(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 750 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: MRS. L. SCHNEPP, farming ; P. 0. Covington. William Schnepp, deceased, was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Aug. 21, 1830 ; in 1852, he came to this county and purchased the farm now occupied by his widow. He was murdered by John Riddle and Frank Stover, new in the State Prison. Mr. Schnepp was a man of excellent character, a prosperous farmer, and in every respect was highly esteemed by his neighbors. Louisa Maggart (Schnepp) was born in Champaign Co. April 14, 1836. They were married Oct. 24, 1852. They had three children, but all died in 1860. SAMUEL SEARER, farmer ; P. 0. Bradford ; born in Juniata Co., Penn., May 19, 1837 ; is a son of Christian Searer, a native of Berks Co., Penn., who came to Ohio in 1845, and located in Newberry Township, Miami Co. He purchased eighty acres of land now within the corporation of Bradford, where he is living at present. The subject of this sketch was raised and educated upon a farm, and was 7 years old when his parents came to Ohio. After he attained his manhood, he' taught school for several terms, and since has been engaged in farming. He married Miss Hannah, a daughter of John J. Harrison, of Newton Township, February, 1868 ; they had one child—Rosa Annie. He has a beautiful farm of 60 acres within the corporation of Bradford, with good farm buildings, and everything in good order. D. C. SHELLABERGER, merchant, Covington; is the present representative of a pioneer family, being the son of Dr. M. R. Shellaberger, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and an early resident of Miami Co. D. C. was born in Covington in 1841 ; his early youth was spent there, during which he received the benefit of such educational advantages as the home school afforded;         16 years of age, he took a two years' course of instruction at the Piqua High  School. When the first call was made for three years' troops, he was the second one to volunteer at Covington, and was assigned to the 44th O. V. I., which he entered as a private, but was immediately appointed First Sergeant of Co. B. In the spring of 1862, having passed a rigid examination (one peculiar to the command of Col. Cook, who was a regular), was commissioned Second Lieutenant, in which capacity he served until the latter part of the winter of 1864, when by reason of injury incapacitating him for duty, he resigned, after which, on account of ill health, he spent the spring and summer in New York under medical treatment, then returned to Covington and engaged in general merchandising in company with a brother who is now deceased. After about three years, he sold out and opened a hardware store, in which his father, in the spring of 1871, became a partner. In June, 1879, the father died, and D. C. again became sole proprietor, and is now doing a very satisfactory business, being the leading house in Covington in the hardware line. His store building, the property of his father's estate, of which he has the charge, is conveniently located on High street, and is well calculated for the extensive stock which he now carries. Mr. Shellaberger is a life-resident of Miami Co., and, although a young man, is already regarded among the most substantial business men of the place ; has been Township Treasurer ; 'is now a member of the Council, and Secretary of the District School Board. He was married in 1864 to Miss Rose Shellenberger, daughter of Jacob E. Shellenberger, who was an early resident of Miami Co. Mr. and Mrs. Shellaberger are respected, useful members of society. They have three children, one son and two daughters. MRS. CATHERINE SHELLENBERGER, Covington. Mrs. Shellenberger is the widow of Jacob E. Shellenberger, who came from Pennsylvania to Miami Co. in 1833 ; he was a saddler and was employed at his trade here until about 1847, when he built the brick store on the east side of High street, at the north side of the alley between Spring and Pearl streets, and added a general stock of hardware. In 1870, he sold out to his son-in-law, and in 1872 his death occurred. The widow who survives him was his second wife ; she is a daughter of Joseph Shellenberger, of Pennsylvania, and was married to Mr. J. E. Shellenberger in Philadelphia in 1854 His first wife was Miss Jane E. McDowell, also of Pennsylvania. NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP - 751 By his first wife he had eight children, five of whom attained majority, and three are now living—Mrs. Clinton Shellenberger, Mrs. George W. Freshour and Dr. James E. Shellenberger. By his second wife, he had eight children, six of whom are now living—Jennie, 'kiddie, Ida, Eva, May and Olive. ELLEN SHELLENBERGER, Covington; she is the daughter of Samuel Thompson, whose biography appears in this work. She was married to D. M. Shellenberger, in 1861, who was the son of Jacob E. Shellenberger, by his first wife ; D. M. received a business education, being brought up to the hardware business, and continued with his father in that trade here until 1867, when he went to Brownsville, Neb., and in company with his brother W. D. engaged in the hardware trade there ; they were quite successful ; but consumption claimed both for its victims, and compelled them to relinquish their business ; both returned to Covington and died here at the place of their birth ; the decease of D. M. occurred in 1871, and that of his brother, in the following year ; Mr. Shellenberger, although a young man, had established a reputation as a busmess man of ability, and by his many good qualities, had won a large number of friends, who deeply mourned his early demise ; the widow and three children who survive him are pleasantly and comfortably situated ; her residence, on Wall street is one of the best in the town, and her home, in its surroundings and furnishings, indicates culture and refinement. LEWIS C. SHOE, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; he is a son of Solomon Shoe, who was born near Hagerstown Ind., and emigrated to Ohio in 1829, and entered land in this county, Newberry Township ; he has a large farm situated on Harrison Creek, which has one of the best springs that can be found along the Creek ; Lewis C. was born Oct. 5, 1849, near Milton, Union Township; he is a man that is respected by all who know him ; he was reared and educated a farmer, and is still engaged iii the business. J. R. SHUMAN, banker, President Stillwater Valley Bank, Covington. Of the business men of Covington, none are more worthy of special mention than is J. R. Shuman. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1826, and his early life was spent on a farm, during which he received such education as the schools afforded and a three years' attendance at the Tuscarora Academy, after which he taught two winters. He came to Covington in 1851 ; engaged in the dry-goods business, and continued in mercantile pursuits from that time until 1872, when he 'was chosen President of the Stillwater Valley Bank, a position for which his varied mercantile' experience had eminently fitted him, and his long and successful management proves him the right man in the right place. He was married in 1855 to Miss Sophronia J. Huckins, who was a native of Bangor, Me., and at the time of her marriage a resident of Indiana. Mr. Shuman's residence is one of the largest in Covington; is surrounded by a spacious yard, very neatly adorned. It is situated on a prominent part of Pearl street. Mr. Shuman came to Covington when there was but a small beginning of a town, and has been identified with its improvements, and aided materially in securing many of them, having contributed more than $3,000 toward the construction of pikes and other public improvements. HENRY SPITTLER, retired, Covington, a native of Pennsylvania ; was born in Lebanon Co. in 1811 ; raised on a farm, and has followed farming with the exception of the past twelve years. He came to Miami Co. in 1849 and settled about five miles northwest of Covington, where he remained until 1869, when he purchased a residence in Covington, to which he removed and retired from active labor. In 1872, he, in company with Wilkerson Pierson and John Shuman, opened a bank in Covington, which is now known as the. Stillwater Valley Bank. They began with $35,000 cash capital. At one time, Mr. Spittler held all the stock, except about $1,000, and has been its principal stockholder during all its existence. The bank was managed with such perfect honesty and stability that it passed safely through the crisis of 1873, and has been growing in the confidence and patronage of the people ever since. Its history is given more completely elsewhere, and need not, therefore, be repeated here. Mr. Spittler has been successful both as a farmer and banker, and is now a valuable citizen. He was married in 752 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Pennsylvania to Susan Banner; have reared eleven children, eight of whom are now living; all are married—ve are residents of this county—two are in Indiana, and one in Missouri. Mrs. Spittler's death occurred here March 7, 1870. JOHN SOWERS, grain and stock deal; r, Bradford ; of the firm of J. Sowers & Son, grain and stock dealers ; is a son of Henry S., a native of Maryland ; came from Maryland to Pennsylvania, and, in 1836, he moved to Ohio and located in Richland Co., living there until his death. The subject of this sketch was born and raised in York Co., Penn., Feb. 6, 1814 ; when 17 years old, he learned house carpentry and cabinet-making ; in 1835, he came to Ohio ; in the spring of 1836, returned to Pennsylvania, and, in the fall of the same year, came back to Ohio and located in Covington, Miami Co.; he worked at his trade in all about fourteen years; he then began railroading and merchandising, carrying on business himself awhile; afterward was in the firm of Routson, Leonard & Co.; when the Piqua & Union Railroad was built, he had the agency ; built a warehouse and began dealing in grain and stock ; he carried on business there until 1868 ; sold out and came to Bradford ; built a warehouse (the first building put up in Bradford), and bought the first grain sold in the town ; he had also a business room in the house and sold the first goods ; they are doing a very good business ; their annual sales being about 100,000 bushels. His marriage was celebrated Jan. 3, 1838, with Miss Mary, a daughter of John Thompson, one of the first settlers in Miami Co. ; they had eight children, of whom six are living—William H., John T., Ora B., Annie, Frank F. and Sylvester S. JOSEPH TEAGUE, retired farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; is a son of Moses Teague, who was a native of South Carolina and emigrated to Ohio in the year 1805 ; stopped in Warren Co. about six months ; then came to Miami and located near Ludlow Falls ; they lived there forty-three years ; moved then to Indiana and remained there ten years ; came back to Miami Co. and lived here until death. The subject of this sketch was born in Newton Township, Miami Co., Sept. 15, 1818, and lived with his parents upon a farm until he attained his majority. He married Miss Mary A., daughter of David Patty, a native of South Carolina ; after his marriage, he learned the tanning business, and followed it about ten years on the old home farm in Newton Township ; he then purchased a farm in Parke Co., mostly all timber; opened and improved it, living there about twenty-five years ; in 1879, he traded his farm in Parke Co. for the J. M. Mahler farm in Newberry Township, Miami Co., situated on the Mott pike ; this is a splendid farm of 118 acres, with a spring upon it that has few equals. SAMUEL THOMPSON, retired farmer, Covington, is one of the oldest settlers now living in this township ; he was born in North Carolina in 1802, and came with his parents, Sylvester and Polly Thompson, to Miami Co. in about 1807 ; they first settled in Newton Township, entering the tract now known as the Landis farm ; afterward entered the west half of Sec. 32, in this township, removing to it about 1817, and also entered two quarter-sections on Greenville Creek about the same time ; he resided here in Sec. 32 until his death. Samuel grew to manhood here in the pioneer days of Miami Co. ; went to a subscription school held in a log cabin at Sugar Grove, but later on a cabin was built in the present Mohler neighborhood ; soon after he had attained his majority, he came in possession of the northwest quarter of Sec. 32, upon which he built a cabin, where he removed his family, and has resided here all his life ; when he came upon this tract it was all woods, except " an opening " of six or eight acres ; now it is one of the finest farms in the county ; there is a good brick house, and other farm buildings to correspond, all the result of his labor and management. He was married in 1823, to. Hannah, daughter of Peter Reach, who settled in Newton Township before the war of 1812 ; they had a. family of eleven children, and, what is remarkable, there has been as yet but one death in the family—that of the mother, who died Sept. 14, 1879 ; the children are all married, and each has a family ; their names are as follows : Catherine, Falkoner, David, whose biography appears in this work ; William, now a resident of Iowa ; Nancy, now Mrs. Duncan, of Parke Co. ; Mary, now Mrs. NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP - 753 D. J. Martin, of Covington ; Rhoda, now Mrs. B. F. Jones, of Chicago;, now a resident of Findlay ; Lavina, now Mrs. Z. Tobias, of Covington ; Josephus ; Ellen Shellenberger, also of Covington ; and Betty, now Mrs. Isaac Heckman. Josephus was born in 1840, and grew to manhood here on the farm upon which his father first settled. He was married, in 1861, to Amanda, daughter of Otha Rench, who was an early resident of Piqua, and later of Newton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Josephus Thompson have resided here on the old homestead ever since their marriage, having the care of his parents for several years past. They have six children. DAVID R. THOMPSON, Covington ; son of Samuel Thompson, whose biography appears in this work, was born in 1825, and grew to manhood here in the days of log schoolhouses and limited farming facilities. He was married, in 1845, to Catharine, daughter of Wm. Long, Sr., a pioneer of Newton Township ; after his marriage, he remained on his father's farm for about two years, then purchased and removed to his present homestead, in Sec. 32, which formerly belonged to his grandfather ; his wife's death occurred here April 10, 1853 ; by her had four children, three of whom are now living ; he was again married, Nov. 10, 1856, to Susan Lehman. During the following winter his house was burned, consuming all his furniture and clothing ; this house stood near where his present residence stands, rd was erected by his grandfather about 1810 ; it was made of hewn logs, weather boarded, and was at the time of building considered the finest residence in the county. It will be seen, Mr. Thompson is a life-resident, and has been identified with the history and development of Newberry Township from the pioneer days to the present time ; the present homestead contains 130 acres, and is in an advanced state of cultivation. He is the father of eleven children, ten of whom are living ; by his first wife he had Joseph R., Orrin and Alonzo ; his second wife's children were Charles, D. C. Elizabeth, John F., Edwin, Clinton and Samuel. HENRY TUCKER, blacksmith, Covington ; a Buckeye by birth ; was born in 1833 ; is a son of Abraham Tucker, a native of Tennessee, and for several years a resident of Union Township, in this county, where his death occurred in 1845. The subject of this sketch, then being a lad of 12 years of age, was thrown upon his own resources ; when 15 years of age, he began work at his trade in West Milton, and has followed it ever since, with the exception of about two years, during which he was engaged in different occupations, but returned to his trade again ; most of the time he worked in the vicinity of Laura, but the years from 1867 to 1876 were spent in Indiana ; in 1876, he came to Covington, and in 1878, purchased his present property, which is located in the south part of town, on High street, his shop and residence adjoining, being very conveniently and pleasantly located. He was married, in 1853, to Olive, daughter of Elam Kelly, who was a native of Pennsylvania and an early resident of Union Township ; the fruits of this union have been five children, two of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are both members of the Christian Church, and respected by all who know them. JOHN ULLERY, retired farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; one of the oldest residents now living in Newberry Township ; is a son of Jacob Ullery, a native of Maryland, who left there in the spring of 1810 and came by wagons to Pittsburgh, where he purchased an old ":fiat," upon which he loaded his goods and family and floated down to Cincinnati ; here they stayed about three weeks, being detained by a sick child, which died and was buried within the present limits of the city ; he then hired teams to take him to Dayton, where he rented one of the little shanties of which Dayton was then composed, but only remained about one month ; while living here, he purchased a tract of 160 acres of Government land, about ten miles north of Dayton, to which he removed ; the following winter he came up the Stillwater, prospecting, and, having an eye to a mill-site, purchased, for $300, the southeast quarter of Sec. 30, in Newberry Township, a part of which he afterward laid out in town lots ; in the following spring, he removed his family to the new purchase ; as there was but a small cabm partly built, the family had to shift as best they could until the cabin could be enlarged and made suitable for occupation during 754 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : the war which commenced the follow: ing year, Mr. Ullery took his family and went back south to the older settlements, but, having a fine crop of wheat, came up with help and harvested and stacked his wheat ; notwithstanding the presence of Indians and, what would not be more dangerous, a company of troops, stationed at the block-house which stood near the mouth of Greenville Creek, he found that stack all right three years afterward, and it furnished bread for his family until he could get another start ; about 1817, he purchased a saw-mill near Fort Greenville, which he removed and erected on his place ; this was the first saw-mill in Newberry Township ; after having cleared about 30 acres, he laid out in town lots that part of his place which is now between High street and the river ; he sold his mill, which was in running order, to Benjamin Lehman for $4,000, being then thought a large price ; he purchased several tracts in the vicinity of Covington, the northwest quarter of Sec. 29 being one of them ; a part of this tract he afterward sold in town lots, and this is now the most attractive residence property in the town. Mr. Ullery was an active, useful citizen, and, could he now see what has been developed from his humble beginning seventy years ago, he would no doubt exclaim, " I have seen and am satisfied ; now let me die in peace." But, while he did not live to see much of the richness of his pioneer settlement, some of his sons still remain to see and enjoy the blessings handed down by the arduous efforts of the former generation. Jacob Ullery was twice married, and had five children by the first wife and eleven by the second. John, the oldest child, was born in Maryland May 22, 1801, and was therefore only a lad when his parents came to Miami Co., and received but little education, for, after they came here, at first there was no school, and later, when there was one, his services were too important at home ; his education was, therefore, of that practical character that could be obtained swinging the ax and hoe, or following the plow. He was married in 1822 to Elizabeth, daughter of Powell Dale, an early settler of Newberry Township; they began housekeeping on the farm in Sec. 29, where he now resides ; when he came here there was but an "opening "-now it is in a good state of cultivation, with fair buildings ; he had eleven children, six of whom are living, and all but one are married ; the oldest son, Samuel, was a member of the 110th 0. V. I., and was a prisoner during the last six or seven months of the war, the most of that time being spent in the notorious Andersonville Prison. The youngest son, 'John D., was in the 100-day service; is still single, and resides, as also does his father, with James McMaken, who has rented the farm ; Mr. Ullery's death occurred Feb. 6, 1875. DAVID E. ULLERY, farming and saw-milling ; P. 0. Piqua. His father was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, and came to Miami Co. with John Ullery, whose biography appears in this work. D. E. was born Oct. 25, 1839, upon the farm where he lives, was educated a farmer, and has traveled considerably. April 22, 1861, he enlisted in the 20th Ill. V. I.; was in the engagements at Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and Raymond, where he was severely wounded ; he was taken prisoner before Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864, and was in the Andersonville Prison seven months. His marriage with Miss Rachel, a daughter of Peter Passage, deceased, was celebrated Aug. 26, 1865 ; they had six children, five living-Minnie, Sarah, Clifford, Joseph and an infant not yet named. L. B. VALENTINE, teacher and farmer ; P. 0. Versailles ; was born Dec. 27, 1857, upon his father's farm.; he was raised a farmer, but, the last few years, has been preparing himself for a school-teacher ; he is the only child of Uriah and Harrietta Valentine ; his father was born in Frederick Co., Md., Dec. 29, 1819 ; moved to Ohio in the year 1844, and located in Versailles, Darke Co.; was a tailor by trade, and followed the business in that place for twelve years, then came to this county and purchased the farm where he now lives. J. G. WAGNER, tile manufacturer, Covington ; is comparatively a young man ; he was born in Berks Co., Penn., in 1834 ; became fatherless when a child, and, when 7 years of age, was bound out to an uncle who was a farmer ; when he was 16 years of age, his uncle sold the farm and released him, after which he sustained NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP - 755 himself principally by teaching ; in 1861, he was employed in the Quartermaster's Department about three months, but, on account of a chronic disease, was compelled to return home, where he resumed teaching. In 1862, he enlisted in the 167th Penn. V. I. for nine months' service, in which he served as First Sergeant of Co. B until the expiration of the term. In 1865, he came to Ohio, and was employed as Superintendent of Pleasant Hill School two years, of the Tippecanoe school about three year's, and of other schools at different periods, teaching in Ohio in all about nine years ; in 1875, he purchased an interest in Ford & Co.'s wheel works, at Tippecanoe, of which he was superintendent two years, increasing the business materially ; in 1877, Mr. Wagner came to Covington and purchased 20 acres of land adjoining the town, which included the tile factory, which he has since successfully conducted ; the factory possesses an O'Ferrall machine, a square kiln. 13 1/2 x13 1/2 feet, and 9 feet high inside, with 245 feet of shedding, and complete and systematic arrangements for handling material, etc. ; the growing demand for tile has induced a great growth of factories ; Mr. Wagner has increased the aggregate of his business, and is now doing probably more than any other two similar establishments in this county. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Harriet, daughter of William Pierson, deceased, who was a resident of Newton Township; they have one child, a daughter. AARON WARNER, farmer ; P. 0. Bradford ; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Nov. 1, 1832 ; was raised and educated a farmer, and has always been engaged in that occupation ; he owns one of the nicest farms in Newberry Township; with a good house and one of the best barns in the county, having a supporting roof, situated on an elevation with a beautiful descent to the south ; he has everything handy and well arranged about his premises. He married Miss Charlotte, a daughter of Solomon Basserman, a native of Pennsylvania, Dec. 1, 1853 ; they had four children, viz., David B., Elmira, Albert B. and Alice. Aaron, son of Henry Warner, a native of Montgomery Co., Ohio, moved to Miami about the year 1835, and located upon the farm owned now by his son, Aaron, lying about one and a half miles northeast of Bradford ; in 1872, he sold the farm to Aaron and purchased a farm southwest of Bradford, in Darke Co., where he now resides. A. WEAVER, M. D., druggist, Covington ; is one of the firm of Weaver & Kendell, druggists, of Covington, who commenced business here about four years ago, and are now carrying a full stock of drugs and druggists' sundries, receiving a liberal patronage in their business, besides doing a large practice. Dr. Weaver was born in Virginia in 1822, and his youth was spent on a farm in Montgomery Co., his parents having emigrated to Ohio when he was a babe ; he began reading medicine in Canton, Ill., in 1845, completing his studies with Dr. Gish, of Salem, Montgomery Co„ Ohio, with whom he was associated in practice about two years ; in 1852, he removed to North Clayton, Miami Co., where he practiced eleven years, after which, in 1863, he came to Covington, where he has remained ever since, having a very satisfactory practice ; thus, it will be seen, the Doctor has been identified with the history of Miami Co. for more than a quarter of a century. He was married, in 1856, to Miss B. E. Whitmer, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1838, and is the daughter of Samuel Whitmer, an early resident of Miami Co. GEORGE WIHLEY, retired farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; is a son of Michael Wihley, a native of Pennsylvania, where George was also born, March 15, 1805 ; he was raised a farmer, and followed that business in Pennsylvania until the year 1855 ; when he moved to this State, located in this county, and has been engaged in farm, ing until 1870 ; then he rented his farm, purchased a residence in Covington, and now lives retired from hard labor. On Nov. 25, 1830, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Saylor ; they had seven children, four living-Julia A., Mary, Samuel and Sarah. Mr.. Wihley is afflicted with a nervous affection that injures his health and produces sleepless nights. SAMUEL WILEY, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; is a son of George Wiley, whose biography appears in this work. The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 23, 1840, in York Co., Penn. He was reared a farmer and has always been engaged 756 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : in that avocation. On June 9, 1866, he married Miss Sarah E., daughter of Rudy Bollinger ; they had four children of whom two are living—Susan and Martha. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, retired farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; a life-resident of Miami Co.; is the son of Michael Williams, and grandson of Michael Williams. Sr Michael, Sr., was a native of South Carolma, and a soldier from that colony in the Revolution. He married Barbara Sumce, afterward became a resident of Virginia; removed to the Northwest Territory, and located on Mad River, near what is now Dayton, which then consisted of a few huts, with a few French fur-traders for its business men ; the year following, he removed to Honey Creek, in this county, and in 1800 removed to Newton Township, where he located or "squatted " (as the lands were not yet surveyed) on Stillwater, and entered the land as soon as practicable. Michael, Jr., was born in South Carolina in 1780, and accompanied his parents to Miami Co. where he married Elizabeth, daughter of William Long, who was also a pioneer of Newton Township. During the war of 1812, Mr. Williams was a member of a Home Guard company, which was stationed at a block-house built about three-fourths of a mile west of what is now Pleasant Hill. About 1820, he removed to Newberry Township, having purchased a farm in Sec. 34, where he resided until his death in 1850. After having taken part in the labor and privations of pioneer life, he lived to see something of its developments. He was County Commissioner nineteen years. The present court house was built during his term of office. The subject of this sketch was born in Newton Township in 1810, and grew to manhood here in the pioneer days of Miami Co. All the schooling he got in his youth was a few months' attendance at the "subscription" schools which were then held in some unoccupied cabin. But, as he was a bachelor and felt the need of education, he attended the somewhat improved schools when as old as 30. He was married in 1844 to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Gilbert, who was also a pioneer of this county. Mr. Williams has been a farmer all his life, but is now retired from active labor, and his farm is operated by a son and son-in-law. Mr. Williams, it will be seen, is the descendant of a pioneer family and has been identified with the interests of Miami Co. in general, and Newberry Township in particular, for more than a half-century. He has been Township Trustee and is still a useful and respected citizen. Although a bachelor until 34 years of age, has been thrice married. His second marriage was with Miss Nancy A. Vanorman, an Eastern lady. His third wife was Mrs. Sarah (Waymire) Williams. By his first wife he had six children, only two of whom are living—Nancy A., now Mrs. S. B. Riber, and William C. D. A. YOUNCE, physician, Covington ; is a son of Abraham Younce, a German Baptist minister, and a native of this county, now residing in Preble Co., Ohio, who has been preaching for forty years. The subject of this sketch was born June 2, 1837, in this county, and was reared a farmer, having a common-school education ; after he attained his manhood, he followed farming for eight years ; while lifting a heavy box, he broke a ligament m his hip, by which he lost the entire use of his leg ; a kind friend prescribed a remedy, and, by adding several oils, he effected a cure ; during his lameness, he began the study of medicine ; by the addition of several more oils, he effected many great cures ; he is the patentee of D. & A. Younce's Indian Cure Oil, which is sold in seventeen different States besides his own ; he treats all chronic diseases. He married Miss Catharine Westfall, and their children are—Sarah A., Rosetta, Mary Ida, Elizabeth J., Martha E., Davis E., R. Delley, Belle, Clara A. and William C. NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 757 NEWTON TOWNSHIP. ENOCH BEERY, farmer ; born in Fairfield Co. Ohio, in 1823 ; is the son of Isaac Beery, a native of Rockingham Co., Va., whence he emigrated to Fairfield Co., Ohio, in 1806 ; he entered a quarter-section of land, erected the pioneer log cabin and established a home in the wilderness ; bear's meat and corn bread furnished a large portion of his daily food. He was a minister in the German Baptist Church twenty-five or thirty years, traveling on horseback and on foot over Fairfield, Hocking and Perry Cos. He married Mary Cradlebaugh, of Lancaster Co., Penn. ; seven sons and five daughters were reared on the same place ; Isaac B. died in 1851, aged 74 years, and his wife in 1850, aged 65 years. Enoch was reared on a farm, and farming is his life's occupation, in which he takes much pride ; he may be considered an enterprising and successful farmer. He has been twice married ; first, to Mary Hatfield, in 1849, who was born in Union Township ; she died in 1869, a faithful member of the German Baptist Church. He married, in 1870, Mary J., daughter of Jonathan Coate, a son of James, and grandson of Marmaduke ; Jonathan was one of the prominent and enterprising citizens of Newton Township ; he served twelve years as Commissioner of Miami Co., and was an active member of the Friends' Society ; at one time was sent before the State Legislature to ask them to exempt the Quakers from military service in the late war ; he died May, 1872 ; was married three times, and had a family of thirteen children. Enoch B. had seven children by his first, and one by his second, union, one dymg in infancy. Mrs. B. had two children by her marriage with Mr. Coate. Mr. B. and wife are faithful members of the German Baptist Church, in which he has been a Deacon for nearly thirty years. RICHARD W. BRANDON, farmer ; P. O. Laura ; was born in Newton Township m 1836, and is the son of I. P. and grandson of Richard Brandon, an early settler of this county. Richard's father came from Ireland at an early day and located in Virginia, where Richard was born, and married to Anna Piersol in 1809 ; she still survives and is deserving of more than a passing notice ; she was born in Loudoun Co., Va., April 18, 1788 ; her father, born in England, came to Virginia when only 6 years old, and served in the war of 1776, with a Virginia regiment. Anna was twice married, and had eleven children. Isaiah, father of our subject, was the oldest child, and was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., May 6, 1810; when 16 years old he came to Miami where his death occurred Feb. 1, 1878. He married Sarah, daughter of Amos Co.,all. of Carolina ; six sons and six daughters were the issue of this union ; all grew up, were married, and livmg till within a year, when the oldest daughter, Martha, died. The spirit of 1876 had a well-marked outcrop in the fourth generation in the late war, which received five of the sons, and four of the sons-in-law, all entering the service as members of Co. B, 71st 0. V. I., and all as privates but H. K. McConnell, who had a Second Lieutenant's recruiting commission ; when mustered out, the sons' ranks were R. W., First Corporal; Samuel, First Lieutenant; Amos, Brevet Major; E. R. And I. V., Privates; the ranks of the son-in-law, H. K. McConnell, Brevet Brigadier General; A. E. Duncan, Assistant Surgeon; William McConnell, First Lieutenant; John R. Johnson, Sergeant; all returned home; they participated in battles of Shiloh, Jonesboro, latter part of siege of Atlanta, Lovejoy Station, two days fight at Franklin, Nashville, Tenn., numerous skirmishes, and, at close of war, were sent into Texas, where they suffered severely by change of climate. Richard, our subject, was married in 1855 to Mary A., daughter of John McConnell, of Ireland, who came to this country when about 4 years old with his father. Of the eleven children born to this union, two have died. WILLIAM H. CADWALLADER, farmer and teacher ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; he was born in Adams Co. in 1844, and was a son of John Cadwallader, who was 758 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: born in Bedford Co., Va., Dec. 31, 1799 ; he emigrating first to the Kanawha Salt Works, where he remained about two years, and then came to this State ; he located first in Highland Co., in, which and Adams joining, he lived till he came to this county in the fall of 1856 ; he settled here on the southwest portion of See. 13, and in this township passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring April 2, 1879, aged 79 years 3 months and 2 days ; he was a mmister of the German Baptist Church for fifty-five years, and during the latter five years of his life was a minister of the Congregational Brethren Church of Pleasant Hill, of which he was the founder ; he was a man who taught the principles of Christianity, not only by precept, but by his daily walk, and his death was a loss to the church and community. He was married to Anna King about 1823 ; she was born in 1801 in Virginia, she moved to Highland Co., Ohio, with her parents, when she was quite small ; her death occurred July 25, 1864, or 1865 ; six sons and four daughters were the issue of this union. The subject of this sketch is the ninth child of the family, and was reared on the farm ; his early education was received in the common school of his day, and so well did he improve his time, that he qualified himself for the profession of teaching, which he entered about 1865 ; this profession he has since continued during the winter months, devoting his summers to farming ; he finds his political creed in the Republican party, and his religious creed in the Congregational Brethren Church, of which he is Secretary. JAMES H. CALDWELL, farmer ; P. O. Bradford ; born on his present farm in 1841 ; is the son of James, who was born in Pennsylvania, June 8, 1798, and was the son of Stephen and Margaret C. The former died in 1801 at the age of 42. James, Sr., followed smithing his entire life ; he emigrated to Ohio about 1832 or 1833, and located first in Parke Co. In 1835 or 1836, he purchased the quarter-section in the extreme northwest angle of Newton Township ; here he died m 1861 at the age of 63 years. He married Hannah Bouey, born in Emmetsburg, Md., in 1814, who bore him two sons and three daughters two sons and one daughter deceased. Hannah Caldwell died when J. H. C. was a small child. The subject of this sketch, is the youngest of the family ; he has made farming his life occupation. In this pursuit he is a success ; he combines industry with skill and experience ; integrity being the ruling principle in all his business transactions. He finds his political creed in the Republican party, in which he is an ardent worker. In religion, he and his wife belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Caldwell has served the people as Township Trustee, discharging his duties with fidelity and zeal. He married in 1861, Eunice M., daughter of Joseph Pearson (see biography of F. Peeks); of their six children, four survive. MARMADUKE COATE, deceased ; was born in South Carolina in 1738, and came of an illustrious Quaker family of England. In Besse's " Sufferings of the Quakers, " and John Whiting's " Persecution Exposed," we find frequent mention of one Marmaduke Coate, of English notoriety, who was again and again arrested for non-compliance with the intolerant requirements of the parish priests; he was one of the faithful Quakers, who suffered imprisonment and proscription during the Qnaker persecution of England; for liberty of conscience, he suffered imprisonment at sundry times from 1670 to 1685, with short intervals, in all about fifteen years, one of the longest terms on record. All these persecutions could not move him from his steadfast adherence to the right ; he was of Hambridge, Somersetshire, England ; he died about 1689, and left, among other children, a son Marmaduke, who married Ann Pole, daughter of Edward and Mary Pole, originally of Wales, but late of Battlehay, near Wiveliscombe, Somersetshire, England. Marmaduke was imprisoned at Ilchester, the place of his father's long confinement, in Somersetshire in 1683, for attending a meeting at Gregory Stoke, three miles from Curry Revel which latter place appears to have been his place Of residence ; his mother, Edith, was imprisoned at the same time. He immigrated to America, and settled in Hanover Township; Burlington Co., N. J., in 1690 ; the house which he built was partly constructed of materials brought from England, probably the leaden window-sash, and the 5x7-inch panes of glass. He died Dec. 15, 1729, aged 77, an NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 759 Elder- in the Society of Friends. He reared a family of five children, among whom was William. Our subject was a direct descendant of this William, probably a grandson. He was married to Mary Coppick, who passed ten or twelve years of her early life as a captive among the Indians. He came to Ohio and located in Newton Township in 1806, where his death occurred Sept. 25, 1822, at the age of 84. His children were, in order of birth, Esther, Moses, Henry, Samuel, Sarah, James, William, John and Jesse, from whom have sprung numerous descendants. ROBERT COATE, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; born in 1844 ; is a son of John Coate (for a history of his ancestors, notice the sketch of his brother Benjamin J.), and was reared on a farm and afforded the opportunities of a common school education, which was so well improved that he was early qualified for the profession of teaching ; this he followed for about four years, when he abandoned it and turned his attention entirely to farming, which he has since continued. His marriage with Miss Elizabeth Jones was solemnized in August, 1866. She is a daughter of Alexander Jones, and a descendant of early settlers. Four children have been born to this union, three of whom are deceased ; the one living is Julia Mary. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Friends' Church, in which they were both reared. Mr. C. is no political aspirant, but has been three times elected to, office of Township Trustee, the duties of which he has discharged with commendable zeal. JOSHUA COATE, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born near the place where he now lives in 1821 ; he is the son of James and grandson of Marmaduke Coate. James was the fourth son ; he came to the Stillwater Valley with his father, and located on a farm now owned by Wenger. His first marriage was celebrated before he left South Carolina, and his wife's death occurred before his immigration ; he was again married after coming here, to Laurana, daughter of Samuel Teague ; by this union he reared a family of four sons and two daughters—Jonathan C., now deceased ; Samuel T., Joshua, Thomas E., Mary and Esther. James Coate was born in South Carolina in 1777, and died in Miami Co. m 1838 or 1839 ; his wife, Laurana, was born in South Carolina in 1786, and her death occurred a few years ago at the age of 75 years ; they were both faithful members of the Friends' Church. The subject of this sketch has always lived on a farm ; he remained at home till he reached majority, and was married to Adila Jenkins in 1842 ; she was born in 1821 in this county, three miles south of Troy. After the marriage of Joshua. Coate, he located on the homestead two years, and then moved to Montgomery Co. ; at the end of fifteen years, he purchased his present place; a family of nine children, two of whom have died, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Coate. Mr. Coate and family were reared m the Friends' Church, and are now faithful members of the society. BENJAMIN J. COATE, deceased, was one of the prominent citizens of Newton Township, and a son of Jesse, and grandson of Marmaduke Coate ; he was born in 1813, in Parke Co. He was married in 1835, to Mary Jones, a daughter of John, and granddaughter of Wallace Jones. Wallace Jones emigrated from South Carolina to this State, at an early day, with his family of four sons and two daughters ; he settled near West Milton, where he and wife passed the remainder of their lives. John Jones was the second child of this family, and was born Nov. 21, 1797 ; he had no early educational opportunities, but after he had grown to years of maturity, he procured a spelling-book, and while working in the shop (being a smith by trade), would learn with book in one hand, while blowing the bellows with the other, and in this way was soon able to read his Bible. Such a will as this always wins, and we are not surprised to soon find him a prominent minister in the Friends' Church ; in this capacity he became an efficient worker, traveling through many parts of the United States ; he departed this life in Eastham, Iowa the 5th day of the 8th month, 1877, at the advanced age of nearly 80 years ; his wife still survives at the age of nearly 80 years. John Jones had a family of six sons and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Coate was the oldest. Benjamin J. Coate moved on Sec. 27, Newton Township, in 1836, where he passed the remainder of his earthly career, 760 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : his death occurring Sept. 19, 1870. He was reared in the Friends' Church, of which he and wife were consistent members. Seven sons and six daughters were the issue of this union, all living to maturity but one—Josias, the third son, died in the fall of 1864, at Cumberland Gap, Tenn., while in his country's service. He was a member of the 88th 0. V. I., C. K. B. C. COATE, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in 1850 where he now resides. He is the son of John and Nancy (Finney) Coate, and a direct descendant of Marmaduke Coate. John Coate was born in 1807 in Union Township, and was the son of Samuel Coate, and grandson of Marmaduke C. Samuel C. was born in South Carolina in 1772, and at the age of 28 married Margaret Coppock, a native of South Carolina. In 1804, he immigrated to Ohio ; he was one of a family of nine children, who, with their parents, emigrated about the same time. He fixated on Sec. 5, now within the limits of Union Township. He reared a family of six sons and three daughters. His death occurred in February, 1869 ; his wife died in the spring of 1847. John Coate was the fourth child of this family ; le was twice married—first to Phcebe Miles in 1830 ; she was a daughter of Jonathan Miles ; she died in 1838, leaving a family of three children, two of whom are still living. His second marriage was celebrated in 1842, with Mrs. Nancy Crew ; she was born in North Carolina in 1808, and when quite young her parents immigrated to this State. They located in West Milton, which consisted of one frame house—then vacated—and four log cabins. Here she passed her youth. John Coate reared two sons—Robert and Benjamin C.—by his second union ; he died March 11, 1871. He was reared in the Friends' Society, of which he was always a faithful member. Our subject's life has been that of a farmer. His early education was acquired from the common schools, and the high school of Pleasant Hill. His marriage with Miss Esther Coate was solemnized in 1869. She is a daughter of Joshua C., and a descendant of early pioneers. Two sons have been born to them. Mr. and Mrs. C. were both reared in the Friends' Church, of which they are now consistent members. JOSIAS COATE, farmer ; P. 0. West Milton ; is the son, of Jesse Coate and grandson of Marmaduke Coate, who was a native of South Carolina ; he raised a family in his native State, of seven sons and two daughters, to wit : Moses, Henry, Samuel, James, William, John, Jesse, Lydia and Sarah. Early in the beginning of the present century, they cast their fortunes in the wilds of Ohio ; of this family, Moses and Samuel led the way, in 1804, locating first in Montgomery Co. ; here they halted one year, and raised a crop ; in the following fall of 1805, these two brothers were joined by the rest of the family, when they all pressed their way farther northward up the Stillwater, some locating in what is now Union, and some in Newton ; of the latter was the head of the family and a portion of the children ; they located on land in Sec. 32, and constituted one of the first families in the township. An incident in the early life of Mary Coate, wife of Marmaduke, is deserving of more than a passing notice. When only a small girl of three or four summers, she was captured by a tribe of Indians, and held by them till she was about 12 years old ; her maiden name was Mary Coppock. Jesse Coate was the youngest child of the family. He celebrated his marriage in 1809 or 1810, with Mary Johnson, a native of Tennessee, and a relative of the late President Johnson ; after living on various farms for a few years, he located on the place where our subject now resides, and there passed the remainder of his life ; he met with a fatal accident, being crushed by a saw-log rolling over him, which caused his death July 8, 1837 ; the death of his wife occurred Dec. 4, 1865, at the advanced age of 76 years ; they were the parents of nine children, to wit : Eleanor, Benjamin J., Josiah, Elizabeth, Thomas, David, Mary, Sarah, Julian J. ; of these, four are now living. Our subject, the third son of the family, was born in 1816, Dec. 9 ; he remained with his father, assisting in farm duties, till he reached his majority. He was married, in 1838, to Miss Sarah Tucker, a native of Warren Co., Ohio ; she emigrated to this county, with her parents, in 1836 ; six children have been born to this union, one of whom died ; all were married, the, deceased daughter leaving one child and husband to mourn her loss. THOMAS H. COATE, blacksmith, Pleasant Hill; was born in McMinn Co., Tenn , in 1828 ; he is of English descent and son of Miles and Mary (Umphsus) Coate. They emigrated to Ohio in 1832, making the journey on horseback. They settled in Newton Township, where Mrs. C. died, when our subject was only 15 years old. Mr. C. again married and moved to White Co., Ind., and in 1863, enlisted in the late civil war; the 7th of November of the same year he died while in the service, at Knoxville, Tenn, aged nearly 60 years. Our subject was raised on a farm till 15 years old, when he was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade and served a term of three years ; blacksmithing has been his chief occupation, giving his attention to some extent to farming. He was in the late war, as member of the 147th 0. N. G. He is no political aspirant, but has several times been elected to township offices, which he filled with entire satisfaction. He is a chartered member of the A. F. &. A. M., of Pleasant Hill. Is the present and was the first resident W. M. A., has been married twice, first, May 15, 1849, to Louisa J. Evans, who died June 14, 1854 ; second to Susannah Jones, of English descent, in 1855 ; three children were born to the first union, all died in infancy, and ten to the second, eight of whom still survive. SAMUEL COATE, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; is a son of Henry Coate, and was born in Newton Township in 1840. His boyhood was passed on a farm, and he thus early became accustomed to the art of farming, which has always been his occupation. His early education was limited to the common schools of his day. His mother was taken from him, by death, when he was only 6 weeks old, after which he was placed under the care of his aunt until he reached the age of 10 ; at this time he returned to his father's, where he passed the remaining years of his minority. He was united in marriage with Miss Nannie A. Barker May 5, 1863 ; she is a native of Boone Co., Ind., born in 1843. Mr. and Mrs. C. were the parents of three children, of whom one is deceased. They are both members of the Friends Church. JAMES COATE, confectioner, Pleasant Hill ; born in this township in 1839 ; is of English extraction, and the son of Jonathan C. and Elizabeth Coate ; Jonathan C. was born in this township, where he passed his entire life in the occupation of farming. The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life and accustomed to its duties ; at his country's call for volunteers to suppress the rebellion, Mr. Coate bade adieu to his family and the comforts of home, and took his place among the patriots of the Union on the battlefield ; he was a member of the 1st 0. V. C., participated in the Atlanta campaign and the battles of Rome, Ga., Selma, Ala., and Columbus, Ga. ; this latter fight occurred after the war had really closed, that fact being unknown to them ; they proceeded from this place to Macon, Ga., where they were met by a flag of truce, announcing to them that the armies had agreed upon an armistice ; from there they went to Atlanta, and shortly were transferred to the Department of South Carolina ; the regiment was then divided up into numerous small parties and scattered over the State to preserve peace and quiet ; our subject was located in the various places of Orangeburg, Florence, Darlington, Charleston and Hilton Head ; at this latter place, he embarked on a steamer for New York, and from there to Columbus, Ohio, where he was honorably discharged on the 29th day of September, 1865 ; during his service, he received several slight wounds, but none severe. In the spring of 1870, he embarked in the mercantile business, which he carried on extensively till the financial panic that swept under so many of our enterprising business men, when he was compelled to reduce the magnitude of his business ; he carries a large stock of goods, which he disposes of at lowest prices. He has held the office of Township Trustee, and also School Director ; has been foremost among those who have taken an active interest in the railroad enterprise of this place. Mr. Coate was united in marriage, in 1860, to Miss Mary J. Pearson, a native of Newton Township ; they are the parents of seven children—five sons and two daughters. 762 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: J. C. COPPOCK ; farmer, P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in 1812 in Union Township, and is the son of William C., who was born in Newberry District, S. C., in 1807 ; he came to this State in company with his mother and some of his brothers, and located in Newton Township. He celebrated his marriage with Miss Eunice Cothran in 1809 ; she was born in South Carolina in 1793, and emigrated to this county with her parents in about 1808, and settled in southern part of Newton Township. Alexander Cothran, the head of this family, met with an untimely death soon after coming here, a falling limb striking him on the head and crushing his skull. After the marriage of William Coppock, he located at Ludlow Falls, in Union Township, and began farming for himself ; the privations and hardships of pioneer life proved too severe on his constitution, and, in 1812, death removed him from his home in the wilderness. His widow was subsequently married to Henry Coate, when' they moved further up Ludlow Creek, where she died at the advanced age of 73 years. Henry Coate was the son of Marmaduke Coate. Our subject passed through all the experience incident to pioneer life, and, at the age of 16, his step-father being a smith by occupation, he was placed in the shop and learned the trade ; his chief employment in the shop was forging the old-fashioned hand sickles ; this business he continued about seven years, when the demand decreased and he abandoned it and turned his attention to farming, which has since been his occupation. He has been married three times, first to Miss Sarah Jay in 1833, she died Oct. 25, 1842 ; her death was a loss to the Friends' Church, of which she was a life member, and the community in which she lived ; three sons were born of this union, all of whom are still living. His second marriage was celebrated with Mrs. Sarah Conway, formerly Miss Alridge ; she was an Eastern lady, and emigrated from Providence, R. I.; her death occurred Jan. 2, 1871, aged 50 years and 18 days ; three children were born of this union, one of whom is dead. His third marriage occurred in May, 1877, with Miss Barrett, a descendant of South Carolinans ; her ancestry coming here early in the history of this county. Mr. Coppock, after his first marriage bought the old Marmaduke Coate farm and moved on it ; he subsequently purchased the place where he now resides ; he has a fine water-power flouring and sawmill; the mill stands on the site of the first mill in the township. Although no political aspirant, Mr. C. has been twice elected to the office of Justice of the Peace. ALLEN COPPOCK, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill. Prominent among the farmers of Newton Township is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch ; he is a descendant of a worthy family of early pioneers of this county, and son ofJoseph C. Coppock, whose sketch appears in another part of this work ; he was born in 1838, on the place where he now resides, and which has always been his place of abode, with the exception of about six years ; his life has always been that of a farmer, which, by industry and good business habits, he has made an eminent suc- cess. His nuptials with Miss Maria Furnas were celebrated in 1865 ; she is the daughter of Joseph Furnas ; after the marriage of Mr C., he located in the northeast quarter of Sec. 29, where he remained a period of six years, and then moved to his present farm ; he operates a farm of 300 acres, two-thirds of which is arable and under a good state of improvement ; Mr. and Mrs. C. were the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters ; two children are dead. D. M. COPPOCK, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; he is a on of Benjamin Coppock, and grandson of Benjamin J., Sr., who was one of a family of nine children, who came from Newberry District, S. C. about the year 1800 ; he settled two miles west of Ludlow Falls, Union Township, where he raised 'a family of ten children. He married Susan Jay, in South Carolina, and they both lived to an advanced age ; Benjamin J., Jr., had three children-Ellwood, D. M. and Almeda ; the parents still survive, residing with our subject, who was born Dec. 29, 1841, in Union Township, and raised to farm' labor, and, aside from common schools, was educated in the select schools of the Friends, and was raised a Quaker ; he is now a member of the Christian Church and highly respected in the community in which he lives ; he is a member of the NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 763 A., F. & A. M. Lodge, of Pleasant Hill. He married Jane, daughter of J. Fur- pass Jay, who died Jan. 17, 1879, leaving nine children ; she was a good Christian woman, and a member of the Christian Church. H. B. CRUMRINE, miller, Pleasant Hill ; he was born in Darke Co. in 1855, and is the son of Jacob and Susannah Crumrine ; Jacob C. was born in Montgomery Co. in 1811 ; he was the 'eighth child of a family of eleven children, whose father was Peter C. ; he was a native of Greene Co., Penn., and immigrated to Ohio in 1806 or 1807, and located on Wolf Creek, in Montgomery Co. He was married to Elizabeth Ringer ; Peter C. pioneered his way into Darke Co., and settled in German Township in 1818; in this vicinity he and his wife passed the remainder of their days, he dying in 1860 at the age of 86 1/2 years, and she about 1858, at the age of 82 years ; the subject of this sketch has made farming his life occupation he lived in Darke Co. until 1873, when he moved to his present place and purchased the Sugar Grove Mill, which he has since been operating ; at the time of purchase, there was attached to it a saw-mill, but in February, 1879, the two were burned down ; they have since been replaced by a large, fine flouring-mill, with the latest improvements ; he is a minister of the Congregational Brethren Church of Pleasant Hill. He was married to Susanah Kunkle, of Pennsylvania, a daughter of Michael and Mary Kunkle, early settlers of Darke Co. ; they have had eight sons and four daughters, three of whom have died. The subject of this sketch lived on a farm till 1873, when he came to his present place, and has since been operating his father's mill. STEPHEN DAY, farmer ; P. 0. Bradford ; was born in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1840. William M. Day, his father, one of a family of four sons and one daughter, was born near Cincinnati, Hamilton Co.; he was a cabinet-maker by trade, but devoted the last twenty years of his life to farming. He was married to Margaret Trimble, of Knox Co. and by her had four sons and three daughters. His death occurred March 28, 1878, and his wife died the 16th of April of the same year. Stephen has made farming his life occupation ; he remained at home till he grew up to maturity, receiving his education in the common schools. In 1862, he came to this State, and in 1864, entered the army as a member of the 147th 0. N. G. ; after serving his time out in this regiment he enlisted in 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was identified with the Army of the Tennessee till the close of the war. After returning home, he finally located, in 1868, on Section 3, Range 4, of this township. His farm consists of eighty acres, on which he has established a large cider-mill of the most modern style ; it has a capacity of 100 barrels per day (see card in directory). Mr. D. identifies himself with the Republican party ; his father was a strong Anti-slavery man, and used his utmost efforts to crush out slavery. Mr. Day was married February, 1866, to Jennie Maxwell, of this county, a daughter of Samuel Maxwell, an early settler. Two sons have been born to this union-William M. and Orrion 0. D. W. DE BRA, painter; Pleasant Hill. Among the business men of Pleas- ant Hill deserving of notice is Mr. De Bra ; he comes of early settlers of the township. His father, Daniel De Bra, was born in Huntingdon Co., Penn., in 1812, and when 2 or 3 years old, was brought to this State by his parents ; they camped first on the present site of the town of Pleasant Hill ; they died soon after coming here with milk sickness. Daniel was a cabinet-maker and passed the remainder of his life in Newton Township. He was married to Mary Langsten, of Preble Co., Ohio ; she was born in 1815 and still survives. Daniel died in 1844. The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 9, 1843, and his early days were passed in the village of Pleasant Hill. Early in the progress of our late civil war, he enlisted as a member of the 110th 0. V. I., Co. G, and participated in all the hard-fought battles which this regiment engaged in till the fight of the Wilderness ; here, while at his post of duty, he received a wound which disabled him so that he was unfit for any more active duty ; after passing some time in different hospitals, he was honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 6th of February, 1865, having been in the service over two years. Mr. De Bra finds expression for his political creed in the 764 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Republican party, and, although not a politician in the true sense, he was recently elected to the office of Township Treasurer, and is now the present incumbent of this office. He is a worthy member of the following orders : F. & A. M. and I. 0. 0. F. Lodges of Pleasant Hill. His maternal grandparents were natives of North Carolina, and were early settlers of Union Township. His grandmother died a few years ago at the advanced age of 96 years. He has been married twice ; first to Elizabeth Pearson in 1873 ; she died Jan. 22, 1875. He was married the second time, May 4, 1876, to Eliza Graybill, of Juniata Co., Penn. Two children, Charles Earl and Nellie, have been the issue of this union. J. B. DEETER, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born on his present place in 1854, and is the son of John S. Deeter, who was born in Preble Co., Ohio, in 1813 ; he was a son of David Deeter. John S. was a farmer by occupation, and at different times owned and operated the Sugar Grove Grist-Mill. He was married in 1831 or 1832 to Sarah Reed, born in Virgina in June, 1812. Of their family of four sons and three daughters, two sons have died; one, David, lost his life in the United tates service at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1862 ; he was a member of the 94th 0. V. I. Isaac died in October 1867. John S. died in 1872, a faithful member of the German Baptist Church. He located on Seel-ion 7, about 1835. J. B. is the youngest of the family, and has devoted his life to farming ; his early education was limited to the common school ; his energy and industry, directed by his skill, has made his career as a farmer a success ; he finds his religious creed in the German Baptist Church, of which he and his wife are consistent members, and in which he has held the office of Deacon since he was 22 years old. He was married in October, 1873, to Angie Younce, of Union Township ; she was born in November, 1854, and is the daughter of Larkin Younce. A son and daughter have been the issue of this union. FRED DEETER, cabinet-maker and undertaker, Pleasant Hill ; was born May 8, 1834, within the present limits of Pleasant Hill ; is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Reed) Deeter, and grandson of David Deeter, an early settler;Jacob was a farmer by occupation, and made his first location from home on Sec. 17, Newton Township, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring Nov. 22, 1865, and that of his devoted wife a few years later ; of his family of five sons and five daughters, all grew up to maturity but one ; seven still survive. Our subject was the fourth Child of the family, and lived on the farm till 19 years old, when he went to learn the cabinet trade under the tutorship of his brother S. R.; in, about two years, he formed a partnership which lasted till 1862, when he purchased the whole interest and added to it carpentering, undertaking and painting ; he has since carried on cabinet work and undertaking, and, by his careful attention to business, has enjoyed gratifying success ; in May, 1873, he formed a partnership with his brother Isaac ; the year previous to this, he united in partnership with Groff & Aspinwall in the tile factory, but soon purchased the whole interest ; since 1873, he has been operating the factory, cabinet and undertaking business, under the firm style of F. & I. Deeter ; their large and increasing trade bears evidence of the quality of their work, their integrity and good management. In politics, Mr. Deeter is a Republican ; in 1870, he was elected to the office of Township Treasurer, to which position he was elected for ten consecutive years, and the duties of which he discharged with commendable zeal and satisfaction to the public ; he has also been School Director, and member of the Town Council and of the Board of Education ; he is a member of the A., F. & A. M. and I. 0. 0. F. of Pleasant Hill, and Encampment of West Milton, and, with his wife, a member of the Christian Church. He has been married twice, first on Nov. 22, 1855, to Emily Riffle, of Darke Co., Ohio, who was born Aug 8, 1841, and died March 4, 1860, leaving two daughters-Martha J., born Aug. 23, 1856, and Sarah E., born Feb. 24, 1858 ; a son died in infancy ; his second marriage was on April 18, 1861, to Lydia J., daughter of Joseph Pearson ; three daughters have been the issue of this marriage-Dora D., born March 19, 1862 ; Harriet Armina, born Nov. 22, 1863, and Nellie, born Feb. 11, 1876. Lydia J. Pearson was born in NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 765 Newton Township March 20, 1840 ; she began teaching school at the age of 17, and continued at it for four years, teaching nine months out of each year ; she is of Quaker parentage, and a direct descendant of Thomas Macy, who was the first white settler of Nantucket Island, in 1658, and who forms the subject of a poem by John G. Whittier, entitled "The Exiles ;" the line of descent is as, follows Thomas Macy, John, Thomas, Joseph, Paul, Paul, Lydia, Lydia J. Pearson ; she is also a direct descendant of Peter Folger, the maternal grandfather of Benjamin Franklin, the line of descent being as follows : Peter Folger Johanna, John Coleman, Ennice Coleman, Bethia Coleman, who married Paul Macy, the great-grandfather of Lydia J. Pearson. Joseph Pearson, one of the early pioneers of Newton Township, was born in Newberry District, S. C., in 1800, and is the son of Benjamin and Esther (Furness) Pearson, both natives of South Carolina, and of English descent ; Benj. immigrated to Ohio with his family in 1805, and halted till the fall of 1806 in Warren Co., whence he pioneered his way to Miami Co., locating within the present limits of Newton Township ; he was a farmer by occupation, and passed his remaining days in Newton Township, his death occurring March, 1844, his wife dying about eleven years previous. Joseph was reared on a farm, and has made farming his life occupation ; he remained at home till he was 28 years old, havmg after his majority accumulated some money, with which he purchased a quarter-section near the homestead ; on this he moved in October, 1828, and resided till April, 1862, when he moved to his present place in Pleasant Hill ; he has witnessed the changes wrought in this country by the unflagging industry of man, for seventy-four years ; Mr. P. still survives at the ripe age of 80 years, with his physical and mental powers remarkably well preserved ; he is a member of the A., F. & A. M. of Pleasant Hill ; he is a man esteemed for his many sterling characteristics. He has been married twice, first to Lydia Macy, who died April 7, 1846, leaving ten children-Allen (now deceased), Phebe (deceased), Robert, Paul (deceased), Esther (deceased), Eunice, Lydia J. Charles, Seth and Levi ; his second marriage was with Mary Patty, daughter of Richard and Anna Brandon, Nov. 10, 1846. C. H. DEETER, blacksmith, Pleasant Hill ; born in Newton Township in 1841 ; is a son of Daniel and Mary A. (Hoke) Deeter ; his early life was devoted to farming and attending school. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 1st 0, V. C., and December following, was sworn in as member of the 11th 0. V. I., at Camp Dennison ; he was in many hard-fought battles, viz., Frederick City and South Mountain, Md., Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard Roost, Resaca, and many others ; he served in Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. Among his Generals were McClellan and Rosecranz. When his regiment was mustered out he remained in the service, working on the National Cemetery, at Chattanooga, until Dec. 3, 1864, when he was mustered out of service, having served over three years. Returning home, he completed his education and taught school. In 1867, he com- menced his trade, which he has since successfully followed. In February, 1867, married Sophronia Ward, born in Hocking Co. in 1847 ; they have six children living.' Mr. D., while leaning toward the Republican party, exercises his judgment, and votes for men best qualified for the different positions. M. DEETER, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; was born in this county and township Jan. 31,1821, and is one of the few remaining early-born citizens of the township ; his father, David Deeter, a Pennsylvanian by birth, emigrated to this county in early times ; he was one of the pioneer ministers of the German Baptist Church. He was married to Elizabeth Stultzman, and reared fifteen children, all of whom grew up to maturity and were married. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the family ; his boyhood and youth were passed on the farm, thus acquiring a knowledge and experience in agriculture which have served him well through life ; has made stone-cutting and stone masonry his chief occupation, operating, at the same time, his farm ; he has, with the exception of about six years, lived on his present place, which is the place of his nativity ; he lived about three years near Union City, Ind., and three years at the Sugar Grove Mill, which he 766 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: operated ; Mr. Deeter has on his farm an extensive limestone quarry, which he has operated for a number of years, turning out a vast amount of stone of the best quality ; he is now engaged in sinking a shaft to the depth of thirty or more feet, for the purpose of operating a fine marble stone which is supposed to exist there. Mr. Deeter is a man of many sterling characteristics, unimpeachable in his business transactions, and industrious. He finds his religious creed in the Congregational Brethren Church, of which he has been a member since its organization and now holds a deaconship in the same. He has been married twice ; first to Frances Eller, in 1842 ; she was born Nov. 8, 1821, and was the daughter of Henry Eller, an early settler of the county ; her death occurred March 6, 1865 ; six sons and two daughters were the issue of this first union, one son of whom is dead; the youngest of this family is now 16 years old. His second marriage was with Mary Fowler, nee Teeter, a native of Pennsylvania ; three children have been born to this union. R. E. DEETER, farmer ; P. 0. Covington. The subject of this sketch is the son of John R. Deeter, who was one of the early settlers of this township ; he was born on the place where he lived most of his life, and died on Jan. 19, 1816 ; he was brought up to farm labor, and farming was his life occupation. He was married twice ; first to Mary Harden, Sept. 27, 1835 ; she was born March 17, 1812, and died in 1844 ; four children were the issue of this union, two of whom are dead ; his second marriage was with Maria Maurer, Sept. 26, 1845 ; she is a Pennsylvanian by birth, and reared in Ohio ; she was only 1 year old when her parents located in Darke Co., Ohio ; fifteen children were born to this union, eight of whom are living. After his first marriage he moved to Darke Co., where he remained till about 1850, when he returned to the old homestead, it being a part of the land which his father entered in an early day, being the south part of Sec. 5, Newton Township. Mr. Deeter was a man of integrity in all his business relations, and his life was made admirable by his uprightness and Christian spirit. He was identified as a faithful member of the German Baptist Church. His death occurred in September, 1877, at the age of 61 years. A. H. DEETER, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; was born in Newton Township in 1847 ; he is the son of John Deeter, a Pennsylvanian by birth, who immigrated to Ohio in 1805, and located on Wolf Creek, in Montgomery Co. ; he moved, in 1812, to this township, and located on southwest quarter of Sec. 8 ; here he lived till his death, in 1828. He married Susannah Stover, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had a family of six sons and five daughters ; she died in 1851. A. H. Deeter was the fifth child of the family ; he moved to his present place, located on Sec. 8, in 1838. He was married, in, 1838, to Mary A. Hoke, a native of Juniata Co., Penn. ; they have had three sons and one daughter, all of whom still survive ; the subject of this sketch was reared on a farm ; he remained at home, attending the district school and doing duty on the farm until he attained his majority; at the age of 21 years, he moved on to a farm near the homestead, and at the end of three years removed to the home place ; in three years he settled on his present place. He was married in the spring of 1868 to Angeline Myers, of this township ; four children have been born to this union, one of whom died in infancy.' Mr. Deeter finds expression for his politics in the Republican party. JACOB DRIVER, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in York Co., Penn., Sept. 16, 1828 ; his father, Jacob, was born in York Co., Penn., where he passed his entire life, his death occurring in 1855. He was married to Mary Strickler, of York Co., who was born in 1800, and died in 1874 ; they had three daughters and two sons, all of whom still survive. The subject of this sketch is the fourth child of the family. He remained at home till shortly after the death of his father, when he found his way into Juniata Co. ; from there, in 1860, he took up his journey westward, and located in Covington, Miami Co. After one year's residence here, he moved to Darke Co., near Union City, where he remained two years, and returned to this county ; and after a temporary stay of about one year in Covington, he moved to Henry Deeter's farm. In 1867, he purchased his present place, NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 767 consisting of 80 acres ; he has cleared nearly one-half of it. He finds his religious creed in the " Brethren in Christ " Church. He was married in Pennsylvania in 1858 to Frances Moist, of Juniata Co. Her parents still live in her native place. Four daughters and three sons have been born to this union, one son dying in infancy. ABRAHAM FACKLER, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill. One of the early settlers of this section of country is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in 1803 in Huntmgdon Co., Penn., and came to this township in 1817, locating on his present place. He was married in 1826 to Miss Hepzibah Inman, a native of this township, born in 1811. She is a daughter of Asa Inman, a native of South Carolina. He was married to Miss Mary Coppock, a native of North Carolina. In 1807 or 1808, Mr. Inman, with his family, bade farewell to the " Sunny South," and took up his march for the wilds of Ohio, then considered the " Far West." He found a location within the present limits of Newton Township, on the northeast quarter of Sec. 30, where he toiled the better part of his life. His death occurred at the advanced age of upward of fourscore years. He is buried in the Harris Creek Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Fackler are the parents of nine children, six danghters and three sons, all grown up and married but two. Abraham Fackler is the son of George F., who was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., from which county he moved to Huntingdon Co., and from there to Ohio in 1817, locating on Sec. 29 in Newton Township. He brought with him a family of six children, leaving one in the East. Of these, three live in Newton Township, and one, the youngest, in Covington. Mr. Fackler died soon after coming here. In August, 1819, he was married to Miss May Nisonger, who survived her husband many years, dying at an advanced age. HENRY F. FAVORITE, deceased ; was born in Monroe Township, Miami Co., near Tippecanoe, June 10, 1832 ; he was a descendant of Abraham Favorite, of Maryland, and Eve Long, of Virginia ; Abraham Favorite was a pioneer settler of this county, coming here just previous to the war of 1812, in which struggle he served as a teamster. He was married twice ; first to Elizabeth Swihank, of a family of early settlers ; nine children were the issue of this union, five of whom grew up to maturity ; Eve Long, his second wife, comes from a distinguished family of pioneers of Greene Co. ; there were ten children in the family; three of the sons became ministers of the Gospel-two in the German Reformed and one in the M. E. Church ; Abraham Favorite was by profession an agriculturist ; he was born in 1786 and died in 1848 ; his wife, Eve, was born in 1798 and died May 9, 1878 ; three sons and three daughters were born to this second union, all living but the subject of this sketch ; he was the second child of this family, and was reared on the farm of his nativity until he arrived at his majority; in 1864, he purchased a farm in Concord Township and moved to it ; this place he cultivated for five years, and then disposed of it ; in a few months, he purchased the present place, where he passed the remnant of his days, his death occurring April 30, 1877. Mr. Favorite was admired for his many sterling virtnes ; although not committed to any religious creed, he practiced the principles of Christianism in his intercourse with the world ; in all his transactions with his fellow-men, integrity was the ruling element ; he was an active member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and a charter member of the Pleasant Hill Lodge ; his death brought a loss to the community in which he lived, as well as an irreparable one to the family which he left behind. He was married Nov. 22, 1862, to Carrie Byrkett, of this county, near Tippecanoe ; her father, Abraham Byrkett, was a native of North Carolina, and is still living in Monroe Township, whither he had immigrated at an early day ; he was married to Mary Chrisman, of Virginia, a descendant of early settlers of this county ; her father's house was the home of the pioneer Methodist ministers ; her death occurred Feb. 11, 1872, lamented by all who knew her. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Byrkett-seven daughters and two sons, three of whom died when very young. Four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Favorite, all of whom are still living with their mother. 768 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: S. B. FRESHOUR, farmer and teacher ; P. 0. Covington ; was born in Shelby Co., Ohio, in 1834, and is the son of George and Mary (Byrkett) Freshour ; Geo. F. was born in Berkeley Co., Va., in 1808 ; he moved to Ohio in 1831 and located, in 1833, in Shelby Co., but ,in 1839 move' to Newton Township, on Sec. 10 ; in 1866, he rear oved to Newberry Township, where he still resides ; he was married in 1833, to Mary Byrkett, of Union Township, who was born in 1818, and comes of early settlers ; she died in 1848, leaving three sons and two daughters. S. B. is the oldest child, and was reared to farm labor ; he improved his meager educational advantages, and, at the age of 21, was qualified to enter the profession bf teaching, which he has since followed (with the exception of four years), during the winter months ; he attended school considerably previous to the war, and after, he began teaching at leisure times; at the first call for men to suppress the late rebellion, Mr. F. enlisted in the 11th 0. V. I.; at the expiration of his three-months enlistment he returned home, staying until the spring of 1864, when he went out again as a member of the 147th 0. N. G., and served 100 days, which closed his military career. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Christian Church. He married, in 1862, Elizabeth Langston, of Union Township, daughter of Leonard Langston ; of his three sons and three daughters, two sons and one daughter have died. Mr. Freshour takes a great interest in the education of his children, and his son has lately graduated from the high school of Covington. JOSEPH FURNAS, retired farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born Aug. 8, 1809, on the farm where be now resides. His family was derived from England. In 1142, there was an Abbey founded in the north of England in the Furness name, and quite a house of them established a colony in Cumberland and North Cumberland Cos. and were possessed of land in the year mentioned. The elder branch of the family, without much increase or diminution of property, still adhere to the " old sod ;" from these the Furnases of this country do not blush to descend. John Furness, grandfather of Joseph, was born Jan. 1, 1735, near Standmg Stone Monthly Meeting House. Married Mary Wilkinson, of Wigton, March 24, 1762 ; emigrated to America about 1763 or 1764; settled in South Carolina. William Furnas, son of John and Mary, and father of Joseph, born in South Carolina, May 29, 1775. Married Rachel Nesby, of that State. Emigrated to Miami Co. in October, 1806. Like most youths of early days, Joseph Furnas' education was neglected, but he was early taught the use of hands and brains. Sept. 15, 1834, he married Margaret Spencer of South Carolina, a lady of Scotch parentage. The fruits of this union were seven children, four of whom are living, three daughters and one son. Mr. F. is now in his 71st' year, and is probably the only man in the county who, starting from early manhood with no pecuniary aid, has purchased and maintained the old homestead intact for that period of years. Of a retiring, unassuming disposition, he never sought preferment of any kind. He early learned that the man who distances his competitors is he who masters his business, who preserves his integrity, who pays his debts, who lives within his income, and who gains friends by deserving them. " Go search it there, where to be born and die, Of rich or poor make all the history." CARY FURNAS. (deceased) ; was born in Newberry District, S. C. June 19, 1803. His father, William Furnas, located on northeast quarter of Sec. 28, in Newton Township, in October, 1806. Here Cary was reared. He made his first location just south of the homestead, and, at the end of six years, in 1832, he located on Sec. 2, where his death occurred, at the age of 69. He married Matilda Leaven in 1825. Of the six children born to this union, two died in infancy, and one lives, at the age of 33. Matilda is the daughter of Robert and Sarah (Perry) Leaven.: Robert was born Oct. 22, 1780, in South Carolina, and, in 1805, came to this State ; in 1807 or 1808, he located on Panther Creek, in Newton Township, where he established the first home in that part of the township ; in 1812, he moved, with his family, south of West Milton ; during the war of 1812, he served as a teamster, and at close of war returned to his farm on Panther Creek, where NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 769 his death occurred at the age of 87. He took a great interest in the welfare of his country, and voted at every Presidential election from his majority till his death. His wife, Sarah, died March 31, 1864, aged 82 years. He had a family of four sons and four daughters ; the daughters still survive. DAVID GUMP, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Bethel Township, this county, in March, 1834 ; his father, Daniel Gump, was born in Maryland, and his mother, Margaret Studabaker, in Pennsylvania ; Daniel came to this State when a young man, and his death occurred in Bethel Township about ten years ago ; his wife survived him till Feb. 18, 1879 ; Daniel had a family of seven sons and two daughters, all of whom grew up, married, and still survive, with the exception of one daughter. The subject of this sketch, who is the seventh child of the family, was educated in the common schools ; farming has always been his occupation, and his farm, with its neat and thrifty appearance, indicates that he understands his business ; his life, to maturity, was passed under the parental roof, performing his share of the duties of the farm ; he made his first location in Montgomery Co., near Harrisburg ; afterward he returned to his native township, and April 14, 1865 (the day Lincoln was killed), he moved to his present place, first renting, and, after a year or so, purchasing it. He was married, in November, 1858, to Catherine Huffer, of Montgomery Co., born six miles west of Dayton ; her death occurred May 18, 1878, aged 39 years ; she was a faithful member of the German Baptist Church ; she left a son and daughter-Edward, born Dec. 19, 1862, Minna Belle, born Nov. 22, 1868 ; three children died-William, born Nov. 5, 1859, Clara, born in 1870, and another m infancy; Mr. Gump is a connected with the German Baptist Church, of which he is a consistent member ; he is sociable, affable and upright in all his busmass transactions. JOHN HALE, farmer ; P. 0. Troy ; was born m Jefferson Co., Ohio, May 3, 1819 ; he is of English extraction, his ancestry emigrating from England at an early day ; he is the son of John Hale, Sr., a native of Maryland, who was born about 1775, and was married to Miss Martha Mays ; he emigrated to Ohio in 1812, and settled in Jefferson Co. ; just previous to emigirating, and when he had everything ready for the journey, he was conscripted for the war of 1812 ; he was placed on duty at Baltimore for a short time, when he was released ; he immediately came to this State ; his occupation was farming ; in the spring of 1837, he came to this county, locating on the farm where our subject now resides ; eight acres constituted the cleared land on his farm, and almost an unbroken wilderness surrounded him ; the whole was in a swampy condition, and much hard labor was demanded to fit it for agriculture ; here Mr. Hale toiled till 1852, when death released him from the bonds of this life ; his devoted wife survived him about seven years ; he reared a family of seven children-five daughters and two sons. Our subject is the youngest of this family, and was reared on the farm ; to his lot fell the filial duty of caring for his parents in their decline of life ; this duty he discharged faithfully till their death, when he fell heir to the homestead, then consisting of 80 acres ; he has since added 100 acres more. His nuptials were celebrated with Miss Susan Needham Dec. 7, 1862; she was born April 19, 1839, in Preble Co., Ohio ; Mr. and Mrs. Hale are the parents of six children, three of whom are deceased ; the living are Blanche, Louis and Della ; Mr. and Mrs. II. are faithful members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of Concord Township, and are livmg exemplary lives. ISAAC HALL, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; one of the few early settlers of Miami Co. ; was born in Newberry District, S. C., near Newberry Court House in 1806, Jan. 19; his father was Amos Hall, of South Carolina, and his mother, Sarah, daughter of Marmaduke Coate ; he landed in Ohio the 1st of March, 1807, having been six weeks on the journey ; he located in Union Township, on land now owned by David Ellenman ; here he died at the advanced age of 84 years, at his son-in-law's, Miller; North. Sarah, his wife, died previously, at the same place ; they reared a family of nine sons and five daughters. The subject of this sketch is the fifth child of the family, and the oldest surviving member ; his education was acquired when the imperfect subscription system was in vogue, and consequently 770 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: his early advantages were limited ; he helped his father on the farm till majority, when he moved to his present farm in November, 1827 ; it was then all in the woods, and required much hard labor, with many sacrifices, to make out of it a home ; but this Mr. Hall accomplished by his unflagging industry ; he lived on the land seven years before he could raise sufficient money to enter it ; it then consisted of 80 acres, but he now has in his possession nearly 250 acres ; he comes from a vigorous and industrious stock, and has nobly contended with the difficulties and hardships incident to frontier life ; he is a self-made man, his present competence being wholly the result of his own industry and skill, assisted by his noble wife ; his life has been an exemplary one, inoffensive upright and generous ; in religion, he is with the Christian denomination ; in politics, he is Republican ; he was originally a Whig, and cast his first vote for Henry Clay. He has been married three times, first to Anna Hayworth, daughter of James Hayworth, an early pioneer ; she was born in 1809, and died in 1849 ; five sons and five daughters were the issue of this union. His second marriage was with Catherine Lowry, nee Rodehamel, of this Township, who was born in 1804, and died in 1863. For his third wife he married Maria Clem in 1864, a native of Maryland, born near Harper's Ferry. JOSEPH C. HAYWORTH, farmer ; P. 0. Laura ; was born July 18, 1817, in this township ; he is the son of James and Ann (Coppock) Hayworth, who had a family of sixteen children, fourteen of whom grew up and reared families. James emigrated to Ohio m 1806, and located on Sec 29 ; after residing here for a time, he purchased a farm on Sec. 34 ; here he died in 1828, at the age of 54 years ; his wife died September, 1870, at the age of 90 years. The subject of this sketch has followed farming as a life occupation, with success, as his present possessions at- test ; his father dying when he was yet a small boy, he was bound out for a short time, and then was thrown upon his .own resources ; after working some four or five years he went to Clay Co., Ind., remained four years, and returned to his native place; in 1845, he purchased his present place. Mr. was one of the expert hunters of Newton Township in the pioneer period of its existence, and much wild game has been brought down by the well-directed aim of his rifle ; he killed a bear near his present place as late as 1839. He has been married twice ; first to Elizabeth Coate, by whom he had a family of twelve children, four of whom are now dead. His second marriage was with Victoria Gall, Aug. 29, 1874 ; she was born in Germany in 1845 ; they have one child. Mr. H. was reared in the Friends' Church, and is now identified with it. BENJAMIN HELLMAN, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Rockingham Co., Va., in 1812, and is the son of Jacob and Fannie (Stickela) Hellman, the former of Pittsburgh, Penn., and the latter a native of Virginia. Fannie Stickela's father emigrated from Germany, and located in Rockingham Co., Va., at an early day. Jacob Hellman emigrated to this State in 1835, and located with his family on the northwest part of Sec. 2, Newton Township ; here he and his devoted wife passed the remainder of their lives, he dying at the advanced age of 96 or 97 years, and she dying the same year, at the remarkable age of 103 or 104 years. They reared a family of five sons and three daughters, of which the subject of this sketch is the fourth child. He was brought up on a farm, and has devoted his life to agriculture ; not having the advantages of common schools, he adopted a method of self-culture, and thus acquired a fair education ; he came to this State with his parents, and, in connection with one of his brothers, purchased the land on which the family settled ; soon after this, he purchased his present place, and on these two farms he has resided since coming into the county. He finds his political creed in the Democratic party. He was married to Mary Casper, and has a family of six sons, all living, and located near the homestead. JOHN HELMICK, farming ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born ill Miami Co., Monroe Township, in 1840, and comes of the early settlers of this county ; he is the son of Jacob and Catherine (Younce) Helmick ; Jacob Helmick was born in Montgomery Co., near Salem, July 30, 1817 ; his parents were John Helmick and Susannah Knife, both of Fayette Co., Penn.; his father was a tanner by trade, and NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 771 an early settler of this county. He had a family of five sons and two daughters. Jacob Helmick was raised a farmer and has made farming his life occupation, which he followed till 1858, in Monroe and Concord Townships ; at this latter date, he moved to Newton Township, where he still resides. His marriage with Catherine Younce was in 1837. By this union they have had fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters ; one son and three daughters have died. Catherine Younce is the daughter of Philip Younce, one of the pioneer ministers in the German Baptist Church ; he was born in South Carolina in 1793, and died in Miami Co. in 1865 ; he came to this county when about 25 years old, and located in the woods in Union Township. He had a family of ten children, two sons and two daughters still sur- vive ; four of his sons became ministers ; three of the German Baptist Church, and one of the Disciples. The subject of this sketch is the oldest son of the family ; reared a farmer, he has made the pursuit of agriculture his life vocation, and by his industry and good management has been successful ; he received only a limited common-school education, as he was the oldest of the family, and was much detained at home on the farm ; he made his first start on his own resources and responsibilities, in the vicinity of his nativity ; he rented for about five years, when he purchased 75 acres east of Pleasant Hill, in Newton Township ; nine years ago he purchased his present place, consisting of 80 acres, where he has since lived, with the exception of eighteen months, when he was engaged in tanning. He finds expression for his religious creed in the German Baptist Church, of which he and wife are faithful members. He was married in 1861 to Mary Seighman, of this township ; her ancestors were from Pennsylvania. Three children, one son and two daughters, have been the issue of this nnion. JOHN HILDEBRAN, farmer; P. 0. Laura : was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1825, and is the son of John Hildebran, of tills State ; his parents were early settlers, and lived to remarkable ages—he to the age of 102, and she to the age of 101. John H., Sr., was married to Esther Long, of Pennsylvania. After the marriage of John H., Sr., he moved to Missouri ; in 1828, he came to, this county, and remained several years, when he emigrated to Indiana, where he passed the remnant of his life. He had a family of six sons and six daughters, nine of whom are still living. One of them lost his life in the late civil war, during the siege of Richmond. The subject of this sketch was 3 years old when he came to this county with his parents. He was married in 1847 to Rachel Tucker, of Indiana ; she is the daughter of Nicholas Tucker. Mr. H., soon after his marriage, purchased the farm in southeast part of Sec. 35, consisting of 80 acres, and at once located on it. He removed to Iowa in 1862, and remained one year, then returned and purchased a farm in Sec. 26, consisting of 86 acres, on which he resided till about one year ago, when he removed to Laura, and from there, recently, to Pattysville. Mr. H. is an ardent supporter of the temperance cause, and is identified with a temperance organization. He has endured much suffering since his boyhood with a diseased leg. It was first afflicted with white swelling, and during the last twenty-nine years he has had the leg broken several times, and during those years the swelling has gathered and discharged thirteen times. A son and daughter have been born to him. Mrs. Esther Hildebran was reared in the Friends' Church, and is a faithful member of the same. NATHAN HILL, farmer and railroad agent ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; comes of early pioneers of Miami, and was born near his present place, in 1829, being the youngest of a family of nine children ; he is the son of Nathan Hill, Sr. who was born in Maryland, near Ellicott's Mills, March 15, 1788 ; he emigrated to this State, with his parents, in 1804 ; his father, Thomas, was of Frederick Co., Md., and his grandfather, Joseph, was of English birth, and came to this country in an early day ; his will, execnted in 1798, is after the old English style, and is still in the possession of our subject ; Thomas located near present site of Pleasant Hill, where he passed the remainder of his life ; Nathan, the father of our subject, was married June 29, 1809, to Frances, daughter of Michael Williams, who settled here in 1800 ; they immediately erected a hewed-log cabin, which still stands, a. 772 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: relic of pioneer days ; here they passed the remainder of their lives, he dying Jan. 15, 1862, and she Nov. 10, 1870, 80 years old ; they were both faithful and earnest workers in the Christian Church almost their 'entire life. Our subject was reared on the farm, and has always, lived on the homestead; he has given considerable attention to the raising of fruit, and has now on his place the largest apple orchard in the township ; he is a public-spirited and enterprising man, and was especially active in securing the narrow-gauge road which passes through the township ; he is now agent for the road in the township ; he is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. of Pleasant Hill. He has been married twice ; first, in October, 1846, to Priscilla, daughter of William Furnas, a pioneer of the township ; she died Dec. 7, 1847 ; two daughters (twins)—Sarah F. and Priscilla--were the issue of this union. His second marriage was on Dec. 31, 1848, to Martha J. Jones, of this county ; William C., Clarissa, Margaret B., Emma C., Maria E. and Edward are the issue of this union. ISAAC HILL, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; is a descendant of early settlers of Newton Township ; he is the son of William Hill, and was born in 1848, on Sec. 20, in this township ; his education was limited to the common school ; he remained at home, assisting on the farm-work till maturity ; he made his first permanent location on the northeast quarter of Sec. 30 ; at the end of eight years he moved to the place where he now resides. He was married, in 1867, to Mary E. Stichter, daughter of Jacob Stichter ; three children have been born to this union, to wit : Cynthia, Charlie and. Isaac. JOHN W. HILL, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; born in 1824 on the same farm he now resides on ; is a son of Nathan Hill, Sr., a native of Maryland and an immigrant to this place with his parents when a mere boy ; his grandfather was among the first settlers of Newton Township. Our subject's early life was that of a farmer boy; he remained at home assisting in the farm duties till his marriage, which occurred at the age of 19, with Miss Susan Weddle ; Mr. Hill, after this event of his life, began farming on his present place ; here he has contmued the pursuit of agriculture, with eminent success, for over a third of a century ; he has a most beautiful farm, under the best modern improvements, and has erected on it one of the finest brick residences in the township. His wife, Susan, died Jan. 4, 1874 ; she was a faithful member of the Christian Church of Pleasant Hill, and her death was a loss to the whole community ; she is buried in the beautiful Pleasant Hill Cemetery ; eight children were born, seven of whom are still living, and six of whom are married ; all are settled in the community but one ; their names are as follows : Henry H., Sarah J. (married to Dr. Kiester, of Arcanum), Isaac N., John C., Eunice E. (Longanecker), James M., Mary E. (Billows). Mr. Hill's second marriage was celebrated Oct. 15, 1874, with Mrs. Josephine Conway, formerly Miss Josephine Banta, s native of Preble Co., Ohio she has one daughter, a teacher in the public school of Pleasant Hill ; Mr. and Mrs. Hill are both members of the Christian Church of Pleasant Hill, and Mr. Hill holds a deaconship in the same ; he is President of the Temperance Association of this place, which bespeaks him an ardent supporter of the Temperance cause ; he is a member of A., F. & A. M. fraternity of Pleasant Hill. JOHN K. HITTLE, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born on the farm on which he now lives in 1840, and is a descendant of early settlers. John Hittle, his father, entered the land on which the subject of this sketch now lives, in about 1825. He was born in Bucks Co., Penn., in 1803, and came of German parentage, his father being born in Germany. He was raised a farmer, and adopted farming as his vocation through life, and shoemaking as an accessory. He came to Ohio, when about 10 years old, with his parents. His father was Nicholas Hittle, one of those who pioneered their way into the wilds of Newton Township. He located on Sec. 8, just above Pleasant Hill. He was a man possessed of powerful physical strength. John Hittle, Sr., was the third child of a family of ten children. He was married to Mary Kessler, of this county, a descendant of early pioneers ; they had two sons and five daughters—one son died in infancy, and one daughter at the age of 5. NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 773 John H., was married the second time, to Mary Divens, and had one child, a daughter. Sr., He moved on a farm in Sec. 9, after his first marriage, and passed the remainder of his life there, his death occurring in 1861. The subject of this sketch was raised and has always lived on his present farm. He received his early education in the common school, which was necessarily much limited. At the death of his father, he took charge of the homestead, then consisting of 160 acres, and soon after purchased half of it, which he still owns and operates. He is a young man of energy and industry, which secures success to him in his vocation. He has been a member of the I. 0. 0. F. since 1866 ; is a member of the Encampment at West Milton, and also a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. He finds expression for his political sentiments in the Democratic party ; and, in religion, is a Protestant in faith, but not circumscribed by any particular creed. In all of his transactions, integrity is his ruling principle. He was married in 1867 to Mary E. Thompson, of this county, a daughter of John Thompson, an early settler. T. & O. HOOVER, saw-mill ; P. O. West Milton. Of the business men of Newton Township, none are more deserving of notice than the gentlemen whose names head this sketch ; they are descended from pioneers of Ohio ; their paternal grandparents were among the first to leave the beautiful " land of summer" for the primeval forests of the Northwest Territory ; in the fall of 1801, David E. Hoover left North Carolina for the purpose of making Ohio his future home : he located in the extreme northern part of the present limits of Montgomery Co.; in this place he passed the remainder of his days, serving one year as a member of the Ohio Legislature from Montgomery Co., and fifteen years as Justice of the Peace of Randolph Township ; from this it will be inferred that his life was a success and full of usefulness ; he reared a family of fourteen children, of whom the father of our subject was next to the youngest ; he was born in Montgomery Co., and his life has been given to the milling business on the Stillwater, in his native county ; his wife was a Canadian by birth, and emigrated to Montgomery Co. when only 10 years old, with her parents ; six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoover., all of whom are living. T. Hoover was born in 1844, and 0. Hoover in 1846 ; about seven years ago, they purchased the saw-mill which they are now operating ; it is located in the southern part of Newton Township, and is supplied with ample water-power the year round ; besides lumber, they manufacture all kinds of turned chair stock. Oscar Hoover was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bartmass, April 19, 1873 ; they have one child. JACOB HORTHER, farmer; P. 0. Troy ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1823; is a son of Wolfgang norther. At the age of 16, while following the plow, Wolfgang was conscripted for the Bavarian army, and was taken direct from the field, not having permission to go to the house to bid adieu to his parents his term of conscription was six years, of which he served three, procuring a substitute for the remainder of the time. He had five sons and three daughters, of whom Jacob, the fourth child, was reared a farmer and educated in the common schools of Germany. In his early manhood, he traveled considerably over Europe depending upon his own resources for subsistence. In 1845, his name was drawn to serve in the Bavarian army, but before the day of examination, he made hi escape clandestinely and in disguise as the servant of a teamster to Bremen, they t secreted himself in a vessel, where he remained till the same set sail for America he reached New York on the 3d of July in safety ; from here he found his way to Brookville, Ind. where he learned the cooper trade ; after one year in Cincin nati, he moved to Hamilton, Butler Co., where he remained sixteen years engage( at coopering ; he then moved to Preble Co., and was soon after drafted in the Union army, but secured a substitute ; after engaging in the hotel business for three years, he moved to his present place. Mr. Horther is a self-made man, am has established for himself and family a neat home. In religion, he holds liberal views, and in polities is a Democrat. He is a member of the following orders : The I. 0. 0. F., of which he has been Noble Grand ; Patrons of Husbandry, of which he was Treasurer, and D. 0. H., of Miamisburg. He married Margaret Herzog, in 774 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 1846, of Saxe-Coburg, Germany. She immigrated to this country in 1844, and located in Cincinnati. Of their family of two sons and six daughters, one died in infancy. HARVEY HUNT, farmer ; P. 0. Laura ; was born in Union Township m 1846, on the farm now owned, by Thomas Hunt ; he is the son of Ralph Hunt, also a native of this county, who has made farming his life occupation. He was first married to Sophia Walker, by whom he had six children ; he has since been twice married, and four children were given to him in the second marriage. He purchased a farm of 80 acres in Darke Co. in 1847, and has since lived there. Our subject was about one year old when he was taken to Darke Co. by his parents : here he passed his youth as a farmer, devoting his winter months to the acquisition of knowledge in the common school. He was married in 1865 to Miss Elizabeth Hayworth, a daughter of Samuel Hayworth. After making several moves from Darke into Miami Co., and back again, he finally located four years ago on his present farm ; eight children have been born to this union, all living but one. who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Westgrove Christian Church, of Darke Co. BENJAMIN IDDINGS, farmer ; P. 0. West Milton ; one of the prominent farmers of Newton Township ; is a descendant of early pioneers, and is of Scotch-Irish stock ; he is the son of Joseph Iddings, one of the pioneers of the Northwest Territory ; our subject was born on the place where he now lives, and which has been his residence for sixty-five years ; his life has been that of a farmer, and he early acquired habits of industry and economy, which have served him well throughout his life ; by his unflagging perseverance and good management, he has put himself in possession of a large farm under the best of modern improvements. He has been twice married, first to Miss Barbara Hill, March 29, 1838, who is a descendant of early pioneers, and sister to Nathan and John Hill ; nine children were born to this union ; all are living and married ; his second marriage was celebrated with Sarah A. McDowell, June 18, 1863 ; she was born in Dayton, Ohio, and is the daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Baker) McDowell, he a native Of Pennsylvania, and she of Tennessee ; two children have been born to this union, one of whom is dead, the other, Myron E., is at home with his parents. Mr. Iddings is a member of the Shiloh Christian Church. WILLIAM IDDINGS, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; is the son of James Iddings, who was born in Bedford Co., Penn., June 27, 1783; emigrated from his place of nativity to Greene Co., Tenn., with his parents, when only a child, and when quite young, again emigrated to the Northwest Territory, his parents settling in what is now Union Township, in Miami Co. He married Miss Mary Davis, who was born May 9, 1789, on the banks of the Savannah River, about forty miles above Augusta, Ga. ; she emigrated to this county with her parents and located in Union Township; she was the daughter of Abiathar and Lydia Davis; Lydia Davis was a native of Carolina, and died in Georgia. Mr. Davis again married, and came to this county with a family of three sons-John, Samuel and Benjamin ; and four daughters-Rhoda, Mary, Sarah and Lydia, leaving one daughter, Rachel, in Georgia, and one son, Amos. Mr. Davis' death occurred at an advanced age. James Iddings was the son of Benjamin, a pioneer and prominent citizen of 'this county ; he was born in Pennsylvania, and united m marriage to Phebe Wilkinson ; he reared a family of three sons-Talbot, Joseph and Benjamin, and six daughters -Rachel, Mary, Ruth, Emilia, Hannah and Phebe ; all of these emigrated to this State, and a numerous line of descendants have sprung from them. Benjamin was a man with a fine education, spending several years of his life in college at Philadelphia. He was reared in the Friends' Church, and for many years before his death, held an eldership in the same. For a long period, his usual seat at the Friends' meetings, at Union Chapel,was regularly filled by him, but finally death made his place vacant ; his brother James was also a finely educated man and was the author of a rhyming geography. Our subject was born Sept. 26, 1809, in Newton Township, in the log cabin of pioneer days. The wilderness surrounded him, and NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 775 his early training, both mentally and physically, was obtained from its solitudes. He early became inured to the privations and hardships of frontier life ; his early educational opportunities were very meager. The first 25 cents he ever owned was invested in a book, showing the early bent of his mind. This literary inclination he has been assiduous in cultivating, as his fine and large selection of books indicates. He married Miss Margaret Coppock April 2, 1829 ; she was a daughter of Thomas Coppock, and died 30th of March, 1869. After his marriage, Mr. Iddings moved to the place where he now resides ; he has a farm of 140 acres under the best of improvement ; he has taken a great interest in the cause of religion since his membership with the church in November, 1842 ; he has donated considerable sums to the Antioch College, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and the Merom College, of Indiana. He is an ordained minister in the Christian denomination ; contributed largely to the building of the Shiloh Church on his own farm, an organization of 164 members. Five children were born to Mr. Iddings by his first union, all of whom died in early life. His second marriage was celebrated, July 14, 1870, with Miss Mary Cuthbert,- a native of Ireland. They have four children ; three sons and one daughter. A. J. IDDINGS, farmer ; P. 0. West Milton. We herewith present a sketch of the Coppock family, as descended from the pioneer Thomas Coppock, together with the sketch of the gentleman whose name heads this biography. Thomas Coppock was the second of a family of nine children, as follows : John, Thomas, Benjamin, William, Samuel, Jesse, Margaret, Betty and Jane ; all were born in South Carolina, and had grown up to maturity before their emigration to this State ; they came here in the beginning of the present century ; Thomas settled on the southwest quarter of Sec. 33, in 1804, and his family constituted one among the first of Newton Township ; he was a blacksmith, and immediately after his location here, started a shop, which was the first in that section of the country'; Thomas Coppock lived to an advanced age, and reared a family of five daughters and three sons, to wit : Edna, Jane, Mary A., Margaret, Sallie, John, Moses and Joseph ; John and Moses died in early manhood, leaving only Joseph bearing the family name ; blacksmithing was his chief vocation throughout life ; he was born Oct. 20, 1805, his death occurring Sept. 30, 1839. He was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Waggoner Dec. 3, 1829 ; she was born Sept. 20, 1805; her father was a native of Newberry District, S. C., born Jan. 29, 1775. He celebrated his marriage with Mrs. Mary Davenport, formerly Miss Mary Mast, in 1801 ; she was born March 21, 1772 ; her first husband lost his life on the Ohio River ; she had two sons by this union-Noah and Martin ; immediately after the marriage of Mr. Waggoner, he emigrated to this State, locating in the extreme south part of Union Township ; here they toiled till death, Mr. Waggoner dying June 3, 1857, aged 82 years, and Mrs. Waggoner, Nov. 27, 1850 ; Mr. and Mrs. Coppock raised a family of four children, one son and three daughters ; Thomas and Mary died leaning each a family Charlie, the son of Thomas, being the only child bearing the name of Coppock. A. J. Iddings is the son of Benjamin Iddings ; he was born Aug. 29; 1842. He was united in marriage to Miss Jane Coppock Nov. 23, 1865 ; one child, a son, Esty, was born of this union in August, 1866. BENJAMIN G. INMAN, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born Aug. 11, 1836 ; he received a liberal common-school education, and has been a close student of medicine for twenty-three years ; at present he operates a woolen-mill at West Milton, Ohio ; he is the son of the elder George Inman, a pioneer of Newton Township, and one of its prominent and valuable citizens ; George was born in Newberry District, S. C., June 24, 1798, and was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Inman, who were born in England, near they city "of London ; Benjamin was a man of small means, and, bemg zealous in his religion, he met with a great deal of persecution, which caused him to emigrate to the United States ; he located in South Carolina, where he erected a flouring-mill, which proved a great source of profit to him ; this he was not long permitted to enjoy, death calling him from works to rewards when George, the youngest of a family of three sons and one 776 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : daughter, was only 3 years old ; his wife, Elizabeth, moved with the family to Burke Co., Ga., where she had some relatives ; here, in this remarkably poor, sandy country, she found it a great struggle to sustain herself and family, and received but little sympathy from friends; she remained here in destitute circumstances for eight years ; while here, in the heart of slavery, George daily witnessed the cruelties and atrocities of the system ; many horrible scenes were indelibly impressed upon his youthful mind ; one, the burning of three slaves at the stake, of which he was an eye-witness, he used to relate with much feeling ; these scenes firmly biased his mind against the system of slavery ; at the age of 14, he suffered the loss of his mother by death, and then realized what it was to be left an orphan among strangers ; he now moved back to South Carolina, were he received his education, which consisted of nine months' schooling ; in this time he learned to read and write, and laid the foundation of his future life ; he then began to study the Bible, and was, the remainder of his life, a close student of the Word of God ; he could repeat from memory at least one-eighth of the Bible ; he emigrated to Ohio in 1818, and, in 1820, married Julia Ann Burns, who emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1813, and located on the present site of Pleasant Hill ; she died May 9, 1872, esteemed by all who knew her, a Christian woman, true and noble-hearted ; they had four sons and six daughters, one daughter, Polly, dymg when a small child, in 1823, and one son and two daughters within a month, in 1850 ; the rest still survive, useful members of society. Mr. and Mrs. Inman became members of the Hopewell Christian Church of Pleasant Hill in 1820, and remained faithful members and exemplary Christians till their death ; George was ordained an Elder in the church in 1822, and earnestly and faithfully discharged its duties till 1859, when he was ordained a minister, which position he filled till death ; during his ministry he preached over 6,000 sermons ; as a minister, he possessed many natural gifts ; eloquent m his address, gifted with a musical voice, pungent and bold in his remarks, forcible in his arguments, and winning m delivery, he was eminently efficient in his ministerial work ; in 1822, he purchased a farm, consisting of 102i acres in Sec. 24, Newton Township, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring Jan. 15, 1880, in his 82d year ; as an early and earnest supporter of the Abolition cause, an advocate of the free-school system, an ardent temperance worker, and a man-of benevolence, he will long be remembered. HARVEY JONES, farther ; P. 0. Laura ; one of the early settlers ; born in 1823 in Union Township ; is a son of Jesse Jones, one of the pioneers, who was born in 'Georgia April 15, 1794 ; he is the son of Samuel and grandson of Francis Jones, of North Carolina. Samuel raised eleven children, all of whom became heads of families, Jesse bemg the only surviving member. In 1805, Samuel, with his family, came to Ohio, locating north of West Milton, where he died at 84 years of age ; his wife died at the age of 88 years. Jesse came to Ohio when 11 years old ; his early life was that of a pioneer, and he has always been a farmer ; married three times ; his first wife, Jane Cothran was from South Carolina; his second, Naomi (Tucker) Jones, was a native of Tennessee ; his third wife, Betsy (Hayworth) Davis, was born June 13, 1800, in South Carolina ; her parents came to this county in 1806, and located in this township. Harvey remained with his father until 21 years of age, after which he farmed the homestead one year, then purchased his present place,' and erected a log house, which is now supplanted by a fine residence upon his well-cultivated farm, brought to this condition by his own hard labor. His first wife, Rachel Hunt, was a daughter of Elijah Hunt, an early pioneer. She was a consistent Christian, and died in October, 1869. Of their nine children, six survive. His second wife, Mrs. Mary (Thompson) Richardson, was a native of Darke Co., and the widow of Josiah Richardson, who enlisted in the 69th 0. V. I., was fatally wounded near Georgia, taken to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Jones take a deep mterest in the cause of religion, both being members of the Christian Church at Laura. GEORGE KAUFFMAN, deceased; was born in York Co., Penn., Nov. 13, 1821. His father, Peter Kauffman, and Elizabeth Hefflebauer, his mother, were NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 777 both natives of Pennsylvania. Peter Kauffman followed the pursuit of agricu ture ; in 1830, he immigrated with his family to Ohio, and located on a farm i Montgomery Co., four miles north of Dayton, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring September, 1872. He had a family of eight children, only three of whom survive. Mrs. Kauffman died some thirteen or fourtee years ago. The subject of this sketch was the sixth child of the family, and wt reared a farmer ; he remained at home with his father till about twelve years ago when he purchased three farms in this township, and on one of them moved ; th is located in Sec. 3, Range 4. His death was caused by an accident. He was occupied in hauling his sugar cane to the factory ; the barrel upon which he wt sitting tilted, throwing him between the horses, frightening them so that they ran dragging him with them, and injuring him so severely that he died the next day Mr. Kauffman was a man of many sterling qualities ; he was industrious an enterprising, and in business transactions was strictly honest. His death remove from the community a good citizen and a Christian gentleman. He was a member of the Christian Church. He was married in 1872 to Rebecca M. Brown, Frederick Co., Md., who was born in 1847, and came to this county in 1868, loca ing near Troy. They had a family of one son and three daughters. S. W. KIESTER, physician, Pleasant Hill ; one of the prominent physician of Miami Co.; was born in Newton Township in 1842 ; he is of English and Ge man descent. Peter K., his father, was born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio in the fall of 1840, locating near Pleasant Hill, in the vicinity of which 1 passed the rest of his days. He was united in marriage, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Mary Bashore, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kiester's death occurred Aug. 24, 1876, aged 59 years 9 months and 7 days ; he is buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, and over his grave has been reared a large, beautiful and imposing monument of marble, commemorative of his life and death. Dr. Kiester's early life was -Girt of a farmer boy ; at the age of 17, he entered the National Normal Institute of Lebanon, and spent several subsequent summers as a student there, his wing months being devoted to teaching ; at the age of 21, he turned his attention to the study of medicine, and entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia graduating at the age of 25 ; he located at Laura, in this county, and began tit practice ; after seven years of successful work, he sold out, and purchased the Tart farm on which he now resides, thinking to retire from the profession ; but by request of his brother, he went with him to Arcanum, where he spent two years in practice and then removed to his large farm in 1877 ; since then he has been engaged i managing and discharging the duties of his profession ; his life is a fair illustration of what energy and correct business habits can accomplish. His nuptials were eel brated with Miss Sophia Williams Oct. 6, 1867 ; she is a great-granddaughter Michael Williams, the first settler on the banks of the Stillwater, and granddaughter the Rev. John Williams, the pioneer preacher of the Upper Stillwater. One child Pearl, was given to them Sept. 14, 1874. JOSEPH KINZIE, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Union Township ship, m this county, in 1841 ; he is the third child of Zaccheus and Elizabeth (Albaugh) Kinzie. Zaccheus was born in Maryland, his ancestry coming fro Germany. He came to this country with his parents when about 21 years old, are located in Montgomery Co. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a fan and his early training was that of a farmer, which has served him well throng life ; his early education was limited to the common school ; he made his first new from the homestead in Union Township ; in the spring of 1868, he took a trip West and was gone till the spring of 1870, when he returned to his native township ; he he remained till the spring of 1873, when he went to Indiana ; from there, in tl following spring, to Missouri, returning in the fall to his native place again ; in tl spring of 1876, he came to his present place, which he purchased and has since successfully operated. Mr. Kinzie is a young man of enterprise and industry, and useful member of society. He identifies himself with the Republican party. E was married in 1864 to Lavinia Bowfin, of Pennsylvania ; she came to this county 778 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : in the spring of 1863. A son and daughter, Emma C. and Theodore, have been the issue of this union. CONRAD KRIEGBAUM, farmer and blacksmith, Laura; be was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; in December, 1834 ; he is the son of George P. Kriegbaum, who was torn in 1800. He married Margaret Geotz in 1823 ; she was born in 1801, and died about four years ago ; Mr. K. is still living at the advanced age of 80 years ; he reared a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, all living but one, and eight immigrated to this country and located in Ohio ; our subject was the youngest son and was reared on a farm ; he remained at home until he attained the age of 17, when he concluded to try his fortune in America ; he embarked at Havre, France, and after a pleasant voyage of forty-six days, landed in New York City ; from here he came direct to Springfield, Ohio, near where he located and began farming ; the following spring he came to West Milton, this county, and entered an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade ; after serving three years, he worked as a journeyman until 1862, when he set up shop in Covington ; he operated this until 1871, when he traded his residence for a farm on Panther Creek, in this township ; this he sold in October, 1877, and purchased where he now resides ; he combines with his farming blacksmithing. In the spring of 1862, he was married to Miss Susanna Smith, who was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Ohio ; they have two children----Anna R. and Martha, E. ; Mr. K. is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Mrs. K. of the Shiloh Christian Church of this township. MORGAN LEONARD, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Juniata Co., Penn., in 1848. He is the son of Reuben and Elizabeth (Ayergood) Leonard, both of Pennsylvania ; Reuben is a farmer by occupation, and still lives in his native State. He had a family of eight sons and two daughters, one daughter died. The snbject of this memoir was raised on a farm and educated in the common school; he remained at home occupied with farm duties till he immigrated to this State in the fall of 1863 ; he located in Covmgton, and shortly found his way into the U. S. service, as a member of the 8th 0. V. C.; he went first to Camp Dennison, and from there to West Charleston, W. Va., where he had his first experience in war ; he next engaged in the battle of Louisburg, Gen. Averill commanding ; was at Staunton, Liberty, Lynchburg, at Hunter's defeat, again at Liberty and at Beverly, at which place he was severely wounded in the left thigh, which disabled him from further active duty ; he was then placed in the hospital for a time at Beverly, and then at Grafton ; he was discharged June 3, 1865, having served over one year; he returned to this county in the fall of 1868, and moved to his present place, where he has since engaged in farming. In politics, he is a Republican. He was married in 1864 to Matilda Varner, daughter of Daniel G. and Elizabeth (Lecmgton) Varner. She was born Jan. 12, 1847, and came to this county with her father in 1858 ; he is a silversmith, and carries on business at Covington ; her mother died when she was only about 1 year old. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard have had six sons and three daughters-two sons and one daughter are dead. DAVID, LONG, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; born in this township in 1845 ; is the son of James and Esther (Eller) Long, the former of Newton, and the latter of Newberry Township. James was born in 1815, and is the son of William Long, of Kentucky. His father, William, Sr., settled one-half section of land, near the present site of Pleasant Hill, in 1807 or 1808. Of his family of four sons and three daughters, whom he brought to this county with him, William was the second child ; he located on Sec. 17, where his death occurred in April, 1862, at the age of 81 years. He married Catherine Freeman, and had four sons and seven daughters-two sons now survive. James married in the fall of 1839, and moved at once to his present place. He had four sons and seven daughters-one son, Henry, was a member of the 110th 0. V. I., and was mortally wounded in the battle of Winchester. David, our subject, was reared and schooled in this township, being brought up on the farm ; he remained at home till majority. In 1869, he located on Sec. 7, and subsequently on Greenville Creek, and m 1872, moved to NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 779 his present place. He and wife are members of the German Baptist Church. He married November, 1868, Sarah, daughter of John S. Deeter, who was born within sight of her present home. Of the two sons and one daughter born to this union, the two sons have died. GEORGE LOUDENSLAYER, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; born in Pennsylvania in 1.833 ; is the son of John L. and Susan (Dishon) Loudenslayer, both of Pennsylvania ; his grandfathers were natives of Germany ; John L. was a shoemaker by trade ; he died in 1835, leaving two daughters and one son ; Mrs. L. afterward emigrated to Ohio, where her death occurred in 1861. The subject of this sketch was not 3 years old when his father died, and at the age of 7 years was bound out for his board and clothes ; at the age of 15 he began working for wages during the summer, and attending school during the winter months ; at 18, he apprenticed himself to the carpenter trade, which he followed two years ; he then immigrated to this county, locating in Monroe Township ; he remained here till 1864, when he removed to Moses boner's farm, two and a half miles southwest of Milton ; at the end of four years, he purchased his present place of 80 acres, now under the best of improvements. As a farmer, he is a success ; as a member of society, he is pleasant and affable. His religious views find expression in the Brethren in Christ Church, of which he and his wife are members. Married in June, 1857, to Elizabeth Hullacher, of Montgomery Co., born March, 1837, her father coming originally from Pennsylvania ; of their nine children, three are deceased. SAMPSON A. MARSHALL, farmer P. 0. Laura ; born in this county in 1834, of English descent ; his father, William, and mother, Charity Wright, were from South Carolina, the latter born June 11, 1801 ; they made the journey of 700 miles, to Ohio, in a wagon, with four sons ; he first located on the Stillwater, but died at his home in Darke Co., Nov. 10, 1837, leaving ten children-John, born March 25, 1818, died Jan. 9, 1854 ; William, born Sept. 5, 1819 ; Thomas. born Feb. 25, 1822, died in 1871 ; Ahab, born Oct. 7, 1825, died June 18, 1851 ; Sarah, born June 15, 1828 ; Jane, born July 6, 1830 ; Mary and Rachel, twins, born Nov. 15, 1832-the former died Sept. 20, 1854, the latter, June 20, 1853 ; Sampson, born Oct. 7, 1834, and Charity, born Aug. 14, 1836, died Dec. 18, 1857. Sampson A. learned the carpenter trade, and continued the business until 1857, since which time he has followed farming ; he cleared a farm of 32 acres in Darke Co., and in 1878 came to his present place. Aug. 19, 1857, married Mary, daughter of Samuel and Amelia (Hall) Rhodehamel ; Samuel was born in Pennsylvania May 3, 1803 ; his father, John R., was born in Saxony, and his mother, Maria Miller, in Breisen ; they came to the United States in 1800, locating in Penn- sylvania ; in 1804, to Montgomery Co., Ohio, and in 1820 to Union Township, where John It. died, aged 76, and Maria at 90 years. Of twelve children, two survive ; Samuel was raised to farm labor, obtaining a limited education; except a short interval, he has lived upon his present place since 1826. May 11, 1822, he married Amelia Hall, her father, Amos, being an early settler ; she died July 15, 1878 ; their children were-Orel, born June 13, 1858 ; Sarah E. born April 14, 1861 ; John H., born Sept. 25, 1863 ; Jane, born Dec. 23, 1865 ; William, born May 4, 1868 ; Frank A., born Feb. 25, 1875, and Omer, born Oct. 8, 1877. Samuel R. has been a member of the Christian Church for forty years ; of his ten children, three now survive. WILLIAM MILES, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born Nov. 7, 1807, in this township; he is the son of Jonathan Miles, who was born in South Carolina, and married Miss Mary Pearson ; early in the beginning of the present century, he fell in with the tide of immigration which was flowing into Ohio, from the Southern States. Accompanied by his family and parents, Mr. Miles traveled until he reached the present township of Newton, where he located, on Sec. 31 ; his father, William, settled in the same township, where his death occurred soon after. Jonathan reared a family of nine children ; he lived to the advanced age of 90 years, when he was gathered to his fathers ; his wife preceded him some fifteen years ; for fifteen years before her death, she was an invalid, caused by a paralytic stroke. Our 780 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: snbject's entire life has been given to farming. He was married to Miss Sarah Coate in April, 1829 ; rue was a daughter of Samuel Coate, and granddaughter of Marmaduke; Samuel Coate died at the residence of our subject in February, 1867, at the age of nearly 97 years. After the marriage of William M., he moved to his present place of residence, where he has lived for one-half century ; when he located on his place, it was a dense forest ; by hard labor, and perseverance, he has brought it to a high state of cultivation. April 28, 1879, he was called upon to mourn the death of his devoted wife, Sarah. A life member of the Friends' Church, she died leaving an enduring monument of good works behind her. Mr. and Mrs. Miles had a family of twelve children-James, Mary J., Ellwood T., Abijah J., Enoch, (deceased), Wade, Samuel P., John E., Jonathan R., Henry W., Margaret and Phebe. This family contributed four sons to the late civil war. Ellwood and Samuel enlisted in the 5th 0. V. C., and were identified with the Army of the Cumberland, and participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. At the expiration of their three years' term, Samuel returned home, and Ellwood re-enlisted, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. Abijah, was Assistant Surgeon of the 48th 0. V. I. for about one year ; previous to his enlistment he had taken a course of medical lectures ; after returning from the army he graduated from the Miami Medical College, then located in Madison Co. and began practice ; in the spring of 1866, he was appointed to a professorship in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, which position he still holds • in the summer of 1875, he made a voy- age to Europe ; while in France he was called upon to mourn the death of his wife ; since his return he has been located in Cincinnati. Henry enlisted in August, 1862, in the noted 110th 0. V. I., and participated in eighteen battles ; was taken prisoner at the battle of Winchester, and was confined for a time in Libby and Belle Isle Prisons ; was paroled and soon after exchanged and returned to his regiment ; remained in the service till he was mustered out with his regiment June 25, 1865, at Washington City ; he then returned home and has since been operating the homestead farm. He was united in marriage, in 1872, to Miss Laurena Coate. They have one child, a son. ALEXANDER C. MILES, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born Dec. 3, 1844, near his present home. His father, S. Y. Miles, was born in 1824 in this township, where he passed fifty-nine years of his life, and was a son of Jonathan Miles, a native of South Carolina, who immigrated to this country in 1807 or 1808, and located on Sec. 31. He was married first to Miss Pearson, and in 1843 to Hester Cothran; they had a family of five children, of whom A. C. is the oldest. He remained at home, assisting in the duties of the farm, till he was 19 years old, when he enlisted in the late civil war as a member of the 1st 0. V. C. This was in February, 1864, and he was sent direct to the front at Nashville, Tenn., participated in part of Atlanta campaign, then went to Louisville, Ky. ; was re-mounted, and returned South into Georgia and Alabama ; here engaged at Selma and Columbia. He was stationed at Darlington, and from this place returned home via Hilton Head and New York City, and was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 29, 1865. He engaged at once with his father. He has been twice married, first to Eunice Coppock, Nov. 26, 1868 ; she died in 1870. His second marriage was with Sarah (Muck) Coppock, June 5, 1873 ; they have three daughters. Mr. Miles is a worthy member of the A., F. & A. M., of Pleasant Hill. DAVID MILLER, farmer; P. 0. Covington ; was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1817. His father, Henry Miller, and his mother, Ann E. Klein, were both natives of Pennsylvania; they reared a family of fourteen children, nine sons and five daughters. Henry Miller gave his attention chiefly to farming, and followed it till his death, which occurred in Cumberland Co., Penn., at the age of 77 years. A. E. Klein, his second wife, died at the age of 66 years. The subject of this sketch was next to the youngest of the family. His life has been that of a farmer. He passed the first ten years of it in the place of his nativity, when he was taken-with his parents to Cumberland Co. Here he remained, assisting his father in the duties of the farm, till he was 23 years old. He then embarked in life on his own NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 781 resources, operating a farm in same county for about nine years. In the spring of 1850, he concluded to make his home in Ohio. That he has made farming a success is evidenced by his large farm and fine buildings. He has been a faithful member of the German Baptist Church for about thirty-three years. His first marriage was in 1840, with Martha Kauffman, of York Co., Penn., with whom he lived about two and a half years, when her death occurred. A son and daughter were born to this union. His second marriage was with Nancy Nussleman, of Lancaster Co., Penn., who died in 1868, leaving four sons and one daughter. His third marriage was with Anna Eller, a native of this county ; they have no children. D. E. MINNICH, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born on the farm on which he now resides in 1846, and is the son of George E. Minnich, a native of Pennsylvania ; he was born May 17, 1816, in Lancaster Co. ; he was brought to this county by his parents when he was 10 or 12 years old ; here he passed his boyhood and youth ; after making several changes, he finally located on the place where the subject of this sketch now lives ; he remained here till 1872, when he disposed of his farm, and, after moving several times, located near Union City, in Parke Co.; here his death occurred in May, 1877. He was married twice, first June 14, 1837, to Esther Brant, of Pennsylvania ; five sons and two daughters were born to them. Margaret Casper was his second wife, by whom he had a family of four sons and three daughters ; of the fourteen children four are now dead. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm, and his early education was limited to the common school. In 1868, he married Rebecca, daughter of H. Reiber ; of their seven chil- dren' six survive ; in 1872, he purchased the old homestead of 80 acres, where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Minnich are members of the German Baptist Church, of which he is a Deacon. DAVID MINNICH, retired farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Franklin Co., Penn., in 1829, and was only 4 years old when he was brought to this State by his parents ; he is of German extraction, and the son of George Minnich, a native of Pennsylvania, who, in 1833, immigrated to this State and settled in Montgomery Co., Ohio ; a few years later he removed to this county, but at his death, which occurred when he was about 60 years of age, he was- living in Franklin Township, Darke Co. He celebrated his marriage in Pennsylvania with Miss Nancy Shoemaker ; she survived her husband a few years, her death occurring about eighteen years ago. The boyhood of our subject was passed upon the farm till 18 years of age, when he came to this village in 1847, and embarked in the blacksmith business, which he carried on for twenty-five years ; his health then be coming impaired, he abandoned the business and engaged in farming ; this he continued till about one year ago, since when he has been living a life retired from active business ; Mr. M. has no penchant for political office, but has been elected for fourteen years in succession to the office of Township Trustee, an evidence of his business sagacity and fidelity to his trust. His marriage with Miss Melinda Deeter, was celebrated in the fall of 1850 ; she is a native of this township, and a descendant of early settlers ; they had six children, four have died ; the living are Christina, married to 0. P. Jay, and William. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the German Baptist Church, and are living exemplary lives. ADAM MINNICH, farmer ; P. 0. Covington; born in Parke Co., Ohio, in 1835 ; is the son of George and Mary (Deeter) Minnich. George was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1807, his early life was passed upon a farm ; at the age of 18, he learned the art of tanning, which he followed three years in his native State. In the spring of 1829, he came to Ohio and settled on Wolf Creek, in Montgomery Co., and in 1830 or 1831, he removed to this county, locating in Newberry Township ; and in 1833, he moved to Darke Co., but returned to this county in 1838, locating in Newton Township, on Sec. 5, where he has since resided. He was married in 1830 to Mary Deeter, daughter of Abraham Deeter ; she was born m Montgomery Co., in 1813 ; Abraham was a native of Pennsylvania ; he was married in his native State, but emigrated to this State in 1805 ; he lived for a time in Montgomery Co., but, in 1813, moved to this county and located in Newton Township. 782 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : He died in 1850, at the age of 70 ; his wife died in 1859, 72 years of age. Of their ten children, six still survive. The parents were consistent members of the German Baptist Church for nearly half a century. Adam now lives upon the old homestead. He married Lydia Ganby in 1854 ; of their seven children, two sons are dead, one being accidentally shot at 4 years of age, the ball passing through his head. Abraham Deeter arrived in Montgomery Co. in November, and unloaded under a large oak, with $1 in cash to carry him though the winter ; he afterward became one of our wealthy farmers. SAMUEL MOHLER, minister, Covington ; one of the early settlers of Newton Township ; was born in Juniata Co., Penn., May 8, 1808, his father, Jacob, being a native of Lancaster Co., Penn. Jacob was a farmer and wagon-maker. He married Mary Bollinger, and by her reared four sons and two daughters, five of whom still survive. Jacob died at the age of 62, in his native State ; his wife then emigrated to this State, where her death occurred in 1854, upward of 72 years old. Samuel is the fourth child of the family ; his early life was passed on a farm, where he acquired the art of farming. At the age of 18 he began the tanning business and followed it over twenty years. Sept. 14, 1829, he took a journey to the "Far West," which was then Ohio ; after a journey of twenty-two and one-half days he landed at Dayton, Ohio, whence he journeyed up the Stillwater to his present place, which he purchased, consisting of 49 acres, in Sec. 5. Here he has lived ever since, a period of half a century ; smce his location here, he, by industry and economy, added a large farm to his first purchase, which he has recently disposed of ; upon locating here he erected a tannery, which he successfully operated for wenty years ; on his farm is a fine spring of living water, and an extensive limestone quarry. Mr. M. identified himself with the German Baptist Church over half a century ago, and has been an earnest worker and faithful member ever since. He has. served in the capacity of minister in the above church for twenty years, and for the last ten years as Presiding Elder, at present superintending four districts. He is a man of many sterling qualities, a useful and much-respected citizen. He married Catharine Saylor, of Pennsylvania, May 8, 1828, and by her has reared six sons and four daughters. One son, Rudolph, died Jan. 15, 1866, leaving a wife and one child, Anna. Six children have located in vicinity of the homestead, and three in Missouri. HENRY MOHLER, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1829 ; is the son of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Miller) Mohler, she de ceased ; he has followed the vocation of farmer through life ; he remained at home assisting his father in the duties of the farm till he grew up to maturity ; he made his first permanent location on his present place about twenty-six years ago, having operated a saw-mill on Stillwater about two years prior to this ; his large homestead, with its fine improvements, bears testimony of his industry, enterprise and skill as a farmer ; he was only 13 years old when he came to this county with his parents ; he finds his religious creed in the German Baptist Church, of which he and his wife are faithful members. He was married, in 1E452, to Anna Deeter, daughter of Abraham and granddaughter of David Deeter, a pioneer of this county ; eight children—six sons and two daughters—have been the issue of this union; son and daughter died when quite small. WILLIAM MORRIN, farmer ; P. 0. Troy ; another of the prominent farmers of Newton Township ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., in May, 1815, and emigrated to this State with his parents in 1821, locating in Washington Township ; he is of Irish and German extraction, his father emigrating from Ireland to Pennsylvania when a young man. Our subject was reared a farmer, which has been his chief occupation throughout life ; his education was received in the public schools of Washington Township. In 1840, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Elizabeth I. Mitchell, a native of this county and a descendant of Kentuckians ; at this period, our subject began life for himself, farming the homestead place ; here he successfully toiled for several years, when he moved to Piqua, his principal object being to educate his two daughters ; he embarked in the grocery business, NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 783 which he continued twelve years, when he moved on a farm near Troy, and three years subsequently purchased the farm on which he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Morrin are the parents of three children, one of whom is dead ; the remaining two daughters have both been married; one is a widow now, living at her father's—the other living in Montana ; Mr. and Mrs. Morrin are consistent members of the Baptist Church of Troy. JACOB MUCK, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; born in Pennsylvania, in August, 1813 ; is the son of Henry Muck, also a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupation he was married twice, and reared a family of ten children. Our subject was raised on a farm, and has made farming his chief occupation through life. In 1840, he immigrated to Ohio and located in Montgomery Co. ; from here he moved to Franklin Township, Darke Co., locating on Painter's Creek. At the end of five years, he moved to Newton Township, m this county, which has since been his place of abode. Eleven years ago last June, he purchased his of present place. For fifteen years, during the thrashing season, he has been running a thrashing machme. He celebrated his marriage with Miss Christina Smith, a Pennsylvanian, in 1833 ; nine children have been born to them, seven daughters and two sons ; a son and daughter have died. In politics, Mr. M. is a Republican ; and with his wife holds his connection with the Shiloh Christian Church. DAVID MYERS, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; born m Juniata Co., Penn., in 1824 ; is the son of Michael Myers, also a native of Pennsylvania ; he was married to Elizabeth Neman, and had a family of ten children, two dying in infancy. Mr. Myers died at the age of 44, when our subject was about 12 years old ; his wife died seven years ago, at the advanced age of 81 years. Michael M. emigrated to Ohio and located in Miami Co., in 1834 ; he first purchased a farm in Newberry Township, and soon after in Newton, at which latter place his death occurred. Our subject has made farming his occupation. After the death of his father, he lived from home about one year, when he and his brother took the homestead place and operated it till his marriage. This latter event he celebrated with Belinda Williamson in 1840; she was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, and died in 1876, having had two children, one of whom died in infancy. Mr. Myers celebrated his second marriage in 1877, with Catherine Wackier, a native of York State ; she came to this county With. her parents when quite small, and located m Newberry Township. One child, Agola Mabel, has been born to this union. Mr. Myers is a member of the Christian Church of Covington, and Mrs. M. of the Evangelical Lutheran of the same place. H. H. MYERS, dealer in boots and shoes, Pleasant Hill ; one of the enterprising business men of Pleasant Hill ; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn, in 1843 ; he is of German parentage, the son of Michael and Roney Myers, who were both natives of Germany: They emigrated to America early in the present century, and located in Pennsylvania. Michael Myers was born in 1796, and is still living at the advanced age of 84 years, with his mental and physical faculties well preserved. Our subject's early education was limited to the common schools of Pennsylvania ; he early turned his attention to the trade of shoemaker, which has been his vocation through life. Dnring the late civil war, he exchanged the comforts of home for the privations and hardships of the camp and battle-field. He served three years as a member of the 110th 0. V. I., which distinguished itself in many hard-fought, battles. Our subject participated in the battles of Winchester, the Wilderness, the Shenandoah campaigns, siege of Petersburg, and many others ; at this latter place, Mr. Myers received a severe wound on the head, while storming the enemy's works, occasioned by a blow dealt with a gun in the hands of a rebel ; he was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, on the 2d day of July, 1865. After returning home, he resumed shoemaking ; this he has since continued with an interval of four years which time was engaged in farmmg. He now carries a large and well-assorted stock of boots and shoes, and practices integrity in all of his transactions. His marriage was celebrated with Miss Mary E. Jay in 1871. Three children have been born to them. 784 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: WILLIAM M. NORTH, farmer ; P. 0. Laura ; is one of the early pioneers of Newton Township ; he was born in Union Township Feb. 24, 1807, and is the son of John North, a Georgian by birth ; his father, John N., Sr., was born in Virginia, from which State he emigrated to' Georgia ; he was employed as a messenger during the war for American independence, and was frequently in danger from the British troops. He was married to Rachel Nichols, and they lived together for seventy-three years ; Mr. North emigrated to this State in 1805, and located in Miami Co., of which he afterward became a prominent citizen ; he and his wife lived to a ripe old age, he dying at the age of 96 years, and she at the age of 94 years ; he was a nephew of Lord North, of Revolutionary fame. John North, Jr., was born previous to the outbreak of the Revolution. He married Miss Tamar Mendenhall in 1798 ; in 1804, he emigrated to Ohio, locating in Union Township, in this county ; during the war of 1812, he was employed as a teamster; he reared a family of five sons and two daughters-Martha, Delany, Singleton, Wm. M. Layton, Austin and Richard ; all grew up to maturity and reared families ; M., has been Judge of the Court of Franklin Co., Iowa for several years. John N., Jr., in 1810, became the first settler in Twin Township, Darke Co., and kept the first store in Ithaca. Our subject has experienced all the trials and triumphs incident to pioneer life. He was married, Aug. 2, 1830, to Miss Esther Hall, who was born in Union Township in 1810, and was the daughter of Amos and Susan (Coate) Hall, originally from South Carolina ; in November, 1832, Mr. N. purchased the farm on which he now resides, and moved on it. He held the office of Township Trustee for twelve years, and Assessor for one year. He has had a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, four of whom have died ; three of his sons, Amos H., L. M. and W. I., were soldiers in the late civil war ; Amos H. and L. M. were members of the 71st 0. V. I., in the three-years service ; they participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, where L. M. was wounded through the arm, and was subsequently discharged ; Amos H. remained in the service almost three years, but was discharged on account of some trouble with his eyes ; W. I. was a member of the 147th 0. N. G. Mr. North was called to mourn the death of his wife, March 8, 1879. Mr. North merits special mention for the kind, filial care which he rendered to his own and his wife's parents during the latter period of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Hall, the parents of Mrs North, lived to ripe old ages ; Mr. Hall died suddenly, lamented by all who knew him. SAMUEL M. OAKS, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; he was born in Union, Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1833, and is a son of Samuel Oaks, born in Pennsylvania in 1806 ; Samuel was a smith by trade. and when about 6 years old, came to Dayton, Ohio, with his parents, the place then consisting of only a few houses. He married Isabella Hamel, of Pennsylvania, in 1828, by whom he had eight sons and four daughters ; five still survive, as also do the parents at an advanced age. Our subject was inured to farm labor, and has made farming his occupation ; in this he takes a great interest and exhibits great enterprise, the aggregate of his crops attesting his skill and success as a farmer ; in 1858, he moved to this county and located in Concord Township, and, at the end of nine or ten years, he returned to his native county ; some three or four years later, he located on his present place, where he has since resided, and made many improvements ; he is a self-made man ; in early life, thrown upon his own resources, he has, by industry and economy, risen to a position of affluence; socially, he is pleasant and affable, religiously, an earnest Christian, and, with his wife, a member of the Congregational Brethren Church of Pleasant Hill. He married Melinda J. Smith, nee Buley, in 1855 ; she was born in this county in 1837' of his five sons and one daughter, four sons have died, three upon the same day ; Mr. Oaks takes a great interest in educating his children, giving them the best opportunities in this direction ; his daughter, Ella S. Biteman, being a teacher by profession. S. H. OVERCARSH, teacher, Pleasant Hill ; he was born in sight of his present home, in 1856, and is the son of Michael and Martha (Brandon) Overcarsh ; Michael was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1827, and is of German descent, and a NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 785 son of John and Catherine (Hoover) Overcarsh, who had one son and one daughter ; when Michael was 10 or' 12 years old, his parents came to Ohio, locating on his present place, where he has since resided ; his parents both died on the same day, Nov. 9, 1873 ‘, he was born March 14, 1794, and she July 11, 1795. Michael was married April 19, 1853, .to Martha, granddaughter of Anna Brandon, elsewhere noticed in these sketches ; she died Dec. 24, 1878 ; three sons and two daughters were born of this union. Our subject was raised upon a farm and educated in the common school ; he improved his educational opportunities well, and entered the profession of teaching in 1875, which he has since continued during the winter, devoting his summer months to farming ; he is a Republican in politics, and a Protestant in religion, being a member, with his wife, of the Christian Church ; personally, he is pleasant, affable, industrious and enterprising. He was married, in 1878, to Jemima Maier, of this county, daughter of Eberhart and Lucy Maier ; one daughter, Martha, has been the issue of this union. WILLIAM PATTY, physician, Pleasant Hill ; is one of the prominent citizens of Newton Township, born Dec. 30, 1827, in Miami Co., of Welch extraction on the paternal, and English on the maternal side. His ancestry settled in South Carolina in an early day, where his father, Charles Patty, was born, July 21, 1788. He was married to Phebe Pearson, born Aug. 5, 1789. In 1808, they pioneered their way into the Stillwater Valley, locating within the present limits of Newberry Township. When war was declared in 1812, safety required them to retire to the southern part of the county, where they located in the extreme southeast part of Union Township ; after a time he moved to Montgomery Co., and at the end of twenty years, to Newton Township, where his death occurred Sept. 23, 1848 ; his wife died July 24, 1868, at the age of 79. Dr. Patty was raised in Montgomery Co. ; his educational advantages were meager, but well improved, and he entered the profession of teaching at the age of 17, which he continued for four years, in the meantime devoting his leisure time to the study of medicine. In 1853, he attended a course of lectures at the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincinnati ; he then practiced till 1866, with the exception of four years, when he attended another course of lectures, receiving his diploma. He made his first location at Laura, and from there came to his present place in the spring of 1867. As a physician, he has been successful, as a citizen he is sociable and charitable. He married Sarah. J. Dawell, of this county, 'in 1849 ; they have four sons and one daughter ; two sons are dead. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and, with his wife, is a member of the Christian Church. R. M. PEARSON ; P. 0. Troy ; one of the prominent men of this township ; is a son of Joseph Pearson, and now lives in the house in which he was born, April 23, 1832 ; was raised to farming until 18, during which time he obtained a fair education ; he then followed wagon-making at Covington three years, abandoning the same from failing health ; June, 1853, went to Iowa, and in the spring of 1854, went to Ft. Kearney, where he was wounded by a ball passing through his foot ; he then went to Ft. Laramie in a wagon, and during the twelve-days' journey suffered much pain ; the August following, went by ox team to Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., thence by boat to St. Louis, arriving at Iowa in a weak condition, where he met with another accident, and, returning to Ohio, recovered his health under the skill of Dr. Cable, of Covington ; from 1855 to 1857 he worked at carpentering, etc., in Iowa; he then made a trip of 170 days across the plains to California, via the beautiful Thousand Spring Valley, during which they had frequent encounters with the Indians ; he located in Bent Co., and unsuccessfully followed mining seven years, during this time he often assisted to defend the settlers from the Indians ; he has a vivid recollection of the great earthquake in Colorado, March 5, 1864 ; he also worked six months in a quartz-mill in Plum Co. ; from there went to Portland, Ore., landing with 25 cents in his pocket ; from here went up the Columbia River to Dalles City, where they packed their horses with supplies and made the trip of 400 miles to Boice Basin, Idaho, on foot, suffering much from snow and rain; here he commenced work April, 1864, in the mines ; after a few days labor, he was taken 786 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : with the measles, and R... Lwelve days lay in shelter made by shoveling away the deep snow, during which time his doctor's two trips per day w.d $16 each ; he was then taken to town on a mule, but did not recover sufficiently to labor until th3 next July, when he became „night manager of the mines for four and a half months at $210 per month ; the following spring, he bought a claim and worked until the fall of 1867, when he sold out and quit mining, having suffered the hardships of a miner's life for ten years ; he then returned home via Portland, San Francisco, Central America and New York ; he followed the saw-mill and lumber business seven years, but has since been occupied in farming ; is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Franklin Chapter, R., A. M. and Coleman Commandery, No. 17, Troy, A., of which he is a standard bearer. Married Jane McCurdy Sept. 3, 1868 ; they have four children—Lydia J., born Sept. 19, 1869 ; Ida May, Dec. 21, 1870 ; Eliza D., Feb. 23, 1873 ; William H. H., Oct. 11, 1875. HORATIO PEARSON, teacher, Pleasant Hill ; born in Union Township Sept. 15, 1836 ; he is a son of Isaac P. and Mary Pemberton, both of Union Township. Robert Pearson, his grandfather, was a native of Newberry District, S. C., and emigrated to Ohio about 1806, locating in Union Township ; he had five sons and four daughters ; three sons and three daughters still survive, the youngest being 60 years old. He was married to Keziah Hollingsworth, of South Carolina, and was a farmer by occupation, as were all his sons. Isaac was located in the vicinity of the homestead till 1846, when he pre-empted a piece of land in Howard Co., Ind., on which he moved. Here in a few years he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, Mary, who died, leaving a family of four sons and two daughters ; Mr. P. then returned to his native place, where his family 'were reared. He still survives, making his permanent home in Indiana. Our subject is the oldest of the family, and the scenes of his boyhood and youth were passed upon the farm, engaging in such duties as fall to the lot of a farmer boy ; his educational opportunities were limited to the common school, except a short time spent in the Ohio Wesleyan University, of Delaware, Ohio ; thus he was left to take, the slower but surer route to a thorough education, that of self-culture. By close application to his books, he early qualified himself for the profession of teaching. At the age of 17, he engaged in the carpenter trade, which art he acquired, and has since worked at at intervals ; he commenced teaching at the age of 19, which has since been his principal occupation. In the fall of 1875, he took charge of the Pleasant Hill school, and has since superintended it with eminent success. He was recently employed for three years by the Board of Education, a mark of his excellence as a teacher ; previous to taking this school, he superintended with satisfaction the Georgetown school. Mr. P. is a Republican in politics. He married, Dec. 10, 1857, Mary P., daughter of Elijah, and a direct descendant of Marmaduke Coate ; four sons and four daughters have been the issue of this union ; one son died in 1874, at the age of 15. EPHRAIM PEARSON, farmer ; P. O. Covington; in this township in August, 1834 ; is the son of Wilkinson Pearson and. Eeanor Leavell, the former of. South Carolina, and the latter of this township ; Wilkinson Pearson is the son of Benjamin Pearson, who immigrated to Ohio in 1805 ; in the fall of 1806, he came to this township, settling on the banks of the Stillwater ; here Wilkinson passed his youth in the wilderness ; he lived in this township until after the close of the war, when he moved to Newberry Township, where he still resides. He was married to Eleanor Leavell, daughter of Robert Leavell, a pioneer ; they had nine children, six deceased ; four of the sons were in the late civil war—two (Richard and Job) as members of the 110th O. V. I. ; Job was shot at the battle of Cold Harbor ; Richard was wounded five times during his term of service ; James C. and the sirlect of this sketch were members of the 147th O. N. G. Ephraim was brought up oil a farm and received his early education in the common school ; he made his first permanent move from his birthplace to his present place in 1856 ; here he has since resided, operating his farm, consisting of 140 acres ; it is under the best of modern improvement, and everything indicates thrift, industry and en- NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 787 terprise ; Mr. Pearson has been a member of the Republican party since its organ ization ; he has been elected three times to the position of Township Trustee : testimony of the confidence and esteem he has won of the people ; he and his wife are consistent members of the Christian Church. Mr. Pearson was married, in 1854, to Nancy Caldwell, a native of this township and a daughter of James Cald well ; four children—three sons and one daughter—have been the issue of thi! union. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are active members of the Patrons of Husbandry and were charter members of the Covington Lodge, No. 96. JEREMIAH PEARSON, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; was born in this town ship in 1840 ; his ancestors came from South Carolina, and were early pioneers o this county ; his father, Elisha P., was born in Newberry District, S. C., about 1804 and was brought to this county by his parents when an infant ; they located nes,' Tippecanoe, in Monroe Township ; quite early, he moved to this township am entered the southwest quarter of Sec. 3, Range 4 ; he passed the latter part of hi life with his son Jeremiah, his death occurring about two years ago. He was mar ried to Julia Ann Van Horn, of this county • she was born in 1816, her fathe dying when she was but a child ; she was reared by Enoch Pearson, of Monrot Township, and still survives. Elisha P. had a family of four sons and two daugh ters, a son and daughter of whom have died. The subject of this sketch is nex to the oldest child ; his early life was passed upon the farm, and his early educatioi was much limited ; he has followed farming as his life pursuit ; he moved to hi present place, consisting of 82 acres, about three years ago. His political view are found in the Democratic party. He has been twice married ; first, in 1863, t Mary, daughter of Miles Coats ; she died about eleven years ago, leaving two sons he was married the second time, to Marietta Shephard ; they have had five children one deceased. A. J. PENNY, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; a descendant of the early pioneer of this county ; born in Darke Co., Ohio, April 3, 1840, and is the son of Dennis Penny, of Kentucky. He emigrated to this State when quite a boy. He marrie( Mrs. Condon, formerly Miss Michael. She is a native of Hamilton Co., Ohio., am daughter of William Michael, who lived to the age of 101 years. He was also a: early settler on the Miami. After the marriage of Mr. P. he settled in Darke Co and reared eight children, of whom five are living. We find this family full of th true spirit of patriotism, and, when the country demanded soldiers for her protection the father and five sons were quick to respond. Mr. P. enlisted in Co. E, 48t1 O. V. I., and died at Pittsburg Landing, with a fever contracted while in th service. Two of his sons, Jason H. and our subject, were in the 48th O. V. I. Jason served a term of three years, and participated in twenty-six battles. Anothe son, Oliver, was a member of the 44th O. V. I., and was shot dead from his hors in the battle of Louisburg, Va. ; Steven Condon, a step-son, was a member of th 94th O. V. I., and was severely wounded ; John Condon, another step-son, serve in the 152d O. N. G. After the battle of Pittsburg Landing, our subject wa stationed most of the time at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received a commission t recruit a battery of heavy artillery for the Adjutant General of Kentucky. After recruiting 100 men, they were organized into a company of cavalry, serving period of three years and three months. He was honorably discharged, an returned home. Since then, he has been variously employed, at shoemaking selling sewing machines, dry-goods, and a short time as an agent in a lightning rod company. Jan. 18, 1880, he purchased the farm where he now lives, ani has since been engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Margaret Weddle Oct. 11, 1863. She is the youngest child of Isaac Weddle, one of the early settler in this township ; they have six children. Mr. P. is a charter member of the We Milton Encampment, No. 127, and a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 165, Stillwater Lodge. Politically, he is a Republican. ISAAC PRICE, minister and farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; born in Mifflin Co., Penn., in 1836 ; is the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Price, of Pennsylvania, th former of Mifflin, and the latter of Juniata Co. ; Isaac P., Sr., passed his entire 788 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: life, a period of seventy-three years, in the same house. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm, and thus, from boyhood, acquired a knowledge of farming, which he has followed through life, and with eminent success, as the fact that he now possesses a large, fine farm, under the best of improvements, bears ample testimony ; his early education was limited to the common school ; in the spring of 1861, he immigrated to this State and located in Newton Township ; he soon engaged himself to Mr. Fox as a farm laborer ; in the following fall, he purchased of Mr. Fox 731 acres of land, a part of the tract which he now owns ; he has added to this 100 acres, by his industry and good management. Mr. Price is a minister in the German Baptist Church, whose official duties he has discharged for nine years, with fidelity to his church and commendable zeal in the cause of Christianity ; Mr. Price is a good worker in the cause of religion, using his talent to good account for the Master's service ; personally, he is a gentleman, honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow-man. He was married in January, 1862, to Mary J. Fox, a native of Montgomery Co.; she is the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Fox, the former a native of Maryland, whence he emigrated to this State ; he and wife still survive, and live near Covington. They have three daughters and two. sons. JOHN REED, farmer; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born May 12, 1818, near Pleasant Hill, and is the son of John Reed, of Botetourt Co., Va.; John, Sr., married Elizabeth Miller, of Virginia, and immigrated to Ohio in 1815, locating on Sec. 17 ; soon after coming here, he was killed by a falling limb. Of the family of seven children, our subject is next to the sixth ; his early life was passed in the pioneer times of this township, with the usual experiences of such a life ; he left the parental roof when only 8 years old, and went to live with his sister, Mrs. Jacob Deeter ; here he remained until he was 14 years old, when he was thrown upon his own resources. He was married in 1836 to Catherine, daughter of David Deeter ; she was born in this township May 15, 1818. Mr. R. began life, after his marriage, on the old homestead, and in 1839 purchased his present place, where he has since lived ; he has made farming his chief occupation. Of his family of thirteen children, six are deceased ; three sons, Wm. II., David and Frederick, and four daughters, Elizabeth, Melinda, Christina and Lucinda, still survive. William and David were soldiers in the late civil war ; William enlisted in 1861 in the 1st 0. V. C., and served three years ; he was engaged in all the battles of the regiment up to the time of his discharge. David was in the 71st 0. V. I., and enlisted in 1861, serving four years ; he participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Donelson, Nashville, Franklin, etc., and was sent into Texas, at the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. R. are members of the German Baptist Church ; they are the grandparents of twenty-four children, and great-grandparents of two. JOSEPH REEDER, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; was born in Washington Township, Montgomery in 1827, the 12th day of July; he is the son of William Reeder and grandson of Joseph Reeder. Joseph R. and family emigrated to this State in the beginning of the present century ; they made the voyage down the Ohio River on a flatboat, landing in Cincinnati in 1801, their property consisting of a cow, a horse, and a two-wheeled cart ; with these they took up their journey northward, penetrating the wilderness as far as Montgomery Co., where they located on Sugar Creek ; here he entered a piece of land and built a rude cabin to serve as a temporary dwelling. William Reeder was his only child; birthplace was Virginia, and he was only a boy when his parents settled in ontgomery Co.; he was possessed of great muscular strength, and could perform the remarkable feat of lifting a barrel of cider to his mouth, drinking out of the bung hole ; farming was his exclusive occupation till his 30th year, when he met with an accident which prevented him from active work on the farm ; but being of an ingenious turn of mind he engaged in various pursuits, as shoemaking, blacksmithing, coopering, carpentering, etc., in the meantime managing the farm till our subject grew up. He was married twice and rearea a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters ; his death occurred in 1865. Our subject was the youngest of this NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 789 family ; he early formed habits of industry and good .management, which have served him well through life ; agriculture has been his chief occupation ; in 1852, his father disposed of his land in Montgomery Co., and purchased a farm near West Milton, in this county: To our subject fell the duty of caring for his parents and two grandmothers in•their old age ; his paternal grandmother lived to the remarkable age of 95 years, retaining her mental and physical powers unusually well till her death. Feb. 18, 1855, our subject celebrated his nuptials with Miss Mary Furnas, daughter of Joseph Furnas ; in 1856, he disposed of his farm at West Milton and purchased in Newton Township ; the following year, he made a trip to Kansas, with a view of locating there ; he found the people much agitated over the slave question, and he returned content to remain in his native State ; he has a farm of 250 acres near Newton, and 40 acres where he resides. Mr. and Mrs. Reeder are the parents of three children, one daughter now married, and two sons. Mr. R. is a consistent member of the F, & A. M. Society of Pleasant Hill, and has held a connection with this fraternity for fifteen years. JACOB REIBER, Postmaster, Pleasant Hill ; was born in Perry Co., Penn., Sept. 1, 1836 ; his father, John, was a native of the same county, born May 26, 1811 ; he was raised on a farm and received a fair education ; he was a smith by trade. In the spring of 1837, he moved to Ohio, locating in Newton Township, on Sec. 36, where, with the exception of a short time in Union Township, he passed the remnant of his days. He built several shops in the township, and embarked in farming in 1849, which he continued till his death, April 18, 1872. He was, with his wife, a member of the Christian Church for a number of years, and was Deacon about thirty years. He was married twice, first to Mary Fenical, of Pennsylvania, June 4, 1835 ; she died Feb. 23, 1865 ; they had four sons-Jacob, Peter (now deceased), William F. (died Oct. 22, 1856), Joseph C. and three daughters, Susannah, Margaret I. (who died Oct. 21, 1856), and Sarah J. (who died Oct. 3, 1856). Jacob was raised on a farm till the 5th of October, 1863, when he enlisted in the 110th 0. V. I., Co. G, and participated in the battle of Brandy Station, on 8th of November, and on May 5, 1864, was in the fight of the Wilderness, where he received, almost instantaneously, five shots, breaking both legs, and one ball entering his left shoulder. It was near the last of the month when he was placed in the Armory Square Hospital, at Washington City, where his wounds received the first proper care. He remained here, under the care of Dr. Steward, of Pennsylvania, until Oct. 3, 1864, when he had sufficiently recovered to go home ; some time elapsed before he regained his strength. Since returning, he has been engaged in various pursuits, as book-selling, clerking, photographing, auctioneering, well-drilling, etc. He filled the unexpired term of the first Mayorship, of Pleasant Hill. In 1867, and for two succeeding years, he was elected to the office of Township Clerk ; was appointed Postmaster Jan. 1, 1878, and has since discharged its duties with satisfaction to the public. He is a Republican in politics, and a strong temperance man. With his wife, he is a member of the Christian Church. He was made a Mason in November, 1865, and has filled an official position thirteen years, acting as W. M. two years ; he is also a member of the Franklin Chapter, No. 24, and Franklin Council, No. 16, Troy. He married Maria Williams Aug. 27, 1857 ; she is a daughter of Michael and Jane (Coppock) Williams, and a direct descendant of Michael Williams, Sr. ; their children were as follows : William Sumner, born August, 1860, died May 6, 1864 ; Rosella J. (clerk in post office), Charles C., J. Warren, and Arthur L., who died Aug. 26, 1879, from diphtheria. JOSEPH REIBER, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; born in Newton Township in 1845 ; is the son of Henry Reiber, who was born in Perry Co., Penn., in 1816 ; he is of German extraction, and is the son of Jacob and Catherine Reiber, of York Co., Penn.; he was raised a farmer, and obtained his education under the difficulties and disadvantages of those early days ; his father being in poor circumstances financially, he was obliged early to go from home and labor for a livelihood ; in 1835, he emigrated to Ohio and this township ; he commenced at once to work, and, in a few years, by industry and economy, had saved enough money to 790 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: purchase 80 acres of land; since he has added other acres and many improvements to this. He was married, in 1840, to Delia Hartzell, of Preble Co.; eleven children have been the issue of this Anion, four of whom have deceased ; Philip, Jacob and Benjamin gave their lives in defense of their country in the late rebellion ; Philip and Benjamin were members of the 110th O. V. I.; Benjamin died with the measles, and Philip fell a victim to the Andersonville Prison-pen , Jacob went out with the 147th O. N. G., and died at Washington City, of diphtheria ; thus three noble and brave sons and brothers sacrificed their lives on the altar of their country ; may the grass ever grow green over their graves, and future generations keep inviolate that for which they gave their lives. The subject of this sketch is an agriculturist by vocation ; his education was limited to the common school ; his early farm training has served him well through life, and secured him success in his chosen vocation ; he cultivates the homestead, consisting of 160 acres. He finds expression for his political sentiments in the Republican party. He was married, in 1871, to Elizabeth Matthews, of this county ; they had three daughters and one son, two daughters are dead. EMANUEL BENCH, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; born in 1830 ; is the son of Jacob Bench and Susannah Blickenstaff ; he was reared on a farm, and devoted a great deal of his youth to driving an ox team ; his education was obtained under the difficulties of pioneer life and the imperfect subscription-school system ; at the age of 15, he entered his father's distillery, and remained in it principally till his father sold out in 1848 ; since then, he has devoted his time to farming. He was married, in 1855, to Nancy A. Morgan, born in Illinois, and reared mostly in Burlington, Iowa ; she came to this State a short time before her marriage ; by this union they have had a family of five sons and three daughters, of whom one son and one daughter have died. Mr. Rench's political inclinations are with the Democratic party, though he is no zealous partisan ; he identifies himself with the German Baptist Church, of which he and his wife are both members. T. P. RENCH, farming ; P. O. Covington ; born in 1848, on northwest quarter of Sec. 8, Newton Township ; is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Boggs) Rench ; he was brought up on a farm, and his early education was limited to the common school ; he remained on the homestead till the spring of 1875, when he moved to Darke Co., Patterson Township ; he remained here till the following spring, when he moved to Wayne Township, near Webster ; at the end of two years, he moved to his present place. He is politically identified with the Democratic party, and religiously with the German Baptist Church, as is also his wife. He was married in 1872, Nov. 10, to Rosanna Long ; she was born June 4, 1853, near Pleasant Hill, and is the daughter of James Long and Esther Eller. Two daughters have been given to Mr. and Mrs. Rench ; one was born Dec. 23, 1873, and died in infancy ; the other, Fredonia Bench, was born Feb. 4, 1876. JACOB BENCH, deceased ; one of the early settlers and prominent citizens of Newton Township was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, and was the son of Joseph and Susannah (Deeter) Rench. Joseph emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1812 or 1813, and located north of the present site of Pleasant Hill He and his wife were not long permitted to enjoy their new home in the wilderness, he dying in 1815 with the milk sickness, and his wife the following year. They left a, family of four sons and three daughters, the oldest, Joseph, being yet in his minority ; the family thus left without father or mother suffered all the privations and hardships of pioneer life ; the burden of providing and caring for them fell to the lot of Jacob, who was industrious and possessed of extraordinary business sagacity ; by his indomitable will and perseverance; he rose on the very difficulties he had to contend with, and became, before his death, wealthy, leaving at his demise an estate of $35,000 to $40,000. He was a farmer by occupation, but did a great deal of teaming and milling ; he made a trip to New Orleans in 1825, by flat-boat down the Stillwater, Miami, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers ; his teaming was mostly north, and was done at a time when it was regarded hazardous and difficult ; he was enterprising and possessed many sterling qualities ; integrity was the ruling prin- NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 791 ciple in all his business transactions. Religiously, he was of Protestant faith, having his affiliations first with the Christian Church, and at his death with the German Baptist. His death occurred Aug. 13, 1874. He was married three times ; first, in 1819, to Anna Burns, of Pennsylvania ; she died in 1820, leaving a son, John. His second marriage was in 1826 or 1827 to Susannah Blickenstaff, of Pennsylvania who died in 1832 or 1833, leaving three children, Hannah, Emanuel and Susan. His third wife was Sarah (Boggs) Valentine, of this county ; they had ten children-Mary L., Jacob, T. B., Fredonia, deceased ; Ezekiel B., one daughter died in infancy ; Joseph B.; R. E. C. ; Sarah E., deceased ; Valentine T., deceased. Mrs. Bench had two children by her first marriage, George H. Valentine, and one who died in infancy. Ezekiel Boggs, father of Mrs. Bench, was born in Pennsylvania Nov. 20, 1782 ; he was the only child of the family, and was early apprenticed to the mason's trade ; being cruelly used, he was induced by his uncle to run off, and was brought by him to this State, where he was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade which he followed a short time. He married in 1804 or 1805 Eve C. Haney ; his financial circumstances were meager, as he depended upon his daily labor for subsistence ; he served six months in the war of 1812, on the frontier ; made a trip to New Orleans, by flat-boat, with produce, and then purchased a horse and wagon, embarking in the peddling business with gratifying results ; in 1819, he came to this county, locating near Piqua, and engaged in farming till 1828, when he erected a grist and saw mill and woolen factory above Piqua, on the Miami; he subsequently moved to Piqua, where his death occurred Sept. 22, 1864. He labored through life with eminent success, leaving at his death an estate worth $25,000 or $30,000. His wife, Catherine, was born in Pennsylvania Jan. 29, 1783, and died Feb. 26, 1867. They had six sons and seven daughters ; four still survive. He, with his wife, was a member of the United Brethren Church for forty years. Mrs. Bench united with the German Baptist Church a short time before her death. JACOB RENCH, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; born in 1847, on the northwest quarter of Sec. 8 ; is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Boggs) Rench ; he was reared on the homestead, where he remained, assisting in farming till the spring of 1876, when he moved to his present place ; in 1877,''he removed to Darke Co., Wayne Township, and remained one year; at the end of this time, he returned to his pres- ent place, where he has since resided ; he owns and operates, with his brother, T. P. Bench, a steam thrasher, which they have successfully used for several years. He was married in December, 1872, to Mary E. Faber, a native of Pennsylvania ; she emigrated to the State of Indiana in 1866, and lived near Union City till a short time before her marriage, when she moved to Troy ; one daughter, Sarah Anna, was given them in September, 1879. Mr. R. is a member of the German Baptist Church. JOSEPH ROSZELL, minister and farmer ; P. O. Troy ; born in New. Jersey in 1822 ; is the son of Joseph and Hannah Roszell, natives, also, of New Jersey ; they emigrated to Ohio in 1832, and located near Centerville, in Montgomery Co. ; Mr. R., Sr., was a farmer by occupation ; in the spring of 1842, he moved to Bethel Township, this county, where he passed the remnant of his days, his death occurring April 29, 1851; his devoted wife survived him till Dec. 28, 1869. His early educational opportunities were necessarily limited, but were well improved ; he is the youngest son of a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters ; he remained at home, discharging his filial duties, until the death of his father. The 22d of June, 1851, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Rachel A. Crow, a native of Virginia ; she emigrated to Ohio with her parents in 1835, and settled in the extreme southeast part of Bethel Township, in this county. Mr. and Mrs Crow both died in 1879, he at the ripe age of 87, and she aged 75 years ; they were faithful members of the M. E. Church, and in their death the church lost useful members. Soon after the marriage of Mr. R., he removed to a place near Tippecanoe and engaged in 'farming ; he remained here for a period of twenty-six or twenty-seven years, and, one year ago, moved to the farm on which he now resides. Mr. and 792 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Mrs. R. are the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters; four years ago a son was instantly killed, a horse throwing and falling on him. Mr. R. united with the M. E. Church in January, 1851, and in 1853 was licensed as an exhorter, and in 1861 was ordained a Meal minister in the same church ; the duties of this official relation he discharged faithfully and with commendable zeal ; his wife and four children are members of the church. JOEL ROTHERMEL, shoemaker, Pleasant Hill. Among the business men worthy of special mention in Pleasant Hill, is Joel Rothermel ; he comes of German parentage, and was born in 1833 in Berks Co., Penn. His father, Isaac Rothermel, is also a native of Berks Co., and still resides in his native place at an advanced age. Mrs. Rothermel died when our subject was only 2 years old ; he then found a home with his paternal grandfather, with whom he passed his boyhood days on a farm ; at the age of 16, his father placed him in his shop to learn the shoemaker's trade ; this he continued till 1858, when he emigrated to Ohio, locating in Pleasant Hill ; here he resumed his former occupation, combining with it for the first year the hotel business ; he worked as journeyman with several parties till 1862, when he formed a partnership with M. D. Myers ; three years subsequent, this partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Rothermel has since continued successfully the shop in his own name. He was a soldier in the late civil war, and member of the 147th 0. N. G., which regiMent was employed most of the time on guard duty. In July, 1862, he was appointed Postmaster of Pleasant Hill, which position he held for sixteen years ; he. has also been several times elected Councilman of the village In addition to his trade, he deals in flour and patent medicines. His marriage with Miss Esther Longaneeker was celebrated in Pennsylvania in 1857 ; she is a native of Juniata Co., Penn. They have had three children—one deceased. WILLIAM E. SHELLABERGER, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; born in Juniata Co., Penn., in 1827. Is the son of David and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Shellaberger, both natives of Pennsylvania ; David was a farmer by occupation, and passed his entire life in his native county, his death occurring in 1854,. at the age of 54. He was married to Elizabeth Reynolds, and had eight children, one of whom is dead. His wife, Elizabeth, moved to this State after his death, and married David Shellaberger of Pennsylvania. She died some eight years ago. The subject of this sketch is the third child of her last marriage; he has made agriculture his occupation, and the thrifty appearance of his fine, large farm, his buildings and other improvements, indicate success in this direction ; in 1850, he located in Covington, in this county, but afterward moved to a farm in Newton Township near Pleasant Hill, where he lived two years, then came to his present place, where he has since resided ; he is one of the successful farmers of Newton Township, now operating a farm of 172 acres. He and wife have been consistent members of the German Baptist Church for a number of years. Mr. Shellaberger is a man of industrious habits, and, in all his relations with the world, integrity is his ruling principle. He married, in 1854, Susan, daughter of Rudolph Mohler, and is now living with her at the age of 79 years. They have had eight children —two deceased. Rudolph Mohler was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1801, and is the son of Jacob and Mary Mohler ; at the age of 18, he was apprenticed to the trade of a tanner, which he followed twenty-three years ; in 1842, he emigrated to Ohio, located in Newton Township, this county ; here he resided till 1875, when he went to live with his son, Henry Mohler ; here he remained till about one y ear ago, when he moved to his present place. He has been married twice, first in 1822, to Susanna Bousman, of Pennsylvania. Three children were born to this union. She died June 27, 1827. His second marriage was with Elizabeth Miller, in 1827, by whom he had a family of ten children. He is a member of the German Baptist Church, in which he has held the office of minister since 1832, and that of Elder for about twenty years. Mr. Shellaberger has always been an earnest worker and devoted Christian. NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 793 JOSEPHUS SHOEMAKER, nurseryman and farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; born in Newberry Township in 1843 ; is the son of George S. and Elizabeth (Williams) Shoemaker ; the former was a native of Lancaster Co., Penn., and emigrated to this county with his parents when quite a young man, locating in Newberry Township. Here he lived till recently, when he moved to Delaware Co., Ind. Elizabeth Williams' his wife, was a daughter of Michael W., Jr., and grand- daughter of Michael W., Sr. the first settler in this township. She died before Josephus was 2 years old. This misfortune broke up the home, and he was put out among strangers, where he passed his youth, mostly in farming. His early education was limited to the common school. At the age of 19, he entered life on his own resources. With unyielding energy and unflagging industry, he has made it a success. He served as a soldier in the 147th 0. N. G., and was disabled near Washington City. He then received a furlough, and, in 1864, enlisted in the 194th 0. V. I., and served until the close of the war then lived in Newberry Township one year, with his Uncle Williams. In 1875, he located on Sec. 10, Newton Township, where he now resides, and is extensively engaged in the nursery business ; and, being skilled in his vocation, he now has a stock of 75,000 trees. He is also engaged in tanning bark for budding purposes. Mr. Shoemaker married Nancy Elmore in 1866 ; of their five children, four now survive. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker are members of the German Baptist Church. JOHN SHOEMAKER, farmer ; P. 0. Covington; born in Franklin Co., Penn., in 1829 ; is the son of John and Catherine Shoemaker, both of Pennsylvania. John, Sr., immigrated to Ohio in 1834 or 1835, and located in Montgomery Co., on Mad River, where he soon died, leaving a family of three sons and one daughter. The subject of this sketch was then only about 6 years old. After his father's death, he made his home with a cousin till about 10 years old, when he came to this county, and resided with an uncle who lived here. When 20 years of age, he went to Iowa, and, in the spring of 1850, to California, over the plains. He then began prospecting for gold in the Columbia River. After mining fifteen months he returned, by the Panama route and city of New York, home. He returned with .a neat competence, and, locating in Dayton, engaged in hauling stone for a time, but moved to Iowa and remained one year, when he returned to Newton Township, where he has since lived.. He is a member of the German Baptist Church. Mr. Shoemaker was married Jan. 12, 1854, to Gulaelma Cooper, of Montgomery Co. She died July 13, 1869 ; they had two sons and three daughters ; one soil died in Indiana in August, 1879. JOHN SLOAN ; P. 0. Laura ; born in County Monaghan, Ireland, in 1814 ; is the son of William Sloan ; he was reared on a farm, and his early education was necessarily limited ; in 1840, he embarked on the sail vessel Hibernia for America; and landed in the city of New York Nov. 13 ; from this place he went direct to Lancaster Co., Penn., where he worked awhile to obtain means to continue his journey westward, and send for his family,which he had left in Ireland; from Penn- sylvania, he came to this county and located in Newton Township, on Sec. 26 ; he lived here some time and then purchased the place on which he now resides ; Mr. Sloan may with propriety be called one of the self-made men of Newton Township; when he landed in the city of New York, he had only a penny in his pocket, and this he spent for tobacco ; he worked his way through to Ohio ; once located there, he set about with unflagging industry to establish a permanent and comfortable home ; how well he succeeded in this, his valuable farm attests ; politically, he finds expression for his views with the Republican party, with which he has been identified since he has been a member of any party ; he refrained from taking any part in politics in this country, till he had opportunity and time to consider the principles of the various parties, and then choose for himself ; he was brought up to the Presbyterian faith, and has been with his wife a member of the Hopewell Christian Church for a period of thirty-five years. He was married to Jane Fee, of Ireland, in 1832 ; he has had five children, two deceased ; the living are William, James and Margaret ; he appreciates the value of learning, and takes great interest 794 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : in educating his children ; he gave his sons a collegiate education. William graduated at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, and James at Meadville College, Pennsylvania; , he is now a minister in the Disciples Church in Indiana. WILLIAM R. SLOAN, farmer and attorney, Pleasant Hill ; was born in County Monaghan in 1835 ; is the son of John Sloan ; when about 4 years old, he came to America with his mother, his father having preceded him a short time; they landed at New York, and from there went to Pennsylvania, and thence to Newton Township ; he was brought up on a farm, and devoted his winter months to the acquisition of knowledge in the common school until 1854, when he entered Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, then under the presidency of the celebrated Horace Mann ; he graduated here in the scientific course, and then entered the profession of teaching, which he followed for fourteen or fifteen years ; he was a soldier in the late war, in 147th O. N. I., Co. G ; he is now giving considerable attention to the study and practice of law (see card in directory) ; he is a Republican and an earnest and faithful worker for the party ; he and wife are members of the Christian Church ; he is member of the following orders, viz., A., F. & A. M., of Pleasant Hill ; Franklin Chapter and Coleman Commandery of Troy ; the I. O. O. F. of Pleasant Hill, and Encampment of West Milton. Mr. Sloan is a public-spirited and enterprising man, and is found indentified with whatever improves the country and society. He married Mary J., daughter of William Miles, Aug. 16, 1856 ; of the seven sons and three daughters born to this union, four are dead. JEFF SNYDER, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; one of the prominent farmers of Newton Township ; was born in 1842, near Dayton ; he is the son of Simeon Snyder, a native of Maryland, born in 1811, about twenty-four miles from Baltimore ; when 4 or 5 years old, he immigrated to Ohio with his parents, who located near Dayton ; he resided on a farm till he was 18 years old, when he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, and, after being variously employed for several years, in distilling, quarrying, etc., he finally engaged in the coopering business, which he followed as an occupation till 1856, when he purchased the farm he now resides on, one and a half miles east of West Milton. He was married to Harriet Mast, oldest daughter of Capt. Absalom Mast. whose father, David, was one of the first settlers in the northern part of Montgomery Co. ; she was born in 1818, and died April 28, 1879; Simeon Snyder reared a family of two children—a son and daughter ; the latter died Aug. 8, 1878. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm, and has made farming his life occupation ; the thrifty appearance of his large farms bears testimony to his skill and success in this direction. He married, in January, 1867, Amanda, daughter of Joseph Coppock ; she was born Jan. 22, 1845 ; they have three sons—Albert E., born Nov. 28, 1868 ; Omer C., Nov. 14, 1872 ; Frank L., Dec. 15, 1874. JACOB STICHTER, farmer ; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; born in Union Co., Penn., in 1818 ; is the son of Barnhart Stichter, a native of Pennsylvania, who died when our subject was only 9 years old ; on the death of his father, he left the parental roof, his mother being in poor financial circumstances ; for three years he worked for his board and clothes, after which he began to receive wages ; in 1841, he took a journey to the West, with a view of locating in that country ; after a few months, he settled in Clark Co., Ohio. In 1844, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Brown, of Maryland ; she emigrated to this Stafe in 1831, locating in Clark Co. ; after his marriage, he lived near Carlisle, in Clark Co., operating a farm on shares for six years ; at the end of this time, by industry and economy, he had accumulated some means ; he came to this township and purchased the quarter-section of land on which he now lives, paying for it $6,500 ; of this he paid, at time of purchase, $2,000, which was all the money he owned, going in debt for the balance ; with this debt, and the larger part of his farm in the woods, he began life twenty-six years ago in this county ; possessing an indomitable will and unflagging industry, he went to work, and, with the assistance of his wife, he soon paid off the debt and cleared up the most of his farm ; he has since, by his own exertion, added to this farm two others----tone of 80 acres and the other of 110 acres ; he is NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 795 a fair illustration of what perseverance and careful business habits can produce. He has reared a family of eight children, six of whom are married, and all located within two miles of the homestead ; Mr. and Mrs. Stichter were formerly members of the M. E. Church, but, since coming to this township, cast their lot with the Shiloh Christian Church, of which they have been active members. JOHN TEAGUE, farmer; P. O. Pleasant Hill ; one of the prominent citizens of Newton Township, was born in 1821, on the place adjoining his present farm ; he was brought to his present place when 2 years old, where he has since resided, a period of fifty-seven years. He is the son of Moses and Jane (Coppock) Teague, both descendants of pioneers, and married in 1816. His grandparents, Samuel and Rebecca Teague, were natives of Newberry District, S. C., from where they emigrated in 1805, locating in Newton Township, in October, 1806 ; here they passed the remainder of their lives, dying at the ripe old age of 85 years. Thus peacefully passed away two more of Miami Co.'s early pioneers. They brought with them to this county, three sons and seven daughters ; a son was afterward drowned while crossing the Stillwater. Of this family, Moses was the fifth child, born in 1797, in South Carolina, and was a lad of 8 or 9 summers when his lot was cast in the wilderness of Miami Co.; with the exception of eleven years in Indiana, he passed his remaining years in Newton Township, most of them on the homestead ; they both died at the age of 75 years. Our subject's life has been that of a farmer, and in agricultural pursuits he has taken a great interest. In his home place he has 160 acres, and on it he has erected, at the cost of $8,000, one of the finest farm residences in the county. Mr. T. is a man of enterprise and industry, and a valuable member of society. He is a Republican in politics, and, although no office-seeker, has been chosen Township Trustee several times ; he, with his wife, is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Teague has been married twice ; first, March 12, 1846, to Susan Wheelock, of Union Township, who died Dec. 8. 1868, leaving four sons and one daughter. His second marriage was , with Elizabeth Anderson, of Montgomery Co., Ohio, who was a daughter of John and Margaret Anderson. N. B. TEETER, dealer in dry goods, boots, shoes, hardware; merchant tailoring, etc., Pleasant Hill ; prominent in the list of business men of Pleasant Hill is the gentleman whose name heads this list he was born in 1842, within the present corporate limits of the village of Pleasant and is the son of J. K. Teeters, one of the oldest merchants of the place, and founder of this village. He is a Pennsylvanian by birth, and emigrated to Ohio in 1837, locating on the present site of Pleasant Hill ; in 1843, he laid out this village and called it Newton, after the illustrious philosopher ; the name has since been changed to accommodate the post office ; in 1847, he opened a dry-goods store, on the corner where he is now located, and where he has kept a store for thirty-three years in succession ; he is known as a careful, honest business man. The early life of our subject was variously employed, on the farm, in the schoolroom, and behind the counter selling goods ; he thus early acquired those correct business habits which have combined with his energy to secure his success as a merchant. Mr. T., in the prime of his youth, was among the first to enroll his name for the defense of his country ; in April, 1861, at the first call for troops, he enlisted in the 1lth O. V. I. for a term of three months ; during this period, they were stationed at Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati ; his term of service expired in July, and, in the following September, he enlisted in the 1st O. V. C. ; of this regiment he continued a faithful and honorable member for four years ; he was immediately sent to the front and identified with the Army of the Cumberland, first under Gen. Buell, and afterward under Gen. Rosacrans ; participated in the hard-fought battles of Stone River, Tullahoma, Chatta- nooga Chickamauga, around Kenesaw Mountain, and for the possession of Atlanta and Knoxville, besides numerous skirmishes ; he re-enlisted in March, 1864, and was then sent back to Louisville, Ky., to be re-mounted. They were afterward sent into Alabama and Mississippi, under Gen. Wilson ; after several engagements, they found their way to Macon, Ga., where they met a " flag of truce," announcing 796 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: the armistice ; here they remained till terms of peace were agreed upon, and, after some meanderings in South Carolina, embarked at Charleston, in September, via New York, to Columbus, Ohio ; at this latter place he was honorably discharged on the 28th day of September, 1,865, after serving nearly four and one half years ; after returning home he engaged for a time in farming ; eight years ago, he embarked in the mercantile business at this place, and, by his careful attention to business, and good management, his built up a large and increasing trade ; he carries a large and well-assorted stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware, ready-made clothing, and makes a specialty of merchant tailoring ; all of his transactions are made upon the strict rule of honesty. He celebrated his marriage, in 1864, with Miss Maggie Jones. They have had three children, two deceased. L. B. TERRY, wagon-maker, Pleasant Hill. Among the business men of Pleasant Hill appears the name of L. B. Terry, who was born in Greenville, Dark. Co., on the 22d day of February, 1831 ; he is the son of Enos and Delilah (Westfall) Terry; Enos T. was a native of New Jersey, and emigrated to Ohio in the beginning of the present century. His nuptials were celebrated with Miss Delilah Westfall, after which he located on a farm about one mile north of Greenville ; subsequently, he moved into the town of Greenville, where his death occurred at the age of 48 years ; his wife survived him until August, 1873, when her death occurred in this place, at the advanced age of 76+ years. Our subject's boyhood was passed in Greenville ; at the age of 14, he went to Piqua, Ohio, where he served an apprenticeship as carriage-maker, under W. R. Crozier, who is now the oldest carriage-maker in the State ; here our subject remained in pursuit of his occupation till he came to this place in 1870 ; since this time, he has turned his attention to the construction of wagons, which vocation he yet pursues, adding to it the making of almost all kinds of farming implements. He was united in mar- riage' Sept. 9, 1848, to Caroline Statler, a native of this county ; two children have been born to this union—William and Ella. HIRAM TISOR, farmer ; P. 0. Pleasant Hill ; he was born on the banks of the Ohio River, ten miles above Cincinnati, in 1812; he is of English extraction, and the son of Austin Tisor, a native of England ; Austin's father immigrated to America when he was only 1 month old, landing in Charleston, S. C., where he purchased a team and began a journey through the country, with a view of locating ; change of climate and the hardships of the jouryney, proved too severe for Mr. T. and wife, and they soon fell victims to disease and death, leaving four sons, of whom Austin was the youngest ; the three oldest disposed of the team and returned to England, leaving Austin, then an infant, in the care of the trustees of the place ; he was put under the paternal care of Isaac Poff, a German, and thus early acquired the use of the German language ; in his manhood, he emigrated to Ohio, locating near Cincinnati. Here he married Susannah Wright, of South Carolina, who had emigrated to this State, with her parents, when only 16 years old ; he followed the hatter's trade and farming through life; he was a 1st Lieutenant in the war of 1812, at the close of which he moved to Miami Co., locating just north of Covington ; his death occurred here in his 63d year ; his wife dying in the prime of her life, in 1835. Our subject, reared on a farm, has made farming his life occupation. In 1834, he married Phebe Greene, a native of Ohio ; in 1837, he moved to his present place, where he has since lived ; his well-improved farm is the result of his own industry and perseverance ; his wife, Phebe, died Dec. 29, 1878 ; she was his faithful companion for nearly half a century ; of the son and three daughters born to this union, one daughter has died. H. G. ULLERY, farmer ; P. 0. Covington ; born in Newton Township Jan. 4, 1819 ; is the son of Jacob Ullery, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1772, and in 1810 came from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati on a flat-boat, bringing his family and effects; coming north through the wilderness, he located in Montgomery Co., near Harrisburg, and entered land ; the next fall he sold out, came to this county and purchased land where West Covington now stands ; after putting out a crop he erected a saw-mill, about the year 1812 ; his lumber was obtained in Darke Co., then NEWTON TOWNSHIP - 797 rafted down to the falls ; to his mill he soon added probably the first corn-cracker in the township ; the Indians soon became troublesome, and Mr. Ullery, for safety, removed to Lost Creek, and here followed milling two years, then returned to his old farm, which he sold, and bought another where part of Covington now stands ; here he died, in 1847, aged 75 years. He was twice married ; his first wife was Miss Wareham, of Pennsylvania ; and his second was Elizabeth Fager, of Bedford Co., Penn. ; he had four children by his first wife, and ten by the last union ; his second wife died in 1861, aged 74. Of the above children, James is U. S. Marshal of the Southern District of Ohio ; H. G. was raised on the farm, obtaining a limited education. Upon his marriage, he located north of Covington ; in 1859, sold out and purchased his present place ; he is now minister of the Congregational Brethren Church of Pleasant Hill ; personally, he is a man of sterling qualities, generous and upright with the world, pleasant and affable in his social relations. In 1842, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Eller, who died of cholera in 1832 ; of their ten children, eight now survive ; of the deceased, Ann M was found dead in a spring near the house, in 1862, being then 16 years of age ;. the other died in infancy. GEORGE W. WHITMER, merchant, Pleasant Hill. Prominent in the list of business men of Pleasant Hill is the subject of our sketch, who was born within the present corporate limits of this village in May, 1844 ; he is the son of John Whitmer, an eminent citizen of this place ; he (John Whitener) was born in Union Co., Penn., March 20, 1811, and is of German extraction ; he is the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Whitmer, natives of Pennsylvania ; by a diligent application of his time and talents, he early qualified himself for the profession of teaching, which he followed for ten years ; in the meantime, he engaged to some extent in the mercantile trade, which has been the principal occupation of his life ; in the spring of 1842, he emigrated to Ohio, locating within the present limits of the village of Pleasant Hill ; two years subsequent, he embarked in the mercantile business, starting the second store in this place ; this he continued, with an interval of a few years when he was in business at Covington, till about ten years ago, when he practically retired from active life ; he is known throughout the community as an enterprising business man, of integrity and intelligence. Although no political aspirant, he has been elected to all the important offices of the township ; he is now serving as Justice of the Peace, which office he has filled for fifteen years. He is, in politics, a Jacksonian Democrat. His first marriage occurred in 1836, with Miss Elizabeth Stewart ; one child was born to this union, now living in Kansas ; his second marriage was with Miss Sarah Lenhart, in 1840 ; eleven children are the fruits of this union, three of whom have died ; the rest are living in this immediate vicinity. Our subject grew up accustomed to the mercantile trade, which has been his life occupation. He exchanged the comforts of home during the late civil war, for the dangers and hardships of the camp and battle-field ; as a member of the noble 110th 0. V. I., he participated in the three days' fight of Winchester, where the regiment suffered severely, the battles at Brandy Station, Mine Run, kelly's Ford, and many skirmishes ; on the first night of the battle of the Wilderness, he received a severe wound, a large ball passing entirely through the back portion of his neck, thus disabling him from any further active duty in the field ; he was honorably discharged in June, 1865, and returned home. After engaging for a time in the general produce business, he embarked in a mercantile career in 1867 ; he carries a large stock of all kinds of merchandise, including a full stock of goods in the harness line ; he also, under the firm name of Whitmer & Patty, deals in all kinds of grain, for the handling of which they have erected a large elevator with all the modern fixtures ; in all his transactions, he strictly adheres to the principle of honesty. He has been twice elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, now holds the commission of Notary Public, and was once elected Mayor of the town. He has been twice married ; his first marriage was celebrated in 1867, and his second in 1877; of each union a child has been born. 798 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: JOHN H. WILLIAMS, wagon-maker, Pleasant Hill ; born in Newton Township Feb. 16, 1826 ; is the son of Henry and grandson of Michael Williams ; the latter was a native of North Carolina, and came to Ohio about the year 1800, bringing with him his four sons and five daughters, viz., George, Michael, Henry, John, Catherine, Frances, Elizabeth, Barbara and Mollie ; from these, numerous descendants sprung, and how live in this vicinity ; Michael, Sr., died soon after coming here. Henry was born in North Carolina in 1783 ; he made his first location on Sec. 19, purchasing 90 acres, afterward adding 240, which he principally cleared ; he died Oct. 20, 1861 ; he was a good Christian, and held in high esteem. He was married four times ; his first wife, Elizabeth Stage, died Oct. 28, 1816 ; the second wife, Sarah Fetter, died March 15, 1829 ; the third wife, Nancy Miller, died May 15, 1858; his fourth wife, Esther (Neil) Coppock, now lives, at an old age ; eighteen children were the fruits of these several unions, five by the first marriage, six by the second, and seven by the third ; seven now survive. John H. was raised on the farm until 18, after which he followed wagon and carriage making seven years, and was the first carriage-maker of the township, and the only one making coach varnish ; he has taken out the followmg patents : Improvement on fire setting and cooling machines, two patents on tire-setting, on following dates, June 19, 1857 and Oct. 18, 1870, also patent for improvement in reeds for looms of weaving machines, for flexible window-shades (date, June 28, 1870), and a patent for measuring carriage cushions, dated Feb. 14, 1871 ; he is now engaged on an improved chemical apparatus for manufacturing medicine, and is also proprietor of a valuable compound medicine. Has been twice married ; first, April 16, 1847, to Sarah Coate, who died March 17, 1861 ; of their seven children, three now survive. Nov. 3, 1863, he married Mary A. Gillums, of French descent, and born in Pennsylvania. W. M. WILLIAMSON, saw-millmg ; P. 0. Covington ; born in Clermont Co., Ohio, in July, 1838; is the son of Silas W. and Antis White ; his grandfathers were from New Jersey ; his paternal grandfather emigrated to Virginia, and his paternal grandmother was born in Virginia ; James W., his grandfather, came to Ohio in 1812, and to this county in 1840, where his wife died in 1866, and he in 1.870. Silas was the oldest son of ten children ; in 1840, he located in Darke Co., soon after removed to Miami Co., where he died in September, 1869 ; his wife still survives. Of his six sons and one daughter, two sons are deceased. Our subject was the oldest of the family, and followed farming until August, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. B, 44th 0. V. I., in which he served two and a half years ; re-enlisted, and was placed in the 8th 0. V. C., and, with his regiment, was discharged August, 1865 ; he was in the battles of Louisburg, Knoxville, Lynchburg, and many others ; he served in Kentucky and West Virginia ; was wounded and taken prisoner at Beverley ; was soon paroled, and returned to his regiment. Soon after his discharge, he went to Iowa, returning to his present place in March, 1871. The past eight years have been devoted to the saw-mill business; he has one of the best and most convenient mills in the township. In November, 1866, Mr. Williamson married Martha A. Sowell, of Henry Co., Iowa; have three children. Mr. W. is Major of the 3d 0. N. G.- has been a member seven years, and has held the offices of Second and First Lieutenant, also Captain. He is a Republican in politics, and labors for the success of his party. KIRK WILLIAMSON, saw-milling, Covington ; born in Darke Co., Ohio, in 1848 ; is the son of Silas W. and Antis White ; his paternal grandfather, James W., was a member of a militia company during the war of 1812. In the spring of 1849, Silas Williamson moved east of Covington, where he passed the remainder of his life. The subject of this sketch is the fifth child of this family, and his early rife was that of a farmer boy ; he received his early education in the common schools of his day, and by close application to his books he acquired a good practical education. His first move from the parental roof was on a farm near the homestead ; here he remained one year, and then in the spring of 1872, began the sawmill business with his brother ; they located first in Franklin Township, Clark UNION TOWNSHIP - 799 Co., where they remained four years, and then moved to Newton Township. H, was married in 1874 to Harriet Weaver, of Franklin Township, Darke Co., whoa father, Adam Weaver, was an early settler of the township, and entered the fare on which he lived and died, his death occurring in July, 1878, at the age of 6i years. He had a family of eleven children, five of whom are still living. He wa born in Montgomery Co., and when a young man, moved to Franklin Township He was married to Mary Hollopeter. Mr. Williamson finds his political view expressed in the Prohibition party. DAVID D. WINE, minister and farmer ; P. O. Covington ; was ban in August Co., Va., in 1839. Jacob Wine, his father, also a native of Virginia, married Eliza beth Garber, of Maryland, who, with her parents, came to Virginia when 5 year of age. Jacob W. was a farmer, and raised a family of nine children, all now living he died in December, 1878, aged 79. Mrs. W. died November, 1874 ; the were for many years prominent members of the German Baptist Church. David D. was raised on the farm, obtaining a common-school education. In July, 1861 he was conscripted in the rebel army, serving until December. Being a Union man and his services again demanded for the rebel army, he fled, escaping on foo across the mountains to West Virginia, from there went to Montgomery Co., Ohio where he was employed as a farm laborer, and attended school during the wmter In December, 1873, he located upon his present place, where he has a fine farm under good improvement. For four years he has been a minister of the German Baptist Church, arid has been promoted to the second degree in the ministry Feb. 19, 1865, he married Susan Miller, of Montgomery Co. ; they are the parent of two sons and three daughters. UNION TOWNSHIP. DAVID R. ALBAUGH, farmer ; P. 0. West Milton ; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in the year 1829 ; is a son of Samuel and Anna M: Albaugh, who wer born in Pennsylvania ; they emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Montgomery Co. in the year 1829, in which they lived two years, then removed to this county any entered 80 acres of land, which was then-and is yet-known as the Wolf Pe Hill Farm ; this land they cleared up, improved and lived on till their decease Mr. A. held the office of Justice of the Peace for about fifteen years ; they were the Noah parents of six children, five of whom are living, viz., Mary A., D., R. Susanna, H. and Benjamin F. and Lucy, deceased. Our subject was reared on his father’s farm on which he labored till he was 24 years of age, when he began life for himself. March 5, 1857, he was married to Martha Murphey, by whom he ha had seven children, viz., Laura B., Samuel 0., Porter W., John B., Harvey H Charley D., Anna G. ; she is a daughter of John W. and Margaret Murphey, wh were born in this county ; Mrs. M. died many years ago ; he resides with our sul ject, with whom he has lived for a number of years ; Mr. Albaugh settled on th farm where he now resides in 1863 ; he owns 80 acres of land, which is in a high state of cultivation ; he has filled the office of Justice of the Peace for three year and is competent to discharge its duties ; his education was obtamed in the common schools, where he fitted himself for the duties of teaching, which he ha followed for a number of terms ; his children, Laura B. and Samuel 0., are amon the educators of the county, the former having taught ten terms, the latter four his brothers and sisters were also leading teachers, and have taught extensively i the county ; he and his wife are exemplary members of the Christian Church, h having been connected with above church three years, she for a period of eighteen years, and was born in this county Dec. 25, 1838. WILLIAM A. ALDRICH, farmer ; P. 0. West Milton. The subject of thi memoir was born in the State of Massachusetts in the year 1827. He is a so