1350 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. VINTON TOWNSHIP. Vinton Township was named after Hon. Samuel F. Vinton, after whom also the county was named, on its formation. It is watered by Raccoon Creek, Elk Fork of Raccoon Creek, and their numerous small tributaries. It is bounded on the north by Madison and Knox townships, on the east by Meigs County, on the south by Wilkesville Township, and on the west by Jackson County and Clinton Township. The land is mostly owned in large parcels, the Eagle Furnace Company, the Lincoln Furnace 'Company, the Vinton Coal and Iron Company, and several private parties owning large tracts. The farms are generally larger than usual in this part of the State. The township contains a great variety of lands. Some of it is as good agricultural land as exists anywhere, but the surface is very rough and hilly, especially along Raccoon Creek. Most of the land is well adapted for grazing, and stock-raising could be made profitable. The township is also rich in minerals, and in the western part coal and iron are found in abundance. It may be generations hence ere these resources are fully developed, but their presence assures lasting wealth to Vinton Township. OFFICERS AND OLD SETTLERS. The following are the names of the old settlers of Vinton Township who came before 1825: George Entsler, William Pierce, William Mark, Paul Mas, Royal R. Althas and James Read. Other early settlers were: John Booth, the oldest settler living in Vinton Township, who came from Harrison County, Va., in 1831, and now lives at Radcliff's Station; Jonathan Radcliff, Jonathan Bloer and Stephen Aiken ; all came in 1826 and 1827, the latter a miller by trade. The first school taught was in 1827, near the graveyard on fraction 19. There are now five schools—one on section 8, one on fraction 19, one on section 25, one on section 33, and one in the northern part of the township. There are now four cemeteries in Vinton Township. The oldest, on fraction 19, was used before 1830. Another very old cemetery is on section 19, near Campbell's Place. There is a cemetery near John Mas's, in the northern part of the township, and another near Thomas Bowen's place. The first religious services in the township were conducted by a Methodist circuit rider. It is not known at what date the first HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1351 class was formed, but occasional preaching was had as early almost as the township was settled. There is at present but one church in the township--Aiken's Chapel, in the northern part. It is a frame church, and has been built about fifteen years. It is in fair condition, having about thirty members. The present Pastor is Rev. Noah Lohr. Vinton contains two mills, both run by water-power, and situated on Raccoon Creek. The oldest one was built by Stephen Aiken about fifty years ago. About 1879 the mill was purchased by Henry Gear, the present proprietor. It contains two run of stone. It was burnt and rebuilt in 1864. Vale's mill is an old mill, though not built so early as Aiken's mill. It was built by Gabriel Bowen in 1838 or '39, and by him run for a long term of years. He sold, some time before the war, to James Hawk who, after a time, sold to Samuel Vale. It now belongs to John Q. A. Vale, nephew of Samuel Vale. Mr. Vale is also the Postmaster at this point, which is known as " Vale's Mill." SCHOOLS. Vinton Township has eight school districts and has a good frame school building in each. The total school population of the township is 411, of which 207 are boys and 204 are girls. There are also in the township thirty—six youths between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one years. Last year, 1882, the eighth building was erected, costing $540. The value of school property in the township is assessed at $3,040. Of the number of pupils enrolled 159 were boys and 189 girls, and the per cent. of attendance was sixty-three. The schools are kept up six months in the year, and the educational department of the township is a progressive one, with a promise of increased usefulness. The population of Vinton Township in 1840 was 227; 1850, 460, and 1860 it was 807. The war reduced it to 656 in 1870. In 1880 it recovered and gained rapidly, having 1,131. Radcliff's Station, in the southern part of the township, has been built up entirely since the completion of the railroad. The first store here was opened in 1880 by R. D. McManigal. He sold out to William Burton and William Campbell, and Mr. Burton retiring recently Mr. Campbell now conducts the business alone. Seth Norton has been in trade here for some two years past. The postoffice was established about three years ago. William Burton was Postmaster the first year, since when Seth Nor- 1352 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Ton has had the office. The first station agent ,here was Ephraim Radcliff, who remained till the fall of 1882, and then went to Nebraska. William Burton was the agent till the spring of 1883, when Oliver Harpell was placed in charge. Considerable quantities of coal, iron ore and lime are shipped from Radcliff's. Population of Radcliff's, seventy-five. Eagle Furnace is over thirty years old, and is northwest of Radcliff's, in the western part of the township. The furnace was built by Messrs. Bentley and Stanley a number of years ago. There is a postoffice at this point. Population about fifty. The development of its mineral resources has done much to retard its agricultural productions, and the mineral lands are held in large bodies and are not cultivated. Raccoon Creek and its main branch, Elk Fork, has some splendid bottom land, but the valleys are narrow. The hills are full of coal and it is found from three to nine feet in thickness. In its assessed valuation for 1883, June 1, it had of personal property, $37,192. It had June 1, 1883, 156 horses, 579 cattle, 1,207 sheep and 184 hogs. CLINTON TOWNSHIP, formerly a part of Alexander Township, Athens County, and then of Elk Township, is situated in the southern part of Vinton County. It is bounded on the north by Elk Township, on the east by Vinton Township, and on the south by Jackson County, and on the west by Jackson County and Richland Township, of Vinton County. Its surface is usually very rough and better adapted for grazing than for agricultural purposes, and yet there is some very good farming land, and good crops of corn and wheat are raised on many farms. The mineral resources of the township are almost inexhaustible, and will be a source of wealth and prosperity for ages to come. Both coal and iron are found in abundance, and considerable quantities are mined and shipped.. Hamden Furnace is situated on the south half of section 21, and the Furnace Company own several whole sections of land in the township, besides other large tracts less than a township in size. Several large bodies of land are also owned by the Eagle Furnace Company, and by the Vinton Furnace Company. The farms in the township average rather large. The surface is drained by the Little Raccoon Creek and several small tributaries, and three or four different streams have their beginnings in Clinton Township, which is on a rather high plane. Wolf Creek, in the northeastern portion, flows northward through HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1353 sections 11 and 2. Little Raccoon Creek has a general southerly course through the western part of the township, which it enters on the west side of section 7, flowing through sections 7, 18, 20 and 29, besides touching sections 19 and 30, and leaving the township on the southern edge of section 29. The highest parts of the township are in the center. The first settlements in Clinton Township were made about 1814 by Nathaniel Richmond, David Paine, Robert Elders, Downy Read, Robert Ward, Thomas McGrady; William McGrady and Abraham Wilbur. These were soon followed by Charles Robbins, William Craig, Jonathan Dempsey, James Dempsey, John Frazee, John Johnson, Ephraim Frazee, Jehiel Frazee, Augustus Frazee, Patrick Murdock, Joseph McKinnis, John Farr, Edward Salts, Patrick Shearer, Morrow, John Rankin, John Snook, John Sullivan, William Hoffine, William McCummell, Jonathan Winters and Daniel Hollenshead. The timber of the township has been cut down to a great extent, but has been of good quality for building and other uses. It consists principally of hickory and oak, though there is plenty of yellow poplar, elm and maple. The first religious services were conducted by that pioneer denomination, Methodist Episcopal, though it was not long ere the advocates of other creeds were Busily at work throughout the country. Among the first preachers were Reverends David Dutcher, Elisha Wright, Jacob De Zay, — Roe and -- Feree. None of these were stationed here permanently. They belonged to that pioneer class called " circuit-riders," and their services in forwarding and promoting morality among the pioneers can scarcely be over-estimated. The population of Clinton has had a steady, healthy increase from its settlement to 1870, due to the natural growth and to iminigration; but for the last thirteen years or more the population has been about stationary, many of the younger men leaving, going West to the promising new countries—Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and elsewhere. The census of 1870 gave the township a population of 1,724, and in 1880 the returns footed up only 1,608. HAMDEN. The land upon which the village of Hamden was laid out was entered by Nathaniel Richmond in the year 1820. It afterward became the property of Charles Robbins and J. K. Wilson, who 1354 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. laid out the village in 1834, the survey being made by 0. M. Tyson. It is situated in the southern part of section 19 and a part extends over into section 30. Charles Robbins owned the land on the east side of Main street and Mr. Wilson that on the west side. The first merchants in Hamden were William Burlegin and Augustus Frazee. Jervis Leach kept the first hotel. The first teachers were Pclly Ward, Thomas and Thompson Leach, John Keenan and Thomas Hagins. Samuel Tarr and Samuel Washburn built a tannery in an early day, which they soon after sold to George and Christian Yager, afterward erecting another. In 1853 and 1854 the foundry was built by a joint stock company with a capital of $5,000. Hamden was first named Charleston, in honor of one of its founders, Charles Robbins, and this name it retained till about 1852 or 1853, when it was christened Hamden. The first postoffice in Clinton Township was kept one mile north of the present town of Hamden and was called Reed's Mill. It was in the course of time removed to Hamden, which name it assumed and retained for a time. It was then named Hamden Junction (its present name) to avoid confusion with another place in the State bearing the same name. Hamden has a very neatly built city hall, constructed in 1882 at a cost of $2,200. It is a two-story brick. The school-house was built in 1861, at a cost of $2,000. CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES. The Presbyterian Church was built at this village in 1871 and 1872. It is a frame structure and was erected at a cost of $2,400. The church was organized by Rev. Dr. Tenney three or four years previous to the construction of the church edifice. The first Elders were John B. Rayer and William Burten Shaw. The present Elders are Jeremiah Driggs, Bennett R. Paine and W. A. Faulkner. The Sabbath-school, organized soon after the church, has been regularly maintained and is now in a thriving condition. The Disciple Church, of Clinton Township, is a brick structure of good size and was built in 1866, at a cost of $2,000. The society itself was organized in 1846 by Rev. Daniel Parkinson, with the following members: John Yager and wife, Patrick Reed and wife, John Robbins and wife, Mrs. Mary Murdock, Mrs. Mary Rankin, Edward Salts and wife, Mary Salts, Edward Salts, Jr., HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1355 and wife, Levi Wyman and wife, Stephen Salts and wife and Mrs. Nelson Hoffhine. The first church building was .a frame structure on the same site as the present place of worship. It was organized under the auspices of the old New Light church about 1833. Jonathan Bryan was one of the organizers of this church. The building was burned by an incendiary in 1866. The church is at present in a good condition financially, has a membership of fifty and supports a good Sabbath-school. Services are held once a month. The cemetery adjoining the church is one of the oldest burial sites in the township. The first interred person was Mrs. John Johnson. Mineral Lodge, F. & A. M., was organized Oct. 26, 1854, with the following charter members : D. D. T. Hord, John Arnold, Franklin Redd, James H. Leach and J. M. Keenan. Of these only Mr. Hord is living. The first officers were: John Arnold, W. M.; D. D. T. Hord, S. W.; Franklin Redd, J. W. The lodge has prospered in numbers and brotherly zeal. Hamden Lodge, No. 517, was organized July 17, 1872, with the following charter members: James Yeley, B. W. Ketch, John J. Smith, John U. Ervin, John M. Dye, William S. Heskit, George Caine, James McKinney, John L. Wortman, W. A. Dallas and S. W. Monahan. Dr. Monahan was the first Noble Grand; B. W. Ketch the first Secretary. The lodge is now in good working condition and has a membership of twenty-nine. M'ARTHUR JUNCTION. The junction of the Cincinnati, Washington & Baltimore, and the Ohio & West Virginia, occurs in the northern part of the township, on section 4, at a point called Dundas. VILLAGE OF DUNDAS. The Junction is about one-fourth mile from the village, and the name of the village is Dundas. There is no business done at the Junction, the station, railroad eating house and a saloon being the amount of its business interests. At the village, a quarter of a mile away, are two general stores and one saloon. One of the stores is owned by John R. Stout and the other by Latsler & Winters. The land on which Dundas now stands was owned by Stephen Salts. The Postmaster is George Winters. They only have one church denomination, the Catholic, who have a small 1356 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. frame church put up at a cost of some $600. Rev. Father J. J. Slena is in charge, his home being Zaleski. Dundas has a population of about 75. EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. The educational facilities of the township consist of seven commodious frame school-houses, the last one erected last year (1882) at a cost of $599. In these seats of learning school is taught thirty weeks in the year at a cost in 1882 of $3,516.20. There are in the township 710 children of school age, of which 381 were boys and 329 girls. The school property of Clinton Township is valued at $7,090, and with the exception of the towns of Zaleski and McArthur is the most valuable of any township in the county. POPULATION, VALUATION AND STOCK.. The first census of the county, by townships, at hand is that of 1840. Clinton was then a municipal division of Jackson County. The census of that year gave her a population of 824. In 1850 she had 'been joined to Vinton, but only five tiers of sections were transferred to 'Vinton instead of a full congressional township. The census that year gave 836 as the number, but if she was a full congressional township while a part of Clinton her small increase can be accounted for. The next ten years Clinton nearly doubled her population, the figures being 1,544. In 1870 they were 1,724, and in 1880 a falling off was reported which left her with a population of 1,608. Since then, however, she has recovered from her stagnation and is once more advancing. In the assessed valuation of personal property, as returned by the assessor June 1, 1883, Clinton Township ranks second in wealth in that department of assessed values in the county, only being exceeded by Elk. The returns were to the amount of $148,010. 'Her stock report was made at the same time, .and the following are the returns and valuation: Horses, 196, valued at $8,842; cattle, 1,419, valued at $25,030; sheep, 3,135, valued at $6,710; hogs, 531, valued at $2,150. BIOGRAPHICAL-WILKESVILLE. James Barnes, farmer, was born Nov. 1, 1829, in Columbiana County, Penn. He came to what is now Gallia County, Ohio, in 1848, where he remained a short time, when he came to where he now resides in 1858. He has between 700 and 800 acres of good HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1357 land and a residence, on section 14, Wilkesville Township. He was married Sept. 3, 1857, to Cynthia Curry, born in Vinton County, Dec. 31, 1831. They have four living children—Mary, Alice, John Curry and George. Mrs. Barnes's father was born in Greenbrier County in 1803, and died 1882. Her mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1805, and is still living. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are living, Mrs. Barnes being the third child. Dr. B. E. Bishop was born April 1, 1818, in Harrison County, Ohio, where he lived till he was twenty-four years of age. At the age of twenty he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Jacob Hannon, and at twenty-four commenced to practice. After practicing four years he graduated at the Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, and in 1864 graduated at the Nashville, Tenn., Medical College. The same year he returned to Ohio, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1863 he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Infantry, but failing to be mustered in he went in acting as Assistant Surgeon in Hospital No. 2, first at Louisville, Ky., and later at Nashville, where be graduated a second time. He left there March 16, 1865, and returned to his home in Wilkesville Township, where he has 111 acres of good land, well improved. He was married Jan. 31, 1841, to Mary Ann Cutshall, who was born in Harrison County, Ohio, July 7, 1819. They have been blessed with four children—John C., born Feb. 18, 1843; Naomi C., May 19, 1846; Mary, July 2, 1848; Fannie L., Dec. 28, 1860. Jennie Curry is a native of Vinton County, Ohio, where she was reared and educated. Her father, John Curry, was born in Greenbrier County, Va., May 1, 1803, and came to Ohio when quite young. He owned the mill, now known as the Wells Mill, in Wilkesville Township. It was first built by Mathias Croy, the grandfather of our subject. Her father sold the mill in 1858, and moved to the farm, where he died April 6, 1882. The farm contains 320 acres of good land and a residence on 'fraction 36, Wilkesville Township. John Curry was married about 1824, to Mary Croy, born in Wheeling, W. Va., in February, 1805. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom 'are still living—Mathias, Cynthia, Mary, Susan, George, Nannie and Jennie, our subject. Mrs. Curry, Nannie and. Jennie are members of the United Brethren church. 1358 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Joseph L. Devault, farmer, a native of Harrison County, Ohio, was born March 8, 1837. At the age of twelve years he came to Vinton County where he has since made his home. When thirteen years old he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade at which he has been engaged more or less since 1878, since which he has followed farming and makes the raising of fine sheep a specialty. He has a fine farm of 257 acres on fraction 24, Wilkesville Township. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in July, 1862, in Company B, Ninetieth Ohio Iufantry, and participated in the battles of Perryville and Stone River, Tenn., after which lie was placed in the Pioneer Corps, and served with the Engineer Corps at the close of the war. He was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., when he returned to his home in Vinton County. June 3, 1867, he was married to Eveline S. Hawk, born in Vinton County in 1846. She died in October, 1882. They were the parents of six children— Ulysses, Lizzie, John, Homer, Flora and Frank. He was married a second time on April 18, 1883, to Anna Morrison, born in Gallia County, Ohio, April 22, 1838. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Devault belongs to the Presbyterian church. Dr. George K. Ewing was born in Gallia County, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1858, and lived in that county till 1879 when he went to Wilkesville County. In 1877 he commenced the study of medicine and, attended the Ohio Medical College in 1878–'79, and in the same year, 1879, commenced the practice of his profession. In 1882 he went to Baltimore, Md., and graduated there at the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was married Dec. 24, 1879, to Elizabeth Jones, born in Meigs County, March 8, 1862, and daughter of W. T. Jones, of Meigs County. They have one child living named Edgar L., born March 5, 1882. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. W. W. Fierce is a native of Athens County, Ohio, born Jan. 28, 1840. He received his literary education at Valparaiso College, Indiana. He left the college in 1862, and Aug. 9 of the same year he enlisted for three years in Company H, Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma and Chickamauga, and all the skirmishes on to Tullahoma, Tenn. During the war he contracted rheumatism of the heart and was obliged to leave the service. He was finally discharged at Louisville, Ky. He then returned home and a year later commenced the study of medicine. He took one course of lectures HISTORY OF HOOKING VALLEY - 1359 at the University in Michigan in 1865, and graduates in medicine and surgery from the Cincinnati Medical College, after which he practiced his profession in Bloomfield, Iowa, for three years. In 1874 he came to Wilkesville where. he has practiced most of the time since then. Jan. 16, 1863, he was married to M. Josephine Bishop, a native of Wilkesville, Ohio, born July 1, 1850. They have one child—Manda M., born Jan. 11, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Fierce are members the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 23, at Bloomfield, and is Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, Fearing Post, No. 179. Edward Fletcher was born Jan. 22, 1826, in Pennsylvania. He left his native State in 1839, and came to Athens County, Ohio, with his father, where he lived on a farm for three years. The following five years he was engaged in farming in Lee Township, near Albany. He then moved to Wilkesville Township, Vinton County, then Gallia County, living on section 4 for seven years. In 1855 he moved to his present farm, situated on section 10, Wilkesville Township, Vinton County, where he has 298 1/2 acres of good land. May 20, 1848, he was married to Malinda Liston, born in Jefferson County, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1821. They have had five children—William E., born May 30, 1849; Thomas, born Dec. 8, 1850, and died Sept. 6, 1882; Elmer H., born Aug. 3, 1852; George W., May 12, 1854; John J., Feb. 28, 1856. Mr. Fletcher and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His parents, Edward and Dorothea Fletcher, were natives of Ireland. They came to America and settled in Wilkesville Township, Ohio, where they died. They bad ten children, our subject being the fourth child. Ebenezer Liston, the father of Mrs. Fletcher, was born in the State of Delaware in 1777 and died in 1852. Her mother, Mary Frazy, was born in New Jersey in 1787 and died in 1868. Mrs. Fletcher was the ninth child of a family of fifteen children. Thomas Fletcher was born in Greene County, Penn., Feb. 18, 1832, but left there with his father at the age of four years, for Alexander County. After living there three years he went to Lee Township, New Albany, and remained for five or six years. His next move was to Wilkesville Township, Gallia County, now Vinton County, where he has resided since 1845. He has 182 acres of well-cultivated land and makes stock-raising a specialty. His residence is on section 11. He was married Aug. 29, 1858, to Narcissa Filkil, born in Morgan County, Ohio, Nov. 8, 1835. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Edward Fletcher, 1360 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. father of Thomas, was a .native of Ireland, being born Nov. 17, 1781. He died April 17, 1868. The mother of Thomas was Dorothea Fletcher, also born in Ireland, April, 1797. Her death occurred in 1857. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living—Mary, Eliza, Edward, Isabella, Thomas and Sarah. Perrin Gardner, M. D., was born May 11, 1828, in Gallia County, Ohio, where he attended a country school until 1845 and in the winter of 1845-'46 he taught school. He then went to Gallipolis, Ohio, where he remained till 1849 and engaged as a school-teacher during the winters. In the winter of 1849-'50 he entered the Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, graduating in 1851. He then practiced in Gallia County until the fall of 1853, when he came to Wilkesville and established a drug and general dry-goods store with Dr. Cline. In the fall of 1855 he returned to Starling Medical College remaining there during the sessions of 1855-'56, when he located at Gallipolis and engaged in the practice of medicine, remaining till October, 1860, when he removed to Cheshire where he lived till July 19, 1862. He was commissioned Assistant Surgeon, First Virginia Cavalry. He was in the second battle of Bull Run, August, 1862, and all the intermediate engagements till December of the same year when the battle of Fredericksburg was fought, after which he was granted leave of absence on account of ill health. On his return in April, 1863, he was appointed acting Assistant Surgeon at Fairfax Court-house, where he had exclusive control of embalming the officers and soldiers, which he did by a method of his own which has always given satisfaction wherever employed. July 1, 1863, he was assigned the charge of the hospital at Hanover, Pa., where he remained until Aug. 14, 1863, when he was released from hospital duty and reported to his command under General Kilpatrick, remaining on duty with his regiment till Dec. 11. The regiment was then ordered to Wheeling Island, W. Va., to reorganize and recruit as a veteran regiment. During the summer of 1864 he accompanied General W. W. Aurill in his famous campaign through the mountains of West Virginia, acting as Surgeon and chief of division hospitals until the reorganization of the cavalry corps. He was assigned to the staff of General Custer and accompanied the command of General Custer until they reached Washington City, and was present at the grand review of the army of the Potomac, May 24, 1865. On June 16 following, his division was sent to Wheeling Island, W. Va., where they were mustered out of ser- HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1361 vice and discharged July 8, 1865, when he returned to his home in Pine Grove, Ohio, in a state of broken-down health. He then resumed his practice, devoting himself almost entirely to operative surgery. In April, 1879, he resumed business with Dr. Cline at Wilkesville with whom he remained till March, 1883, when lie reopened his present office in Gallipolis, March 15, 1856. Mr. Gardner was married to Louzette Walker, a native of New York State. He is a member of Fearing Post, No. 79, G. A. R. He was a delegate to the Encampment at Cincinnati in 1882. Charles E. Hawk, undertaker, a native of Vinton County, was born Oct. 20, 1839. He has always been a resident of the county. He lived on a farm till he was twenty-one years old when he learned the carpenter's trade which he has followed more or less ever since. He, in company with Mr. H. B. Strong, commenced his present business in 1879. Feb. 22, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Third Ohio Infantry, and served till June 13, 1865, when he was mustered out at Gallipolis, Ohio. He then returned home, since when he has been engaged in his present business. He was married Sept. 13, 1860, to Christine Barger, a native of Harrison County, Ohio. They have been blessed with seven children—Arminda, Viola F., Orestus G., Docia, Emerson M., Michael and Jennie M. Mr. Hawk and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, as are also the three eldest children. He is a member of the G. A. R. Fletcher Hawk, teacher, is a native of Wilkesville Township, Vinton County. Ile received his education in the township, and at the age of seventeen years commenced teaching, which he followed with success for a number of terms. He has been a correspondent for the Hamden Enterprise for the past three years, and Dec. 4, 1882, was appointed to fill the vacancy of Village Clerk, caused by the removal of W. H. Lucas. This expired May 3, 1883. Mr. Hawk is a strong advocate of the Temperance cause. He intends for the future to follow the profession of school-teaching. Jonah Hawk, his father, was born in this township about 1826, and has followed farming and still resides on the place where he was born. Matilda Hawk, mother of our subject, was born in Ireland about the year 1826. They had three children, viz.: Fletcher (our subject), born April 8, 1857; Dora, born Sept. 28, 1860, and Ella, born Aug. 26, 1866. - 86 - 1362 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. J. R. R. Hawk, farmer, was born in Gallia (now Vinton) County, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1826, and is living at present in his native place, where he has 287 acres of good land on section 5, Wilkesville Township. He was educated in the county and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked three years, but not agreeing with him he quit it and followed farming. He was married March 9, 1856, to Matilda Fletcher, a native of Ireland, who died May 25, 1875. They were blessed with three children—Fletcher, Dora and Ella. He enlisted Feb. 7, 1874, in Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry, and served nine months. He was discharged at the end of the war. He was married a second time, Jan. 22, 1879, to Mrs. Mary Bowen, a native of Meigs County, Ohio, born Aug. 5, 1842. They have one child—Morato, born Feb. 13. 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Thirty-three of his relatives served in the late war at the same time. His grandfather, Isaac Hawk, a native of England, deserted the English army and came to America and fought in the Revolutionary war. He lived to be 115 years old; was buried in Greenbrier County, W. Va. His wife was also a native of England, where she remained till after the Revolutionary war when she joined her husband in America. She died at the advanced age of 117 and was buried in the same graveyard. Oscar F. Hawk, a native of Wilkesville Township, Vinton Co., Ohio, was born Feb. 22, 1847. He was educated in a common district school, and attended college a short time in Athens. In the late war he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment of the Ohio National Guards, and served four and a half months. He re-enlisted March 6, 1864, in Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Ohio Regiment, and served nine months. Since his return home he has been engaged in farming and burning charcoal. He has also been engaged in the saw-milling business, and at the present time owns a share in a saw-mill. At present he is making a specialty of raising sheep. He was married Feb. 21, 1869, to Mary E. Miller, born in Wilkesville Township, Vinton County, Aug. 25, 1850. Their children are—Edgar, born Dec. 24, 1870; Lucella, Dec. 6, 1872; Mittie C., March 27, 1875; Maud, Sept. 10, 1877; Marion, April 10, 1880. Mr. Hawk has 450 acres of good land and a residence on section 30, Wilkesville Township. He aid his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. HISTORY OF HOOKING VALLEY - 1363 Daniel Lawler, farmer, was born in Ireland, Aug. 26, 1814. He came to America, May 21, 1810, landing at New York, and remained in the State two years. Oct. 16, 1842, he went to Pittsburg, Penn., staying in that place till 1853, when he came to Ohio aud settled on his present farm on section 34, Wilkesville Township, Vinton County, where he has 160 acres of land. He has also seventy acres in Jackson County. He was married Sept. 25, 1845, in Pittsburg, to Ellen Shearlock, a native of Scotland. They have eight children living—John L., James T., Mary E., Ellen M., Francis P., Michael S., Edward S. and Catherine B. Mr. Lawler and family are members of the Catholic church. Michael McClary, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1818. He came to America in 1837, and landed at Philadelphia, where he remained one year, when he went to Pittsburg, Penn., remaining there for thirteen years. He then came to Ohio and settled in Wilkesville, Vinton County, where he lived four years, after which he lived at Buckeye Furnace, Jackson County, five years. In 1860 he came to his present farm on section 19, Milton Township, Jackson Co., Ohio, where he has 250 acres of land.. He has also eighty-three acres near Buckeye Furnace, eighty on section 35, Wilkesville Township, Vinton County, and 200 acres iu Shelby County, Ill. His land contains coal, iron and limestone in large quantities, and is well improved: He had a large two-story frame building erected in 1876. His farm in Illinois and part of his Ohio land is for sale. Any one wishing to purchase may call on or address Michael McClary, Hawks P. 0., Ohio. He was married in 1848 to Alice Harman, a native of Cam bria County, Pa. They have had four children—Mary, Patrick, Margaret and John H. Mr. McClary is a member of the Catholic church. Lorenzo D. Phillips was born about 1828, in Jackson County, Ohio, now a part of Vinton County. When twelve years of age he moved to St. Joe County, Ind., and at the end of two years returned to Ohio. He lived in Jackson County till 1881, when he moved to his present farm on section 11, Vinton Township. He has 185 acres of good land, which is worth $5,000. He was married to Susan Martin Oct. 15, 1845. She was born in Jackson County, and died in 1877. They were blessed with eleven children—Mary, Delila, Harvey, Eliza, Becca, Isaac, John, Samira, George, Mag and Sherman. Mr. Phillips has been a member of the United Brethren church for twenty-nine years. 1364 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. J. H. Reisinger, wagon-maker, a native of Ohio, was born in Columbiana County, April 30, 1829. At the age of ten years lie left his native place and came to Gallia County, living there till 1871. He then moved to Pike County, lived there five years when he went to Gallia, staying till 1878. He next moved to Wilkesville, Vinton County, where he still resides, engaged in the manufacture of wagons and buggies. On Jan. 16, 1851, he was married to Helena Bord, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1827. They have been blessed with nine children whose names are—Sarah E., Lydia M., Henry A., Thomas M., John C., George S., Luther D., Lucinda E. and William J. Mr. Reisinger is a member of the Christian church. His father, Peter Reisinger, a native of Pennsylvania, died in 1851. His mother, Barbara (Shaner) Reisinger, was also a native of Pennsylvania. She died April, 1848. They had thirteen children, eleven of whom are living. Almond Soule, born in Kennebeck County, Maine, Nov. 19, 1799. In 1817 he left his native place with his father and came to Marietta, Ohio. From 1820 to 1837 he lived in Meigs County, Ohio. In 1838 he moved to Wilkesville, and in 1851 he left for Jackson County, where he was engaged in manufacturing pig iron. He returned to Wilkesville. in 1861, since when he has been engaged principally in farming. He was married in 1819 to Dollie McClure, born in Maine in 1799. She died Feb. 11, 1881. There have been nine children sent to bless this union, only two of whom are living—Susan, born March 5, 1823, married to George Watson; Hazen Emerson, born April 25, 1841. Mr. Soule has held the office of County Commissioner several terms. He has represented the county in the State Legislature in 1870–'71. Margaret A. Steel, born Dec. 30, 1828, in Mercer County, Penn., and June 3, 1847, she was married to John Steel. March 28, 1850, they moved to Ohio and settled in the place where she has since resided with the exception of two years. She has a farm of 170 acres and a residence on section 8, Wilkesville Township. This union was blessed with six children, three of whom are living —William A., born March 4, 1848; George M., Jan. 2, 1858; Rufus P., June 22, 1861. Mr. Steel died June 30, 1864. Mrs. Steel is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Her son George is living on the farm with his mother. He was married to Emily Tannehill, a native of Gallia County, born April 29, 1861. They have two children—Dora May, born May 29, 1881, and George, HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1365 Oct. 18, 1882. Mrs. George Steel is a member of the Christian church. Thomas Allen, the father of our subject, a native of Pennsylvania, died in his native State in 1874. Her mother, Sarah (Dundy) Allen, was also a native of Pennsylvania. She died May 24, 1874. They had eight children, our subject being the second child. Joseph Strausbaugh, farmer, a native of Harrison County, Ohio, was born March 22, 1819. He lived there till 1849 and followed farming, after which he came to Wilkesville Township and settled on section 12, where he lived till 1870. He then moved to his present farm on section 6, which contains sixty.six acres of well-improved land. He was married Feb. 28, 1845, to Rebecca De-vault, born in Harrison County, Ohio, June 24, 1828. They have seven children—Caroline, Ephraim, Almond, Rachel, Hiram, Sylvester and Emma J. Mr. Strausbaugh and wife and three of their children are members of the Presbyterian church at Wilkesville. Mary Strausbaugh, a native of Vinton County, Ohio, was born March. 30, 1844. She was married Oct. 6, 1869, to Valentine Strausbaugh, born in Adams County, Penn., May 30, 1807. They were the parents of two children—Ellsworth, born Sept. 12, 1870, and died Nov. 30, 1870 ; James V., April 25, 1879. Mr. Strausbaugh died Nov. 13, 1881. James McGaughlin, the father of our subject, was born in Harrison County, Va., Nov. 20, 1816, and died Dec. 30, 1873. Her mother, Delilah Gregory, was born in Greenbrier County, Va., Nov. 23, 1818, and died June 20, 1877. They had seven children, our subject being the third child. Peter Strausbaugh, farmer, was born Feb. 7, 1806, in Adams County, Penn. He came to Harrison County, Ohio, in 1816, where he lived till 1846 when he moved to what is now Vinton County, then a part of Gallia County. In 1860 he settled ou his present farm on section 6, Wilkesville Township, Vinton County, where he has 173 acres of land under a good state of cultivation. He was married to Elizabeth Devault in 1847, born Dec. 29, 1822. They have been blessed' with a family of eight children, six of whom are living—Lydia, Nancy J., Peter, Sophia, Lafayette and Rebecca. Mr. Strausbaugh was previously married in 1833 to Sophia Grimm, who died in 1845. By this marriage there were five children—Abraham, Sarah A., Melinda, Catherine and Esther. He was formerly a member of the Lutheran church, but there being no organization of that society he attached himself to the Presbyterian church, his wife being a member of that church. His son, 1366 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Abraham, enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Infantry, and died in the hospital at Memphis, Term. John Strong was born June 11, 1821, in Meigs County, Ohio, and in 1853 came to the town of Wilkesville, where he still resides. He commenced the study of law in 1841, attended school at Oberlin, Ohio, and in 1848 was admitted to the bar of Athens, Ohio, and followed his profession in the counties of Athens, Vinton and Gallia until 1862. He was married September, 1846, to Miss Ellen Edmundson, born in Gallia County, March 14, 1825. They have two children, viz.: Phineas, born June 3, 1847, and Flora E., born June 12, 1849, now the wife of Theodore Fluhart, of Jackson County, Ohio. Daniel Strong, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Maine, Sept. 6, 1780, and died in Meigs County, May 4, 1866. Our subject's mother, Prudence (Wells) Strong, was born in Canada in 1789 and died in Meigs County in 1869, at the age of eighty years. They were the parents of eight children, viz.: Polly, Harriet, Rufus, Prudence, Daniel, John (our subject), Newton and Augustus. Mr. Edmundson, the father of Mrs. John Strong, was born in Greenbrier, W. Va., in 1802, and departed this life in 1831. Her mother, Emily (Lewis) Edmundson, was born in New York in 1804 and died in 1878. They had five children, viz.: Mary, Ellen, William, Matthew and James. Phineas, son of our subject, was married to Anna, daughter of Dr. Strong, of McArthur. They have three children—Karl, Pearl and Max. He served his country in the late war, after which he engaged in the drug and mercantile business in Wilkesville. Mrs. Caroline (Carr) Tucker was born in Vinton County, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1831. At the age of twenty-two she was married to Dr. John Boyd, a native of Ohio. They were the parents of one child —J. E., born July 11, 1855, now the wife of Prof. John M. Daviess, of Rio Grande, Gallia Co., Ohio. Mr. Boyd died May 22, 1855, and Dec. 25, 1879, she was married to Josephus Tucker, who died May 9, 1882. Mrs. Tucker has lived most of the time in Wilkesville. She has carried on the millinery business for twenty years, four years of the time in Middleport, Meigs Co., Ohio. Her mother and an aunt reside with her in Wilkesville. Her mother was born in Greenbrier County, Va., July 4, 1804. She was married in 1826 to Cornelius Carr, born in Middletown, Conn., Nov. 3, 1801. He died Sept. 6, 1877. They had six children—M. P., Caroline S., John, Salina and Angeline. Mrs. Tucker and her mother are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1367 R. E Wells, miller and carpenter, was born in Vinton County, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1848. He has always resided in the county with the exception of four years spent in Nebraska. He was educated in Wilkes. ville Township and commenced the carpenter's trade with his father, with whom he worked most of his life, his father being a carpenter. He was married in 1875 to Jennie Mc Clure, born in Jackson County, Ohio, April 19, 1844, where she lived till her marriage in 1875. They have two children living—Mary L., born July 4, 1878, and Jewell, July 15, 1880. John B. McClure, father of Mrs. Wells, is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio. He died in 1871. Her mother died in 1860, and she was adopted by H. S. Bunty of Wilson, Jackson Co., Ohio. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Our subject's father, Agrippa Wells, was born in Wilkesville Township, Vinton Co., Ohio, about 1818, and has always been a resident of the county. His mother was horn in Wilkesville Township about 1827. They were the parents of five children, three still living--Harvey, R. E. and Mary. R. E. is engaged with his father in running a saw and grist-mill on section 14, Wilkesville Township, known as Wells Mills. B. F. Williams, a native of Meigs County,Ohio, was born Oct. 3, 1840. He was educated in his native place and worked on a farm till he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Mercer County, Ohio, and commenced the blacksmith's trade. On April 23, 1861, he enlisted in the late war serving most of the time till its close. While makiug a charge on Kennesaw Mountain, June 20, 1864, he lost his left leg, and by this accident he was in the hospital till May 10, 1865, when he was discharged. The following year, April 26, he was married to Miss Charlotte C. Rance, born in New York City, March, 1838. Their children are—Ettie J., born June 24, 1867, and John L., born June 6, 1873. Mr. Williams was appointed Postmaster, March 19, 1867, under President Johnson's adminibtration,and has served in that capacity ever since, besides having a grocery and notion store. He is a member of the Grand Army, and is Adjutant of Kearney Post. VINTON. Milton Arbaugh, a native of Vinton County, was born Oct. 27, 1845, and was reared and educated in his native county. He has a farm of fifty-six acres of good land on section 16, Vinton Township. March 17, 1868, he married Caroline Gregory, a native of Meigs County, Ohio, born Oct. 27, 1849. They were blessed with the 1368 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. following children-William, John, Mary and Pinkney. She died April 17, 1880, and he again married Sept. 6, 1881, Rachel Gregory born in Vinton County, June 26, 1848. They have one child-Pearl. Mr. Arbaugh was elected Justice of the Peace, in April, 1879, and still holds that office by re-election. He has held the office of Township Assessor two terms and has also been Township Trustee two terms. John, Blore, born Sept. 3, 1811, in Harrison County, Va., where he lived till he was sixteen years old. In 1857 lie came to Ohio and settled in Vinton County, where he has since resided. He now owns 290 acres of good land and a residence on section 13, Vinton Township. April 4, 1867, lie was married to Isabell Trainer, born in Meigs County, Ohio, March 27, 1842. Their children are-Leslie, born Jan. 7, 1870, and John, Dec. 17, 1879. Mr. Blore is a member of the Freemason Lodge, No. 275, Wilkesville, Ohio. His father, Jonathan Blore, was born in England, Feb. 14, 1790, and died in April,. 1874. His mother, Catherine (Domony) Blore, was born May 1, 1800, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and died Oct. 10, 1871. Seven children were born to them, John being the youngest child. John Booth, farmer, a native of Randolph, Va., born Feb. 21, 1804. He left his native place in 1831 and came to Ohio, where he settled on section 19, in what is now Vinton County. Here he remained till 1833, when he settled on his present homestead on fraction 25, in V inton Township. He was married March 2, 1828, in Virginia, to Elizabeth Radcliff, a native of Harrison County, Va., born May 15, 1805. They have six children-Jonathan, Houston, William, Stephen, Daniel and Jasper. Mr. Booth has 260 acres of well-improved land which is farmed by his son William. L. W. Calvin, merchant and farmer, was born in Vinton County, Ohio, April 7, 1856. He was educated at Wilkesville Academy, and at the age of eighteen he commenced teaching school, following teaching during the winter months and in summers engaged in farming, and when twenty-three years old he was married to Almyra Kincade, April 20, 1879. She was born in Noble County, Ohio, July 6, 1854. Their children are-John P., born April 13, 1880, and Carl W., Dec. 25, 1882. Mr, Calvin came to Radcliff in 1880, and built the first house in the town. He then commenced merchandising and closed his business in April, 1883. John P., the son of Mr. Calvin, was the first child born in the place. James Downard, farmer, was born in Jackson County, Ohio, Oct. 30, 1845, where lie lived until Oct. 25, 1881, when lie came to Vinton Township, Vinton Co., Ohio, and bought 363 acres or good HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1369 land. Since coming here he has built a fine two-story frame dwelling. He was married in July, 1871, to Mary Simins, born in Athens County, Ohio, May 23, 1848. They are the parents of four children—Anna, born Oct, 1, 1872; Electa, Feb. 2, 1875; Samuel, Oct. 19, 1877; Frank, March 5, 1881. Our subject's father, Samuel Downard, is a native of Ohio, born in 1818. He still resides in Jackson County. His mother was born in 1816, near Hamden, Ohio, and is still living. They were blessed with five children—Eliza, James, Mahala, Armeda, Abraham. Elias and Sarah (Norris) Simins, parents of Mrs. Downard, were natives of Ohio. They died when she was quite young. Their children were—Elias, Frank, and Mary. Samuel J. Jeffers, a native of Carthage Township, Athens Co., Ohio, born March 27, 1840. He lived there till he reached his majority, when he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-third Ohio Infantry, October, 1861, serving three years, during which time he participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and Holly Springs, Miss. He was taken sick in April, 1863, with abscess of the lungs, and was in the hospital in the convalescent corps for one year and the remainder of the time was in the invalid corps at Washington. October, 1864, he was discharged, after which he came home and farmed and went to school for two years. He was married May 6, 1866, to Elizabeth S. Shield, of Meigs County, Ohio. She was born May 4, 1846. They have three children living—Myrta, born Dec. 21, 1868;. Arthur P., March 8, 1878; Delmont, Aug. 26, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffers are members of the Christian church. He moved to Orange Township, Meigs Co., Ohio, in the fall of 1866 and engaged in saw and grist milling. In 1875 he came to Vinton Township wrere he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He resides on section 17, Vinton Township, and owns a farm of 294 acres. He was elected one of the directors of the County Infirmary of Vinton County. John Murray, farmer, was born in Virginia, Jan. 13, 1830. He came to Ohio in 1847, and about 1855 settled on his present residence on section 16, Vinton Township, having sixty acres of good land. He enlisted in the 100 days' service in the Eighteenth Ohio Regiment in the late war, and after the expiration of that time he was employed as teamster for the Government for two years. In 1860 Vinton Township was visited by a tornado which demolished his house, and at the same time Mrs. Murray was struck in the forehead by something flying through the air, leaving a scar 1370 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. to this day. He was married April 25, 1864, to Susan E. Burns, a native of Greene County, Va., born March 22, 1843. She is a member of the United Brethren church. S. J. Norton, merchant, Radcliff, Ohio, was born in Livingston County, N. Y., Nov. 21, 1820. He left his native town when five years old and came to Portage County, Ohio, where he lived till he was eighteen years of age. In 1839 he came to Vinton County, Ohio, where he has lived the most of the time since. He was married at McArthur, Aug. 3, 1841, to Catherine Cottrell, born in Virginia, Dec. 9, 1824. They were blessed' with seven children—Mary, Alice, Cyrus, Catherine, Florence, Del, Elias. His wife died in February, 1878, and he was again married in February, 1879, to Ann Markon, who has borne him two children—Perry and Seth. Mr. Norton commenced his present mercantile business in Radcliff in September, 1881. He was appointed Postmaster in October, 1881, and is still acting Postmaster at Radcliff. He has been a member of the order of Freemasons since 1850 and belongs to the chapter. James Pierce, farmer, was born in Vinton Township, Vinton Co., Ohio, then Athens County, Feb. 9, 1821. His father, William Pierce, was born in Montgomery County, Va., in 1787, and died in Vinton County, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1870. His mother was also a native of Montgomery County, born in 1791. She died in Vinton County, on the old homestead, July 12, 1874. They were the parents of nine boys and five girls, our subject being the seventh child. He was married May 17, 1849, to Mahala Phillips. They have five children—Daniel H., Mathias, Thurman A., William and Mary J. Mr. Pierce and wife are members of the United Brethren church. He owns 176 acres of good land on fraction 31. He has held the office of Township Treasurer for nineteen successive years, and Township Trustee several terms, and has also been Trustee of school and ministerial lands. Arthur P. Vale, merchant and farmer, was born in Pomeroy, Meigs Co., Ohio, Sept. 27, 1847. His parents moved to a farm near Wilkesville where they lived four years, when they came to Vinton Township, Vinton County, where his father bought the site and built a grist-mill, known as Vale's Mills. He now resides on section 5, where he owns eighty-nine acres of good land. He has been engaged in the general dry-goods and grocery trade for nineteen years. He was married Oct. 5, 1875, to Nancy Trainer, born in Meigs County, Ohio, March 10, 1849. They have been HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1371 blessed with one child—Frank T., born Aug. 1.6, 1878. Mr. Vale was instrumental in having the postoffice at Vale's Mills established and has served as Postmaster there since 1878. His great-grandfather, William Parker, came from Pennsylvania to Meigs County, and settled on what is now known as Parker's Run, where he died. His grandfather on his father's side, James Vale, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Ohio in 1818. His father, Samuel Vale, died in Ohio, July 17, 1876. The Vale family came from England with William Penn's second colony. J. Q. A. Vale, miller, was born in Meigs County, Ohio, March 9, 1851, where he lived till 1876, with the exception of five years spent in Minnesota. He came to Vinton County and took charge of the saw and grist mill, known as Vale's Mill, May 1, 1876, in which he still continues. He has 100 acres of land in Meigs County and four acres where his mill stands, in Vinton Township. Nov. 20, 1873, he was married to Lutie Phetteplace, born in Meigs County, March 25, 1852. They have one child—Mamie E., born April 7, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Vale have been members of the Laurel Grange, No. 1,030, Meigs County, since 1874. He is a member of the Orphan's Friend Lodge of Freemasons, No. 275, and is also a member of the chapter. He has held the office of Township Treasurer of Vinton Township, two years. CLINTON. Hon. Thomas M. Bay, farmer and stock-raiser, was born July 5, 1820, in Guernsey County, Ohio. His early life was principally spent on the farm, and he obtained only such education as the subscription schools afforded. In the fall of 1852 he located in Vinton County on his present place of residence, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Altogether he owns 900 acres of land, the home farm consisting of 483 acres. In 1849 he married Rachel, daughter of John and Lucinda (Graham) Buskirk. Mrs. Bay is a native of Ohio. Five children have been sent to bless this unionIrenus W., Josephine, Frank H., Sanford H. and Cora. He was elected in 1861 and served one term on the Board of Commissioners. He was elected Representative in 1871 on the Republican ticket, and in 1873 re-elected to the same office. His parents, Robert and Phoeba (Lindley) Bay, were natives of Pennsylvania, and he was the second white child born in Washington County. His father, Thomas Bay, was of Irish descent and served in the war of the Revolution. Ziba Lindley, father of Phoeba, was of Scotch descent, and 1372 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. his wife of French origin. Robert Bay served in the war of 1812 as a Colonel under General William H. Harrison, and after its close located in Guernsey County, Ohio, where he lived till 1852. He then removed to Vinton County, locating near Zaleski, where he died in 1855 aged seventy-seven years. He was the father of seven children—Harrison, Eliza, Lindley, Cynthia, Thomas M., Irenus aud Ann. His wife died when our subject was a child. A. A. Cozzens, proprietor Hamden Fleming Mill. This mill was built in 1859 by E. W. Rover. It contains two run of burrs and is fitted up with modern machinery throughout, and has a manufacturing capacity of twenty-five barrels per day. In 1874 Mr. Cozzens bought out the former proprietors and immediately afterward put in the new machinery, and at present is sole proprietor. He was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1830. He was reared in the mill, and in 1855 came to Vinton County and took control of a mill at McArthur. He is a thorough and intelligent miller in every respect. He is one of the Infirmary Directors of the county, having been elected first •in 1877 and re-elected in 1881. In 1858 he was married to Mandana W. Pierce, by whom he had four children—Allie, Mary, William and Maggie. Mrs. C. died in 1879. He is an acceptable and worthy member of the order of Masonry, and holds membership in the McArthur Lodge. S. F. Cramer, harness-maker, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1832, and is a son of William and Drusilla Clarey) Cramer. His father was born in Germany and came to America in 1806. His mother was a native of Maryland. They were married in Muskingum County, and settled one and a half mile west of McArthur in 1840, on a farm of eighty acres. Here they lived ten years, losing their farm on account of a defective title. They were the parents of ten children, three of whom are living in Vinton County—Margaret, wife of Voss Hoffhines, Drusilla, wife of Richard Craig, Surveyor, of Vinton County, and S. F. Mr. Cramer died in December, 1868, aged eighty-four years. Mrs. Cramer died in 1873, aged sixty-three years. Our subject was eight years old when his parents located in this county. He began learning the harness-making trade at McArthur in 1848, and in 1851 located at Hamden Junction, where he carried on his trade till 1857, when he moved away, and returned in 1863. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1878, and was re-elected in 1881; was elected Mayor of the town of Hamden Junction in 1868, and is now serving his third term. He is a member of Mineral Lodge, A. HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1373 F. & A. M. He was married in 1854 to Theresa Grimes. They have six children—Hattie (wife of Charles Denig), Edgar, Allie (wife of Gus Gossman), Frank, Anna and Grace. Mrs. Cramer died in September, 1875, aged thirty-eight years. John Guard, farmer, was born in Fayette County; Pa., March 6, 1829. He was reared in his native State, and in 1840 went to Kentucky, and in 1841 came to Lawrence County, Ohio, where he lived till 1858, when he came to Vinton County and resided till 1861, engaged in the furnace business. He then returned to Lawrence County, and resided there until 1874, when he returned to his present place of residence. He has been twice married, first to Elizabeth Hale, of Jackson, who died in 1858. His second wife was Louisa, daughter of Joseph McKinness, a pioneer of Vinton County, whose sketch appears in this work. By his first wife h had three children, two living—Osias Scott and Ephraim. Jolla A. is deceased. Mr. Guard owns forty-nine acres of well-improved land adjoining the corporation of Hamden Junction. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. His parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Scott) Guard, settled in Lawrence County, Ohio. His father was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother in Preston County, Va. From Ohio his father removed to Maryland, where he died. Columbus Johnson, farmer and County Commissioner, was born in this township in 1846, and is a son of Abraham and Matilda (Pewters) Johnson. His father was .a son of John Johnson, who settled on section 16 in 1814, where he lived until his death in 1860, aged seventy-five years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. The following were his children—Abraham, Henry, William, John, Nancy, Terresa, Charlotta and Sallie. By his second wife he had two children—Emily and Christena. Abraham, the eldest son, was born in 1816, and married Matilda A., daughter of William Pewters. After marrying he settled in this township, and in 1857 removed across the line into Jackson County, Ohio. He was elected one of the Commissioners of Jackson County, and while in the discharge of public business, in superintending the construction of a bridge, a derrick fell upon him and caused instant death, Oct. 19, 1876. He was a man with fine executive ability and was never defeated when a caudidate for office. Seven children were born to him—Alanson, Columbus, Clinton, Erastus, Seymour, Sallie Ann and Malinda A. Mrs. Johnson died in 1873 at the age of fifty-two years. Both were members of the Christian church and took much interest in religious matters. He owned 800 acres of good land at 1374 - HISTORY OF HOOKING VALLEY his death; he was also one of the original organizers and stockholders of the Hamden furnace. Our subject was married in 1872 to Mary E. Buckley. He was elected to the office of County Commissioner in 1880; lie has also been largely identified with the offices of the township. He owns 256 acres of well-improved land. One child has been born to him—Ernest B. F. B. Kolb, dealer in groceries, glassware, etc., came to Hamden Junction in 1873, and was first in the employ of the M. Sr C. R. R. as night watchman, in which capacity he served four years. He then assumed charge of their telegraph office for one year, having learned telegraphy previously. In 1878 lie went into his present business. He carries a general and complete stock and has one of the best stores in the place. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1853. His early life was passed in various ways, but principally on the farm. Before attaining his majority he began railroading on the M. Sr, C. R. R. lie lost his right arm on the road while coupling cars on a trestle. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., Hamden Lodge, No. 517. He was married in 1879 to Miss Mattie Foster. They have one child—Stephen F. A. L. Lewis, dealer in drugs and notions, came to Hamden, in April,1865, and began photographing, which he followed one summer together.with silversmithing. He was born in Gallia County, in 1829. His early life was passed upon the farm, and he received the rudiments of 'his education in the common schools which was developed by a course:of study in a High School. In 1858 he began teaching in Ohio. In 1861 he taught in Virginia, after which he returned to Ohio and taught two terms. In 1848 he began the study of medicine under his own direction at first and afterward under the direction of a regular physician. In 1856 he began practicing and has made a specialty of chronic diseases. He has been very successful in the treatment of such cases, having cured many serious cases. In 1865 he removed back to Gallia. County, and for three years traveled quite extensively, and returned to Hamden in 1868. He now carries a full line of drugs. He owns a good property in the village, consisting in a dwelling and business house. T. F. McClure, proprietor of Hamden Foundry and Machine Company, was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1852, and is a son of John B. McClure, who settled in Shelby County, Ohio, in an early day, and afterward removed to Jackson County, Ohio. Our subject began business at Hamden Junction in 1873, by keeping hotel and livery, which he continued four years. Then went to