848 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

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HENRY W. BEALS, retired farmer, McComb, was born in Pennsylvania, April 29, 1821, son of Abraham W. and Rebecca (Alloway) Beals; former born in Maryland, of Scotch and English descent, latter a native of Pennsylvania. Abraham W. Beals, who was a stone-mason and brick-mason for twenty years, came to this county in 1831, settled in Liberty Township, and had to cut a road through the timber to reach his land; it took him two and a half days to go from Findlay to his place. His family consisted of fourteen children, thirteen of whom grew to maturity, our subject being the eldest. Henry W. Beals was reared on the farm and received his schooling in the log schoolhouse in Liberty Township, this county. After reaching his majority he worked three years in a saw-mill, but has made agriculture his principal occupation in life. His farm consists of 114 acres of land. Our subject has retired from active farm life and now resides in McComb, where he also owns property. Mr. Beals was united in marriage, in 1852, with Elizabeth, daughter of John McDonald, and of Scotch descent. Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served five years as constable, and two years as trustee of Portage Township, this county. James H. Beats, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Beats, was born in Wood County, Ohio, in 1856. He was married, in 1879, to Nevada M. Robb, a lady of English descent, and their union has been blessed with two children: Claudie J. and Harry A. James H. Beats and family reside on the homestead farm of our subject.

S. BOWMAN, farmer, P. O., North Baltimore, Wood County, was born in Bedford County, Penn., May 1, 1818, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Moorland) Bowman; former was a native of Maryland, a carpenter and joiner by trade; latter, born in the north of Ireland. The father settled in Wood County, Ohio, in 1836, where he followed the occupation of farming until his death, which occurred in 1846. His family consisted of four sons and four daughters. Our subject, the second son, received his education in a select school in Pennsylvania, and chose farming as his occupation. He has resided in this county since 1836. His present farm consists of 100 acres of land now under a high state of cultivation; it was wild timbered land when he first came here, and he has made most of the improvements upon it himself. Mr. Bowman was united in marriage, in 1850, with Prudence, daughter of William Edgar, and of Scotch and English descent. Their children are Columbia J., wife of David M. Thomas; Rebecca S. ; William E., a school teacher; Phebe and Milo L. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for many years, and

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a teacher in the Sabbath-school. In politics Mr. Bowman is a Republican. He has been township clerk and school director.

A. CRUMRINE, farmer, P. O. McComb, was born in Washington County, Penn., March 28, 1815, son of Peter and Rebecca (Wise) Crumrine, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. Peter Crumrine, who was a carpenter in early life, but who in later days became a farmer, came to Ohio in 1832 and settled in Ross County; of his family of nine children our subject is the eldest. A. Crumrine was reared on the farm, received a common school education, and close agriculture for his occupation. He came to this county in 1842 and settled on the farm in Portage Township, consisting of 160 acres of well improved land, where he now resides. Mr. Crumrine was united in marriage, in 1839, with Mary, daughter of Nathaniel Ross, and is of German descent. To them have been burn nine children: Sarah, wife of John Nelson; Joseph; Benjamin; Amanda, wife of D. H. Randall; Adaline, wife of O. M. Ramsey; Malissa, wife of Daniel Freed; Nathaniel R. and two who are deceased. Mrs. Crumrine is a member of the Disciples Church. Our subject is a Democrat in politics; for twenty-seven years he served as justice of the peace; has been school director for more than twenty-five years; has also been trustee of Portage Township several terms, and was overseer in the Grange movement in his township.

JAMES DETER, farmer, P. O. Van Buren, was born in Franklin County, Penn., March l, 1818, son of Jacob and Sarah (Anderson) Deter, natives of Pennsylvania, who moved from there to Richland County, Ohio, when our subject was guite young. Their family consisted of nine children, six now living, our subject being the eldest of the family. James Deter acquired his education in the common schools of his day, and came to this county in 1836, settling in Portage Township. In order to obtain a start in the world he worked by the day and month, and part of this time he worked on the canal on the Maumee River. In .1850 Mr. Deter was united in marriage with Catharine Bushong, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Bohart) Bushong, natives of Stark County, Ohio, who were among the early settlers of this county. Mr. Bushong was commissioner of this county in a very early day; he departed this life in 1884. Our subject and wife are the parents of four children: Jacob, married to Catharine Wagoner (they have three children: Laura M., Harry and Clinton W.); Samuel, a photographer of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Irvin and Emily J. Mr. Deter took part in the militia of the early times. He has taken an interest in educational affairs in his township. He has been successful in life and, by close application to business, has acquired 210 acres of fine land on which he and family reside.

S. F. DULIN, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Hampshire County, Va., August 3, 1810, son of William and Charlotte (Florance) Dulin, the former of whom was born in England, July 21, 1772, and the latter in Germany, July 21, 1772. They came to America with their parents when young, and settled in Baltimore County, Md., where they married; they afterward moved to Virginia, and in 1816, came to Ohio and settled on a farm in Pickaway County, and January 27, 1830, removed to this county. William Dulin died November 13, 1832, and his widow in 1866, at the advanced age of ninety-three years, nine months and fifteen days. Their family consisted of ten children, the subject of this sketch being the seventh. S. F. Dulin was reared on the farm, received a limited education in the com-

850 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

mon school, and on reaching his majority learned the cooper's trade, which he followed three years, but has made agriculture the occupation of his life. He is the owner of a well improved farm of sixty-six acres, on which he resides. Mr. Dulin has three daughters: Harriett A., wife of John W. M. Powell, a farmer residing; in Putnam County. Ohio; Josephine L, wife of Levi Miller, a farmer in Portage Township, this county; and Mary E., wife of Isaac Fellabaum, a farmer. Mr. Dulin and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been steward, and of the Sabbath-school of which he has been superintendent. Mr. Dulin is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has taken five degrees in that order. In politics he is a Republican. He has, at various times, filled nearly all the different township offices. He taught school fur three winters in Portage Township, this county. He was a member of the State militia, and in 1835 was elected captain of a rifle company, being afterward promoted to major. He was subsequently promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and served in that capacity until Gen. Bell appointed him to be brigade inspector, which office our subject held until the militia was disbanded.

T. F. EDGINGTON, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Portage Center, was born in Richland County, Ohio, September 24, 1828, and is the youngest child of John and Catherine (Dougall) Edgington, natives of Virginia, and of Scotch and Irish descent. John Edgington, who had been a farmer all his life, and was among the early settlers of Portage Township, this COunty, died in 1848, his widow in 1856. T. F. Edgington, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and has followed agricultural. pursuits with more than average success. At present he is the owner of 232 acres of well improved land, on which he resides, in Portage Township, this county. Mr. Edgington was united in marriage, in 1851, with Miss Malinda Spitler: daughter of David and Sarah (Karan) Spider, who were of Scotch-Irish descent. Our subject and wife are parents of the following named children: Emily, wife of W. S. Randall; Maranda, wife of F. P. Fifer, of McComb; and W. C. who was reared on the farm, attended the common school and the Valparaiso College, in Indiana, and chose farming as his occupation; he is married and has one child, Thomas F. The subject of this sketch has served nine years as justice of the peace, and is considered a good judge of law; in politics he is a Democrat.

J. S. HICKMAN, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, August 14, 1832; son of Joseph S. and Elenore (Higgins) Hickman, natives of Ohio, of English descent, former a farmer. Their family consisted of seven children, four of whom grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch being the eldest ono now living. The second son died in the army. J. S. Hickman was reared on the farm and educated in the common school. He was united in marriage, in Franklin County, Ohio, April 19, 1852, with Matilda J., daughter of William Fountain, and of English descent. The children of this union are Thomas L., a druggist; Ida L., wife of Irvin Wells; J. S. and Nancy J. Our subject is a Republican in politics; has served as school director for six years. He is the owner of eighty acres of land.

W. M. KING, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Richland County, Ohio, August, 2, 1819, son of John and Jane (Findlay) King, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively, and of English descent, former a carpenter by trade. They reared a family of ten children, our subject be-

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ing the eldest. W. M. King was reared on the farm, received a common school education in Richland County, Ohio, and chose farming for his occupation in life; has also dealt in stock for several years. He is the owner of 174 acres of land in Portage Township where, he now resides. Mr. King was united in marriage, in 1842, with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Addis Linn, and of English extraction. The fruits of this union are the following named children: John, a farmer; Elizabeth J., a school teacher; Addis L., a farmer in Iowa; Mary, wife of Marion Ramsey; Eli; C. W. ; Christian; Susannah; Bartley and Emily. Our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican in politics; has been school director For twelve years.

GEORGE MONTGOMERY, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Portage Center, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, October 11, 1823, only child of John and Nancy (Helmick) Montgomery, natives of Ohio, former of whom was killed by the falling of a tree when our subject was one year old. On the death of his father little George was sent to live with his grandparents. His maternal grandfather, Nicholas Helmick, was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a very large man and very determined in his ways. He came to this county in 1832 and settled in Cass Township, where George was reared and grew to maturity. Living in a newly-settled country, our subject's means for obtaining an education were limited, attending school only three months in his life. He lived with his grandfather until twenty-one years of age; he then bought a tax title to forty acres of wild timbered land in Portage Township, this county. He was without capital, and, to get a start in life, took up auctioneering in connection with farming, a business he followed with success for thirty-seven years. For many years Mr. Montgomery was one of the best known auctioneers in this county, and the only one in that line who took out a license for the full year. He has, however, made farming his principal business, and at one time was the owner of 1,400 acres of land; but since his children married he has helped them to a start in life, and he now owns only the homestead farm, consisting of 105 acres. Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage, in 1844, with Mary, daughter of George Chase, a pioneer of this county. To this union were horn nine children: Miles W., Benoni K., Elizabeth Jane, Elcie M. , David, Irene, Martha S. and Mary S. (twins) and George C. The mother died in 1861, and our subject married, for his second wife, Doratha A., daughter of Benoni Culp, and to this union have been born three children: Angie, Rachel and Wellington H. In politics Mr. Montgomery is a Republican: He has been postmaster of Portage Center, the second postoffice established in this county, the office being now located in his residence.

ANDREW NIGH, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. McComb, was born in Northampton County, Penn., June 14, 1812, son of Lawrence and Nancy (Welsh) Nigh; latter a native of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent. Lawrence Nigh, the father of our subject, a native of New Jersey and of Holland descent, came to Ohio in 1817 and settled on a farm in Columbiana County. He reared a family of eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity and married, our subject being the eldest. Andrew Nigh was reared on the farm, and at the age of eighteen years learned the trade of plastering, which he followed for fourteen summers. He came to this county in October, 1837, and settled on a farm in Pleasant Township, where he remained

852 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

one year and then removed to his present farrn, consisting of 157 acres of land in Portage Township, this county. Mr. Nigh was united in marriage, in 1835, with Catherine, daughter of Martin De Rodes, and of German descent. To them were born nine children, sig of whom survive; of the deceased. Franklin and Martin both died in the army; Franklin was in Company G. One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Martin served under Capt. Cusac, in Company G, Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; the survivors are O. P., married, a farmer in Portage Township, this county; Elizabeth, wife of A. Gorrell, residing on the home farm; S. W. (married Miss Wilson), a farmer in Portage Township, this county; Martha J., wife of Lewis Thomas, a painter in Bowling Green, Wood Co., Ohio; Barbara, wife of William Thomas, an engineer on tire Pan Handle Railroad at benison, Ohio; and D. E., married, residing in North Baltimore, Wood Co., Ohio Mrs. Nigh died in 1881, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Nigh was township treasurer for four years and township trustee for sig years; he is a prominent pioneer and one of the few who still live on the land they entered from the Government.

S. W. NIGH, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. North Baltimore, Wood County, was born in Portage Township, this county, November 17, 1853; son of Andrew and Catherine (De Rodes) Nigh. Our subject was reared on a farm, attended the district school in Portage Township, this county, also the Findlay High School, and chose farming for an occupation, which he has followed with success. He is the owner of 240 acres of land, in Portage Township, this county, 150 acres of which are under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Nigh was united in marriage, in 1875, with Amelia Wilson, a lady of Holland-Dutch and Irish descent; her father, Miles Wilson (deceased), was a pioneer farmer; her mother is still living. The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with sig children: Wilbur W., Clifford G., Nellie, Ned, Elsie, and an infant, not yet named. Mrs. Nigh is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Nigh is a Democrat.

LEVI M. THOMAS, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. North Baltimore, Wood County, was born in this county, October 13, 1839, son of Jacob and Rebecca (Edgington) Thomas, natives of Ohio, the former of Dutch descent, and the latter of Scotch and Welsh descent. Jacob Thomas, who was a farmer, came to this county and settled on a farm in Marion Township; was twice married, and reared a family of nine children, our subject being the thud by the first wife. Levi M. Thomas was reared on the farm, received his education in the common school, and has made agriculture his business. He is the owner of 160 acres of land, on which he resides. Mr. Thomas is a man of more than ordinary nerve and energy, and when his right leg was broken by a tree falling upon it, he crawled from under the tree unaided, unhitched his team and rode home. At another time, while hunting in Michigan, he climbed a tree, shot a deer, and while he was descending to secure his game, the tree fell, breaking his left leg. He made his way to the nearest house, and there, finding that he was many miles from any physician, he set the broken leg himself, and placing a bog around it, came home. Our subject enlisted, in 1861, in Company G, Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga and sent to Libby Prison, where he remained eight months. In 1869 Mr. Thomas was

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united in marriage with Mary C. , daughter of William Wilson, and of Dutch descent. They have two children: Elsie E. and Jacob C. In politics Mr. Thomas is a Democrat. He has been trustee of Portage Township.

D. C. WARNER, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Van Buren, was horn November 2, 1834, where he now resides, on Section 15, Portage Township, this county, son of Daniel and Mary (Himer) Warner, former bore in New York State, April 24, 1799, of English descent, latter born in Philadelphia, Penn. The Warner family came to America many years before the war of the Revolution, Gen. Warner, of Revolutionary fame, being a member of the family. Daniel Warner, the father of the subject of this sketch, came to this county February 14, 1834, and entered 160 acres of land in Portage Township, where he died in 1881. His family consisted of seven children, the subject of this sketch being the sixth. D. C. Warner was reared on the farm, acquired a common school education, and has made agriculture the principal occupation of his life; he is at present the owner of 219 acres of land. He served 100 days in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Our subject was united in marriage, in 1856, with Angeline, daughter of Jacob Bushong, and of German descent. To them were born nine children, sewn of whom survive: Willie L. ; Scott, married to Caroline Steen; Sylvester, married to Ida Deter; Loie J., married to William W. Crawford; Maggie; Burtie and Carrie. Our subject and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, of which he has been trustee, steward and Sabbath-school superintendent. In politics Mr. Warner is a Republican. He has held the office of school director for nine years.