(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 300 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY Harold Nye, aged 11 years. Both are bright, intelligent youths and it will be interesting to note, in their future careers, whether they inherit the professional leanings of father and grandfather. In political sentiment, Dr. Zeller is a Republican but is too much occupied with professional duties to permit of much activity in public affairs. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge at St. Paris and to the Sons of Veterans camp at Christiansburg. He possesses the personality of a physician and wins confidence in the sick room and hearty esteem among his fellow-citizens. TRUSSTEN BRUCE SNYDER TRUSSTEN BRUCE SNYDER, who resides on his fine farm of 120 acres located in Section 18, is one of Union township's most progressive and representative citizens. He was born August 23, 1876, and is a son of George and Mary Ann (Lytle) Snyder. George 'Snyder was born in Union township, Mercer County, Ohio, about 60 years ago, and lives about a mile and a half from the subject of this sketch. George Snyder's father was born in Hocking County, Ohio, and was one of the pioneers of Mercer C0unty ; he first located in Van Wert County and afterwards moved to Mercer County, settling in Union township, where he still resides. The mother of our subject was born in Wayne County, Ohio, and is still living. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George Snyder; Clarence Fideles, who married Cora Groupe and resides on a farm west of his father's place; Etta, who married John Yeoman and lives in Indiana seven miles south of Decatur; Winnie, who married O. H. Krugh, of Union township: and Trussten Bruce. Trussten B. Snyder was reared on his father's farm in Union township and received his education in the township schools, attending during the winter months and working on the farm during the summer. For the past to years Mr. Snyder has been located on his present farm, where he has been engaged in general farming. He is also interested to a considerable extent in raising stock. He has 50 acres of his land in corn, 30 acres in wheat and the remainder in hay and pasture; the farm is one of the best improved in the township. On May 20, 1895, Mr. Snyder was married to Effie Hays, a daughter of L. P. and Cleopatra (Webb) Hays, both of whom were natives of Mercer County. Mr. Hays died in 1904 at the age of 64 years. Mrs. Hays is still living at the age of 66 years. They were the parents of the following children: Dora, deceased; Effie, wife of our subject; Icy, deceased; and Oscar, deceased. Mrs. Hayes and her daughter are the only members of the family living. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 303 Three children have been born to our subject and wife, namely : Leland, born January 20, 1897; Bernice, born September 21, 1899; and Victor, born November 12, 1902. Mr. Snyder is a Democrat in politics and is a member of the Knights of Pythias. JOSEPH SAGER, M. D. JOSEPH SAGER, M. D., of Celina, whose portrait accompanies this sketch is one of the State's eminent physicians and surgeons, a valued. contributor to medical literature and a careful, thoughtful, skilled man of science. Dr. Sager was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 19, 1839, and is a son of Sheen and Mary (Nonnmaker) Sager and grandson of Gabriel Sager. Gabriel Sager was born in Baden, Germany. After emigrating t0 America, he settled first in Pennsylvania, and then removed to Virginia, where he held slaves until he united with the Mennonite Church, when he freed them. During the War of the Revolution he served under General Washington as a private in a Virginia company. He married a sister of Captain Young, wh0 was a staff officer under General Washington. Sheen Sager, the father of our subject, was born in 1782 in Shenandoah County, Virginia, and moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1810. During the War of 1812, he served first as a private and later as an orderly to Gen. Andrew Jackson, being present at the battle of New Orleans. For his second wife he married Mary Nonnmaker, who was born at Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1806. She died in 1854, followed by her husband in 1857. They had eight children. All of the seven sons served with distinction in the Civil War. The boyhood of Joseph Sager was passed in Fairfield County. During 1857 and 1858 he was given educational opportunities at Findlay, Ohio, after which he taught school. In 1859 he entered upon the study of medicine with Dr. J. J. Updegraff; a noted physician and surgeon at St. Louis, Missouri, and later he attended two c0urses 0f lectures at what was then known as the McDowell Medical College of that city. In 1861 he entered the Union Army as a hospital steward and was taken prisoner at the battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky, in January, 1862, being held a prisoner of war for four months at Island No. 10. In April, 1862, after effecting his escape, with a comrade, he made his way, with great difficulty, to New Orleans, where he reported to Gen. Benjamin F. Butler who was in command of that city. The latter assigned him to duty at St. James Hospital, where he remained until the spring of 1863, when he was transferred to the United States steamer "Tennessee," in the capacity of surgeon's steward. By the close of the war the young student had acquired practice and experience, which years of collegiate training could scarcely have afforded him. 304 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY After his return from the army, Dr. Sager attended a course of medical lectures at Starling Medical College, Columbus, and received his diploma from this institution. Since then he has taken several post-graduate courses--in 1871 at Starling and in 1880 and 1881 at the Medical University of Bal more. Dr. Sager engaged in practice at North Washington, Ohio, until 1884, when he came to Celina. Here he engaged, in a general practice, but made a specialty of diseases of the eye and ear. He still continues an active practitioner and few in this section enjoy more fully the confidence and esteem of the public. Dr. Sager was married (first) to Miss Shumaker, who died in 1886. His second marriage, in 1888, was to Jennie Krisher, who on the maternal side was related to Bishop Harris, formerly a noted divine of the Methodist Episcopal Church. M rs. Sager died April 16, 1905. On May 5, 1906, Dr. Sager was again married, to Mrs. Gabie Williams, of Celina, but at the time a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio ; she is a daughter. of David Lininger, of Celina. Dr. Sager and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Sager is surgeon for the Cincinnati Northern Railroad and belongs to the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association, which he has served as president; to the Mercer County Medical Society, of which he is president; to the Ohio State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the National Association of Railway Surgeons and the American Microscopical Society. Dr. Sager holds many advanced views, which a long course of practice and scientific study have developed. In a number of valuable contributions to various medical journals and others embodied in lectures before medical bodies, he has made clear to the less observant student the scientific value of his researches and the s0undness of his opinion. He has a large and representative following. ELI T. HASTINGS The subject of this sketch was born in Sussex County, Delaware, November 10, 1845. His parents were Wateman W. and Eleanor E. (Collins) Hastings. The father was the son of James Hastings, whose ancestors came t0 America from England early in the 18th century. The mother was the daughter of Solomon Collins, who was of Trish descent. Wateman Hastings moved with his family to Mercer County, Ohio, in August, 1846, and settled on a farm three miles south of Fort Recovery. In the family are four brothers and three sisters, viz Eli T., James, Zachary T., Mrs. Ella Ralph and Mrs. Frank Lowe, of Fort Recovery; Mrs. William Hamline, of Celina, Ohio; and Charles W., of Reynolds, Washington. Eli T. Hastings remained on his father's farm until 1864, when at AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 305 the age of 18, during the War of the Rebellion, he enlisted in the U. S. Army serving in the 156th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf. After returning home at the expiration of his term of enlistment, he engaged in teaching school for some time. On September 12, 1871, he was married to Elmira E. Davison, Baugh. ter of James and Mary Davison. They have two sons and three daughters viz: Carrie A., Mary E., J. Frank, Roy D. and Hope H. The daughter: live with their parents. Roy married Gertrude Graham and lives in Youngstown, Ohio. Frank, a graduate of the University of Michigan, is practicing medicine in Hancock, Michigan. In 1881 Mr. Hastings engaged in the retail shoe business in Fort Recovery, he retired from the business in 1905. In politics he is a Republican. In religion he is a firm believer in the principles of Christianity. He was raised in the faith of the Congregational Church, to which he and his family still adhere. r GEORGE W. FRISINGER GEORGE W. FRISINGER, a prominent citizen of Mercer County, who served six years as county commissioner, resifts in a fine home at Rockf0rd and owns some 190 acres of improved farming laird in Dublin township. He was born in Mercer County, Ohio, May 11, 1853, and is a son of Nathan and Jane (Ryan) Frisinger. Nathan Frisinger, the father of our subject, was born July 3, 1816, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and was a son of William and Catherine (Harp) Frisinger, the former of whom was born in 1794, in Virginia, and was the eldest child in a family of 11 children. His father, who was a tailor, a miller and distiller, also served as a soldier in the War of 1812, but died soon after his return from the field. William Frisinger, our subject's grandfather, was reared on a farm and also learned the tailoring trade. While still a young man he settled in Champaign County, Ohio, and was the founder of the family in this State. During an early visit to Illinois he also purchased land there. In 1827 he located permanently in Mercer County, one and a half miles east 0f Rockford, purchasing at first 160 acres of timber land. This: he partially cleared and then improved the cleared portion in such a manner and to such an extent that he made an excellent farm. Later he added 60 acres to this farm and here he spent the rest of his life, dying in April, 1837. He was one of the earliest settlers in Mercer County and he and his family saw much pioneer hardship. In 1817 William Frisinger married Catherine Harp, who was a daughter of Peter Harp, and they had 11 children, as follows: Nathan, the father of 306 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY our subject; Peter, a prosperous farmer of Dublin township; John, deceased, who was a farmer in Dublin township; Sarah, deceased at 14 years of age Elizabeth, 'deceased at six years; Jacob, deceased, who was a well-know: farmer of Dublin township; Ann, deceased at 11 years; Cynthia, deceasec who was the wife of the late Jeremiah Dull; and Lydia, Catherine and Will iam, all deceased. The mother of this family came 0f Dutch ancestry, was born about 1800, in Pennsylvania, and died in 1854. For many years she wa a consistent member of the Baptist Church. George W. Frisinger remained at home assisting on the home farm anti the age of 21 years, in the meantime obtaining his education in the public schools. After marriage he remained one year on the home place and the inherited and partly bought a farm of his own to which he has added at vari ous times until he now owns 190 acres in Dublin township. He continue general farming and also is interested in the buying and shipping of horses On November 10, 1874, Mr. Frisinger was married (first) to Lida Archer, who died June 11, 1886. She was a daughter of Henry and Lucinda Archer. One child survived her, Merritt, who is now operating a farm o 180 acres for his father. Merritt married Nellie Miller, daughter of Peter A Miller, and they have two interesting children, Lowell, aged six years am Donald, aged three years. In March, 1887, Mr. Frisinger was married (sec .and) to Lillie McDonald, who died five months later. She was a daughter of Dr. McDonald of Rockford. On January 10, 1888, Mr. Frisinger married (third) to Rena A. Hesser, a daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth ( Rhodes) Hesser, born at Lincoln, Nebraska, April 29, 1871. Her father was born in 1848, near Red Key, Indiana, and her mother in the same place one year later. Mr. and Mrs. Frisinger have two children : Rolla Nathan who was born February 19, 1890; and Stella Marie, born May 29, 1896. Mr. Frisinger is one of the county's prominent Democrats and wide. awake politicians. He has been elected to responsible office a number of time and served six years as township trustee, was for 11 years a member of the Board of Education and in 1896 was the Democratic candidate for county commissioner. He was elected to that office and approval of his services was shown by his re-election in 1900. He has been a member of the Knights of Pythias for a number of years. WILLIAM EICHAR WILLIAM EICHAR, formerly a member of the board of trustees of Hopewell township, where he is a respected and prominent citizen, resides on his finely cultivated farm in this township, although his 400 acres of land extend also into Dublin township. He was born February 3, 1842, in Hopewell AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 307 township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Buck) Eichar. Jacob Eichar was born in Pennsylvania and accompanied his father to Hopewell township when the country was practically a wilderness. The Eichars were truely pioneer settlers. Jacob Eichar was a man of sturdy strength and great industry and he was also a man in whom. his fellow-citizens placed the highest confidence. He faithfully served the township as a trustee and in other offices and during his active life was a, leading man of his section. He died, in 1898 and the three survivors of his family of children are William, Lafayette and Peter, all residents of Hopewell township. William Eichar was reared in Hopewell township, which has always been his home. His education was obtained in the district schools and his attention has been given to general farming and stock-raising. On May 2, 1861, William Eichar married Altha Rutledge, who was born in Perry County, Ohio, June 23, 1838, and is a daughter of John and Altha (Matthews) Rutledge, the former of whom was born in Maryland and the latter in Virginia. She accompanied her parents in, 1832 from Perry to Mercer County, where they passed the rest 0f their lives, dying in Hopewell township. Mrs. Eichar has one surviving sister and two brothers, namely : Jehu, living in Minnesota ; Mary, widow of David McChristy, now resides in Black Creek township; and John, a resident 0f Rockford, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Eichar have four children living, namely : Leonora, wife of Martin Weisenborn, of Hopewell township; John 'A. and Joseph E., of Hopewell township; and George, of Dublin township. Mary J. is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Eichar are consistent members of the Society of Friends. In political sentiment, Mr. Eichar is a Republican. He has served as township trustee for a number of years. Both he and his wife are well known among the old settlers of the township and enjoy universal respect and esteem. CALVIN WILLSHIRE RILEY CALVIN WILLSHIRE RILEY, a well-known` citizen of Jefferson township, residing on his homestead of 128 acres, in sections 3 and 34 and also owning another fine farm of 154 acres near Celina, was b0rn at Celina, Ohio, April 16, 186o, and is a son of Calvin E. and Gabrilla (Brandon) Riley. Mr. Riley was about two years old when his parents moved from Celina to the country home where he was reared, a beautiful location on Lake Mercer, some three and a half miles east of Celina. He attended the Old-town district school near his home, and later the Celina High School and still later the Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana. When he was 8 years of age 308 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY he began to teach school and spent one year at the Old-town school and another year at the Harmon school. With the exception of the year 1888, which he spent running a creamery at Fort Recovery, Mr. Riley has passed the who of his married life on his present homestead farm,. In the spring of 1882 he erected his commodious and comfortable frame residence and substantial barns. With these and other extensive improvements he has added greatly to the value of his property. In September, 1906, he purchased another farm, becoming the owner of a very valuable property of 154 acres, situated near Celina. In addition to farming his own lands, Mr. Riley farms for his father and thus operates some 300 acres. He makes stock-raising a feature of his work and specializes in raising horses, sheep and hogs. For the past 15 years Mr. Riley has also been interested in the oil business and at one time owned a one-fourth interest in four strings of oil tools. He spent a part of the years 1905 and 1906 in the Illinois field, where he has land leased. He also has some oil leases in Mercer County. His many business interests are handled with great capacity, his progressive and enterprising methods bringing him success in almost every line. On June 13, 1881, Mr. Riley was married to Fannie E. DeRush, a daughter of William DeRush, of St. Marys, Ohio. They have three children, viz. Robert A., Calvin E., Jr., and James H. Mr. Riley is not a very active politician but he is much interested at a times in the educational progress of his community and has been willing to serve as school director because he has thought he could be of value. He i a member of the Masons and the Maccabees. JONAS WEIST JONAS WEIST, a well-known citizen and successful farmer and stoc raiser, residing on his valuable property which consists of 80 acres of land in Hopewell township, Mercer County, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 3, 1841, and is a son of Samuel and Lydia (Miesse) Weist. The parents of Mr. Weist were of German ancestry, born in Pennsylvania, whence they came to Ohio and settled in early days in Fairfield County where they lived until death. Jonas Weist was reared on his father's farm in Fairfield County, and from his youth has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was formerly much interested in the raising of sheep but latterly has not given that industry so much attention. During the Civil War he went out from Fairfield County to assist in driving the raider Morgan from Ohio. In the spring of 1869 he removed from Fairfield to Mercer County and settled on a farm of AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 309 160 acres, which he cleared from the woods, 80 acres of which he still retains. Mr. Weist was married (first) August 28, 1861, in Fairfield County, to Catherine Crider, who became the mother of six children, the four survivors being as follows: William H., residing in Hopewell township, who married Emma Clutter and has four children—Nellie, Glenn, Pauline and Orly; Lanassa, who is the wife of Samuel Hayes—they reside in Dublin township and have two children, Bert and Maud; Charles D., who married Pearl Murlin, has one child, Carl, and lives in Union township; Clarence, a practicing physician at Columbus, who married Mary Davis. Mr. Weist was married (second) to Sarah Nuding, born in Hocking County, Ohio, a daughter of the late Frederick Nuding. Politically, Mr. Weist is a Republican. He served six years as town-- ship trustee and at present is a member of the Board of Education of Hopewell township. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. S. V. SLABAUGH S. V. SLABAUGH, a well-known citizen of Hopewell township, where he owns a finely developed farm of 95 acres, situated in section 14, is the present treasurer of the Mercer County Mutual Telephone Company, of which utility he was one of the leading promoters. Mr. Slabaugh was born in Licking County, Ohio, February 5, 1854, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Higgy) Slabaugh. Jacob Slabaugh was of German ancestry and was born in Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth Higgy, who was born in Switzerland. Her parents came to America in her childhood and settled first at Buffalo, New York, and then removed to Licking County, Ohio, where she married. Her death t0ok place in Fairfield County, just across the line from Licking, in which latter county Jacob Slabaugh died in 1898; both were interred in Licking County. S. V. Slabaugh was reared in his native locality and was mainly educated in the schools of Licking County, for a short time only enjoying the advantages offered at the Otterbein University at Westerville, Ohio. He then taught 14 winter terms of school in his native county, and in the spring of 1888 settled in Hopewell township. He served several years as clerk of the township and has always been active in public affairs although an independent voter, identified with no particular party. Mr. Slabaugh married Alice Jeffries, born in. Licking County, a daughter of Jerome Jeffries. They have three children, namely ; Raymond M., Virgil L. and Edith M., all at home. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Center township, in which Mr. Slabaugh is a class leader. He is 310 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY recognized as one of the progressive, far-seeing men of the towns whose modern ideas have proved very serviceable and acceptable to body of his fellow-citizens.   GEORGE RICKETS GEORGE RICKETS, a veteran of the Civil War and a prominent ci and old settler of Hopewell township, resides on his well-improved far ma acres, located not far from Oregon station. Mr. Rickets was born A 3, 1834, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Sar (Raudabaugh) Rickets. Samuel Rickets was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, and his wife Hocking County, Ohio, where the Raudabaugh family had settled at a very early date. They resided for a time in Hocking County, but later removed Fairfield County, when pioneer conditions still existed. George Rickets received his early education in an old log school house in the vicinity of his father's farm. He assisted in developing the land u n 1864, when he enlisted in Company 156th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., which became a part of the Army of the Cumberland. After completing his first ten:: of service, he became a veteran in February, 1865, re-enlisting in Company D, 193rd Reg., Ohio Vet. Vol. Inf. He was honorably discharged on Ann 10, 1865, having participated in innumerable skirmishes and several battle, the most important of which was that at Cumberland, Maryland, on August , 1864. The movements of his regiment, took him over a large part of Man -land, Kentucky and Virginia. Mr. Rickets draws a pension of $12 per mod. In view of the present appearance of the farm of Mr. Rickets, it seen almost impossible to believe that when he settled in his little log cabin here, in 1865, this whole section of Hopewell township was still a forest, but since then he has cleared up his large farm, and in 1873 he built his present comfortable residence. He stands as a fair representative of the good farmers of this section of Mercer County. On March 3, 1859, Mr. Rickets was married to Susan Crider, born in Fairfield County, Ohio, a daughter of the late Jacob -Crider, who was a pioneer in Fairfield County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rickets, as follows : Sarah E., who is the wife of Joseph Montgomery, of Fairfield County ; Perley R., who is the wife of John Wilson, of Hopewell township ; and Charles C., who married Almeda Fast, resides with his father, engaged in farming. In political sentiment, Mr. Rickets is a stanch Republican. He is a prominent member of Copp's Chapel Methodist. Episcopal Church, of will AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 313 he is a trustee. He is a man who has always stood high in the estimation of 't his fellow-citizens, one whose sterling character is recognized by all who, know him.- CAPT. JAMES RILEY Prominent among the first and best-known pioneers of Western Ohio, was the late Capt. James Riley, who won distinction as a traveler, navigator, author and statesman. He was born at Middletown, Connecticut, October 27, 1777, and died at sea, March 13, 1840. Like many other lads brought up in ship-building centers, James Riley early sought the adventures held out by a seafaring life and was but 15 years old when he shipped as a cabin boy on a trading vessel to the West Indies. By the time he was 20 years old he was master of, a ship and had visited all the best-known commercial points that Foreign vessels then touched. His whole life on the sea which covered many years was more or less adventurous and much of it is incorporated in his interesting book, "Riley's Narrative," which at the time was the first reliable account of many unknown countries and of savage tribes. A thrilling experience related was of the wreck of his vessel, in August, 1815, on the reef off Cape Bojador, Africa. The shipwrecked captain and crew landed without loss of life but were taken captive by a wandering tribe of Arabs by whom they were sold to Moorish merchantmen, Who made slaves of them and transported them to the Desert of Sahara. Of their escape and of the final return to the United States after a long absence, Captain Riley writes entertainingly in his work. Wearied of the sea and financially prostrated by the loss of his vessel and cargo, Captain Riley then turned his attention to the rapidly developing western part of Ohio. Securing a government contract, in association with his eldest son, James Watson Riley, he surveyed and laid out counties and townships all through the northwestern part of this State. He was for a period extensively engaged in the erection of mills, the building of roads and the opening up of opportunities' for settlers. In 1823-24 he represented Darke and Shelby counties in the General Assembly of Ohio and he it was who introduced the bill which laid the foundation for the State's present Superior public-school system. Failing health and a return of the old seafaring spirit induced him to return to commercial life on the water and, as probably he would have chosen, his last days were passed surrounded by the element which he loved so well; In January, 1802, Captain Riley was married to Phebe Miller, a daughter of Hosea Miller, a "Minute Man" during the Revolutionary War. They had five children, namely : James Watson ; Horatio Sprague; William Willshire ; 314 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY Amelia Ann,. who married Dr. William Murdock, of Urbana, Ohio; Phebe, who married John Jay Beach, of Connecticut. JAMES WATSON RILEY, the eldest of the above family, became one of Mercer County's most distinguished men. He was born in Middletown, Connecticut, February 20, 1804. When he was 19 years of age, he assisted his father in surveying Southern Michigan and Northern Ohio and Indiana. Before he had reached his majority he was appointed clerk of courts of Mercer ,County. At that time the county seat was St. Marys, but in 1839 it was moved to Celina. This position he held for a period of 20 years, resigning it in 1841 to take charge of the United States Land Office at Lima, being one of President William Henry Harrison's first appointees. James Watson Riley was originally a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he became one 0f the earliest and stanchest supporters of the new organization. In 1843 he was elected to the Ohio Legislature and subsequently was appointed chief clerk of the State auditor. :Upon his resignation of this position, he returned to Celina, always having been deeply interested in the development of this place. In 1853 he removed to Sandusky in order to give his younger children better educational advantages, and became attorney for the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Railroad Company. His death occurred at Celina, January 1, 1870, from an accident received at Toledo. In September, 1827, Mr. Riley married Susan Ellis, of Alexander, New York, and they had six children born to them, namely : William Wiltshire, a physician and statesman, at Judsonia, Arkansas; Calvin Erastus, president of the Commercial Bank Company of Celina ; Amelia Ann, deceased, formerly wife of Capt. William McMurray, a hero of the Civil War; James Watson, Jr., residing in Celina, who distinguished himself in the Civil War; Susan (wife of Hon. E. M. Ashley, of Denver, Colorado), who was one of the vice-presidents of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, and the first president of the Colorado Federation of Women's Clubs; and Mahala, who is the wife of Judge A. J. Hodder, a. prominent resident of Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. James W. Riley also reared and adopted six orphan, children. Portraits of Capt. James Riley and James Watson Riley appear on o pages of this work. JOSEPH NUDING JOSEPH NUDING, who resides on his finely cultivated farm of 16o a situated in section 1, Hopewell township, Was born March 17, 1845, in F field County, Ohio, and is a son of John F. and Barbara (Engle) Nuding. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 315 John F. Nuding was born in Germany, January 21, 1815, and his wife in Fairfield County, Ohio, June 17, 1818. Prior to 1848, John F. Nuding and family lived in Hocking County, but in that year removed to Mercer County, Mr. Nuding settling on a farm in Hopewell township, about four and one-half miles from the present site of Celina. His log cabin was one of the very first erected in the great stretch of forest that then covered all this part of Mercer County, and the family endured many of the hardships and privations to which pioneer's were subjected. Mr. Nuding spent the remaining nine years of life engaged in clearing up his land, his death occurring September t, 1857. His widow survived many years, passing away September 16, 1900. The children of John F. Nuding and wife were numerous and there are six who survive as follows: Maria, who is the wife of John H. Long, of Lima; Joseph; Sarah, who is the wife of Jonas Weist, of Hopewell township ; William H., who lives at Mercer; Leah, now a resident of Mercer County, who is the widow of Joseph Lewis, late of Jay 'County, Indiana; and Alma, who is the wife of Hiram Grissom, of Jay County, Indiana. Joseph Nuding was reared to man's estate 0n his father's farm in Hopewell township, was educated in its public schools, and through his years of mature life has had all his interests centered here. He has always been al farmer and has managed his agricultural operations in so judicious a manner that an ample fortune has been realized, but at the same time he has given attention to the advancement of the welfare of the community at large, as becomes a good citizen. He has assisted in the making of good roads, in the building of churches and schools and, as trustee of the township for two terms, helped to put its affairs on a sound financial basis. On November 14, 1878, he was married to Effie Roberts, who was born in Mercer County, Ohio, a daughter of the late, John Roberts of Center township, where he was an early settler. Mr. and. Mrs. Nuding have had four children, the two survivors being, Grover S. and May. Mr. Nuding is a stanch Democrat and is a very active party man. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee and steward. In every relation of life he is respected and esteemed. CLEMENT V. MAY CLEMENT V. MAY, infirmary director, who is prominently identified with the agricultural and political interests of Hopewell township and resides upon his well-improved farm of 121 acres, in section 6, was born October 12, 1865, in Mercer County, Ohio, and is a. s0n of Elias and Susan (Lazure) May. The parents of Mr. May were both natives of Ross County, Ohio. In 316 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY early married life they settled in Liberty. township, Mercer County, where for many years they were representative farmers and highly respected residents. The father died in September, 1903," but the mother still survives, having reached her 79th year, and lives at Randolph, Nebraska. Of the children born to Elias May and wife, 10 Survive, as follows : Mary A., who is the wife of A. J. Ricker, of Indiana; Byron L.; who lives in Dublin township; John R, who resides in Hopewell township; Caroline, who is the widow of Thomas Wright, and a resident of Randolph, Nebraska; Wilson T., who resides in Hopewell township ; Clement V.; Joseph M., who lives near Toledo, Ohio; Daniel, who resides in Nebraska; William W., who lives near Toledo; and Marion, who is a resident of Randolph, Nebraska. Clement V. May was reared in Liberty township and attended the public schools. He has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, farming and stock-raising, and for six seasons he ran a threshing machine, owning a full outfit. He is one of the progressive men of his locality, in business as well as in public affairs, and is a liberal supporter of the various agencies at work which are designed to add to the efficiency of the public schools and to increase interest in agricultural pursuits. Mr. May was united in marriage with Curley E. McChristy, born in Hopewell township, a daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Davis) McChristy, the former of whom is deceased. Mrs. McChristy still resides in this township. Mr. and Mrs. May have five children, namely : Myrtle E., who is the wife of Tony Hinton, of Liberty township; Nora M., who is the wife of William Laudahn, of Liberty township; Ina L.; and Susanna E. and Laura L. Politically Mr. May is a Democrat and is influential in his party in this section. He has frequently served as school director of his district, and in the spring of 1906 was nominated for the. office of infirmary director of Mercer County, to which he was elected in the following November. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge at Rockford. EMMET E CARPENTER EMMET F. CARPENTER, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Hopewell township, residing on his well cultivated farm of 239 1/2 acres, situated in section 22, was born in Center township, Mercer County, Ohio, December 30, 1857, and is a son of Noah and Rachel (Berry) Carpenter. Noah Carpenter was born in` Hocking County, his wife in Fairfield County, Ohio. They were early settlers in Center township, Mercer County, locating about 1849, before the forests had been laid low and when but few settlers had established homes there They were representative pioneers and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 317 lived long and worthy lives, passing away honored and esteemed by their contemporaries. Emmet F. Carpenter was about 0 years old when he was left motherless and by the time he was 13 years of age he was thrown entirely upon his own resources. In his boyhood he attended the district schools, and later, through his own efforts, enjoyed a season at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio. His business in life has been entirely of an agricultural nature and he has been located on his present farm since the fall 0f 1886. On April 4, 1886, Mr. Carpenter was married to Margaret Hellwarth, a daughter of John Hellwarth, of Hopewell township, and they have five children, named as follows : Quincy Grover, Dottier S., Raymond N., Jeremiah B. and Jesse McKinley. In his political views Mr. Carpenter is a Democrat. With his family he &kings to the Evangelical Church. WILLIAM A. ORR WILLIAM A. ORR, who is one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers' of Hopewell township, residing on his excellent farm of 160 acres situated in section 13, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 17, 1847, and is a son of Jackson and Rebecca (Baker) Orr. The Orr family is 0f Scotch-Irish extraction. The Baker family originated in Germany. Jackson Orr was born in flocking County, Ohio, and his wife in Washington County, Maryland. They were very early settlers in Fairfield County, locating there when little clearing had been done and Indians were still often encountered. In 1849 Jackson Orr and family removed to Mercer County, where they again found pioneer conditions, and settled a second time in the woods, their home being' a log cabin and their nearest neighbors many miles away. They lived in Hopewell township until 1869, when they removed to Celina, where Jackson Orr died in the same year, and was survived by his widow until 1896. In their passing this section lost two of its most estimable people, who were true pioneers, hospitable, thrifty and worthy of remembrance. They were among the founders of the Methodist Episcopal Church in their neighborhood. Of their six children, the following five survive: Sarah F., a resident of Van Wert, Ohio, who is the widow of William H. Brookhart, formerly of Kenton,. Ohio; William A. ; George, who resides in Mercer County; John, who resides at Wabash ; Samaria, deceased; and Albert, who resides at Cincinnati. William A. Orr was reared and educated in Hopewell township, where his life has been passed, engaged in agricultural pursuits. At one time he 318 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY engaged quite extensively in the buying and selling of cattle and other stock and was well known in the business. Politically he is a Republican. On November 13, 1870, Mr. Orr was married to Sarah M. Petrie, born in Jefferson township, Mercer County, Ohio, on May 13, 1853, a daughter of George and Sarah (Wilds) Petrie. Her mother was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and died in 1862. The father was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and long was a resident of Jefferson township, Mercer County, where he settled as a pioneer n 184. He was one of the trustees of the township and later was a member of the Board of Infirmary Directors. In, his 87th year, he now resides at Celina, one of the most venerable men in the county. He has been twice married and the children who survive are as follows : William, of Jefferson township; Mary, widow of William Houser, of Celina, now residing at Los Angeles, California; John R., of Celina; Sarah A.; Joseph C., of Mercer County; Thomas E., of Marion, Indiana; Broad F., of Utah ; and George A., of Celina. Mr. and Mrs. Orr have had six children, namely : Edward S., residing at Celina; Frank F., residing in Hopewell township; Charles E., a successful teacher at Celina; Mary B., wife of Charles F. Raach, residing at Canton, Ohio; and Lela M., at home. Mrs. Orr is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. JAMES Z. MOTT JAMES Z. MOTT, a representative farmer of Gibson township, owner of 174 acres of excellent farming land in sections 27, 34 and 315, was born July 12, 1841, in what was then Darke but is now included in Gibson township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Abraham and Abigail (Coates) Mott. Mr. Mott was reared on his father's farm and agriculture has always had more attractions for him than ony 0ther occupation. He was only 19 years of age when he answered the call for defenders of the country in the days of the war between the North and the South, enlisting as a private, on November 3, 1861, in Company K, 40th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., contracting to serve three years. He faithfully fulfilled this contract and in doing so he endured many hardships, fought many battles and suffered from the enemy's bullet on one occasion, being shot in the left ear. He participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, Nashville and innumerable smaller engagements, and after the expiration of his first term he reenlisted, in 1864, at Shellmound, Georgia, and was finally discharged at Victoria, Texas. He was mustered out with the rank of commissary sergeant, on November 3, 1865. After his return from the army, he resumed his duties on his father's AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 319 farm, where he continued until his marriage in the following year, when he settled on his present farm, which he had partly purchased while in the army. His first purchase was an 80-acre timber tract, in the midst of which he erected a log house. Later a commodious frame dwelling took its place and barns and other necessary outbuildings were constructed. He carries on general farming and is ranked with the substantial men of his neighborhood. On November 28, 1866, Mr. Mott was married to Elizabeth Grant, who was born in Darke County, Ohio, about five miles from the present home. She is a daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Reprogle) Grant. Her grandfather, Alexander Grant, was one of the earliest settlers in this locality. He entered this land from the government and at one time owned 1,000 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Mott have had six children, namely : Henry Silas, who was reared and well educated in Gibson township, married Harriet Bond, and died in 1896, aged 28 years, leaving one son—Edward Silas ; Clarence, who resides at home; Annie Viola, deceased at the age of three years; George Marion, who lives at home; Lenuel, who died aged 17 years; and Harry, who married Mary Tillie Miller, has one son, Walter, and resides in Indiana. Mr. Mott has been a prominent man in his township for many years, taking an active part in educational and other movements and for a long period serving as a member of the Board of Education, of which he is now president He is a leading member of the German Baptist Church. In any gathering Mr. Mott would attract attention on account of his fine physical appearance, his army height, when but 19 years of age, having been 6 feet 3% inches. In politics he is a Republican. HON. FRANCIS C. LeBLOND The late Francis C. LeBlond was the oldest member of the bar at Celina at his death, and formerly represented the Fifth Congressional District of Ohio in the halls of Congress. He was a man of great mental capacity and his fellow-citizens greatly profited through his devotion to their interests. He was born in Knox County, Ohio, February 12, 1821, and was a son of Evera C. and Elizabeth (Holderman) LeBlond. The father of Mr. LeBlond was born at Paris, France, on May 22, 1789, and came to America in order to avoid being pressed into military service. He died at Belleville, Ohio, January 16, 1851. His wife, Elizabeth Holder-man, who came of German ancestry, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1793, and died in1861. Francis C. LeBlond was mainly educated at Norwalk, Ohio, where he was under the instruction of Bishop Edward M. Thompson, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the fall of 1843 he was admitted to the bar, and in 320 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY December of that year located at St. Marys, Ohio, where he remained several months and then removed to Celina, which city remained the scene of his many legal triumphs until the close of his life. Here, for years, esteem, respect, admiration and affection waited upon his footsteps and here he will remain enshrined among the city's most notable men. A man of his ability could not keep out of politics, and Democratic principles were the ones for which he was ready to do battle. His first office was that of prosecuting attorney, to which-he was elected in the fall of 1847 and reelected in 1849. In 1851 he was elected to the Lower House of the General Assembly of Ohio, in 1853 was returned and was honored especially by being chosen Speaker of the. House. During this term Mr. LeBlond took a .very prominentpart in the proceedings and he was once heard to declare that the passage 0f the present school laws, which was a measure under his charge, gave him more genuine pleasure than any 0f the many honors which came to him later. In 1856 he was the Dem0cratic candidate for common pleas judge, but was defeated by Alexander S. Latty. In 1862 he was first elected to Congress from the Fifth Congressional District, and was reelected in 1864; during the long period which covered this term of public service, he proved his capacity 0n hundreds of occasions. It was during his second term that a very noted incident occurred in connection with Mr. LeBlond's attitude in regard to the reconstruction measures introduced in 1866. He made speeches on this subject which were so forcible, so convincing and so truly democratic that from that time on he was recognized as the leader of the party on the floor of the House 0f Representatives. If was during the rather heated discussion of this matter that Mr. LeBlond made a sarcastic speech which rang all over the c0untry, which brought deserved criticism and reproach on the opponents 0f the bill, s0me 0f whom were caricatured in the leading newspapers. In 1868 Mr. LeBlond was selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention held in New York city, which nominated Horatio Seymour, G0vernor of New York, for the Presidency; and again, in 1876, he was a delegate from the Fifth Congressional District, to the convention of that year which met at St. Louis and nominated Samuel J. Tilden for President. Although for years out of active politics, he always remained interested and his political friends all over the land were very often personal ones as well. During his long term of law practice he stood at the head 0f the bar of Mercer County. On September 6, 1853, Mr. LeBlond was married at St. Marys, Ohio, to Louisa E. McGinley, and they had these children : Charles M., a prominent attorney at Hilo, Hawaiian Islands, formerly a member of the State Legislature, from Mercer C0unty; Emma L., the wife of Ex-Auditor Charles AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 323   A. Kloeb, now State inspector of public offices; and. Frank C., who is now a resident of San Francisco, California. Both Mrs. LeBlond and Mr. and Mrs. Kloeb have homes on North Main street, Celina. HON. A. P. J. SNYDER. In the death of Hon. A. P. J. Snyder, which occurred November 15, 1901, at Celina, Mercer County lost one of her most devoted and efficient citizens and justly honored men. For 50 years he was at the head of the Mercer County Standard, and for a half century the hundreds of readers of this journal were influenced through his facile pen and imbued with ideas which led to the highest type of citizenship. A. P. J. Snyder was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, June 24, 1828, and was- a son of Henry and Sarah (Smith) Snyder. The father was a native -of Hagerstown, Maryland, and was a soldier in the army which defended St. Marys, and Fort Defiance, in the War of 1812. Until he was 17 years of age, Mr. Snyder attended the common schools at Bellefontaine, excellent ones for their time, and then became an apprentice to the printing business in the office of the Ohio Censor, at Bellefontaine. After three years there he worked on the Champaign Democrat at Urbana, the Banner at West Liberty and the Gazette of his native city. On March i 7, 1851, Mr. Snyder came to Celina find at once entered the office of the Western Standard, which was" then owned by Judge William L. Blocher, in connection with S. S. Snyder, brother of A. P. J. Snyder. Three years later the subject of this sketch bought Judge Blocher's interest and the two brothers continued the business together until 1865, when they sold out to D. J. Callen. Mr. Snyder, however, had been a newspaper man too long to take any absorbing interest in anything else and within 18 months he purchased the Mercer County Standard, with which his name and personality were identified for a half century. He belonged heart and soul t0 the Democratic party and in supporting its principles his voice and pen left n0 uncertainty. Although not a seeker for office when he felt it his duty to accept political responsibilities he did so, and with fidelity and honor represented his constituents. In 1859 he was elected by the Democratic party t0 the Legislature and was returned for a second term. He, also served as a member of the Celina Village Council. Mr. Snyder was married on. February 22, 1859, to Susan E. Slicer, of Bellefontaine, Ohio. Seven children were born to this marriage, the survivors being : Elizabeth, wife 0f Charles A. McKim, postmaster of Celina; Mrs. A. W. Fishbaugh, Cora, and Frank A., who is the business manager of the Standard. To his family the death of the beloved father who 'had also 324 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY been friend, counselor and guide, was an almost insupportable blow and his memory will always be tenderly cherished by those who knew him best. Mr. Snyder, while devoted to his journalistic work, took a deep interest in all that promised to develop and help Celina and this section. He invested money in a number of its enterprises and, through faithful representation in his columns of the advantages' 0f this section, brought thousands of doll of capital to this part of Ohio. Mr. Snyder was a charter member of the Masonic lodge and chapter at Celina and in 1887 he was made a Knight Templar in Shawnee Commandery at Lima. It was according to his expressed wish, made at this time, that his funeral obsequies were in charge of his beloved fraternity of which he was so honored a member. A portrait of Mr. Snyder accompanies this sketch JAMES C. SNYDER JAMES C. SNYDER, a very well-known citizen and leading stockman of Mercer County, in association with his son, LeRoy Snyder, owns 230 acres of the best farming land in Washington township, consisting of 150 acres in the home farm in section 13, and 80 acres in section 23. He was born at Lewisburg, Preble County, Ohio, March 9, 1846, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Homan) Snyder. The father of our subject was born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and was a son of Peter Snyder, wh0 came to West Baltimore, Montgomery County, Ohio, when his son Joseph was 0 years 0f age and settled on land, which is now the site of the thriving town of West Baltimore. When he was 12 years old, Joseph Snyder was apprenticed to a blacksmith who had a shop and forge at Lewisburg, and married in that place and continued to work there at his trade until his son James was four years old and then moved to West Baltimore, Ohio, where he opened a shop and worked four years. He then sold his shop and worked as a journeyman blacksmith for several years. About 1858, he bought a farm of 220 acres in Wells County, Indiana, which was still in its virgin state and heavily timbered. This farm was mainly cleared through his own exertions as in a few years he was deprived of the assistance of James, who was the eldest son, the military spirit having carried the boy away from the farm and into the army. During the absence of James. C. Snyder in the army, his father sold the farm in Indiana, and returned to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he subsequently bought two pieces of land near West Baltimore. He was the owner of this land, however, but a short time, selling it and moving to Palestine, Darke County, Ohio, where he bought a sawmill and engaged in sawing lum- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 325 ber for many years. Finally he purchased a farm adjoining the corporate limits of Palestine, where he spent some years farming and dealing in horses. His death occurred while he was living near Lynn, Indiana. Joseph Snyder was married (first) to Elizabeth Homan, a daughter of Peter Homan, who was a shoemaker by trade. Mrs. Snyder died in 1874, the mother of seven children. Mr. Snyder was married (second) to Rebecca Howard, of Greenville, Ohio, and they had two children. His death took place on March 14, 1899, at the age of 74 years, 3 months and 8 days. Before our subject's years had extended over boyhood, he had won permission to become a soldier and was wearing the army blue. In appearance he was a well-developed youth, but his age was between 15 and 16 years and his weight was but 94 pounds, when he succeeded, on August 6, 1863, in securing the enrollment of his name as a soldier in the Union ranks. To the credit of the colonel of the Seventh Regiment, Indiana Vol. Cav., be it stated that he opposed the admission of the youthful recruit, but the latter's fine horsemanship finally won his consent. A difficulty arose about a uniform as none could be found small enough, but young Snyder devised expedients such as filling his hat partly with paper and turning up his sleeves and making a few rolls in his pants, so that he was presentable at roll-call. In looking over the records of the Seventh Indiana of that period, there seems to be no mention of the failure of this determined young soldier in any part of his hard duty; on the other hand there is proof that he gallantly bore a part in the battles of Okolona; Guntown, Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, Verona, Egypt, Natchez River, Hurricane Creek and Oxford, Mississippi ; Independence, Big Blue and Little Osage, Missouri; Raleigh and Bolivar, Tennessee; Mine Creek, Kansas;. and Bastrop, Louisiana. He came through this particularly hard campaign without injury, and, with the exception of about 30 days of illness when he was kept in a hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, he was never absent from his regiment. His work was also of a dangerous character, as he was frequently employed in the carrying of special messages. On several occasions, when he had to pass right through the enemy's lines, only his excellent horsemanship and his tact and ingenuity saved him from capture and the army disaster, which would have resulted had his dispatches fallen into the wrong hands. On one occasion, with two comrades, he carried dispatches too miles. That his services were not unappreciated may be proved by the presentation of a document which speaks for itself. It is as follows : HEADQUARTERS 7TH IND. CAV., LA GRANGE, TENN., May 23, 1865. Issued to Corporal James C. Snyder, as a tribute of respect to his qualities as a soldier, whose bravery, courage and dash won for him the respect of the officers and his comrades at arms in the engagements at Okolona, Tishomingo and Hurricane Creek. (Signed) LEROY WOODS, 1st lieutenant, Company E. 326 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY Corporal Snyder was honorably discharged, by special order No. 4, on September 19, 1865, at Hempstead, Texas. Upon his return from army service, Mr. Snyder went to his father's home in Darke County, where he lived until his marriage in 1866, when he settled for several years near Palestine and then moved to Washington township, Mercer County. Here Mr. Snyder bought a mill property and operated a sawmill for several years, doing a large amount of business. He then decided to resume farming and returned to Darke County, where he lived some five years, after which he went back to Washington township, repurchased the sawmill and continued to operate it for some five years. During this interval he had purchased 160 acres of farm land, this being his present horn property. A hamlet was forming in the neighborhood at this time, and M Snyder sold 10 acres of his farm, on which tract the town of Erastus now stands. The purchase of this land was consummated by Mr. Snyder on August 21, 1880. On account of a noble grove of walnut trees, he gave his property the name of "Walnut Grove Farm"; since he has entered so largely into the stock business, it is known as the "Walnut Grove Stock Farm." It is situated just north and adjoining the village of Erastus. In partnership with his son, who is also a very capable business man, Mr. Snyder is largely, interested in raising fine trotting horses. At present the firm owns 4o hea of magnificent animals. They have a half-mile race track on the farm on which the horses are tried from colts. Mr. Snyder has one of the best equipped modern barns in this part of the State, having erected it especially with th training and care of his horses in view. In dimensions it is 100 feet east and west and 80 feet north and south, built with an ell. There are 20 box stalls and accommodations for 50 head of horses. Other necessary buildings and sheds are kept in fine sanitary condition, it being Mr. Snyder's policy to treat his horses in a way most beneficial in order to reap the best results. An office with clerk in attendance is also on the place. The comfortable farm home, also erected by Mr. Snyder, stands some 100 yards back from the highway in the beautiful walnut grove mentioned. On August 7, 1866, Mr. Snyder was married to Signorette Wilcox, a daughter of James Wilcox, and they have three children, namely : Flora, who is the wife of Orville S. Ashcraft, a trustee of Washington township, who operates our subject's 80-acre farm; Vernie, who is the wife of LeRoy Kester, and resides on the home farm of Mr. Snyder; and LeRoy, who is associate with his father in the stock business. Formerly Mr. Snyder was interested in some of the business enterprises, outside of his own, in his vicinity, and for some five years was part owner of the tile mill at Erastus. With his family, Mr. Snyder belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 327 JOSEPH HINDERS JOSEPH HINDERS, retiring sheriff of Mercer County, who has served two terms in this important office, during which he has enjoyed the confidence of reputable citizens and inspired the lawless with healthy fear, was born in Marion township, Mercer County, Ohio, January 26, 1855. His parents were Gerhardt and Maria (Hagemann) Hinders. The Hinders family is of German extracti0n. The father was an old settler in Mercer County, where he became a large farmer and comfortably reared his family of 13 children. He died January 18, 1898. Joseph Hinders was reared in his native neighborhood and was educated in the common schools. When he reached young manhood he engaged in farming with his father for a time and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed many years. Mr. Hinders was married to Addie Bechtel, 'a daughter of Nicholas Bechtel. They have had seven children, three of whom still survive, as follows:" Urban G., Elvira E. and Homer J. Those deceased are : Helen Ursula, Arthur William, Mary Elizabeth and Florence Mary. Mr. Hinders has been a life-long Democrat and for many years has taken an active interest in public matters. In 1902 he was first elected to the office of sheriff, and in 1944 he was reelected, by a majority of 500 votes. With his family he belongs to the Catholic Church.   ROY JENKINS ROY JENKINS, a prominent agriculturist of Liberty township, owning an 80-acre productive farm, is the junior member of the firm of Yore & Jenkins, which owns and operates a successful industry known as the Sweet Corn Evaporating Company. Mr. Jenkins was born on his father's farm in Liberty township, Mercer County, Ohi0, April 24, 1879, and is a son of William and Zaney (Wilson) Jenkins. William, Jenkins was born in Franklin County, Ohio, October 4, 1851, and is a son of Newman and Maria (Weekly) Jenkins, who were natives of Virginia. When three years of age, his parents came to Ohio and were among the early settlers of Liberty township, Mercer County, where he was reared. On April 12, 1874, he married Zaney Wilson, who was born in West Virginia, June 29, 1853, and is a daughter of Dr. Stephen Wilson, who was one of the pioneer physicians of Liberty township, to which he came during Mrs. Jenkin's girlhood. William Jenkins and family resided on his farm in section 328 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY 27, Liberty township until the spring of 1894, when they removed to Clena since which time they have lived at No. 113 Logan street. Roy Jenkins was reared through boyhood in Liberty township, and after completing the public school course there, spent one year in the Celina High School and one and one-half years in the Tri-State Normal School, at Angola, Indiana. He then engaged for a time in teaching and had charge of both the grammar and high schools of Wabash, Ohio, for some three years. In 1902, Mr. Jenkins became associated with his present partner, M Vore, purchasing a half-interest, in the successful industry known as the Sweet Corn Evaporating Company, which plant is located in section 35, Liberty township. The business is the evaporation of sweet corn and up to the present time enough choice corn has been obtained in Liberty township, some of it fr0m Mr. Jenkins's own farm, to keep the factory running, with force of from is to 18 employees. The finished product is marketed in 7 pound sacks and is shipped to all neighboring towns and to Chicago, where there is a steady and increasing demand. The business is a prosperous one and the methods by which this grain is prepared for consumption are so far superior to any other accepted way of preserving it, that its use is sure t extend. Mr. Vore, the senior partner, resides at Ludlow Falls, County, Ohio, but Mr. Jenkins lives near the manufacturing plant in Liberty township. He is a young man of business capacity and in addition to managing the industry indicated, operates a" farm on which he produced 1,000 bushels of wheat, in 1906. On June 24, 1901, Mr. Jenkins was, married to Mabel Vore, who was born in Miami County, Ohio, and died May 14, 1906, leaving a little daughter, Lulu. Mr. Jenkins is a member of the Christian Church. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party. Fraternally he an Odd Fellow. His standing among his fellow-citizens is that of an enterprising, able and upright man. LEWIS M. KRANER LEWIS M. KRANER, a well-known agriculturist and prominent citizen of Hopewell township, president of the Mercer County Mutual Telephone Company, resides on a well-cultivated farm of 80 acres, located in section 23, on which he has placed excellent improvements. Mr. Kramer was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 10, 1860, and is a son of William H. and Sophia (Crider) Kraner. Michael Kraner, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Marylan and located in Fairfield County, Ohio, as one of the early settlers. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 329 parents came to America from Germany. Both parents of Lewis M. Kraner were natives of Ohio and the father was born in .1832 in Fairfield County, where he still resides. Lewis M. Kraner was reared in Fairfield County and obtained his education in the local schools and subsequently at Reynoldsburg and Carroll, Ohio. He then taught sch00l for a short time and also learned telegraphing. It was while he was an operator for the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad, that he first became interested in electricity. His studies led him finally into the telephone business and it was mainly through his instrumentality that the excellent telephone system of the Mercer County Mutual Telephone Company was introduced, bringing into this agricultural community so many conveniences, which have almost become necessities. Ever since the company was organized in 1893, Mr. Kraner has been its president and practically its manager. He has invented a number of electrical devices in connection with telephones and gives much attention to the study of electricity. Formerly he engaged rather extensively in the raising of registered stock, but latterly his time has been mainly taken up with the work of the telephone system, although he carries on general farming as before. He is also in great demand among his neighbors as an auctioneer and cries many sales each year. In February, 1889, Mr. Kraner was married to Effie D. Klinger, of Mercer County, who is a daughter of the late George W. and Melinda (Patten) Klinger. Her parents, Who were natives of Hocking County, Ohio, were among the earliest settlers of Hopewell township, Mercer County. Mr. Kraner is an active member of the Democratic party. He served six years as a justice of the peace in Hopewell township, and served for two terms as clerk of Violet township, in Fairfield `County. Few citizens have a wider acquaintance in the two counties. In every essential respect, he is a self-made man and the success which has come to him has been the direct result of his own efforts. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens and has a wide circle of warm, personal friends.   HON. STEPHEN A. ARMSTRONG HON. STEPHEN A. ARMSTRONG, now serving his second term as judge of the Court of Common. Pleas for Mercer County, was formerly the senior member of the prominent law firm of Armstrong & Johnson, at Celina. He was born December 18, 1848, at Montezuma, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of William and Martha (Livingston) Armstrong. The father of Judge Armstrong was born in Ireland and came of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His mother, born in 1812, a native of Dublin, Ireland, was of 330 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY English extraction. In 1832 William Armstrong and wife came to America and joined relatives already well established at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The father of Judge Armstrong was a skilled machinist. After working as such in Philadelphia, he removed to the Vicinity of Montreal, Canada, where he lived until 1847, when he came t0 the rapidly growing village of Montezuma, in Mercer County, Ohio. The family was visited here by heavy calamity, four sons dying in one month in 1849, from an epidemic of scarlet fever, and in March, 1850, the father died and the bereaved widow was left with the care of three surviving children, our subject being then an infant. To her wisdom and good management, Stephen A. Armstrong attributes much 0f his success in life. She was a woman 0f intellectual capacity and when she found herself left with but little capital and the care of three small children, she became a teacher and not only succeeded in rearing her little ones t0 honorable maturity but educated them as well. This devoted mother passed; out of life on December 13, 1857. Stephen A. Armstrong attendedhe schools of Montezuma and Celina, his mother having removed t0 the latter place in 1852. Prior to completing his education he served three years in a printing 0ffice at Celina, after which he successfully passed through the Celina High School. Naturally taking up teaching as a profession, he taught four terms in Mercer County and was then appointed superintendent of the schools of Celina, in which position he served with efficiency for one year, resigning in order to enter the University 0f Michigan, for which he had prepared himself. For five years prior to this he had been reading law as his duties permitted, and in 1873 he was graduated from the law department, at Ann Arbor, with his degree of LL. B. In April of the same year he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of Michigan, then sitting at Detroit, and shortly afterward was admitted t0 practice in the State and Federal courts of Ohio. On July 7, 1873, he located at Celina and here he has been one of the leading members of the bad for years. In the fall of 1875 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Mercer County, and was reelected two years later. In 1898 Stephen A. Armstrong was elected to the common pleas bench, an honor justified by the eminent position he had held as attorney. Five years later he was reelected. He possesses all the qualifications demanded in his judicial position and occupies a high place among the jurists of Ohio. On December 28, 1870, Judge Armstrong was married to Alice Jane Shipley, a native of Ohio, daughter of Samuel B. Shipley. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have had seven children, five of whom survive: Russell L., an attorney of Lima, who is a graduate of the Celina schools and the law department of the Ohio State University ; Samuel Floyd, who conducts a restaurant at Mendon; Stephen A., Jr., court stenographer of Mercer County; Alice AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 333 May, living at home, who graduated from the Celina schools, also attended school for a time at Oxford and is a fine musician; and John Richard, who graduated from the Celina schools and is now a student Of the law department of the Ohio State University. Russell and Samuel Floyd Armstrong served in the Spanish-American War. Of the two children, deceased, William B. died at the age of 32 years, leaving a widow, Bertha (Keller) Armstrong; and Edward died in infancy.   WASHINGTON SNYDER WASHINGTON SNYDER, a substantial farmer of Gibson township, residing on his highly cultivated and well developed. farm, of 147 acres located in sections No. 15 and 22, was born January 31, 1853, in Gibson township, Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of James Riley and Lydia (Gilbert) Snyder. James R. Snyder was born in Virginia, but when quite small was brought to Darke County, Ohio, by his parents, and was reared on a farm near Greenville. About one year after his marriage, he moved to Mercer County, and bought a farm of 130 acres, on which he lived until his death, in March, 1855, being killed by the falling of a beam at a barn raising. His widow survived him until October 2, 1902, being 80 years of age at the time of her death. Mr. and Mrs. James R. Snyder were the parents of five children, as follows: John F.; James R.; William M.; Susannah (Bender) ; and Washington, our subject. Washington Snyder was two years old at the time of his father's death. He was reared and educated in Gibson township, and has always been engaged in farming. He lived on the home farm for six years after his marriage until 1882, when he bought and moved upon a 40-acre farm in Gibson township —a part of his present estate. The large frame house which the family occupies was built in the fall of 1882. Mr. Snyder was married June 20, 1876, to Lucretia A. Clark, a daughter of William Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have had 12 children : Ellen Isaphene, who married Joseph E. Van Kirk and has had five children, three of whom are now living—Kittie May, Bessie Glenn and Fannie Elizabeth; William Riley, who married Sarah Runkle, lives in Gibson township and has one daughter—Sarah Elizabeth ; Wellington Wiley, who is married and lives in Darke County, Ohio; and John Marshall, Charlie Glenn, Fannie E., Washington Roscoe, Don Clark, Louden, Lucretia May, Arlie (deceased at the age. of 10 months) and Verne. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are members of the Church of Christ at Fort Recovery. A group picture of the Snyder family accompanies this sketch. 334 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY ANDREW D. GEMMILL, V. S. ANDREW D. GEMMILL, V. S., who is well known in his profession over three counties, standing at its head in Mercer County, is a popular citizen of Celina; where he resides. He was born in Huron. County, Ontario, Dominion of Canada, March 7, 1865, and is a son of David and Anna (McNicholas) Gemmill. Andrew D. Gemmill was reared on his father's large estate in Canada where, in the rearing of cattle and stock, he first became interested in his present profession. He was graduated at the University of Clinton, Ontario, in 1887, and for some six years taught school in Canada, following which he entered the veterinary college at Toronto, Canada, where he was graduated in 1892. In the following year he came to Mercer County and established his home at Celina. On September 15, 1895, Mr. Gemmill was married to Etta Piper, daughter of George Piper. They have, one son, Aleck G., born May 10, 1899. Mr. Gemmill is an ardent Democrat and, being well known and popular exerts a wide influence in party affairs. The family belong to St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church. EDWARD W. BERTKE EDWARD W. BERTKE, a progressive farmer of Franklin township, who resides on his farm of 80 acres located in section 35, was born June 7, 1870, on a farm in German township, Auglaize County, Ohio, and is a son of Rudolph and Caroline (Bakemiller) Bertke. Rudolph Bertke was born in Germany, where he was reared, educated and first married. When he came to this country, he settled on a farm in Auglaize County, Ohio, and now lives retired at New Bremen. He had two children by his first marriage: Henry, a resident of St. Marys, who married Mary Ahlers and owns a farm across the road from that of Edward W.; and Caroline, who married Gus Dickie and lives on a farm near St. Marys. His first wife died and he married Caroline Bakemiller, a native of Germany, who came to America and joined a sister at New Bremen, Ohio. There were 12 children born to this marriage; namely: Louise, who married Henry Brockman; George, who married Minnie Rump, and was accidentally killed while out hunting; Fred, who married Martha Heshfelt; John, who married Elizabeth Neddermann; Edward W. ; Emma, who married Julius Ahlers-both now deceased; Augustus, who married Ida Kenning; Ellen unmarried, who lives at New Bremen with her father; Rose, Martin and two infants, deceased. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 335 Edward W. Bertke was reared on his father's farm in German township, Auglaize County, and has always been engaged in farming. Prior to his marriage he rented his father's farm in Franklin township for two years, at the end of which time he purchased it, and has been engaged in operating it ever since. Mr. Bertke was united in marriage to Sophia Neddermann, daughter of William and Minnie (Nemeyer) Neddermann, and they have two children: Emma; born March 26, 1901, and. Ada, born September 14, 1902. The parents of Mrs. Bertke were both barn and reared in German township, Auglaize County, Ohio. They had seven children, as follows : Sophia, born July 19, 1877; William, who married Flora Witte; Elizabeth, who married John Bertke, a brother of Edward W.; and Fred, Leo, Lafe and Edward, all of whom are living on the home farm in German township. Mr.. and Mrs. Bertke are members of the Lutheran Church at New Bremen. ISAAC NEWTON KEYSER ISAAC NEWTON KEYSER, an enterprising farmer of Center township, well known throughout the county, was born June 8, 1849, in this township on a farm adjoining his present farm on the west. He is' a son of Jesse and Martha (Yost) Keyser, and a grandson of Jacob and Rebecca Keyser, of Pennsylvania. Jesse Keyser was born in Montgomery C0unty, Pennsylvania. He later moved to Miami County, Ohio, and in 1837 located in Mercer County, being the first of the Keyser family to locate in this county. He bought and cleared a tract of land and built a round-log cabin, later building a cabin of hewed logs. In time the latter was replaced by a frame house and this in turn by a brick residence. He died August 29, 1895, aged 79 years, 2 months and 13 days. Jesse Keyser's wife, Martha Yost, Was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Eli and Susan (Hendricks) Yost. She died September II, 1892, aged 73 years and 13 days. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Keyser, namely : Audora, Samaria, Sarah, Frances and Josiah (twins), Susan, Isaac Newton (our subject), Amanda and Celina. Audora married Daniel Fast and with him moved to Nebraska, where her death occurred. Samaria, deceased, was the wife of J. C. Journey, now a resident of Page County, Iowa. Sarah married J. G. Fast and lives at Rockford. Frances married Philip Fast, of Center township. Josiah, whose death occurred July 7, 1895, at the age of 51 years, 3 months and 2 days, was married in 1865 to Margaret Wright, to which union seven children were born; his widow is now a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana. Susan, who lives at Danville, Illinois, is 336 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY the widow of W. M. Wright. Amanda married R. G. Baker and lives at Celina. Celina, who married Silas Harner, died January 7, 1893. Isaac N. Keyser was reared on his father's farm in Center township and was engaged in farming the place for his father until after the death of the latter. For the past 10 years he has been on his present 120-acre farm, which he owns and has followed general farming and stock-raising. He also followed the trade of plasterer for some time, while still carrying on his agricultural operations. He built his present residence—a fine eight-room brick house, the main part being 16 by 34 feet in dimensions, while the two wings are 15 by 18 feet and 16 by 16 feet in size, respectively. Mr. Keyser was married December 3, 1871, to Jennie Welch, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of John and Catherine Welch, both natives of Ireland. To this union have been born five children, as follows : Eva, living in Center township three miles northeast of her father's place, who married Isaac Snavely and has three children—Stephen, Glenn and an infant ; Myrtle, living at Chicago, Illinois, who is the wife of Walter Stanbery and the mother of one child, Kenneth.; Kintz, who married William Roebuck and is now living at Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Elza and Bonnie, who live at home with the parents. M r. Keyser is a Democrat and active in local affairs. He has served as supervisor, was township trustee for Is years and was a member of the School Board for 8 years. For six years he served on the Board of Infirmary Directors. The Town Hall at Mendon, built jointly by the township and Men-don village, and the new public school building at Mendon were erected while he was township trustee and a member of the Scho0l B0ard. Although there was a hard fight t0 get these buildings, they are a credit to the community and the people are now proud of them.. SYLVESTER H. WEAVER SYLVESTER H. WEAVER, the capable superintendent of the Mercer County Infirmary, has been a resident of Mercer County for the past 3o years. He was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, August 18, 1849, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Crider) Weaver. Daniel Weaver was also born in Fairfield County, but later removed to Mercer County and resides on a farm in Hopewell township. He is the father of 10 children, a number of whom are settled in this part of Ohio. Sylvester H. Weaver was reared in Fairfield County and obtained hip education in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home. Instead of becoming a farmer, he turned his attention to carpentering and followed his AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 337 trade both in Fairfield and Mercer counties for 37 years, up to 1903, when he was appointed to the office of superintendent of the Infirmary. During the three years of his incumbency, Mr. Weaver has given excellent satisfaction and the affairs at the county farm were never in Better shape. He has proven himself a capable executive officer and a kind, humane man. Mr. Weaver married Anna Wagner, a daughter of Jacob Wagner, of Fairfield County, and they have six children, as follows : Charles A., a resident of Hopewell township, who married Cora Mainline and has one child, Myrtle; Irena May, who married Hiley Hinton, a, farmer of Union township, and has one child, Sylvester Roy ; Clara E., who married John Klinger, of Celina, and has one child, Lela Blanch; Bertha Belle, who married Albert Johnson and resides at Celina; and Lettie Elnora and Grace Almina. Politically, Mr. Weaver is affiliated with the Democratic party. ARLINGTON STEPHENSON, M. D. ARLINGTON STEPHENSON, M. D., a medical practitioner of Celina, was born at Syracuse, New York, September 11, 1853, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Wilson) Stephenson. Thomas Stephenson was born in Sussex, England, and died at Syracuse, New York, where he had been engaged in a mercantile business. After his death his widow and son made their home at Cincinnati, Ohio. After completing the public school course at Syracuse, Arlington Stephenson entered Syracuse University, where he was graduated in the literary department, becoming well grounded in the French and German languages. This assisted him when he entered the medical department of Tubingen University, in the principality of Wurtemberg, Germany, where he remained two years. Upon his return to the United States, he spent one year in the medical department of the University 0f Michigan, .and one year in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, graduating from the latter institution. Dr. Stephenson entered into practice at Rochester, New York, in 1882, but one year later came to Mercer County, and located at Fort Recovery, where he won an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon and enjoyed It remunerative practice throughout the county, which continued uninterrupted until 1905. During two years of this time he conducted a private sanitarium. Upon leaving Fort Recovery he went to San Francisco, California, where he established a private sanitarium for the treatment of nervous diseases. It was equipped with Swedish movement and electric appliances and Turkish baths, which enabled him to employ the latest and most approved methods of treatment. In a few months his reputation was firmly established, but the great 338 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY earthquake of April 18, 1906, destroyed his sanitarium and endangered the lives of himself and wife. For several days after the disaster, Dr. Stephenson and wife lived in Golden Gate Park, with hundreds of thousands of others, who had also lost their homes. During this period Dr. Stephenson devoted his attention to emergency work, doing what he could to alleviate the pain and distress of the injured and suffering. As soon as it was possible, he returned to Mercer County, to resume practice among his friends of many years standing, locating at Celina. In his office here he has already installed a fine electrical, outfit, A microscope of exceptional quality for use in diagnosis, a nebulizing outfit for treatment of lung and throat diseases, and an electric light bath cabinet. In 1876 Dr. Stephenson married Ella Taylor, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter' of Dr. M. and Lydia J. (Draper) Taylor, the former a surgeon in the Union Army, in the late Civil War. Dr. Taylor died in March, 1906, but his widow survives and is now residing in Portsmouth, Ohio. Six children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Stephenson, three of whom are still living, namely : Maude, who is a piano instructor in the Radnor Female College at Nashville, Tennessee; Vinnie, who is a nurse in a public hospital at Cincinnati ; and Arlie, who is a violinist by profession and leads an orchestra at Oakland, California. Two children died during infancy, and a son, Martin, died at the age of 18 years. Dr. Stephenson is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Catholic Church. Professionally he is identified with the Northwestern Ohio and American Medical associations. JOHN SNAVELY JOHN SNAVELY, who is probably one of the most venerable citizens of Liberty township, has been identified . with its most important interests for more than 30 years and stands as a fair representative of its best citizenship. Mr. Snavely was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January I, 1826, and is a son of George and Eliza (Wireman) Snavely. The Snavely family is of German extraction and it is a numerous and substantial one in Pennsylvania, where our subject's parents were born. The birthplace of the mother was near Gettysburg, the scene of one of the greatest battles of the Civil War Mr. Snavely remained in Wayne County, Ohio, until he was 14 years of age and then went to Shippensburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the store of John Gish, with whom he remained several years. Later he was employed in boating on the Miami and Erie Canal, in AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 339 Ohio and Indiana. In July, 1863, Mr. Snavely entered the Union Army, enlisting in Company K, 88th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., which became a part of the 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland. He was honorably discharged July 3, 1865. During the greater part of this time he was detailed as commissary to the general hospital, at Camp Chase, Columbus, and performed his duties in this position just as faithfully and honorably as if he had been on the field. Since his return he has been a continuous resident of Mercer County. He came to Liberty township as a pioneer settler, when the forest still covered all this section and no roads had been cut through, and he still occupies his comfortable log house, which he built in 1873, in the year following his settlement. On April 9, 1853, Mr. Snavely was united in marriage with Margaret Rupert, born December 6, 1834, in Mercer County, Ohio, a daughter of George and Lovina (Parrott) Rupert, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Tennessee. The Ruperts were among the earliest settlers of Salem township, Auglaize County, whence they removed to Mercer County and settled in Union township. They were people of worth and standing in pioneer days there and their remains rest in one of the old cemeteries of Union township. Mr. and Mrs. Snavely have had eight children, as follows: Eliza wife of George Coakley, of Hopewell township; Andrew J., 0f Liberty township; John L., of Liberty township; Philip S., of Hopewell township; Lovina B., wife of William Martz, of Liberty township; George W. and Charles E., both deceased; and a babe that died in infancy. Mr. Snavely reared his children carefully and gave them many advantages he had never enjoyed. For 13 consecutive years he was a member of the Board of Education in Liberty township, and during 12 years of this time was clerk of the board. Both he and his estimable wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Liberty township, in which he has always been active, serving nine years as superintendent of the Sunday-school and at present is a class leader. His Republicanism reaches back to the candidacy of Gen. John C. Fremont, and he has been in sympathy with the party's aims ever since. JOHN W DE FORD JOHN W. DE FORD, president of the Citizens' Banking Company of Celina, of which institution he had been cashier for a quarter of a century before he became its head, was born September 13, 1841, in. Carroll County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Matilda (Littell) De Ford. The De Ford family, as the name indicates, is of French extraction. Dur- 340 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY ing the French Revolution, this family, being of importance in France, was compelled to give up its estates and honors and flee from the country. The great-grandparents of our subject, upon reaching America located immediately, it is thought, in Pennsylvania, where they died and were survived by one son,. John De Ford, who at that time was but a youth. He was reared on a farm near Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where he married and where he resided all the rest of his life, reaching the unusual age of 103 years. Many of his descendants have also lived into old age. John De Ford, the second, the eldest son of John, was born in 1805 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. His father was a man of substance and of afforded him excellent educational advantages, which culminated in a course at Madison College, in Fayette County, where he was prepared carefully for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. This ambition was, however, denied him as his health failed and he subsequently became an agriculturist. He died in 1892, aged 87 years. In 1828 he married Matilda Littell and they removed to Carroll County, Ohio, where their son John W. was born. I 1848 the father removed to Columbiana County and in 1860, to Mercer County. He resided at Celina for some six years and then returned to Carroll County, where his last days were spent. His wife died aged 80 years, January, 1893. John W. De Ford, the immediate subject of this sketch, passed from the common schools into Mount Union College, where he studied three terms an there completed his education: He then began to teach school and by the' time he had completed six terms in the different townships of the county, had attracted enough favorable attention to be elected superintendent of schools of Fort Recovery, a position he held for five years. In 1863 he was appointed school examiner for Mercer County, a position he filled with efficiency for six years. In 1866 Mr., De. Ford was elected by the Democratic party to the office of clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and served for six years as such. During all this period he had been engaged in the reading of the law, as opportunity afforded, and in 1872 he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio. On May 1, 1873, Mr. De Ford, organized the Citizens' Bank of Celina, which in 1897 was incorporated as the Citizens' Banking Company of Celina, After 25 years as cashier of this bank, Mr. De Ford became its president and so continues. The other officers are: S. A. Bowman, vice-president; Henry Lennartz, cashier; and Frank Benke, assistant cashier. The directors are; John W. De Ford, S. A. Bowman, Henry Lennartz, Samuel J. Vining and W. T. Palmer. The officers of this institution are all well-known capitalists and men of irreproachable character. The Citizens' Banking Company has AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 343 a capital stock of $50,000 and a surplus of $10,000; the deposits at the present time aggregate over $500,000. Mr. De Ford has always been one of Celina's most liberal public-spirited men. He has made large donations to charity, has promoted innumerable movements which have contributed t0 the prosperity of the city and has erected many of the most important buildings, both in the business and residence districts. Fraternally, Mr. De Ford is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. ABRAHAM MOTT ABRAHAM MOTT, a well-known citizen of Fort Recovery and owner of 240 acres of farm land in Gibson township, was b0rn in Darke County, Ohio, November 1, 1838, and is a son of Abraham and Abigail (Coates) Mott. Abraham Mott, Sr., a son of Zachariah Mott, was born in Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated. Upon coming to Ohio, he lived for a time in Warren County and also in Miami County, subsequently Settling in what is now Gibson township, Mercer County, but at that time included in Darke County, where he entered 80 acres of land, and later bought 23 acres of land in the same township. The farm on which he located is now owned by his son Abraham. He was married to Abigail Coates, a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio when a young girl with her father, James Coates, who was also a native of Virginia. Abraham Mott, Sr., was the father of 12 children, of whom our subject was the fifth. Abraham Mott was reared and educated in what is now Gibson township, Mercer County. His father was 0ne of the earliest settlers of the t0wnship, locating here in 1835. Mr. Mott remembers the time when the land was all a wilderness and when deer and other wild animals were often seen. Mr. Mott was educated in the district schools but never had more than three months schooling in any one year, being 0bliged to assist his father in clearing the land and in attending to other necessary farm work during the summer months. In 1863 Mr. Mott enlisted in Company D, 134th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served one year in the army under General Butler, taking active part in all the regiment's small engagements and skirmishes in Virginia. After returning home from the war, he taught school for 27 years during the winter months and farming, during the summer. He also engaged in the threshing business with George Sigler and John Wagoner ; together they owned three threshing machines. Mr. Mott moved to his present home in August, 1905, where he has a large frame house situated 0n a tw0-acre lot. 344 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY Mr. Mott was (first) married to Delilah Wagoner, a sister of one of his partners in the threshing business. She died in 1874, leaving one child, Allen, who lives in Joliet, Illinois, and is a railroad engineer. Mr. Mott was married (second) to Sarah Mahala Travis, who died in 1899, leaving four children : Russell Tilden, who owns and resides on a farm of 164 acres in Darke County; Delphos Elra, who is married and lives on his father's farm; Minnie ()la, who married Daniel Trieschman and lives in Gibson township; Arlie Walter, who is married and lives in Fort Recovery, where he is engaged as a rural mail carrier. Mr. Mott's third marriage was with Mrs. Sarah A. (Moyer) Bobb, widow of John Bobb. Their marriage occurred in April, 1905. Mr. Mott has served his township as clerk and also as trustee, He was for three years county commissioner, his term expiring in 1894. He is a member of the German Baptist Church. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Mott accompany this sketch. HENRY HONE HENRY HONE, a pioneer of Liberty township and a most highly respected citizen, resides on his finely cultivated farm of 40 acres, situated in section 23 this being a part of the 248 acres which he wrested from the virgin 1, Mr. Hone was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, August 14, 1836, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Morman) Hone. The parents of Mr. Hone were early emigrants from Germany. In 1832 they settled in Maryland and came to Auglaize County, Ohio, in 1834. Their lives were spent in that county, and their remains rest in one of the burying-grounds near their old home. They were representative German people, possessed of the thrift and sturdy virtues of that race. Henry Hone was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education in a little log schoolhouse that was built on a corner of the home estate. His practical father trained him in all the details of farming, and agriculture has been his business through life. His industry and good management caused his accumulation of a large property, at one time aggregating 248 acres! The larger part of this he has given t0 his children, retaining only 4o acres for his own home. He settled on this farm in 1867, when it was practically a great expanse of heavily timbered land. All the clearing and developing he accomplished himself and the farm as it stands to-day, one of the best in Liberty township, is what he has made it. For many years he resided in the old log house, but in 1900 he erected a more modern residence, into which he has introduced many comforts. On June 26, 1861, Mr. Hone was united in marriage with Catherine Meyer, who was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, July 31, 1838, and is a AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 345 daughter of John and Lenora Meyer, who were born in Germany and who came to Auglaize County as early settlers. Of the 10 children born to our subject and wife, there are eight survivors, as follows: John H., of Liberty township; Frank F., of Hartford City, Indiana; William H. and Christian, of Liberty township; Henry B., of North Dakota; George W., of Liberty township; Catherine, wife of Charles Weitz, of Liberty township; and Andrew J., of Liberty township. Politically, Mr. Hone is a Democrat. He has always taken an intelligent interest in local matters and as a man of judgment and integrity has been invited on many occasions to accept political office. For 13 consecutive years he served as a trustee of Liberty township, filling the office with satisfaction to his fellow-citizens. Both he and his estimable wife, who remains like himself, vigorous in body and mind, are held in the highest esteem in the community where they have lived so long. They can tell many interesting stories of the early days in this section and of old families contemporary with theirs, some of whom have entirely passed away. They are among the leading members of the Reformed Lutheran Church. LEWIS A. HALL LEWIS A. HALL, proprietor of a general store and barber shop, at Neptune, was born November 9, 1869, in Mercer County, Ohio. He is a son of Curtis and Caroline (Bonifield) Hall. Atwater Hall, grandfather of Lewis A. Hall, came to Center township and established the first blacksmith shop in this section of the country. Until his death he lived on a farm which he managed in addition to his blacksmith business. Curtis Hall, who was 10 years old when his father settled in Center township, subsequently bought out the other heirs, and he lived on the home farm the remainder of his life, his death occurring June 28, 1890, at the age of 64 years. He was a Democrat in politics and served as township trustee, assessor and constable. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the 100-day service, in Company K, 193rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served from 1864 until the close of the war. He married Caroline Bonifield, who was born in what is now the town of Neptune, being a daughter of William Bonifield, the first settler 'here, who laid out the town and donated the Public Square on which the Township Hall now stands. Mrs. Hall still resides at Neptune. Curtis Hall and wife had 12 children, as follows : Thomas, who died in 1881, aged 23 years; Arabella and Clarabella (twins), the former of whom keeps house for her brother, Lewis A., and the latter of whom died aged about 15 346 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY years; Curtis, Jr., who lives at Ingram, Wisconsin; Lillie, who married Dr. J. S. Pierce, of Red Key, Indiana"; Milton, who lives at Albany, Indiana; Lewis A.; Alice and Albert (twins), the former of whom married H. G. Mowery and resides two and a half' miles east of Celina, and the latter of whom died in infancy; Edith, who married Robert Kinkley, of Mendon; Margaret, who lives at home, and Ada, who married Ivan Hamilton and lives at Celina. Lewis A. Hall was reared on his father's farm in Center township. He has been in the general merchandise business since 1900, in 1897 establishing a barber shop which he has run continuously ever since, in connection with the store. Mr. Hall was married (first) to Leona Miller, a daughter of Mrs. Ellen Miller, of Neptune. She died September 12, 19o2, leaving three children; Guy C., Mary L. and Harry T. Mr. Hall was married (second) September 7, 1905, to Ada M. Weaver, a native of Celina, and a daughter of Charles and Matilda Weaver. Her death occurred in December of the same year. Politically, Mr. Hall is a stanch Democrat and has served as township clerk and in various minor offices. HON. ARCHELAUS D. MARSH In the sudden death of the late Hon. Archelaus D. Marsh, which occured at Celina, Ohio, on May 26, 1904, Mercer County lost one of her distinguished men. He was the recognized leader of the Democrat party, a prominent member of the bar, and one of the most valued, useful and public-spirited citizens of Celina. The birth of Mr. Marsh took place in Clay township, Highland County, Ohio, on April 19, 1843, and he was the only son of James P. and Ellen J. Marsh. Mr. Marsh was reared and educated in Highland County. In 1868 he moved t0 Sardinia, Br0wn County, Ohio, where he read law under W. W. McKnight and Clinton & White. Late in 1872 he was admitted to the bar at Georgetown, the county seat of Brown County. Prior to this however, in 1869, he was elected by the Democratic party of the office of township clerk, and later he became a justice of the peace, continuing in 0ffice for some years. In 1874 he settled permanently at Celina, entering into partnership with John W. Loree, the firm of Marsh & Loree existed continuously for the succeeding 22 years. Business interests and mutual esteem combined to make this one of the strongest law combinations in this city. Mr. Marsh was recognized as an able advocate and made a specialty of the criminal practice, in which he was a very successful lawyer, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 347 but not in any degree did he overlook the large and paying civil and commercial practice that came to his office. From his year of maturity, Mr. Marsh was devoted, heart and mind, to the Democratic party, thoroughly believing in its principles and willing to struggle to uphold them. From the first he was recognized as a possible future leader, and the predictions of the old war horses of the party, that the time would come when the able young attorney would become an important factor in public affairs came true. He had lived but three years in Mercer County when he wag elected to the Ohio Legislature, was returned for a second term in 1879 and returned again in 1883, when he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. In this position he presided with efficiency and dignity. The political history of Ohio and the public agitation of the succeeding years may yet be carefully written. A faithful record would tell of the fidelity with which Mr. Marsh served his party and consistently .followed in the path of duty. Three times chosen as his party's candidate for Congress, only unusual conditions prevented his election to a position which he would have adorned. Scarcely any man, who for 20 years was prominent in public life, passed off the stage of human affairs with so unsullied a record. Throughout his long and successful career as a lawyer, he never lost the esteem and respect of his .fellow members of the bar; they loved and admired the manly traits which he possessed, and the courage he displayed in the prosecution or defense of the cases undertaken by him. In 1865 Mr. Marsh was united in marriage with Mary J. Thompson, who was born at Sardinia, Brown County, Ohio, and who died in April, 1904. The children of this union were: Clayton L., Clara. D., Verna A., Arvesta Lee, Nora B., Clarence E. and Loree L. Clarence E. Marsh, with whom our subject was associated in the practice of law at the time of his death, is one of Celina's leading professional men., He is now serving as prosecuting attorney of Mercer County. Loree L. Marsh, the youngest. son, who was elected coroner of Mercer County in November, 1906, is also a young man of great promise. BENJAMIN PRESTON BENJAMIN PRESTON, whose fine farm of 121 acres is situated in section 22, Franklin township, is one of the representative agriculturists of this part of the county. Mr. Preston was born on the old Preston farm in Franklin township, Mercer County, Ohio, June 9, 1848, and is a son of Isaac and Susan (Noel) Preston. Isaac Preston was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, and was a son of William Preston, who was of Scotch-Irish parentage. William Preston was 348 - HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY a blacksmith by trade, but subsequently turned his attention to farming account of failing eyesight, and became the owner of 700 acres of land in Mercer County. He reared nine children, namely : Isaac, Demaris, Sarah. Jane, Margaret, Cynthia, James, Benjamin, William and Ferman, all of whom are deceased with the exception of Sarah Jane, who is the wife of Thomas Green and resides in Shelby County. Isaac Preston was reared, in Hamilton County and there married Susan Hoel. They moved to Mercer County and bought a farm in Franklin township on which they lived for many years before removing to Missouri, where Mr. Preston died at the age of 71 years. His widow still resides in Missouri. They had the following children : Sarah Frances, who married George Circle and lives in Bates County, Missouri;. Benjamin; Samuel, who married Sarah Long and lives in Bates County:Missouri; Caroline, who died aged 14 years; George, who married Jane Swartz and lives at Montezuma; and William, who married Ella Brown and lives at Dayton, Ohio. Benjamin Preston was reared in Franklin township and was educated in the country schools. His whole life has, been devoted to farming and naturally he thoroughly understands all the various subjects which it is necessary for a successful agriculturist to comprehend. A part of his land was left to his wife by her father and the rest of it was purchased by Mr. Preston. He raises wheat, corn, oats and hay and some stock. At one time oil was found on his farm and a well was drilled, but it is not now in operation. On October 30, 1871, Mr. Preston was married to Cassandra Ann Brown, a daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Meeks) Brown, of Clermont County, Ohio. Mrs. Preston died December 8, 1901.She was a devoted wife and loving mother and was a consistent .member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Preston and wife had seven children, the first three dying in infancy. The others are: William Wayne, born April 21, 1873, who was married October 11, 1896, to Leota Watson, daughter of John and Roxanna (Aldridge) Watson, has two children, Bernice and Charles Victor, and resides in Franklin township; Harry F., who was married May 27, 1899, to Caddie Carter, daughter of Jacob and Diana (Gray) Carter, has had three children--Frances Willard (deceased) ; Leonard Dale and Alta—and lives in Franklin township; Justice Park, an oil driller in Indiana, who married (first) Emma Ellis, and (second) Nella O'Brien, daughter of Henry O'Brien; and Lyman Ward, a worker in the oil fields and a resident of Franklin township, who married Plezzie Colston, daughter of Joseph Colston, and has one child, Elma. In his younger years Mr. Preston took considerable interest in towns affairs and served several years on the School Board and two terms as sessor. He is a leading member of the United Brethren Church. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 349 PERRY C. MILLER PERRY C. MILLER, a member of the firm of Palmer & Miller, grain dealers of Celina, who own a line of elevators and carry on an extensive commission business in buying and selling grain, was born in Hopewell township, Mercer County, Ohio, in 1869. He is a son of Joseph Miller, who was born in Hopewell township, Mercer County, and is one of the leading citizens of his locality, where he has always lived and been engaged in farming. He was for many years justice of the peace. Perry C. Miller was reared and educated in his native township, receiving his early education in the public schools, later attending the Ohio Normal School at Ada. Upon completing his school education, Mr. Miller taught school for six years, after which he was engaged in general merchandise business at Tamah, Ohio, for three years. In 1898 Mr. Miller engaged in the grain flimsiness, forming a partnership with W. T. Palmer, in which business he has since continued. In 1904 Mr. Miller was married to Mary V. Sherrick, of Allen County, Ohio. They have two children : Marjery and Emily May. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.   JOHN TILTON JOHN TILTON, a representative citizen 0f Hopewell township, where he owns a well-improved farm of 120 acres, situated in section 28, is also a survivor of the great Civil War in which he spent three years of young manhood. Mr. Tilton was born January 10, 1841, in Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Sylvester and Catherine (Stephens0n) Tilton. Mr. Tilton's parents were natives of Ohio, and early settlers in Hopewell township. Both died when 0ur subject was but tw0 years of age. Until he was 15 years old his home was with an aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth Hershell, and upon the death of this kind relative, he went t0 the home of his uncle, Hiram Stephenson, of Hopewell township, with whom he lived until he enlisted, in October, 1861, in Company A, 71st Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. This regiment be-, came a part of the Army of Tennessee, later of the Army of the Cumberland and still later of the Army of Ohio. It would require a large amount of space to faithfully trace the career of this young soldier, but a fair idea can be 0btained of the hardships and dangers through which he passed, when mention is made of Shiloh, the siege and taking of Atlanta, and the battles of Franklin and Nashville. For fully one year he was engaged in the dangerous business of fighting guerrillas and barely escaped with his life on innumerable occasions.