750 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. At the time of Mr. Miller's marriage he had nothing, of his own. They lived an Holmes county, Ohio, for some time, during which period they rented land for two years. Later they bought a half interest in one hundred acres of land, and still later the other half interest., Mr. Miller .sold this farm and came to Madison county, November 23, 1898, and purchased the farm where he is now living. He has been very successful since coming to this county. Although Manasses Miller was reared in the faith of the .Mennonite church, he no longer, affiliates with that denomination. He votes the Democratic ticket, and is a progressive, up-to-date citizen and an honorable resident of Darby township. JAMES ALBERT PORTER. James Albert Porter, who is familiarly known by the people of Union township, Madison county, Ohio, as "Al," was perhaps one of the youngest soldiers of the Civil War. He was only fourteen years old in 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Ninety-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Hanson. He served three years and was only seventeen years old at the time of his discharge. Notwithstanding the fact that he was fourteen at the time of his enlistment, he carried a musket. At Guntown, Mississippi, where most of his company was captured, he suffered severe wounds. James Albert Porter was born in Union township, Madison county, Ohio, in 1848, and is the son of John and Mary (Timmons) Porter, the former of whom was the eldest son of James and Elizabeth (Kilburn) Porter, and the latter of Fayette county, Ohio, whose parents came to Ohio from Maryland. James Porter, the grandfather, of James. Albert, came to Ohio from Maryland at the age of eleven years with his father, James Porter, Sr. Arriving in Ross county in 1800, James Porter, Jr., lived there during the War of 1812 and served two and one-half years in that war. Being a great runner, he was detailed as a messenger. He took part in the battle of Lundy's Lane and later was married in Ross county to Elizabeth Kilburn, who died in Madison county, Ohio, in 1828, of milk sickness. Subsequently, he settled in Union township, Madison county, where he owned seven hundred and fifty acres of land, for which he paid, fifteen hundred dollars. James Porter, Jr., was killed at a house-raising in 1852, at the age of sixty-three. His old home in Madison county is now an experimental farm and formerly belonged to his son, William, who still lives in London and who is the last of the family of twelve children born to James, Jr., and Elizabeth (Kilburn) Porter. The second wife of James Porter, Jr., was a widow, whose maiden name was Bradley and who died soon after her husband's death. The late John Porter the eldest son of James Jr., and Elizabeth (Kilburn) Porter came to Madison county with his father. Of the twelve children, James, John and William remained in Madison county, and for many years family reunions were held on the old farm. Three :generations of the Porter family have occupied the farm where James Albert Porter. now lives. Originally, it was a wilderness but has been developed into .a splendid farm. John Porter was the guardian of his younger brothers and sisters. He died on the farm at the age of thirty-seven, in 1856, when his son, James Albert, was eight years old. Mr. and Mrs. John, Porter were the parents of three sons and four daughters: James Albert; John Milton; Samuel Irvin; Leah. Elizabeth, who married Peter Hill and died in Madison county; Catherine, who married David Gerrard and. also died in Madison county; Antoinette, who married Alex Wilson.. of Somerford township ; and Mary, who married Albert Arbogast, of Union township. After the Civil War, James Albert Porter went west and pre-empted a claim in Labette county, Kansas, where he spent. twenty-seven years in stock raising and farming. He was living in Kansas during the famous grasshopper experience. Upon his MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 751 return to Madison county, one brother, John, being dead, he joined his brother, Samuel Irvin in business. Samuel Irvin Porter died on June 10, 1900. When the estate of John Porter was divided, each child received one hundred and ninety-four acres. James Albert Porter, being the only surviving son, received the old, Porter homestead of one hundred. and sixty acres. In recent years he has spent a. great amount of money in drainage and fencing. Generally speaking, the land. is rented. Neither John Milton, Samuel Irvin or James Albert Porter .ever married.. James Albert Porter is a Republican: and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, at Coffeeville, Kansas. GEORGE W. BENNETT. Among the strong and influential citizens of Madison county, Ohio, whose careers have become an essential part of the history of this section, George W. Bennett, the present trustee of Union township, who lives one mile east of London on the West Jefferson pike, occupies a prominent place. For many years he has exerted a beneficial influence in the locality where he resides. His chief characteristics are a keen perception, a tireless energy, an honesty of purpose and motive and every-day commonsense. These qualities have enabled him not only to promote his own interests but to contribute largely to the moral, educational and civic advancement of the community where he has lived. George W. Bennett was born near the Antioch church, in Pleasant township, Madison county, Ohio, November 8, 1865. the son of Edward and Catherine (Sollars) Bennett, the former of whom was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, March 9, 1883, and the latter also born in this part of Ohio. The Bennett family is of English origin and representatives of the family were among the earliest settlers in the Buckeye state. The father of Catherine Sollars lived and died in Fayette county. Edward and Catherine Bennett located in Madison several years before George W. their son, was born. When he was three years old they moved to Fayette county, where they lived until he -was thirteen years old and then moved to Pickaway county. After that they returned to Madison county. Later they moved to Clark county, where the father died. Edward Bennett was a farmer by occupation. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, who reached maturity. Four of these .children were living in 1915, three of them in Madison county. George is the subject of this sketch; Amanda is the wife of Bert Nickle. a farmer who lives in London: Margaret is the wife of Bernard Foster, of Licking county; William lives near Sedalia. in Madison county; Lewis died in Indiana at the age of twenty-five years; Alex died in Madison county at the age of forty-nine; Lora died unmarried; Emma married John F. Rogers and died in this county. George W. Bennett was reared on a farm and spent ten years in Clark county, Ohio. In 1910 he returned to Madison county, to the farm south of London, where he lived for two years. Upon selling this farm he bought his present farm, known as the old McDonald farm, located one and one-half miles east of London on the West Jefferson pike. Here Mr. Bennett owns one hundred and forty-six acres, for which he paid one hundred and twenty dollars an acre. The farm is under a fair state of cultivation and since moving to it Mr. Bennett has built a new house. On March 16, 1910, George W. Bennett was married in London to Ida Gaskell, who was born and reared in Madison county. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have two children, Louise and Chester. In 1913 George W. Bennett was elected trustee of Union township as a Democrat, and is now filling this office to the entire satisfaction of the people of the township. He is a successful farmer, an intelligent man, an enterprising citizen and popular in the neighborhood where he lives. 752 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. CHARLES E. MITCHELL. Great strength of character is always worthy of record and the late Charles E. Mitchell, of Somerford township, was a man not only of great strength of character, but of strong mind, body and heart. He was one of the leading farmers of Madison county, and through his industry and perseverance accumulated a substantial competency in farm real estate. He pursued the even tenor of his way in a quiet, unostentatious manner, attended strictly to his own affairs and did the right as he understood it, keeping his conscience clear of offense toward God and man. He won a conspicuous place in the community where he lived and left a family of children who lead honorable and useful lives; who live up to the highest standard Of citizenship in every respect. The late Charles E. Mitchell was born on what is known as the Cramer farm, In Somerford township, the only son of Newman and Cassandra (Bradley) Mitchell. Newman Mitchell was born on April 29, 1811, forty. miles above Cincinnati, on the banks of the Ohio. He was the son of Ensign and Lucy (Hubbard) Mitchell, who, in 1815, settled on a farm, four and one-half miles southeast of Mechanicsburg, in Madison county. In 1826 they moved to a farm of six hundred acres near Rosedale. Newman and his brother, Abizar, purchased four hundred and fifty acres of this farm from their father. On January 1, 1837, Newman Mitchell was married to Cassandra Bradley, the daughter of David and Nancy Bradley. She was born on March 17, 1818, and her brothers, Lawson, David M. and Sheldon were men of importance in Madison county. Newman Mitchell finally owned four hundred acres in the one farm. In 1853 he bought the Tom Morris farm near Tradersville. In 1865 he bought the Nathaniel Griffin farm of four hundred and thirty-three acres and paid twenty thousand dollars for it. He assisted David Babb in the purchase of the Babb farm, one mile north of Summerford and, in company with his son, Charles E., purchased other land until he owned over two thousand acres. He was a diligent, industrious, honest man and his word was always accepted at par in the community. He did not engage in "wild-cat" speculation but .only in legitimate business enterprises and cattle raising was the leading feature of his business career. Although Charles E. Mitchell was the only son born to his parents, he had two sisters, Lettie, who married Louis Kremer and lived on the old Mitchell farm in Somerford township, where she died; and Abbie, who married David Bales. The old Mitchell farm, however, is mostly owned by the Mitchell family at the present time and the old home is still standing. Born on the farm, reared in the country and educated in the common schools, Charles E. Mitchell was, married to Mary E. Heffiey, the, daughter of Peter Edney, whose family history is given h the sketch of J. O. Geer, presented elsewhere in this volume. After his marriage Mr. Mitchell obtained the farm now owned by his son, Noel, situated northwest of Tradersville. The present house was erected by a former owner; About 1869 or 1870, Charles E. Mitchell moved to the present Mitchell home farm, a tract of three hundred and forty-four acres. He owned four hundred forty-two and three-quarters acres near his:father's old home place, the latter farm being known as the old Sawyer farm, of Somerford township. Charles E. Mitchell and his father were in partnership for several years but some time before his father's death, Charles E. began farming on his own responsibility. He was an extensive stock buyer and feeder and raised thousands of head of cattle, sheep and hogs during his life. He raised a great deal of grass and fed it all to his stock. The home farm was used for fattening his stock and the other farm for grazing purposes. At his death on August 9, 1898, at the age of fifty-three years, Charles E. Mitchell MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 753 left a widow and family of four children: Alice J., the wife of H. F. Fauver, of London; Harry H., who died unmarried on February 22, 1914; at the age of forty-two, spent all of his life near the old home farm and was a popular citizen of Madison county; Raleigh and Noel live. on the old home farm. Noel Mitchell owns one hundred and seventy-three acres of the old farm, including the old homestead. He has a fine tract of land which is well improved and highly productive. Noel Mitchell was married on June 1, 1911, to Blanche M. Rafferty, the daughter of M. C. and Ora (Seeds) Rafferty. Mrs. Noel Mitchell's father, M. C. Rafferty, was the son of Joseph Rafferty and he was the son of Joseph Rafferty, Sr., who emigrated from Kentucky to Madison county about 1840. Her great-grandfather's old home farm is the present Reason Locke .farm, but he owned four farms in Somerford township. Joseph Rafferty, Jr., operated the Locke farm until the house was burned. Later he operated a farm on the national road, one mile west of Summerford, known as the old Patee farm. There he lived until his death on August 4, 1897. M. C. Rafferty was born in the village of Summerford and has spent all of his life in Somerford township. Mrs. Noel Mitchell was born on August 15, 1890, on the old Rafferty farm north of Summerford. All of her life has been passed in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Noel Mitchell have one child, a boy- named Roger Lyman, born on May 27, 1915. SCOTT HULL. Scott Hull is a successful farmer of Somerford township, Madison county, Ohio, and operates a part of the great Baldwin-Gwynne farm, a tract of five hundred acres, which is a tart of the entire thirty-three hundred acres of the Gwynne farm. The Baldwin farm alone covers about twelve hundred acres. Mr. Hull operated this farm for five years and is living in the house erected for him. He employs five men and raises principally corn, raising an average of two hundred acres every year. The corn is fed to cattle and hogs. In company with his brother, Harry, Mr. Hull operated six hundred acres of the Allerton farm for five years. This farm is located in Deer Creek township. Harry Hull is now farming near Lafayette. Scott Hull was born in Paint township, Madison county, Ohio, January 27, 1871, and is the son of James and Charlotte (Jewell) Hull, the former of whom was born In Nicholas county, Kentucky, October 18, 1838. In 1850 he came to Madison county with his parents, David and Nancy (Hardman) Hull. They settled in the village of Summerford, where David followed his trade as a shoemaker. Later he removed to Paint township, after living at Summerford for two years, and still later settled in Range township. Mrs. Charlotte (Jewell) Hull is deceased. Her husband has lived in Madison county for more than seventy years, and all this time has been engaged in farming. He is.now living with Scott Hull and is seventy-seven years old. Nine children were born to James and Charlotte (Jewell). Hull, as follow : Jennie is the wife of Stephen Hamilton, who lives on a part of the Gwynne farm; Cora is the wife of Luther Goodyear of Paint township; Charles is a machinist in Springfield; Scott is the subject of this sketch; Harry lives in Deer Creek township; Eret is a farmer in Clark county ; May is the wife of William Cornwell; Delbert lives in Urbana, Ohio; and Earl lives at Lafayette. Scott Hull began life for himself at twenty years of age. He worked in the Pennsylvania railroad car shops at Columbus for one year, and then worked on a farm by the month until after his marriage. On August 29, 1896, Scott Hull was married in London to Alice Tingley, the daughter of John and Serepta (Ritter) Tingley, whose history is presented else where in this (48) 754 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. volume. Mrs. Hull was born in Union township, and was twenty-two years old at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Hull are the parents of two daughters, Belva Irene and Hazel Marie. When Mr. Hull started life he had nothing. In company with his brother, he went in debt twenty-nine hundred dollars, and at the end of five years had a large farm well stocked. He has devoted himself exclusively to farming and is making a wonderful success in this vocation. Mr. Hull is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. ARTHUR SLAGLE Arthur Slagle, who is a well-known farmer living one mile west of the court house of Madison county on the London and Summerford pike, was born on the farm and in the house where he now lives, September 9, 1854 the son of C. K. and Frances (Eagle) Slagle; both of whom were natives of Virginia. When about twenty-one years old, the late C. K. Slagle's father gave him thirty-two slaves but, having seen so much of the evils of slavery, he determined to free these thirty-two slaves and made out the papers to that effect. So many free negroes created surprise and fear among the slave owners, who thought their slaves would be influenced. They sought out C. K. Slagle to remonstrate with him and possibly to punish him for the example he had set. Mr. Slagle arranged with a brother to meet him at night at a fixed place, three months in the future with his wife and child, teams and household articles. He came on ahead to Ohio, seeking a new home in a free state. At the appointed time he was back to meet his wife. They left Virginia at night and came to Greene county, Ohio, where he had located land. His child, then a babe in arms, was named Virginia. She later married Dennis Clark and recently died in London. Her son, George Clark, is one of the Democrat's ablest employees. On the trip north; they came to a deserted cabin in the mountains and sought shelter therein. About midnight, Mr. Slagle, feeling some weight on his breast, wakened to realize that a bilge snake was crawling over him. He was so badly frightened that he called his Wife, and after hitching up the team they drove away in the darkness. C. K. Slayle was accustomed to tell an amusing story about the geese he kept on Oak run, which crossed his farm. On One occasion he discovered several boys with bulging pockets and knew that they were hunting his goose eggs. He caught one of them, John Southern, whom he pretended to be very glad to see, and putting his arms around the lad squeezed him until he could hear the eggs breaking. The boy's struggles were of no avail. The eggs kept oil breaking until streams of goose eggs flowed from his breeches. The incident was not soon forgotten: C. K. Slagle's abhorrence of slavery led him to help negroes in escaping to Canada and in the days befure the war, he helped to maintain a station of the "Underground railroad." Owners of fugitive slaves were accustomed to hunt in the vicinity when several darkies were concealed about the place. Building a dam on Oak Run, C. K. Slagle established a pond of nine acres and' erected a saw-mill. His son-in-law, Dennis Clark, 'operated a carding-mill and woolen factory with the same power. During the war, both mills were kept running day and night. At one time all of the hands: including Mr. Slagle himself, enlisted and the mills, were stopped. Mr. "Slagle was not accepted on account of his age and the mills were operated by children and such help as could be obtained. It was a fine, paying business until July. 1863, when everything was destroyed by fire. It was a loss of sixty thousand dollars and there was no insurance. The mill was never rebuilt. Prior to the election in 1864 Mr. Slagle was one of those men chosen to carry MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 755 ballots to the soldiers at the front. He served two terms as county commissioner and died in 1876, at the age of seventy-one years. His wife survived him ten years. In 1847 Mr: Slagle built the house which still stands on the Slagle farm. He kept open house during his life and enjoyed his friends. He was an enthusiastic church member and had a religion which made him happy. He was not afraid to express himself even with shouts when filled with religious. fervor. To C. K. and Frances (Eagle) Slagle were born eleven children, as follow Virginia, who was brought from Virginia to Ohio by her parents when an infant; Edwin, who served three years in the Civil War and later went to Missouri but died in Chicago; Minerva, who married Lewis. Buvinger, and died in Kansas; Austin, who was a machinist, served three years in the Civil War and died in California ; Mary Ann, who is the widow of a Mr. Rinehart, of Columbus, Ohio; Oliver who was a machinist and served one hundred days in the Civil War, was in the railway mail service for some years and died at Leavenworth, Kansas; Albert, who is a carpenter and machinist of London; Kate, who is the wife of George McEwen, of Chetopa, Kansas; Charles, who served in the Spanish-American War, lives at the soldiers' home at Dayton, Ohio ; Frank. who is a carpenter in Columbus, Ohio; and Arthur, the subject of this sketch. Arthur Slagle was born and reared And spent his whole life on the old Slagle farm. For thirty-five years he conducted an ice business at London, supplying ice from a nine-acre pond, fed by big springs, at the head of Oak run. This pond made fine boat riding and a magnificent place for skating in the winter. In the ice business, Mr. Slagle's warehouse had a capacity of from three to seven thousand tons. For thirty-five years he kept the town of London cool. There is an old grape arbor on the Slagle farm, which was set out by Mr. Slagle's father more than fifty years ago: The arbor has had little attention, but it still bears fruit. In 1885 Arthur Slagle was married to Ella Pancoast, of Fayette county, Ohio. They have had three sons: Edwin who operates an electric sub-station on the Ohio Electric railway ; Elmer, who is a farmer of Madison county; and Harold, who is a student in the London high school. In early life, Mr. Slagle enjoyed hunting and was never happier than when on quail-shooting expeditions with his dog and gun. For many years he was a member of the Gun Club and had a high mark as a trap shooter. A Republican in politics, he served six years on the school board and seven years on the board of township trustees. JOHN W. DE VORE. Descended from a soldier of the American Revolution who came over to the United States with General Lafayette, John W. De Yore is one of the well-known citizens of Union township, Madison county, Ohio, where he is engaged in the manufacture of tile. John W. De Vore was born in Fayette county, Ohio. seven miles east of Washington C. H., on the Ohillicothe pike, June 16, 1848. His great-grandfather De Vore fought in the American Revolution, and liked the Virginia country so well that after the war was over he returned to France. sold his property there and returned to America. He remained in Virginia until his death. His son, Joshua, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Fayette county, seven miles east of Washington C. H., where he followed' farming the remainder of his days. John W. De Yore was married on January 29, 1872, to Jennie O'Farrell, a native of Columbus, Ohio, and to this union nine children have been born, eight of whom are still living: H. I., who was born in Fayette county on the old homestead, lives in Columbus, Ohio; Leota, deceased, was the wife of Lee Jones; and they were the parents of three children; Harry E., born in Fayette county, lives in London; Maud is the wife 756 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. of Otis Cornwell, and they live in this county ; Jennie May is the wife of William Goodyear, of Clark county, Ohio ; John W. is a resident of Columbus, Ohio; Jessie is the wife of Ulysses. Goodyear, and they live in Summerford, Ohio ; Julia, living at home and Herbert, who married Gladys Swingle, lives near his father and assists him in the manufacture of tile. After his marriage Mr. De Vore rented land in Fayette county, Ohio, for ten years, and then moved to the old homestead, where he was born and reared, and where he spent thirty-eight years of his life. In 1895 he sold his property in Fayette county, and removed to Madison county, buying a tile factory and saw-mill in Union township, and twenty-eight acres of land. Since that time he has been engaged in the manufacture of tile, and carried on a lumber business until the last year, when the saw-mill was abandoned. He now devotes his entire time to the manufacture of tile. For the past forty-nine years John W. De Yore has operated a threshing outfit in Madison county and vicinity, and is one of the best known threshermen in this section of the state; Mr. De Yore is a Republican in politics, but his extensive business and farming interests have prevented his taking an active part in political matters. HENRY CARY. Henry Cary, farmer, three and one-half miles south of Plain City, was born on May 7, 1862, in Darby township, Madison county, Ohio, and is a son of Andrew and Flora E. (Burnham) Cary. He was reared to the life of a farmer in Darby township, where he attended the district schools in the winter and assisted on the farm during the summer, until his marriage. He has been eminently prosperous, and is now the owner of a fine country place consisting of three. hundred and sixty acres, known as "Oak Grove Farm." At the time of his marriage Mr. Cary lived on a rented farm in Darby township, buying his present valuable tract in 1898. He belongs to the Republican party, being the only member of his family with these views. Andrew and Flora E. (Burnham) Cary, parents of Henry Cary, were residents of Plain City, and were the parents of four sons and two daughters, Anna, Henry, Nettie (deceased), Rodney, Burnham and Frank P. Anna became the wife of John Meek, and is living at Los Angeles, California. Rodney was married to Lizzie Deems, and lives in New Mexico. Burnham was married to Clara Martin, and lives in Darby township. Frank Cary was united in marriage with Julia Van Teelburg and also lives in Darby township. Henry Cary was united in marriage, December 11, 1889, with Margaret J. Miller, daughter of John and Catharine (Ninhauser) Miller. She was born on June 24, 1862, in Brown township, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, receiving her education at the public schools and remaining on a farm until her marriage. She is of German lineage. No children have come to bless this union, but Mr. and Mrs. Cary took into their lives a little girl, Mary L. Cary, who was born on November 14, 1899. She is a graduate of the common schools, and is at present a student at St. Mary's Academy, at Shephard, Ohio. John and Catharine (Ninhauser) Miller were natives of Germany, where they grew up and were married, emigrating to the United States about 1850. They located in Pennsylvania, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of ten children, six daughters and . four sons: Philomena, Elizabeth, Peter, Mary, Martha, Belle, Charles, John and two others. Mr. Cary has always lived an exemplary life, and he and his wife are quietly enjoying their beautiful country home, and have many sincere friends in Madison county. Although Mr. and Mrs. Cary do not belong to any particular denomination, MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 757 they attend the Presbyterian church. The residence now occupied was built at the time of: purchase, but Mr. Cary has made many improvements and has made it modern in all respects. He built a splendid barn and the farm is one of the most attractive in. this neighborhood. DAVID BROWN. The late David Brown of Somerford township, Madison county, Ohio, was one of the best-known farmers and stockmen in Madison county. He was a man whose mind was ever alert to matters of public interest, and the real welfare of mankind was dear to his heart. He read much and kept closely in touch with public affairs, always feeling a just pride in the educational efforts of the community. The family of David Brown has the unique ,record of having furnished ten teachers to Madison county, as well as more graduates—seven in number—from the National Normal university at Lebanon, than any other family that ever attended that school. The late David Brown was born near the home where he died, April 8, 1833, and passed away after a brief illness on August 8, 1912, at the age of seventy-nine years, three months and twenty-eight days. He was the son of James and Mary Ann (Burnside) Brown, the former of whom was born in Nassau, New York, June 21, A.795, and the latter was born in the Old Dominion state in 1803. James Brown emigrated to Canada when a mere lad, and .later settled in Ohio, having been married in Madison county. He died on March 13, 1875. At the age of twenty-four years, David Brown began to rent land, which he continued t1 do for a period of three years. At the end of that time, he bought ninety acres of land and in March, 1876, purchased the present home farm of two hundred and six acres. He added to this farm until it contained three hundred and thirty-seven acres, and in the meantime erected substantial buildings and made of it one of the most attractive farms in this section of the state. The house was built in 1906, and is a commodious country residence. David Brown was interested in Polled Durham cattle, and for many years he was an extensive dealer in cattle and sheep. He was one of the largest sheep raisers in this section of Ohio and contributed materially in making Ohio a great sheep state. On March 30, 1857, David Brown was married to Isabelle Patrick, daughter of Young and Della Patrick, of his own neighborhood. To them were born two children: William E., who lives at Tulare, California ; and Hiram C., who died in infancy. Mrs. Brown's death occurred at their home near Plain City before that of her little son. Mr. Brown was married, secondly, on June 15, 1864, to Sarah E. Taylor, daughter of Samuel and Eunice Taylor, of Plain City, and to this union there were born twelve children, of whom eleven, Frank Irwin, Clara, Ida Bell, Charles. D., John T., Eva G., Nellie M., Bessie, Lula, Lucille and Russell H., are surviving. Frank Irwin lives at Dayton. Clara is the wife of Charles Ackley, of Plain City. Ida Bell is unmarried. Charles D. lives at Plain City. John T. lives near Mechanicsburg. Eva G. 'is the wife of Howard Sidner, of West Jefferson. Mellie M. is the wife of Ralph Demmitt, of Vandalia, Ohio. Bessie F., Lula G., Flora Lucille, Russel H. Lula and Lucille are teaching school in 'Colorado. Ida, Bessie and Russell H. remain at home with their mother. James Sheridan died at the age of twelve. Mrs. David Brown is the granddaughter of Richard Taylor, who was born near Harpers Ferry, Virginia, July 15, 1773, and who at the age of sixteen immigrated to Kentucky, where 'he learned the tailor's trade. In 1800, he located near Plain City, in Madison county, but subsequently returned to Kentucky owing to the state of his health. In 1810 he returned to Ohio and afterwards lived on a farm near Plain City. He died at the age of ninety years. Samuel Taylor was Mrs. Brown's father. Mrs. Rachael. 758 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. Keiser, a sister of Mrs. Brown, inherited the old home where Mrs. Brown was born. Her father, Samuel Taylor, died in 1887. He had been married twice, his second wife being Rosanna Kent, whom he survived. Her daughter still owns the old Taylor homestead near Plain City. David Brown lived sixteen years near Plain City, but, after the death of his father, removed to the old homestead, four miles east of Mechanicsburg where he lived until his death. He followed the business of farming all his life and was very successful in his chosen work, taking great pride and satisfaction in stock raising and the cultivation of his excellent farm. He served as township treasurer and as township trustee for a period of nine years. He was also a justice of the peace for many years. In his home life he was a devoted husband, an ideal father, the kindest of brothers; and his hospitality was unbounded to his friends. In business transactions he was always willing to do more than he required of others. The great rule of his life was the golden rule, and the constant manifestation of this spirit, coupled with unusual sound judgment, led people to turn to him as a wise and trusted counsellor. JAMES W. ANDRIX. One mile east of the village of Summerford on the old National road may be found one of the most enterprising and intelligent farmers of Madison county. He is James W. Andrix, a man who, while not owning land is a large farmer and has an enormous capital invested in stock and farm equipment. Altogether, Mr. Andrix is a live, energetic, far-seeing and successful business man and agriculturist. James W. Andrix was born near Duvall, Pickaway county, August 27, 1854, and has spent most of his life on the farm. He taught school in Pickaway county for some time, but soon took up farming. Nothing has ever seemed so attractive to him as the farm and no life has seemed so inviting as rural life. He has always been keenly interested in cattle' and hogs, and from these has made most of his money. Mr. Andrix. operates a part of the Baldwin-Gwynne farm of twelve hundred acres. He directly has charge of seven hundred and fifty-five acres, and here he has lived for five years, paying cash rent. Formerly, he kept the farm largely in grass, feeding from ninety to one hundred head of steers all the time, and one hundred and forty head of hogs. Recently the rent was raised and he has been compelled to plow much of the blue-grass pasture land. In 1915 he has about four hundred and ten acres of the farm in corn and will feed the entire product to hogs. Mr. Andrix employs several men and to grow the corn he uses twenty horses to operate the farm. He has lived in Madison and Franklin counties for twenty years. Formerly, he operated a large tract, including the Allen G. Thurman farm of five hundred and seventy acres, and the part of the Dun land. He is not unaccustomed to large investments in stock and farm equipment. Being accustomed to handle large propositions either with his own money or with good financial backing, he is not at all startled when face to face with difficult enterprises. At the age of twenty-four, James W. Andrix was married to Emma Wagner a native of Pickaway county. The Andrix and Wagner family came originally from Pennsylvania, about 1840: Mr. Andrix's father, Jacob, settled in Pickaway county, where he was married to Sarah Sawyer, whose grandfather was burned by the Indians. He was caught in a pen of buckwheat straw which he was threshing, and, after being tied, was burned with the straw. Jacob Andrix was a pioneer farmer in Pickaway and Franklin counties and was an extensive stock drover. Mr. and Mrs. James W. Andrix have reared a family of eleven children. Roy is a turnkey at the Columbus prison. Clyde is on the farm with his father. Perrill is a farmer near Florence, in Madison county. Ina is the wife of Carl Guthell, James was MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 759 killed, October .23, 1914, while serving as a prison guard in the Ohio State penitentiary. The tragedy occurred at dinner time when James was stabbed by a convict. He was a highly-respected man. Nellie was a teacher at Tradersville in 1913-14 and is now teaching at Summerford. Fletcher is" a farmer in Franklin county: Ruth R. and Mabel live at home. John is a clerk in the postoffice at Columbus, and Irwin lives at home with his parents. Mr. Andrix believes that the rainbow comes down in Madison county. His advice is widely sought and is given large weight. On one occasion Mr. Andrix's advice was sought by a dairyman, living near Columbus, as to selling his dairy and feeding steers. He advised holding .the dairy but selling the land worth. four hundred dollars per acre and buying a larger tract in Madison county. This is merely an example to show that the people believe in the wisdom and judgment of James W. Andrix. He is a stanch Republican. LAMAR P. WILSON. Lamar P. Wilson, the secretary of the Madison County Agricultural Society, and for three years a member of the board of directors, is a prosperous farmer and an enterprising citizen. Mr. Wilson, whose farm is located a mile and a quarter west of the village of Summerford, on the National road, was born at Lafayette, November 8, 1873, and is the son of Alexander Hamilton and Isabella Parson (Koogler) Wilson, the former of whom was the son of Valentine and Nancy (Roberts) Wilson and the latter the daughter of Simon Koogler, a farmer of Greene county. The complete history of the Wilson family is to be found in the sketch of Charles A. Wilson, a brother of LaMar P., presented elsewhere in this volume. Lamar P. Wilson is the fourth of a family of two children born to his parents. Practically all of his life has been spent in Madison county. For six years he was employed as a commercial traveler, selling to the retail trade for a Manufacturing concern and covering the Middle West from Texas to Canada. Mr. Wilson was educated in the common schools and in .the. London high school, from which he was, graduated with the class of 1893. Since abandoning salesmanship, he has been engaged in farming. He moved to his present farm in 1906 for the second time, having owned it until 1904, when he sold out. The farm has been greatly improved by the installation of several hundred rods of improved fencing. As secretary of the Madison County Agricultural Society, a position which he has held 'for three years, Mr. Wilson attends to all of the details Of the premium list, advertising and concessions.. He collects all of the money received by the fair board except gate receipts, which means the handling annually of more than ten thousand dollars.. On June 16, 1897, Lamar P. Wilson was married to Wilda G. Johnson, the daughter of W. B. and :Martha (Doak) Johnson, who are now residents of East Liberty, Ohio. Mrs. Wilson was educated in the common schools, also attended high school at DeGraff, Ohio, and taught school in Madison county for three years. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Lamar P, Wilson had a splendid home, which, on June 10, 1912, was partially destroyed by a cyclone, but was rebuilt the same year. The storm scattered the barn and caused a three thousand dollar damage. Several houses in the neighborhood were damaged, roofs were blown off and many barns were destroyed. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Grange, the Farmers Club and other agricultural and social organizations in their community. Mr. Wilson votes the Republican ticket. He served as assessor for two years. but does not aspire for office. 760 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. GEORGE LANGEN. It is no easy task to resist the many temptations of youth and early manhood and establish a character which will remain unstained for all time. One may take his place in public life through some vigorous stroke which affects public policy and even retain the respect of his friends and neighbors, but to win a place of confidence and esteem in the hearts of one's fellows by industry and honorable dealings is worthy the highest praise and commendation. George Langen, a successful farmer of Union township, Madison county, Ohio, has devoted himself conscientiously to the duties of each day and is now one of the most eminently respected men living in Madison county and one of the. most prosperous. He has never felt that he had time for sport and about his only experience in hunting was on one occasion when he tried to hunt coons with a bull-dog. George Langen's home is one mile west of London on the Somerford pike. He was born in Jefferson township, Fayette county; Ohio, June 28, 1861, and is the son of Thomas and Ellen (McCarthy) Langen, both of whom were born in Ireland, the former in County Westmeath and the latter in County Cork. After coming to America and settling in New York state they were married in Albany, and about 1840 immigrated to Ohio. Thomas Langen had been a merchant at Albany and Utica, but lost all of his property by lending his name to the security of others' notes. After living for a time in Cincinnati, during the ravages of the cholera, Thomas Langen and wife moved to Washington C. H., Fayette county, and later to Jefferson township, Fayette county, in 1859. Nine years later they moved to Madison county to a farm six miles south of London in Union township. There they established a home in the wilderness. The land was covered with virgin forests, and after it had been cleared Thomas Langen drained it with "gopher" and box ditches. The "gopher" ditches were drains made two or three feet underground by the use of a sharpened, upright bar of iron with an enlargement four or five inches in diameter at the bottom and pointed at one 'end. The upper end of the upright was attached to a windlass by means of a large beam and this was dragged along the surface, making a hole which remained open for several years. Box ditches succeeded the "gopher" ditches, and finally the box ditches were on with tile. Thomas Langen, who was devoted to farm life, died on his farm on December 25, 1872. His widow survived him and lived to be eighty-seven years old. They were members of St. Patrick's Catholic church at London. Thomas Langen was an enthusiastic Democrat. He owned, two hundred and eighty acres of land at the time of his death. Of the eleven children born to Thomas Langen and wife, only four reached maturity: James, who died at Springfield in 1901, at the age of fifty-three; Frank, who is a farmer of Knox county, Indiana ; Thomas, who is a retired farmer of Springfield, Ohio; and George, the subject of this sketch. George Langen, with the exception of two years spent in the hardware business at London, lived for forty-seven years on the old farm. He inherited the old farm and added to the tract until he owned two hundred and ninety-three acres in one tract. He did all of the clearing and tiling on the farm, erected many of the buildings and made other substantial improvements. The farm is far above the average in productivity and has on it a ten-roomed house. One of the principal industries on the farm is raising live stock. Mr. Langen's home farm of eighty-six acres, to which he moved in 1915, has a good house and is situated near London. Mrs. Langen also has a farm of one hundred acres near the old home farm. On October 23. 1883, George Langen was married to Ella Sullivan, the daughter of MADISON COUNTY, OHIO -761 Peter and Catherine (Meehan) Sullivan, who was born in Clark county, Ohio, and who spent a part of her life in Fayette county. For the past ten years her parents have lived retired in London. Her father was a large and successful farmer. Mrs. Langen was nineteen years old at the time of her marriage. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. George Langen, one died in infancy. The seven living children are: Thomas, who is married and manages the home farm; Catherine, who is the wife of John Gory, of London; Florence, Oscar, Alfred, Mary and Helen, all of whom live at home. Mr. and Mrs. Langen and family are members of St. Patrick's Catholic church at London, Ohio. Although Mr. Langen is classed as a Democrat, he is independent when it comes to elections. He served sixteen years as a member of the fair board of Madison county and, for four years, has been its treasurer. As such official he is compelled to attend constantly to the business of the fair since he handles all of the money. Fraternally, Mr. Langen is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1786, London, Ohio. He is also a member of the Board of Trade at London. He takes an interest in all public affairs and served as a member of the school board for a quarter of a century. PETER C. GAYNARD. Peter C. Gaynard, a successful farmer and teacher of Somerford township, was born on September 12, 1873, in Union township on the London and Summerford road, the son of Peter, Sr., and Margaret (Coleman) Gaynard, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the former of county Mayo and the latter of County Galway. They were married in Springfield, Ohio, and later settled on a farm. Peter Gaynard, Sr., had come to America in 1848 and for a time worked on the railroads of Illinois, Indiana and Louisiana. In 1860 he settled in Madison county, and in partnership with his brother, Thomas, purchased the homestead farm, beginning with six acres. In 1880 Thomas Gaynard moved to Logan county, where he died. Peter purchased his brother's interest and continued to farm until his death in October, 1901, at the age of seventy years: His wife had died previously, in July, 1880. The Gaynard farm was formerly a station on the old National road in stage coach days and comprised a tavern with several barns and sheds. Peter Gaynard was a quiet, unassuming man and a member of St. Patrick's Catholic church. Of their children, Peter C. is the subject of this sketch; Thomas C. Is also a farmer and teacher in this county; John died in childhood; and Delia, who is unmarried and lives in Springfield, owns the old home farm. She remained with her father until his death. Educated in the common schools and in the normal school at Lebanon under the skillful direction of Professor Holbrook, one of the greatest educators in the history of Ohio, Peter C. Gaynard completed a commercial course at Ada, Ohio. He began teaching at the age of eighteen years and taught his first school in 1892. Mr. Gaynard taught continuously from 1892 until 1912 with the exception of three years. In 1912 he became superintendent of the Deer Creek township schools and his term in this connection has just expired. During the past twenty years, or until 1912, Mr. Gaynard taught altogether in Madison county with the exception of one year spent In Clark county. Many of his pupils have become teachers due to the encouragement they received from him and many of them have been inspired to greater and greater work in the educational field. In 1911 Mr. Gaynard received a life certificate in Ohio. He has served at various times in official capacities in connection with teachers' institute. He is familiar with all phases of educational work. He also served as township trustee of Somerford township for a period of two terms. In 1904 Peter C. Gaynard was married to Hannah Fitzgerald the daughter of David 762 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. D. and Johanna (Daily) Fitzgerald, both of whom are deceased. Both were born in Ireland, she being fifteen and he eighteen at the time of their coming to America. After coming to Ohio, they were married at Plain City. Johanna (Daily) Fitzgerald's parents both died in Madison county. John Daily's brother, Patrick, was associated with him in farming, and at his death, Johanna inherited his estate since he had no children. David D. and Johanna Fitzgerald settled at Gillivan, in Jefferson township, where they engaged in farming. They were the parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom reached maturity. Mrs. Gaynard's father died on the farm at the age of sixty-two and her mother at the age of fifty-two. Her father was a member of the school board for fifteen years. He was also a blacksmith and had a shop on his farm for many years. Of the children born to David D. and Johanna Fitzgerald, nine are still living. Three live in Columbus and six in Madison county. David A. lives in West Jefferson; Edward J. lives with his sister on the old farm; William E. is a farmer near the old home; Nora I. is unmarried and lives in West Jefferson; Ellen is the widow of Malachi Riley and together with Edward Fitzgerald owns the old homestead; Johanna is the wife of Mr. Gaynard; Mary is the wife of F. F. Ryan; Julia married Francis Graham; and Elizabeth is the wife of Arthur Murphy. The three latter daughters live in Columbus. John, Margaret; Daniel and an infant are deceased. John died at the age of sixteen, Margaret at the age of twenty and Daniel at the age of twenty-nine. Mrs. Peter C. Gaynard was reared in West Jefferson and educated in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Gaynard have only one living daughter, Margaret, aged nine. Charlotte, another daughter, died at the age of nine. Mr. and Mrs. Gaynard are members of the St. Patrick's Catholic church, at London, and Mrs. Gaynard is active in the various societies of the church. In his career as a teacher the success of Peter C. Gaynard may be attributed as much as anything to his broad and liberal sympathies, to his appreciation of the point of view of the children, who have sat at his feet as learners. Mr. Gaynard has always been interested in athletics and has been able to enlist the interest of many boys in school by appealing to their love for athletics. Peter C. Gaynard is a good man and a good citizen and has served in this community faithfully and well. JOHN TINGLEY. The late John Tingley, who until his death on January 22. 1915, was a resident of Summerford, was born in Greene county, Ohio, in 1844. He was brought to Madison county, Ohio, when a child by his parents. William I. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Tingley, the latter of whom was a daughter of William Wilson. of Greene county. William Tingley located in Madison county, five miles west of London in Union township, where he and his wife lived until their death. He died at the age of fifty and his wife at the age of seventy. They reared a family of many children, most of whom married and settled in this county. William died in Champaign county. Simon is living in London at the age of seventy-six. Dan died in Champaign county. George died in Clark county. John is the subject of this sketch. Simon still lives. Pearl lives in London. Bessie is the wife of Ross Barnes of London. Minerva married Dow Couples, and died in Logan county: Susan died unmarried at an advanced age. Sarah married James Bell and died in London. Elizabeth, the wife of Stewart Ritter, lives at Summerford. Missouri is the widow of James Lammon, of London. Catherine married Stephen Sweet and died in Clark county. Gertrude is the wife of Jesse Peppers, of Clark county. John Tingley was married on November 10, 1868, to Serepta Ann Ritter. the daughter of William and Lucy (Barr) Ritter, of Clark county. Mrs. Tingley was born near Harper's Ferry, and was brought to Ohio when a child. Mr. and Mrs. Tingley settled MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 763 near Brighton, in Clark county, about 1872, and later came to Madison county, settling on the David Gerard farm. near Mr. Tingley's old home in Union township. He continued farming until six years ago, when he retired and removed to Summerford. For thirteen years Mr. Tingley operated the Sam Prugh farm. Mr. and Mrs. Tingley had nine children. One child died in infancy. Isabelle is the wife of Milton Cornwell, a farmer of Union township. Cora is the wife of Oscar Boisel of London.. Alice married Scott Hull of Somerford township. Willie is a farmer in Union township. Minnie is the wife of Eret Hull of Somerford township. Laura is the wife of James Speakman, who died at the age of twenty-six. Delmar lives with his mother. Edna is the wife of Clyde 'Gist, a blacksmith of Summerford. The late John Tingley was a member of the German Baptist church. He was independent in politics, but served in various township offices. BENJAMIN F. LINSON. It is doubtful if there is a couple living in all Madison county, who are more generally loved than Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Linson, the superintendent and matron of the Madison County Children's Home. Until 1904 they were farmers of this county and in that year were appointed to take charge of this home. Both are natives of Madison county and have now been in charge of the home for eleven years. Mrs. Linson is noted for her kindness to the children and the extreme care she takes to provide for their comfort and well being in life. Not only has she endeared herself to the children but she has won the admiration of the public. Mr. Linson is not only a careful and painstaking business man, but he is likewise a man born with the natural sympathies for the great work in which he has been engaged for more than a decade. Mr. and Mrs. Linson enjoy the confidence of the trustees and the public alike. Benjamin F. Linson was born in Paint township eleven miles south of London, November 18, 1861, and is the son of Benjamin and Maria (Anderson) Linson, the former of whom was also born in Madison county, the son of Judge George and Elizabeth (Hutsenpiller) Linson. Benjamin Linson was born in Madison county, Ohio, on September 16, 1820. His father was born in the Old Dominion state on January 7, 1790, and his mother on December 24, 1792. They were married in Virginia, in 1815, and came to Madison county, where he died on April 14, 1855, and his wife died ten years previously on June 5, 1845. At the age of twenty-nine years, Benjamin Linson, the father of Benjamin F.. the subject of this sketch, began farming and stock raising on fifty acres of land and, at his death, owned five hundred and thirty-six acres. He was married to Marie Anderson on August 7, 1849, and to them were born nine children. Benjamin Linson died on October 5. 1876, and his wife on September 3, 1912. Margaret Shough, the last survivor of the family of Judge George Linson, lived at Sedalia, and died in August, 1914. at the age of eighty-three years, leaving two sons, Charles and Edward. The late Benjamin Linson received a part of his father's old home place. By occupation, he was a teacher and farmer. He owned six hundred and fifty acres of land and was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising, making a specialty of good horses and good sheep. He was active until his death in 1876, at which time he was fifty-six years old. Of their children, Benjamin F. is the subject of this sketch; William is a farmer near Springfield. Ohio: Amanda married A. B. Surbaugh and died in the state of Missouri; Elizabeth is the wife of Lee Foster, of Springfield, Ohio. The other five children died before reaching maturity. Some time ago the old home was sold. Benjamin F. Linson, being but fourteen years old at the time of his father's death, helped his mother on the home farm and was educated in the district schools. He 764 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. remained at home until his marriage on December 28 1881, to Belle Murray, of Sedalia, Madison county, Ohio, the daughter of Maxwell Murray, an old resident of this county, but who is now deceased. Mrs. Linson was born and reared at Sedalia. Her brother, Clark Murray, is manager of the big Gwynne estate in Madison county, and is a representative of the third generation of the Murray family to manage this great estate. In fact, the Gwynne estate has been managed by some member of the Murray family during the past sixty years. During the three years preceding his marriage, Mr. Linson managed the home farm for his mother. In 1899 he came to London, and after four years moved to another farm in Madison county. He farmed until 1904 when he and Mrs. Linson were appointed superintendent and matron of the children's home, two miles north of London. Since coming to the children's home, Mr. Linson has added several buildings to the children's home farm. At the time of his coming, there were twenty-eight inmates including eleven colored inmates, but there are now no colored children there. The average number at the home is about thirty inmates. At the age of sixteen, each child is placed in a good home. Mr. and Mrs. Linson keep an eye on the children, the girls until they are eighteen and the boys until they are twenty-one years old. They have placed over sixty girls in private homes since 1903 and not a single one has gone astray. Perhaps no better evidence of the sympathy, judgment and .ability of Mr. and Mrs. Linson could be cited than this very fact. At the home, girls are taught house work. including cooking, laundry work and sewing. The boys are taught farming. They are present in the home in about equal numbers and are directly presided over by governesses, the governess for the boys being Mrs. Clara Hall and for the girls Ella Warner. Each governess has her living room and bedroom near the children's sleeping dormitories, so that they may be in constant touch with the children. The school in the building is presided over by Ruth Morse and all of the children are compelled to attend school while they are residents of the institution. The children's home farm consists of seventy-five acres and is devoted to raising products consumed at the institution. Everything at the children's home is made to seem as nearly as possible like a real home. The habits of the children are regulated, they have good meals consisting of splendid home cooking and appear very happy under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Linson. Mr. and Mrs. Linson have been the parents of three daughters. Edna, who is the I wife of Warren Snyder ; Elizabeth who is at home with her parents; and Mary, who 1, was born in the children's home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Linson are members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Linson is active in church work and in clubs. She is especially active in the Farmers' Club. For several generations the Linsons have been Democrats 1 and Benjamin F. Linson is no exception to the rule. WILLIAM WARNER. The late William Warner, who came to London, Madison county, Ohio, when a little boy with his parents, William and Susan Warner, was a prominent man in the history of Madison county during his day and generation, and for more than twenty years served as the sheriff of this county. He was engaged in the mercantile business and, aside from the office of sheriff, filled other important positions of trust and responsibility. His parents were farmers who lived in the suburbs of London, his father, William Warner, Sr., having been one of the old-fashioned shouting Methodists and a pillar in the church at London. Mr. Warner's wife, before her marriage, was Sarah Kelley, who was born in Virginia. She died in 1883 and Mr. Warner died in 1887 at the age of ninety-three. Of their children, Helen is the governess in the girls' department of the Madison County MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 765 Children's Home and is the only surviving child of the family. The deceased children are, Mary, who was the mother of William Cowling; Ann, who married James Rankin, a stockman,' and who left a daughter, Mrs. Lou Stone, of Columbus Ohio, who has two children, Elizabeth and Warner, the only grandchildren of William and Sarah Warner; Josephine married Nathan Marble. Helen Warner has held her position as governess of the girls' department of the children's home for thirteen years. She was born at Lafayette, in Madison county, and at the age of sixteen years began to teach school, boarding around in the meantime. She taught both in Delaware and Madison counties. She was also for a long time cashier of the Cowling store at London. Her employer, William Cowling, was her nephew. In partnership with a Miss Dickey, Miss Warner conducted a millinery store in London until 1902, when she accepted her present position. Miss Warner has seventeen girls in her charge. She is a splendid Christian woman and has a fine influence over the girls who are directly under her supervision. MARTIN H. WATKINS. Martin H. Watkins, the manager of the Ellsworth farm of Somerford township, Madison county, Ohio, has spent all his life on the farm, having been born in Stokes township Madison county, December 8, 1877. He is the son of D. W. and Caroline (Griffith) Watkins, both of whom were reared in the Buckeye state and who spent their married lives in Madison county until fourteen years ago, when they removed to Indiana. They have four children still living in Madison county. Jesse is a retired farmer and stockman of London. Lizzie is the wife of Ray Moeland, of London. Anna is the widow of Will Schurr, of London, and Samuel is, a farmer near Florence, Alabama. Martin H. Watkins worked out by the month for about a year when he was twenty-one years old. Since that time he has rented large farms in Range and Union townships. For twelve years he lived on the Minchell farm, in Range township. Previous to removing to the Ellsworth farm he lived on the Garrard Brothers' farm of five hundred and sixty acres, located on the Springfield pike, four miles southwest of London. The Ellsworth farm consists of two hundred and forty-five acres, and is located on the National pike one mile west of Summerford. It is a fine body of land and well tiled. It has excellent barns and feeding pens. Water is supplied by one of the best springs in the county, which is forced -to the tank by a hydraulic ram. A new house is to be erected shortly on a beautiful elevation, and when this is completed the Ellsworth farm will be one of the most desirable in Madison County. Mr. Watkins and Mr. Ellsworth are in partnership in everything on the farm. They feed from one hundred to two hundred head of hogs every year. Having started in debt for all his stock and tools, Martin H. Watkins has been pre-eminently successful as a farmer. He keeps some of the finest draft horses to be found in Madison county and is well known, particularly in fraternal circles. In the Odd Fellows fraternity he is both a past grand and past district grand master. He is also past grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. Politically, he IS nominally connected with the Democratic party, but he is very independent in voting. In minor politics he has been more or less prominent, having filled several offices, including that of township assessor. Mr. Watkins enjoys hunting and shooting, and is one of the most deserving citizens to be found in this county. He has a host of friends and not very many people have been known to speak an unkind or unfavorable word of him. As a matter of fact, he well deserves the confidence and high regard which he enjoys. 766 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. JONATHAN E. BUFFINGTON. The proprietor of the Summerford hotel, at Summerford, Madison county, Ohio, is Jonathan E. Buffington, who was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1859, and who was brought to Ohio in 1861, and lived at Mechanicsburg. About 1880 he came to Madison county. Mr. Buffington has been engaged in farming, in paper-hanging, in painting and in the mercantile business, and followed these various lines until ten years ago, when lie engaged at Summerford in the hotel business. In 1880 Jonathan E. Buffington was married to Emma Alice Comfort, the daughter of Henry M. and Catharine (Heffley) Comfort) and the grandniece of Valentine Wilson, a pioneer settler of Madison county. Mrs. Buffington is a native of Somerford township. To Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan E. Buffington there have been born five children, three sons and two daughters : Henry Floyd is a painter at Summerford ; John Fremont is engaged in the general mercantile business at Big Plains, Madison county ; Raymond Forest died at the age of eighteen; Catherine Ruth and Chella May both live at home and assist their parents in operating the hotel. Mr. Buffington has dealt considerably in cattle and hogs. He is a man who was reared under Whig and Republican influences and is an ardent Republican worker. He is also a man of very strong temperance inclinations. Mrs. Buffington's father was born in York county, Pennsylvania, and died on December 5, 1895, at the age of seventy-one. Her mother died on November 22. 1895, at the age of sixty-one. Henry Miller and Catharine (Heffiey) Comfort were married in Madison county. Catharine Heffley was the daughter of Charles Mathias and Elizabeth (Wilson) Heffley and was one of nine children born to her parents. Charles Heffley settled on the north bank of Deer creek, one mile north of Summerford village, about 1820. His wife was the sister of the original Valentine Wilson. He passed his entire life on the farm and died at an advanced age. Henry and Catharine Comfort began housekeeping at Summerford. He was a carpenter by trade and did his first work on the Christian church. When he came to this community he was unable to speak English, being German by birth. In later years he often said that he did not know whether a man was called ."he" or "she." Eventually, he took up contract building and among the many structures he erected in this community is the Sawyer house, now the residence on "Housatonic Farm." Later he removed to Columbus and became assistant master car builder in the Pan Handle car shops, at Columbus. He was one of the finest mechanics that Madison county has ever produced. After six or eight years he was made foreman and remained so until his death. He had between fifteen and twenty men working under him. No car was sent out from the shop which. had not passed his inspection. While Mr. Comfort worked at Columbus his residence remained at Summerford except a few years when he operated the old Wilson farm. Mrs. Elizabeth Comfort preferred to live at Summerford, and the old place is still owned by members of the family, being the property of a daughter. Mrs. Cartzdafner. Mrs. Comfort's death. coming suddenly, as the result of a stroke of apoplexy, was such a severe shock to her husband that he died within two weeks. Their remains are buried in the Summerford cemetery. Both were members of the Christian church and active throughout life. They had five children, of whom three grew to maturity: Leah, Mary Ellen and Emma Alice. Leah married W. J. Baird, of Springfield, who was an oil operator, now retired. They have two children, Ella, who married Henry Sholtz, of Springfield, Ohio, and Ernest Comfort, of Lima, Ohio. Mary married George Cartzdafner, a merchant at MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 767 Summerford, Ohio, and they have one daughter, Belva E., who married Henry McSaveney, of Springfield, Ohio. Emma Alice is the wife of Jonathan E. Buffington. Mrs. Buffington and daughters are active in the work of the Christian church. Jonathan E. Buffington is the last surviving son of Jonathan H. and Marian E. (Hunt) Buffington, who were the parents of the following children: George R. deceased, lived at Springfield, Ohio; Laura. widow of Charles Smith, lives at Dayton, Ohio; Thomas W., deceased, lived at Milford Center, Ohio; Lizzie married Pearl Gray, of Mechanicsburg, Ohio; Celia married Samuel Leggue, of Mechanicsburg; Rose married James Dickman, of Danville, Illinois: and they have two daughters, Bessie and Grace; Vergie C. married Dr. Edward Dill, of St. Louis, Missouri, and they have two children, Raymond and Lillie, who married a Mr. Broadrick, son of Judge Broadrick; Jonathan E., the subject of this sketch; Carrie died young; Jonathan H. and three others died in infancy. JOHN A. GOSSARD. Not only are the various members of the Gossard family well known in Madison county, but they have always been successful farmers. John A. Gossard, a prominent farmer and citizen of Stokes township, formerly was engaged in educational work in Madison county. In 1913 his three children won the contest in Madison county for the most corn raised on an acre of land. One of Mr. Gossard's children, Jay, won another contest by raising one hundred and two bushels of shelled corn. The three averaged ninety-nine bushels to the acre and won the trip to New York, Washington. Mt. Vernon and other eastern cities. Mr. Gossard has always given his children proffer encouragement, suggestion and counsel. John A. Gossard was born on October 11, 1867, in Stokes township. Madison county, Ohio. He is the son of Robert and Barbara C. (Huffman) Gossard, the former of whom was born on September 9. 1833, in Ross county, Ohio, and the latter was a daughter of Amos and Nancy Huffman. Robert Gossard was the son of John V. and Hannah (Brown) Gossard, the former of whom was born in Ross county. the son of Philip Gossard, who was a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. The family came west in pioneer times and settled in Ross county. Both Philip Gossard and his father died in Ross county, and are buried at the Laterville Cemetery. Philip Gossard was a member of the Presbyterian church. John V. and Hannah (Brown) Gossard had only one child, Robert. Mrs. John V. Gossard died in 1833, nine days after Robert was born. After five years, his father married, secondly, Nancy Ritenhour, who died eleven months after their marriage. His father was then married to Phoebe Cox. who bore him five children, three of whom are living. The five children were Joseph C., Artie. Marcellus, John A., and David. Joseph C., who was born in Madison county. died about 1809. Artie married Samuel Thomas. who is now deceased. and whose widow lives in Stokes township. Marcellus is a resident of London. John M. was the fourth born. David died in 1913. John V. Gossard settled in Madison county some time in the forties, leasing a large tract of land in Stokes township. At the expiration of the lease he bought the land and owned at one time about two hundred and thirty acres. He died in Stokes township in 1883, and his wife died in 1905. Robert Gossard received a common-school education. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted, November 23; 1861, and served three years or until his discharge at the expiration of his term of service. After the war he returned home, and on December 1, 1866, was married to Barbara C. Huffman, who bore him nine children, all of whom are living. John A.. the. subject of this sketch, was the eldest. The others were as follow: Elva lives at home; Laura is the wife of 0. E. Duff of London; Gertrude is 768 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO the wife of William J. Nevills, of Springfield, Ohio; Amy is the wife of A. C. Dun, of South Solon; Osa is the wife of Scott Rowe, the principal of the Midway high school; Grace is the wife of Leo Hartman, of Toledo; Blanche is the wife of Harry Vent, of Washington, D. C.; Ida is the widow of Ernest Klever, deceased. Robert Gossard owns one hundred and thirty acres of land in Stokes township. He is a stanch Republican, but has never aspired to office. In 1911 he retired from active life. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church, and have been members for the past thirty-five years. Born and reared on the farm, John A. Gossard received his education in the public schools, in the high school at South Solon and London, and in the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio. Mr. Gossard taught school for eleven years in Madison and Fayette counties. On March 24, 1894, John A. Gossard was married to Sarah Brock. a daughter of L. C. and Amanda (Gordon) Brock. They have had four children, all of whom are living. Marguerite, the wife of Roy Shough, of South Charleston; Robert L. is a student in the South Solon high school; John J. and Tressie are in school. Mr. Gossard has farmed while engaged in educational work, and now handles two hundred and forty acres of land. He raises a high grade of horses, and also a high grade of cattle. In every respect he is a first-class farmer. John A. Gossard is a member of the Knights of Pythias, at South Solon. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gossard are members of the Grange lodge, at South Solon, and both are members of the Grassy Point Christian church. Mr. Gossard is a Republican in politics and has served as a member of the school board. CLOUDE L. SMITH. One of the most extensive farmers of Madison county, Ohio, is Cloude L. Smith, the member of the firm of Smith & Houston, breeders of Percheron and Belgian horses, and the operators of "Houstonia Farm," No. 6, comprising one thousand and eighty-four acres. This tract includes the old Robert Dunn homestead, in Somerford township, and is a part of the great "Houstonia Farm" of fifty-two hundred acres. The operations carried by Messrs. Smith and Houston are little short of gigantic. They have eleven head of registered Belgian horses, nine head of registered Percheron mares, and five stallions on the farm, all of which are purebreds. Altogether they keep one hundred and twelve head of horses, all of which are very high grade. For some time they have been engaged in raising cattle and hogs, and turned off on an average three hundred head of hogs every year. Stock breeding was begun as an important department in the operation of this great farm about five years ago. Cloude L. Smith, one of the enterprising managers of this immense farm, was born on August 12, 1886, in Ross county, Ohio, and came to Madison county some years ago to take charge of this farm. He is a young man who is well experienced in the stock business and he came here especially to take charge of this department of the farm work. Twenty men are employed on "Houstonia Farm" No. 6, and crops are rotated on the three-year plan. There is grown on this tract about three hundred acres each of corn, wheat and clover annually. Mr. Smith has exhibited live stock at all the fairs in this section of the state, and in all classes, including the county and state fairs. In 1914 he won a total of more than one hundred ribbons at the various fairs where his stock was shown. On December 24, 1911, Cloude L. Smith was married, in Madison county, to Ola O'Donnell, the daughter of Patrick O'Donnell, of Deer Creek township, where Mrs. Smith was born and reared. They have no children. MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 769 Cloude L. Smith is identified with the Republican party, and takes an active and interested part in all public measures having for their object the welfare and betterment of his community. He is a member of the Houstonia Athletic Club and the Social Club at South Charleston. DAVID O. KEEPER. Madison county has few farmers who better understand all of the aspects of present day agriculture than David 0. Keefer, the manager of the Thomas Babs estate, consisting of two hundred and eighty-nine acres, located in Somerford township. Here Mr. Keefer has lived for the past twelve years, engaged in general farming and stock raising. He raises large quantities of grain and feeds most of his grain to hogs. He pays cash rent for the Thomas Babs farm. David O. Keefer was born on October 28, 1856, in Carroll county, Maryland, and at the age of six years was brought to Madison county, Ohio, by his parents, William and Rebecca Keefer, the former of whom died at Newport at the age of fifty-three, and the latter is still living in London. Mr. Keefer has spent practically all of his life in Madison county. He began, early in life, working out on the neighboring farms, but for the past eighteen years has managed the operations of various farms in Madison county. He has lived on the .present farm for the past twelve years. At the age of twenty-four, David O. Keefer was married to Mary Mills, of Pickaway county. Mr. and Mrs. Keefer have been the parents of four children, namely. Roy, who lives in London;. Pearl, who lives at home on the farm and works with his father; Walter and Mabel, at home with their parents. Mr. Keefer has never taken an active part in political or religious affairs, but has devoted his time almost exclusively to farming, a vocation which he truly loves and one in which he has made very satisfactory progress. CHARLES HENRY WALLACE. Charier Henry Wallace, a successful stockman and farmer of Summerford, was born in Somerford township, on a part of the old Wilson farm, January 22 1860. He is the son of Mark and Hairriet (Littler) Wallace, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively. Mark Littler was brought by his parents, Joshua and Matilda Littler, to Madison county when a child. He was a farmer in this county and died at an advanced age. Mark Littler served three years and six months in the Civil War as a member of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged for disability. baying been wounded at the battle of Chickamauga by the bursting of a shell. He was wounded in the hip and remained an invalid for twenty years. He died on his home farm, a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife had died several years before. They had a family of four children : Joshua. who is unmarried, lives in London; Charles H. Is the subject of this sketch; George W. was a farmer and died at Plumwood, at the age of forty-four; Pauline is the wife of Matt Landers, who lives near Plumwood, Ohio. Charles Henry Wallace lived at home with his parents until he was eighteen years of age. Afterward he spent two years in Champaign county. There he rented land and farmed for two years. Upon returning to Madison county he operated the Joe Ward farm, but after working for wages for one year he spent two years in Van Wert county. Selling out there he purchased a home in Summerford and for the next five years (49) 770 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. operated one of the farms owned by Mrs. Lucy Beach. While Mr. Wallace has continued to farm he has bought and sold several tracts of land. After spending another year in Van Wert comfy he bought the old Kennedy farm, which is now known as the Clay Rogers farm. Mr. Wallace's father had formerly owned this farm. It is set in catalpas and is a fine tract of growing timber. Mr. Wallace has bought and sold many thousand mules and draft horses. He keeps a Missouri jack and as far as he can encourages the raising of mules in this county. Not only does Mr. Wallace raise mules on his own farm, but also buys and sells them in large numbers. He is interested in several small tracts of farm real estate, and owns a tract of five acres where he lives. During late years he has been engaged in buying young mules, breaking them to the harness and then selling them in broken teams. His brother has been associated with him in this business. Frequently they get as high as five hundred dollars for a team of good mules and as much as six hundred dollars for a team of draft horses. Mr. Wallace keeps from twenty to thirty head of horses all the time. Corn raised on his farm is fed to the hogs. Charles H. Wallace was married, when still a young man, to Addie Kelley, who died nineteen years ago, leaving three children: Will lives at London; Mark is a molder at Springfield; Belva is the wife of Frank Pyles, of Springfield. Some years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Wallace was married, in 1901, to Ada (Burt) Brunty, widow of Thomas Brunty. Mr. and Mrs. Brunty had two children, Nora and Floyd. The former is in London and the latter lives with Mr. Wallace. To !this second marriage there have been born two children, Isabel and Alice, both of whom are attending school. Charles Henry Wallace is a Democrat. DANIEL LUCY. The proprietor of "Diamond Rock Stock Farm?' in Somerford township, a magnificent tract of one hundred and. seven acres, devoted to general farming and stock raising. Daniel Lucy was born near Danville, Madison county, June 24, 1863, the son of John and Laura (Campbell) Lucy. John Lucy was a native of County Cork, Ireland, but was married in the state of Ohio. For some years John Lucy worked on the Gwynne farm, in Deer Creek township. After his marriage, however, he settled on the farm where Daniel Lucy now lives. When Daniel was a child the family moved to Clark county and settled on a farm two miles west of the village of Summerford. There John Lucy spent his life on a farm of one hundred and eighty-six acres, most of which he cleared out of the famous Bailey woods. At the time of his death, in May, 1898, at the age of eighty years, be had almost all of the farm under cultivation. He also laid a great deal of tile and had good buildings on the farm. Mrs. Laura (Campbell) Lucy died some years before her husband. They were the parents of six children, as follow: Michael, who is in the railroad service at Missouri Valley, Iowa; Daniel is the subject of this sketch; Dennis is a thresherman of Clark county and owns two farms, eighty acres in Somerford township. and a farm in Pleasant township, Clark' county ; Lizzie is unmarried and lives in London; 'Ella is the wife of John Kennedy, who owns the old home farm and resides in Springfield; Ohio; and Cornelius, who was a farmer, died at the age of thirty years Daniel Lucy remained at home until his father's death, when he moved to his present farm. It is the old Samuel Prugh farm and is located on the Markley road. It had a good house when Mr. Lucy received the farm and also a good barn, which was burned. The present barn was built in 1904. It is a bank barn, thirty-six by fifty-eight feet. Besides the home farm of one hundred kid seven acres which Mr. Lucy owns, he also owns eighty-seven acres about a mile distant. He breeds Duroc-Jersey hogs and feeds them for the market. Practically all of the stock raised and fed MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 771 on the farm is purebred. The Lucy farm is well equipped for stock raising, since the water is piped to the house and barn from the very finest springs, being forced by a hydraulic ram installed in 1904. A large tank is situated in the barn and from this tank water is drawn for the stock. Daniel Lucy has never been married. He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic church at London. He votes the Democratic ticket. HENRY KELLY. The London Gun Club, of which Henry Kelly is president, is an institution of which the people of Madison county, who are interested in sports, are very proud, since the club has attained distinction for having developed several men who are among the leading shots in the country. Its members take part in state, national and international trap-shooting contests. It is no small honor to have been the president of this organization since its establishment about eight years ago. Mr. Kelly has won honors in state. nation and international meetings, and is perhaps the oldest man in Ohio to shoot on the line. He holds his own well with the younger men and he also enjoys hunting large game and frequently visits the hunting preserves of Virginia, Maine, Montana and Minnesota. He has hunted moose and other big game in the Northern woods. He also enjoys fishing and spends his vacation in this sport. Henry Kelly, a native of Auglaize county, Ohio, was born on April 24 1839, and was taken to Columbus, Ohio, at the age of three years, by his parents, Reuben and Elizabeth (Baughman) Kelly, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kelly's father was a farmer, but operated the mill at Columbus. Henry attended school at Columbus until thirteen years of age, when the family moved to Madison county, where his father purchased a farm two miles west of Summerford, on the National road and on the county line. He lived on that farm until an advanced age. A short time before his death he built a house in Summerford, where he died in 1904 at the age of eighty-three. His wife died about one year later. They had a family of nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Of the children born to Reuben and Elizabeth (Baughman) Kelly, one child, Mary, died early in life; Laura, who is unmarried, and Elizabeth, the widow of William Buzzard,- live together in London; Frank is located in California, but was a carpenter in Delaware, Ohio, until about two years ago; John lives in the soldiers' home at Sandusky, Ohio, having served in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for a period of one year during the Civil War. Henry Kelly has lived at Summerford since he was thirteen years old. He attended the district school and about the time he finished his education enlisted, in September, 1861, in the Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving three years and nineteen days in Company C. Most of the time he was on detail in pioneer service, but he was engaged in several battles, including those of Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga In the Atlanta campaign he was captured while detailed to secure beef cattle for the army. He had started to camp with a drove of stock when he ran into the Rebel cavalry. He knew a squad of Union cavalry was following him and they had not gone over a half mile until they ran into the Union squad, and he had the pleasure of escorting his own captors back to camp. He was not wounded during the entire war and was with his command from the beginning of his enlistment until his discharge. Since leaving the army he has followed the carpenter's trade continuously. In 1865 Henry Kelly was married to Elizabeth Henderson, a native of Summerford, the daughter of G. D. and Catherine (Kelly) Henderson. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have lived together for fifty years. They have been the parents of five children, as follow: 772 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. Helena, the wife of William McKinley, of Plattsburg, Clark county, Ohio; Harley, who lives in London; Edna, the wife of Raleigh Cartzdafner, a machinist, at Springfield, Ohio; Eugene, who is associated with Howard Lewis on the farm; and Nora, the wife of Cade Powers, of South Charleston, Ohio. Henry Kelly is a member of Lyon Post No. 21, Grand Army of the Republic, and has served in almost every official capacity in this post. He is one of the substantial citizens of Somerford township, and is widely admired for his sterling integrity and his upright moral worth. JOHN FLORENCE. John Florence, an active farmer of Monroe township, Madison county, Ohio, was born in Paint township, Madison county. His great-grandfather, William Florence, Sr., came from England in 1700 and settled in Faruquier county, Virginia. He was a soldier in Washington's army, a member of the Virginia militia and a delegate from the commonwealth of Virginia in 1778. He was the father of five children, three daughters and two sons. William Florence, Jr., the youngest son of William, Sr., and the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to Ohio in 1806 and located in Pickaway county, making a purchase of sixteen hundred acres of land. He became very prominent, having represented his county in the Legislature a number of times and served as circuit judge for several terms. He was married in Virginia to Fanny Robinson and to them were born three daughters and three sons, all of whom were born in Virginia except the youngest son, William, he being born in Pickaway county, Ohio. Robinson Florence, the father of John Florence, married Elizabeth Williams, the daughter of John and Mary (Phifer) Williams, of Virginia. Mary Phifer, the maternal grandmother of the subject of this sketch, was the daughter of John and Catherine (Rader) Phifer, also natives of Virginia. Before his marriage, Robinson Florence came with his father to Ohio and settled in Pickaway county. He later settled on land in Paint township, Madison county, after his marriage. To this union were born eleven children. The father and mother and four of the children have passed away. Elias Richard Florence, the eldest son, was elected to the office of sheriff for two terms and the office of treasurer for a like period of time. He being an ardent Democrat, these elections speak highly of him, as his party is greatly in the minority in Madison county. After his services in public affairs, he embarked in the lumber business and built. and operated the Florence planing-mill and lumber yards for twenty years. He died in London, Ohio, at his beautiful home on Water street, in February, 1912. Robinson Florence settled in Paint township, Madison county. on a farm six miles west of London, between the London and Xenia road and the Little Miami railroad, the station of Florence being named for him. At the present time there is an up-to-date elevator at this station, from which a large amount of grain is shipped to market, and also a large warehouse. Williams Chapel is built on a lot given by Grandmother Williams and named in her honor. John Florence, after leaving the district school, was a student in the "Old Academy" in London, Ohio, for two years, but completed his education at Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity, Delaware, Ohio. After returning home he engaged in farming and has followed this occupation since that time. In 1875 John Florence was married to Blanche Morgridge, the daughter of Joshua Bailey and Harriet (Tuttle) Morgridge. The history of the Morgridge family will be found In the sketch of William Morgridge, presented elsewhere in this volume. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Florence moved to Monroe township, Madison county. MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 773 and there purchased a farm. To this union were born one daughter and one sou, Mary and Walter. Mary, who is a graduate of St. Mary's Convent at Columbus, Ohio, married Mark Taylor, a farmer of Lafayette, Ohio. Walter attended Otterbein College for one year and is a graduate of Ohio State University and the Bliss Business College. He married Cleo Thompson and is largely engaged in cattle ranching in Oklahoma. Besides rearing these two children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Florence have also reared three other children, Cleo Thompson, who came to make her home with them when twelve years of age and remained until her marriage, and two grandchildren. Robert Thompson Florence makes his home with them at the present time. Mrs. Blanche (Morgridge) Florence was a student of Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, was one year in Rodger's Private School in Springfield, Ohio, and completed her education in Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. She has always been a progressive woman, and in everything that was beneficial to the community she has been among the first to assist. In a large measure it was due to her that Resaca got its first tri-weekly mail and finally daily mail. Resaca now has a rural free delivery. Mr. Florence owns the old Florence farm, on which he was born, and a beautiful home in Plain City. He attributes much of his success to the foresight and good judgment of his good wife. When they moved to Monroe township there were but few graveled roads in that section of the state, and the land on which they settled was in a state of nature, there being only a few open ditches on it about one spade deep. Since that time Mr. Florence has put in tile ditches, his being the first in the neighborhood. and has been taxed to help build fifteen or twenty graveled roads and several large county ditches. He has been at a great expense to make his land productive and has often considered his assessments on these improvements very discouraging. Although not a member of any church, Mr. Florence attends the Methodist church and his wife is a member of the Episcopal church. They helped to build the Christian church at Resaca, Ohio. Mr. Florence is a member of the Grange but does not belong to any secret order. He is a charter member, a stockholder and a director in the Farmers National Bank at Plain City. Mr. Florence's family prefer to live in Plain City, but he divides his time between the city and his farm in Monroe township, where he has a fine herd of purebred Shorthorn cattle. CALEB GRIFFIN WILSON. Caleb Griffin Wilson, the proprietor of "Forest Home," three miles west of the village of Summerford, in Somerford township, Madison county. Ohio, is the son of Washington and Linnie (West) Wilson, the former of whom was the son of Valentine and Susan (limble) Wilson. The life history of Washington Wilson and his forbears is contained in the sketch of the Wilson family presented elsewhere in this volume. Caleb Griffin Wilson was one of eight children born to his parents, and one of the last two surviving. He was born on the old homestead farm, November 16, 1859, and is next to the youngest of his father's family. Mr. Wilson lived at home until his marriage, after which he came direct to his present home, which he had just erected. Originally he had one hundred and twenty-five acres of land. He had just cleared a big pasture and from the time he removed to the farm has made many improvements. In recent years he has added twenty-five acres to his farm. He is an extensive breeder of live stock, besides which he buys a great many cattle and hogs to feed them for the market. .He has a feeding barn forty by sixty feet, which was erected in 1910, and a very large silo. and .feeds ensilage to his cattle. Since removing to the farm he has installed a great deal of drainage, and the land which was originally of little value on account of being wet and swampy, is now 774 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. being made to produce enormous crops of corn and clover. He feeds about seventy-five to one hundred hogs every year. Mr. Wilson's farm is located on the county line and includes twenty-five acres in Clark county. At the age of twenty-one years Caleb G. Wilson was married to Lettle West, of Clark county. Although the latter lives in Clark county his home is in the township adjoining Somerford. Mrs. Wilson is six months her husband's junior. They are the parents of three children, all of whom are living : Ross W., who is a farmer ; Esther, the wife of Clem Fossett, lives in London; Rodney Robert, the youngest child, lives at home with his parents. Mr. Wilson is a Republican, but has never held office, nor has ever aspired to office. He is a man who is very much in love with life in the open. In the community where he lives he is highly respected and esteemed as the scion of a noble and worthy family of the county. He and his family are earnest and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they take an active and interested part, Mr. Wilson being a steward of the church at Summerford. JOHN THOMAS LINDSEY. In Somerford township, Madison county, Ohio; not a great distance from the county seat, London, may be found the ancestral home of the Arbuckles, of whom John Thomas Lindsey, who married the youngest child of Jacob Arbuckle, is the present proprietor, and which farm at the death of Mr. Lindsey will pass into the possession of his daughter, Mildred, now a child of eleven years. The old Arbuckle farm now contains one hundred and sixty-nine acres and has a most interesting history. John T. Lindsey was born in Marion county, Ohio, August 8, 1865 the son of Joseph R. and Lydia (Cope) Lindsey, natives of Ross and Marion counties, Ohio, respectively. Mr. Lindsey's grandparents came from near Halifax, Virginia, and were pioneer settlers in .the Buckeye state. Reared on the farm and educated in the public schools of Ohio, John T. Lindsey was married on May 22, 1902, in Springfield, Ohio, to Flora A. Arbuckle, the youngest child of Jacob Arbuckle. She died on May 4, 1911, at the age of forty-four, her whole life having been passed in Madison county. She was educated in the old Arbuckle school, in Somerford township, and later attended the London high school, but did not graduate. Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey are the parents of only one child. Mildred, born on November 23, 1903. The Arbuckle family in America came originally to this country from Scotland, but Col. John R. Arbuckle, the founder of the family in Ohio, was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, and was first married to Nancy Sturgeon, by whom he had two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah. With his wife and two daughters he came to Ohio in 1805. He had come previously, in 1803, and obtained a tract of eight hundred acres of land, which his brother, Charles, a soldier in the American. Revolution, had received for services in that great war. In the meantime, Col. John R. Arbuckle who had received this tract of land from his brother, Charles, made his home at what is now the first house east of the Arbuckle school, now the residence of John T. Lindsey. Here he built a double log cabin and put in a crop, but being frightened out by the Indians, he returned to Virginia and remained there two years. In 1805 he returned with his wife and daughters and later brought a nephew, John Barrett, and his sister, Nancy, to this county. Col. John R. Arbuckle's wife died in 1812, and in 1814 he was married td Elizabeth Bishop, who had come from Greenbrier county, Virginia, with her parents and located in Logan county, Ohio. John R. Arbuckle had become a colonel in the Ohio militia and had gone to Logan county to build a fort. There he met and married