and intelligent workman. In the WI of 1870, he journeyed West through Missouri, visiting his children, and soon after took up his abode at his former Ohio home, and was joined by his family the ensuing autumn, since when he has been engaged in carrying on his farm, having abandoned his trade in 1879. Politically, he has been identified with the Democratic party during his life, and was the second Township Clerk elected in Highland Township. He was appointed Postmaster at Ayersville under Buchanan's administration, and resigned during Hayes' tenure of office, when Mrs. Boutell was appointed Postmistress to fill the vacancy. By his first wife, Mr. Boutell had five children, three of whom are living, viz. : Adeline (Mrs. Rover, Lima, Ohio), Harriet (Mrs. Myers, Defiance, Ohio, and Mary (Mrs. Runyan, Boston, Mass.)., The deceased were Lorency (Mrs. Kempf), who died in Goshen, Ohio, and Emma (Mrs. Gillespie), who died in Lima, Ohio. Mrs. Boutell died June 27, 1852. His second marriage was celebrated in Clermont County, Ohio, with Miss Rachel Osborne, daughter of Jesse and Jane (Leever) Osborne, who has borne him seven children three of whom are living, viz. : Georgia E., Estella C. and Carrie L. The deceased are Alice, George W. (twin brother to Georgia E.), Nannie and an infant daughter. July 7, 1881, Mr. Boutell met with an accident, which for miraculous escape from instant death has few parallels in the history of casualties. While hauling hay from his field to the barn, the rack on which the hay was loaded gave way and precipitated wagon and contents into a ditch. To avoid going in the same direction as the hay, he flung himself in the opposite direction, and fell, head foremost, against one of the wheels, and by the momentum of the fall, was carried to the hard ground. The shock dislocated the spinal column at the fourth joint, paralyzing his arms 316 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. and shoulders, and totally depriving him of consciousness for a period of twelve minutes. When returning reason enabled him to realize his fearful condition, he made an almost superhuman effort to relieve himself, and, strange as it appears, the dislocated joint was forced back into its natural position, with a report like the crack of a whip, which was distinctly heard by his attendants. From this shock he has never recovered, and is a constant sufferer from its effects. Mr. Boutell has probably met with more accidents, and had more hones broken, than any other man in Defiance County. Since his fourth year, he has suffered twenty-one dislocations, embracing breaks in every part of' his body. Of all, Mr. Boutell says, the last accident (breaking his neck) was the worst, and caps the climax of every ache and pain that he has endured during his long and peculiar life of continuous accidents. John Boutell died at Atlanta, Ga., June 25, 1865, aged seventy-six years. Hannah Boutell is living with our subject, at the remarkable age of nine-two years, and although her frame is bent under the weight of long and eventful years, her mind is yet unimpaired, and it is with ease that she recounts in a graphic way the stirring scenes and incidents that have transpired along her lengthy and remarkable journey through life. To Mr. and Mrs. Boutell, Sr., were born six children, three of whom are living—John, Nathan A. and Harriet ; deceased are Charles, Mary and Emily. Enos B. Mix, farmer, P. 0. Defiance, was born in Knox County, Ohio, October 14, 1826, and is a son of Levi Mix, of New York, who was a son of Amos Mix, a Revolutionary patriot, who fought in the struggle for independence. Levi Mix settled in Knox County, Ohio, and when our subject was ten years old settled in Allen County, which is now Auglaize County, where he made a permanent home. Our subject obtained only a common education in the subscription schools of that day, and before becoming of age, he enlisted in the regular army, for service in the Mexican war, and was assigned to Capt. McGruder's Battery of Flying Artillery. He arrived in Mexico soon after the capitulation of the City of Mexico, and was on duty in that place four months, and saw service in the above country till the fall of 1848—heing there nearly one year. He received from the United States Government eighty acres of appraised land as a bounty for his service in the war. On this land he located in 1849, and has since purchased eighty acres, all of which is well improved land. He has been identified with most of the offices of the township, and by a careful discharge of the duties has proven himself possessed of good executive ability. He has aso been the Republican nominee for Probate Judge and Commissioner, and was defeated only by greatly reduced majority. He is a charter member of Highland Grange, No. 879 ; was elected first Master and is now serving his fourth term. During the war, he served a short time as Lieutenant of a company of squirrel hunters. In 1849, he was married to Miss Loverna, daughter of J. Allen Randall, by whom he has had nine children, five of whom are living -Clarissa E., Sarah E., Allen and Levi (twins), the latter deceased, infant twins (deceased), Ella, Yearley, Ray and William (deceased). A. Fullmer, farmer, P. O. Defiance, was born in Baden, Germany, in the year 1809, and is a son of Philip Fullmer, a native of Germany. The early life of our subject was passed upon the farm in his native land. In 1832, he came to America, and after wandering awhile over various States, he finally settled in Washington County, Penn., in which he lived until 1836 or 1837, when he removed to Crawford County, Ohio, where he resided eleven years, and in 1849 bought 160 acres of land where he now lives, upon which he located at that time. At present he owns 200 acres of well-improved land. He was married in 1843 to Margaret Jenner, of Germany, who came to this county in childhood. Ten children have been born to them, eight of whom are living —Jane, Jacob, Isaac, David, Margaret, William, Caroline and Anna ; Mary and Sarh are deceased. Mr. F.'s first marriage was celebrated in Pennsylvania, with Susanna Simons, who bore him two children—John and Abraham. The former was a member of the One Hundredth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisted in 1862, and was wounded near Atlanta, Ga. He was accidentally killed by a train of cars on a crossing in Defiance. Abraham was a member of the Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting at the first call for men. He was a Corporal of his company, and was killed at the battle of Corinth in 1862. Mr. F. is a gentleman well preserved for his age, and is one among the successful and respectable citizens of the county. Hervey J. Hill, farmer, P. 0. Ayersville, Ohio, was born in Orleans County, N. Y., April 5, 1818. His early life was passed in his native State, and when a man grown he removed to Erie County, Penn., where he lived until 1834 or 1835, at which time he Caine to Ohio and found employment on the canal, then in course of construction. On the public works of the State, he labored some years, and part of the time was foreman of a gang of men. He afterward lived seven years in Seneca County, Ohio, on a farm, and in 1849 located where he now lives. He entered 120 acres from the Government. He has been entirely successful, and since his coming into this county has owned and paid for 520 acres of land ; has given his children good homes, and now owns 200 acres on the old homestead. Officially, Mr. Hill has held many. township offices, and very satisfactorily discharged his duties as an officer. He is one of our self-made men, having begun life without means, but with the aid of willing hands and a strong heart he has accomplished the great object in life—made a good home. He has been twice married, first • to Jane Petersen, January 1, 1840, who HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 317 bore him six children, three of whom are living, viz., William L., David and Nancy J. The deceased are Mary L., Hervey J., Jr., aud Haunah E. Mrs. Hill died January 27, 1852. His son William was a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; and did duty during the war, and was wounded in the left hand at Winchester, Va. Hervey J., Jr., was a member of the Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; he died soon after eulistment iu 1864, at Rome, Ga. Mr. Hill was married the second time to Matilda A. Smith, their nuptials being celebrated January 6, 1853. She has borne him two children, both deceased, viz., Clara A. and Hattie F. Abraham Povenmire, son of John aud Sarah (Wagner) Povenmire, was born and reared in Cumberland County, Penn., aud was the father of eight children, viz.: Mary, Samuel, Susanna, Abraham, Nancy, Sarah, John and Michael. Abraham Povenmire, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, September 18, 1818, aud at the age of seventeen removed with his parents to Haucock County. At twenty-five he was married to Mary A., daughter of George and Jane (Davis) Craig, who then resided in Wood County, and was born iu Tuscarawas County October 15, 1821. After marriage, they Jived on the farm with his parents for five years, and in the spring of 1848 moved to Defiance Township, where he entered 160 acres of land on Section 31, residing there thirteen years, aud improving forty acres. He theu bought a 120-acre farm in Highland Township, on which he now resides. Their family consisted of seven children—Luther, married Lydia Baringer, of Richland, in 1868 ; Minerva, married W. S. Snodgrass, of Richland, in 1862 ; Charity, married John W. Baring, of Richland, in 1868 ; C. Amanda, married John W. Remagen, of Lima, Ohio ; Edson, married Frances A. Smith, of Ayersville, in 1883 ; Emma H., married Wilson H. Henne, of Reading, Penn., in 1882 ; and Hattie A., still at home with her parents. Mr. P. is a worthy and respected citizen, and after enduring pioneer tois and hardships, although somewhat broken down by reason of these, he still enjoys the fruits of his labor, with his children happily settled around him. CHAPTER XXVI. MARK TOWNSHIP—SCHOOLS—MARK CENTER—PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. MARK TOWNSHIP is located in the southwest part of Defiance County, being Town 4 north, Range 2 east. Hicksville Township is on the west, Far mer on the north, Delaware on the east and Paulding County on the south. The surface is mostly low and wet, though in the northwest and southeast portions some fine farms are located. The soil is good, and when systematically drained the large unclaimed tract will become excellent for agricultural purposes. The township was erected by the County Commissioners in 1850, on petition presented by Mr William C. Hutchinson. It was proposed to name the new township Kenton, in honor of Mark Kenton, who made the first improvement, having settled on the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 5, and there engaged in hunting and trapping. This name was objected to for the reason that there was a post office by this name in the State and the title Mark was agreed upon. The organization was completed by the election of township officers in April, 1851. At this election seventeen votes were cast. The voters were Samuel Smith. H. G. Luce, Samuel Fisher, Thomas Pope, W. C. Hutchinson, John L. Ginter, M. C. D. Campbell, John Kiser, Harrison Jenkins, Samuel Onstatt, Peter Frederick, George Hobbs, John Shafer, Martin Smith, Jacob Fisher, George Porter and John Garible. The officers elected were W. C. Hutchinson, Assessor; Peter Frederick, Clerk; W. C. Hutchinson, Treasurer; Harrison Jenkins, Samuel Onstatt and H. G. Luce, Trustees; John Kiser and M. C. D. Campbell, Constables; Samuel Smith, Supervisor. This election was held at the cabin of a Mr. Bunnell who had taken a contract to build a bridge. At the next election, held June 17. 1851, Samuel Fisher and Samuel Onstatt were elected Justices of the Peace. The latter declined to serve, and William C. Hutchinson was elected the same year to till the vacancy, and filled the office twelve years. SCHOOLS. In April, 1851, the trustees divided the township into three districts, and two years later into five districts. The first teachers in these districts were: No. 1, William A. Slough; No. 2, Mary J. Powell; No. 3, Oren L. Hulbert; No. 4, Oscar Works; No. 5 Jacob Bruner. Other early teachers were Isreal Baum, William Mann and James Evans. In 1853, it was decided to erect three hewed log schoolhouses, each 20x24 feet, with a porch over the door; one in No. 3, at a cost of $75; one in No. 4 and one in No. 318 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. 5 at a cost of $150 each. The enumeration of youths returned in 1854 was 49 males, 34 females, total, 83; in 1864, it was males, 107, females, 107; total, 214. There are now nine schoolhouses in the township, seven frame and two brick. MARK CENTER. The only village in the township is Mark Center, an enterprising little place of 210 people. At the exact geographical center of the township, one-half mile north of the present village a little town sprang into existence, grew, and in 1874 contained a store, a grocery, a saloon, a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop and a number of dwellings. In May, 1875, after the B. & O. Railroad was constructed through the township, Frederick Harmening laid out the present village just north of the railroad. The portion south of the railroad was laid out by Josiah Kyle and A. M. Anderson. The Van Wert Stave Company, under the supervision of Mr. George Holton, is the most extensive industrial concern in the place. The company located here several years ago, and have ever since been extensively engaged in the manufacture of hoops and staves. During the first year, it turned out 7,000 hoops and 20,000 staves daily, and at present this amount is more than doubled. Fifty hands are employed in the factory. The foreman is Mr. Z. T. Hilligas. There are also at the village two hop pole shaving shops, one steam saw mill, a blacksmith shop, one shoe shop, one hotel, two stores, a post office, millinery store, saloon, express office, a two-story brick schoolhouse and a church. The stores do a thriving business and keep in stock full supplies of general merchandise Josiah Kyle is the owner of one, and R. F. Hecht of the other. The latter is also Postmaster and express agent. Ludwig Klein is the village blacksmith and Joseph Kibler the shoemaker. The saw mill is owned and operated by G. W. Spealman. The church building is a neat frame edifice, recently erected. It is the property of a small but flourishing Methodist society. Other denominations also hold occasional services here. The only other church building in the township is a United Brethren Church, located on Section 25. It was built in 1878, at a cost of about $550. PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. E. H. Devore was born in Hampshire County, Va., November 10, 1820. He removed when a child with his parents to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and from there he came to Mark Township in June, 1851, settling on Section 25. He built his cabin in the wilderness and cleared the farm upon which he still resides. He was married in 1843 to Rebecca White, by whom he had four sons and three daugh ters. Mrs. Devore died January 26, 1880, and Mr. Devore was again married, December 15, 1881, to Mrs. Elizabeth Traxler. Samuel Onstott was born September 4, 1823, in Washington County, Penn. His father was a Pennsylvanian by birth. His mother a native of New Jersey. His father died in Wayne County, Ohio, to which place he had moved from Washington County, Penn., when Samuel was a small boy. Here the latter grew up to the age of sixteen, when he came to Richland County, Ohio, where he married Miss Sarah Reed, by whom he had thirteen children, viz., John J., William Wallace, Amanda M., Elizabeth A., Jacob B., Nancy E., Francis J., Susan E., Sarah M., Adoniram J., Lewis M., Harriet M. and Saretta M. Three of this number are dead—John J., Susan E. and Lewis M. His mother died in Indiana in 1881, aged about ninety-seven years. Mr. Onstott moved into Mark Township and settled on Section 33, where he has lived ever since June 6, 1850. He came from Crawford County, Ohio, with Mr. Thomas Pope, and they had to cut the road from the river road, a distance of three-fourths of a mile, to their several places of abode. He was one of the number who organized the townshipo and was elected Justice of the Peace and also Trustee at said organization. His wife, died 'September 18, 1881, aged about fifty-eight years. Robert Haver was born in Greene County, Penn., February 20, 1814. Came to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, when he was about fourteen years of age. Moved into Mark Township, Defiance County, in November, 1851. The township was organized prior to his arrival. His neighbors were Joseph Smith, Martin and Samuel Smith, Moses Johnson, Philip Oaks, E. H. Devore, John Kentner, Andy Kentner, Samuel Fisher, James Gribben, Mrs. Jane Young, Charles Koontz, Thomas Pope, Samuel Onstott, Christopher Thompson, Robert Allen, Joseph Breese, Samuel Oliver Harris, W. C. Hutchinson, was there acting as Justice of the Peace when Mr. Haver came into the township Robert Haver married Miss Mary Crea October 1. 1839. Their family consists of Thomas W., Moses M., James H., John, Godfrey E., George W., Isaac A., Levi C., Sarah C., Matilda J. and Robert A. Two of these are dead. John died a soldier at Ringgold, Ga, March 7, 1863; George W. died young. Had three other sons in the war of 1865—Moses M., James and Thomas. William C. Hutchinson was born in Licking County, Ohio, May 20, 1817, and grew up and received his early education there. At the age of about twenty-one years., he moved to Knox County with his mother, and was married there to Maria Hobbs, August 15, 1839, by whom he had ten children—Lean- HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 319 der R., Martha L., Maria E., James O., Louisa J., Mary E., Francis I., Narcissa J., Laura E. and William H. Of this number three are dead—Leander R., James O., and Maria E. who died in infancy. The two boys—Leander R. and James O., enlisted in the late war. Leander was promoted to First Lieutenant May 2, 1864, and was killed May 14, 1864, aged about twenty-four years. James O. died in hospital at Knoxville, Tenn., April 9, 1864, aged about twenty years. Mr. Hutchinson moved to this county into what is now Mark Township, in October, 1849. One Thomas Pope, from Crawford County, made a purchase of a lot the same time, but got onto it about three weeks ahead of him and got up his cabin, so that when Mr. Hutchinson, Samuel Harris and George Porter, with their families, arrived (all arriving on the same day), they found a stopping place with Mr. Pope until they could erect their cabins. In the lat. ter part of November Mr. Hutchinson got his cabin roof on and floor laid, and moved in without being chinked or mudded, with no windows or doors except a quilt or blanket hung up. After getting his little family to their new home, he returned to Mr. Pope's for their little supply of household goods, and owing to the bad state of the road through the woods, Mr. Hutchinson was unable to get back to his cabin until quite late in the evening, when he found it surrounded by wolves, serenading Mrs. Hutchinson and the children with their melodious notes. Mrs. Hutchinson says she couldn't say she was particularly afraid of them, but did feel that a more substantial door would have been desirable. Mrs. Hutchinson's parents, James and Elizabeth (Congdon) Hobbs, were English people. To them was born seven children. five boys and two girls---Thomas J., John, Isabella, Maria, William, George C. and Oscar R. Mrs. Hobbs died in Devonshire County, England, A. D. 1833, from which place Mr. Hobbs emigrated with his children to Knox County, Ohio. in 1835, and died in Defiance County in 1853. Thomas J. was drowned in the St. Lawrence River on their passage. Mr. Hutchinson was Justice for twelve years and School Director most of the time during his stay in the township. Was Township Treasurer for several years, and was appointed by the Commissioners as first Assessor of the township. The first school was taught by Jacob Bruner in Mr. Hutchinson's district. In the fall of 1865, Mr. Hutchinson came to Defiance. In July, 1873, bought one-third interest in the William Lewis farm and proceeded to lay it out into village lots, calling the town East Defiance. He is now engaged in the grocery business with his son at Defiance, Ohio. Henry Martin was born November 28, 1832, and came with his parents, Daniel and Mary (Caster) Martin, from Surrey, Engand, to Summit County, Ohio, in 1832, and to Defiance County in 1834. The children of Daniel were Eliza A., Henry, James G. , Mary A., Amelia and Frances V., Mr. Martin (Daniel) died in Mark Township, April 24, 1866, aged sixty-four years. Mary, his wife, died in Mark Township, May 16, 1863, aged fifty- eight years. Henry Martin was married June 1, 1855, to Miss Eliza Dysinger, daughter of Jacob and Christina (Long) Dysinger, who was born in Seneca County, N. Y., September 20, 1835. The children of Henry and Eliza Martin are Angeline and Emeline, twins, Adelaide, Melinda, Harriet A. and Leonard. Mr. Martin lives in Crane Township, Paulding County, Ohio, but purchased eighty acres of fand in Mark Township in Section 35, being the old homestead of his father. John P. Frederick, the subject of this sketch, is a son of Jacob Frederick, who was a native of Pennsylvania, where he married Esther Kingle, and immigrated to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he lived fourteen years, when he removed to Knox County, Ohio. Here, in 1835, John P. was born, and grew up to manhood, assisting his father in carrying on the farm and taught vo.;a1 music in the different districts. In the year 1864, he was elected Captain of the militia. He was married, October 11, 1866, to Miss Bell Heiple, the daughter of a pious widow lady, and settled on his father's farm, where he was born, and where he lived up to the time of his father's death in 1872. He then moved with his wife and little daughter to Williams County, Ohio, where he remained six months, and then purchased the farm on which he now resides in Mark Township. He was elected Infirmary Director in the fall of 1878 by a majority of 1070, and re-elected in 1881. He is the youngest of a family of twelve children-- seven now survive. His family consists of four children, as follows: Lora Mary, Charley Heiple, Ona Alfred and Earnest Lamont. Thomas Crawford was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., April 18, 1805. His parents were born in Maryland, were married in the same State and soon after removed to Pennsylvania as above stated, where they raised a family of eleven children, six boys and five girls, all of whom are dead so far as known, except the subject of this sketch. He received a common school education and grew up in Westmoreland, where he married Miss Eliza Bird, March 1, 1827, by whom he had ten children— William, Polly, Matthias, Phebe, Samuel, Huldah, Sarah Jane, Lavina, Alice, and Johnnie, died at the age of three years eight months and twenty-two days. All the rest are married and doing for themselves. Mr. Crawford moved from Pennsylvania to 320 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. Wooster, Wayne County, where he remained eight years, then moved to Williams County, and from there to Mark Township in February, 1864, on to Section 26, where he now resides with his son Samuel at the age of seventy-nine years, enjoying as good health as ever, except crippled with rheumatism. His wife died November 23, 1880, aged about seventy-seven years, having lived with her husband over half a century. Samuel Kleckner was born March 18, 1814, in Jefferson County, Ohio, remained in the county until seven years of age, and then moved with his parents to Carroll County, Ohio. His father -entered a farm of Government land there, and Samuel remained helping to clear up the farm until twenty years of age, receiving but a limited education in the log-cabin school. At the age of twenty, he went to Harrison, Ohio, learned the plastering trade, remaining there about two years. He was there married to Miss Mary Ann Hilbert October 8, 1835: from there removed to Stark County, Ohio, where he took up his trade, remaining about four years. From there to Tuscarawas County, and from there to Defiance County in the summer of 1845 or 1846, living here some time before the organization of the township, and has been a resident of Mark Township. ever since that time, residing with his family, who were small, on his farm in Section 6, which was then a dense forest, but by hard labor Mr. Kelckner has succeeded in making a fine farm, with good comfortable buildings, Mr. Kleckner's family consists of ten children, the first a boy, not named, Franklin, Daniel, David, William, James. Addison. Rebecca, Samantha Jane, Benjamin Burton and Mary Matilda. Six are living, five boys and one girl, who married Joseph Conley. They live in Hicksville Township. The first school for his children to attend was in Farmer Township at a place called Lost Creek. Mr. Kleckner's trade has been a source of benefit in his pioneer struggle. Dr. Levi Colby was born June 15, 1817, in Henniker, Merrimack County, N. H., where he grew up. He had the advantage of district school education and then entered the academy in his native town, taking his first course of lectures at Dartmouth College in 1838. He removed to Defiance in 1839, and prosecuted his studies with his brother, Dr. Jonas Colby, and in the winter of 1840 and 1841, attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He commenced the practice of medicine in the spring of 1841 at Defiance, as partner with his brother Jonas. He was married at Defiance, June 7, 1843, to Miss Harriet R. Phelps, who was born in Richville, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and daughter of James and Dorotha (Snow) Phelps. Their children are Edwin B., born October 24, 1850, at Montpelier, Williams County, Ohio, dead; George C., born at Independence, Defiance County, July 29, 1853, dead; Frances J., born September 17, 1856, on farm, and married Loren S. Durfey and resides on a portion of the farm; Hattie M., born on farm, May 27, 1860, married Franklin Bernard and living with the old folks Colby at home; and Willis, born December, 1862. dead. Levi Colby, Sr., and Betsey (Clark) Colby, parents of Dr. Colby, were the parents of nine children-Sally, Jonas, Barak, Mary, Catharine, Benja min and Levi, Jr., twins, Lucinda and Abigail. Four boys and four girls grew up and Married. The oldest, Sally, died at the age of about fifteen. Joseph, Mary and Catherine have since died. The grandfather of Dr. Colby was in the Revolutionary war, and the father of our subject, Levi, Sr., was sent a substitute in the war of 1812. Mrs. Colby's father, James Phelps, was in the war of 1812 also. Mr. Colby has been a prominent and active man since he came to this county, having lived in this county (except with brief intervals spent in the adjoining counties of Williams and Paulding) ever since he came in 1839. At an early day, and soon after his arrival, we find him associated with the School Board as Clerk aso Corporation Clerk, etc., and he has generally been in township offices all through his life. He is now serving this county as County Commissioner, having been elected in 1879 and re-elected in 1882. He was the first clerk pro tern. of Williams County as it now stands, having received his appointment by President Judge Patrick G. Good and his associates. He was also Deputy under Edwin Phelps, in Williams prior to organization of Defiance County in 1845, and Representative of Paulding and Defiance Counties in the Legislature, being elected in the fall of 1869 and re-elected in 1871, receiving the nomination by acclamation. Peter Frederick was born September 11, 1821, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. At seven years of age, he removed with his parents to Knox County, Ohio, where he lived till the fall of 1845. He then took a trip through the Western States, fetching up at Washington County, Iowa, where he enlisted in the Mexican war, February 21, 1848, and served till June 27 o E the same year, when he returned to Iowa and from thence to his home in Knox County. In December, 1849, came to Defiance County and in February, 1850, located his land warrant for 160 acres in Mark Township, where he now. resides. Mr. Frederick was present, at the *organization of the township, and was elected Clerk. Remained till the fall of 1853, then returned to Knox County. Was married, November 30, 1855, to Miss Catharine Bolyas and has four children, viz. : Sarah J.,Nancy E., Mary and M. H.,who died at about four years of age. HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 321 G. W. Spealman was born in West Brookfield, Stark County, Ohio, September 10, 1835. His father was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1805, and is now living in Stark County with his third wife. His mother was born in Holmes County, Ohio, A. D. 1809, and died February 7, 1851. Mr. Spealman was married November 15, 1857, to Miss Blanche S. Kirk, at Massillon, Ohio. Her ancestors were Scotch. In the spring of 1858, Mr. Spealman moved to La Salle County, Ill., and in the fall of 1863, came back to Stark County to take charge of a steam mill which he had left in 1858. While in Illinois, three children were born to him, viz.: Charles B., the eldest, born August 19, 1858; Alice Mary, February 16, 1861; Estella Tabitha, August 10, 1863, died November 18 of the same year; and Ella, born at Massillon, Ohio, May 30,1866. In September, 1875, he moved to Holmes County and entered into saw mill pursuits. While there, his son James Alexander was born, August 3, 1876. On the 1st of May, 1880, accompanied by his son, he started for Defiance County for the purpose of manufacturing lumber (having shipped their portable mill previously), and located and erected their mill on H. and B. Horzer's farm, about one mile north of the village of Mark Center. November 3, 1861, his daughter, Eva Blanche, was horn. He moved his mill the same fall to the village of Mark Center, where he continues to do business. November 15, 1882, his daughter Allie M. was married to the Rev. M. T. Ayres on the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Spealman. George N. Rice was born February 26, 1829, on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, ten miles above Cincinnati. In 1830, his parents, Payne and Margaret Rice, moved to Woodstock, Champaign Co., Ohio, and the next year moved to Logan County, into the woods, where they had to meet the hardships of pioneer life, going thirty miles for milling. They remained but a few years in this locality, and in 1835 moved to Union County, Ohio. and located in Liberty Township, where they remained till 1844, when they again returned to Logan County, and after getting settled, were burned out and the children had to go to school in winter barefoot. Mr. Rice was married, April 30, 1849, to Miss Sarah Ann Beighler, of Union County, Ohio, and located in said county for a time. Nine children were born to them, as follows: Sarah M. (dead), Jonathan D., Eliza J. (dead), Mary A., Celia R., George C., Ida Pearl, Hattie (dead) and Netta. He removed from Union to Logan County, and ran a cabinet shop there from 1855 to 1861. At the breaking-out of the war, Mr. Rice enlisted on the first call for three-months' men, and neat on November 22, 1861, for three years' service as a Sergeant of Company H., Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was organized at Camp Simon Kenton, in Hardin County, Ohio. Next January they were forwarded to Grafton, W. Va., and from that time Mr. Rice was in many bloody engagements, among which were McDowell, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run and Antietam. In December, 1862, he was one of a squad left at Fairfax Station to guard supplies, and while on their way to Fredericksburg, he was captured at Occoqua Ferry by Wade Hampton, and was obliged to march four days and nights without food on their way to Libby Prison, where 227 were put in one room. They were paroled out two months thereafter and were exchanged June 1, 1863. He was in the Gettysburg fight of July 1, 2 and 3, 1863. He was transferred to Hooker's brigade. Was at Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. Was with Gen. Sherman at Knoxville, who raised siege in front of Burnside in 1864. He was in all of the battles under Sherman from there to Savannah, at which place he was disharged, January, 1865, and returned home to Union County and came to Defiance County in 1868 and located in Hicksville Township. In 1878, he moved to Mark Township and located on Section 29, and engaged in lumbering, carrying on his farm in Hicksville Township. Josiah Kyle was born March 15, 1841, in Stark County, Ohio, removing from there to Hancock County, where he grew up, having only the advantages of a common school education. In 1860, be came to Defiance County, Ohio, and lin 1861, August 27, enlisted in the cause of his country in the Twenty- first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in Company E. On account of disability, he was discharged November 22, 1863. About a year thereafter, he enlisted again in the One Hundred and Eighty-second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in Company B, and served till the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge July 5, 1865. On July 19, 1866, Mr. Kyle married Martha Ellen Knight, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, December 25, 1843. Their children are as follows: Dollie, Jennie M., born February 9, 1873; and Howard, born February 1, 1881. The parents of Mr. Kyle were Peter and Elizabeth (Metz) Kyle, the former born in Pennsylvania, November 30, 1810, the latter in Stark County, Ohio, April 25. 1817. They were married in Stark County, Ohio, May 15, 1836. Their children were as follows: Anna, Cornelius W., Josiah, Reuben (deceased), Hiram (deceased), George W., an infant not named, Milton and Emma. They (the parents) came to Defiance County in 1860, settling in Milford Township. They are both living there at the present time. Josiah, subject of this sketch, was elected Justice of the Peace of Mark Township, April 10, 1875, and 322 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. was re-elected in 1878, and resigned at the close of the second term, as he could not be troubled with it. He was Township Treasurer from the spring of 18t73 to the present time. He is aso the leading merchant of the place, keeping a general assortment of everything found in a country store, engaging in this business at the Center about the year 1875. Mr. Kyle claims no notoriety for war record, but wishes space given to his friend and comrade in arms, William J. Knight, who enlisted in this county at same time in same company and regiment. As to the capture of engine at Big Shanty, he was the man who ran it on its perilous expedition. Lyman R. Critchfield, fourth child of Isaac and Nancy (Keifer) Critchfield, was born in Knox County, Ohio, April 16, 1838. his father being a native of Cumberland, Penn., the fatter of Clarksille, Va. Their children were Subra, Wyman and Oscar (both died in infancy) Lyman R., David K. and John P., who died in the service of his country at Bridgeport, Ala , August 2, 1864, having enlisted in Company F, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1863. Lyman R., our subject, enlisted April 18, 1861, on the first call for three-months' men, in Company K, Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and on the 26th of July, 1862, re-enlisted for three years and served till the close of the war, being discharged from Andersonville Prison June 9, 1865. He passed through many trying scenes, but none more so than parting with his dying father when his three-days' furlough had expired, and he had either to leave his father on the brink of death or be marked as a deserter. Stern duty determined his action, and receiving a parting kiss and -benediction, he left the death--bed scene, his father's eye anxiously following him to the door, and with a sad heart turned his footsteps in the direction of his country's foes. Enlisting on the 8th of September at Toledo, he proceeded with his regiment to Kentucky against Gen. Bragg. Was at Knoxville, Tenn., when besieged by Longstreet. In the spring of 1864, he passed through the Atlanta campaign, but was captured on November 30, 1864, by Hood's forces below Jonesboro, Ga., and being stripped nearly naked, was thrown into that indescribable prison pen, Andersonville. Mr. Critchfield was married December 6, 1868, to Mary C. Cole, who his borne him three children—Alonzo L., born August 28, 1868, died September 16, 1874; Delaphene M., born June 28, 1872, and Homer J., born April 8, 1879. Mr. Critchfield's parents moved to Henry County in 1849, and next spring moved to Mark Township, taking forty acres at $25, which recently changed hands at $1,100. They had to cut a road from the river road and another to Hicksville, six miles long. For a number of years there were no roads fit for teams; goods had to be transported by men. A man by the name of Ashton put up a saw mill and a corn-cracker in it, where they used to take corn on a hand sled and pull through the woods, distant about five miles. As Lyman R. grew up, he took after his father somewhat for hunting. His father settled in Knox County among the Indians when about ten years old and became a great hunter. Lyman R. used to hunt bear, deer, coons and turkeys. One day he ran a big bear all day with six dogs; night coming on, he camped on his track. Next morning routed him easily and treed him. Afterward he dropped to the ground, the dogs all pounced upon him and killed him nearly; one of the men ran up and, striking him on the head, finished him. At another time, late in the evening in September, he heard a rout among the hogs in the marsh on a little island. His brother, D. K. Critchfield, and himself started out. Taking the path to where they slept, discovered a bear lugging off a hog. On seeing them, he was attracted by Lyman's white shirt, dropped the hog, came at him and was within a few jumps of him when his brother shot him, after a pretty narrow escape of a bear's hug. William J. Knight, a merchant, now of Minnesota, deserves a place in the history of the brave boys of Defiance who enlisted in the late war. He is about forty-five years of age, a native of Wayne County. His mother died when he was an infant, and his father also died when he was but three years old, so that his grandparents raised him. His father was a farmer who came to this county in 1853. Mr. Knight married at Bryan, about 1868, Miss Emma Oldfield. Be was one of the Mitchell railroad raiders, whose adventures form one of the most thrilling episodes of the rebellion. Was a resident of Defiance County at the time of his enlistment in Company E, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August 27, 1861. The raiders consisted of twenty-four men from Gen. Mitchell's division, encamped about Shelbyville, Tenn. Their scheme, a most daring one, was to penetrate the rebel lines as far as Marietta, Ga., there secure a train of cars by fair means or force, and then run northward to the Union lines, burning all the bridges and otherwise destroying the road so effectually as to break all rebel rail communications over it. Four days were given them to reach Marietta. They left Shelbyville April 7, 1862, in small squads, all dressed in citizens' clothes, but did not reach their destination until the 12th, and the one day's delay frustrated the success of the well-laid plan. Only twenty of the men boarded the express northward the next morning, and at Big Shanty, a small station a few miles north of Marietta, the train was captured by the daring spies while the train men and passengers HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY - 323 were taking refreshments. Then began one of the wildest and most intensely exciting races imaginable. Mr. Knight, the subject, took charge of the engine, and away it went, thundering toward the Union lines. Passing each station, the rails were torn up and telegraph wire cut. But great delay was caused by waiting at stations for an unusual number of trains going south. The chase commenced in a hand car, but the first engine met was turned in pursuit, a gang of track-layers were secured, and at last the pursuer succeeded in getting a message ahead of the flying train, and its doom was sealed. The raiders took to the woods, but they were near a rebel encampment, and a large force of cavalry was organized to capture them. One by one the fleeing men were run down, though some eluded their pursuers for days. Twenty-two in all, they were incarcerated in a loathsome den at Chattanooga, thirteen feet square and thirteen feet deep, where they suffered untold torments. They were afterward transferred to the jail at Atlanta. The brave leader, Andrews, was condemned as a spy and executed. Seven more of the unfortunate prisoners were soon after hanged. A last desperate effort for freedom was planned and carried into execution. The guards were overpowered, and then each prisoner took flight as best he could. Mr. Knight gave the following account of his escape: " We broke jail October 16, 1862, and scattered and scampered for the woods. W. W. Brown, E. H. Mason and myself, all of the Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, were together. The first night out Mason took sick, and we did not get far, but kept well hidden. We wore three days within nine miles of Atlanta. On the third night Mason was so bad that we were compelled to go to a house with him, and began to despair of making good our escape, but he told us to leave him and save ourselves. Just as we had finished a hearty meal in the kitchen, three men came in at the front door to arrest us. They asked if we were not some of the prisoners whc broke jail at Atlanta. We told them we were. They said they had come to take us back, and that there was no use trying to escape, as all the roads and bridges were guarded. "Brown was mad in an instant, and ripped out a very blunt reply. We sprang out of the back door and ran around the end of the house and down a fence in the direction of some woods. They ran out of the front door with their shotguns and bawled out, ' Halt! halt!' as we were leaving them at a 2:40 run. They straddled their horses and galloped out on a by road from the house to the main road, while the man where we had stayed unloosed his hounds, and they were soon on our trail in full cry. We had changed our course to baffle the horsemen. for there was a hill to go down and another to ascend before we got across the plantation and to the woods beyond. The men could not see us, but the dogs told our course, and before we had reached the woods the whole pack were closing on us. The field was full of loose stones, and we hastily chose the best place we could and engaged in a savage combat with the dogs, in which we were victorious, crippling and driving away the whole pack in short order, after which we started again on full run. " We could by this time see the horsemen coming round to head us off. We changed our course and threw them off again. The hounds followed at a long distance and by their howling indicated our course, but did not come near enough to molest us. We kept see-sawing and tacking in order to avoid the horsemen, who were doing their best to head us off, until at last we came to a little creek in which we waded for a couple of hours, and in this way caused the dogs to lose us. That day we reached Stone Mountain, eighteen miles east of Atlanta. After that, we traveled nights, going due northward, with the north star for our guide. From our hiding places in the day time we frequently saw scouting parties, patrolling the country, no doubt, for the jail fngitives. We crossed the Chattahoochee, October 26, on rails tied together with bark. From the house where we left Mason we were six days without food, except nuts and brush. On the seventh day we caught a goose and ate it raw, and on the same day found a few ears of corn left in the field by the huskers. A day or so later we found a tree of apples and filled up on them and carried away all we could. Fortunately the same day we discovered a drove of young hogs in the woods. I hid behind a tree and Brown coaxed a confiding pig up near me by biting off bits of apple and tossing them to it, backing up meanwhile, until the young porker came within reach of my stick, when I murdered it. That night we found where some men had been clearing and burning, and we had a feast of cooked pork without seasoning, but we enjoyed it without complaint, for, except the goose and corn, we had eaten only five meals in twenty-one days. The pig lasted till we reached the Hiawasse River, near the corner of North Carolina. " We traveled hard for four days over an intolerably rough country, and only gained eight miles. We were crossing a little old clearing which had a desorted appearance, when we came unexpectedly and suddenly out in front of a log house, where two men stood on the porch. They saw us and it was too late to dodge, so we tried to appear indifferent and asked if we could get dinner. We told them we were rebel soldiers who had been on the sick list and were trying to get back to our regiments. They said we 324 - HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY. could have dinner, and as we sat down to eat the woman of the house eyed us closely and soon accused us of being "Yanks." We soon found out each other, and they were loyal, true people, who sent us to friends and they to other friends, until we reached Somerset, Ky., about November 25, from which place we reached Louisville, and from there by railroad to Nashville, near which place our old comrades and regiment lay, and where our boys received us with three times three and a tiger." CHAPTER XXVII. MILFORD TOWNSHIP CHURCHES—ARROWSMITH MILL—PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. MILFORD TOWNSHIP was organized in 1837. The first settlers were William G. Pierce, George Chapman, Linus Clark, Ezra Crary, Thomas Slater, Thomas Green, Jacob Welden, Harrison Conkey, Elias Crary, Spencer Hopkins, John Henry and George Green and their families. These twelve were present at the first election. The officers elected at that election were Linus Clark, Justice of the Peace; Ezra Crary, George Chapman and Thomas Slater, Trustees; Linus Clark, Treasurer; Ezra Crary, Clerk, and W. G. Pierce, Constable. The following were the Milford Township voters in October, 1845: Ezra Crary, John Mochman, James Marshall, Abram Merser, Dennis Boyles, Ira W. Ladd, J. G. Thompson, A. W. Wilcox, Oliver Farnsworth, John H. Hopkins, Jesse Snow, Benjamin Furlow, Armenius Crary, Elisha Clark, Joseph Long, Henry Hulbert, Lucius Gale, William G, Pierce, James Pierce, Peter Beerbower, Charles W. Barney, Samuel Slater, Michael Upp, Ezra Grandey, Harry Hasting, William Brattone, Jefferson Wartenbee, G. C. Noble, B. F. Squire, John Henry, Clement Hulbert, Adam Casebeer, Chancy P. Lowrey, Peter Helwig, Daniel Coy, Hezekiah Arrants, John Halley, William Lewis, Harrison Conkey, Elias Crary, Andrew Wickerham, Joseph Wickerham. William G. Pierce, Daniel Coy, and William Lewis, Judges; Lucius Gale and Harrison Conkey, Clerks. The first child born in Milford Township that lived to manhood was Luther Slater, November, 1835, and the first marriage was Jeremiah A. Ball to Malinda Slater, in August, 1836. Milford has taken a due interest in the Ohio school system, as her schoolhouses fully attest, and has freely spent many thousand dollars to preserve a system that tends to perpetuate free thought and liberty of opinion. Milford is a fine township, and very productive. Her lands will compare favorably, for productiveness, with other parts of the county. They do not need so much ditching and tiling as the wetter ones to prepare them for culture. They are very productive, and raise fine wheat, corn and grass. By the census of 1880, the population was 1,460. CHURCHES. The Universalist Church of Logan, in Milford Township, was built in 1868, at a cost of $1,800. The services there have been maintained regularly by N. Crary, W. J. Chaplin, E.' Moorefield, J. Merrifield and others. The removals and deaths, and other causes, have weakened the church, but the few believers are firmly attached to the church and its doctrines. The liberality of other churches has done much to soften old asperities against the doctrines of Universalism. The Lutherans have a small frame church in Section 10, and a membership of some thirty. The second preacher was Ernest Stubnace. The church cost about $800. The former preacher was Adam Detzer, in 1845, still living in Indianapolis, Ind. The Methodists have also a small church, in the northeast part of the township. The membership is small. It was built in 1872, and is a frame. The preacher is Adam Kruemling. ARROWSMITH MILL. The Arrowsmith Mill was not only one of the useful institutions of its day, but an institution of prime necessity to the neighborhood and country around. It served the purpose of supplying the simple needs of its patrons, when habits of living were plainer than now. But this mill, conditioned like all things else, was forced to yield to time and circumstances, and has finally passed away, its ponderous wheels ceasing to turn about 1846. It was located just north and a little west of the crossing of Lost Creek. A portion of the building was of logs, and for some years has been used for storing a lot of blacksmith tools. In 1844, Mr. John F. Haller, though not a millwright, helped Mr. Arrowsmith, the proprietor, on the repairs of this mill. Mr. Arrowsmith, however,

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