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LITCHFIELD TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM H. BROOKER, molder, Litchfield; was born in Wolcottville, Litchfield Co., Conn., Feb. 9, 1826, and came with his father's family to this State and county in September, 1834. When he was 13 years old, he went to live with a Mr. Frederick Graves, who then resided in Seville. His occupation at that time was the care of horses, in which Mr. Graves dealt quite extensively. At the age of 20, through love of adventure and boyish curiosity, he resolved to enlist for the Mexican war; with two other boys, he sallied out on foot to seek a recruiting office. Going to Wooster, Ohio, they were fated to disappointment, and trudged back, via Seville, to Litchfield, and thence to Monroeville; but again disappointment awaited them—the recruiting officer having met with an accident which disabled him. Nothing daunted, the three, being out of funds, laid their case before the landlord, offering him one-half of their bounty of $8 each if he would keep them over night and carry them to Sandusky City the next day. With this he cheerfully complied, and the young men were soon made glad by their acceptance in the 6th U. S. Regular Infantry, February, 1846. Soon after, they were sent via Cincinnati, to New Orleans, where they took a steamer for Vera Cruz, Mexico. They arrived the same night the city surrendered to the victorious army under Gen. Scott. The first battle in which he engaged was that of Cerro Gordo, followed by that of Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, the Castle of Chapultepec, and the taking of the Mexican capital. Mr. Brooker was wounded by a musket ball passing through-his-leg, and at the same time three ribs were broken; this was in the fight at Churubusco. Peace was declared, and he was sent home to be mustered out of the service at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., in August, 1848. Upon his return to Litchfield, he learned the trade of molder in the furnace owned by Harvey Rice, in the creek bottom in the western part of the township. He married, Feb. 22, 1850, Miss Alsina Herrick, born in Montgomery Township, Hampden Co., Mass., Feb. 2, 1828. Mr. Brooker continued to work at his trade until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he entered the service as Lieutenant of Co. E, 10th Ohio Cavalry, Capt. Nathan W. Filkin. They were mustered in at Cleveland, Jan. 15, 1863. He was in several skirmishes in Tennessee, when, on account of some disagreement with his regimental commander, he resigned in February, 1865. He remained at home about six weeks, when he again entered the service as Lieutenant of Co. E, Capt. Nobles, 182d O. V. L They were mustered in at Toledo, Ohio, March 27, 1865, and were mustered out of the service at Columbus, July 7, 1865. With this regiment, he participated in the battle of Nashville, which was the last battle of the 182d Infantry. Mr. Brooker's father, Warren Brooker, was born in Connecticut, in the year 1800, and married Miss Mary Ann Keys, April 24, 1825. She was born in Middletown, Conn., in 1807, and is now living in Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio. Mr. Warren Brooker died Nov. 21, 187 5. Their children are—William H., born Feb. 9, 1826; Mary A., Aug. 24, 1827 (now Mrs. Henry Kellogg); Frederick M., March 17, 1829, died March 12, 1880; Emeline E., born Nov. 12, 1830; Warren, Feb. 25, 1833; Lury J., Oct. 22, 1834 (now Mrs. William Nickson); Lucius E., Oct. 18, 1837; Nettie V., Nov. 30, 1841 (she married Mr. Walter Travis, and died March 18, 1864); Hiram R., Sept. 24, 1842; Merritt W., July, 1845, died Oct. 28, 1845; Alfred J., Sept. 4, 1846; Merritt W. second, April 30, 1848. There were four of these brothers in the army—William H., Warren, Lucius and Hiram; the last two were mustered out as Lieutenants; three veteranized and served throughout the war,

JAMES HARVEY CARPENTER, physician, Litchfield. James Harvey Carpenter, M. D., was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1818, and taught school from his 15th year until 1839. He came to Ohio in 1838. Read

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medicine with Dr. Tolman, of Litchfield, and attended lectures at Willoughby and Cleveland, beginning the practice of medicine in 1845. Previous to this time, he had been associated with Dr. Tolman in medical practice, and, when the latter left Litchfield, he continued alone. In 1836, Dr. Carpenter was married to Miss Sarah Sperry, of Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y., who bore him several children ; those still living are as follows: Elmira L. (wife of A. B. Curtis, of Cuyahoga Falls), was born in 1839, and married in 1867; Charles N. Carpenter, of Litchfield, was born in 1842: Josephine H. Carpenter was born in 1854 and resides at home. Mrs. Sarah Sperry Carpenter died in 1864, and. in 1865. he married a sister of his first wife, who has borne him two children—Edna M.; born in 1866, and Frank A., born in 1867, both of whom are living at home.

H. HARTWELL DOANE. physician. Litchfield. H. Hartwell Doane, M. D.. was born in La Fayette, Medina Co.. Ohio, Oct. 11. 1844. He attended school in Muskegon, Mich.. until he began reading medicine with Dr. W. J. Sloan, of Muskegon, from whose office he went to attend lectures at the Chicago Eclectic Medical Institute; he graduated from that institution in 1866, and immediately began` the practice of medicine with his former preceptor at Muskegon. He continued there three years, removing at the end of that time to Grand Rapids, where he remained about the same time. In 1872, Dr. Doane removed from Grand Rapids to Litchfield, Ohio, and has since resided here in the successful practice of his profession. In 1874, he was married to Miss Mary A. Caswell, of Litchfield, who has borne him one child—Bertha M., now 5 years of age. During his medical practice, Dr. Doane has been very successful in the use of electricity as a remedy for various diseases, and has provided himself with the latest and best instruments for its appliance. One unfortunate circumstance attending his practice in Litchfield was the burning of his dwelling and office, in 18'79, by which he lost his books, instruments and medicines. In other respects he has been extraordinarily successful in his professional practice.

MOSES HALLADEY, farmer; P. O. Litchfield. Is of the old New England stock, and was born in Hampden Co., Mass., March 16. 1810. He was married to Miss Emily Allen. who was born in the same county and State, Sept. 16, 1813. Their children were William D., born April 9, 1833 ; Chester F., April 6,1833. both born in Massachusetts ; John Tyler, born here May 10, 1840; he enlisted in the three months' service, and after his discharge was drafted, but on account of business was obliged to hire a substitute to take his place. Henry C., born Aug. 4, 1843; Ethan A.. March 10. 1845: Emily D.. Sept. 10, 1850, died in Aug. 1853. Mr. Halladey bought the north part of his brother Solomon's fa m, a lot of 300 acres, afterward buying 18 acres more. There was a log house upon the place. which they moved into, and then commenced to clear the place and reclaim it from the wilderness. His brother Solomon's farm at first consisted of 300 acres. but he sold a part of it. He was born Feb. 2. 1800, and died Sept.. 1, 1878. He married Miss Dot Chamberlain. born in Otsego Co.. N. Y., in 1819. Moses Halladey's father was born in Connecticut. in 1753. but moved to Massachusetts in his younger days, and. taking up a tract of wild land. began the life of a pioneer. His wife. Mrs. Submittal (Wright Halladey, was born in Connecticut in 176, and died in 1826: he died in 1831. Their children were eight in number: James, Levi. Ruth. Solomon. Tallethy. Betsey. Moses and Delia. Moses Halladey came to this State and county in 1836. and ten years after, or in 1846, had the misfortune to have his house burned to the ground, losing in the fire all the records and books of the family. The only furniture saved was the family spinning-wheel and a few light articles. Ethan A.. then one year of age, narrowly escaped. he was saved by one of the neighbors. Mrs. Halladey's mother, Rachel (Babcock) Allen (widow of Mr. Ransford Allen, of Westfield Farms Mass.) was born in Norwich, Conn., Feb. 16. 1778, and is, therefore, 103 years of age, and the oldest person living in that State. She is mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother of 105 lineal descendants, eighty-one of whom are still living in Massachusetts. Connecticut, Rhode Island. Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota. South Carolina

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and Georgia, and the eighty-one, with those connected by marriage, will give a present total of 125 who may be numbered in her family. Of the eighty-one, eight are children, thirty-eight grandchildren, twenty-nine great grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. At 100 years, she was bright, active and intelligent, and the only sign of failing was evidenced by a dimness of vision, which prevented the recognition of the features of a person, except they addressed her, when she would know them by the voice.

ANSEL S. JENNE, farmer: P. O. Litchfield. Was born in Saratoga Co.. N. Y., Sept. 25, 1808; was married to Narcissa Merrill, Sept. 27. 18 30. He came to Ohio in 1836, and earned money by mowing grass to make a payment on 65 acres of land on the Smith Road, paying $6 per acre. He had to endure all the hardships of pioneer life. and for many years had a hard struggle to keep the wolf from the door. At one time he conceived the idea of collecting the ashes left by the burning of logs and trees in clearing the land. and for many years carried on a good business in manufacturing " black salts " and pearl-ash. for which he found market at Elyria. At one time he started for that place ~in a wooden-wheeled cart, driving a pair of 4-year old steers, when he became mired. and only got out with the assistance of his faithful wife. On that occasion, he promised her that she should ride over that self-same road some day in future in a carriage of her own, and with as good a team as any one in the township, a prediction which he has since fulfilled. To Mr. and Mrs. Jenne were born ten children, five of whom are still living. The names of those who grew up are as follows: Allison was born in the State of New York. Jan. 20, 1832, and died in Maple Rapids, Mich.. Oct. 6, 1872 ; Samantha M., was born in Litchfield, Ohio, June 6, 1887, and died Aug. 14, 1857; Mary J. was born June 21, 1847, and died Aug. 13, 1850; Margaret A., wife of Philander Starr, of Litchfield, was born Oct. 1, 1830, married May 20, 1852; Fannie R., wife of Nelson Harris, of Lodi, was born March 13, 1835, married Feb. 22, 1855; Ann Eliza, wife of John Price, of Fulton, Mich., was born in Litchfield, April 22, 1840, married in 1873; James, of Fulton, Mich., was born in Litchfield, Ohio, Oct. 25, 1845, married in 1866 ; Harvey was born in Litchfield, July 17, 1851, married Jan. 12, 1874. Mr. Jenne is, in the strictest sense of the word, a self-made man, and his success is due, under Providence, to his own exertions. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since about his 25th year. His wife, who was born in 1810, has been a member of the same denomination since her eighteenth year. By hard work and strict integrity, this worthy pioneer couple have built up a name and fortune which are an honor to them and to their posterity. In the early days it was very common to see deer among the few cattle which were turned out to graze, and Mr. Jenne has frequently shot them by keeping along with the cattle, and using them as a decoy and screen at the same time, until he got in shooting distance. Wild hogs were also killed, but it was necessary to make sure work, or the hunter would have to run to " save his bacon," as the porkers were very ferocious when wounded. To dress the hogs was somewhat difficult, as few iron kettles were to be had. It was necessary to heat large stones in a log-heap and throw them into a wooden trough filled with water, thus bringing it to a boil. Such was life at that time in the community in which he has lived for so many years.

MRS. CLARA P. JUDSON, Litchfield. Mrs. Clara Pickett Judson was born in Colesville, Broome Co., N. Y., in 1812. She was married to Orville Nickerson in 1829; came to Ohio in 1831, and settled in Litchfield, Medina Co. Mrs. Nickerson bore her first husband several children, the names of those now living being given below: Jane A., wife of Francis Peck, of Litchfield Township, was born in New York State in 1831, and was married in 1849; Sarah E., wife of E. C. Minor, of Jonesville, Mich., was born in 1834, and was married about 1854; Cornelia C., wife of Edward Campbell, of Hillsdale, Mich., was born in 1838, and married about the year 1858; Benjamin F. Nickerson, of Greenwich, Huron Co., Ohio, was born in 1840; Orville Nickerson, of California, was born in 1840. tr. Nickerson died in 1848. In 1850, the subject of this biography was married to Mr.

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Nelson Judson, of Litchfield, and bore him one child—Mary L., wife of Frank P. Smith, of Michigan. Mrs. Judson is the only person now living in Litchfield Township who was here when the first church society (Congregational) was organized, and of which she was a member.

JAMES LIFE, general merchandise, Litchfield. This gentleman's ancestry is traced back to a prisoner in one of the wars in Denmark, who was exiled to the British Islands, and settled in Scotland. After several generations, the family moved to England, this time settling in Hull, Yorkshire, on the property known as the Cockgrove Farm. Mr. George Life, grandfather of the subject of this biography, married Miss Ann Swinglehurst, the last descendant of the generation of the Helms and Hays families. They had owned and occupied the ancient property known as St. Johns of Jerusalem, a freehold landed property, which descended to the Life family by the marriage as mentioned above, and which is still held by them. Mr. John Life, the father of our subject, was born in the northern part of Yorkshire, England, and came to this country in 1854, and settled in the township of Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. He was born in 1805, and was, by occupation, a farmer and shoemaker. He was known and respected as an honest and industrious citizen, strictly moral and conscientious in all his intercourse with his fellowmen. He married Miss Mary Bramley, of Lancashire, England, who was born in 1803, and they were married in 1830. Their children were James, Mary Ann (now Mrs. Isaac Gifford, of Cuyahoga Co, Ohio), Swinglehurst and Richard. Mr. John Life died Nov. 10, 1879, in the triumph of a faith in Christ. Mr. James Life was born Feb. 15, 1829, in Bury, Lancashire, England, and married Miss Susan Barefoot, of Oxford. They were married at Preswich, Lancashire, Aug. 29, 1854, and, for a wedding tour, the day after, set sail for the United States, and, after a safe sea voyage, settled in Royalton, Cuyahoga Co. Their children are William, born Sept. 12, 1855; Emily, born March 17, 1857; Henry, born June 1, 1859; Arthur Helm, June 10, 1861, and Celestia, born Aug. 20, 1865. Mr. Life, while in England, served as an attendant and nurse in the Preswich Hospital under the celebrated Dr. Joseph Holland and Dr. Willson, of Paris. It was while there he became proficient in the use of drugs and in the care of the sick. This enabled him to render his adopted country good and efficient service during the war, as he went south in the fall of 1862, as a volunteer Hospital Steward undei Drs. Harvey and Flack, of Illinois. The first service rendered was at the battle of Perryville, and here his experience in the English hospital was very valuable to this country, as there was a scarcity of educated help, and, night and day, he was busy dressing the wounded and caring for those in his charge. The battles of Lebanon and Murfreesboro followed, while the work of the hospital attendants was very severe and arduous. The soldiers whom he had relieved appreciated this, and in some of the newspapers published their thanks to Mr. Life for his kindness and devotion to the sick and wounded in his care. Mr. Life engaged in the drug business for some two years, and then went into the general merchandise business at Royalton, moving to Litchfield Aug. 1, 1880, where he now conducts the same business with the help of his sons. His thoughts and ideas of both religion and politics are of the liberal, progressive kind, and he has always lent a helping hand to the permanent reforms of the day, and toward such enterprises as help build up society and benefit the town in which he lives.

MILES LEACH, farmer; P. O. Litchfield: was born Oct. 16, 1809, in Litchfield, Conn., and was the fifth of a family of nine children. His father's name was Benoni Leach, whose ancestors came from Wales. Three of his grandfather's brothers served in the Revolutionary war. In his younger days, he helped his father in his occupations and worked very hard. After coming of age, he sold the clocks manufactured by North, in Connecticut, traveling principally in the State of Pennsylvania. He came into this State via Cleveland, and bought his present farm of one hundred acres, paying $6 per acre for it. There were only two and a half acres of slashing done on the place, and he has improved it to its present high state of cultivation by great industry and

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toil; his farm buildings are of the substantial sort, and no one has a better right to be proud of his achievements than Mr. Leach. He is independent in thought, so far as religious subjects are concerned, and believes truth should be taught in preference to creeds and dogmas. He was married in Litchfield, Ohio, in 1843, to Miss Martha E. Bradley, who was born in Suffield, Conn., July 8, 1817. Their children were William E., born April 2, 1844, who left the college in Oberlin, Ohio, and enlisted for one hundred days in the army, but, during what is known as Early's raid upon the capital, he was wounded, and died in front of Ft. Stevens, Washington, D. C., July 11, 13, 1864. Thus fell the eldest of the family, in his young manhood, for his devotion to the old flag. Harvey E., born Aug. 13, 1845; Byron B., born May 2, 1851, and died Nov. 4, 1851; Harvey E., who married Miss Matilda Kinney, who was born in La Fayette Township, this county, Jan. 8, 1850; they were married Sept. 26, 18 71. Their children are Willis E., born July 24, 1874; Orra L., born June 29, 1876 ; Carrie E., born Aug. 10, 1879. He takes an active interest in the temperance question, and has held for two terms the position of President of the Temperance Christian Union Association of Litchfield Township.

EDWARD R. McKENZIE, M. D., Litchfield. Edward R. McKenzie, M. D., was born in New Haven, Conn., Oct. 5, 1819. His father, Alexander McKenzie, was a woolen manufacturer, and removed from New Haven to Litchfield, Conn., when Edward was very young, whence he came to Ohio with his brother-in-law, Russell Brooker, when he was 13 years of age. He read medicine under Dr. L. E. Jones, of Cincinnati, and graduated from the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College, in 1851, coming to Litchfield, Ohio, immediately upon finishing his medical course. He has since remained here in the successful practice of his profession. Dr. McKenzie's early educational advantages were not the best, and his success in life is due to his own exertions.

JAMES H. OLCOTT, farmer; P. O. Litchfield Center; was born in Litchfield, Conn., March 5, 1815. He came to Litchfield with the family of his father, Benoni, when he was 19 years of age. Together with a youngerbrother, Mr. Olcott chopped down the trees and cleared the spot now covered by the Litchfield Hotel, and a portion of the park, about one square acre in area. After cutting, hewing and laying up the logs for his father's dwelling, he went through the mud for ten or twelve miles from the settlement, until he had colllected sufficient lumber to finish the house. The roof was of what is known as " shake," no nails being used, but weight poles in their stead. With the exception of one small rocking-chair, which the family brought from their home in the Nutmeg State, the seating accommodations of the family consisted of benches split out of whitewood. The table and floor were of similar material. When the young folks went to an old-fashioned country hoe-down, it was necessary to stoop when passing under the low joist of the ceiling, or a bumped head was the consequence. Mr. Olcott danced in the first set ever on the floor of the old Litchfield Hotel, some forty-three years ago. On the 4th of January, 1838, Mr. Olcott was married to Miss Lovisa Snow, of Chatham, Medina Co., who bore him two children. Newton R. Olcott was born Aug. 24, 1841, and married Miss Kate S. Murphy, of Marshall, Tex., Oct. 6, 1874, and is now living in Houston, Tex. Adalaide D. Olcott was born Nov. 25, 1846, and is now living at home. Mr. Benoni Olcott donated the ground upon which the Congregational Church in Litchfield now stands, and subsequently assisted in building the edifice. He also gave one acre of ground to the Township Trustees, which was laid out for a place of interment for the dead, and is now used for that purpose. Also, one and a half acres of ground for the first steam saw-mill and grist-mill which was built in Litchfield; this he donated to David Hinman, now deceased.

A. C. STRANAHAN, farmer; P. O. Litchfield. Augustus C. Stranahan was born in Plainfield, Windham Co., Conn., Nov. 21,1809; he came to Ohio in 1831, and remained in Columbia, Lorain Co., during the winter and summer of 1832, and then returned to Connecticut; remaining there through the winter of 1832-33, he again came to Ohio, and bought a farm of 55 acres near Columbia, in the spring of 1833, for which he paid $3 per

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acre. Jan. 1, 1834, he married Miss L. C. Rood, of Litchfield Township, Medina Co., Ohio. In 1842, he removed his family to Litchfield, and bought 80 acres of land, north of the village, where he lived until 1878, when he came to Litchfield, and has since resided there. Besides farming, Mr. Stranahan has worked at the trade of a carpenter for some years, when not actively engaged in farming. His wife bore him two sons, both of whom are dead. Soon after his removal to Litchfield, Mr. Stranahan received a fall which dislocated his hip, and he has since been incapacitated for active labor.