798 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

WALLEN CAMERON, farmer, P. O. Arlington, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, October 1, 1833, son of Alexander and Lydia (Miller) Cameron, natives of Ohio, former of whom was a farmer and miller by occupation; for many years conducted the hotel at Arlington. His great-grandfather, Alexander Cameron, Sr., served in the war of the Revolution, and was twice wounded. Wallen Cameron, the subject of this sketch, came to this county with his father at the age of eighteen years, and resided here, engaged in farming, until 1872, when he removed to Nebraska. His father dying, Wallen returned to this county and took charge of the old homestead, still retaining his real estate interests in Nebraska. In the fall of 1861 our subject enlisted in an independent company of sharp-shooters, which was afterward credited to the Fourteenth Missouri, and still later to the Sixty-sixth Illinois Regiment. He was mustered out in July, 1865, after having rendered, with his company, conspicuous service in many of the most brilliant campaigns of the war in the Southwest, among which were the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, siege and capture of Atlanta, and Sherman's march to the sea. Mr. Cameron was united in marriage, April 19, 1857, with Miss Sarah J. Woods, a daughter of H. P. Woods, of Dunkirk, Ohio. Of the six children born of this union five are yet living; Melville, D., Jennie, Harry, Alexander B. and Wallen. Mr. Cameron and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the G. A. R. ; in politics a Republican.

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PHILIP DILLMAN, farmer, P. O. Arlington, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, July 4, 1834, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Dame) Dillman, natives of Hessen - Darmstadt, Germany, former of Whom was a farmer and a noted hunter. Our subject's grandfather, Adam Dillman, was a farmer in the old country. The parents of our subject came to America in 1831, and to this county in 1839, and here Philip has resided since, engaged in farming. Our subject married, April 23, 1861, Miss Catherine W itch, daughter of Philip P. Wilch, and this union has been blessed with ten children: Charles, Peter, Elizabeth, John, James, Margaret, Frederick, Emma, Eva and Mary. Mr. Dillman is one of the many respected and substantial German citizens of Madison Township, and gives his support to all enterprises for public good. In politics he is a Democrat.

PROF. B. D. EVANS, M. D., Williamstown, was born in Hardy County, Va. (now West Virginia), June 16, 1829, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Stofer) Evans, the former of whom, a son of Joseph Evans; a native of Wales, devoted his life principally to farming. He served in the war of 1812, and died at the age of ninety-one years. The subject of this sketch ch made his residence in various places previous to coming to this county in 1862, since which date he has practiced his profession, that of medicine and surgery, at Williamstown, with success. The Doctor also keeps a drug store, and has been postmaster of Williamstown for some time. He studied medicine under Dr. Frank Powers, of Delaware County, Ohio, and later took a full course in the Physio-Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati. For three years he held the position of professor of physiology and obstetrics in the Medical University of Ohio. Dr. Evans has been twice married; first, December 24, 180, to Delila Kepler, and afterward. May 17, 1874, to Mary E. Cramer. The Doctor has seven children now living, four by his first marriage; Byron W., Frances E., Helen C. and Kepler; and three by his second: Edith R., Mary C. and Edward B. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat; in religious conviction a Spiritualist.

DAVID HOUDESHELL, merchant, Arlington, was bore in Fairfield County, Ohio, February 16, 1823, son of George and Catherine (Bibler) Houdeshell, Americans by birth, but of German descent, the former of whom, a farmer, and in politics an earnest Democrat, did active service in the war of 1812. Our subject came to this county in 1836, and has since resided here, engaged chiefly in general farming. In 1884 he opened a hardware store in Arlington, and, with his sons, gives most of his attention to his mercantile interests. Mr. Houdeshell has filled the office of treasurer for his township, and is one of its representative German citizens. He married, February 19, 1846, Miss Mary A. Funk, daughter of Martin Funk, an old pioneer of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Houdeshell have eight children living; Lydia A., Catherine J., George D., Daniel H., Sarah M., Manuel J., John E. and Nancy L.

SQUIRE JAMES HUFF, P. O. Arlington, was born in Licking County, Ohio, July 15, 1837, and was there married to Miss Amanda Willison, daughter of George Willison, of that county. Mrs. Huff died leaving a family of five children: Frank, Charles, George, Edwin and William P., all still living. Mr. Huff married for his second wife, Agnes Patton, daughter of Thomas J. Patton. Mr. Huff has been principally engaged during life in farming, and for the past several years has been interested in the saw-mill business in Arlington. He is at present justice of the peace of Madison Township.

800 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

CYRUS F. KING, M. D., Arlington, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, January 26, 1855, son of John King, who is now a retired farmer of Hancock County. The subject of this sketch worked on the farm and taught school in his early years, and soon gave his attention to the study of medicine. He commenced under the direction of Dr. J. H. Watson, of McComb, this county, and afterward studied with Dr. F. W. Entrikin, of Findlay, Ohio, attending three courses at the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduating therefrom May 8, 1878. He located at once in Arlington where he has since continued in the practice of his profession with success, and has also kept a drug store most of the time. The Doctor is a member of the Ohio State Eclectic Medical Association and the Northwestern Ohio Eclectic Medical Association, of which he is now vice president. He was united in marriage with Miss Minerva L. Porter, daughter of Amos and Sarah (Comer) Porter, of this county. Their union has been blessed with five children, three of whom are living: Dwight J., Alvin E. and Merrill S. The Doctor has been postmaster of Arlington for the past four years. In politics he is a stanch Republican, being chairman of the Hancock County Republican Convention in 1885, both temporary and permanent. He holds a prominent place in the ranks of his native county.

LEROY S. LAFFERTY, M. D. , Arlington, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 11, 1829, son of John and Sarah (Lewis) Lafferty. Our subject came to this county in an early day and resided for many years in Mount Blanchard, afterward removing to Arlington, where he has been engaged in the practice of medicine for twenty-five years, with good success. He served in the war of the Rebellion as a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Dr. Lafferty first married' Miss Nancy Johnson, daughter of William and Catherine Johnson, former residents of Morrow County, Ohio, and one son, Squire J., still living, was born of this union. The Doctor married, in Arlington, his present wife, formerly Mary E. Cameron, daughter of Alexander and Lydia (Miller) Cameron. This union has been blessed with four children; Etta F., Sarah V., Bird L. and Alexander G. The Doctor keeps the "Pioneer House," at Arlington, and is one of the substantial citizens of this county.

ELIAS S. RIEGLE, farmer, P. O. Arlington, Ohio, was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, October 24, 1836, son of Philip and Catherine (Bibler) Riegle, who are present residents of this county. The father was born in Cumberland County, Penn., October 6, 1810, son of George and Catherine (Schambaugh) Riegle, both of whom were Pennsylvanians by birth; the former a son of Simon Riegle of that State. The subject of this sketch enlisted at Arlington, Ohio, in Company I, of Col. Birge's Independent Regiment of Sharpshooters. His company was organized by Capt. Daugherty, of this (Madison) township. This Independent Regiment was first assigned to the command of Gen. J. C. Fremont, afterward known as the Fourteenth Missouri, until the battle of Shiloh, after which, by the reorganization of the armies, it became the Sixty-sixth Illinois, and the subject of this sketch became a member of Company H, of that regiment. The regimental commanders were, first, Col. Birge of Missouri; second, Col. Burke of Missouri; third, Col. Campbell of Illinois; fourth. Col. Gambel of Illinois. The principal battles and skirmishes in which the Company was engaged are as follows: Mt. Zion, Mo. ; Bunker Hill, Mo. ; Ft. Donelson, Tenn. ; Owl Creek, Tenn. ; Peach Orchard, Miss. ; Corinth, Miss. ; Second battle of Corinth; Iuka, Miss. ; Blackland, Miss. ; Jumpertown, Miss. ; Hatchie River, Miss. ;

MADISON TOWNSHIP. - 801

Booneville, Miss. ; White Side Farm, Miss. : Snake Creek Gap, Ga. ; Resaca, Ga. ; Rome Cross Roads, Ga. ; Dallas, Ga. ; Lone Mountain, Ga. ; New Hope, Ga. ; Big Shanty, Ga. ; Brush Mountain, Ga. ; Little Kenesaw Mountain, Ga. ; Kenesaw Mountain, Ga. ; Nicojack Creek, Ga. ; Peach Tree Creek, Ga. ; Decatur, Ga. ; Atlanta, Ga., 21- 26 July; Bald Hill, Ga.; ; Howard House, Ga. ; Utoy Creek, Ga. ; Ezra Church, Ga. ; Proctor's Creek, Ga.-two battles; siege of Atlanta Ga.--August 12-26, 1864; Jonesboro, Ga. ; skirmish near Savannah; capture of two Napoleon guns; capture of Savannah, Ga. ; Rome, Ga. ; capture of Columbia, S. C. ; Fayettesville, N. C. ; Goldsboro, N. C. Bentonville, N. C. He was wounded, in the last week of December, 1863 (near Decatur, Ala.), near the left temple. At Dallas, Ga., in 1864, Capt. Boyd, with the support of the Thirty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, took the DeGrass battery, and Boyd had one of the guns double charged, which burst on being fired, Mr. Riegle being only fifteen or twenty feet distant from it at the time. During 1862 and a part of 1863, he was a secret scout. These scouts did mach for the cause of the Union by way of destroying Confederate property to the value of millions of dollars, besides gaining much useful information and capturing rebel spies. One of the most noted of these was Sidney Johnson, Jr., who was captured near Blackland, Miss., and shot as a spy at Corinth, Miss., in 1862. Their principal field of operation was in the vicinity of Decatur, Athens, Huntsville and Florence, Ala. Mr. Riegle was during his term of service (four years), severely wounded several times, and participated in as many battles as any other man of the Regiment, in all about seventy-five battles and skirmishes. On the 22d of July, 1864, the Sixty-sixth Illinois Regiment, captured the DeGrass battery. The man who led the charge was Capt. Boyd, of Company A, Sixty-sixth Illinois Regiment. Our subject had the honor of going through the final review at Washington. May the memory of this regiment ever live in the minds of the American people! The company of which Mr. Riegle was a member was mustered out in July, 1865. Our subject at time of discharge held the rank of corporal. Mr. Riegle is an honored member of Welker Post, G A. R., at Arlington, in which he has filled offices of distinction, and now holds the office of S. V. C. He was a delegate to the late National encampment at Portland, Me., in 1885, and is the delegate to the State encampment at Cleveland, Ohio. He was united in marriage, August 29, 1865, with Miss Catherine Cramer, a daughter of Charles and Catherine (Price) Cramer, natives of Germany, and by her he has five children; John W. S. born July 29, 1866; Charles M., born February 25, 1869; Ettie V. and Nettie V., born September 15, 1872, and Huldah C. born November 1, 1878. Mr. Riegle and family are connected with the Methodist Protestant Church. In politics our subject is a stanch Republican.

PHILIP P. WILCH, farmer, P. O. Arlington, was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, September 22, 1823, son of Philip (a farmer) and Elizabeth (Brickman) Wilch, who never came to America. Our subject resided in New York and Cleveland a short time after arriving in the United States, and November 7, 1854, came to this county and has since resided on his present farm in Madison Township, engaged in farming. March 7, 1843, he married, in Germany, Miss Eva Schafer, and by her has a family of four children: Catherine, Margaret, Philip and Susan. The family are all connected with St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Wilch is one of the leading representatives of the German settlement in this part of the county, and is a much respected citizen. In politics he is a Democrat.