700 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO WILLIAM R. STERRETT. William R. Sterrett, formerly and for years engaged in the coal and grain business at Cedarville and now a member of the firm of Clemens & Sterrett, general dealers in real estate, with offices at Jamestown, though he continues to make his home at Cedarville, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state practically all his life, a resident of Cedarville nearly all the time since his father, the Rev. Samuel Sterrett, located in that village as .pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian church in 1868. The Rev. Samuel Sterrett also was a native of this state, born on a farm in Muskingum county, January 8, 1818. His parents were members of the Covenanter or Reformed Presbyterian church and he was reared in accordance with the rigid tenets of that faith, early turning his attention to preparaion for the gospel ministry. He was graduated from the college at Athens, this state, in 184o and for thirty-three months thereafter was engaged in teaching school, meanwhile continuing to pursue his studies with a view to the ministry. In due time he entered the theological seminary of the Reformed Presbyterian church at Allegheny and after a four-years course there in theology was licensed to preach, April 4, 1847, was later ordained and on June 23, 1848, was installed as pastor of the Little Beaver and New Galilee congregations in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he remained for twenty years or until his acceptance of the call to the. Reformed Presbyterian church at Cedarville in 1868. The Rev. Samuel Sterrett was installed as pastor of that church on May 16, 1868, and continued thus in service until his death on October 29, 1871. He was twice married, his first wife having been Elizabeth Kernohan, who was born in Guernsey county, this state, September 10, 1825, and who died on February 18, 1858. To that union were born four .children, namely : Elizabeth Ann,..wife of William:D. Beggs, living in the neighborhood of Youngstown, this state; Samuel Rutherford,. who died in 1851; William R., the subject of this sketch, and Mary Jane, who is now living at Warren, this state, widow of Dr. J. D. Henning. Following the death of the mother of these children the Rev. Samuel Sterrett married Elizabeth George, of New Galilee, Pennsylvania, who survived him for more than twenty-five years, her death occurring on February 22, 1897. William R. Sterrett, only surviving S011 of the Rev. Samuel and Elizabeth (Kernohan) Sterrett, was born in the vicinity of Youngstown, this state, March 8, 1853. He was five years of age when his mother died and was fifteen when his father moved with his family to Cedarville in 1868. He entered the Cedarville schools upon his arrival in that village and was graduated from the high school there in 1871, later:supplementing. his local, schooling by a course in Western University at Pittsburgh and was graduated from GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 701 the Iron City Commercial College, Pittsburgh, in 1871. Following his marriage in 1876 Mr. Sterrett was for four years engaged in farming in the vicinity of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and then returned to Cedarville and was for a year thereafter engaged in farming in this county. He then left the farm and in 1881 became engaged in the coal and grain business at Cedarville under the firm name of Ervin & Sterrett, which firm Was maintained until 1895, when he became sole owner and so continued until he sold the business in 1905. Not long after his retirement from the grain sand coal business Mr. Sterrett became engaged, in February, 1906, in the real-estate business, a member of the firm of Clemens & Sterrett at Jamestown and has since been thus engaged, also selling insurance. Though his office is at Jamestown Mr.. Sterrett continues to make his home at Cedarville. Politically, Mr. Sterrett is a Prohibitionist and by religious persuasion is a Covenanter or member of the Reformed Presbyterian church, with which communion his family has been connected for generations. Mr. Sterrett has been a teacher in the Sabbath school since he was eighteen years of age; is now and for many years has been superintendent of the Sabbath school in the home church at Cedarville, and for forty years, or since 1878, has been one of the ruling elders of that church. On October 5, 1876, William R. Sterrett was united in marriage to Julia Creswell, daughter of Samuel and Eliza Jane (Huffman) Creswell, of Cedarville township, and a member of one of the oldest families in Greene county, as is set out at considerable length in a history of the Creswell family presented elsewhere in this volume. Samuel Creswell, who was fourth in order of birth of the five children born to James and Ann (Junkin) Creswell, was born on January 12, 1820, and spent all his life on the old home place in Cedarville township, now owned and occupied by his son George, his death occurring thereon July 16, 1912. One June 10, 1846, at the home of William Reid, in that same township, he married Eliza Jane Huffman, who was born in the vicinity of Selma, in the neighboring county of Clark, March 22, 1827, daughter of Aaron and Martha (White) Huffman, and who died on August o, 191o. Samuel Creswell and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Sterrett was the fifth in order of birth and all of whom are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. To William R. and Julia (Creswell) Sterrett seven children have been born, namely : Samuel Leroy, who married Elizabeth Scott, of Houston, Pennsylvania; Echo D., wife of the Rev. W. G. Robb, pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian church at Washington, Iowa ; Mary E., wife of the Rev. W. A. Pollock, pastor of the Second United Presbyterian church of Chicago; Elizabeth M., who is at home; Ida Lounette, a school teacher, also at home; Walter R., who married Pearl Creamer and is now living at Pitts- 702 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO burgh, where he is engaged as a draughtsman, and W. Dwight, who married Florence Clemens and is now living at Greenville; this state, where he is engaged as a teacher in the high school. JAMES W. HUSTON. James W. Huston, proprietor of a farm on the Dayton pike about two miles southwest of Yellow Springs, in Miami township, is a native son of Greene county and has lived here all his life. He was born in Xenia, October 16, 1866, son of James and Mary E. (Baker) Huston, both of whom also were born in Ohio, the former in Knox county and the latter in Greene county and whose last days were spent on their home farm in Miami township, the place on which the subject of this sketch is now living, where they had resided since locating there in 1876. James Huston was born February 27, 1824, and was thirteen years of age when his parents, Robert and Anna (Lyon) Huston, moved from Knox county to Greene county in 1837 and settled on a farm in what is now New Jasper township. Robert Huston was born in Pennsylvania in 1793 and was nineteen years of age when he came with his father, Robert Huston, a soldier of the American Revolution, to Ohio in 1812, the family settling on a tract of land in the Martinsburg neighborhood in Knox county. There he presently, about 1820, married Anna Lyon, who was born in that section in 1798, and after his marriage settled down on a farm he had purchased there and there continued to reside until 1837, when he disposed of his interests in Knox county and came to Greene county with his family, settling on April 16 of that year on the farm he had bought in that section of the county which in the summer of 1853 became organized as New Jasper township, and there he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1857, twenty years after his settlement there. He had accumulated there a tract of three hundred acres of land, the homestead now owned by the subject of this sketch. His widow survived him for twenty-eight years, her death occurring in 1885, she then being eighty-seven years of age. They were the parents of eleven children and as most of these children married and had children of their own the Huston connection in the present generation is a quite numerous one. Having been but thirteen years of age when he came to this county with his parents, James Huston completed his schooling in the schools of Greene county and remained on the home farm until lie was twenty years of age, when he became employed as a millwright, a. vocation he followed for five or six years, at the end of which time, about the time of his marriage, he became engaged in the mercantile business at the village of New Jasper. GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 703 Four years later he sold his store and bought a farm in his home township, but several years later moved to a farm in Xenia township and later bought the farm of one hundred and fifteen acres in section 31 of Miami township, now owned and occupied by his son, the subject of this sketch, has added to it until he now owns two hundred and twenty acres. In 1886, James Huston erected on that place a new house, which was destroyed by fire three years later and was replaced by the dwelling which has since served as a family residence. On May 1, 1849, James Huston was united in marriage to Mary E. Baker, who was born in the vicinity of the village of Jamestown, in this. county, July 9, 1829, daughter of Mathias W. and, Matilda (Moorman) Baker, natives of Virginia, who were the parents of four children, Mrs. Huston having had two brothers, Salathiel and William C. M., and one sister, Lavina. William C. M. Baker served for some time (1861-67) as auditor of Greene county and later became engaged in business as a 'stock broker at Kansas City. Salathiel Baker became a commissioned officer in the Union army during the Civil War and died at his home in Xenia in 1866. To James and Mary E. (Baker) Huston were born four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last born, the others being Lucretia E., formerly and for years a teacher in the schools of this county; Robert F. B., who died at the age of twelve years; and Mary E., wife of M. A. Hagler, of New Jasper township, this county. James Huston died at his home on the farm on which he had lived for more than thirty years, April 22, 1899. His widow survived him for nearly fourteen years, her death occurring on March 22, 1913. James W. Huston took part with his father in the labors of the home farm when the family located in Miami township in 1876 and remained there after he had reached manhood's estate and after 'his marriage in 1891 established his home there and has ever since continued to reside there. Since coming into possession of the farm he has made numerous improvements on the same and has given considerable attention to the raising of livestock. On November 4, 1891, James W. Huston was united in marriage to Mary J. Sparrow, of the neighboring county of Clark and a daughter of John B. and Anna (Johnson) Sparrow, the latter of whom was born in England and who had come to this country with her parents when but a girl of eleven years, and to this union six children have been born, namely : Ernest Homer, who was graduated from Antioch College, spent one year in the law school of the Ohio State University at Columbus and is now serving as a member of the National Army ; Robert Alton, a rural mail carrier, who continues to make his home on the home farm; Herbert Dwight, who 704 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO died at the age of five months ; Edgar J. and Edna J., twins, who are now students in the high school at Yellow Springs, and Harold, also in school. The Hustons are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Yellow Springs. Mr. Huston is a Democrat in his political views,. and he and his two older sons are members of the Masonic order. SAMUEL LEONARD. Samuel Leonard, one of the real "old settlers" of Greene county, one of the "squirrel hunters" during the Civil War, for many years a blacksmith and later a farmer and landowner, now and for years past a resident of the village of Alpha, in Beavercreek township, is a native "Buckeye" and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Greene county practically all the time since the middle '4os. He was born at Bunker Hill, in Butler county, May 26, 1836, son of Samuel and Catherine (Franer) Leonard; both of whom were born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, where they grew up and were married; shortly after their marriage coming to Ohio and locating in Butler county about the year 1832. During his residence in Butler county the elder Samuel Leonard's activities were chiefly concerned with the leveling of the big timber and he became locally quite famous as a wood-cutter and rail-splitter. He remained in Butler county until about: 1846, when he came up into this .-part of the state with his family and located at Dayton, but a few years later came over into Greene county and settled at Alpha, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring at the age Of seventy-four years. His wife died at the age of seventy and both were buried in Mt. Zion graveyard. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch, the third in order of birth, is now the only survivor, the others having been William, a retired farmer, who died at Dayton in 1910; Matilda Ann, who was the wife of John Engle, a Beavercreek township farmer, and Louis, who was a blacksmith. Samuel Leonard's early youth was spent in the backwoods of Butler county and he was about ten years of age when his parents moved up to Dayton. He later came with them over into Greene county and his schooling was completed at Alpha. Not long after the family located at Alpha he became apprenticed to a blacksmith at Fairfield, though continuing to make his home with his parents at Alpha, and in due time he became a proficient blacksmith, a vocation he followed most of his life thereafter until his retirement. In 186o he married and for four years thereafter operated a blacksmith shop at Medway, up in Clark county, returning to Alpha in 1864 and opening a blacksmith shop there. Ten years later he bought a farm in GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 705 Beavercreek township as an investment, renting the same, and kept that farm until in December, 1917, when he sold it, feeling that he was nearing an age at which he would be unable to give its management the care he would desire. For years Mr. Leonard continued his smithy at Alpha and then retired from active labors. Since the death of his wife in 1906 he has been living alone at his home in Alpha. He is a Democrat and for fourteen years served as treasurer of his home township, being kept in that office by successive re-elections in a stronghold of Republicanism, a compliment on the part of his friends which lie has never ceased to appreciate. During the days of the Civil War Mr. Leonard rendered service as a member of the locally famous organization of "squirrel hunters" and with that command marched away toward Cincinnati to help in repelling Morgan's invasion of the state. It was in 186o that Samuel Leonard was married. His wife, who, as noted above, died in 1906, was Rebecca Engle, who was born in Beavercreek township, this county, daughter of Henry Engle and wife, well known among the early settlers of that township and the former of whom lived to be past ninety years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard had no children and Mr. Leonard is thus alone in his declining years. Though now in his eighty-third year he continues to take an active interest in current affairs and retains distinct memories of other days, being able to tell many an entertaining story of the clays now long past. JOHN W. SMITH. John W. Smith, now living practically retired at his farm home in Sugarcreek township, is a native son of Greene county, born on a farm in Spring Valley township on August 22, 1846, son of James and Sarah A. (Dill) Smith, both of whom also were born in Ohio and whose last days. were spent here. James Smith was a farmer and for several years after his marriage lived in Spring Valley township, moving thence in 1847 to Sugarcreek township, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on June 3o, 1899. His widow died on September 5, 1909. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being William J., now a resident of Detroit, Michigan; Elizabeth Ellen, now living at Spring Valley, widow of John D. Haines; Daniel Freeman, who is still living on the old home place in Sugarcreek township, and Sarah Jane, widow of Wilson J. Osborn, of Spring Valley. John W. Smith was under two years. of age when his parents moved from Spring Valley township to Sugarcreek township and on the home farm (44) 706 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO in the latter township he grew to manhood, receiving his schooling in the local schools. He was married when twenty-one years of age and then began farming on his own account. In 1886 he bought the farm on which hp is now living, on rural mail route No. 2 out of Spring Valley, and has since resided there. Mr. Smith has a farm of sixty acres, but for the past ten years has been living practically retired from the active labors of the farm. He is a Democrat. For fourteen years he was a member of the board of directors of the Sugar Creek Cemetery Association. Mr. Smith has been thrice married. On February 13, 1868, he was united in marriage to Rebecca J. Steelman, who died in 1897 leaving one child, a daughter, Rilla, wife of Carson McCoy, of Sugarcreek township. Mr. Smtih later married Mary E. Lampton, who died on February I, 1909, without issue, and on May 29, 1912, he married Martha Esther Howland, who was born in Highland county, this state, daughter of the Rev. Ralston and Rebecca Jane (Gilliland) Howland. The Rev. Ralston Howland was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and further mention of him is made elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Smith is a member of the local branch of the Order of the Golden Eagle at Dayton. WILLIAM STEVENSON HOPPING. William Stevenson Hopping, proprietor of a farm in Cedarville township, on rural mail route No. 2 out of Xenia, was born on a farm on Caesars creek in. New Jasper township, this county, a son of Albert and Eliza (Stevenson) Hopping, both of whom were members of old families in this county, their respective grandparents having been among the pioneers. Albert Hopping was born on the farm mentioned above as having been the birthplace of his son William S. and was a son of William and Sarah (Galloway) Hopping both members of pioneer families, William Hopping having been a son,of James Hopping, who came up here from Kentucky in the early days of the settlement of this county and located on the farm above mentioned along Caesars creek, in that part of the county that in 1858 was set off as New Jasper township. William Hopping became the owner of a farm in that same locality, but in 1871 sold that farm and bought about six hundred acres in the southern part of Cedarville township and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring about 1885. His widow survived him for several years. They were reared in the Seceder faith and after the "union" of 1858 became. members of the United Presbyterian church at Xenia. Albert Hopping grew up on the home farm and after his mar- GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 707 riage established his home there. During the Civil War he served as a member of the Home Guards and during this service accompanied that command to Cincinnati to help in repelling the thr.eatened invasion of the state by the Rebels. He inherited the home farm of six hundred acres and bought more land adjoining. He died on that farm in 1902, he then being seventy years of age, and his wife died in that same year, she being sixty-eight years of age. She was born, Eliza Stevenson, in the vicinity of Yellow Springs, daughter of William and Eliza Stevenson, the former of whom was one of the early settlers on Massies creek in Xenia township. William Stevenson was a typical frontiersman, a soldier of the War of 1812 and an old deer-hunter, and when settlers began coming in here in considerable numbers he resented being thus "crowded" and moved up into the then wilds of Hardin county and there spent several years, but returned to Xenia, where he spent the rest of his life. To Albert and Eliza (Stevenson) Hopping were born four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-horn, the others being the Rev. Walter Hopping, a minister of the United. Presbyterian church, now in charge of a church at Buffalo, New York; Eliza beth, wife of C. G. Paul, a real-estate dealer at Dayton, and Charles Hopping, who is engaged in the automobile business at Dayton. William S. Hopping received his early schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his boyhood home and supplemented the same by attendance for two years in the Xenia high school and for two years in the private school at that time being conducted by Professor Mott at Xenia.. As a young man he took part in the labors of the home farm and upon. his father's retirement from the active labors of the place took charge of operations there and so continued until his father's death in 1902, when he inherited' two hundred and ten acres of the home place.. In the meantime he had been developing a business in the live-stock way and after his father's death rented the farm out and gave his personal attention wholly to the live-stock business, buying and selling, and while thus engaged made his headquarters at Cedarville and at Dayton. After his marriage in 1912 he returned to his farm, erected there a house of the bungalow type and has since made his home there. Mr. Hopping, in addition to his general farming, retains his interest in live stock and still keeps a good herd of cattle, Lesides a flock of Delano sheep and a good many Duroc-Jersey hogs. Mr. Hopping is a Republican. On July 8, 1912, William S. Hopping was united in marriage to Mary Boots, who was born on July 15, 1878, in Randolph county, Indiana, daughter of David and Nancy (Tomlinson) Boots, the former of whom is a retired farmer, now living at Farmland, Indiana. 708 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO CHARLES A. HARNER. Charles A. Harner, one of Greene county's farmers and landowners, now living on the old Cromwell place on the Fairground pike in the neighborhood of the Oldtown mill north of Xenia, is a member of one of the county's pioneer families, as is his wife, the latter of whom was born at Oldtown Mills and later moved to her present abode with her parents. Elsewhere in this volume there is set out at considerable length something of the history of the Harner family in Greene county and it hardly is necessary to go into all those details in this connection, further than to say that the family was founded here by Jacob Harner, a German, who came to this country in the days of his young manhood and was married at Hagerstown, Pennsylvania, to Anna Heffley, who was born at that place. Almost immediately following their marriage Jacob Harner and his wife came to Ohio and settled on a tract of land in Beavercreek township, this county. Jacob Harner died about 1846' and his widow survived him until 1868.. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Charles Harner, father of the subject of this biographical sketch, was the seventh in order of birth. Charles Harner was born on the pioneer home farm in Beavercreek township on February 19, 1817, and there grew to manhood. After his marriage in 1840 he established his home on a farm he had bought in the Oldtown neighborhood, in Xenia township, where he continued to reside until his removal to Oldtown, where he spent his last days, his death occurring there in August, 1908. At the time of his death he was the owner of eleven hundred acres of land in this county. He was a Democrat and he and his wife were members of the German Reformed church. His wife preceded him to the grave some months more than a year, her death having occurred on January 1, 1907. She was born, Mary Morgan, in Beavercreek township, March 14, 1823, daughter of Morgan and Elizabeth (Reel) Morgan; both of whom were born in Washington county, Maryland, where they were married, later coming to Ohio and settling in Beavercreek township, this county, where they reared their family and spent their last days. Morgan and wife were the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter, Mary, the latter having been the second on order of birth. She married Charles Harner on March 19, 1840, and to that union were born eleven children, namely : Martin, who is now living retired in the state of New Hampshire ; David, who became a resident of Xenia, where he died in February, 1915; Morgan, a farmer, of Xenia township ; Charles. A., the' immediate. subject of this biographical sketch ; Frank, a farmer, living on the Springfield pike in Xenia township; James, a farmer living on the lower Bellbrook pike, a mile out of Xenia; Samuel, who is still living on the old home place at Old- GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 709 town; Mary Elizabeth, also living at Oldtown, widower of Henry Jacoby; Isabel, wife of Andrew Hutchinson, of Xenia; Mrs. Rosa Clark, of Oldtown, and Martha, wife of George Oglesbee, of Xenia. Charles A. Harner was reared on the home place at Oldtown and received his schooling in the schools of that village. When he reached his majority his father gave him a hundred-acre farm, which he began to farm on his own account, meanwhile remaining at home until he was twenty-five years of age. He then traded his hundred-acre farm for a tract of one hundred and fifteen and one-half acres east of the Oldtown mill and was engaged in the operation of that place until after his marriage in 1909, when he, took up his residence at his wife's old home, the Cromwell place on the Fairground pike in that, same vicinity, and has since resided there. Though Mr. Harner rents his lands and is thus not practically engaged in farming, he keeps a pretty close supervisory eye over the operation of things. He is a Democrat, but has not been an office seeker. It was on August 12, 1909, that Charles A. Harner was united in marriage to Emma B. Cromwell, who was born at Oldtown. Mills in Xenia township, only daughter and last-born of the five children born to her parents, Joseph and Bashaba (Allen) Cromwell, the latter of whom also was born in that township, March 20, 1830, daughter and third in order of birth of the seven children born to her parents, John and Wilmoth (Foreman) Allen, natives, respectively, of Virginia and of North Carolina, who had settled in Xenia township upon coming to this county, remaining there until their retirement from the farm and removal to Xenia, where they spent their last days. Joseph Cromwell was born in the city of Hagerstown, county seat of Washington county, Maryland, in March, 1814, son of Richard and Susan (McLaughlin) Cromwell, both of whom also were born there and the former of whom died about 1830. Some time after the death of her husband Mrs. Cromwell came with her family to Ohio and in, 1832 settled on a tract of land in Xenia township, this county. She was the mother of eight children, of whom Joseph was the fifth in order of birth. This pioneer mother spent her last days in this county and died at the residence of her son-in-law, James Hawkins, in 1872. Joseph Cromwell was eighteen years of age when he accompanied his mother and the other members of the family to Greene county in 1832. He later went over into Montgomery county, where he learned the miller's trade, and two years later went to Alton, Illinois, where he was for five years engaged working at that trade. He then went to Pekin, in that same state, where he worked at milling for four years, at the end of which time he Enan operating a. mill of his own in the, vicinity of Peoria, but a year later disposed of his interests there and returned to Greene county and became 710 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO engaged in the milling business at Bellbrook, later acquiring an interest in the historic old mill at Oldtown, and continued engaged in the milling business the rest of his life. He established his home nearby and built the house in which his daughter, Mrs. Harner, was born, but later moved to where the Harriers now live. On January 8, 1851, Joseph Cromwell was united in marriage to Bashaba Allen, mentioned above, and to that union were born four sons, Oliver, John, Charles R. and Harry, and one daughter, Emma B., wife of Mr. Harner. Joseph Cromwell was a Democrat and his wife was a member of the Reformed church at Xenia. WALTER CHANDLER. Walter Chandler, owner of a small farm situated on the Wilberforce and Clifton pike, in Xenia township, rural mail route No. 5 out of Xenia, and who also is renting. and farming the Doctor Patterson farm of two hundred and forty-five acres adjoining his place, is a native of .the old Blue Grass state, but has been a resident of Greene county since 19oo. He was born on a farm in Harrison county, Kentucky, April 2, 1875, son of Claybourne and Emily (Gossett) Chandler, both of whom were born and reared in that same county and who are still living there. Claybourne . Chandler is a landowner and has for many years been engaged in farming on his home place. He is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have nine children, all of whom are still living in their home state with the exception of the subject of this sketch and his brother, Charles Chandler, the latter of whom .is living on a farm in Miami township, this county. Reared on the home farm in Kentucky, Walter Chandler received his schooling in the neighborhood schools. He continued to make his home in that county until he was twenty-five years of age, when, in 1900, he came to Ohio and began working on the farm of J. C. Wolf, in Bath township, this county, remaining there until his marriage about five years later, when he rented a farm in the neighborhood of Yellow Springs and began farthing on his own account, continuing thus engaged as a renter until 1909, in which year he bought the farm of twenty-six acres above referred to in Xenia township and there established his home. In 1913 Mr. Chandler secured the rental of the Doctor Patterson farm of two hundred and forty-five acres adjoining his place and has since been engaged in farming that tract in addition to his own farm. In addition to his general farming Mr. Patterson gives considerable attention to the raisirtg of livestock. On January 19, 1905, Walter Chandler was united in marriage to Ada. Harner, who was born in the neighboring county of Clark, a daughter of GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 711 Abraham and. Charlotte (Hadley) Earner, the latter of whom is still living, now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Chandler. Abraham Harrier, who was a farmer, died on May 3, 1913, at the age of sixty-three years, after an invalidism of twenty-three years. He and his wife were the parents of two daughters, Mrs. Chandler having a sister, Anna, wife of Fred Sweeney, of Bath township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler have two children, a son and a daughter, Edgar, born in 1906, and Martha, 1912. They also are rearing as their own child a young cousin, Daniel Booren, who was born in 1906. Mr. Chandler is a Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his wife was reared in the Lutheran church. EDWARD D. PARTINGTON. Edward D. Partington, proprietor of a farm in Sugarcreek township, situated on rural mail route No. i out of Spring Valley, was born in the city of Xenia on July. 31, 1862, son and only child of Richard and Elizabeth M. (Confer) Partington, both members of pioneer families in this part of the state and the latter of whom is still living, making her home with her son. Richard Partington, was born in. the neighboring county of Clark on October 10, 1823, and in that county received his early schooling and for a time was engaged in teaching school. He then. began the study of law at Xenia under the preceptorship of Judge Wright and upon his admission to the bar entered upon the practice of his profession in that city and for some time served as mayor of Xenia. Mr. Partington retired from practice in the latter '70s and moved to a farm he had bought in Bath. township. He died at Dayton on October 2, 1887. His widow, who, as noted above, still survives him, is now in her eighty-sixth year. She was born in the vicinity of the city of Hagerstown, Maryland, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Bowman) Confer, the former of whom was of French descent, who came with their family to Ohio in 1834 and located on a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Miami township, this county, where they spent. the remainder of their lives. They were members of the Reformed church. George Confer lived to be seventy-two years of age and was able to give each of his children an excellent start. His widow survived him for twelve years and her last clays were spent in Xenia. They were the parents of five children, Mrs. Partington having had two brothers, William G. and George, and two sisters, Hannah and Susan. Edward D. Partington grew up at Xenia and supplemented the schooling he received in the schools of that city by a course in the Miami Commercial College at Dayton. He was about eighteen years of age when his parents moved from the city to the farm in Bath township and he ever since has given 712 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO his attention to agriculture and stock raising, making a specialty of the latter line. After farming in Bath township for nine years Mr. Partington tried his hand on a farm in the vicinity of Farmersville, over in Montgomery county, but a year later returned to Greene county and bought the farm of one hundred and fifty-seven and a half acres on which he and his mother are now living in Sugarcreek township. Mr. Partington has for years made a specialty of the raising of high-grade O. I. C. hogs and also does quite a business in the buying and selling of sheep. He is a Mason, affiliated with the local lodge of that order (No: 574) at New Burlington, and with the chapter, Royal Arch Masons, ,and the council, Royal and Select Masters, at Xenia, and also is affiliated with the local lodge of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics at Spring Valley, and with the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Spring Valley. He and his. mother are members of the Reformed church. Politically, Mr. Partington is "independent." HARRY SMITH TOWNSLEY. Harry Smith Townsley, proprietor of a farm just south of Cedarville on the Wilmington road, and a member of the Cedarville township board of education, was born on a farm four miles east of Cedarville on February 2, 1880, son of John and Malinda (Kershner) Townsley, further mention of whom, together with a comprehensive history of the pioneer Townsley family in this county, is presented elsewhere. Reared on the home farm, Harry S. Townsley received his schooling in the College Corner school and remained at home until his marriage in 1903, after which he made his home on a farm in the neighborhood of his old home for thirteen years, at the end of which time, in March, 1916, he bought the farm of forty acres on which he is now living, just south of Cedarville. He also rents and operates an adjoining farm. Mr. Townsley is extensively engaged in the live-stock business, buying and selling, and gives much attention to the breeding of high-grade horses, keeping two Belgian and one Shire sire. He is a Republican, has served as school director in his home district and is now a member of the township board of education. On September 23, 1903, Harry S. Townsley was united in marriage to Mary Dorcas Brickel, who was born in Ross township, September 23, 1881, daughter of Frank and Mary Arabelle (Smith) Brickel, and to this union two children have been born, Mary Catherine, born on August 26, 1905, and George Alfred, April 20, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Townsley are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Cedarville and Mr. Townsley is a member of the board of trustees of the same. GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 713 THOMAS L. ROWAND. Thomas L. Rowand, who died at his home in the neighboring county of Fayette in 1894 and whose widow later moved to Jamestown, in this county, where she is now living, was born in the neighboring county of Clark on July 13, 1828, a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Luce) Rowand, pioneers cf that county, the former of whom was a native of the state of Virginia and the latter of Maryland. Edward Rowand was the owner of several hundred acres of land in Clark county. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom Thomas L. was the youngest and all of whom are now deceased the others having been Polly, Clara, Amanda, Benjamin, William and Alexander. Reared on a farm in Clark county, Thomas L. Rowand became a farmer on his own account in that county, but later moved over into Fayette county, where he became the owner of a farm and where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring there on January 25, 1894, he then being in the sixty-sixth year of his age. He was a member of the Christian church. Thomas L. Rowand was- twice married. His first wife, Eliza Layton, died, leaving one child, a son, George E. Rowand, who is now living in Kansas, and on February 17, 1863, he was united in marriage to Margaret A. Lott, who also was born in Clark county, this state, a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Garlough) Lott, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania on December 13, 1797. Henry Lott and Margaret Garlough were married on May 1, 1828, and to that union were born nine children, namely : Elizabeth F., born on October 10, 1829, now deceased ; John, deceased ; George W., deceased; Jacob N., deceased ; William Henry, twin brother of Mrs. Rowland, now deceased; Michael E., who is now living at Columbia City, Indiana; Thomas E., deceased, and James T., who is now living at Springfield, this state. To Thomas. L. and Margaret A. (Lott) Rowand were born five children, Charles E., Anna M., Harry A., Cora Luella, and Clarence C., all of whom were born in Fayette county and all of whom are still living. Charles E. Rowand, who is operating the home farm of his wife in Clark county, has been twice married. His first wife, who was Emma Murray, died, leaving a son, Alfred M. Rowand, now living at Springfield, who on September 5, 1917, married Mabel Vince. Charles. E. Rowand married, secondly, Laura Skillings Rowand, a cousin by marriage. Anna M. Rowand, unmarried, is a resident of Jamestown . Harry A. Rowand, now living at Port William, was married on February 14, 1894, to Louie Gordon and has two sons, Carl, who on August 27; 1916, married Viola Gaines, and Ralph. Cora Luella Rowand is living at Jamestown with her mother. Clarence C. Rowand, now living- 714 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO in Madison county, in 1899 was united in marriage to Jennie Steele, who died in 1916, leaving three children, Clyone, Kenneth C. and Keith K. After the death of her husband Mrs. Rowand continued to make her home on the farm in Fayette county until 1903, in which year she and her daughters moved to Jamestown, where they have since resided. Mrs. _Rowand still owns the home farm of one hundred and forty-six acres in Fayette county. Mrs. Rowand and daughters worship at the United Presbyterian church at Jamestown. WILLIAM J. CHERRY. William J. Cherry, proprietor of a farm in Cedarville township, located on rural mail route No. 2 out of Xenia, was born on a farm in the Hoop Grove neighborhood in Xenia township on May 10, 1868, son of David H. and Mary E. (Watt) Cherry, the latter of whom is still living, a resident of Xenia since 1902, in which year she moved from the farm to that city with her husband, t'he latter spending his last days there, his death occurring on October 7, 1914. The Cherrys are one of the old families in Greene county, the first of the family to settle here having been James and Elizabeth (Greenwood) Cherry, who were born in Virginia, where they were reared and where on April 12, 1815, they were married, soon afterward coming to Ohio and settling in the Laughead settlement three miles east of Xenia, in this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. James Cherry, who was born on May 12, 1789, died on December 24, 1851. His widow, who was born on April 25, 1796, spent her last days in the home of her son David, where she died on May 14, 1883, having thus survived her husband more than thirty years. James Cherry and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom David H. Cherry was the last-born and all of whom are now deceased, the others having been William, Mary Ann, Mrs. Jane Crawford, Mrs. Rachel Kyle, James Q., Robert, John, Benjamin, Andrew L. and Isaac N. After his marriage David H. Cherry established his home on the home place, of which he later became the owner, and there continued farming until his retirement and removal to Xenia, where he spent his last clays and where his widow is still living, the old home place now being operated by her son Huston H. Cherry, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, wherein is set out at considerable length further details of the genealogy and history of the Cherry family, together with a comprehensive history of the Watt family. William J. Cherry grew up on the home farm and received his early schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, supplement- GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 715 ing the same by a course at Xenia College and a year at Monmouth College. After his marriage in 1895 he rented the home farm, established his. home in a new house he erected there and continued farming the place until 1904, when he bought the Rader place of one hundred and four acres adjoining his father's place in Cedarville township and later bought an adjacent tract of seventy-six acres of his father's place and thus has now one hundred and eighty acres. For years Mr. Cherry has been engaged in raising purebred Hampshire sheep and Shorthorn Cattle and has been a successful exhibitor at stock shows and fairs. On October 1, 1895, William J. Cherry was united in marriage to Anna May Hutchinson, who was born in Xenia township, this county, daughter of William and Jennie (Bull) Hutchinson, the latter of whom is still living, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Raymond Cherry, born on August 16, 1900, who is now a student in the Xenia high school. Mr. and Mrs. Cherry are members of the First United Presbyterian church at Xenia and Mr. Cherry is a member of the session of that congregation. By political affiliation he is a Republican and has on various occasions served on election boards in his home precinct. ADDISON STORRS LEWIS. From the very beginning of things at Clifton, the name Lewis has been associated with the place, for it was Bennett Lewis, father of the subject of this biographical review, who laid out the townsite, the same covering a part of the considerable tract of land he had purchased there upon coming to Greene county in 1828, and the farm on which Addison Storrs Lewis is still living, just at the edge of Clifton, is a part of that original tract. Bennett Lewis was one of the influential figures in the earlier development of that section of Miami township surrounding the village of Clifton and was a member of the board of county commissioners when the county's second court house was erected at Xenia in 1846, that fine old edifice which, according to "Howe's Collections" of 1847, was "the most elegant, as yet built, in Ohio." Before coming here Bennett Lewis had been a contractor on the Miami & Erie canal and while thus engaged had erected the locks that still are standing at Lockland. Upon coming here he bought land in Miami township and on that place, at the site of the present village of Clifton, built a cotton and woolen-mill, opened a country store, platted a town-site and around that mill and store the village of Clifton presently began to take form. He was for years an elder in the Presbyterian church at Clifton. The mill which he erected upon coming here was washed away by a flood in 1868, but he continued engaged in his mercantile pursuits at 716 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO Clifton and was thus engaged at the time of his death, on October io, 1876. His wife had preceded him to the grave more than three years, her death having occurred on January 24, 1873. She was born, Eliza Boughton, at Victor, in Ontario county, New York, August 15, 1803, daughter of Jared and Olive (Stone) Boughton, the former of whom was born in Connecticut on February 19, 1766, and the latter, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, January 2, 1770. Jared Boughton's mother was a Pennoyer, a member of the French family of Pennoyers which took an influential part in Massachusetts colonial life and were among the founders of Harvard University. Eliza Boughton and Bennett Lewis were united in marriage in 1828 and it was five years later when they settled in Greene county. Bennett Lewis was born in Connecticut and was of a long-lived family, his father having attained the great age of ninety-six years, and his brother, Isaac, the age of eighty-five. The latter attended the lock on the Erie canal when the first vessel passed through to the ocean and was 'also there when General Lafayette revisited America and passed through the canal. Of the nine children born to Bennett and Eliza (Boughton) Lewis the subject of this sketch was the last-born. Of the five children of this family who grew to maturity but two are now living, Mr. Lewis having a sister, Miss Harriet Lewis, who has for many years been a missionary at Canton, China, connected with the Presbyterian Board of Missions. Two brothers of Mr. Lewis, Ezra B. and Charles B. Lewis, went to California many years ago. and there spent their last days, the former a merchant at San Jose and the latter, in the real-estate business at San Ana. Addison Storrs Lewis was reared at Clifton, the place of his birth, and there received his early schooling, later entering Miami University at Oxford, this state, and was graduated from that institution in 1869. Meanwhile he had been giving his attention to the study of civil engineering and upon leaving the university took a special course in Lafayette College at Easton, Pennsylvania, and was graduated from that institution in 1870 as a civil engineer. For a year thereafter he was engaged as assistant engineer in the work of making a map survey of the state Of Massachusetts, his headquarters being at Boston, and he then became engaged in railway work, doing engineering work for both the Pennsylvania Lines and the Baltimore & Ohio. Railway Company, and was thus engaged for three years or more, or until the death of his father in 1876, after which he returned to Clifton to look after his interests there and has ever since resided at that place, owner of the farm and home just at the edge of the village. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Presbyterian church, and has served the local congregation: as, eld4r and as- trustee and treasurer. During his college days he was a member of the college fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. He for some GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 717 time served as trustee of Miami township, has also at various times rendered service on the local school board, and for some years was treasurer of the same. He is a Republican and has frequently served his party as a delegate to county and congressional conventions. JAMES F. ESTERLINE. James F. Esterline, a grocer at Osborn, was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Clark on October 26, 1873, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dunkle) Esterline, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. The late Jacob Esterline, a veteran of the Civil War, who died at his home in Fairfield, on May 5, 1918, was born in Clark county, this state, and grew up in the neighborhood of New Carlisle, where he was living when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of the Sixteenth Ohio Battery, with which command he served for four years. After his marriage he established his home on a farm in Clark county and there continued to reside until his retirement from the farm and removal to Fairfield, where he spent his last days. To him and his wife were born nine children. Reared on the home farm, James F. Esterline received his schooling in the common schools and continued farming until after his marriage in 1895, he then being twenty-two years of age, when he made his home at Osborn and there began clerking in the store which he now owns and was thus engaged as a clerk until 1906, when he bought the store from its proprietor, George Smith, and has since been engaged in business on his own account. In 1895 James F. Esterline was united in marriage to Elizabeth M. Schroeder, daughter of John Philip Schroeder and wife, the former of whom, a blacksmith, died in 1912 and the latter of whom is still living, a resident of Fairfield, and to this union two children have been born, daughters both, Greta S. and Frances Gertrude. The Esterlines reside on William street and are naturally much concerned to know that, as the probable outcome of the present flood-prevention project, they may presently have to abandon the home that has for years meant so much to them, as well as the business in which Mr. Esterline has worked up to his present position in the mercantile life of the town which .seems doomed to be deserted in behalf of the common welfare of the valley. Mr. Esterline is a Republican and is the present president of the 'Osborn 'board of education. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. 718 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO LAWRENCE D. WILSON. Lawrence D. Wilson, head of the Wilson Engineering, and Contracting Company of the city of Xenia, was born in that city and has lived there practically all his life, though Lome years were spent in the East, where for some time lie was engaged in engineering work before entering into business on his own behalf in Xenia. He was born on February 7, 1882, son of Matthew D. and Frances (Morris) Wilson, the latter of whom also was born in this county and both of whom are still living at Xenia. Matthew D. Wilson is a Pennsylvanian by birth, but has been a resident of Ohio since the days of his early childhood, his parents having moved from Pennsylvania to Zanesville, this state, when he was but a child. When he was fifteen years of age his parents moved from Zanesville to Xenia and he completed his schooling in the schools of the latter city. After his marriage he became engaged in the grocery business in Xenia, but presently gave up that business and became a traveling salesman, a vocation he since has followed, his activities in that connection having covered a period of more than thirty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have two children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Gertrude, who married Waldo H. Sawin and is now living in New York City. Lawrence D. Wilson was reared at Xenia, receiving his schooling in the schools of that city, and after three years of work in the high school became engaged in the T. L. Morris & Company warehouse, later becoming identified with that concern. It was while thus engaged that Mr. Wilsun became interested in civil engineering and general construction work and he presently entered upon the practical phase of engineering, traveling throughout the East as a member of the staff of the Woosier Construction Co npany, engaged in railway work and other lines of construction work: While thus engaged he came home on a vacation and for a year thereafter was connected with the engineering work of street construction in Xenia, afterward returning East as a member of the engineering staff of J. G. White & Company of New York City, and for three years was thus connected, his principal work being in the line of railway construction. He then returned to Xenia and while "resting up" drafted a new map of the city of Xenia. While home on that visit Mr. Wilson determined to engage in business on his own account in Xenia and with that end in view opened an office for general engineering and construction vk ork, under the firm name of Wilson & Sch'esinger. That was in 1908. In that same year he was awarded the co itract for surveying the line of the projected Cincinnati, Wilmington & Xenia Traction Railway and carried the same through. At the end. of the year Mr. Wilson bought the Schlesinger interest in the concern of which he was GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 719 the head and not long afterward formed a new connection, for a year thereafter doing business under the firm name of Wilson & Dean. This firm name presently was changed to that of the L. D. Wilson Company and not long afterward was incorporated as the Wilson Engineering and Contracting Company, which company is now rated as a seventy-five-thousand-dollar concern. Before. he was twenty-one years of age Mr. Wilson had successfully directed the construction of the Chambersburg & Gettysburg Electric Railway line. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.. CHRISTOPHER J. BUTT. Christopher J. Butt, a veteran commercial traveler, now living practically retired at his home at Osborn, this county, and a member of the village council for the past quarter of a century, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Greene county since the days of his childhood. He was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Montgomery, November 4, 1847, son of Basil and Anna (Folkerth) Butt, the former of whom was born in Virginia and was but a boy when he came to Ohio with his parents, the family locating in Licking county and presently moving thence to Montgomery county, where they established their home. In this latter county Basil Butt grew to manhood and married, continuing to make his home there. until about 1850, when he moved over into Greene county, establishing his home on a farm in the northwestern part of the county -and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring there in 1894, He was a Democrat and by religious persuasion was a Lutheran. Having been under three years of age when his parents moved from Montgomery county to Greene county, Christopher J. Butt was reared in this latter county. He supplemented the schooling he received in the public schools by attendance at the Commercial College at Dayton and continued his labors on the home farm until 1883, in which year he became connected with the Superior Drill Company,. of Springfield, this state, as a traveling salesman. When that concern later became incorporated as the American Seeding Machine Company Mr. Butt continued his connection with the company as a traveling representative and so continued until 1912, a period of continuous service covering twenty-nine years. Though now retired from active traveling Mr. Butt is still connected with the concern with which he for so long was actively connected, though now on its pension list of honorably retired employees. During his long period of service as a commercial traveler Mr. Butt was a, member of the United Commercial Travelers Association, affiliated with the Dayton division of that organization and still takes an interest 720 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO in the affairs of that body. He is a Republican, formerly and for some years a member of the Greene county Republican central committee and at one time chairman of that committee, and for the past twenty-five years has been a member of the common council of the village of Osborn. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Butt has been twice married. In 1887 he was united in marriage to Margaretta Marshall and to that union were born two children, Anna and Margaretta. Following the death of the mother of these children Mr. Butt, in 1895, married Cora M. Arbogast and to this union two children have been born, Lelia A., who for the past five years has been a teacher of voice culture in Lynwood College, North Carolina, and Waldo, who died in the days of his childhood. Mr. Butt sold his property in Osborn in the spring of 1819 and bought a home at 640 Cassilly street, Springfield, to which he and his wife will move in October. SAMUEL W. HARTMAN. Samuel W. Hartman, a member of the board of trustees of Beaver-creek township, former assessor of that township and a farmer now living in the village of Alpha, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1857, son of Jacob and Mary (Walker) Hartman, both of whom spent all their lives in that state. He was reared in his native state, receiving his schooling there, and remained there until he was nineteen years of age, when he came to Ohio and became employed on the Horace Ankeney farm in Beavercreek township, this county. When twenty-four years of age he married and began farming on his own account, in good time becoming the owner of a farm in the vicinity of the high school in Beavercreek township. On that place he made his home until 1917, when he sold his farm and moved to Alpha, where he bought a tract of seven acres on which he built a house and which he platted into town lots, setting the same off as an addition to the village. Mr. Hartman is a Republican and is now serving his second term as township trustee. He also served on the board of education of Beavercreek township for ten years, in a township that has a reputation of being one of the foremost in the state. About fifteen years ago he served for three years as township assessor. He and his family are members of the Beaver Reformed church, and he is a member of the board of trustees of his church. He also has served as an elder and as a deacon of the church. On December 22, 1881, Samuel W. Hartman was united in marriage to Mary Winegartner, who was born in Beavercreek township, and to this union five children have been born, namely : Walter, who lives at North Canton, Ohio, and who married Louise Mackelhaney and has one child, a GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 721 son, .Robert Samuel; the Rev. Albert Hartman, a minister of the Reformed church, now stationed at Roaring Springs, Pennsylvania, who married Susan Stauffer, of Dayton, and has two children, Mary E. and Franklin ; Margaret, who married the Rev. R. S. Beaver, a minister of the Reformed church, now living near Shelby, this state, and has two children, Gladys and Helen; Ina, who died at the age of twenty-two years, and one who died in infancy. WILLIAM F. HUSTON. William F. Huston, proprietor of a farm in Sugarcreek township, situated on rural mail route No. 2 out of Dayton, was born in the house in which he is now living on that farm and has lived there all his life, having succeeded to the farm after his father's death. He was born on May I, 1858, son and only child of William and Caroline (Mayhew) Huston, both of whom were members of pioneer families in this part of the state. William Huston was born in the neighboring county of Montgomery, but early became a farmer in this county and became the owner of a farm of five hundred and forty-three acres in Sugarcreek township and a farm of one hundred and forty-three acres in the vicinity of Muncie, Indiana. His last days were spent at his home in Sugarcreek township. He was twice married and by his first marriage was the father of five children, James, Michael, John, Sarah and Philena, all of whom are now deceased save John, a farmer of Sugarcreek township and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.. Following the death of the mother of these children, William Huston married Caroline Mayhew and to this latter union was born one child, a son, William F., the subject of this biographical sketch. William F. Huston was reared on the farm on which he was born and has continued to make that place his home, for years the owner of the old home place. He received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and after his marriage established 'his home on the home farm on which he has since made many improvements. For some years past he has lived practically retired from the active labors of the farm. Mr. Huston is a Republican and has rendered public service as a member of the local school board and has also served on election boards and juries. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. On November 11, 1880, William F. Huston was united in marriage to Mary M. Miller, who was born in the state of Tennessee and who was but twelve years of age When her parents came to Ohio with their family and settled in Greene county, and to this union have been born five chil- (45) 722 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO dren, namely : Edward H., a carpenter, living in Beavercreek township, who married Etta Carpenter and has two children, Norman and Raymond; Clarence, a Sugarcreek farmer, who married Lulu Wright and has one child, a son, Kenneth ; Minnie May, wife of Elmer Wetzel, a painter, who lives in Beavercreek township; Ossa C., wife of Orville Berryhill, of Bellbrook, and Jesse Roy, a farmer, who married Golda Greene and lives at Bellbrook. JUSTUS LABAN BAKER. The late Justus Laban Baker, who died at his farm home in Silvercreek township in the fall of 1895, and whose widow is still living there, was born in that township on June 15, 1844, son of Jacob and Lorena (Haughey) Baker, well-known residents of that township, whose last days were spent there. Jacob Baker and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this memorial sketch was the first-born. Reared on the home farm in Silvercreek township, Justus L. Baker received his schooling in the local schools and remained at home until after his marriage when twenty-one years of age. Trained as a farmer from the days of his boyhood, he ever followed that vocation and at the time of his death had the farm property of Sixty-six acres,. on which his widow is still living and the operation of which is being carried on by his son-in-law, George W. Buckwalter. Mr. Baker was a Republican and had held minor public offices in his home township, particularly school offices. He was a member of the Baptist church at Jamestown, as is his widow. Mr. Baker died on November 21, 1895, he then being in the fifty-second year of his age. On February 1, 1866, Justus L. Baker was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Smith, who was born in Frederick county, Virginia, and who had come here in 1865 with her parents, John and Maria (Reiter) Smith, the family locating in Silvercreek township. For a year after coming to this county John Smith rented a farm and then he bought the farm on which W. F. Lewis now resides and there he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on February 12, 1880. He was born on. June 19, 1806. His widow, who was born on May 6, 1806, survived him for more than four years, her death occurring on July 10, 1884. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. John Smith and wife were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Baker was the fourth in order of birth. To Justus L. and Mary L. (Smith) Baker were born ten children, namely : Elma Rosella, who is now living in the state of Oklahoma, widow of Grant Bush ; George O. ; Anna Lorena, who died in the days of her girlhood ; John Isaac, who married. Eva Gerrard; Emma J., who married George GREENE COUNTY, OHIO - 723 W. Buckwalter and is living on the home place; James Franklin, who married Eva Hargraves and is farming in Jefferson township, this county; William J., who married Sarah Johnson and also is farming in Jefferson township; Wilbur C., who married Bertha Seslar and is farming in the neighboring county of Fayette; Zola, deceased, and Laban, who died in infancy: They have sixty-six acres. HARVEY HUMSTON. Harvey Humston, proprietor of a farm in Caesarscreek township, formerly and for years engaged in the livery business, but for some years past living retired at Xenia, was born in the neighboring county of Clinton on November 19, 1841, son of Strother and Ann E. (Ford) Humston, natives of the Old Dominion, who later became residents of Greene county, where their last days were spent. Strother Humston was born in Frederick county, Virginia, as was his wife, of old Colonial stock. They were married in that county and continued to make their home there for some years afterward. Then they came to Ohio, driving through. with two small children, and located at Andersons Forks, in Clinton county, later coming to Greene county and settling in Caesarscreek township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Strother Humston was a produce dealer and continued that business in this county for thirty years, or until his retirement, his produce wagon long having been a familiar visitor at the farm houses on the "route" he early established and so long maintained. He was a Democrat and he and his wife were members of the Baptist church and are buried in the Baptist church cemetery (Petersons), in the neighborhood of their old home in Caesarscreek township. They were the parents of ten children, two of whom died in infancy, the others being Wilford, a farmer, who went to Washington county, Iowa, where he became sheriff of that county, but later returned to Greene county, where his last days were spent ; Mary, who married Samuel Jones and who, as well as her husband, is now dead ; Harvey, the subject of this biographical sketch ; Ann, who married Joseph B. Cummings and who, as well as her husband, is now dead ; John, a veteran of the Civil War, who served in the One Hundred and Tenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and who is now living at the Soldiers Home at Sandusky ; Levi, a Greene county farmer, who died in 1915 ; Amanda, who married Frank Weaver and is now dead, her husband living at Bellbrook, and Ella, who died at the age of eleven years. Having been but a child when his parents moved up from Clinton county, Harvey Humston was reared on the home farm in Caesarscreek 724 - GREENE COUNTY, OHIO township and there made his home until his marriage when twenty-five years of age, after which he began farming on his own account. Upon his father's retirement from the produce business he took up the "route" his father had established and covered the same for six or seven years, meantime engaging in the livery business and was engaged in the latter business for fourteen years, after which he gave his undivided attention to his farm. Mr. Humston has one hundred and eleven acres in Caesarscreek township and on that place made his home, for thirty-six years, at the end of which time he rented his farm and moved to Xenia, where he has since lived retired. In March, 1866, Harvey Humston was united in marriage to Ellen Powers, who was born in Caesarscreek township, this county, a daughter of Alfred and Susan (Burrell) Powers, both of whom also were born in that township. Alfred Powers was a farmer and for twenty-one years served as justice of the peace in and for his home township. He and his wife spent their last days on their home place in Caesarscreek township. They were the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Humston was the fourth in order of birth, the others being the following : Allan, who was a farmer and whose last days were spent in Tennessee; Mary, now deceased, who was the wife of Christian Weaver, a farmer of Caesarscreek township ; Aniel, a retired farmer, now living at Xenia ; Harlan, also a farmer, now deceased, and Eli, who is a millwright, living at Dayton. To Harvey and Ellen ( Powers) Humston two children have been born, a son and a daughter, Jessie L. and Hal P., the latter of whom died at his home in Xenia, at the age of forty-four years. Jessie L. Humston married Elmer A. Thomas, formerly the proprietor of the "Beehive" store at Xenia, who is now a commercial traveler, but who continues to make his home in Xenia. The late Hal P. Humston was born on the home farm in this county on May 22, 1868, and completed his schooling in the old Xenia College and in the National Normal University at Lebanon. For eight or nine years after leaving college he was engaged in the saw-mill business in the neighborhood of his home and then opened a public training station for the training of horses. In the fall of 19or he entered into a partnership and purchased the Paukett livery stable in Xenia, continuing engaged in that business there, first under the firm name of Humston & Grottendick, then as Humston & Burrous and finally as Humston & Humston, his father becoming a partner, and so continued until his death in 1912. On February 1, 1892, Hal P. Humston was united in marriage to Minnie Semans, of Clinton county, daughter of Jacob Semans, of that same county, formerly a resident of Greene county, and to that union was born one child, a son, Glenn Humston, born on August 9, 1893, who since completing his studies