802 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

MARION TOWNSHIP.

DANIEL ALTMAN, farmer, P.O. Findlay, was born in Pickaway County. Ohio, May 9, 1818. His parents, Adam and Hannah Altman, came to Marion Township, this county, in August, 1833, and here entered 450 acres of land from the Government, and remained until their death; the former died June 17, 1863, in his eighty-fifth year, and the latter October 15, 1848. They had twelve children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, and four are yet living; Daniel; Mrs. Kate Burnap, of Alcona, Mich.; Mrs. Susan Powell. of Eagle Township, this county. and Samuel, of Findlay, Ohio. Daniel Altman was reared on the farm and endured the hardships of a pioneer's son. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Mooma, in 1841, and they then settled where they now reside, having a fine farm of 160 acres of well improved land. Their union has been blessed with two children: Joseph, married to Mrs. Ellen Spayde (have one son-Harvey P.), and Eli, married, March 23, 1871, to Christena Plotts (a sister of Joseph's wife), which anion. has been blessed with four children: Andrew, Clarence, Harry and Carrie. In politics Mr. Altman is a Democrat. Mrs. Altman is a member of the Lutheran Church.

S. W. FINK, farmer and proprietor of saw-mill, was born in Luzerne County, Penn., in 1849; son of Elias Fink, also a native of Pennsylvania. Our subject came to Ohio in 1876, and settled in Marion Township, this county. In 1879 he erected a saw-mill, which he has since carried on. He was united in marriage, in 1880, with Caroline, daughter of Charles Hallotonwav of Findlay Township, this county; this union has been blessed with one child, Charles Glenville. Mr. Fink has built a comfortable house near his mill. He is an enterprising, wide-awake young man, and a good citizen.

MATTHIAS GILLESPIE, lumberman, P. O. Findlay, was born in Findlay, May 10, 1835. His parents, William B. and Eliza Ann (Hamilton) Gillespie, natives of Virginia, were married in Hancock County, Ohio, in 1832; the former came to this county when a young man, and the latter came here in 1825 with her parents, John P. and Martha (Barnes) Hamilton, who entered the farm now owned by Aaron Baker, situate partly within the limits of Findlay. Mr. Hamilton was one of the first commissioners of Hancock County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. William B. Gillespie sold their place in this county in 1870, and moved to Kansas, where the former died in 1872; after the death of her husband our subject's mother returned to Findlay, where she died in 1875. Of the six children born to William B. and Eliza Ann Gillespie only two are now living; John P., of Allen County, Kas., and Matthias. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native city and received his education in the schools of that place. He was united in marriage, October 27, 1859, with Mrs. Cornelia P. Webster, a native of Massa who came to Ohio in 1850 with her parents, Oliver and Lucy Taylor, and to this county in 1854. Our subject has one son, Wellington Oliver. Mr. Gillespie has followed the lumber business nearly all his life, and has carried on a saw-mill in this county during the entire time. He

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established in his present location in 1874, and here he has a mill site and home on Blanchard River and the Findlay and Carey road. Our subject has led a very busy and useful life, and, in addition to his property here, has acquired a tract of 320 acres of land in the State of Missouri. He is an earnest Republican, and takes an active interest in public affairs, having hardly been free from the duties of office since attaining his majority. He has served his township as clerk, trustee, in fact, almost all the offices of the township have been filled by him at various times. Mr. Gillespie is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mrs. Gillespie of the Presbyterian. He is a man of strict integrity, a useful citizen, highly respected by the entire community in which he lives.

BENJAMIN KISTLER, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 30, 1817, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Kistler, the former of whom died in 1822. After the death of her first husband our subject's mother married David Hall and moved to Pickaway County, Ohio, where young Benjamin was reared. Our subject was united in marriage December 3, 1840, with Miss Sarah Searfoss, and they came to Marion Township, this county, in the following February, bought a new farm and began the work of clearing it up and developing it. Mr. Kistler has added to his property until he now owns 240 acres of fertile and well improved land. To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Kistler have been born seven children: the first child died in infancy; David, married to Miss Nancy Ann Brinner (he died June 26,1878); Henry; Benjamin, Jr., now in Henry County, Ohio; Mrs. Clarinda Anderson; John and William. Our subject is a Democrat in politics; has served his township as trustee.

ZEBULON P. LEE, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Bloom Township, Fairfield Co., Ohio, July 18, 1828, son of Richard and Lydia (Wyant) Lee, natives of Pennsylvania and early pioneers of Ohio. Zebulon Lee, the grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Our subject's parents came to this county in 1832-33 and settled in Amanda Township, where they entered land and began pioneer life. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are yet living; Zebulon P., John, Caroline (wife of D. Gilbert), Morison, David, Stephen and Noah. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, October 7, 1847, with Zill Ann, daughter of Aquilla Gilbert, of Amanda Township, this county. This union has been blessed with seven children: Cinderella, wife of L. C. Ewing; Margaret, wife of William Fogler; Lydia, wife of Milton Robison; R. A. Lee, married to Hattie Miller; Mollie, wife of Willis Marvin; Ida, unmarried, and Ollie (deceased). Mr. Lee was trustee of Amanda Township, this county, for three years, and treasurer for three years, and has been trustee of Marion Township for several years. He came to Marion Township in 1877, and purchased the land on which he now lives of Adam Haley. This farm he has since traded, with William Marvin, for the old Stephens property, in Findlay Township. this county. Mr. Lee is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Vanlue, Ohio.

WILLIAM B. MILLER, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, February 11, 1825, son of Martin and Catharine (Baker) Miller, who resided in Fairfield County, Ohio, until their death, both living. to the age of eighty years. Our subject was united in marriage with Miss Jane Martin. March 27, 1845, and they came to Marion Township, this county, February 8, 1847, where Mr. Miller owned eighty acres of land near

804 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

the southwest corner of the township, and to this he has added 100 acres by purchase, and has sold twenty acres of it; he at present owns a fine farm of 160 acres of well improved land, on which he has erected excellent buildings and made other valuable improvements. He also owns other lands in the neighborhood amounting to 140 acres, aggregating in all 300 acres. To Mr. and Mr,. William B. Miller have been born thirteen children, four of whom died in infancy. and one, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Wisely, died at the age of twenty years, leaving two children: Orpha and Curtis M. The surviving children of our subject. and wife are Mrs. Rachel L. Wisely, Sherman M., Mrs. Laura A. Whetstone, Mrs. Mary C. Bennett, Mrs. Harriet A. Lee, Alice C. , Flora E. and Henry G. The. latter three are still living at home. Mr. Miller is a Republican in politics and previous to the organization of that party was a Whig, and takes a deep interest. in public affairs. He was also nominated by the Republican convention of this county for representative to the State Legislature in the year 1879, and was beaten by Mr. William H. Wheeler 295 votes, while Gov. Foster was beaten 397 votes. and the rest of the State ticket was beaten by over 400 votes. He served his township as trustee several terms, and as treasurer one term. He was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1883, and discharged the duties of that office faithfully and to the entire satisfaction of the people. He and his worthy wife and most of his family are members of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Miller is one of the leading farmers and representative citizens of Marion Township.

HENRY SNYDER (deceased), a pioneer of Marion Township, this county, was a native of Basle, Switzerland, born in February, 1790. He came to America in 1832, and proceeded at once to Fairfield County, Ohio, coming to Marion Township, this county, in 1833, and entering a tract of eighty acres of land, which he began to improve. In the fall of the same year he returned to Fairfield County and married Miss Magdalena Sands. They then located permanently in Marion Township, this county, the following April; they afterward added twenty acres to their farm. Henry Snyder died April 18, 1864, and his widow May 23, 1883, aged seventy-six years. They reared a family of six children; Mrs. Mary Herring, of Wyandot County, Ohio; Henry, Elizabeth, Susan, Anna and Daniel. The family are. intelligent and industrious. and are taking good care of the heritage left them by their parents.

HENRY SNYDER, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Marion Township, this county, August 12, 1837, and is a son of the well-known pioneer, Henry Snyder, Sr. Our subject early engaged in the profession of teaching, which he followed successfully for five terms (four in this county, and one in Livingston County, , Ill. ) ; he was known as a faithful and efficient instructor and gave the best of satisfaction. He was united in marriage, February 25, 1869, with Matilda, daughter of Henry Shank, Esq. She departed this life in October, 1874, leaving two sons; Willoughby Albert and Henry Jason. Mr. Snyder is owner of a fine farm of eighty acres of land in Jackson Township, this county. He is a Republican in politics and takes a deep interest in public affairs; is a member of the Church of the Disciples. He held the appointment as postmaster of Elm Grove (afterward changed to Lye Creek post office) from 1864 to 1867, when the office was discontinued. Our subject is an extensive breeder of and dealer in fine stock. He first began buying and feeding hogs for the market, and now devotes his attention en-

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tirely to the thorough-bred Poland-China hogs, which he produces for breeding purposes, and has over 100 head of this breed on his farm. He is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Marion Township.

ANDREW URBAN, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Saxony, Germany, June 27, 1817, son of Earnest Urban of Saxony. He was united in marriage, in 1848, with Barbara Hane, a native of Germany, came to Ohio December 21, same year, and settled in this county. He purchased the farm where he now resides, in 1858, and erected the buildings upon it himself; the old cabin in which he used to live is still standing opposite his new residence. Our subject and wife have been blessed with twelve children: Peter, Harriet, Earnest, John, Elizabeth, Charles, Lewie, Frank, William, Martin and Mary (twins), and Andy; five of these children are married: Harriett married John Heffnan (he died, and she was afterward married to John Marquot; she is now a widow); Peter married Maggie McKee (he was killed by a falling tree); John married Elnora Fisher; Eliza married Frank Carver, and Earnest married Polena Shoutlemire, all of this county except Elizabeth, who is in Putnam County, Ohio. Andrew Urban is now taking the world easy on his farm of 106 acres of land in this county. He also owns a farm of eighty acres in Putnam County, Ohio, where his son-in-law now lives. Mr. Urban is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and is a worthy citizen of Marion Township.

GEORGE W. WISELEY, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Marion Township, this county, in May, 1843, son of Allen and Amelia (Bright) Wiseley, natives of Ohio. Allen Wiseley, whose ancestors were natives of Holland and Scotland, was born February 20, 1809, in Fairfield County, Ohio. He there became acquainted with his first wife, Amelia Bright. Her father, Maj. Bright, moved to Hancock County, and in a few years Allen Wiseley came to this county, entered a tract of land, and shortly afterward, in October, 1830, married his intended, settled down and has remained here since. He still resides on the first forty acres entered by himself in Marion Township. He entered other lands by proxy, as at that time no person was allowed to enter more than a forty-acre tract. He and his wife were exactly of the same age. Before their marriage they went on horseback, riding single file along the Indian trail (there being no roads cut then) to the court house at Findlay, where they heard Mr. Bowman preach a sermon, and while there they put their horses up at an inn kept by a Mr. Taylor. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen Wiseley were born seven children, five of whom are living: George W. ; Daniel; America, Wife of M. E. Glick; Sarah, wife of Henry Davis, and Lurany, wife of Henry Wiseley (a member of another family of Wiseleys). The mother of these children died December 9, 1878, and Allen Wiseley was again married, this time, July 18, 1882, to Mrs. Mary A. Clentchy, nee Cahill, and by her he has one child-Jessie. Allen Wiseley has been a successful farmer and is a pleasant, social old gentleman. He has given each of his children a good farm and has now retired from active labors, he and wife enjoying the fruits of years of industry. His house and farm are well supplied with relics of antiquity, such as fossils, Indian tools, carious formed rocks, etc., which he takes great eat pleasure in discussing: His son, George W. Wiseley, who resides near him, has twice married; his first wife, Amanda Johnson, died a short time after their marriage, leaving him one child-Orion. now an educated young man and residing with him. Our subject's second marriage was with Miss R. L. Miller,

806 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

and has resulted in four children; Olive, Laura, William B. and Jennie M., the last two named being twins. George W. Wiseley has a well cultivated farm with good improvements. He is an intelligent and pleasing gentleman and a good business man.