450 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO. SAMUEL A. NICKERSON, son of Joseph C. and Annie Everman Nickerson; their children, Betsy Ann, Joshua, Rebecca, Nancy, Samuel A., Josephus, Joseph C.; the father was by trade a carpenter, built a mill, and went into the milling business. In 1837 he moved to Mercer County. Samuel A. Nickerson was born April 17, 1834, received a common school education, and was raised on a farm until the breaking out of the war, and was one of the 75,000 soldiers under Gen. Rosecrans in the 17th Ohio Regiment, Capt. W. D. Stone, to put down the rebellion. He served four months, and returned home. In August, 1862, with the assistance of Messrs. Stone and Rhodes, he assisted in organizing a company, went into camp at Lima; thence to Cincinnati, crossed the river when the city was being besiege by Gen. Kirby Smith. The name of the company was I, Capt. Edward Sowers, Col. S. R. Mott, Lieut.-Col. John Walkup, Major George T. Young. S. A. Nickerson, 2d lieutenant, was promoted to 1st lieutenant of Company B, and in 1864 was elected captain of the same company and regiment. The regiment was ordered to guard the transportation on the Kentucky Central Railroad from Covington to Cynthia, Kentucky. Capt. Nickerson was stationed at Mossey Creek to guard the bridge, and remained until the regiment crossed the mountains under Gen. Burnside to East Tennessee, and remained there until Gen. Sherman fitted out his expedition to Atlanta, Georgia. The regiment marched under Sherman, and after the fall of Atlanta the regiment was assigned to Gen. Thomas's command, and was present at the battle of Nashville. After its fall, the regiment went into North Carolina, and remained there until after the surrender of Gens. Lee and Johnson. Capt. Nickerson then resigned his command, went to farming, remained until May 3, 1877, when he married Miss Lucinda Myers, daughter of George and Eliza Myers, of Mercer County, who was born April 16, 1853, settled in Fort Recovery, and opened a drug and general book business. He has filled the office of school director. JOSHUA NICKERSON is a brother of Capt. Nickerson. He married Sarah McDowell. (She was the granddaughter of James McDowell, one of the oldest settlers in 1827.) Mr. Nickerson has five children, Elizabeth Ann, Phebe, Martin, John, and Belle. He was brought up to farming. He fills the office of school director and township trustee. THOMAS ROOP is the son of John and Margaret Flexer Roop. John died in Pennsylvania in 1816, and his wife in Mercer County, Ohio, in 1869. Mrs. Hoop was the daughter of I. P. D. Junod and Mary J. his wife, of Penn- sylvania. Thomas Hoop was born in Union County, Pa., May 13, 1807, and was raised a farmer. He married Elizabeth L. J unod, who was born in France, Nov. 22, 1811. They were married in Pennsylvania, Nov. 26, 1833. These parents have been blessed with nine children, viz., David J., Margaret F., Urenia A., Mary, Zeiva, Sarah, John B., Benjamin B., Harriet A. Hon. David J. Roop is settled in Celina, Mercer County, a biographical sketch of whose life will be found with the biographical sketches of Celina. Thomas Hoop was elected county commissioner in 1850, and served three years; previous to which, however, in 1846, he had been appointed postmaster at Recovery, and served four years. In 1843 he had been elected and served as justice of the peace for three years. His grandfather, I. B. Flexur, was in the Revolutionary War from the beginning to the end, and Thomas. Hoop's brother, Jacob, in the Mexican War. three years. David J. Hoop enlisted in the 40th Ohio Infantry, in Company K, in 1861, and was discharged in 1864. When Mr. Hoop first came to Mercer County he had to go to Dayton to do his trading, and if it had not been for coon skins the people Would have starved; he has seen a four-horse load leave Recovery at a time. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for thirty years, and his wife for fifty years. Mr. Roop cast his first vote for Cass in 1840, and there were nine votes cast in the town of Fort Recovery; the population of the town at that time was twenty-five persons. Sermons were preached in private houses, there being no church. He can boast of never having drank liquor, smoked a cigar or pipe, or chewed tobacco. JAMES H. JOHNSON is the son of David Johnson, who emigrated from Clarke County, Ohio, to Mercer County in 1844. James was born in Clark County in 1640. He is an enterprising hardware merchant in Fort Recovery. For two years he filled the office of township clerk, and was corporation clerk of the village of Fort Recovery two years. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and received his honorable discharge in 1865. He served most of his time in the Engineer Corps of the army, and was under fire a great part of the time. He was never married. JOHN MCDANIEL. Andrew McDonald, who married Jensey Philson, of Virginia, was his grandfather, and their children were Andrew, James, William, Robert, Ebenezer, Samuel, Jane, and Mary. Andrew moved to Kentucky, and thence to Clarke County, Ohio, and finally to Logan County, and died there. James married Elizabeth Reed, who was brought up to farming, and lived in Clarke County. His children were John, William, Sarah, Nancy, James, Robert, Betsey Ann, and James. James (the father) died in 1844, and Elizabeth, the mother, in 1850. Here they changed the name to McDaniel. John McDaniel was born in 1805, and brought up to farming. In 1828 he married Elizabeth Johnston, of Gibson Township, Mercer County. Their children, Elizabeth, Thomas, Nancy, Jane, James, John, Mary, Jane, William, and Reed. He had four sons in the war, Thomas, John, James, and William. James was in Company C, 118th Ohio Regiment; was on the transport from Washington City to North Carolina; died and was buried at Smithfield, North Carolina. Thomas died and was buried at Beaufort, South Carolina; he left a widow, Belle S. Collins McDaniel, and five children, who lived on a farm in Gibson Township. John was in Company K, 40th Regiment, Capt. Knapp. He married Mary G. Beard, of Logan County, and lives in Gibson Township. Willliam went out for 100 days in Company I, 156 Ohio Volunteers; on his return he married Minnie Robbins, by whom he had one son, Harry. She dying, he afterwards married Mollie Erret. he is a school director. REV. PERIN S. GREENE was born in Volna, Oswego County, New York, July 5, 1834, and was married to Caroline Wylde on March 30, 1854. Mrs. Greene was born in Leicester, England, Feb. 25, 1836. He is the son of Mr. Rufus W. and Mary Godsell Greene. Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame, was his grandfather's uncle; his name was Jonathan Greene. His wife's maternal grandfather was Warner, and received a wound in the battle of Bennington, from which he died the next clay. Rev. Mr. Greene was educated as a farmer and preacher, and for thirteen consecutive years has been the pastor of four different churches. Ile has also filled the office of school director four years, and school supervisor seven years. He enlisted as a private, Feb. 22, 1865, in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Alexander Cable, Company D, 193d Regiment, to serve one year or during the war, and was discharged at Winchester, Va., Aug. 4, 1865 with the regiment He was often in the town of Fort Recovery, and in various parts of Mercer County between the years 1844 and 1850, for his father's family lived over the State line in Jay County, Indiana, eighteen and one-half miles from the State line. Mercer County was at that time almost a wilderness, almost every night they could hear the wolves howling: About the first wheat they attempted to raise was entirely destroyed by wild turkeys, for as soon as the grain was formed they began to destroy it. GEORGE LIPPS. His father, John Lipps, settled in 1832 in Darke, now Mercer, Count):: within one mile of Recovery. his father was a farmer, and married Sarah Smith, and had twelve children, three of whom are dead. George Lipps enlisted April 22, 1861, in Company I, 17th Regiment, under Capt. Wm. Stone, John McConnell being the colonel, and served one year; he then re-enlisted in 1862 in Company K, 40th Regiment, Capt. A. C. Knapp. His colonel was Jonathan Cramer. He was in the battles of Franklin, Tennessee, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, in the spring of 1864, Kingston, Georgia, Kenesaw Mountain ; at Peach Tree, Atlanta, they had a fight with loss of officers; also skirmish east of Atlanta, and at Lovejoy, twenty-seven miles from that point. There was no more fighting until this company returned in 1864. The last fight was at Nashville. He served two years, and re-enlisted as a veteran, and served from Jan. 1, 1864, to Nov. 1865. He lived on a farm all his life, half a mile south of Recovery, and married Mary A. Thompson, of Gibson Township, by whom he has three children. John Lipps, his father, shot many deer in the woods, and complains that at the present day the fences prevent the hunting and shooting of deer, and that now the people are compelled to pay for their meat. ISAAC DEHAYS was born in Preble County, Ohio. He is a farmer and carpenter, and by hard work has met with the fullest measure of success. He married Margaret Snyder, of Springfield, Ohio, and located in Mercer County in the year 1838. His father, William Dehays, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Delius is blessed with five children. In 1860 he was elected a justice of the peace for Recovery Township, and served two terms. One of the interesting incidents connected with his early settlement of the county was walking eight miles and splitting two hundred rails per day, interspersed frequently with .the sport of killing a deer. HISTORY OF VAN AVERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO - 451 JOHN SLIFE. Jacob and Elizabeth Meyer Slife were the grandparents of John Slife. Their children were Abraham, Samuel, Jacob, Michael, John, and Elizabeth, who were raised in Pennsylvana. Abraham was John's father. he married Sarah Meyer, and his children were Daniel, David Slife, Emanuel, Elizabeth, and John. John was married to Elizabeth McDaniel Slife. The children were Warren and William. he settled in Recovery Township in 1865. He enlisted in Company A, 8th Indiana Regiment, Captain Brady, Colonel Smith, for three years. He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Vicksburg. Champlain Hill, and Black River. He was wounded at the battle of Vicksburg July 1 the bullet penetrated his body at the breast bone and broke off a rib, at five o'clock in the evening. He laid on the ground until ten o'clock the next day, and was fly-blown. He drew a silk handkerchief through his wound, and was taken to a place where about forty dead and wounded were lying. He travelled to Chickasaw; thence to Memphis, and remained two months then went home to Recovery, and received his discharge, having served three years and three months. He offered his services twice, but he was rejected. ISAAC N. HANNA. His parents, Charles and Elizabeth McGill Hanna, settled in Mercer County in 1863. His wife's father and mother were Thomas and Elizabeth Tusker, who lived at Richmond, Indiana. He was born in Pennsylvania, July 17, 1832, resides at Fort Recovery, Ohio, and is an undertaker. He married Miss Messina A. Fisher, February 25, 1877, and has two children—Thomas A. and Ernest. He enlisted in 1861 in the 34th Indiana Infantry Regiment, Company B, and was discharged in 1664. Charles Hanna enlisted in 1863, and was discharged in 1865. John Hanna enlisted in 1861, and died at Nashville in 1862. Martin Hanna enlisted in 1864, and was discharged in 1865. David McGill enlisted in 1861, and was discharged in 1865. DR. D. H. RICHARDSON was born in 1848, and received a classical education; studied medicine with his father; graduated at the medical college, Columbus, in 1869, and in 1879 at Cincinnati. Ohio, and commenced practice with his father. He married Miss Mary L. Kiehl. DR. JOHN CONANT RICHARDSON is the father of Dr. D. H. Richardson, and was .born in 1817,in the State of New York. He received a classical education, and studied medicine with his brother in Ohio, and graduated at Columbus Medical College. He settled at Recovery in 1843, and married Mary Grey. Has three children, viz., Annetta, D. H., and John. LEWIS THOMPSON is a son of Dennis and Ellen Thompson, residents of Preble County, Ohio, in which county he was born April 25, 1837. He married Mary Fudge, of the same county, October 2, 1856, and moved to Mercer County in December, 1870. He is a farmer and stock-raiser. His mother's father, John Graham, was a soldier in the war of 1812. On April 17, 1861, Lewis Thompson enlisted in Company C, 20th 0. V. I., and served three months. In February, 1862, he volunteered in the three years' service in the 35th O. V. I. and served until March 24, 1664, when he was honorably discharged. He passed through, unhurt, the battles of Mill Springs, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, and Resaca. He is the father of three sons and three daughters. L. W. STONE is the proprietor of a steam flouring mill at Fort Recovery, Ohio, and does a large business. He was born January 30, 1822, in Gallia County, Ohio, and settled in Mercer County in 1830. On February 24, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged August 11,1865. His father, James Stone, served in the War of 1812 as a private soldier. The name of his first wife was Elizabeth McDaniel, a native of Clark County, Ohio, whom he married August 28, 1843. She bore him five children. His second wife's name was Elizabeth Prescott, who was born in England. He married the 'latter in February, 1880. WILLIAM SNYDER. John and Rebecca Snyder were married in New Jersey in 1818. Their children, William, Mary, Margaret, John, Jerusha, and Ann. William was born in Butler County in 1820, and brought up on a farm, and moved in 1850 to Mercer County (then Darke). He married Martha J. Herring in 1844. Their children, Rebecca, Henry, Ann, Jane, Margaret, Wayne, John, and Orrin. He moved to the town of Recovery. kept hotel five years, and is engaged in selling goods. JOHN MYERS is a farmer, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, July 27, 1842, and with his parents settled in Mercer County in 1843. He married Caroline Steel, a native of this county, November 2, 1865, by whom he has had two sons and two daughters. In the years 1873 and 1877 he filled the office of assessor or Gibson Township. His grandfather Myers served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a private in Company C, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the war of the Rebellion, having enlisted August 11, 1862, and was honorably discharged July 12, 1865. He was in the battles of Kingston, Mossy Creek, and Resacca. In 1864 he became disabled by losing an eye. JOHN OSWALD is engaged in the dry-goods trade in the village of Fort Recovery, Ohio, and also filled the office of justice of the peace Of Recovery Township. He was born in Alsace, France, Sept. 7, 1832, and emigrated to Mercer County in January, 1852. March 25, 1855, he married Elizabeth Beardslee in Mercer County. They have changed residences a couple of times since their marriage, the second of their four children having been born in Colorado, and their third in Indiana. His mother, Magdalena Fry Oswald, is yet living in Portland, Indiana, at the ripe age of 90 years. His father, Frederick Oswald, served as a soldier four years in the campaigns of Napoleon I. LAWRENCE BIRDSLEY ROOD, son of Aaron and Phebe Rood, settled in Mercer County in 1840. He was born in Massachusetts April 12, 1812, and married in Gibson Township March 23, 1843, Susannah Golder, daughter of John and Mary Golder, who had settled in this county in 1841. Their children are John, Wilson, Charles, and Mary E. Aaron Rood served through the War of 1812; was wounded, and received a pension to his death. When Lawrence B. Rood came to Fort Recovery, the main part of the town Was covered with a dense growth of trees. There were but few houses in the place. He taught the first school in the district where he lived. JOHN SCHNIDER, son of Philip and Caroline Young Schnider. They came from Germany, and settled in Jay County, Ohio. John was born in Newark, Licking County, October, 1845, and removed to Mercer County in 1877. He married Susan Aughinbaugh, daughter of George and Elizabeth Aughin- bangh, of Jay County, December 25, 1869. Susan Schnider was born in 1845. He enlisted in the 7th Indiana Cavalry in 1863, and was discharged in February, 1864. Frank Schnider enlisted in the 19th United States Regulars in 1861, and was discharged in 1864. He was a prisoner in Libby prison eight months, and afterwards in the hospital three months. H. J. STACHLER, son of Henry J. and Elizabeth Stachler, was born August 15, 1838, in Germany, settled in this county March 10, 1851. Is a farmer and stock-raiser. May 28, 1864, he married Dorothea, daughter of John and Catharine Henery. She was born July 13, 1844. Their children are Mary E., Catharine, John H., Mary C., Clara, Henry J., Adam, Mary A., Dorothea, Augustus. H. J. Stachler emigrated to America in 1851, and settled in Mercer County in 1870. He commenced with his father in Greenville Township, getting a homestead of eighty acres. This he sold, and 'purchased a farm, owned by B. Romer, of two hundred acres in Recovery Township, upon which he now lives, section 25. JOHN A. FECHER, son of Jacob and Mary Fecher, who came from Germany, settled in this county. He was born in Germany, March 10, 1823. He was raised a farmer and stock-raiser. He married, in 1855, Elizabeth Stockier, daughter of Peter and Catharine Stockier, who was born in 1832. Their children are Anna M., Clarissa,, Joseph, John, Peter, Elizabeth, and Barbara. He has filled the office of supervisor and school director for six years. He came from Germany in 1840, and located in Lebanon County, Pa.; two years, and from thence moved to Mercer County, and owns 320 acres of land. G. W. MILLER, SR. was born in Darke County, Ohio, January, 31, 1829, and in the spring of the same year his parents located in Mercer County. His mother is yet living at the age.of eighty-two years. He is a farmer and stock-raiser. He was the first mayor of the incorporated town. of Fort Recovery. His grandfather, David Miller, was a soldier of the War of 1812. He was never married. 452 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO. NOAH HOLSAPPLE is the son of Daniel Holsapple and Mary M. Brenner, who came from Montgomery County, Ohio. Noah Holsapple was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, May 1, 1840, and was brought up to the mill business. He married Susannah Minnick, March 16, 1862. She was born August 14, 1.843. His residence is at Fort Recovery, Mercer County, Ohio. His children are named Theodore, William Harrison, John Westley, Samuel J. Tilden, and Mary M. Adam Holsapple was in the War of 1812. JACOB MORNINGSTAR was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1814, and settled in this county in 1848. He was the first regular blacksmith in Recovery Township, but has also devoted considerable attention to farming. When he first came to the county the wages received for blacksmithing were thirty-seven cents per day. In 1840 he married Catharine Abnet, of Adams County, Ind., she being a native of Virginia, where she was born in 1819. Their family consists of six children, named Lewis H., Henry L., Jacob A., Sarah C., Mary E., and David B. GEORGE ISENHART was born in Pennsylvania Sept. 8, 1808, and came to Mercer County in 1838. The same year he married Elizabeth Nickerson, who was born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1815. Coming here at an early date, he found the country new and unimproved, but by hard labor, in common with the other settlers, he contributed largely to the improvement of the country. His family consisted of Phebe, Isaac, Sarah J., Perlie, John, Margaret A. (dec'd), Samuel, Persilia, Cornelius, and Elnoria. Mr. Isenhart, served as township trustee a period of ten years. JOSEPH WEIS is an enterprising farmer and lumber dealer of Recovery Township. He was born March 19, 1824, in Baden, Germany, and came to Mercer County with his parents in the year 1838. He married Mary C. Tenosts, of Prussian birth, in 1850, in Mercer County, and they have raised a family of eleven children. As an evidence of the esteem and confidence reposed in him by his neighbors and voters of the township, they have repeatedly elected him road supervisor, township trustee, and assessor, the duties of which offices he has ever faithfully discharged. ELI LIPPS. Henry and Cynthia Lipps, his parents, settled in Mercer County in 1830. He was born April 13, 1834, and was brought up on the farm. He married Fidelia McCrery, the daughter of Tower and Sarah Blackford McCrery, who had settled in this county in 1853. She was born July 21, 1840, and was married July 8, 1860. Their children are named Ida R., Anaretta M., William H., John, Tower, Effie, Frederick, and Charles. his father, Henry Lipps, was one of the first settlers of the county, and assisted to lay out the town of Fort Recovery. JOHN SCHUCK was born in Germany, and settled in this county in 1838. It was all new then, and unprovided with roads, save the old Indian trails. In 1838 he married Elizabeth Reasener, who was born in Germany, but lived in Preble County, Ohio, at the time of her marriage. Their children consisted of Mary, Margaret, _Macklin, Barbara, John, Theobold, Elizabeth (deceased), Catharine, Clarissa, Stephen, Michael, Theodore, Philomena, and Adam (deceased). FREDERICK HEIBY came from Crawford County, Ohio, 1870. He was born in Crawford County January 8, 1843. Since coming here he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising, and has served as township clerk a term of seven years. He married Caroline Keifer April 5, 1866. His family consists of five children, three being dead. They are named Catharine, Elizabeth, Rosina (deceased), Amma, John, Amanda (deceased), Henry (deceased), and Albert. JACOB TROTMAN was born in this county in 1848, and was raised on a farm, which occupation he still pursues. In 1867 he married, and has raised six children named John, Jacob, Catharine, Mary, William, and Stephen. FRANK KOLICK settled in Recovery Township in 1870. He was born in Austria in 1831, and has followed farming since coming to this county. In 1859 he married Juditia Byer, who was born in Austria in 1831. Their children consist of Amelia, Joseph, and Caroline. VALENTINE HEIBY was born in France December 26, 1820, and came to Recovery Township in 1872. He was married in New York in 1842 to Matolenia Hamich, who was born in France November 10, 1822. Mr. H. has been a farmer since coming to the county, where he has also served as trustee and school director a number of years. His family consists of nine children, Frederick, Philip, Matolenia, Mary, Valentine, Elizabeth, John David, and William. ZACHARIAH LATHAM, who is engaged in the saw-mill business in the village of Fort Recovery, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, February 19, 1850, and settled in Mercer County in October, 1879. His parents, Moses and Maria Latham, are residents of Franklin County. June 10, 1874, he married Emma J. Dennis in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She and her people were residents of Allen County, Ohio. Travis Latham, one of his ancestors, was in the war of 1812. JAMES HEDRICK was born in Mercer County June 22, 1843, his father and mother, John and Rebecca Hedrick, having emigrated to this county in the year 1837. James, the subject of this sketch, is a hard-working farmer and teamster. He enlisted in the 40th Ohio Regiment October 2, 1861, and was honorably discharged on account of disability December 10, 1863. He married Mary Roop, of this county, July 25, 1865, who has borne him seven children. HENRY TEBBEN is the proprietor of a store of general merchandise in the village of Recovery, Mercer County, Ohio. He was born in Mercer County in 1843. His parents, Henry and Catharine Tebben, emigrated to this county in 1833, and his father died in 1848, and his mother survived until 1873. He was elected assessor of Recovery Township in 1875, and re-elected the fourth time. February 15, 1870, he was married to Mary Kingman, of the same county, by which union five children have been born. FRANCIS SPONOUR was the son of Jacob and Francis Sponour. His parents lived and died in Germany. Francis was born April 4, 1821, and married Louisa Grub, who was born in Germany, March, 1827. Her parents, Christian and Catharine Grub, emigrated to America, and settled in this county July, 1857. The children of Francis Sponour are Hettie, Augustus, Charlotte, Charles, Caroline, Frank, Mary, and William. his father was in the French war under Napoleon. SANFORD H. WARNOCK was born in Gallia County in 1833. He was raised a farmer and married Jane McDaniel, October 26, 1866. Their children are Sylvanus Emma, and Ella. They did reside half a mile north of Recovery. He has filled the office of justice of the peace for nine years, school director fifteen years, and has been a member of the town council. His grandfather, Wlliam Klein, was in the War of 1812. His father volunteered his services in the Black Hawk War. WILLIAM WENDEL was born in Hamburg, Germany, November 2, 1837, and came to Mercer County, Ohio, in 1849. He married Elizabeth Trotman January 17, 1861, she having been born in Mercer County November 15, 1841. Mr. W. has cleared up his farm in Recovery Township, where he found it all timber land when first occupied. His family consists of nine children, Elizabeth, Mary, Susan, William, John, Catharine, Jacob, Henry, and Stephen. DANIEL REASNER was born in Germany, February 25, 1806, and settled in this county in 1854. Has held several minor offices of trust. In 1848 he married Elizabeth Winclel, who was born in Germany, August 25, 1831. They have reared a family of eleven children, named as follows : Clematis, Robert, Elizabeth, Alois, Adam, Madaline, Joseph, John, Catharine, Mary, and Rosie. W. J. MUTHERT settled in this county in 1857. He was born in Prussia in 1822. After coming to Recovery Township he engaged in farming and the milling trade. In 1845 he married Elizabeth J. Rodolf, who was born in Germany April 10, 1826. The family consisted of the following children Henry, Louisa, William, Mary A., Albert, Julius (deceased), Rudolf (deceased), and Anna E. (deceased). HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO - 455 O. S. GREENE was born in New York, July 5, 1834, and came to this county in 1857, when he settled in Recovery Township. He is pastor of the Christian Church, and has held the office of school director a number of terms. In 1854 he married Caroline Wyld, who was born in England Feb. 25,1836. Their family consisted of three children, Juliette, Emery, and Francis (deceased). JOSEPH HENDRICK, son of Henry and Mary Ann Hendrick, was born in Germany, February 14, 1840. He keeps a general store at Recovery. In 1867 he married Agnes, daughter of T. and Agnes Busche. She was born in Germany, March 15, 1851. Their children are Josephine, Henry, Agnes, George, Francis, Henry.. He is the agent of the Pioneer Life Insurance and the Benevolent, Insurance Company, of Indiana. SIMON JACOBS was born in France in 1837, and settled in this county in 1868. He served in the war of the rebellion, and has held several township offices at different periods. He was married August 6, 1867. His family consists of six children, viz.: Catharine, Philemon, Mary J. (deceased), John F., Anna E., and Peter. JOHN BROWN was born in Mercer County in 1853, his parents having come to the county in 1849. In 1876 he married Catharine Shindline, who was born in 1860. Their family consists of two children, Anna, born in 1877, and Catharine, born in 1880. Mr. Brown has lived in Recovery Township since his childhood, and has followed farming all his life. JOHN SPANGLER, JR., was born in this county March 16, 1854. His parents came to the county the previous year. He married Amelia Chalch August 5, 1879. Her parents came from Germany, where she was born December 12, 1862. They have one child, Frank, born May 5, 1880. Mr. S. is a farmer of Recovery Township ; his post-office being Macedon. HENRY BEISICK was born in Germany March 6, 1834, and came to this county in 1871. The same year he married Catharine Fulencamp, who was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, in 1848. Before coming to America Mr. B. served five years in the German army. The family consists of three children, Barnard, Catharine, and Mary. JOHN SCHNEIDER was born in Germany, June 28, 1849, and located in Mercer County in November, 1877. His parents remain in Germany. He is a carriage manufacturer and blacksmith in Fort Recovery. April 29, 1873, he married Mary Roesner, a native of Mercer County, by whom he has had one son and three daughters. GEORGE ISENHART is a native of Preble County, Ohio, and settled in Mercer County in the year 183* The same year he married Elizabeth A. McKerson, which union has been fruitful of eleven children, five sons and five daughters still living. He is a farmer, and is still hale and hearty at the good old age of seventy-three years. HENRY WOEST was born in Mercer County, Ohio, March 14, 1844. His wife, Mary Hagedorn, was also born in Mercer County in 1849. This couple were married in the same county November 11, 1867. Mr. Woest was elected constable in 1876, and filled the office one term. He is now engaged in the business of teaming. MICHAEL ROEMER was the son of Jacob and Mary A. Roemer, who settled in this county in 1838. He was born in Mercer County, April 24, 1842, and brought up to the farming business. He married Margaret, daughter of Peter and Eve Kirber, April 5, 1863. She was born December 5, 1842. Their children are Mary, Daniel, John, William, Frank, and Matilda. JOHN SHENLIN was born in Mercer County in 1852. Being raised on a farm he has pursued farming as a vocation. In 1877 he married. Elizabeth Post, who was born in this county in 1857. - 45 - WM. VANTILBURG was born in Greenville, Ohio, and came to this county in 1880. His wife, née Sarah L. Roulzung, was a native of Greene County, Ohio. Mr. Van Tilburg is engaged in the restaurant and bakery business at Fort Recovery. In 1863 he entered the United States service in the 8th Ohio Cavalry, and was discharged in 1865. DAVID W. WHITE was born in Pennsylvania, September 10, 1833, and came to this county. in 1867. He was married in Mansfield, his wife being a native of Pennsylvania, who was born in Richland County, November 25, 1835. Their children consisted of I'hiletus, Laura, Thomas, Martha E., Alden, Iona, and David W. Mr. White died a few years since. HENRY GORKE was born in Germany Sept. 22, 1840, and settled in Mercer County in 1874. In 1876 he married Mary Foss, who was born at St. Henry, Aug. 8, 1853. Mr. Gurke is an industrious farmer. He has but one child, Rosy, born Aug. 29, 1878. HENRY ZEHRINGER was born in Germany in the year 1844, and in his infancy emigrated with his parents to the United States. He has been twice married, and is the father of nine children. He is one of the thrifty farmers and stock-raisers of Recovery Township, Mercer County. GEORGE TROUTMAN, a native of this county, was born in 1836. In 1860 he married Caroline Bushing. He has been a farmer all his life. Post-office, Macedon. The children are named John, Mary, Catharine, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Joseph. G. W. PRILLAMAN was born in Jay County, Indiana, July 24, 1842, and came to this county in 1864. December 22, 1860, he married Miss G. H. Black, who was born in Jay County, Indiana, January 15, 1843. Their children are named Etta L., Ellen B., William U. S., and George D. DIETRICK GARKE, a native of Germany, came to this country while young, and located at Cincinnati, where he was married. In 1843 he came to this county, and is now engaged in mercantile pursuits. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. This township is bordered on the north by the Grand Reservoir, forming a very irregular boundary; east by Auglaize County, south by Marion, and west by Butler Townships. It is six miles in extent from east to west, and has an average width from north to south of about three and a half miles, and contains about twenty-one sections. This township was organized December 7, 1841 ; its boundaries commencing at the northwest corner of section 19, range 3 east, township 6; thence south, on township line, to the centre on the west line of township 7, range 3 east ; thence east to the centre line of section to the east line of section 12 in said township; thence north to the place of beginning. Election ordered to be held December 24, 1841. Franklin Township contains 14,386 acres, and, with the buildings, valued at $283,300, it has 7295 acres of arable land ; 727 acres meadow land, and 6364 acres wood land. At the settlement two small bands of Indians occupied part of this territory. They were known as the " Big" and " Little" Chickasaws, and from these two streams of the township took their names. These Indians were peaceably disposed, and never gave any trouble or alarm to the settlers. The first death is claimed to have been that of Miss Anna Miller. Records. At the annual meeting of the Board of Education, held April 17, 1854, necessary repairs were ordered to be made to each schoolhouse in the township, and that a tax of $5000 be levied to defray the expenses of the board. Apportionment of common school fund received from the State for 1854: Sub-district .No. 1, 31 pupils, $47.061. Sub-district No. 2, 60 456 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO. pupils, $91.083. Sub-district No. 3,.72 pupils, $109.299. Sub-district No. 4, 50 pupils, $75.903. Subdistrict No. 3, 16 pupils (colored), $24,291. Amount collected on entire taxable property of township, as levied in 1854, and not apportioned, $52.574. March 8, 1854.  J. M. LONG, Township Clerk. Enumeration and apportionment for 1855: District No. 1, 31 pupils, $48.902. District No. 2, 50 pupils, $78.874. District No. 3, 60 pupils, $94.657. District No. 4, 37 pupils, $58.367. Same for 1856: No. 1, 33 pupils, $45.276. No. 2, 56 pupils, $76.332. No. 3, 86 pupils, $122.188. No. 4, 40 pupils, $54.880. No. 3, 25 pupils (colored), $34.200. Trustees in 1855: John Brown, Robert Burdge. Constable: Jared Gates. Clerk : J. M. Long. Treasurer : James P. Johnston. Election April 3, 1855. Trustees.: Win. Lacy, Wm. Palter, Gilbert Munday. Treasurer: J. P. Johnston. Clerk : J. M. Long. Assessor and Constable : Jared Gates. Supervisor : Benj. Miller, Geo. Hale, and Singleton Buxton. 1856. Trustees : Gilbert Munday, W. B. Palter, Thomas McGee Treasurer: J. P. Johnston. Clerk : John L. Marshall. Supervisors : G. Munday, S. W. Vorhees, J. P. Johnston, S. A. Johnston, J. Wilkinson. 1857. Trustees: G. Munday, Geo. Hale, and Peter Buxton. Clerk : A. P Ricoff. Treasurer: J. P. Johnston. Assessor: A. M. Long. Constable: A. M. Long. State election, October 13, 1857. Governor: Salmon P. Chase (R.), 34 votes. Henry B. Payne (D.), 32 votes. Lieutenant-Governor: Martin Welker (R., 33 votes. WM. H. Lytle (D.), 33 votes. Supreme Judge: Newton Sutliff (R.), 33 votes. H. C. Whitman (D ), 33 votes. State Treasurer: Alfred P. Stone (R.), 33 votes. Jas. R. Morris (D.), 33 votes. All other State officers, thirty-three ballots on each ticket. 1858. Trustees : Chas. Burdge, Geo. Hale, Geo. Brown. Treasurer: J. P. Johnston. Clerk : A. P. Ricoff. Assessor: A. M. Long. 1859. Trustees : Charles L. Burdge, George Brown, Dennis Frank. Treasurer: Landon Bennet. Clerk : A. P. Ricoff. Assessor: William Lacy. At this time there were ten road districts in the township. 1860. Trustees re-elected. Treasurer and Assessor same. Clerk : Zephaniah Temple. Justice: Landau Bennet. 1861. All officers re-elected. 1862. All officers re-elected. Z. Temple, justice of the peace. 1863. Trustees : Geo. Brown, Benedict Palmer, Henry Ratker. Clerk : Daniel Long. Treasurer : Landon Bennet. Assessor : Win. Lacy. 1864. Trustees : Geo. Brown, J. M. Long, Jacob Gallick. Clerk: D. Long. Treasurer: Landon Bennet. Assessor: Wm. Lacy. 1865. Trustees. same. Clerk: D. Long. Treasurer : L. Bennet. Assessor : W. Lacy. 1867. Trustees : S. H. Munroe, James Circle, James Gallick. Clerk: D. Long. Treasurer: J. M. Long. Assessor: W. Lacy. 1868. Trustees: J. H. Monroe, James Circle, Henry Scheeleman. Clerk : D. Long. Treasurer : J. M. Long. 1869. Trustees: Jacob Heine, L. K. Bodkin, R. B. Miller. Clerk :. D. Long. Treasurer: Morris Kilby. 1870: Trustees re-elected. Clerk and Treasurer re-elected. 1871. Trustees: L. K. Bodkin, J. Heine, R. B. Miller. Clerk: D. Long. Treasurer : M. Kilby. In 1872, J. M. Long was elected treasurer, which office he held until 1880, when he was succeeded by W. J. Barker, present incumbent. In 1872 Gilbert Munday was elected treasurer. In 1875 Jasper Temple. In 1877 W. J. Barker. In 1878 H. H. Sweetermann and E. B. Grunden ; and in 1881, F. P. Burdge. These comprised the changes in the board of trustees from 1872 to 1882. In January, 1881, N. B. Long was appointed clerk, vice D. Long, deceased, and holds the office at this time. Disciples' Church. This society was organized in 1842, and consisted of Wm. P. Long and wife, Joshua W. Wright and wife, Thomas Lacy and wife, and Mrs. M. Sprague. Rev. Joshua Swallow was first pastor. Services were for some time conducted at the houses of the different families. Finally a building which has since gone to. ruins was erected close by the Long grave-yard in this township. At this time services are held in the Montezuma churches, by courtesy of the congregations of that place. The Baptists had services for a number of years at different places in the township, and while a few families were found here no church was ever built nor congregation regularly organized. The Christian Union denomination organized a congregation about three years since, and hold meetings in the northeast part of the township. MONTEZUMA. Montezuma contains thirty-five lots, and is laid out in north part of southwest quarter of northwest quarter of section 29, town 6 S., range 3 E., the northwest corner of the town being the northwest corner of said forty acre lot. Beaver, Canal, and Riley Streets are each four rods wide. Main and High Streets are each five rods wide. The lanes are each one pole wide. The east line of lot 8 is six poles long, the south and west lines of same each ten poles long, the north line four poles. The line of said lot bounded by Beaver Creek is six rods nineteen links long. The south line of lot 23 is eleven poles fifteen links, west line five poles, north line nine poles, and the line bounded by said creek five poles sixteen links. The south line of lot 24 is nine poles,. west line ten poles, north line one pole five links, and the line bounding in Beaver Creek eleven poles. Lot 25 is four poles six links wide, and seventeen poles seventeen links long. Lots 26 to 35 inclusive are each seventeen poles and seventeen links long, and five poles wide. All other lots are ten poles long and five wide. The streets cross each other at right angles, and are laid out at a variation of 4̊ E. Good and sufficient stones have been planted by me at the -northwest corner of lot No: 22 and the southwest corner of lot 19. All of which is certified to be correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. February 18, 1835.  JUSTIN HAMILTON, Surveyor. Acknowledged, March 4, 1835, by Wm. Beauchamp and Stacy Taylor, before Samuel McKee, J. P. Recorded March 12, 1835. J. W. RILEY, Recorder. Business Interests. Steam Saw-Mill - Long & Cribly. File Factory.—Preston & Muller. Stores.—J. M. Long, Geo. R. Platt, and Morris Kelby. Post Office.--J. M. Long. Montezuma Hotel.—The only hotel in the township is exclusively patronized by hunting and fishing parties, as well as by the general traveling public. James Perkin, proprietor. Resident Physician.—Samuel H. Bartine. Two Churches, the Methodist Episcopal and United Brethren. The school is of the district class and grade, and has about seventy pupils enrolled. Several fisheries are established at the town for the accommodation of the public, while the town also affords a splendid fish market. Methodist Episcopal Church. This congregation was an old organization, but for different reasons was at one time abandoned. In 1880 the organization was revived Rev. L. E. Prentiss, of Celina, and steps were at once taken toward the erection of a church. This was carried forward until a splendid frame structure was completed and furnished at a cost of a little more than $2000, and dedicated by Rev. Belt, May 7, 1882. The membership is thirty-five. Trustees, Win. Barker, Dr. S.H. Bartine, J. H. Henry Bennet, James Perkin, Henry Johnston, Isaac Evers, and Geo. Miller. Class leaders, James Perkin and Wm. Barker. A. Sabbath school has been maintained since the reorganization, and embraces about forty pupils. James Perkin is superintendent. The number of classes is usually about five, but varies with the attendance. Montezuma Class ; United Brethren. This class was organized in 1845 by Elizabeth Buxton, Mary Taylor, Wm. Beauchamp and wife, and others. Rev. R. Gillem was first pastor,. succeeded by John Slife. The first services were held at the houses of Singleton and Wm. Buxton. The first church was built about 1862, while a new building was erected at Montezuma in 1879, at a cost of about $2000. It was dedicated by Bishop Weaver, on the first Sabbath in June, 1879. The present membership is about sixty, and the society is in a prosperous condition. BIOGRAPHIES. A. LAMBERT and Josey his wife settled in Franklin Township in 1850. He was born April 26, 1841, in Fayette County, Ohio, and his wife September 4, 1841, in West Virginia. They were married in 1863. His parents' names were Elisha and Tabitha Lambert. His children were John, Rosie, George, Samantha, Frank, Torrin, and Antic. He was supervisor in 1875. Both his father and his father-in-law served in the War of 1812. He served in the Ninetieth Ohio Volunteers, Company A; enlisted it 1862, and discharged in 1865. HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO - 457 ISAAC W. PRESTON was born April 22, 1822, in Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1845 he came to Mercer County, just after his marriage with Miss Susan Hale, a native of the same place. They were married June 1, 1845, and have reared five children, viz., Sarah Frances, born December 16, 1846, and a resident of Bates County, Mo.; Benjamin, born June 9, 1848, a resident of this county.; Samuel A., born November 20, 1849, residing in Bates County, Mo.; George H., born January 30, 1853, of Mercer, and William, born November 16, 1854, also of this county. Mrs. Preston's parents came to this county about 1836, while William and Sarah, nee Whallon, Preston, parents of our subject, never came to the county. Mr. Isaac Preston is one of the oldest and most respected of the citizens of this township, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all his neighbors. He served as justice of the peace from 1871 to 1877, and has held the various minor township offices at different times. He had three uncles, viz., John, Ahijah, and Joseph Preston, in the war of 1812. Joseph died in camp near New Bremen, while the others returned safe from the war. His father and two brothers were in the Mexican war, in which service his oldest brother died of diarrhoea. His half brother was in the late war, while he himself went out in 1861 and served three years and nine days. They were in the 5th Ohio Battery, while their father was a member of the 180th Regiment under Col. S. R. Mott. Mr. Preston's cousin, Simon W. Vorhees, is living on an adjoining farm, and is one of the oldest living settlers of this township. WM. P. LONG, one of the early settlers, was a native of Virginia, but came here with his family in 1837. There were then but few families in this community, and these perhaps consisted of the Burdges, Trims, and a few others. Mr. Long's family consisted of the following named children : Daniel, James, Ebenezer, John, Myron, Lucretia, and Hannah. Mr. and Mrs. Long both died at a full old age, and were buried in the township of their adoption. James Long, son of Wm. P. Long, was born in Hamilton County in 1824. In 1848 he married Amanda Burdge, of this township, and reared six children-Newton B., Benjamin F., Prudence P., Sarah A., Nancy N., Harriet Ellen. They remained in this township until January, 1882, when the whole family, excepting Newton B., moved to Appleton, Missouri. Newton B. Long was born April 21, 1849, and was married to Miss Rachel D. Bodkin, of this township. They have two children, named Melville Arlington and Elvie Leland. He remained on the farm until Dist April (1882), when he purchased the store of S. T. Johnston, of Montezuma, which he is now conducting, and to which town he contemplates, moving his family. He was appointed township clerk vice his uncle Daniel, deceased, and has since been twice elected to the same (Ace, which he holds. SINGLETON BUXTON was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, September 1, 1808, and moved with his parents to Germantown the next year. On April 5, '832, he married Miss Elizabeth Cox, a native of Butler County, Ohio, arid in 1841 moved to this county. They have reared seven children, named Jasper S., Sarah Ann, Mary M., Francis Marion, Isaac Newton, John M., and Nancy E. Isaac lost his life by the explosion of one of the vats in the old Lockington paper-mill, in Shelby County. John still lives on the old place, and Nancy is at the old home. Jasper lives in Shelby County Sarah is the wife of Rev. S. S. Holden, of West Milton Mary is at home. Francis married Miss Selinda J. Plummer, and has a family of four children, and resides in this township. Isaac married Clara R. Walters, and his widow lives in Mention. The Buxtons are old. and prominent settlers in this county. When Singleton Buxton came to the county, he found the following named families already here : G. B. Williams, Mr. Beauchamp, Charles and Wm. Bodkins, Mrs. Sarah Ballinger, Alex. Miller, Stephen Johnston and his three sons, Christopher, John, and Stephen Thomas Lacy, wife, and three sons, Job, George, and William John Hole, Joseph Wilkinson and family, Peter Circle and family, Wm. Long and family, Charles Selby, wife, and four children. JAMES PERKIN, a millwright by trade, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, September 25, 1840. In 1871 he came to New York, but immediately went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he worked at his trade about six months. He then went to Phoenixville Iron Works, Chester County, Where he remained but a short time, coining to Montezuma in 1873. Here he has erected a hotel, which was completed and occupied in July, 1881, and to which he largely gives his attention, and renders the house a pleasant place. to stay. In June, 1873, he married Miss Mary Lambkin, of Philadelphia. They have one child, named Charles Granger. Mr. Perkin is also in partnership with his brother Joseph, in the mercantile business, at Coldwater. DR. SAMUEL H. BARTINE was born in Princeton, N. J., April 20, 1827. When twenty-eight years old he came to Ohio, but four years later went to Mississippi. Again in two years he returned to this State and located in Auglaize County. In 1875 he came to Montezuma, since which date he has practised medicine at this place. In 1869 he married Margaret Wyckoff, of New Jersey. His grandfather Bartine was a French Huguenot, who came to New York in 1792, while that city was yet in infancy, so far as the prominence of Broadway was concerned. His father, David Bartine, was born in New York, and was a Methodist minister. He lived to the age of about eighty, and was an active minister over a half century. Dr. Bar-tine's mother and Hon. Sam. Hunt's father were sister and brother. The Doctor has one living brother, Dr. Oliver Bartine, of Princeton, N. J. One brother, David W., a Methodist minister, is deceased. Two other brothers, Judge Stephen, of Berks County, Pa , and Joseph, a farmer, of Lawrenceville, Pa., are both dead. He had three sisters, one living, Louisa Teissere, of Trenton, N. J., Mrs. Eliza, Curran, of Huntington, Ind. (dec'd), and Maria Mount, of Long Branch (dec'd). CHARLES L. BURDGE was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, September 14, 1825. In October, 1835, his parents came to Franklin Township, where his father died in November, 1868, and his mother June 18, 1879. The family consisted of eight children, of whom three are still living in this county, and one in Missouri. Our subject was the third child, and is the oldest of those living. He is a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser. He was married June 11, 1846, to Prudence Preston, of Hamilton County, who blessed him with eight children, only five of whom are living. The children were named as follows: Caroline, Robert, Franklin, Amanda, Nancy Ann (dead), James (dead), Minnie (dead), and Emma. Caroline married Allen Palmer; Robert married Lydia .J. Palmer, and Franklin married Eva Frank. They all live in the old home community. GEORGE L. AXE, son of George and Margaret, née Echenrate, Axe, was born in Circleville, Ohio, in May, 1838. During his infancy his parents moved near Zanesville, where he remained until his eighteenth year, when, with his parents, he came to the farm now occupied by his brother, in Auglaize County. This was in 1856, and since that time he has been a resident of this locality. He was married May 30, 1863, to Rose Tale, of Auglaize County, and has reared seven children, named Ambrose A., Mary J., George, Anna, William, Clara, and Charles ; two children, named James L. and Russell, the former the second oldest of the family, and the latter the second youngest, an infant, are deceased. Mr. Axe is one of the leading farmers of the west part of the township, and has a splendid farm, in every way well improved. WM. AXE was born January 8, 1833, in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, and moved to Auglaize County, Ohio, in 1856, with his father's family. The same season he married Eleanor Logan, of Muskingum County. They have a family of seven children, named William, John, Joseph, Alice, Elizabeth, Sarah Ellen, Mary Ann, and Caroline. The land he now owns consists of 290 acres on the Auglaize and Mercer County line, his buildings being on the road at the county line crossing, where he keeps a country supply-store, which is matter of great convenience to the community, owing to the distance to St. Marys or Montezuma, the nearest towns. WM. B. WINTERS was born May 23, 1803, in Kentucky, and came to this county in 1831. April 18, 1836, he married Mary Bodkin. At that time they had but one child, Mary A., now Mrs. Jacob Selby. She remembers the names of several. Indians, who were frequent callers at her father's house. Among these are General Armstrong, Johnnycake, and Oldhorse. She thus became acquainted with the Indian dialect in infancy, and at first spoke it more readily than her mother tongue. On August 23, 1846, she married Jacob Selby. They have reared the following children: Elizabeth A., Cynthia A., Sarah A., J. Wilson, Emma It., and Lovada. THE BALLINGERS. William Ballinger was born in Clarke County, Ohio, and settled in this township about 1833. He married Elizabeth Updyke, and one of their sons, Andrew .Jackson, now resides on the old home farm. Their son Harman was born in 1832 and married Mary Jane Patterson, and two years later moved to the west. Andrew J. was born in 1833 and married Rosanna Bodkin in 1855. They have one living child. Mrs. B. died in 1863. Mr. B. in 1865 married Abigail Sprague, and has five children by this marriage, three of whom are deceased. 458 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO. J. T. MILLER, son of Benjamin and Rebecca Miller, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, March 17, 1843, and settled in this county in 1854. In 1866 he married Rebecca Bennett, who was born in this county in 1838. Her parents were Laudon and Elizabeth Bennett. Mr. Miller has reared six children, named Frank W., born 1867; Delia, born 1869; Almeritia, born 1871; Charles, born 1873; AlwiIda, born 1875; and Clyde, born 1877. MORRIS KELLY, son of Dennis and Mary Kelly, was born in Cincinnati, May 29, 1812, and in 1842 married Nancy Summers, who was born in Virginia, June 18, 1818. In 1850 he came to this county, and has been engaged in the grocery trade in Montezuma for several years. He also held the office of postmaster from 1874 to about 1881. He was township treasurer two years, and constable the same length of time. PETER CIRCLE was born in Virginia, and moved to this county in 1835, thus becoming one of the earliest settlers of the township. At that time his family consisted of Emanuel, Andrew, Jacob, Regina, and Sarah. One son, James, had come to this section the preceding year. Andrew married Rebecca Cameron, August 18, 1843. The father died in March, 1856. CHARLES BODKIN came to this county in October, 1829, from Clarke County. S. K , a son, was born in this township October 14, 1831 ; Wm. D., March 14, 1834 ; and Greenberry, March 24, 1838. His brother William came here at the same time. He died at the age of eighty-one, June 23, 1848, and Charles on the 8th of April, 1856. STEPHEN SPRAGUE AND WIFE were among the early settlers of this township. They reared a family of six children. One son, Stephen, married Myron Long. JOHN MILLER AND WIFE were among the very earliest settlers in this township. They have both passed away some years since. GIBSON TOWNSHIP. Gibson Township is bounded north by Recovery Township, east by Granville Township, south by Darke County, and west by Indiana State line. It is six miles long from east to west, and has an average width from north to south of three and a half miles, the only variation being on the north line, which corresponds to that of the old Greenville Treaty line, which bears northwest until it strikes the Wabash at Recover, when it diverges to the southwest until it reaches State line. The only village in the township is a portion of Fort Recovery, which is treated in entirety under Recovery Township, and so need only be referred to here. The records of the township for dates prior to 1860 could not be found. 1860. Trustees: J. Meyers, J. G. Alexander, and George Painter. Clerk: Isaac Foster. 1861. Justice of the Peace: Theo. Scheid. Trustees: Thomas Gran-(ion, Robert Bunter, and James G. Alexander. Treasurer: George Meyers. Clerk: Isaac Foster. Constables: John Lipps and John E. Meyers. 1862. Trustees: George Painter, Thomas Grandon, and John P. Fox. Clerk: Isaac Winters. 1863. Trustees: George Painter, Jacob Meyers, and Abraham Mott. Clerk: F. Meyers. Constables: John Lipps and Azriah Denny. 1864. The above officers were all re-elected. 1865. Trustees: George Painter, Jacob Meyers, and Peter M. Collins. Treasurer: George Meyers. 1866. Clerk: Abraham Mott, Jr. All others re-elected. Also in 1867. 1868. Trustees: John Oswald, John Esser, and Rudolph Figel. Treasurer: George Meyers. Clerk: A. Mott. 1868. Same as above. 1869. Trustees: Jackson Golden, John Esser, and R. Figel. Treasurer: George Meyers. 1870. Trustees: R. Figel, John Esser, and F. Meyers. In 1871 the following persons were elected: Trustee: Edward Jones. Clerk: John H. Collins. Treasurer: George R. McDaniel. 1872. Trustees: John Cummins, James Hedrick, and Edward Jones, Treasurer: John Cring. 1873. Rudolph Figel, James Hedrick, and Edward Jones. Treas. user and clerk the same. 1874. Trustee: George Hedrick. Clerk: J. Max. We could not find any record for the years 1875, '76, and '77. In 1878. Trustees: Abraham Mott, John Cummins, and John Green. Treasurer: John Cring. Clerk: Joseph Passman. 1879. Trustee: Peter Wourms. Treasurer: Theo. Cring. 1880. Same as above. 1881. Trustees: D. W. Barger, Peter Wourms, and J. G. Alexander. Treasurer: J. A. Roemer. Clerk: Joseph Passman. 1882. Constables: Henry Muthert and John Barry. Justices of the Peace: George R. McDaniel and Charles Davis. The township was organized as part of Darke County, and so forms one of the original townships of Mercer County as now constituted. This township has 12,038 acres, and with the buildings valued at $227,650. 5513 acres arable land, 1083 acres meadow land, 442 acres woodlands. Population in 1870, 1100; in 18Q0, 1462. Vote of 1880: For Secretary: Charles Townsend, 113; Win. Lang, 180. For President: James A. Garfield, 122; Winfield S. Hancock, 196. For Governor (1881): Charles Foster, 90; John W. Bookwalter, 152; Abraham R. Ludlow, 6; John Seitz, 1. BIOGRAPHIES. ANDREW JACKSON DENNISTON is the proprietor of the Wayne House, Fort Recovery. He was born in Darke County, Ohio, and married Lydia Ann Byrum, of the same county, March 24, 1864, by which union six children have been born. Andrew Jackson is the son of William Denniston, son of Johnston Denniston, who came to this country from North Ireland about the year 1800. His mother was Mary Jane Wasson, whose father also Caine from North Ireland about the same year. His wife's father, Robert Byrum, was a native of North Carolina. His mother-in-law, Mary Byrum, was a daughter of Jacob Getinger, of Baltimore. A. J. Denniston was clerk of Jackson Township, Darke County, Ohio, for three and a half years, and also a justice of the peace of the same township for two terms. From 1871 to 1879 he was mayor of Union City, Indiana. In the latter year he resigned and removed to Fort Recovery, and was elected and now holds the office of mayor of said village. His grandfathers, Johnston Denniston and David Wasson, were among the first settlers of Washington Township, Darke County. His father purchased eighty acres of land in the woods, and paid for it by making rails for twenty-five cents per hundred. He hauled hoop poles to West Alexander, Ohio, marketed his wheat in Piqua, and teamed to Dayton and Cincinnati. Ile raised a large family of children, and all shared alike the hardships incident to the early settlement of the country. AZARIAH DENNEY was born in Gallia County, Ohio, in 1824, and settled in Gibson Town; ship, Mercer County, Ohio, in 1i30 He married Lydia Ann Riegel, 0I Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1852, in .Jay County, Indiana, by whom he had nine children—three boys and six girls—all of whom wive, excepting Florence B., who died in April, 1873. His father, Wm. F. Denney, is yet living in Darke County, Ohio. His grandfather, Martin Fulk, served throughout the seven years' war with the patriots of the Revolution. The patriotism of the sires still courses in the veins of the sons. A brother, Mr. Henry Denney, and a brother-in-law, Mr. John Riegel, having performed heroic service in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Denney was at the first election held in Gibson Township, Fort Recovery, in 1834. When he arrived in the township twenty-six families of the Miami Indians were camped on Simison's Run. His playmates were Indian bucks. he joined in their wild whoops and the chase. Deer were more plentiful then than squirrels are now, and he could kill them a good deal easier. A great many wild hogs roamed through the forests, and many a brutal and ferocious fight aid he wit- ness between the wild hogs and the tame dogs with bucks, squaws, and papooses present, lending a weird enchantment by their savage delight. While Mr. Denney kept himself on friendly terms with the Indians, he never deemed it safe to trust them too far, and had some narrow escapes from their treachery. As one of the substantial farmers of Gibson Township he now looks back upon the Vicissitudes of his pioneer life with feelings of victory and good cheer. SEBASTIAN LABER was born in Germany, April 27, 1840. He emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1847, and settled in Mercer County, where he now keeps a restaurant in the town of Fort Recovery. his wife, Mary Betner, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, March 9, 1853, and he married her in Mercer County, Oct. 8, 1872. They have four children living. HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO - 459 GEORGE HEDRICK, One of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Gibson Township, is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and was born March 7, 1839. He is the son of John and Rebecca Hedrick, natives of Virginia. His wife's maiden name was Sarah Clark, whose parents were natives of England. His parents and his wife's parents located in Mercer County at an early day, and the subject of this sketch experienced the hardships, trials, and troubles that belong to pioneer life. He has in his possession some very fine and curious Indian relics, such as guns, knives, and tomahawks. In the spring of 1851 the remains of a number of the soldiers who fell at the time of St. Clair's defeat at Fort Recovery in 1791 were accidentally found. These were exhumed, and reburied in a Christian mander, in which duty George Hedrick assisted. He was township trustee for the period of six years, and also served as street commissioner for the term of six years. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private soldier in Company C, 118th O. V. I., and received his honorable discharge in 1865. For two years the regiment belonged to the 23d Army Corps, and at the siege of Knoxville he was under fire twenty-one days in succession, but emerged from the siege without receiving a scratch. Mr. Hedrick is the father of two sons and two daughters. ABSALOM WALLINGSFORD, a son of Richard and Fanny Wallingsford, was born in Clark County, Ohio, February 10, 1822, and his wife, Martha Anti McDaniel, was born in the same county August 25, 1823. They were married in Clark County in June, 1844, and removed to Mercer County in June, 1848. He erected the first saw-mill in this county, the motive power of which was propelled by five and six yoke of oxen and cows. With this power he was enabled to saw from one thousand to fifteen hundred feet of lumber per day. During the war of the Rebellion he served as a private soldier in the 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the three months' service. He afterwards entered the 99th Ohio as a lieutenant, but resigned his commission in 1863. In October, 1864, he again entered the service as a substitute, and remained in the service until the close of the war in 1865. His wife's father, James McDaniel, was one of the soldiers of the war of 1812. After passing through various vicissitudes, Mr. Wallingsford is now engaged in a remunerative furniture business at Fort Recovery, Ohio. JOEL S. HOYT, son of Alvery and Hannah McKinley Hoyt (of Washington County, Ohio), was born in Morgan County, Ohio, October 29, 1825. Learned the photographic art, and settled in Mercer County. Joel S. married Phebe Morrison November 26, 1846. Their children are William A., Joseph D., Henrietta F., Joel A., Phebe E., and Mary E. His wife's parents names are Morris and Lydia Archer Morrison. She was born August 12, 1829. His own grandfather, Michael Hoyt, was in the Revolutionary War, and .Joseph Archer, his wife's grandfather, in the Mexican War. He enlisted in the 40th Ohio Regiment, October 28, 1661, in Company K, and discharged November 6, 1864. Jeremiah Hoyt enlisted in the 7th Ohio Cavalry. John Hoyt in the 77th Ohio Regiment in 1861, discharged in 1865, and was in Andersonville prison six months. Nicholas Hoyt enlisted in the 36th Ohio Regiment, and died at Parkersburg in 1864. Joseph Morrison enlisted in the same regiment. William Morrison in the 36th Ohio Regiment in 1861, and discharged in 1865. Elisha Morrison in the 42d Ohio Regiment in 1862, and discharged in 1865. W. W. COLLINS is the son of Peter M. and Anne Gripton Collins. He was born in Worcester County, Maryland, July 16, 1839, became a farmer and stock-raiser, and settled in this county March 12, 1853. He married Mary J. Whitesel, daughter of David and Matilda Whitesel, who settled in Mercer County in 1856. She was born October 26, 1855, and married October 13, 1874. Their children are Ernest C., Edgar P., and David. By his first wife., Emeline A. Stephens, he had one son, named Raymond R. Collins. His father, Peter M. Collins, held the office of justice of the peace for several terms. John Collins, his uncle, was in the War of 1812. William W. Collins enlisted April 21, 1862, in the 69th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Company E, and was discharged July 25, 1865. John H. Collins in the 118th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company E, August, 1863, and discharged in 1865. Thomas C. Collins in 1861, in the 40th Regiment Ohio Volunteers, and discharged in 1864. JOHN HEDRICK was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and settled in Mercer County in 1839. He is a carpenter and builder. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Johnson, a native of Champaign County, Ohio, to whom he was united in marriage in Mercer County, May 27, 1858. Two sons and a daughter are the fruits of this union. JACOB P. DEARWORTH, son of George A. and Catharine Dearworth, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 19, 1842, and brought up as a shoemaker. His parents came to this county in 1856. Jacob P. settled at Fort Recovery in 1859, and married Anne Schaffer, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Schaffer, October 26, 1868. Her parents came to this county in 1867. .Mrs. Jacob P. Dearworth was born in Bavaria July 15, 1847. Their children are Charles W., Annie S., and Russel R. y He has filled the office of school director. He enlisted in the 40th Regiment, Company I, April, 1861, and was discharged in 1865, and was in the following engagements: Middle Creek, Pound Gap, FrankHilton, Tennessee, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, etc. etc. He was captured in 1864, and served six months in Andersonville. He settled in Fort. Recovery, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. JAMES K. JONES, son of Abraham and Rebecca Jones, was born in Butler County, Ohio, December 12, 1826. His father was born in New Jersey in 1784, and his mother in 1791. He is a farmer. In 1849 he married Minerva K. Jones, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1832. Their children are Hiram, Nancy K., Abraham, George W., Susan R., Mary, Martha, James, Abbie, Frank, Albert, William, Jacob, and Lorinda. James K. Jones enlisted in 1863 in Company D of the 152d Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in 1864. He entered as a veteran in 1864 in the 193d Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company D. Abraham Jones enlisted in 1862, and served three years in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company A. James K. Jones was one of tile first settlers in Mercer County; and lived a pioneer life. His father entered the land in 1835, and owns a farm of eighty acres. WILLIAM SNYDER settled in this county in 1835, having been born in Butler County, Ohio, February 23, 1820. Has held the office of assessor, trustee, and treasurer in his township. When he came to the township it was all under timber, but by hard work he has two farms, well improved, besides holding town property. He married Martha Herring October 10, 1844. She was a native of Butler County, where she was born February 8, 1826. Their children consist of the following named: Henry, born September 9, 1847 ; Mary Jane, born February 19, 1852; Sarah Ann, born February 12, 1854; Tillie C., born June 5, 1860 ; John W., born September 13, 1862; Orra, born October 12, 1887; Rebecca., July 13, 1845, deceased September 3, 1876 ; Margaret, born October 8, 1849, deceased December 4, 1857; Anthony Wayne, born December 7, 1857, deceased July 27, 1861. GEORGE R. MCDANIEL came from Clarke County, Ohio, and settled near Recovery in 1836. The country was then wild, and farming became his occupation as rapidly as lands were cleared. In 1871 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he still (1881) holds. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, 118th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until discharged, at the close of the war in 1865. His father and grandfather laid out and founded the town of Recovery. He was married March 4, 1858, to Miss Felicia A. Lotz, of Jay County, Ind. They have but two children, M. P. and Ernest L. Mr. McD. is one of the early settlers of his township, and has contributed largely to the improvement of the new country which he entered in 1836. THOMAS ROCKWELL, who emigrated to Mercer County in November, 1837, was born in Pennsylvania, .January 17, 1817. April 11, 1840, he married Dulama Scranton, a native of Madison County, Ohio, to whom a family of nine children have been born. He is at present engaged as a farmer and carpenter near Fort Recovery, Ohio. In 1850, Mr. Rockwell was elected constable at Gibson Township, and served two terms. When he first arrived in the county there were two pepper mills in the vicinity, with which the farmers ground their corn into meal and he thinks he killed at least a thousand deer the first twenty years after his arrival. Ancestors on both his father's and mother's side were 'in the Revolutionary War. T. W. CRAIG, son of Tobias and Catharine Hedrick Craig, was born April 2, 1847, in Jay County, and brought up to the drug business. He married Abigail A. McGriff, daughter of Solomon and Clara C. McGriff, on August 15, 1672, and came to Mercer County in 1877. Their children are named William F., Thornton. H., and Clara B. He has filled the office of township treasurer. John Craig enlisted in 1862, and discharged in 1865, was one year in Libby prison. He belonged to the 90th Regiment, 5th 460 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO. FREDERICK K. SCHNEIDER, son of Frederick and Catharine F. Schneider (the parents live in Germany). He was born in Germany, March 4, 1846 ; settled at Fort Recovery in 1872; keeps a grocery store. He married Annie L. Ungerer, who was born January 28, 1857, daughter of William L. and Elizabeth. B. Ungerer, on September 11, 1873. Their children are Charles F., Maria, Ernest, and Eliza W. Frederick K. Schneider served in the Prussian army four years ; enlisted there in 1867, and discharged in 1871. Was in the battle of Metz, August 18, 1870 ; of Bomorge, August 30, 1870 ; Sedan, September 1, 1870 ; and of Paris, September 4, 1870, and remained until 1871. While at Paris he was in six engagements, and in June, 1871, reached home, but wounded. SAMUEL W. BUCK  is a barber by trade, and is engaged in the business at Fort Recovery. He was born in Auglaize County,. April 28, 1846, and removed with his parents to Mercer County in the spring of 1858. He entered the military service in the war of the Rebellion by enlisting, September 20, 1862, in the 110th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and received an honorable discharge in 1865. He was taken prisoner at Winchester, Virginia, in 1863, and was confined in Libby prison several months. He was severely wounded in both legs in 1864, and is now receiving a pension. In 1871 her married Adelia Stoker at Celina, Ohio, by whom he has had three children. A. M. LOWREY, son of Benasah and M. Lowrey (who settled in this county in 1854), was born May 14, 1823, in the State of New York. He was brought up as a farmer. November 1, 1854, he married Elizabeth A. Byerly, who was born December 7, 1835, and is the daughter of Lewis and Sarah Shunk Bverly. A. M. Lowrey bought a farm and settled in Mercer County in March, 1861. Their children are William H., Lyman L., and Sarah E. Benasah Lowrey was in the War of 1812. Lewis R. enlisted in the 107th Illinois Regiment, Company C, August, 1862, and was discharged in 1865. Henry Lowrey was in the same regiment, and discharged at the same time. JOHN L. FOX was born in Preble County July 1, 1821, and is the son of Henry and Rachel Fox, who settled in this county in 1837. He was brought up a farmer and stockraiser. He married Christianna Robbins, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Robbins, who settled in Mercer County in 1838. 'Airs. Fox was born April 28, 1824, and married September 30, 1841. Their children are Joseph, John S., Abraham, Rachel, Eliza, Mary, James, Jesse, and Clarissa. He has been township trustee for fifteen years. Joseph Fox enlisted in the 40th Ohio Regiment, Company K, in the fall of 1862, and died in the hospital at Ashland, Kentucky, in 1862. A. STEPHENSON, M.D., was born in Syracuse, New York, in the year 1856, and located in Mercer County in December, 1875. After receiving a liberal education in the academic institutions of learning in his native country he went to Germany, where he took a thorough course in medical instruction. After his return to the United States he attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College at Columbus, where he graduated in 1877. He is now a practising physician in the country surrounding Fort Recovery. At Celina, Ohio, July 12, 1876, he married Ella E. Taylor, by whom he has had two children. ROBERT LENNARTE is engaged in the hardware merchandising business at Fort Recovery, Ohio. He was born in Germany April 29, 1836, and settled in Mercer County in December,1849. He married his wife in this county September 16, 1856. Her name was Sarah Weaver, who was born in Pennsylvania December 25, 1837. Four sons and five daughters survive this union. Mr. Lennarte has been elected and served five terms as assessor of personal property, and in 1879 was elected real estate appraiser. He has served twenty-three years as school director of district No. 6, and still continues to fill the office. RANSOM DENNEY is one of the pioneer farmers of Gibson Township. he was born in Gallia County, Ohio, December 10, 1815, and settled in Mercer County at an early day. He was at the first election, when only sixteen votes were cast at Fort Recovery. He hauled his first load of wheat of sixteen bushels to Dayton, which commanded thirty-seven cents per bushel. He paid $2.50 per bushel for salt. In 1845 he married Eliza Oakley, who bore him six children. S. L. FAIR is a carpenter by trade, and a single man. He was born in Preble County July 6, 1833, and settled, with his parents, in Mercer County in December, 1836. His father, John S. Fair, was a practising physician, and died in 1856. He was the first physician that practised in Fort Recovery. S. L., the son, enlisted in the 31st Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861, and served until his honorable discharge in 1863, after which he entered a cavalry regiment, and performed service until he was mustered out in 1865. His grandfather, William Fair, was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; and his uncle, Leander Fair, was in the Mexican war. JOSEPH W. GRAY was born November 1, 1844. His parents were James and Elizabeth Robbins Gray, who settled in Mercer County in 1844. He was raised a farmer, and on November 2, 1873, married Eliza A. Sautman, daughter of Emanuel and Consetter Sautman, who lived in Jay County. She was born July 10, 1853. Their children are Mary C., Joseph C. A., and Matilda E. He enlisted in the 126th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company G, in 1862, and was discharged June 13, 1865. He was in the battle at Martinsburgh, Virginia, and Manassas Junction; was captured there, taken to Andersonville prison, and kept ten weeks. BOLSER HOENING, son of Michael and Elizabeth Homing, came from Germany, and settled in Mercer County. He was born in Germany December 30, 1821, and raised a farmer and stock raiser. In 1857 he married Mary A., daughter of Adam and Anna M. Garlage. She was born June 13, 1835. Their children are named Anna M., Henry, Elizabeth, Adam, Christinia, Catharine, Frank, Frederic Roop. Has filled the office of school director, and settled on section 19, and owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, in a good state of cultivation, and has always lived a consistent C hristian. VAN BUREN BAKER, son of E. and Jane G. Baker, was born January 19, 1833. (His parents live in Darke County, Ohio.) He settled in this county in the fall of 1863, and is now engaged in the livery and feed business, and also farming. He married Elizabeth Gingery, daughter of George and Susan Gingery, of Darke County. Mrs. Baker was born June 11, 1836, and was married to Van Buren Baker March 10, 1854. Their children are George E., Susan J., and Thornton T. George Gingery, his father-in-law, was in the War of 1812 one year. SOLOMON MCGRIFF. April 7, 1825, is the date of the birthday of Solomon McGriff, and Darke County, Ohio, is the place of his nativity. He settled in Mercer County in 1861, and now conducts a restaurant in the village of Fort Recovery. The name of his first wife was Clara Little, to whom he was married in May, 1851. Her people were Kentuckians, and her mother was a Morgan, a relative of Gen. John Morgan, the notorious rebel raider during the war. Mr. McGriff had four children by his first wife, and one by his second. TOBIAS W. CRING is one of the few retired farmers of the county. He was born in Pennsylvania June, 1812, and settled within eight miles of his present residence in the year 1842. He has been twice married ; his first wife having died in 1869 he married his second, Anna Runkle, in Jay County, Indiana, September, 1880. Two sons and six daughters by his first wife still survive. John, the eldest son, was a soldier three years in the war of the Rebellion, and was a prisoner at Belle Isle and Andersonville one year. B. W. ROOP is a native of Mercer County, Ohio, and was married to Jeannette Borrell, a native of Butler County, Ohio, December 26, 1875. He is a blacksmith by trade, and, as a disciple of Vulcan, his forges in metal yields him a handsome competency. His father, Thomas, and mother, Elizabeth, have lived to the ages of seventy-three and seventy-two, respectively, and reside in Mercer County. He was elected constable, in 1878, of Gibson Township, and filled the office two years. He is the father of three children. J. A. WURDEMANN was married to Catharine Manchester, January 5, 1872. He was born March 29, 1851, and his wife September 4, 1853. his father's name is John H., and his mother's Adeline Wurdemann. They came to Mercer County in 1850, and keep a grocery store and restaurant at Fort Recovery. HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO - 461 WILLIAM HANNA, son of Charles and Elizabeth McGill Hanna, was born in Pennsylvania, March 25, 1830, and learned the business of cabinet-making and painting, and settled at Recovery in the spring of 1858. He married Caroline L. Gray, April 18, 1860. She was born in 1843, and is the daughter of Samuel Gray. James Hanna was in the War of 1812. William Hanna enlisted in 1864 in the 5th Ohio Cavalry, Company F, and was discharged in 1865. JACOB HAMMOND, son of Michael and Anna M. Hammond, was born September 21, 1844, and raised as a blacksmith and wagon maker. He married Susan, daughter of John and Catharine Weaver, in 1864. She was born November 23, 1845. Their children are Joseph, Michael, Catharine, Jacob, Rudolph, Ellerous, Rosie, and John. Has filled the office of supervisor for five years. He enlisted in 1664 in the 185th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company I, and was discharged at Farmington, Kentucky, on old John Marquis's farm, on account of ill-health. ANDREW S. SHAFFER, son of Ira and Hannah Simlee Shaffer, was born in Preble County, Ohio, August 7, 1830 ; is a farmer and stock-raiser, and settled in Mercer County in September, 1864. He is a farmer and stock-raiser. He married Sophia Mitchell on December 8, 1864, who is the daughter of John and Elizabeth Mitchell. She was born August 21, 1.837. Their children are Alvida J., Margaret, Mary E., James J., Albert V., Francis M., Miranda, Elizabeth, Henry W., Lucinda, Ella. JACOB H. VANKIRK, son of William C. and Mary Vankirk, settled in this county in 1852. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, August 7, 1823; brought up as a farmer and stock-raiser, and married Elizabeth Fox, May 10, 1845. ;he was born January 26, 1825, and is the daughter of Henry and Rachel Fox, who settled in Mercer County in 1839: His father's family consisted of Marcus, Louisa, Sylvester, Dewitt Clinton, Eliza Catharine, Mary, and Susan. GEORGE ZENZ is the son of Peter and Clara Zenz. They settled here in 1866. Their son George was born in Germany, October 15, 1837. He is a farmer, and keeps a general store of all kinds of goods. October 14, 1861, he married Barbara, daughter of George Freedman and Margaret, his wife. She was born May 20, 1841. Their children are George, Peter, John, and Christopher. Has been a church trustee, and owns 330 acres of good land. ROBERT HUNTER, son of Thomas and Ann Hunter Morrow. The parents settled in this county in 1846. He was born in Fairfield County, August 24, 1820, and raised a farmer. On September 3, 1844, he married Nancy A. Alexander, daughter of James and Sarah Alexander. She was born August 20, 1826. Their children are John G., Benjamin F., David H., Henry M., James A., and Annie B. He has filled the office of township trustee. John Hunter was in the one hundred day service. JOHN GUGGINBILLER, son of Mathias and Teracia Gugginbiller, was born in Germany September 10, 1825,—brought up as a farmer and stock raiser. His wife was born in 1836. They were married in New York. Their children are named John, Henry, Joseph, Mary, Anna C., and Louisa. Has been a church trustee three years. He owns two hundred acres of good tillable land, in a good state of cultivation. He came to America at the age of twenty-five years. JOSEPH BUHLER, son of Augustus and Catharine Buhler. They settled in this county in 1847. Joseph was born April 5, 1837, and was brought up to farming and a stock raiser. He married Rosanna, daughter of Anthony and Rosanna Coons, who had settled in Auglaize County. She was born in 1846. Their children are named George H., Mary F., Joseph C, Henry J., Catharine M., Rosie M. and Teracey M. He served as school director for three years in 1878. M., owns fifty acres of land in section 19. HARMON MEYER was born at Fort Recovery March 14, 1857. His parents, Ferdinand and Leah Meyer, came to this county in 1854. He is now engaged in the grocery business at Fort Recovery. ANDREW BONER is a farmer who was born in Clark County, Ohio, September 5,1842, and removed to Mercer County in the spring of 1877. He married Sarah J. Reese, a native of Greene County, September 22, 1875, by whom a son and daughter has been born. During the war of the Rebellion he served as a private soldier in the Ohio National Guards for one hundred days. GEORGE W. EDMISTON. Born in Gallia County, Ohio, in 1831, and locating in Mercer County in the year 1837, George W. Edmiston, the subject of this brief sketch, has remained a single man with stoic philosophy. As a farmer and stock-raiser he thinks "life is worth living for," and forcibly gives his reasons by remaining firm in his convictions with imperturbable complacency. WILLIAM BOISE was born in Pennsylvania January 5, 1818, and settled in Mercer County in the spring of 1863. He is a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation. He was married in March, 1878, to Elizabeth Townsend, by whom he has had thirteen children. His eldest son, Elisha, was in the Eleventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861, and died in the service at Fortress Monroe in 1863. HENRY H. MUTHART was born September 15, 1846, and removed with his parents to Marion County, Ohio, in 1847, and from thence to Mercer County in 1857. He is a carpenter by trade. In March, 1870, he was married to Elizabeth Grile. He served as constable of Gibson Township for three years ; and from May, 1864, until the close of the war, 1865, he was a sailor on the gunboat " Vindicator." WILLIAM KOCH, son of Frederick and Charlotte Koch. They came to Mercer County in 1845. He was born in Prussia January 31, 1834, was raised to the tanning business, and on the 8th of October, 1857, married Dora Buckhouse. Their children are Sophia L., Julia, Frank, Minnie, Flora, Edward, Carrie, and Elma. William Buckhouse enlisted in 1861, and was discharged in 1864. J. W. MYERS, son of Jacob and Rachel Myers (who settled in Mercer County in 1845). He was born November 21, 1847, and raised a farmer and cattle dealer. In 1878 he married Christina, daughter of Abraham and Mary A. Rautz, who was born March, 1855. They have one child, named James. He is the owner of a farm in this township, and his father owns over 300 acres. JOHN B. GREENE married Lucinda Gay, daughter of Andrew Gay, in Clifford County, Ohio, in 1873. His parents were Frederick and M. Greene. He was born in 1842, and his wife in 1843. Their children are named Edward, Amanda, Elizabeth, Julia, and Birdie. Has filled the office of trustee two years. He enlisted in 1863 in the 49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company F, and discharged at Telahoma, Kentucky. JAMES T. FORD was born in Virginia March 15, 1810, and settled in this county in 1870, since which he has engaged in farming. He married Nancy Drum May 20, 1833. She was born in Virginia February 17, 1810. Their family consisted of ten children, as follows: Cornelia (deceased), Orlando (deceased), Alonzo (deceased), Jane I., Elizabeth, Horatio, Sarah F., Phebe, David, and Martha. FREDERICK YOOS His parents, Frederick and Resine Yoos, died in Germany. He was born August 5, 1847, and is a butcher by trade. He married Frederica Cobler, October 2, 1870. She was born in 1844. Their children are Catharine and Emma. He resided seven years as a butcher at Cincinnati, Ohio. MILTON G. TRACE was born in Butler County, Ohio, December 12, 1849, and settled in Mercer County in 1878. He is a carpenter by trade. He was married in Jay County, Indiana, August 16, 1874, to Susan Bergman, a native of Hancock County, Ohio, by whom he has had three sons. 462 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO. CHARLES SNYDER is the son of Frederick and Catharine F. Snyder, of Germany. He was born in Germany, November 4, 1849. When he came to this county he settled at Fort Recovery in 1877, and keeps a billiard saloon. He was in the Prussian army three years. JOSEPH SOUDERMAN, son of John and Mary Engles Souderman, was born in Germany, June 4, 1824; raised as a blacksmith., and settled in this county in 1853. He married Sarah F. Weber in 1857, who was born in 1840, and was the daughter of John and Catharine Fry Weber. JOHN D. VAN KIRK is a harness-maker in the village of Fort Recovery. He is a native of Mercer County, Ohio, having been born in August, 1852. He married Mary Hanlin August 25, 1878. His father's name was Milton Van Kirk, and his mother's Nancy. WILLIAM EVERS, a farmer near Fort Recovery, was born May 22, 1854, and came to this county in 1875, where he now owns one hundred and twenty acres of rich bottom land. The same year he married Rose Deringer, who was born in 1859. They have two children, Frank and Andrew. GRANVILLE TOWNSHIP. This township is bounded north by Butler Township, east by Marion Township, south by Darke County, and west by Gibson and Recovery townships. It is six miles from east to west on north line ; the east line is irregular, corresponding to the west line of Marion Township, as already noted ; the south line is nearly five miles, and the west line something more than six miles long. The surface of the township is generally low and level, with an extended basin known as Cranberry Prairie, but which was originally something of a marsh. It is in this locality the Wabash has its source. From here it flows west and crosses into Recovery Township. The land is highly productive, and is now in rather an advanced state of cultivation. The inhabitants have always been, and are now, either German, or of German descent. Organization. The Commissioners met June 5, 1837, and " took up a petition from citizens of Recovery Township, praying to have town 7 S., range 2 E., struck off from Recovery Township. We therefore hear said petition ; whereupon it is considered and ordered by the Board in the premises that town 7 S., range 2 E., be and hereby is set off and entered according to the boundaries made upon the original surveyed township into a separate and independent township, according to the statute in such cases made and provided, and to be known by the name of Granville. It is further ordered that the originally surveyed town 6 S., range 2 E., be, and the same is hereby attached to town 7 S., range 2 E. We therefore direct notice to be put up for an election to he held at the house of John Wright on the 26th of June next, then and there to elect such officers as the law directs." Garfield vote (1880) 58 ; Hancock vote 288. This township contains 24,215 acres, which, with the buildings, are valued at $386,480, having 10,452 acres of arable land, 438 acres meadow land, and 13,325 acres of wood land. Population in 1870, 1234; in 1880, 1616. William Franklin says "the first township officers were James Grant, justice of the peace; Wm. Franklin, constable ; John Wright, clerk." This township is composed of nine subdistricts, one exclusively for colored youths, and one independent district, known as St. Henry. The average wages paid teachers are forty dollars per month. The township has five brick and four frame school-houses. The township enumeration is 571 ; enrolled 362 ; and John G. Beckman is the present clerk. ST. HENRY. St. Henry is laid out on east half of northwest, and west half of northeast quarters.of section 21, town 7 S., range 2 E. It contains 88 lots, which, with the exception of north and west tiers, are 7 rods wide east and. west, and 37 rods long north and south. The streets are each four rods wide. The north and south streets are laid out at a variation of 3° 45" E. The east and west streets are laid out on a variation of 4̊ E. A small branch meanders through the town from southwest to northeast. Lots numbered 33 and 56 are donated for a market-place and public ground. Lots 29 and 51 are donated for church and school purposes. The corners of town are marked as follows: at northeast corner a post, at southeast corner a sugar, at southwest corner a beech, and at northwest corner a beech and a lynn. The centre of section 21 stands one link west of southwest corner of lot 11. The original quarter section post on north line of section 21 stands seven links west of northwest corner of lot 18. Stones have been planted at northwest corner of lot 30, at northeast corner of lot 37, and at northeast corner of lot 52. All of which is certified to be correct. JUSTIN HAMILTON, CO. Sur. Done July 1, 1837. Acknowledged July 7, 1837, by Henry Roemer, before John Wiseman, J. P. Recorded July 13, 1837. J. W. RILEY, Rec. Henry Bruns built the second cabin in the town, and his grandsons still carry on the business of blacksmith and wagon makers ; also are proprietors of the only hotel in the place. Henry Beckman, the father of John G. Beckman, was also one of the first business men of the town. His son still carries on a large business, is postmaster, notary public, and clerk of township. Joseph B. Drahman has a harness shop and a good general store. BURKETSVILLE. This plat was laid out for Bernard Roemer, Jr., Edward Frummel, William Sutherland, and Jackson Galder, on the 25th of November, 1876. It is located on the south end of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 34, town 15, range 2 east. The lots are bounded on the south by the section and county lines of Darke and Mercer Counties. Surveyed by M. Schuyler. BIOGRAPHIES. JOHN G. BECKMAN, son of Henry and Elizabeth Borgerding Beckman, was born May 9,1845, near St. Henry's, in Mercer County, is a dealer in medicine, books, notions, sewing machines, etc. He married Catharine, daughter of Bernard and Agnes Greifenkamp Romer on July 13, 1869, the ceremony having been performed by Rev. J. E. Vanderbroeck. She was born November 1, 1849. Their children are, Rosa M. E., Leo II., Emma E., Edward B., Rebecca F., and Vincent H. John G. Beckman has filled the following offices: notary public, justice of the peace, postmaster, township clerk, and assessor. His father, Henry Beckman, was born in Germany in 1819, came to America in 1829, settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, then to Minster (formerly called Stallostown), and then to Cranberry Prairie in 1839. He married in 1844, and died in 1868. He held the office of justice of the peace for upwards of twenty-one years, township clerk, etc. Mrs. Elizabeth B. Beckman was born in Germany August 15, 1822, and came to America January, 1844. BERNARD BRUNS is the son of Henry and Agnes Bruns, and was born in 1827, in Germany; settled in this county at an early date as a farmer and blacksmith ; married in 1849 to Elizabeth, daughter of Harman and Catharine Heabeding, who was born in 1828. Their children, Henry, Joseph, Frank, and Elizabeth. He came to this county with his father in 1827, and settled on section 21 in Granville Township, where St. Henry now stands. He built the second house in St. Henry's. Then it was covered with heavy timber, and abounded with bears, wolves, and deer. Bernard Bruns owns three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land and a house in St. Henry. He has given his eldest son Henry a property worth $2000, his son Joseph $2000, his son Frank a property worth $2500, all of which he and his wife have accumulated by their industry and perseverance. They are pioneers, and are regarded as useful and good citizens. J. W. AHLERS, son of John B. A tilers and Mary his wife, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April, 1853, and raised as a farmer, to which he added stock-raising. May 27, 1878, he married Mary E., daughter of Henry and Anna Preceth. She was born in 1861. They have one child, Anna F. JOHN G. BORGERDING was born in Germany in 1832, and settled in Mercer County in 1852; is farmer and stock-raiser. He married his wife in 1859. Their children are George H., Tenera, Mary C., Robert, Joseph, Catharine, and Margaret. He has filled the office of supervisor and mail carrier. He has a good farm of eighty acres of well-improved land, in section 24. HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO - 465 WILLIAM SIMISON was born in Mercer County, May 22, 1827. He is the son of John Simison and Rachel Price, who came to this county in 1823. The latter's father, William Price, was with Gen. St. Clair at his defeat at Fort Recovery, and afterwards with Gen. Wayne. The subject of this sketch was constable of Granville Township two years. In August, 1853, he was married to Elizabeth Neil, a native of Montgomery County, by whom he has had six children. Mr. Simison's youth was passed amid the exciting scenes of pioneer hardships. He frequently sold his furs to traders in Piqua, and took his pay in hogs, some of them escaping while driving them home. The killing of deer was an ordinary sport, and it created no terror in him to hear the howling of wolves, as he wended his way through the forest forty miles distant to pay a visit to his future companion for life. On one occasion he was compelled to borrow a pair of pants to walk home in, his own having been placed in the crack of a log cabin to keep the wolves out, and the beasts tearing them to shreds. WILLIAM FRANKLIN, son of Henry F. Franklin, was born in Adams County, Ohio, September 10, 1805 ; was a farmer and hunter. He married Hannah Ellis, September 10, 1829, by whom he had seven children, none by the second, and four by the third wife. He was township clerk for sixteen years, and the constable the same time ; also justice of the peace. he taught the first school in the township. He served thirty days in the War of 1812, and was discharged at Sandusky. William S. Franklin served in Company H, 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, three years and three months. Reuben H. Franklin was in the same company and regiment. He says the first township officers were James Grant, justice of the peace ; William Franklin, constable ; John Wright was clerk. Lot Timber and James Dunwody were sons-n-law of Mr. James Grant. Nathaniel Hewit and Z. Richardson were also the first settlers. William Franklin owns eighty-four acres of land. LOT FRANKLIN AND JACOB FRANKLIN were the brothers of Catharine Franklin. Both were farmers. John Washington Franklin enlisted in 1861 in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company I, and was discharged in 1862, and became a Veteran in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company H, and died in Tennessee, August 8, 1864. His father was born in Adams County, Virginia, December 9, 1812, and moved to Ohio in 1821, and located at Dayton, where he lived fur nineteen years, when, with his wife and three children, he moved to Mercer County, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres from the agent at Lima for $1.25 per acre. It was all in woods, with all kinds H of game around them. Jacob Franklin enlisted in 1861 in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company if, and was discharged in 1862, March 28, on account of bad health, and never had a well day from that date until his death, on November 24, 1875. HENRY DOESS son. of Joseph and Mary A. Doess, came to this county in 1861. Henry was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1853 ; raised a farmer and stock-raiser. He was married September 25, 1877, to Mary Ann Elizabeth Romer, daughter of Barnard and Mary Ann Romer. She was born November 22, 1852. Their children are Mary A. B. and Henry F. He has held the office of supervisor. Joseph Doess, his father, served seventeen years in the German army ; came to America in 1851 ; settled in Erie, Pennsylvania ; re-mined there two years; thence to Cleveland six years, and thence to Mercer County. He served in the war of 1861, having enlisted in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry,. Company C, and discharged in 1862 on account of ill-health. They own forty acres, and have a pleasant home. FREDERICK BORGER, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Borger, was born March 31, 1830. Was raised a farmer and stock-raiser. In November,1858,he married Margaret, daughter of Herman H. Stenlon, who was born July 24, 1857. They have two children, John, Joseph and Herman Henry. He has filled the office of supervisor. He owns the farm on which he resides. REUBEN CLARK is a tobacconist and farmer.; settled in Mercer County in 1848; born in Virginia. He is the son of Reuben P. Clark, who was in the 44th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served nearly two years. He filled the office of school director a number of years. Reuben Clark was a slave for forty years. When he worked at his trade he earned enough of extra money to buy his own freedom, his wife, and four children, for which he paid $1500. - 46 - JOHN BERNARD DRAHMAN, son of J. B. and Anna M. Drahman, who settled in this county on July 26, 1836. Their son John was born in Germany, May 14, 1814. He was raised a farmer and stock-raiser, and was married December 27, 1843, to Anna Mary, daughter of John H. Hemmelgam and Anna M., his wife. Their children are John Henry, Mary B , Mary A., Elizabeth, John Bernard, Mary M., Bernard Joseph, Gatrola, and Bernard F. He has filled the office of supervisor, justice of the peace, and school director for twenty years. He sailed for America in 1836, and landed in Baltimore; thence to Cincinnati, where he remained three years; and thence to Mercer County, in 1860. BERNARD LAMMERS, son of Theodore Lammers, was born November 2, 1838, and married Banedia, daughter of Henry and Agnes Romer, July 24, 1866. She was born November 24, 1841. His parents settled in this county in 1850, and her parents in 1838. They have one daughter, Mary. He has filled the office of school director for six years ; constable and township clerk. He enlisted October 16, 1861, in Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company A, and discharged in 1864 at and became a veteran in same company and regiment and discharged in 1865. Was in the battles of Shiloh Atlanta, and Fort Donelson, and wounded at Shiloh April 6, 1863. He is a carpenter, and follows the business. JOHN B. ROMER, son of John Joseph and Anne M. Romer, was born June 9, 1847. He has had two wives; the first was named Elizabeth Trimp, whom he married February 12, 1863; and the second, Elizabeth ____ , whom he married September 12, 1876. His children are Joseph, Mary, Annie E., Caroline, Agnes, and Adam. His stepson is named Henry Lanwealer. Has filled the office of supervisor and justice of the peace. His father was born in Germany January 10, 1815, and came to America in 1836, and finally settled in this county on section 21. He entered eighty acres of land at Lima at $1.25 per acre, and owns five hundred and twenty acres, and resides on section 22. WILLIAM H. LEMON, son of Henry and Adelphie Grandarath Lemon, was born in Prussia June 17, 1832, and brought up as a merchant. He married Margaretta Andreos, of Bavaria, in 1855. She was born October 17, 1834, and died August 1, 1873. They settled in this county in 1852. Their children are Elizabeth, Anna Margaret, Henriette, Mary, Henry W., Christina, Catharine, and Joseph. He has filled the office of post master from 1836 to 1871, then assistant post master from 1878 to the present time. His brother Jacob was in the war from 1863 to its end. His father was born in the old country, and came to this county in 1852, and settled on section 27. MATHIAS STANGLER, son of John Stangler, was born in Mercer County. His father was one of the early settlers in .Mercer County. He was raised a farmer. On April 24, 1866, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Powel Schmitt. Their children are Catharine, Mary, Elizabeth Powel, Charles, Henry, and John. He has filled the office of school Lector. He enlisted in 1861 in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company H, and discharged in 1864, January 31. January 14, 1864, he became a veteran in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company H, and promoted to second sergeant, and discharged at San Antonia, Texas, November 13, 1865. SYLVANUS GEBALE was born November 30, 1840. Raised as a farmer. Married in 1870 Mary, daughter of John and Margaret Crash, who was born December 21, 1850. Their children are named John E., George W., Joseph A., Elizabeth, and Henry. He has filled the offices of justice of the peace and constable. Jacob Gebale enlisted in 1861 in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company F ; was discharged in 1864 became a veteran, and discharged in 1865. Sylvanus Gebale's father and mother (Sebastian and Chrissencia Gebale) came to this county in 1849. HENRY HARPER, son of Henry and Catharine Harper, was born in North Carolina in 1850, and came here with his parents in 1857. He has now seventy acres of land under a good state of cultivation. He has held the office of constable three years, and that of school director seven years. Although born a slave, he with his parents, were liberated in 1856, and at once came to this county. In 1878 he married Anna, daughter of John and Anna Barnes, of this county. They have four children, named William, Henry, Francis, and John. Post-office Carthagena. 466 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO. PETER MONG, son of David and Abigail Along, was born in Butler County in 1834, and raised a farmer. March 26, 1873, he married Jane, daughter of John and Margaret Shauer, who was born October 1, 1841. Their children, David G., Charles D., Somnia B., and Melindia. By his second wife, Miss McClelland, he had John W., Mary Ellen, and James R. He has filled the office of school director. James McClelland served in the Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company K., and died January 27, 1863. WILLIAM BUDER, son of Theodore and Lucy Buder; born October, 1831, in Germany; settled in Mercer County in 1872 ; is a farmer and stock-raiser. In 1853 he married his wife Mary Buder in Kentucky—have two children, Theodore and Mary. Was supervisor one year. He left Germany at the age of 21, emigrated to America, arrived at New Orleans, remained there seventeen years, and finally to Mercer County, where he now resides. B. W. GRAVE, son of John H. and Elizabeth Grave, was born January 1, 1835, in Gel-many, and was brought up as a saddle and harness-maker. He left Germany with his parents in 1857 ; located in Milwaukee for seven years, and then in Mercer County, where he now resides. October 9, 1867, he married Miss Drahman, by whom they had one son, Lewis. She was the daughter of B. and Mary A. Drahman. He was constable for one year, and school teacher for two years. J. H. HALSERMAN is the son of J. H. and Mary M. Halserman, and was born December 22, 1825, and was raised a farmer. In 1860 he married the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Lange. She was born in 1845. They have adopted a daughter, and named her Feronica Halserman. he enlisted in 1863 in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company A, and was discharged in 1863. He owns eighty acres of land, which is in a good state of cultivation. JACOB HOWER, son of William and Elizabeth Hower, was born December 25, 1835 ; raised a farmer and stock-raiser. April 25, 1855, he married his wife, by whom he has six children, viz.: Mary, Jacob, .John, William, Catharine, and Barbara. He has filled the offices of supervisor, school 'director, and commissioner. He served in the German cavalry in 1844 ; discharged in 1849 ; emigrated to America in 1853, and settled in Mercer County in 1857. MARTIN FLEALOR, son of Adam and Mary Flealer, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, November, 1841. Raised a farmer ; and in September, 1874, married Sarah, daughter of Henry and Mary Franklin. Mrs. Flealer was born in 1857. Their children are Rosie, William H., Mary E., Magdalene, and John W. He has been elected supervisor. Mr. Flealer enlisted in 1861 in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company C, and discharged in 1865, and was in fourteen battles. CASPER KOELLER, son of George and Mary A. Koeller, was born May 14, 1814, in Germany; raised a stock-raiser and farmer. In 1841 in Holmes County, Ohio, he married Mary A., daughter of John and Mary Warner, who was born January 12, 1822. Their children are Caroline, Adam, Margaret, and John. He has filled the office of supervisor. He sailed for America in 1840, landed at New York, and from there went to Holmes County, Ohio, then to Columbus, and finally to Mercer County, Ohio. PHILIP MULLER., son of Peter and Catharine Muller, born November 25, 1827. His parents settled here in 1854; was raised a farmer. In 1856 he married his wife Magdalena. Their children, Catharine, Mary, Anne Peter, Elizabeth, Magdalena, and Margaret. Has tilled the office of supervisor and school director. He served in the German army, and coming to America he finally settled on section 39, having a farm of ninety-two acres. JOSEPH B. DRAHMAN, son of Bernard and Mary Drahman, was married to Emma C., daughter of Andrew Gardern and Elizabeth, his wife, October 26, 1880. He has a harness manufactory at St. Henry. Joseph B. Drahman was born January 24, 1859, and his wife, Emma C., June 12, 1855. JOHN H. ROMER, son of Joseph and Mary Romer, who came to this county in 1837. He was born in 1845, raised a merchant, and in 1867 married Rebecca daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Beckmann, who was born in 1846' Their children are William H., John G., George B., and Edward N. Has filled the office of township treasurer. Joseph Romer settled on Section 21, where St. Henry now stands. John H. Romer owns four hundred acres on section 22. JOHN J. SCHMITH, son of Henry and Godra Schmith, was born May 9, 1824, in Germany ; raised as a farmer, and settled in this county September 8, 1853. In 1860 he married Valentine, daughter of B. Dicker and Elizabeth, his wife. She was born in 1837. Their children are John, Jacob, Mary, Bernard, Henry, Joseph, William, Frank, and John O. He has filled the office of supervisor, school director, and trustee since 1854 acceptably to the people. CASPER STELZER, son of Christian and Barbara Stelzer, who came to this county in 1833. He was born December 25, 1837 ; raised a carpenter and painter, and in 1858 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Barney and Elizabeth Gearke. She was born in 1840. Her parents settled here in 1834. Their children are William J., Joseph, and Louisa. Christian Stelzer entered his land in Upper Sandusky of 100 acres, and now owns 280 acres, besides other property. HENRY DORGER, son of John Frederick Dorger and Magdalina, his wife, was born in Germany, January 7, 1838, and on the 17th of May, 1864, married Mary A. Berger, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Berger, of Mercer County. She Was born April 4, 1846. He is a farmer and stock-raiser, and has filled the office of school director four years, and supervisor one year. His father settled on section 15, and he settled on section 23. GEORGE GINTER, son of Christian and Elizabeth Ginter, born October 15, 1822, in Germany. Learned the cabinet-making and furniture business. His first wife was Barbara Boroman, by whom he had Joseph, Anna, Elizabeth, and Clara. His second wife was Zeracia Bruniswick, by whom he had two children, Fanny and Rosie. He filled the office of constable for two years. J. B. GELHAUS, son of John and Anna M. Gelhaus, was born November 14, 1848 ; is a farmer ; settled in this county in 1854 ; and married Anna M., daughter of Theodore and Elizabeth Ullenhake, who was born February 6;1841. Their children are J. P. H. Gelhaus and John H. Has filled the offices of supervisor and school director eight years. He lives on section 28. HENRY GRAWA is a stock-raiser and farmer. He married his wife, Elizabeth, in 1856. He was born in Germany in May, 1825, and his wife in 1827. They have three children, Mary, John, and Bernsa. He lived in Cincinnati for seven years, then removed to Mercer County, and located on section 5, on three hundred and twenty acres of land, one hundred and fifteen of which are cleared. JOHN POWEL FRITZ was born in Germany, January 1, 1819, and with his wife and two children came to America, and landed. at New York when he was thirty-five years of age. He removed to Knox County, Ohio, remained there for twelve years as a farmer and mason, and then to Mercer County, and bought sixty acres of land. Their children are Augustina, Antoinette, August, Theodora, John, Joseph, Catharine, and Mary. SEBASTIAN KONOTAS, son of John and Angelina Konotas, was born January 6, 1815, in Germany; raised a farmer In 1849 he married Catharine, daughter of John H. and Catharine Smith. They have the following namcd children: Kartraust, Powel, Darah, Catharine, John, Jacob Konotas, and Elizabeth. His first wife was Catharine Smith, and his second wife Catharine E. Voaidice. FRANK BURNS, son of Bernard and Mary R. Burns, was born February 22, 1821, and is a hotel keeper. He married Elizabeth Moller December 7, 1858. She is the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Moller. HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO - 467 FRANK H. MOORMAN, son of M. H. and Mary Moorman, was born in Germany September 15, 1819, and settled in this county in 1854. He was raised a farmer and stock-raiser. On May 14,1848, he married Mary E., daughter of Joseph and Mary A. Sumore. She was born February 10, 1825. Their chidren, August, Theodore, Henry, Mary, Bernard, and Anne. Has filled the offices of supervisor and school director. He settled on section 27. CONSTANCE RINDLEY, son of John and Teracy Rindley, was born in Germany in 1828, and raised a farmer and shoemaker. He married Christina, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Heine. She was born January 31, 1835. Their children are John, Jacob, Margaret, Elizabeth, Henry, and Antonie. Their father died September 5, 1875. They own eighty-six acres of land in section 30. CASPER REUTEBUCK, son of Martin Reutebuck, was born in Germany January 6, 1825. He was raised and carries on a carriage and wagon manufactory. He married Catharine, daughter of John and Margaret Crash, June 28, 1862. She was born April, 1841. Their children are John, Henry, Adam, Charles, Sylvester, Elizabeth, and Anna. They came to this county in 1851. CHARLES STANGLER, son of John and Magdelina Stangler, born July 28, 1832, was raised a farmer, and, November 3, 1857, married Christina, daughter of P. and Catharine Schmidt, who was born September 9, 1836. Their children are John, Catharine, Charles, Mathias, Philip, William, Elizabeth, Henry, and Powel. He has filled the offices of supervisor and school director. HARMAN SEVERT, son of Anthony and Elizabeth Savert, was born October 22, 1832, and raised a farmer and stock-raiser. In 1855 he married Catharine, daughter of Herman and Christine Pipping, who was born February, 1830. Their children are Mary, Herman, Bernard, Elizabeth, Annie, Catharine, and Caroline. Has filled the offices of supervisor and school director. He left Germany in 1854 and settled in Mercer County the same year. JOHN SHANER, son of Adam Shaner, was born in Greene County, and raised a farmer and stock-raiser, and settled in this county in 1848. He married, in 1833, Margery Stevens, who was born September 27, 1813. Their children are Andrew, Lewis, Laney, John H., and Amelia. Has been super- visor. Both of his grandfathers served in the Revolutionary War. Adam Shaner served in the War of 1812. JAMES TONEY. son of Michael and Catharine Toney, was born in Ireland in 1837 ; was raised a farmer. He came to this county in 1872 married his wife, Mary Toney, who was born in 1838. Their children are Patrick, Catharine, Margaret, John, Anne, James, Mary, Michael, and Ellen. He came to America in 1858, and finally located on section 18, in this township. GEORGE VANDENBOSCH, son of Peter and Mary A. Vandenbosch, was born in Holland, November 20, 1848. His parents settled here in 1865. He keeps a general store at Cranberry Prairie. August 8, 1872, he married Mary A., daughter of John and Mary E. Hierholzer, who was born March 19, 1851. Their children are William P., Albert John, Julie M., Frances Elizabeth, Anthony P. CHRISTIAN LEISTENSNIDER, a son of John and Margaret Leistensnider, was born in this county in 1835, and is engaged in farming near St. Henry. He has here one hundred and sixty acres of land in a good state of cultivation. He married Mary Burgemier, who was born in Huron County in 1839. They have reared three children, named John, Frank, and Josephine. Mr. Leistensnider held the office of school director six years. ANDREW E. GILBERT, son of William C. and Susan Gilbert, was born January 7, 1848, and raised a farmer and stock-raiser. His wife, Sarah E., was born in 1854. Has filled the office of constable for eight years.. He owns two hundred and forty acres of land, of which eighty are clear. MICHAEL A. SCHLEGEL, son of John and Terassa Schlegel, was born at Buffalo, New York, Sept. 28, 1850. He is a cabinet-maker, and has, in connection with his cabinet shop, a furniture store, which is complete in all its departments. In 1877 he was married, and still lives where he settled when he came to the county in 1866. Part of the time after coming here he was engaged in teaching school. JACOB BUNER, son of Peter and Catharine Buner, was born September 24, 1833, in Germany ; is a farmer and stock-raiser. In 1857 he married Magdalena, daughter of Charles and Magdalena Hoenning, born April, 1838. Their children—Magdalena, Jacob, Philip, Louisa, and August. He served as supervisor. AUGUST HAMBURGER, son of Conrad and Margaret Hamburger, was born in Germany February 3, 1851 ; raised as a farmer and blacksmith, and settled in this county in November, 1864. On April 13, 1873, he married Philimenia, daughter of Herman and Anna Lange. She was born in Cincinnati February 11, 1850. Their children are Margaret, Mary, Charles, Anne, and John. J. J. HULSMAN, son of John H. and Mary M. Hulsman, was born January 1, 1845 ; raised a farmer. In 1867 he married Vary J., daughter of Frederick and Christina Knoptea. :411,1 was born December, 1849. Their children are John A., John H., Mary, Bernard, Joseph, Sophie, and Elizabeth. He has filled the offices of supervisor, trustee, and school director. ANTHONY HEISER, the son of B. and Rosa Heiser, was born in 1839 in Germany; raised as a farmer and stock raiser. in 1862 he married Margaret, daughter of Jacob and M. Phipps. She was born in January in 1839. Their children are Torance, John, Grace, Antony, Catharine, Rosie, Jacob, and Clara. Has filled the office of school director. GEORGE JACOBS, son of John P. and Anna Mary Jacobs, was born March 10, 1847, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and raised on a farm, and settled in this county in 1854. He was married to Anna M. Heaning, daughter of B. and Anna M. Heaning, in 1879. They have one daughter, named Anna Mary. He has held the office of supervisor. FRANK LONGENCAMP, son of Frank H. Longencamp, was born July 18, 1846, at Springfield, Ohio. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Sackey, who was born in Germany 1844. They were married in 1858. He was supervisor and school director. He owns one hundred and ten acres of land in section 25. G. H. MOLLER, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Moller, born May 29, 1846, in Mercer County raised a farmer and stock-raiser. June 15. 1869, he married Mary, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Long, born November 25, 1850. Their children, Amelia, Joseph, Anne, Lewis, Polemia. He owns two hundred acres of land in section 28. WILLIAM NIEPORT, son of William Nieport, was born September 29, 1846, in Mercer County, and was raised a farmer and stock-raiser. On February 2,1873, he married Louisa, daughter of John and Elizabeth Uhlenbaker. She was born in 1855. Their children, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, and John. Has filled the office of school director. HENRY RENGERS, son of Henry and Mary Rengers, was born in 1857, his parents having settled here in 1853. He was raised a farmer. On May 22, 1878, he married Catharine, daughter of Henry and Mary Lachfelde, who was born in 1857. He has filled the office of supervisor. They have one child, named Mary. FRANK H. LONGENKAMP, son of John H. and Elizabeth Longenkamp, was born January 20, 1857; raised a farmer. He married on May 7, 1878, Dorthie, daughter of John and Dorthie Zimerman, who was born in Cincinnati. Their children, Rose and Henry. 468 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO. HENRY JOSEPH STEINLAGE, son of John T. and Mary A. Steinlage, was born March 3, 1835, and raised as a farmer and stock-raiser. On September 8, 1863, he was married to Mary A., daughter of Frederick A. Plota and Catharine his wife. She was born in 1842. Their children are John J., Annie M., John F., Rosina, Adam K., and Mary C. JOHN H. SULS, son of John and Philomenia Suls, was born in 1853 at Cincinnati. He was raised a farmer, and, October 17, 1876, he married Anna M., daughter of Frederick and M. Darger. Their children are Margaret A., Anna M., Joseph, Philomena, and Bernard. He owns eighty acres of land on section 27. JOHN UHLENHAKE, son of John E. and Elizabeth Uhlenhake, was born October 27, 1851, and raised a farmer. His parents settled here in 1844. He married, January 20, 1876, Frances, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Borger. She was born September 1, 1852. Their children are named John Joseph, and Mary C. JOHN WEIMMARS, son of Godfrey and E. Weimmars, who came to this county in 1852, was born October 4, 1836, in Germany; was raised a farmer. February 13, 1867, he married Mary Humlar, born in the fall of 1837. Their children are John Henry, Henry John, Hobart, Mary F., Herman Bernard, Ficance. PETER WIENHAUSER, son of Martin Wienhauser, came to this county in 1870. He was born in Germany in 1836 raised a farmer, and in 1867 married his wife, Mary, Daughter of John and Elizabeth Bergen, who was born in Dayton in 1846. Their children are Elizabeth, Henry, Caroline, Joseph, Catharine, Mary, Lenna, Andrew, and John. JOHN P. WERTS and his wife, Victoria, are farmers, who settled in this county in 1849, from Germany, and have one child, named Joseph. They settled one mile west of Chickasaw, and after living there five years he sold, and settled on his farm on section 36, comprising 1072 acres, where he has resided twenty-six years. FRITZ WESSEL, son of Herman and Denna Wessel, was born in Germany in 1831, and his parents settled in this county in 1870. He is a farmer; owns eighty acres of land in section 17. By his wife, Denim, he has the following children : Henry, Mary, Elizabeth, Frederick, Catharine, Denna, Theodore, Annie, and Agnes. He has filled the office of supervisor. CALVIN SHANNON is a farmer and stock-raiser on an extensive scale in the township of Granville, who was born in Arkansas, March 22, 1846, and settled in Mercer County in the year 1862. He filled the office of road supervisor one year. In 1871 he married Margaret Todd in Mercer County, her birthplace being Cincinnati. JOHN H. SEIFRING, son of John H. and Lucinda Seifring, born December 30, 1809, and brought up a farmer. In 1845 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Herman and Elizabeth Farcanbach. She was born in 1813. Their children, Mary, John Henry, Bernard, Elizabeth, Anna, Theodosia, and Denna. CLEMANS MINERDING, son of Westley and Elizabeth Minerding, born in 1843, raised a farmer and stock-raiser. In 1857 he married Agnes, daughter of B. and Agnes Roemer. Their children, John, Elizabeth, Anne, Henry, and Benjamin. Has filled the office of supervisor and school director. ANDREW POST, son of Barney Post, who settled in Auglaize County in 1836, was born in Mercer County in 1837, settled on the farm in 1861, and owns two hundred acres of land. He is the father of six children. JOHN STUVE, son of Joseph and Caroline Stuve, was born in Auglaize County in 1854, raised a farmer, and, October 23, 1879, was married to Denna, Daughter of Bernard and Anna Smieting. Their child's name is Joseph. PHILIP FREY, son of Frederick and Margaret Frey, was born in Prussia in 1830, and came to this country in 1851, where he has since engaged at famine, near Carthagena. In 1864 he married Angelica, daughter of Henry and Mary Kreusch, and has raised a family of six children, named Mary, Katie, Jacob, Elmira, Elizabeth, and Charles. AUGUST MUELLER, son of George A. and Caroline Mueller, born in Germany June 30,1846; and raised a farmer. His parents settled here in 1846. In 1874 he married Philomenia, daughter of Andrew and Barbara Sechrist, born in 1850. He owns forty acres of land in section 19. PHILIP RIER, son of Philip and Elizabeth Rier, was born in A uglaize County in 1840, and raised a farmer and stock-raiser. In 1861 he married his wife Agnes. Their children are named Philip, John, George, Casper, Tracey, Henry, Andrew, and Mary A. BERNARD GOECKE, is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Goecke. His business is farming. He was married June 22, 1875, to Teressa Baker, daughter of Dedrick Baker. She was born December 22, 1850. Their children are Elizabeth and Amanda. He owns eighty acres of land. JOSEPH SPECK was born in Germany in 1813. He was raised a farmer; came to America in 1840, and, after many settlements, finally settled on No. 6, and owns a farm of eighty acres. By his wife Louisa he has had three children, Mary, Louisa, and John. WILLIAM J. STETCER, son of Casper and Elizabeth Stetcer, who came to Mercer County in 1833. He was born November 1, 1859. He was brought up to the carpenter business and its different branches. He is a young man, energetically engaged in his business. JOSEPH ROBINS was born in Alsace, France, and settled in Mercer County in the year 1839. He married Aurelia Kintz in Minster, Auglaize County, Ohio: Mr. Robins is a farmer and stock-raiser, and is an industrious and hard working citizen. EDWARD F ROMMEL and his wife Fredesia are natives of Germany, where they were married: In 1868 they emigrated to Mercer County. Frommel has been postmaster of the village of Burketsville, Mercer County, for thc period nine years. BUTLER TOWNSHIP. Butler Township is bounded north by Jefferson Township, east by Grand Reservoir and Franklin Township, south by Granville Township, and west by Recovery and Washington townships. For the greater part it is six miles from east to west, and five and a half miles from north to south, but owing to the intrusion of the reservoir, its area is reduced to about thirty-two sections. Organization. Under date of June 4, 1838, the commissioners' journal shows a petition was "received from citizens of the original survey, town 6 south, range 2 east, signed by twenty-five petitioners, praying to be struck off into a separate township, and being satisfied the said township is entitled under the statute to be so erected, we do constitute and make a separate and independent township, under the name of Butler, and to be bounded as follows : West, south, and east by the original survey lines, and north by Beaver Creek. The auditor is hereby directed to give notice of an election forthwith, to be held at the house of David Guys, on Saturday, the 9th day of July next. On June 5 the commissioners attached so much of the original surveyed township 6 south, range 2 east, as lies north of Beaver Creek, to township 5 south, range 2 east. HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO - 469 Population in 1870, 1301: in 1880, 1595. Vote of 1880: For Secretary of State, Charles Townsend, 89 ; William Lang, 219. For President, James A. Garfield, 88 ; W. S. Hancock, 247. For Governor (1881), Charles Foster, 100; John W. Bookwalter, 192; Abraham R. Ludlow, 3. 1858. Trustees, Henry Snyder, James Grunden, and Thomas Snyder. Treasurer, J. H. Bye. Clerk, W. E. O. Munsell. Constable, John Walling. 1859. Trustees re-elected. Clerk, James Judkins. Treasurer, John W. Geller. 1860. Trustee, David Beam. 1861. Trustees, James Grunden, Thomas Snyder, and Henry Snyder. Treasurer, John W. Geller. Clerk, James Judkins. 1862. Trustees, James' Grunden, Enoch Plummer, and Joseph R. Gray. Treasurer, J. W. Geller. Clerk, James Judkins. 1863. Trustees, Enoch Plummer, Henry Bose, and A D. Langel. Clerk, J. F. Albers. 1864. Trustees, E. Plummer, A. D. Langel, and F. J. Crouch. Clerk, George W. Frank. 1865. Trustees, Benjamin Coate, J. H. Bose, and Thomas Snyder. Treasurer, David Beam. Clerk, George Frank. 1866. Trustees, G. P. Frank, Thomas Snyder, and J. IL Bose. 1867. Trustees, Thomas Snyder, G. P. Frank, and J. IL Bose. Treasurer, David Beams. Clerk, George Frank. 1868. Trustees, John F. Albers, David Snyder, and C. W. Andrews. Treasurer, Thomas Plummer. Clerk, George Frank. 1870. Justice of the Peace, Edward Langfair. Trustees, David Snyder, J. Berkmire, and Thomas Snyder. Treasurer, Joseph Gast. Clerk, Edward Langfair. 1871. Justice of the Peace, Andrew J. Murphy. Trustees, Joseph Berkmier, Thomas Snyder, and Henry Wendker. Treasurer, Joseph Gast. Clerk, A. J. Murphy. 1872. Trustees, D. C. Frank, James Grunden, and Henry Wendker. Treasurer, E. M. Young. Clerk, David Beams. 1873. Trustees, David Beams, Henry Snyder, and Henry Wendker. Treasurer, E. M. Young. Clerk, A. J. Murphy. 1874. Trustee, J. Heckman. 1875. Record lost. 1876. Trustees, Robert Keith, Joseph Wenning, and David Snyder. Treasurer, E. M. Young. Clerk, T. G. McDonald. 1877. All re-elected. 1878. Trustees, Robert Keith, Joseph Wenning and A. D. Coats. Clerk, Henry Lennartz. 1879. Trustees, George Johnson, Matthias Pitzen, and Henry Wind- ker. Treasurer, E. M. Young. Clerk, G. C. Wieser. Constables, L. 11. Brinkman and D. H. Worthington. 1880. Trustees, Theo. Billerman, Henry Windker, and George Johnson. 1881. Treasurer, J. B. Hoying.  1882. Justice of the Peace, J. S. Weis. Trustees, Henry Windker, Theo. Billerman, and A. D. Coats. Treasurer, J. B. Hoying. Clerk, J. Constables, Frank Spottman and John Cencebaugh. The township is divided into nine school districts-six white and two colored, and one independent district COLDWATER. Coldwater is laid off upon the east half of northeast quarter of section 33, town 6 S., range 2 E., in northeast corner of section, and comprises 38 lots, all of which are 584 feet front by 132 feet deep. The width of the streets and alleys are designated on plat. Stones are planted on northwest corners of lots 8, 12, 28, and 36. I do certify this description to be correct to the best of my belief. JOHN H. HOUSTON, Surveyor. Acknowledged by Wm. A. O. Munsell before Joshua H. Bye, N. P., Aug. 18, 1859. Recorded. Aug. 18, 1859. J. W. JOHNSON, Recorder. To this an addition was made by him March 11, 1867, of 22 lots south of Walnut. George Rosenbeck, on October 29, 1879, made an addition of 21 lots, 66 feet by 132 feet. July 21, 1880, John Rliines added six outlots of two acres each, mill lot No. 1, school lot No. 6. John W. Getter and John Riggs laid out an addition of 24 lots on the north of the original plat April 18, 1863. M. SCHUYLER, Surveyor. The business interests are represented at this time by the following houses:— Dry Goods and Groceries.—Joseph Perkin, Frank Rahe. Groceries.—Vinard Gast. Drugs.—Hoyng & Weiss. Grist Mills.—Hoyng & Wastea. Lima Wheel Company.—Operated by agents. Hardware.-Frank. Weber & Bro. Blacksmith.-John Martz. Wagon Maker.-Joseph Wagner. Saddler.- John Bracken. Hotel.-American House, Perry E. Arbaugh. Restaurant.-Jacob Schwartz. Warehouse.-Peter Hubbard. Agricultural Implements.-John Schilling. Carpenters.-Henry Wennan, Peter Fechter, and A. Hoffman. Meat Market.-John Powell. Physicians.-Drs. Whittaker, Baldwin, and Schuyler. The school consists of two departments, and is provided with a comfortable building. An effort is made to keep the schools under efficient management. But two denominations have organizations in the village-the Catholics and Methodists. Both have buildings which are creditable to the town and organizations. PHILOTHEA. Philothea is laid out and comprises all of southwest, fourth of southeast, fourth of section 5, town 7 S., range 2 E. The lots are each five by ten rods inclusive of one-half of Bremen Street off south tier. Bremen Street is sixty feet wide; Linzee Street is thirty feet wide; West Street is twenty-six feet wide. The southwest corner of which is thirty feet north of the quarter part south of section 5. The northeast corner of lot 1 is witnessed by a walnut ten inches, west 23 links. Church and burying ground is twenty by eighty rods. A. J. LINZEE, Surveyor. Acknowledged by John B. Purcell before J. B. Moorman, N. P., at Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 1, 1854. Recorded Dec. 22, 1854.  JEREMIAH LUNDY, Recorder. BIOGRAPHIES. PETER STEVENS, son of Joshua and Jane Stevens, was born in Licking County, Ohio, and the family settled in Mercer County in 1837. He was raised as a farmer on section 22. He married Rebecca Miley in 1837, who was born in Gallia County. They have seven children, 'William, John, Lawrence, Virgil, Joshua, Simon, and Orrin. He has served as constable, supervisor, and school director for years. Justice Stevens was in the War of 1812. When this family settled in Mercer County it was very new ; the Indians had left their huts still standing, and things looked very discouragingly around them. They split their flooring out of logs, and used clapboard doors, and greased paper for windows. They had no lamps or candles, and had to use a lamp filled with lard, with a wick of cotton, and ground their corn in the hole of a block for mush. They were required to go to Piqua to a mill, and it took them seven days to make the trip of fifty miles, or seven miles per day. They saw very little wheat for many years. In raising stock, which was their business, they sold from two to five hundred dollars worth per year. Bears and wolves howled around them continually. Mr. P. Stevens was the first settler on section 22 on the north, and built the first house in this section. The first election was held in Coldwater. The votes were deposited in a little coffin. They elected justice of the peace, constable, trustees, and supervisor in 1838. The first school teacher was John Stevens. JACOB BAKER is the son of Philip and Rachel Bath Baker, who moved to Mercer County in 1836, and settled near Bremen. His maternal grandfather was Philip Peter Shaffer, and his wife's name was Elizabeth Game. They reside in Shelby County, having settled there in 1838. Jacob Baker is a farmer, and married Margaret Shaffer, and settled on section 21, in Butler Township, in 1840. He was born in Europe, February 16, 1826, and his wife April 1, 1828, and they were married September 28, 1843, and have had seven children, viz., Jacob, John, Rachel, Charles, George, Simon, and Benjamin. He has held the office of supervisor for several years. JOHN F. ALBERS is the son of Arnold and Helena Albers, and was born in Germany, and settled in Butler Township, Mercer County, in 1846. He married Elizabeth Droppeman, and is the father of four children, viz., Emma, Elizabeth, John, and Josephine. His family were the first settlers on sectiOn 4. At this time the whole of Mercer County was one vast woods. He has filled .at different times the offices of justice of the peace, trustee, supervisor, and township clerk. He is a brother of Henry G. Albers, who served two enlistments during the late Rebellion, and is ranked as a veteran. He is a farmer. 470 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO. CHARLES GROVER was born in Canton, Ohio, July 5, 1846. His father and mother, John S. and Caroline Grover, reside in Texas. He is a sewing machine agent, keeps a store and tin shop at Coldwater, having settled in Mercer County in 1877. He was married to Temperance Jane Snider August 7, 1879. His wife's parents' names are David and Elizabeth Snider, who have resided in Highland County, Ohio, since 1855. Charles Grover enlisted in the 2d New York Volunteers June 21, 1861, and was in thirteen battles, and many skirmishes. He entered as a private, and when discharged, in September 29,1865, held a second lieutenant's commission. John G. Grover was second lieutenant under General Scott in Mexico, and was at the taking of the city of Mexico. He commanded a company in the rebellion of 1862, and resigned his commission six months afterwards, having been shot through the lungs. John J. Grover, the father of Charles Grover, settled at Canton, Starke County, Ohio, in 1823, and died in 1878, at the age of ninety-eight. His wife (grandmother of Charles) died in 1877, aged ninety-six years. At the time of their settlement the site upon which Canton now stands contained only about one dozen of houses. JAMES GRUNDEN was born November 15, 1804, in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, and was the son of Samuel and Margaret Anderson Grunden, who settled in Mercer County in 1846. He is a farmer near Coldwater ; and on June 5. 1831, married Catharine Carmack, daughter of Ephraim and Sarah Brightwell Carmack, who settled in this county in 1844. They have nine children, Perry C., Samuel, Margaret H., Sarah A., Mary A., Ephraim, Basil B., Charles O., and John S. He has held the office of trustee. Both his grandfathers, James Armstrong and Thomas Grunden, were in the Revolutionary War, and his father, Samuel Grunden, in the War of 1812. Perry C., Samuel and Ephraim Grunden, were in the Rebellion from 1861 to 1864, and Basil B. and Charles O. Grunden from 1864 to 1865. James Phillips was the first settler on section 3. The first township election was held at St. Henry in 1834. JOSEPH H. SMITH, son of Gideon and Jane Smith, was born in 1809 ; raised as a farmer ; entered his land in 1837, and settled in 1852. He married his first wife, Catharine Smith, in 1835, and his second in 1857. The children were James, Mary E., Matthew J., Joseph L., Margaret E., Catherine A., Tillie J., Eddie N., William F., and Ervin J. Ervin J. Smith was a soldier in the Rebellion, and died at Lookout Mountain in 1863. Joseph H. Smith was the first settler on section 32. His deed was signed by Martin Van Buren. The Indians were his nearest neighbors on the west. He assisted in raising the first schoolhouse built in the district. When the family moved on the land they had a big oak tree for their shelter, until they raised a cabin to live in. Wild animals of all kinds abounded. DAVID SNIDER is a son of Henry Snider, and was born in Highland County, Ohio, and settled in Mercer County in 1851, on section. He married Elizabeth Easter, daughter of Jacob Easter. Their children are named Sarah E., Temperance Jane, Margaret A., Rachel M., and David. he is a stock-raiser and farrier, and has been a trustee for eight years. Samuel Evans, his wife's uncle, and Peter Snider, his uncle, were both in the War of 1812. Samuel Snider was the first settler on section 34. George Frank built the first blacksmith shop. First store-house was built by David Buzzard, and the first dwelling-house at Coldwater was built by Samuel Snider. The Cincinnati and Mackinaw Railroad made fair promises to its stockholders if they would invest their money they would be well repaid, but to this day no pledges have been redeemed. JOHN BUEHLER is the son of Augustine and Catharine Buehler, and was born in the State of New York in 1832. His maternal grandparents were Theodore and Elizabeth Buehler Cramer, who settled in Mercer County in 1840. He married Catharine Cramer, who was born in Mercer County. They were married in 1866, and have been blessed with seven children—Elizabeth, Franklin, William, Caroline, Annie, Mary, and Joseph. He is a farmer, and owns 150 acres in section 11, Butler Township, which he cleared. W. R. WIGNER, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Wigner, settled in Mercer County in 1840, and was born June 4, 1838, at Gallia, Ohio. He became a farmer, and married Rebecca Bates, daughter of N. and Hannah Bates, Dec. 1, 1871. JOHN W. BENNET, son of Jacob and Rachel Bennet, who settled in Mercer County in 1855. Mrs. Bennet is the daughter of Jeremiah Plummer and his wife, Nancy May Plummer. John W. was born in Meigs County, Ohio, in 1842, and is a farmer and stock-raiser in Butler Township, on section 16, where he settled in 1857. His wife, Mary A. Plummer, was born in Mercer County in 1841, and were married in 1867, and have had seven children, viz., Nancy C., Sidera O., Rosia M., Ellsworth L., Franklin P., William H., and Flavia E. He enlisted in 1861, and was discharged in 1863. He has filled time office of school director for nine years. Jacob T. Bennet was a private, and promoted to lieutenant, and died at the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, October 25, 1877. JAMES C. GRAY was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is the son of John and Sarah McDonald Gray. He settled in Mercer County in 1835, and married Margaret C. Grunden. His wife's parents' names are Thomas and Peggy Turnbull Grunden. He is a farmer and stock-raiser, and has two children, having been married in 1872. Their names are Carrie A. and William E. He has held the office of assessor for two terms. The following members of his family have been in military service: James C. Gray, November 15, 1861, discharged November 16, 1864; J. H. McDonald, 1861 to 1864, and James McDonald, 1861 to 1864. Q. A. MEDLEY, son of William and Ellen Devor Medley, the parents having settled in Mercer County in 1839. Q. A. Medley was born in 1841, became a farmer and stock-raiser, and settled in Butler Township in 1863. He has filled the office of school director. James M. and William E. Medley both entered the army in 1864, and were discharged in 1865. When the family lived at St. Marys in 1859 his father was mobbed at the polls on account of political truths. He was at heart in sympathy with the freedom of the colored race. JEREMIAH PLUMMER is a farmer near Coldwater, and was born in Kentucky, where he married Nancy F. May. He settled in Mercer County, May 29, 1836, and has nine children—John, Thomas, Enoch, James, Benjamin, Jane, Mary, Nancy, and Elizabeth. Nancy F. May Plummer, his wife, is a daughter of John and Prudence F. May, who were born in Maryland. He has held the office of constable. His uncle, Joseph Spence, Was in the War of 1812. His sons John, Thomas, and Enoch were in the Rebellion of 1861, and served their full terms. Jerome Plummer died September 23, 1868: A. VAGEDES, son of A. and Catharine Vagedes, settled in Mercer County in 1852. He was born in Prussia in 1830, and keeps a general store in Philothea. He married Catharine Gerlack in 1864. She was born in 1844, and is the daughter of Adam and Mary Gerlack, who settled in Mercer County in 1837. They have four living children. Henry Vagedes was in the Mormon War under President Buchanan. Frank Vagedes, from 1861 to 1865, was in eight battles, at Pittsburg Landing, Vicksburg, and other places. A. Vagedes lived in Chickasaw, and is a shoemaker by trade. WILLIAM BURCH was born in Miami County in 1837. His parents' names were Burton and Catharine Allen Burch. He settled as a farmer near Coldwater, Mercer County, in 1839, and married Julia .Dunn September 1, 1868, by whom he has had two children, 'William and Sarah. His maternal grandparents are Wm. and Ruth Burch-Dunn. The parents settled in this county in 1839, and the grandparents in 1850. Zebulon Burch served in the War of 1812. Martin Burch in 1861, and was discharged in 1864. William and Robinson Burch enlisted in 1863, and were discharged in 1864. JOHN HANBERT, a native of Germany, came to this county in 1872. He was married at Sandusky, Ohio., in Nov. 1866. Since coming to this county he has been engaged in farming near Coldwater, Butler Township. The children are named Anna, Jacob, Henry, Mary, George, and John. Mary died ill 1870, and Peter in 1867. BARNARD DEPWAY was born in Germany. His parents' names are Richard and Mary Depway, and live in Auglaize County. His wife's name is Rosine Depway. They have six children, viz., Martin, Depway, Elizabeth, Mary, Rosina, and William. He settled in Mercer County in 1866 as a farmer. HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO - 471 ISAAC KEESTER settled in Mercer County in 1839, and is the son of John and Marie Keester. He is a farmer near Coldwater, and was born in Mercer County on November 29,1843. He married Hannah E. Rhodes, of Van Wert, Ohio, October 22, 1871. (She was born in 1847.) Her parents' names were Thomas and Elizabeth Rhodes, both of whom are deceased. Isaac Keester was in the Rebellion in 1864, and discharged in 1865. George W. and David Keester enlisted in 1861, and were discharged in 1864. Oliver Keester enlisted in 1862, and was discharged in 1865. HENRY ROETKER, son of Henry and Elizabeth C. Roetker, was born in Prussia, and the family landed in the United States in 1646, and settled in this county in 1858. He is a farmer, and married Catharine Will at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1853, by whom he has eight children—Mary, Catharine, John, William A., Joseph, Peter, Lewis, Rosa. Catharine Roetker was born in Germany in 1832, and is the daughter of John and M. 8. Will. He has been trustee of the Board of Education one year, and supervisor eight years. His father and mother died in 1838. JOHN J. SPOTTMAN, brother of Frederick B., was born in Holland, August 27, 1840, and settled in Mercer County in 1849. He married Mary Fiell, daughter of William and Annie M. Fiell, June 3, 1870. Mrs. Mary Spottman was born in Cincinnati, May 11, 1850. They have four children—Joseph W., Bernard A., Annie M., and John H. He is a farmer, and has filled the office of constable two years. His father, John B. Spottman, settled on section 32 in 1849, which was all woods, and he and his three sons cleared the land, each and all accumulating and possessing property. JOHN F. HICKMAN was born in Mercer County in 1836, a date at which trading was done at Minster, and milling at Piqua. He has followed farming and the raising of stock all his life, and served as township trustee during 1876-7. In 1859 he married Sophia Ruthchilling, who was born in Germany, and came to this county with her parents in 1849. Their children number nine, named Mary, Anthony, Frederick, August, Sophia, Catharina, Elizabeth, Bernard, and Henry (deceased). ADAM BITTINGER was the son of John and Barbara Swartz Bittinger, and was born in Germany. Emigrated to America, and settled in Mercer County in 1869 as a farmer, and married Mary Omler, and they have six children, viz., John, Frank, Willie, Charles, Jacob, and Kattie. He has held the Mee of school director and township supervisor for ten years. The maternal ancestor's name was Keatrel 0 tinier, whose son Joseph enlisted in 1861, and was discharged as a veteran in 1865. JOSEPH BURGHMEYER was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1836. his father and mother were John and Mary Burghmeyer. He settled as a farmer and stock-raiser on section 22 in Butler Township, and was married in 1857 to Elizabeth Housefelt. They have six children, Clemence, John, Joseph, Benjamin, Henry, and William. His father married Mary Meyer. Joseph furnished a substitute in the rebellion, and has accumulated one hundred and eighty acres of land in Mercer, and eighty acres in Miami County. HENRY L. FRICK is the son of Jacob and Margaret Frick, of Fairville, Greene County, Ohio. he is a stock-raiser and insurance agent, and settled in this township in 1852. He was born in Richland County, and was married in 1851. The names of the children are Henrietta M., Margaret A., Sarah J., Lissa. A., Elizabeth E., Jacob Ti'., Wm. A., Geo. E., and Mary A. He has held the offices of school dircctor and supervisor. His grandfather was in the War of 1812, and his uncle, Col. William Good, in the Mexican War. JACOB HYMAN, was born August 12, 1820, and is the son of Theodore and Fannie Hyman. Ile settled as a farmer near Coldwater in 1844. His wife Catharine, daughter of George Boneygraph, was born in Mercer County July, 1841. They have five children, Henry, George, Frank, John, and Rosanna. HERMAN NIEBERDING, son of Herman and Catharine Nieberding, was born in Germany. He settled in Mercer County, and married Catharine Herman Smarks in 1855. He is a farmer near Coldwater, and has seven children, Mary, Elizabeth, Bernard, Josephine, Henry, Catharine, Harvey. LEWIS H. WEBSTER, son of H. B. and Sarah Webster, was born March 5, 1837, in Miami County, Ohio (their parents at present reside in Shelby County). He became a farmer, and learned the carpenter trade, and married. Miss Sarah Bell Winans, daughter of Robert and Mary Winans, on March 24, 1860. She was born February 10, 1838. They have seven children, John F., George R., Joseph W., Euretta E., Arthur T., Charles M., and Maggie B. Hiram B. Webster was in the war of 1862 two years. George W. Webster and W. C. Webster from 1862 to 1864 ; and Benj. H. Webster from 1861 to 1865 ; all of whom returned to their homes. GEORGE W. SMITH was born in Virginia in 1813, and came to this county in 1854. He is a son of Henry and Nancy Smith. In 1843 he married Elizabeth Moreland, who was born in Tennessee in 1816. They have had a family of seven children, viz., Nancy M. (dec'd), Elmira, George W., William L., Frederick (dec'd), Simeon, and Marcellus. Mr. Smith came here from Tennessee, and settled near Carthagena ; but six years later moved to Butler Township, and purchased land on section 36. The original purchase embraced eighty acres, which he first improved, and then purchased another forty-acre tract. JAMES COWELL is the son of Wilson and Martha Handly Cowell, who settled in Butler Township in 1850. James was born in West Virginia, and is a farmer near Carthagena. He married Mary Power at 'Toledo. His maternal ancestors are John and Betsy Power, who settled in Mercer County in 1850. James Cowell has three children, William S., Maggie Florence, and George Wilson. He is a school director, also a deacon in the Baptist church. ROBERT KEITH was born in Columbiana County, Georgia. His parents' names were Ishmael and Agnes Keith, who settled in Mercer County in 1842. He is a farmer near Carthagena, and married Francis Harper in 1851. They have one son, named Thomas Marshall. Richard Keith bought two hundred acres of land in 1847, and has filled the office of township trustee. His grandfather was John Marshall Keith, and a nephew of Chief Justice Marshall, who was a lawyer and planter in the State of Georgia. JOHN D. KREMER is the son of John Kremer and Mary his wife, who both died in Germany. John D. Kremer was born in Germany in 1807, and Catharine his wife in 1815. He settled in Butler Township, on section 7, near Coldwater. They were marred in Cincinnati in 1848. His wife having died, he married again. Children by the first wife were Mary D. and John H., and by the second wife, Catharine, Frederick, John, Annie, and Agnes. He served six years in the army in Germany. JOHN B. POHL was born in Germany, June 23, 1840, and is the son of George H. and Adeline Pohl. He is a farmer, and settled near Coldwater. He married Catharine Wieners, May 15, 1865, in Mercer County. She was born June 30, 1847. They have six children—Mary Annie, Barnard H., Harman G., John Frederick, Mary C., and Thomas A. Mrs. Catharine Pohl is the daughter of Henry and Mary Ann Wienans, who settled in this county from Germany, April 24, 1830. JOHN H. KREMER is the son of John D. Kremer and Catharine his wife, who settled in Mercer County in 1850. He was born June 1, 1847, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and farms forty acres of land in Butler Township. On May 5, 1873, he married Catharine Stagerman, daughter of George and Mary L. Stager-man, who settled here in 1846. Mrs. John H. Kremer was born March 30, 1854. They have three children, Mary C., John D., and George Henry. HENRY LENNARTZ was born in Prussia in 1836, and settled on section 7, Butler Township, this county, in 1848, having come here with his parents. He held the office of justice of the peace for a period of twelve years. He was married in 1868, and has raised four children, viz., Dina, Bernard, Harman, and Edward. HENRY WEHRMAN, was born in Auglaize County, learned the carpenter trade, and married Catharine Hoyng, daughter of Frederick and Adaline Hoyng. They have three children, Margaret, Frederick, and Rosie. 472 - HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO. E. M. YOUNG, son of Philip and Lucinda Young, settled in Butler Township in 1836, and was born in Mercer County on section 3, and became a farmer. He married Mary Grunden, daughter of James and Catharine Carmack Grunden, in 1858. Their children are Jason Young, S. M., S. E., S. O., Mary C., J. W., P. M., Ellie Estella, Amanda, Charles, and J. A. He has been township treasurer eight years, and held other offices. J. R. Young was a member of the Home Guards in 1863. JAMES REDMAN, son of Catharine and Thomas Redman, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. His parents came to Mercer County in 1835. He is a farmer. His wife, Sarah Nickerson, was born in Allen County, Indiana, and married James Redman in 1856, and they have three children—Catharine J., Benjamin H., and Samuel. Samuel Nickerson and Elizabeth, his wife, are the parents of Mrs. Sarah Redman. JOSEPH SHATTO, son of Nicholas and Jane Shatto, was born in Ohio in 1812, and is a farmer near Coldwater, where he located in 1828. In 1850 he married Annie Strechberry, daughter of William and Margaret Strechberry. She was born in 1812. They have nine children—Nicholas, Joshua, William, John, Adam, Joab, Benjamin, Thomas, and David. Nicholas Shatto, his father, was in the Revolutionary War. Nicholas, Adam, John, Joshua, and William enlisted in 1861, and were discharged in 1865. JOHN BIRKMEYER. His parents' names were John and Anna M. Birkmeyer. John was born in Huron County in 1838, and his wife, Catharine Wertgarden, in Mercer County in 1846. His maternal grandfather, Gerhard Wert-garden, settled in Mercer County, near Coldwater, in 1851. He has six children—Annie M., Frank B., Joseph B., Justinia, Regina, and Stephen. He has held the office of trustee for three years. CLEMENS HAUSFELD was the son of Clemens and Catharine Hausfeld, of Auglaize County, in which county Clemens was born. He is a farmer, and married. Catharine Miller, and settled in Butler township March 22, 1869. The names of their eight children are Caroline, John, Catharine, Bernard, Annie, Allawissa, Frances, and Jacob. Mrs. Hausfeld's parents (Mr. Miller) settled in this county in 1852, and died in 1862. PHILIP KIRSCH was born in Germany; his parents' names were Nicholas and Annie Mary Vogle Kirsch, who reside in Wisconsin. He is a farmer near Coldwater, and married Caroline Lehman, daughter of Matthias and Mary Bower Lehman. Mrs. Philip Kirsch was born in Indiana, and was married in Sandusky City, and died July 30, 1877, leaving seven children, John, George, Frank, Jacob, Mary, Rosy, and Henry. WILLIAM L. McCoy. son of Ephraim and Elizabeth McCoy, was born in Auglaize County, where his parents had settled. In 1861, March 23, he married Annie Berrington, who was born in Ireland. He was a farmer near Coldwater, and had five children, John, Joseph, Ella, Margaret, and Martha. James McCoy entered the army in 1864, and was discharged in 1865. Joseph McCoy in 1862, and discharged in 1865. EDWARD W. MOORE was born in North Carolina, and settled in this county in 1858. His wife was a native of the same State, but they were married in Tennessee. Mr. Moore has engaged in farming all his life. His children are named respectively, William, Jason, Harvey, John, Francis, Walstein, Amanda, Inez, Jane, and Elizabeth. JOHN BILLERMAN is the son of John B. and Frances S. Billerman. She was the daughter of E. D. Shuderhaefer and Clara, his wife. John Billerman and his wife were born in Germany, and settled as a farmer near Coldwater, in Mercer County. He has five children—George, Nancy, Mary, Henry, and John. He enlisted in 1862, and was discharged in 1864. FRANK HAMBURG, son of Richard Hamburg, was born in Germany. He settled as a farmer near Coldwater in 1856. In 1852 he married his wife Catharine, by whom he has five children, Henry, Mary, Elizabeth, Catharine, and Jane. has filled the office of supervisor for six years. MATTHIAS PITZEN, son of Peter and Catharine Pitzen, came to Mercer County from Tuscarawas County in 1870. He was born in Lucas County December is, 1847, and was married to Elizabeth Groos, who was born in Prussia.. Her father, John Groos, married Mary Ann Smith, and lives in Lucas County Matthias Pitzen is a farmer, and has been a trustee of Butler County for two years. BALSER OLUINGER was born in Germany in 1839, and is the son of Joseph and Mary Oluinger, who settled in Mercer County in 1862. Balser and his wife however came to the county in 1859, and is a farmer. Nicholas Oluinger entered the army in 1861, but was discharged on account of a wound. JOSEPH BREWENS was born in Germany May 1, 1855, and is the son of Henry and Agnes Brewens, who have lived in Mercer County since 1852. His maternal ancestors were Henry and Annie, Smith. Joseph married Mary Smith in 1855. He died March 15, 1880, leaving a widow and seven children, viz., Agnes, Henry, Harman, Mary, John, Joseph, and Anthony. N. B. EMERY was born in Butler County in 1836, and is the son of James M. and Sarah Emery. He settled in Mercer County in 1879, and married Rebeca J. Brazier at St. Marys, and keeps a restaurant at Coldwater. His wife's parents' names are William and Isabella Brazier, and reside in Auglaize County. His parents settled in Mercer County in 1825. JOHN HASLINGER was born. at St. John's in 1853, and is the son of John and Christine Haslinger, who settled in this county in 1849. He is a farmer near Coldwater, and on June 5, 1877, married Elizabeth Wehrkamp, daughter of Bernard Wehrkamp, who came from Germany and settled in Mercer County in 1849. John has two children, John and Elizabeth. JAMES PLUMMER, son of Jeremiah and Nancy Plummer, is a farmer near Coldwater. He was married in 1872 to Sudonia Adonas, daughter of E. Adonas and Mary, his wife, who settled here in 1861. She was born in Fairfield County, Ohio. They have four children—Eva (Nancy, Margaret), John, Benjamin, Mary, Elizabeth. JOSEPH RECKNER was born in Mercer County in 1846, and is the son of William and B. Reckner, who settled here in 1840. Joseph became a farmer, and, married Elizabeth Stetzer, May 9, 1875. She was born October 8, 1858, and has one son, Victor. Her father, Christian Stetzer, and Barbara, his wife, came to this county in 1840. HEMAN SAALMAN is the son of Joseph and Christina Saalman. Was born in Germany ; settled near Coldwater, in Mercer County, in 1847, and on November 24, 1865, married Catharine Leonards, daughter of John and Catharine Leonards. He is a farmer, and has six children—Joseph, Henry, Sybil, Mary A., Catharine M., and Antoinette. J. H. KALLMYER was born in Germany, and is the son of John H. and Mary Kallmyer. He is a farmer, and married Annie Dropperman, whose parents are Richard and Elizabeth Dropperman. `They have nine children, Mary, Eiizabeth, Lewis, Catharine, Annie, Dennia, Herman, Frances, and Joseph. Joseph, one of his family, was in the war of 1861. B. KISSER is the son of B. H. Kisser and Catharine his wife, who was born in Germany, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854. He is a farmer near Coldwater, and married Catharine Harman in 1859, who is the daughter of John and Catharine Harman, who settled on section 6 in Butler Township in 1842. They have no children. JACOB SCHWARTZ, the son of Jacob and Dorothea Schwartz, who settled in this county in 1860, was born in Huron County. He was married to Rose Faller in Mercer County in 1872. She is the daughter of Adam and Mary Faller, and has two children—Clara and Augustus. He keeps a restaurant and billiard saloon at Coldwater.