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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
PETER E. ARMSTRONG. farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 10 ; P. O. Hill Grove ; was born in Greenville Township. Darke Co., Ohio. Nov. 21. 1831,. and is the son of John and Jane (Elston) Armstrong : at the age of 18, he was living in Jackson Township, this county : about that time the first church edifice was built there—a little little log house. by the Methodists : his early education was obtained in a very poor log hut, of small dimensions, but from his father he obtained good sound knowledrnt as he was an educated gentleman before he emigrated into the wilderness; he was an attorney at law, and in this county was Associate Judge of the Common Pleas a ntiml ler of years. and Justice of the Peace twenty-four years he was one of the most highly respected and prominent men of the county during his lifetime. The subject of this sketch. Peter R. is Treasurer of this township; has assessed the chattel property of this township five years ; a Trustee, etc. ; is a strong Union man. and a Republican. He married Catherine Henning July 25, 1854 ; she was born in Montgomery Co,. Ohio, Nov. 22. 1830, and came to Darke Co. in her youth, with her parents. Jacob and Rebecca (Stiner) Henning ; they have tour children. viz.: David. born Aug. 11. 1855 ; Sarah Jane. born Nov. 23, 1856 ; she married Andrew C. Bickel : Hugh Lincoln. born June 15, 1860, and Mary Isabelle, born Nov. 29. 1865. Mr. Armstrong owns 148 acres, Where he has resided twenty-four years : this he has procured by his own unaided efforts and self-reliance : himself and with are members of the German Baptist Church.
ANDREW BICKEL. farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 15; P.O. Hill Grove ; was born in Brush Valley. Centre Co.. Penn.. Sept. 2. 1805 ; moved to Montgomery Co., Ohio, with his parents in 1811. His father, Andrew Bickel, was born in Pennsylvania, and married Catherine Gloss. born also in Pennsylvania ; he died in St. Joseph Co.. Ind.. in 1854. and she died here on Sec. 15 in 1858: he was drafted in the war of I912. but hired a substitute. Andrew, the subject of this sketch, moved to this place. where he now resides. March 2. 1831, having entered 80 acres in August before : he built his cabin of logs in the woods, without windows or doors, but in the fall he procured a plank, of which he made a door, using wooden pins for nails, being too poor to buy nails, or latch, or hinges, but his latch-string has always been out for a friend ; in 1538, he built a hewed-log house and weather- boarded it in this he still resides, a good, warm, substantial habitation ; he sold forty bushels of corn of his own raising for 25 cents a bushel, and every year since has had corn to sell : and in the early days he never refused a neighbor a sack of corn whether he had the money or not ; in the first twelve years alone he cleared 50 acres : after that his boys were old enough to help him, and they did. He married Nancy Moyer May 30, 1830 : she was born in Rockingham Co., Va., Aug, 25, 1810. Mr. and Mrs. Bickel have bad ten children, viz.: Henry, born Jan. 2. 1831 ; John, born Feb. 23. 1832 ; William, born Oct. 10, 1833, died Nov. 22, 1853 ; Catherine. horn Feb. 9, 1839 ; Daniel, born Oct. 21, 1837 ; Sally, born Dec. 2, 1839, died March 30, 1843 ; Elizabeth. born Jan. 3, 1842 ; Abigail, born Jan. 19, 1844, died March 20, 1853 ;Mary. born April 25. 1847, died May 21, 1847, and Andrew, born June 15, 1852. Catherine married Henry Blocher ; Elizabeth married John J. Norris. Mr. Bickel is hare and hearty, and says at the age of 60 he could cut and split from the stump 200 rails, or cut and put up two cords of hard wood in a day. He voted for Andrew Jackson in 1832. He now owns the old homestead of 120 acres, where he resides.
DANIEL W. BICKEL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 17 ; P. O. Hill Grove ; was born in Clermont Co Ohio, Nov. 11, 1838, and is the eldest son of Tobias Bickel, of Sec. 18. Washington Township, who was born in Centre Co., Penn., May
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6, 1811, and married Elizabeth McAdams, of Hamilton Co., Ohio, in June. 1837 she was born in that county Nov. 15, 1815. Tobias Bickel moved to where he now resides in 1848 ; he followed teaming in Cincinnati until he was 25 years of age ; he had no advantages for an education in his youth, but has given all his children good opportunities, which they have improved; they have had eleven children, viz. : Daniel, Margaret, Hamilton A., Sarah E.. deceased ; Catherine, deceased ; John J., Nancy J., Joseph, Elijah, Stephen R., deceased, and Marcus D. Mr. T. Bickel has been a successful and thrifty farmer ever since he came to Darke Co.. and owns, free and clear, 240 acres, which he has redeemed from a wilderness of swamps, by open and blind ditching. as well as clearing of heavy timber. The subject of this sketch, at the age of 20, commenced teaching school, and followed it four years ; has been Assessor of the township for two years, and Clerk one year. He married Rebecca Chenoweth. daughter of John Chenoweth. deceased, of this township, Sept. 28, 1861 ; she was born May 25, 1838. They have had three children, viz.: the first died unnamed ; John H., born Oct. 29, 1863, and Ira K, born Feb. 28, 1866. He owns a fine home and 156 acres of land himself and wife are members of the Methodist Church.
HENRY M. BICKEL. farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Hill Grove ; was born Jan. 2, 1831, in Montgomery County. Ohio. and came with his parents to Darke County in April following; his father. Andrew Bickel. was born in Centre County, Penn., Sept. 2, 1805, and married Nancy Moyer, who was born in Virginia Aug. 27, 1810 ; both, hale and hearty, are now living on the farm they- bought in 1830, at that time in an unbroken wilderness, in Washington Township. though they experienced all the hardships and privations so well known to all the early settlers of this portion of Ohio, but now. instead of the wilderness, amid the most fertile and productive agricultural land of the State. Henry 3L. the subject of this sketch, has owned the farm (234 acres) where he lives twenty-three years : this also has he redeemed from wilderness and swamps to bountiful productiveness, being among, if not the very first man to "blind tile: which is the making of the fine farms in Darke County ; now he is surrounded by abundance and coin- fort; at 21 years, he was not worth a dollar, and possesses to-day the first silver dollar that he earned, by cutting eight cords of hardwood. June 12, 1856, he married Mary Crumrine ; she was born in Darke County July 8. 1839 ; they have had six children, viz., John C., Lucy C. (deceased), Mary A., Dora (deceased), Harrison C. and Henry I.
SAMUEL W. BLOCHER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Greenville ; is the youngest son of Samuel Blocher, of Washington Township, and was born in this township Oct. 20, 1845 ; was raised a farmer, and has continued to follow it successfully, and has just erected for himself one of the finest brick residences in this county. He married Catherine M. Glunt, daughter of Joseph Glunt, deceased ; they have three children, viz.: Ira, born July 22, 1873 ; Hugh, Feb. 12, 1876; and Myrtle, Aug. 6, 1878, Mr. B. owns 183 acres of fine farming land adjoining the homestead of his father.
THOMAS F. CHENOWETH farmer and bncamason, Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Darke ; was born in Franklin County, Ohio, July 17, 1808 ; his father, John Chenoweth, was born in Virginia, and married Betsey Foster ; she was born in Maryland July 16, 1788 ; he died in Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1865 ; she died in Darke County, Ohio, in 1876 ; the family moved to this section in February, 1818. (See biography Of Jacob B. Chenoweth.) The subject of this, sketch attended school with about an equal number of white and, colored children, as the Clemens (colored) settlement was made soon after they moved here ; up to the age of 21, Mr. Chenoweth followed fanning, then learned the brickmason's trade, which, with farming, he has ever since followed ; was elected Justice of the Peace in 1852, and served until 1879 (twenty-seven years). He married Christina Thomas Nov. 10, 1831 ; she was born in Anderson County, Tenn., Feb. I, 1810 ; her father, John Thomas, married Catherine Albright Oct. 31, 1799 ; she was born March 14, 1784 ;
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both were born in North Carolina and died in Preble County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Chenoweth have had the following children. viz.. Lewis A., born Aug. 6, 1832, Wed April 4. 1836 John. born Nov. 19, 1833 ; Louisa, Dec. 16, 1835 ; Nelson T., net. 8. 1835; Eineline. Dee. 5, 1839. died Feb. 18. 1840 Catherine, born Jan. 13, 1s43 : Joel T.. Dee. 29, 1844 Mary Jane, Sept. 18, 1848 ; and Benjanfin F,, Sept. 25. 1852 : Louisa married Milton Jefferis. Catherine married Daniel Clapp, Mary Jane married George McClure. In the winter of 1830 and 1831, Mr. Chenoweth hauled with a four-horse team out of Greenville all the wheat that was marketed there at that time. i. e.. two loads a day. twenty-five bushels to the load ; it was sold for 35+ cents per bushel in merchandise. He owns a good farm of 160 acres.
JACOB B. CHENOWETIL farmer and stock-raiser,Sec.17 ; P.O. Hill Grove ; was born in Pike Co.. Ohio. May 13. 1824. and came with his parents to Washington Township, where he now resides, in December, 1829 ; his father, John Chenoweth. was born in Pike Co.. Ohio, Nov. 5. 1797. and is said to be the first white child born on the Scioto River in that county he married Mary E. Barger April 13. 1820 ; she was born in Virginia in 1897 her father, Jacob Barger, was horn March 13, 1869. and married Susan Barger. who was born in Germany ; he died Sept. 5. 1822, and she died Oct. 24, 1845. Jacob B., the subject of this sketch, began life poor ; he worked for small wages, farming up to 1850 ; his limited education he procured here in a but built of round logs, small and so low a big boy could barely stand upright : in place of glass window-lights was greased white paper, through which only dim knowledge could be obtained. He married Sarah \Vagemon Sept. 10. 1855 : she was born in Darke Co., Sept, 8, 1837 ; her father, William Wagemon, was born in Pennsylvania. and married Mary Baker, of Virginia ; he died in Wabash Co.. Ind.. in the winter of 1867 ; she died in Randolph Co., Ind., in March. 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Chenoweth have four children, viz., John W., born Sept. 6. 1858 ; Mary A.. Oct. 21, 1860 Flora j., March 30, 1863; and Ira O., March 15. 1854. He owns 100 acres and a good home,; he has been Supervisor, Trustee. School Director. etc.. but has never aspired to public office.
JOSEPH COLE. JR.. retired farmer. See. 33; P.O. Darke ; was born ia Washington Township. Darke Co., Dec. 29. 1823 ; at the age of 17, be began teaching school in the first schoolhouse erected in Washington Township, and followed teaching most of the time until he was 30 years old ; he built and managed a saw-mill about three years ; he went into merchandising in Coletown and followed it four years ; he since has followed dealing in live-stock and farming ; he has never been a political aspirant ; he is now Secretary of the Darke County Pioneer Society. His father. Samuel Cole, was born in Sussex Co., N. J., July 3, 1787, and married Mary Elston, of the same county, in 1812 ; she was born Nov. 27, 1592 : his father, Samuel Cole, was born on the Hudson River near New York City, Nov. 5, 1751. He first married Janey Davis ; she was born July 2,1755 ; his second wife was Anna Rider ; she was born Oct. 25. 1760 ; his father was David Cole, a descendant of the Coles who were among the first settlers of New York City or New Amsterdam ; Samuel Cole, the father of the subject of this sketch, moved to Washington Township in March,1817 ; his father came the next year and died here Jan. 8, 1829 ; Samuel. father of Joseph, the subject of this sketch, died in Greenville Township. this county, Feb. 21, 1866 ; he was a farmer but taught the first school in Washington Township he was the first Justice of the Peace, and was Township Clerk in 1823 ; his widow Mary, died Aug. 10,1831; they had tight children, viz.: William, born July 25, 1813, in New Jersey, died April 3, 1836; Asa, born July 26. 1815, in New Jersey, died May 29, 1857 ; Jane, born April 20, 1817 ; the first white child born in Washington Township; she married Leonard Wintermute, and now resides in Greenville Township ; Betsey , born March 23, 1819, died Feb. 6, 1872 ; she married George Elston, deceased ; Samuel, born April 5, 1821 ; Joseph, Dec. 29, 1823 Polley, 18, 1826, died Sept. 25. 1831, and Henry, June 20, 1829; he is a Christian minister and resides in Kansas. Joseph, the subject of
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this sketch, married Sarah Ann Shively April 6, 1850 ; she is the daughter of Daniel Shively, and was born May 14. 1831 ; they have had seven children, viz.: Arthur born Jan 18, 1851, died March 16, 1852 ; Wallace S., born April 6, 1853 ; Flora A., born March 26, 1855: she married B. F. Chenoweth ; William H.. born Dec. 16, 1859 ; Mary C., born April 23, 1862 Charlie W.. born Oct. 12. 1866, and Benjamin F., Nov. 12, 1874.
JAMES B. CREVISTON. school teacher. See. 4: P. 0. Hill Grove; was born in Washington Township. Darke Co.. Ohio. Jan. 15. 1826. His father. Henry Creviston, was born in Bedford Co.. Penn., in February 1780. and married Mary Burnham, of North Carolina : they moved to Darke Co.. Ohio, in 1308, and settled .near Greenville ; he mainly followed farming, but was a noted hunter, as game was abundant and the country a dense forest ; he was in the war of 1812, and acted as scout for Gen. William H. Harrison, from Ft. Greenville to Tippecanoe and other points in the Northwest, among the Indians : he died in September, 1855 ; his wife survived him until February. 1865. James B. Creviston commenced teaching school at Hill Grove, where he now resides, in 1849, and has continued up to this time, within the four adjoining districts. and is now the oldest native teacher in the county, and if not the first. he was the second, white child born in this township. In April. 1861, he enlisted in Co. T. 17th 0. V. I. went out as first Lieutenant, and on Sept. 9, following. was appointed Adjutant of the 40th Ohio Regiment under Col. Jonathan Cranor, and served until discharged, on account of inflammatory rheumatism he was commissioned Captain of Co. G, of the 193d Ohio Regiment of Infantry in February, 1865. and served until the surrender of all the rebel armies ; was mustered out in September. 1365. He married Mary Ohler Aug. 29, 1849 ; she was born in this township Sept. 23. 1849: they have had four children, viz., Kate, born July 1. 1851 (she married Henry Cook) : Bruce, born Sept 20, 1859 (died Nov. 5, 1860) ; Johnny. horn Oct. 18, 1865 (died Aug. 21, 1868) ; and Mary Agnes, born July 22, 1852. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church ; in politics, he is a Republican
JOHN FLORY, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 9; P. O. Hill Grove ; was horn in Palestine, Darke Co., Ohio, Oct. 21, 1841. His father, Daniel Flory. was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio May 13, 1817, and came with his parents to German Township, in Darke Co., in his youth ; he learned the tinners trade, and was the first, and for many years the only tinner in Washington Township, which was his principal business during life. He died on his homestead in Sec. 10, Washington Township, Nov. 4, 1873, where he owned 182 acres of land. He married Eliza Wise, of Darke Co., who died about 1849 ; by this marriage were six children, all of whom are now living. His second marriage was with Elizabeth Morgan, of Maryland, in December, 1851, by whom were nine children, three of whom only are living-4--John Flory learned the tinner's trade also, which he followed only for a short time, giving his attention mainly to farming ; he married Rebecca Friend Oct 19, 1865: she was born in Darke Co., Ohio June 15, 1849; they have six children, viz., Rachel, born Oct. 30, 1867 ; Emma, born Nov. 13, 1870 ; Sirrilda. born July 20, 1872; Sarah, born May 20, 1874 ; Jesse, born Sept. 15, 1876, and Joseph Ei, born Aug. 5, 1878. He owns 73 acres of land ; Mr. and Mrs. Flory belong to the German Baptist Church, of which he is a Deacon.
ELIZABETH (CRUMRINE) GLUNT, widow of Joseph Glunt, deceased, Sec. 17 ; P. 0. Union City, Ind. Her husband, Joseph Glunt, was born June 5, 1822, and departed this life May 1, 1878, after a lingering illness, which he bore with patience and Christian fortitude ; he had been a member of the German Baptist Church for seventeen years. They commenced life in a very poor little log hut, which now stands in the rear of the pleasant home, and is used as a stable. The gentlemen and ladies of to-day would hardly desire to make such a beginning, but from such beginnings have grown all the wealth and prosperity of this country. This but was erected in the wilderness, but is now surrounded by beautiful and productive farms. Mr. Glunt, when married, had only a cow, two
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horses and a few farming tools. thus showing what untiring industry and indomitable will accomplish. The farm consists of 425 acres of excellent land. Mr. Wind married Elizabeth Crumrine, daughter of Moses Crumrine, one of the earliest settlers of this county, June 5. 1849 : she was horn in Darke Co., Ohio, July 22, 1832 ; they have had five children. viz.: Catherine M., born March 21. 1850, she married Samuel W. Blocker : Mary E.. born Sept 18. 1852 ; she married Samuel Mote : Isaac N.. horn 11ept. 18. 1856 Harrison, July 11. 1863. died Aug. 25. 1863. and Harvey M.. born Dee. 11 1864.
FREDRICK HOUPT. retired farmer. Sec. 33: P. O. Darke. Ohio: was horn in Lebanon Co., Penn.. Aug.10. 1814 : his father. Fredrick Houpt, was born in Schuylkill Co.. Penn. The subject of this sketch. at the age of 12 went to work on a farm and worked five years for his board and clothes he then learned the cooper's trade moved to Dayton, Ohio, in 1833 worked at firming in summer and in winter at his trade : in the spring or 1846. he moved to where he now resides : the first land he owned was 25 acres. which he bought in the wilderness in the eastern part of Darke County, for $275 he sold it for $1,000 in 1856. He married Sarah Wilds April 2. 1814 she was born in Ohio. Aug. 16, 1815, and died Feb 7, 1879 : the; have had four children. viz.: a little boy, died unnamed; John, born Feb 7, 1849 died Nov 5. 1869 : David. born Nov. 4, 1851, and Sarah
Ann. she married Calvin Young : David resides at home ; he married Almira Heck April lit. 1873 she was born in German Township, Darke Co.. March 28. 1855 and died March 30, 1856 they had one boy, William F., born Nov l9, 1873, died Feb.6. 1875 His second marriage was with Phoebe Rodgers. Dec. 26, 1878: : she was born in Washington Township April 21, 1858. Fredrick owns a good home and 623 acres of land, and other good houses and buildings.
SAMUEL HEFFER farmer. See. 2 : P. O. Hill Grove. Ohio ; who is a son of Jacob and Barium (Bechtel) Huffer : was born in Maryland. Sept. 24, 1799 ; the father moved to Montgomery Co.. Ohio. in the fall of 1830, and to Darke County in 1838. to Harrison Township in 1844, they moved to where a portion of the fannly now reside. in See. 2. Washington Township : he died Feb. 15, 1873; his widow. Catherine. died Feb 16,1859 they had seven children, viz.: Aaron. born April 19, 1830; Jacob. Jan. 6, 1832. deceased : Elizabeth, born Dec. 19, 1934, deceased; Samuel (the subject of this sketch), born March 31, 1838; Reuben. April 13, 1839 . Magdalena, July 13, 1844 she married Jonathan Hart ; and Malinda. born June 5, 1846 : he followed farming during his lifetime ; two of his sons, Aaron and Samuel. and son-in-law J. Hart, established a tile factory on the old homestead in 1874. where they are turning out large quantities of tile of excellent quality. Aaron and Samuel remain unmarried and live in their paternal residence with Howard and Rebecca Hart. and own 200 acres of land which their father and his sons have converted from a wilderness to fine productive meadows and fields : their first residence here nisi. erected and covered. $6, which exhausted their exchequer ; in this they resided four years : in 1852, the present home was built all the privations and hardships of pioneer life have been experienced by this family Elizabeth Huffer married Ambrose Green, whose daughter, Rebecca A. born (June 19. 1858). married Charles H. Hart. horn in Berks Co.; Penn., July 11. 1855 they have one child. Mary Myrtle Hart. born July 1, 1879.
ISAAC KAUCHER. farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 9 P. O. Hill Grove; was born in Patter's Township. Center Co„ Penn.. Sept. 15, 1805: went with his parents to Montgomery Co., Ohio in 1808: his father, Godfrey Kaucher, was born in Berks Co.. Penn.. Sept. 1, 1774 and married Christina Fay ; she was born in the same county Aug. 14, 1773 ; he died Nov. 13. 1850. and she died April 13, 1855; both are buried on the old homestead. The family moved to Washington Township, Darke Co.. in 1831: in his early days. Godfrey Kaucher followed milling, but, after he came here. farming. Isaac. the subject of this sketch, obtained only three months schooling in his youth. and then in a German school; previous to 1830,
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he followed distilling ; ever since, has followed farming. He married Welshey Miller Dee. 30, 1835; she was born in Tompkins Co., S. Y., Feb. 29. 1820; they have five children, viz.: Margaret, born Oct. 23, 1836 ; she married Alfred Bliccard, Elizabeth, Aug. 3, 1838 ; Washington, Oct. 15, 1840 ; Sarah, March 25. 1843 ; John, July 14, 1845. John, the youngest, resides with his parents. and married Sarah Emrich Sept. 6, 1868 ; she is deceased, leaving two children-Cora and Isaac. Mr. Kaucher owns 95 acres of land and a good home.
MICHAEL KAUCHER, farmer and stock-raiser, See. 9; P. 0. Hill Grove was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Aug. 13, 1813 ; has always followed farming never attended any but a German school : his father. Godfrey Kaucher, was born in Berks Co., Penn., Sept. 1, 1754, and married Christina Fay. who was lawn in the same county Aug. 14, 1573; they moved to Montgomery Co.. Ohio. in 1808. and to Washington Township, Darke Co., in 1831: he died Nov. 13. 1850, and she died April 13, 1855 ; both are buried on the old homestead in See. 9 : they had nine children, viz., Jacob (deceased). Hannah (deceased), Elizabeth (she married William Oswald), Abraham. Isaac, Joseph, Christina. Michael and Rebecca ; the three last are living on the old homestead. In his early days, Michael was quite a hunter of wild game, which was very abundant ; he has killed. probably. fifty deer. and great numbers of wild turkeys and smaller game : he owns the old homestead, 91 acres, and a good home.
JAMES MCNEIL. merchant. Justice of the Peace and Postmaster. Sec. 34; residence, Darke; was born in Breckenridge Co.. Ky., Sept. 1 1835 moved to Darke Co., Ohio, with his parents, in 1844 ; from 1856 to 1862. he followed school-teaching, then went into merchandising where he now resides. in See. 34 ; in 1864, he volunteered for 100-days service in 152d 0. N. G. ; after rendering his faithful and loyal service to his count.", through much tribulation, he was honorably discharged ; he returned to his home and resumed his business ; was appointed Postmaster April 9, 1855, and elected Justice of the Peace in April. 1879. He married Mary Harter Oct. 15, 1861 ; she was born in Darke Co., Ohio. April 6, 1843 ; they have had four children, viz.: William II., born March 23, 1862, died Feb. 6, 1868 ; Viola, June 14, 1865 ; David R.. Jan. 3, 1869 : Linna May. Oct. 14, 1873. David G. McNeil, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1796, and his mother, Harriet (Lay) McNeil. in Fairfax Co., Va., March 8, 1808.
JAMES N. MORRISON, Justice of the Peace and farmer, Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Hill Grove. He was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, July 28, 1834, and moved to Darke Co. with his parents in 1841 ; his father, Nathaniel Morrison, was born In Virginia, and his mother, Catherine (Ludy) Morrison, in Maryland ; they first settled in Butler Township ; in 1863, James N. moved to Hill Grove and entered into general merchandising business ; sold out in the fall of 1865 and went into the live-stock business, which he followed two years, then went to farming and huckstering ; at this time, in addition to his official duties, he gave his attention to farming ; he was elected Justice of the Peace in April. 1851 ; was appointed Postmaster at Hill Grove Feb. 23 1877, He is a member of the church of United Brethren in Christ. Nov. 1, 1857, he was married to Amanda Nyswonger, daughter of Daniel Nyswonger, of Butler Township, this county, and has had ten children, viz., Frank D. John H. M., Laura A., Floretta F., Charles E., Emma E., William G., James E. (deceased), Myrtle M. and George.
HENRY SNELL, retired farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Darke. He was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1812 ; his father, John Snell, was born in Hagerstown, Md., in 1782, and married Mary Shively, of Pennsylvania ; they moved to Washington Township, Darke Co., June 4, 1817, making the first wagon track on the west side of the second branch of Greenville Creek, from south of what is now Nashville to Sharp Eye: the country was all wilderness, and for six months Mrs. Snell never saw the face of a white woman; but Indians were numerous, and wild game of every description ; deer were more plenty than sheep are to-day ;
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the first schoolhouse had yet to be built, and for many years the first elements of education were hard to obtain. The subject of this sketch cast his first vote in Washington Township for Andrew Jackson, but ever since has voted on the Republican side he began life with nothing, learned early the cooper's trade, and commented the business on his own account in 1831 ; followed it about fourteen years, until his health failed him, then he went to buying and selling live stock and farming: but for the last twenty years. he has rented out hisf arms and speculated in lands and houses. He married Mary Shively Sept. 11, 1836 ; she was born on See. 27. where they reside. Aug. 24. 1818 ; they never had any children of their own. but have raised two sets. all of whom are doing well in business, and are well settled in independent circumstances ; Mr. Snell owns 438 acres, with good farmhouses and outbuildings.
DANIEL SNELL. retired farmer. Sec. 28: P. 0. Darke. He was born in Warren Co., Ohio. March 1. 1809, and moved with his parents, John and Mary (Shively) Snell. to the place where they now reside. June 4, 1817 ; they at once erected a Mei house. 18x20 feet. of round logs, with mother earth for the floor ; the following winter, twenty persons found cover and home in this hut, not very comfortably, either. especially after the old sow and her pigs were given quarters in one corner. to keep them In an freezing : four or five years later, they erected a more eligible house ht. another room Daniel Snell resides near the spot where they first settled. Ile married Maria Rush Nov. 8, 1834 ; she was born in a block-house or stockade on Mud Creek. three miles from Greenville, in this county. in May. 1813: her father and mother. Henry and Rachel (Creviston) Rush, came from Pennsylvania and settled on the Scioto River. and moved to Darke Co. in 1808: she died March 14. 1852: Mr. and Mrs. Snell have had six children. viz.: Mary E.. born Sept. 4. 1835. married Randolph Harrison ; Thomas R., born July 21. 1835. died March 5. 1852 Alonzo V.. born Feb. 6. 1839. died March 9, 1872; William II.. born March 16, 1841, died in November, 1863; Rachel J., born Dec. 15. 1844. married William Mover. and John H. Born Oct. 18, 1850 he married Margaret E. Weng.er. youngest child of Elias and Catherine Wenger, Oct. 26, 1872 ; she was born in this township Dec. 19. 1850: they live in the old homestead, and have four children. viz,: Estella. born July 26. 1873 ; Katie M., born May 5.1875 ; Walter W.. born Nov. 21. 1S76. and Jennie. born Feb. 15. 1878: they own the first farm her father bought and part of the first his grandfather bought in Darke Co., 113 acres.
THOMAS E. TEAL. grocer, Sec. : P. O. Hill Grove ; was born in Wabash Co.. Ind., May 6. 1835, and moved to this township in 1858 was raised a farmer, but has followed the grocery business from the time he moved to this county ; is and has been four years County Coroner ; was Postmaster many years, and is now acting deputy the office :s and has been in his store about twelve years ; has been School Director a number of years. also railroad and express agent ; when a boy in Wabash Co , Ind., his nearest neighbors and playmates were Indians ; thus fresh in his memory are the recollections of border life, the games, sports, and turbulence of semi-civilization : his father, Walter Teal, settled there, on Eel River, in 1836 ; he was horn in Vermont Dec. 11. 1784, and married Rebecca Stephenson, of Fairfield Co., Ohio (where she was born Jan. 7, 1807); he died Dec. 11, 1844 she March 23. 1858. Thomas E. Teal married Ellen Crouse, of Darke Co., Ohio, Feb. 1, 1862 ; she died Jan. 8. 1864, leaving one daughter, Olive R. ; his second marriage was with Lucetta Heckerman, of the same place (Hill Grove) Feb. 27, 1868.
CAPT. JAMES M. WHITE, farmer and school-teacher ; P. 0. Mt. Heron ; born in Paterson. N. J.. March 11. 1828 ; when quite young, he emigrated with his parents to Kentucky, and in 1840 came to Ohio and located in Ross Co. and completed his education in the high school at Chillicothe, and the Academies at Lebanon and Delaware ; at 21) years of age. he engaged in school-teaching, which profession he followed until Jffiv. 1862. when he enlisted in the 91st 0. V. I. and
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went forward to battle for the Unoin: he served through the campaign of West Virginia ; after which he served under Gen. Sheridan during the campaign of the Shenandoah Valley. and was plastered out of service as Captain of Co. F of thy above regiment. at Cumberland. Md.. in July, 1865, having served in the Union army three years ; he then returned to Ross Co. :Ind followed farming and school-teaching two years, and after a residence of five years in Clinton Co. came 1,, Darke Co. in 1872. purchased a farm in Washington Township. and has since devoted his attention to farming and school-teaching. In 1874, he organized the Mt. Heron National Guards, which named a part of the 3d Regiment: was elected Captain, which office he held until 1879 when. on account of physical disability he received an honorable discharge. In 1854 he was united in marriage with Rachel A., daughter of John Chenoweth. one of the early pioneers of Darke Co. the have five children now living. having lost three by death: the living are Mary, Jane, Annie, Elizabeth and Thomas : the deceased were Alice. Sarah and Lucina.
JAMES M. WASSON. farmer. Sec. 5 : P. O. Union City. Ind : was horn in Butler Co., Ohio, Jan. 19. 1811 ; came with his parents to Darke Co. in IS16. His father, David Wasson, married Flora Graham in Pennsylvania : Loth were natives of Ireland ; when they moved to Darke Co. there were very few white- here. but a great many friendly Indians ; the country a wilderness and swamps: their currency. mostly hoop-poles and the skins and pelts of wild animals, which were :dumdum . and Mr. J. M. Wasson, the subject of this sketch. became a great hunter : three large black bears and many a noble !nick and doe. and smaller game too numerous to remember, have succumbed to his unerring rifle : his first In acres he bought from the Government, and paid for it with the proceeds from furs and pelts of his own killing ; this land has never changed title. and he owns altogether 200 acres at the age of 25, he could neither read nor write, but began then to educate himself, and soon obtained sufficient for all ordinary business affairs. He married Christina Hover July 14, 1835 ; she was born in Pendleton Co.. Va., March 11. 1816 ; they have had seven children, viz., Mary Ann. David F.. deceased ; Luther N., deceased ; Peter C., Flora J. and Elizabeth A. Mr. and Mrs. Wasson are- and have been members of the Presbyterian Church for forty years.