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570 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. AUGLAIZE TOWNSHIP. A. C. BITLER, firm of Marriott & Bitler, merchants, Harrod. This house established business at Harrod, in 1883. They carry a general stock of about $3,500, and conduct a large and lucrative trade. The subject of this sketch, junior member of the firm, was born in Schuylkill County, Penn., June 21, 1857, son of Samuel and Sarah Bitler, pioneers and residents of Auglaize County, Ohio. Our subject came to this place ostensibly to enter mercantile trade, in which he has been very successful. He was appointed postmaster at Harrod, April 1, 1884, succeeding G. W. Campbell, which position he has acceptably filled, and during his short residence in the place he has won many friends. Mr. Bitler was married in Auglaize County, Ohio, in 1881, to Miss Clara, daughter of William and Lydia Frasier. Two children were born to this union, both now living: Ise M., and Elmira G. SAMUEL DURBIN, farmer, P. 0. Herring, was born in Knox County, Ohio, August 11, 1831; son of John and Sarah (Braddock) Durbin, natives of Knox County, where the latter died. They were parents of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living: Elizabeth (wife of H. Kettle), Samuel, Sarah (wife of William Winters), Samantha (wife of G. B. Growdon), John, Olive (wife of H. Barker), Philena (wife of B. Blatchley), and Mansoneta (wife of L. Lewis). John Durbin, married for his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth (Wright) Trimble, by whom he has one son, Wright. He is at present a resident of Fredericktown, Knox Co., Ohio, and although well-advanced in years he enjoys robust heath, and is vigorous and strong. He has made large accumulations of property through a life of industry; for years he was one of the prominent members of, and exhorters in, the Methodist Episcopal Church. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm, and has followed agriculture all his life. In 1852 he went by way of the Isthmus of Panama to California. After prospecting three years, he returned to his native land (spending five months in doubling Cape Horn), well satified with the reward of his industry. His present farm now consists of 220 acres, upon which he has made many improvements in way of buildings, etc. Mr. Durbin was united in marriage, April 3, 1856, with Miss Rachel, daughter of Adam and Isabel Shipley (both deceased in Allen County), and a native of Knox County, Ohio. Her family were early settlers of Howard Township, Knox Co., Ohio. Their children now living are Eliza (wife of Henry Coles), Rachel and Emily (wife of Benjamin Austin). To our subject and wife were born ten children, of whom seven are now living: Emery L. (married to Miss Mary F. Cook, have one child, Charles E., they reside in Lafayette, this county, where Emery L., is largely engaged in hardware trade), Willie H., Finley, Lizzie B., Emma 0., Samantha and Samuel. The family are refined and intelligent, the eldest children being vocalists of merit. Mr. Durbin in the late war of AUGLAIZE TOWNSHIP - 571 the Rebellion, served in the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio National Guards and saw active service at Petersburg, Va., and other points He has been trustee and steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church for twenty years. J. M. HARROD, farmer, P. O. Harrod, was born in Auglaize Township, this county, March 7, 1852. His father, William Harrod, was born in Knox. County, Ohio, October 4, 1819; his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Copeland, was a native of Greene County, Ohio. Records show them to be of Pennsylvania stock, and the family were early pioneers of Knox County. William Harrod settled on the land he now occupies in 1841, at which time he took up 60 acres. The farm now embraces 440 acres. After paying taxes on his land, Mr. Harrod had but $3 left, but with health and ambition, he began his work in the woods, and his labors have been crowned with success. He and his wife were parents of six children: J. W., Rebecca, Albert, Laura, Louis B. and Dora B. The subject of this sketch settled on his present farm, consisting of 120 acres in 1879. He has made excellent irnprovments, and has taken an active part in building up Harrod, and improving the place. Mr. Harrod was married in Jackson Township, this county, in 1879, to Miss Hannah C. Leatherman, a native of this county. He has held various offices of trust in the township. BENJAMIN HEFFNER, JR., farmer, P. 0., Westminster, was born in Bucks County, Penn., December 6, 1827, and is a son of Abner and Lucy (Dafney) Heffner, both of German extraction. The family were early settlers of Licking County, Ohio, where the parents led an uneventful life, and died surrounded by their children and friends. Of their children three are now living: Benjamin, Tobias Anthony and Susanah. The subject of this sketch settled in Westminster, this township, in 1851, where he has since been engaged in farming, clearing a portion of the land upon which he now resides, and passing through much of the hardships of pioneer life. He was married, in 1851, to Miss Catherine Yost, a native of Pennsylvania, and by her be has the following children now living: Alexander and Matthew, residing in St. Louis, Abner and Adelia. Mr. Heffner has a farm of 100 acres of well-improved land and a home well worthy of his hard earned labors. The family are members of the Reformed Church. J. C. MANAHAN, merchant, P. 0. Manahan, was born near Westminster, Md., August 4, 1842, son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Pierce) Manahan, natives of Maryland, who moved to Marion County, Ohio, in 1850. thence to this county in 1860, where the mother died. The father is at this time a resident of Perry Township, this county. Of their children, three are now living: Mary (wife of W. E. Cummings), John C. and Erasmus B. The subject of this sketch enlisted in 1862, in Company E, Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Mason Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Atlanta, Nashville and several minor engagements. Returning to peaceful pursuits, Mr. Manahan engaged in farming, until he opened his present place of business, in 1883, at Westminster Station. The postoffice was named in his honor, and he was appointed postmaster in August, 1883. Mr. Manahan married in 1869, 572 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Miss Eliza, daughter of Stephen Hardesty and Nancy Ellis. Five children were born to this union, all now living: John A. B., Alta K., Nancy E., Minnie M. and George A. TURNER MARRIOTT, firm of Marriott & Bitler, merchants, Harrod, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1839, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Snyder) Marriott, natives of Ohio and early pioneers of Hamilton County. Stacy Marriott, grandfather of our subject, a ship carpenter by trade, entered land when there was but one store in Cincinnati; he died of cholera in 1847. Benjamin and Elizabeth Marriott are now residing in that county, aged respectively seventy-seven and seventy-two years. Twelve children were born to them, all now living: Sarah (wife of G. Bickle), Frederick, Catherine, Benjamin, Nancy, Turner, Stacy, Jennie (wife of G. Schuler), Anna (wife of Thomas Crabb), Amanda (wife of J. Q. Adams), Newton and John. The subject of this sketch established himself, in 1866, in mercantile trade, at Wrestle Creek, Auglaize County, Ohio, where he has since continuously engaged in business. In 1883 he formed the present co-partnership, which has been conducted very successfully, Mr. Marriott, since his location at Harrod., has followed farming in connection with his mercantile pursuits, and is dealing somewhat in live stock. Along with Mr. Harrod he has been interested in building up and improving Harrod. Mr. Marriott was married in this county, in 1864, to Miss Sarah C., daughter of George Stiles, of Auglaize County, Ohio. Five children were born to this union, all now living: Euphemia J., (wife of F. Leatherman), Armond, Maud B., Cora B. and Turner C. SHEPHERD RUDY, farmer, P. 0. Westminster, was born February 16, 1823, in Miami County, Ohio; son of Jacob and Fannie (Neff) Rudy, and grandson of Frederick Rudy, who was a native of Pennsylvania. Jacob Rudy came to Ohio in 1798, and settled near Dayton, in Miami County, as one of the pioneers of that county, before the county-seat, Troy, was thought of. He entered 172 acres of land, which he cleared entire, and there raised a family of eleven children, seven of whom are now living: Frederick, Shepherd, Aaron, Nancy (now Mrs. Studebaker), Elizabeth (now Mrs. Landis), Fannie (now Mrs. Sproul), and Sarah (now Mrs. Shellabarger). Our subject received his early education in Miami County, Ohio. He was married June 22, 1847, to Ann Stonburgur, by whom he has ten children, eight now living: Almeda (now Mrs. E., Bowdle), Eliza (now Mrs. J. Place), Cordelia (now Mrs. R. Hutchison) Mary F., Adam F., Jacob M., William E. and 011ie M. Our subject came to this county in 1849, and settled on his present farm of 60 acres, with good improvements, now owned by him, formerly by David Gilmer. Mr. Rudy has been active in school matters, having been director for many years. He is a member of, and leader, in the Methodist Episcopal Church. VALENTINE ROSE was born in 1820 in Mercer County, Penn., son of Henry and Catherine (Ault) Rose, natives of Pennsylvania, where they died. They were parents of ten children, six now living: Jacob, Henry, Valentine. Elizabeth, Mary A. and Susan. Our subject, who is the only one living in Ohio, was married in 1843 to Caroline C. Carlin, and to this union were born four children, of whom two are living: Andrew J., married to Miss Mary J. Plummer (have one child—Lula M.) and Mar- AUGLAIZE TOWNSHIP - 573 garet Jane, married to David N. Moyer (have one child—Robert Franklin). Mr. Rose came to Ohio in 1864, and settled where he now lives. Beginning life with but little, he now owns a well cultivated farm, which he purchased of Abraham Shockey, and on which he has made all the improvements. Mr. Rose has followed agricultural pursuits the greater part of his life. |