HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 325 and. He was married in 1845 to Margaret, daughter of Richard Timmons. They have had a family of thirteen children, but six now living—Richard, Sarah, Margaret, James, Thomas and Mary. Henry Frische was born in Scioto County, Ohio, Sept. 9, 1840, a son of Eberhart and Agnes Frische, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1836, and located in Scioto County, Ohio. His father worked at Union Furnace till 1839, and then entered land from the Government and commenced clearing a farm, on which he resided until his death in 1882. His mother died when he was quite small. They had a family of five children, but two now living—John, a wagon-maker at Pine Grove Furnace, and Henry. The latter was reared on the home farm, and after attaining his majority went to work at Howard Furnace. In 1881 he moved to the farm where he now resides. He has 137 acres of fine land, and makes a specialty of wheat-growing. He was married in 1871 to Elizabeth, daughter of John Davis. They have had seven children, but five now living—John, William, Mary C., Emma T. and Margaret E. Mr. and Mrs. Frische are members of St. Peter's Catholic Church. Jacob F. Fritz was born in Maryland, Feb. 25,1845, a son of Gotleib and Christina Fritz, natives of Germany, who came to the United States about 1830, and to Scioto County, Ohio, in 1856, locating on a farm near Wheelersburg. His father died in 1882. His mother is still living. Jacob F. was the eldest son, and was therefore obliged to depend upon himself at an early age, receiving a limited education. He was married in 1869 to Louisa, daughter of Frederick and Sophia Griver. They have six children—George W., Charles, Albert, Emma, Minnie and John. Mr. Fritz owns a good farm of sixty acres, and is one of the enterprising men of the township. In the late war of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fortieth 0. N. G. Rev. Isaac Fullerton was born in Virginia, Feb. 15, 1809,.a son of John and Susannah (Smith) Fullerton, who came to Ohio in 1818, and settled in Jackson County, near Winchester, the next year removing to Portland, where they lived seven years. In 1826 they came to Scioto County and settled in Madison Township, where they both died. Mr. Fullerton was reared a farmer, following that occupation till 1834, when he was ordained a minister in the Free-Will Baptist church, and for nearly fifty years has preached the gospel in connection with farming. He at present is not in charge of any church, preaching only occasionally to fill a vacancy. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, and was appointed Captain of Company G, Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry. He served eighteen months, and was obliged to resign on account of physical disability caused by typhoid fever. He was married in 1829 to Elizabeth Mead, who died in 1874, leaving five children. June 12, 1875, he married Mrs. Melissa Slocumb, daughter of Martin Finney, and widow of Martin Slocumb, by whom she has five children. Mr. Fullerton has a farm of fifty-five acres, where he now resides. Frederick Gabler, Jr., eldest son of Frederick and Christena Gabler, was born in Scioto County, Ohio, Nov. 24, 1849. He was reared on a farm and received a common-school education, and after attaining his majority purchased his farm, which now contains ninety-six acres of well-cultivated land. He was married in 1872 to Mary, daughter of Peter and Anna Bowers, of Scioto County. They have had five children—Anna C., John F. Katie M., Rosa S. and William W. Mr. and Mrs. Gabler are members of Zion Methodist Episcopal Church. James Gibbens was born near Parkersburg, Wood Co., W. Va., Feb. 1, 1799, and was 826 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. married April 16, 1819, to Hannah Kittle, who was born in Randolph County, Va., Dec. 25, 1797. In the spring of 1821 they came to Ohio and settled on a farm near Wheelersburg, where he farmed three years. He is a house-joiner by trade, and has followed that occupation most of his life. He has held township offices for many years, and he was ordained Deacon of the Free-Will Baptist church _about 1835, to which church he has belonged over fifty years. His wife is also a member of the same church. They were blessed with a family of eleven children, of whom six grew to maturity. Two of his sons were volunteers in the late war—Cyrus H., who was killed at the battle of Atlanta by the explosion of a shell, and Randolph, who went South in 1860, and is supposed to be dead. Mr. Gibbens held the position of Deacon till within the last six years, when he resigned. He is in his eighty-fifth year, and they are the oldest couple living in Scioto County. Frederick Ginhiemer was born in Germany, Sept. 27, 1839, a son of Windel and Sophia (Hoffman) Ginhietner. His parents were married in 1826, and in 1843 came with their family, to the United States. They came direct to Portsmouth, Ohio, where his father was employed at the Mt. Vernon Furnace over twenty years. He then bought a farm of 123 acres, moving his family to it in the fall of 1865. It is now well improved, with good and substantial farm buildings. There is a family of four children—Frederick, Francis, Elizabeth and Catherine. Mr. and Mrs. Ginhiemer are both members of the Methodist church. Frederick received a good English education in the district school, and when about sixteen years of age began working at the furnace. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, West Virginia Cavalry, and served till the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Lynchburg, Winchester, and many other severe battles. He was captured by the rebels, but soon after escaped. After his re turn home he began work at the fuluace, ba removed to the farm with his parents, still residing there. He was married in 1866 to Sarah Cotle, a native of Scioto County. Ther have five children—Eli T., William :F., John, Sophia A. and Nora. George Gleim was born in Germany, Jan. 11, 1819. In 1844 he married Anna Wittig and in 1852 they came to the United States; landed in New York City, and came, via Buffalo and Cincinnati, to Ohio. They went to Powellsville, where he obtained employment at the Howard Furnace. In 1856 he purchased the farm where he now resides. He has 173 acres of good land, and is engaged in grain and stock raising. Mr. and Mrs. Gleim had a family of five sons and two daughters, the daughters now deceased. The sons are—John, Adam. F., George, Peter and An. drew. George is now carrying on the farm, He was born near Empire Furnace in 1854. Oct. 19, 1880, he married Sophia M. Kueh. ner. They have one son—George W. Frank N. Glidden was born in Scioto County, Ohio, in March, 1850, a son of O. H. and Lyncha (Blair) ) Glidden, his father a na. tive of New Hampshire, born Dec. 25, 1814, and his mother of Kentucky, born in January, 1821. Frank, M. has charge of his father's farm. It contains 161 acres of fine land, a large part of it lying in the Ohio bottoms, His father came to Ohio with twenty others, and formed a colony near Wheelersburg. He for several years was engaged in teaming for the furnaces. In 1838 he, with others, established the Junior Furnace, and in 1847 built the Empire Furnace, but in 1865 sold his interest and purchased a farm. He died in 1879, and his wife Jan. 7, 1880. They reared a family of five children—Laura A., John AL, Ruth H., Frank M. and Jesse B. Laura married W. L. Sickles, a steamboat captain, in 1863. He died Jan. 6, 1872, leaving four children—Perl R., Bertha H., Cora G. and W. L., Jr. HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 827 Aaron Grady was born Aug. 30, 1848, in Benton Township, Pike Co., Ohio. His parents were .Americans, of Irish and English descent on his father's side, and German on his mother's. They were poor, but by industry and economy managed to make a good living and send their children to the district schools during the winter months, though the schools often lasted but two or three months. He studied hard during the long winter evenings and rainy days throughout the year, and when nineteen years old commenced teaching, and has continued in the business ever since. He is now regarded as one of the most successful teachers of the county. He is Superintendent of the Wheelersburg graded schools, and has filled the same position for the past five years with marked success, and to the entire satisfaction of all. He is also a member of the Board of County School Examiners, which position he has filled for-nine years. During the summer of 1870 he attended the Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio, a school well calculated to fit young men and women for teaching. While there his desire for learning increased, and since that time he has been a faithful student, and by industry and undergoing many privations, on account of his poverty, he has become quite well acquainted with the higher mathematics, philosophy, physiology, rhetoric, and has read Latin some. He has taught graded schools since 1876,, and during that time has taught three large select schools, composed for the most part of young lady and gentlemen school-teachers. As a result of early pious training, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Wheelersburg, Ohio. In September, 1876, he took charge of the Sciotoville schools, and while there "made the acquaintance of Miss Hattie, daughter of Captain William and Frances Allard, and married her July 3, 1877. They have three children —George Otto, born May 26, 1878; William Earl, born Dec. 6, 1879, and Clare, born Feb. 11, 1883. Friedrich, Griver, a native of Germany, born in 1820, and when a young man came to the United States. He located at Pine Grove Furnace, where lie was employed twenty-five years. He then bought a farm, moving his family to it in 1863. It is now a well-cultivated productive farm, containing 160 acres. He was married at Hanging Rock to Sophia Ranchhouse. Eleven children were born to them, only nine now living. Mr. Griver died in 1875. He was an enterprising and industrious man, and was universally esteemed. He was a member of Zion Methodist Episcopal Church. John J. House, foreman of the Scioto Fire-Brick Yards, was born July 6, 1849, in Allegheny County, Pa. He received his education in the schools of Pittsburg, Wheeling, Va., and Sciotoville. In 1865 he commenced to work at the yards, and in 1880 he was appointed to his present position as foreman. Sept. 6, 1869, he was married to Nancy J. Ellison, a native of Jackson County, Ohio, born Dec. 18, 1845. They have been blessed with six children, four of whom are living—Lilly, Edward, Nellie and Mary. Mr. House and wife are members of the. Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, Wheelersburg Lodge, No. 337. His father, Jacob, was a native of Germany. Be was killed near Pittsburg, Pa., in 1849 by the slate from the top of a coal bank falling on him. His mother, Margaret Horton, was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 25, 1829, and is at present living in Ashland, Ky. They have three children living—James, John and George. Mrs. Frances (Losser) Hudson was born in Switzerland, Feb. 26, 1821. She came to America when fourteen years old and landed at New York. She went immediately to Jackson County, Ohio, and lived on a farm nine miles west of Jackson. She was married 328 - HISTORY OF LOWER SOIOTO VALLEY. Oct. 16, 1860, to Samuel Hunsinger, born Oct. 1, 1826, in the canton of Hargo, Switzerland. He came to America at the age of eight years and lived on a farm near Jackson. After his marriage he came to Porter Township, Scioto County, where he followed farming till his death, Nov. 27, 1868. He was buried at Wheelersburg. They had a family of two children—Cornelia E., born Sept. 14, 1861,and Samuel A. L., Aug. 7, 1864. Our subject was married a second time to Joseph Hudson, Oct. 26, 1871. He was born in Kentucky in 1818. Mrs. Hudson has 105 acres of good land on sections 17 and 19 and a residence on section 17, Porter Township. She and her daughter Cornelia are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Resin R. Kennedy was born iu Massac County, Ill., Oct. 5, 1852, a son of John and Catharine (Oaks) Kennedy, his father a native of Scioto County, Ohio, born in 1818, and his mother a native of Marietta, Ohio. His parents were married, in Illinois and resided there till 1859, when they came to Scioto County aud settled on the farm where Rezin R. now lives. In 1875 they removed to Wheelersburg where they still reside. His grandfather, Robert Kennedy, came to Ohio from New York in 1816 and died here in 1873. Rezin R. received a common-school education and afterward taught six years. In 1875 he began farming and is now regarded as one of the most intelligent and enterprising farmers of the township. He was married in 1875 to Caroline, daughter of George and Margaret B. Smith. Three children have been born to them—John R., George O. and Maggie M. Mr. Kennedy has served as Trustee of his township. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church. Smith S. Littlejohn was born in Jackson County, Ohio, June 18, 1858, a son of James and Cynthia (Smith) Littlejohn, his father a native of Porter Township, Scioto Co., Ohio, born in 1820, and his mother a native of Greenup County, Ky., his parents are residents of this township. They have raised s family of seven children, all now living,; Smith S. received a common-school education, and attended one term at the National,: Normal School, Lebanon, Ohio, and when nineteen years of age began to teach. He works on a farm in the summer and teach in the winter. He is one of the best disciplinarians and instructors in the county. In 1881 he married Amelia S. Ranshahous, a native of Portsmouth, Ohio. They have one daughter—Addie A. Mr. Littlejohn is Justice of the Peace of his township. Charles P. Lloyd was born June 10, 1840, at Portsmouth, Ohio, and attended the public schools of his native place till fifteen years old, after which he attended the Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, for five years. graduating from there in June, 1860. He then read law at Portsmouth six months and in the spring of 1861 he went to Iowa, an for three years was engaged in farming in Muscatine County. He then returned to Portsmouth aud engaged in the wholesale boot and shoe business under the firm name of R. Lloyd & Sons, which was afterward changed to Lloyd, Traey & Co. He finally sold out his business and in 1876 was elected Treasurer of the Scioto Fire-Brick Company, and the following year was appointed President and General Superintendent of that coin. pang, which position he still holds. He was married Feb. 26, 1863, to Laura J. Bentley, born at Hanging Rock, Ohio, Feb. 23, 1843, This union has been blessed with two children —Richard Bentley, born Dec. 13, 1863, and Genevieve, born Nov. 14, 1880. Mr. Lloyd and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is also a member of the Aurora Lodge of Freemasons, No. 48, and a Knight Templar, Commandery No. 13. James M. Montgomery was born in Wheelsersburg, Ohio, May 3, 1841, a son of William HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 329 and Nancy (Belote) Montgomery, natives of Scioto County. His father was a miller, but the latter years of his life lived on a farm. He died in April, 1870, aged seventy-five years. His mother is still living, aged eighty-two years. Of a family of seven children but three are now living. James M. was reared and educated in his native county. In 1861 he enlisted in the Twenty-third Ohio Infantry and served three years. He was wounded in the right wrist, which resulted in the loss of the use of his hand. He was innstered out Dec. 24, 1864, and returned home and has since lived on the old homestead, his mother, sister Mary, and a niece, Annie, residing with him. The farm contains seventy acres of well-cultivated land. James J. Moore was born in Scioto County, Ohio, Feb. 19, 1815, a son of William and Sarah (Norris) Moore, natives of Kentucky, and early settlers of this county. His mother died in 1850 and his father in 1857. They had a family of thirteen children, eight living till maturity. James J. was reared a farmer and has always followed that occupation. He was married in 1843 to Martha A., daughter of William and Amelia Freeman. She was born in Virginia, Dec. 23, 1815, and came to Ohio with her parents when seventeen years of age. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Moore moved to Greenup County, Ky., and in 1859 returned to Ohio and bought their present farm of sixty-four acres. They have three children—one son and two daughters. They are members of the Christian church. Mrs. Moore's parents had fourteen children, eight of whom lived to be men and women, but Mrs. Moore is the only one now living. Her father died in 1848 and her mother in 1859. Thomas Powell was born in South Wales in 1831. He was married in 1851 to Margaret Nichols, and the same year came to the United States, locating first in Norristown, Pa. Three years later he removed to Wheeling, W. Va., thence to Ashland, Ky. He enlisted in 1861 in the Fourteenth Kentucky Infantry and served three years and a half. He was in many severe battles under General Garfield the first year, and was then detached from his regiment and assigned to the Engineer Battalion, Twenty-third Army Corps. He was at the siege of Knoxville and battle of Atlanta, General Burnside commanding. He was discharged in February, 1865, and soon after located in Sciotoville, and engaged in the manufacture of fire brick. In 1.853 he purchased sixty-one acres of land and is now engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have two daughters—Mary A.,. now Mrs. Z. Beloat, and Sarah J.., now Mrs. George Mathiott. E. Powers, farmer, was born Oct. 9, 1828, in Scioto County, where he was reared and educated, and in his younger days followed brick-laying and plastering. He now possesses 181 acres of good land on section 9, Porter Township, on which there is to be found a large quantity of fire clay. He has a fine land for pasturing and has turned his attention considerably to that. Nov. 30, 1851, he was married to Sarah Dean, a native of Scioto County, born in 1829. She died Oct. 6, 1868. They were the parents of three children—Frank, Horace and Kate. He was married to his second wife, Mary Bagley, May 25, 1873. She was born in New York in 1835. They have one child, John, born March 26, 1874. Mr. Powers is a member of the Orient Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 337, Wheelersburg, Ohio. His wife belongs to the Free-Will Baptist church. George Fife, farmer, was born in Scioto County, 0., July 17, 1845, where he was educated, and followed farming till hfs marriage with Caroline Duis, March 12, 1867. She was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, Feb. 9, 1850, and is a daughter of H. and Louisa (Todrant) Duis, natives of Germany. The 330 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY former was born Nov. 29, 1825, and the latter Sept. 24, 1829, and at present are living in Ironton, Ohio. Mr. Rife lived on his farm on section 9, Porter Township, until the fall of 1880, when he moved to his present residence on section 9, which is known as the H. Duis place, consisting of 116 acres of fine land. He and his wife are members of the German Methodist church. Their family consists of six children--Willie W., born July 27, 1869; Rosa E., Dec. 25, 1871; Frank, Oct. '2, 1874; Clara B., April 9, 1877; Louisa H., March 16, 1880; Maggie M., Aug. 3, 1883. Michael and Barbara (Messer) Rife, parents of our subject, are natives of Germany, and are living at present in Wheelersburg, Ohio. Elizabeth Messer, our subject's grandmother, was born in Germany, Sept.. 9, 1801. She came to America in 1830, and has resided in Porter Township about fifty-three years. She is a member of the German Methodist church, and is one of the oldest emigrant citizens of the Scioto Valley. Edward Rowley, son of William and Nancy (Dillon) Rowley, both of whom were born in 1801 and died in 1880, the former a iiative of New York. They had a family of four boys and eight girls, our subject being the sixth child. He was born March 11, 1829, on section 9, Porter Township, Scioto County, Ohio, where he still resides. He followed flat-boating in his younger days and also worked at brick-making. At present he has an excellent farm of sixty-four acres, which is worth at least $3,000. lie was married Jan. 18, 1857, to Elizabeth Ann Deaver, born in Kentucky, Feb. 23, 1838. To them were born ten children—Hugh, Virginia, Hannah, Jennetta, Elizabeth, Edward, Frankling, Ernest, William and Harry. George Deaver, father of Mrs. Rowley, was born in Maryland in 1811 and died in 1869. Her mother, Jennetta (Thomas) Deaver, was born in. Kentucky in 1812 and is,still living. Mrs. Rowley was the third child of a family of four boys and three girls. Levi Wheeler was born in Scioto County, Ohio, June 11, 1823, a son of Luther and Rebecca (Hastings) Wheeler, natives of New Hampshire, who came to Ohio in 1820, and located near Wheelersburg, where his mother died in 1857 and his father in 1858. They reared a family of four children—Nathan, Isaac, Martha and Levi. When fifteen years of age Levi Wheeler went to work in the Scioto Furnace. He worked at different furnaces till 1856 and then bought the Pine Creek Mill. Eight years later he sold the mill to his brother Nathan and removed to a farm, but after two years bought the Scioto Mills at Harrisonville. In connection with milling lie owned a general store, but in 181 sold both mill and store, and in 1881 bought the store of Lemuel Salladay at the Giant Oak Mills, and is carrying on a general rnercan. tile business in connection with his farm of 500 acres. He was married in 1847 to Joanna, daughter of T. M. Bennett. They have eight children — Thomas, Levi, Isaac, William, Ulysses G., James, Lucretia and Minerva, Two children died in infancy. Politically Mr. Wheeler is a Republican. He has held the offices of Deputy Sheriff, Treasurer, and Trustee of his township. Hans C. Williamson, a native of Den. mark, was born May 25, 1842. He was educated in his native country, and when sixteen years of age began to learn the carpenter' trade, working at it three years. He then engaged as sailor on a merchant ship running between Denmark, England and France, and in 1864 sailed for America, landing in Quebec, Canada. From there he went by rail to Boston; thence to Virginia, and settled in Wise County, where he followed his trade, In the fall of 1882 he removed to Scioto County and settled on a farm on Lick Run, In 1867 he married Martha L. Vanover, a na- HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 331 tive of Virginia. They have six children. Mr. Williamson is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Frederick Woolford, son of David and Susauna Catherine (Arnst) Woolford, was born Nov. 3, 1798, in Bath County, Va. He came to Ohio with his father in 1802 and settled in Scioto County, on the place where he still resides and where his father died, Feb.18, 1851. Susanna (Arnst) Woolford was born in Virginia and died in Illinois in 1835. Frederick Woolford was engaged in piloting salt boats along the coast of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers for many years. He was married in 1833 to Mary Dillon, who died in Scioto County, Ohio, Jan. 10, 1842. They had a family of four children —Rachel, Mariah, Frank and Mary, all deceased. Frank was married to Christina Rust who bore him one child—Mary Mice, born Dec. 19, 1870. He was killed ty the explosion of a boiler near Wheelersburg, March 13, 1871. Our subject was again married in 1843 to Kesiah Hartley. She died June 7, 1853. Mr. Woolford is one of the old landmarks of the Scioto Valley, as was his father also. CLAY TOWNSHIP. ITS METES AND BOUNDS. Clay Township lies on the east bank of the Scioto River, and its southern boundary is Wayne Township and the Ohio River. It is bounded on the north by Jefferson and Valley townships, and on the east by Harrison and Porter townships. It has an irregular boundary line with an area of about 17,000 acres. Its western border lies in the valley of the Scioto River, and in an agricultural point of view is one of the best townships in the county. Away from the rivers, which flow on its western and southern borders, it is hilly, like the rest of the county. Some coal has been found, and also fire-clay, within its limits. Its hills and its valleys are susceptible of a high state of cultivation, and it yields fairly in all the leading crops. For stock, lying as it does on the river, and having several creeks within its border, it is one of the best in the county. Munn's Run is the largest. Lawson's Run flows into the Ohio River. Sturgeon's Run, in the northwest, empties into the Scioto River, and Long Run takes its rise near the center of the township, and running northeast flows into the Rocky Fork of the Little Scioto. The territory of Clay Township was about as early settled as any part of the county. The bottoms of the Scioto River were a very inviting field for those who made farming their occupation. ORGANIZATION. The organization of the township was on June 7, 1826, but there has been some slight changes at different times since. It is as follows: " Beginning at the northwest corner of section 17, in township 1, and range 21; thence east with the line of Massie's original surveys to the northwest corner of Wm. Law-son's survey; thence south with Lawson's line to the run called Lawson's Run; thence with the meanders of said run to the Ohio; thence up said river to the southwest corner of fraction 12; thence north with Porter Township line on the section line to the southwest corner of section 13, in township 2 and range 21; thence east one mile; thence north one mile; thence west with the section line to the Scioto River; thence down said river, with the meanders thereof, to the place Of beginning. Ordered, That the said boundaries shall compose Clay Township, and that the election of said township assemble on the 23d of June instant, at Clough's Mill, and there and then elect their township officers." OFFICIAL . The officers elected at the first election in the township, 1826, were: Trustees, Gabriel Feurt, Asa Andrews, Enoch Lawson; 332 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. Clerk, Turner M. Martin; Treasurer, Dennis Smith; Justice of the Peace, Jacob Noel; Constable, Jonathan Cutler.; The present township officers (1883) are: Trustees, Wm. Mickelthwait, Martin Sherer and Jacob Geis; Clerk, E. E. Johnson; Treasurer, W. A. Barbee; Justices of the Peace, Phillip Bobst, Marshall McElhiney and Joseph Bierly; Constables, Simon Benner, Newton Baker and Charles Steahley. The voting precinct is at the Noel Schoolhouse. The only saw-mill in the country is located on Munn's Run, owned by P. Summers, but in the summer of 1883 was lying idle. For fine farms, good residences and solid farmers, Clay Township is willing to compare notes with her sister townships. There are some slaughter-houses along the Scioto River within her boundaries. THE RICHEST TOWNSHIP. The tax-duplicate of 1882 reported 15,907 acres as the taxable area of Clay Township, and the valuation of this amounted upon the Assessor's books to $530.060. The chattel property is assessed at $172,504; total, $702,564. The chattel property was returned for 1880 at $172,007, which was a gain of $497 in two years. There are five townships outside of Portsmouth smaller than Clay, and there are nine larger, but Clay Township exceeds all in the valuation of its real and personal property. CHURCHES. The Munn's Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1877 by Rev. Pillsbury. The Trustees were: John Rice, Jesse Rice and Thomas Ruby. They still hold their offices. The original members at the date of organization were: John Robinson and wife, Jesse Rice and wife, Peleg Colgrove and wife, Mrs. Jennette Banners and family, John Rice and wife, Thomas Ruby and wife, Mrs. Rebecca Robinson, Isaac Ruby and Mrs. Ruamma French. The present members will reach nearly 100. Service is held every alternate ,Sabbath by the Rev. Geo. W. Ray, and a Sabbath-school every Sunday under the superintendency of John Rice. The Secretary is William Sherer. They have a very pleasant church (frame), costing some $650, and neatly finished and furnished. -.1: The church has been prosperous since its organization, and its influence for good has spread until it has increased its membership many fold. The Valley M. E. Church. —This church first united together in 1859, and built the church that year. They lived on and near the Columbus and Portsmouth turnpike. The first pastor who occupied its pulpit was Rev. Taft, and those who joined at its organization were: John Thomas, Miss Mary Noel, A. B. Cole and wife, J. M. Salladay and wife, and M. W. Thompson and wife. The present congregation numbers about thirty-six, Rev. Wm. Abernethy being the present pastor, and M. J. Noel, J. D. Teurt and J. M. Salladay, th Trustees. Services are held every other Sun day. The Sabbath-school is well attended, with an average roll of forty-five scholars. M. Noel is the Superintendent, and E. E. John son its Secretary. The Church of the United Brethren (German), is located on Munn's Run Turnpike, and was organized in 1876, Rev. Falgran Azel being the first minister. The Trustees of the church, elected at its organization, were: Peter Summers, Christian Osmire and Chas. Stump, and the church started out with a fair promise for future usefulness. Th original or first members were: Henry Al tard and wife, Frederick Seek and wife, Hiram Swarby and wife, Christian Rheil an wife, Peter Summers and wife, Christian Osmire and wife, and Chas. Stump and wif Their membership now reaches about twenty-five. Preaching and Sunday-school are he every Sunday. Rev. Casper Striech is the present pastor. Average attendance of Sun- HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 333 day-school, twenty. The first trustees-elect still hold. The society has a neat and substantial church building which cost $800. SCHOOLS. Schools have always been given close attention by the people of Clay Township, and in this regard education and wealth go hand in hand. School districts were organized as on as the township became an independent municipality of the county. It was first di'ded into four sub-districts, but the increase f population now gives it six. When organized, the schools were arranged so as to be convenient and at the same tune cover the township. They are now arranged for equal convenience, and each district has a good frame school-house, with all the articles necessary for school purposes. BIOGRAPHICAL. Joseph, Bierly was born near Fincastle, Va., Feb. 28, 1818, and was educated in the common schools of the State. At the age of sixteen he began to learn the carpenter's trade with Henry W. Kemper, of Fincastle, and afterward worked at the wagon and carriage making business seven years. In 1861 he came to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for six years, and in 1875 removed to his present farm. He was married in 1843 to Sarah A. Tolley, a native of Rockbridge County, Va. They have three sons and one daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Bierly are embers of the Methodist Episcopal church on Sixth street, Portsmouth. He has served Justice of the Peace since April, 1876, and as also served as Assessor of Portsmouth ree years. Frank A. Bihlman, son of John and Catherine (Hubbard) Bihlman, was born Nov. 14, 1857. He was married Feb. 4, 1879, to Mary A., daughter of Joseph May. They have been blessed with two children—Frank and Mary Ann. Mr. Bihlman has a farm of twenty acres of fine land, on which good farm buildings are erected. His father was a native of Germany, and came to this country when seventeen years of age. He was a soldier in the Ohio National Guards, and was shot while standing guard, and died in 1864. The mother of our subject died in 1858. Phillip Blum was born in Pittsburg, Pa., Sept. 9, 1845, and when twelve. years old began to learn the tanner's trade, which he followed a number of years, since which he has pursued farming. In 1868 he came to Ohio, and settled on Long Run, where he owns 140 acres of land, with good residence and outbuildings. He is now engaged in farming and gardening, and has lately turned his attention to the cultivation of strawberries. He was married Dec. 10, 1871, to Caroline Boadmer, of Scioto County. They have three children living—Frank H., Christopher and Caroline. Mr. Blum is a member of the lodge at Portsmouth, No. 116, I. 0. 0. F., and belongs to the Presbyterian church. His parents were natives of Germany, and came to the United States in 1845. They are at present making their home in Beaver County, Pa. Joseph Briggs, son of Samuel C. and Miranda (Barber) Briggs, was born in Scioto County, in 1844. He was reared on the home farm near Portsmouth, and attended the district schools. He was married in 1870 to Ermina, daughter of James Thoraoman, of Portsmouth. Three children have blessed this union—Forest C., Cora and Eletha. Mr. Briggs owns a fine farm of 200 acres. He and wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Portsmouth. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1794, and was first married to Rebecca Tunbrooks, who died in 1840, leaving six children, of whom five are living. He was married in 1843 to Miranda Barber, who bore him three children —Joseph, our subject; Sarah A. and Louisa 334 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. E. He came to Ohio about 1817, and followed farming till his death, which occurred in July, 1861. Our subject's mother was born in Portmouth in 1814 and is still living. Milton Buck was born Oct. 5, 1829, in what is now Jackson County. He was married in 1,851 to Hannah, daughter of David Wynne, of Jackson County, and has a family of three children— Susan J., wife of James Armstrong; Catherine A. and Thomas J. He has always followed farming, and in 1875 removed to the farm where he now resides and which he is superintending for A. M. Damarin, of Portsmouth. His father, Thomas Buck, was born about 1800, in Greenbrier County, Va., and was a farmer by occupation. He settled in Gallia County, Ohio, where he resided till his death, in 1855. His wife was a native of Ohio. Charles Chick, deceased, was born in December, 1823, in Gallia County, Ohio, and moved with his father's family, in 1846, to the farm now occupied by his widow, and which contains 237 acres of good land. He was married in 1854 to Sarah, daughter of John and Rebecca Lawson. They have had born to them ten children—Lizzie, Stephen C., Ida (married to William Horr), Clara B., John W., Hattie S., Henrietta (died when three years of age), Ella E., Laura R., Walter A. and Pearl. Mr. Chick died June 7, 1877, and the farm is now managed by his widow and eldest son. Her father, John Lawson, was one of the pioneer settlers of Scioto Valley. He died in 1859. William Chick, father of our subject, was born near Liverpool, England, and when a young man came to America and settled in Gallia County, Ohio, where he died in 1847, and his wife died in 1845. Amos Spencer Cole, son of Captain A. B. Cole, was born Oct. 19, 1857, in the house where his father now resides. At the age of twenty-three years he accepted a clerkship in the postoffice at Baltimore, but at the end of eight months returned home. His father be. ing in poor health he took charge of the farm, which he managed till 1882. In 1883 he was married to Mary Fritts, stepdaughter of T. T. Geager, of Portsmouth. William Dorman, was born at Pine Grove Furnace, Lawrence Co., Ohio, Dec. 25, 1856. He has a good farm of forty acres, on which is a substantial house. His parents were natives of Germany, his father born in 1822, and his mother in 1827. They came to this country and were married in Cincinnati, and I shortly after moved to Missouri. They next moved to Pine Grove Furnace, where he worked six or seven years. In 1868 he moved to Scioto County and lived one year in Portsmouth, where he purchased his present farm of thirty acres. They reared a family of four sons—John C., who died at Cincinnati in 1882; Henry, George and William. John F. Droege was born in Bohnhorst, ex-kingdom of Hanover, Germany, Feb. 13, 1813, where he was reared and educated. He came to America in the fall of 1836, landing at Baltimore. From there he went to Wheeling, W. Va., and then to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was employed as workman in an oil-cloth factory for six years. In 1842 he went back to Germany; started from New Orleans, Dec. 5, and landed in Bremen, and returned in 1843. He was employed in a dry. goods store in Cincinnati till 1845, when he went the second time to Germany, and in 1846 returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, and started in business for himself in a hardware, queen's-ware and variety store on Clinton street. He was married in 1847 to Lucy Fiedler, who was born Nov. 11, 1824, in Bornstof, Hanover. To them were born five children, but one living, Louisa. He sold out his business in Cincinnati in 1853 and came to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he kept a hardware store about fourteen years. In 1868 he purchased his present farm of sixteen, HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 335 acres of very valuable land, on which he has a substantial frame residence. In 1880 his daughter Louisa was married to William Cook, of Hanging Rock, Ohio. Leonard Eck was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, in December, 1841. His parents were natives of Germany, where they were married, and in 1839 came to the United States and settled in Chillicothe, where they remained six years. They then moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, where the mother died in 1875. The father is still Hying on a farm in this county. They were the parents of ten children, of whom five are living—Emma, Maria, Eve, Lizzie and Leonard, our subject, who was reared principally in Portsmouth, where he lived till he was twenty-one years old. In 1864 he was married to Mary, daughter of Nicholas Cooper, of Portsmouth. They have a family of five girls and three boys. He has a finely cultivated farm of thirty acres, on which are good buildings. Henry Clinton Feurt was born Oct. 7, 1839, in Scioto County, and is a son of Henry and Mary A. (Winkler) Feurt, the former a native of Scioto County, Ohio, and the latter born in New York. They had a family of eleven children, of whom six are still living. Mr. Feurt died in 1873, but his widow still survives. Our subject was married in January, 1867, to Caroline, daughter of John . Feurt, an early settler of this county. They have two children living—Albert L. and Jennie. Mr. Feurt is a member of Lucasville Lodge, No. 465. He has a fine farm of 196 acres, and is one of the most successful corn and wheat raisers in his neighborhood. John D. Feurt was born in Scioto County, Ohio, March 2, 1816, a son of Gabriel and Lyda (Hitchcock) Feurt, natives of New Jersey and Virginia. His father was born in 1779, and came with his father to Ohio. His father enlisted in the war of 1812, and after his return home located on Ferguson's, afterward Feurt's, Run, where he lived till his death, in 1850. His mother died in 18C3. They had a family of eight children, but two now living—James H., a resident of Portsmouth, and John D. The latter was reared on his father's farm, receiving the education at-ford by the schools of that day, and by studying during his leisure hours. When twenty-one years of age lie began farming on his own account. fie has been very successful, and now owns 400 acres of valuable land. lJe was married in 1839 to Maria J. Oldfield, daughter of Colonel William Oldfield. They have had nine children, but seven now living—Caroline C., now Mrs. H. C. Feurt; Lyda M., now Mrs. John Linsey, of Florida; Harriet E., now Mrs. W. H. Peters; Nettie J., now Mrs. Geo. M. Salladay; Frank B., now Mrs. John F. Noel; John F., married Florence Linsey, and William O. Mr. Feurt has been Justice of the Peace ten years, and has held other township offices. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Nicholas Gabel was born Aug. 23, 1820, in Germany, and at the age of eight years came with his parents, Peter and Mary Gabel, to America. His father bought a farm near Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained till his death, at the age of ninety-eight years. His wife died at the age of ninety-two years. Our subject came to Chillicothe, Ohio, when sixteen years of age. While working on the canal lie was buried under an embankment, which caved in on him, and after being taken out was unconscious for fifteen hours. He was badly lacerated and was unable to work for some time. In 1833 he came to Portsmouth and worked at the mason's trade. During the following winter he went to the farm, where he remained four years, after which he followed boating on the Ohio River. In 1845 he married Mary De Gear by whom he has had ten children, of whom five are living—Mary, Catherine, George W., Frank and Nicholas. He purchased his present farm in 1845, which contains 270 acres of good 336 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. land, part of which is owned by another. He has been very successful in all his under:- takings, and from a poor man has become very comfortably situated. Jacob Geis was born May 8, 1844, in Scioto County, and is the son of Sebastian Geis, who died in 1863. He has pursued farming through life and, at present owns a good farm of 160 acres in Nebraska, besides forty acres where he resides. He was married in 1870 to Mary, daughter of Lawrence Carl, of Scioto County. They have had four children—John J., Frank L., Rosa M. and Henry Edward. Mr. Geis has served as Township Assessor two terms, besides having held several other minor offices. His parents were natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in an early day and settled in Scioto County on the farm now occupied by our subject. His mother died in 1872. John W. Hogan was born March 4, 1842, in New Orleans, La., where he lived till he was thirteen years old. He then went to school in Ironton two years, when he came to Ohio and worked on a farm till the breaking-out of the war. He joined the Thirty-third Ohio and was ordered to Maysville, Ky. He participated in the battle of Stone River, where he was wounded, which disabled him for a time. He joined his regiment April 11, 1862, and took part in the battles of Tullahoma, Chickamauga and many others, and was mustered out in July, 1865, having served four years. Dec. 6, 1865, he was married to Maria J., daughter of Peter Noel, of this county. They have three children living—William E., Martha J. and Windfill Edwin. Mr. Hogan owns 73 acres of excellent land. He is at present serving as School Director. William Humm was born in Adams County, Ohio, Aug. 10, 1854. His parents were born and married in Germany and came to America in 1850, landing in New York City, and from there went to Buffalo, from there to Cincinnati, and in 1853 removed to Adams County. In 1871 they removed to Scioto County and purchased twenty-seven acres, where they are still living. They had a fam. ily of three children—Lena, who died in 1882, John and William. Our subject is the oldest son and helps his father with the farm work. They are engaged in gardening and raising grain. Their farm is in a high state of cultivation. They have a fine vineyard and a large quantity of fruit-trees. Samuel J. Huston, Sr., was born Sept. 29, 1800, in Winchester, Va., a son of William and Susan (Boyd) Huston. His parents moved to Ohio in 1802 and he was reared and educated in Portsmouth. He learned the trade of making spinning wheels, at which he worked a number of years. In 1823 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Adam Lenard, of Portsmouth. Their family consisted of fourteen children, of whom eight still survive–Elizabeth, Cecelia, Sarah, Helen, Margaret, Maria, Irene and Samuel J. Soon after his marriage he moved to Brush Creek, where he assisted in building steamboats, after which he built one of the best boats on the Ohio River. In 1847 he built a saw-mill, which he ran some time. He has ten acres of valuable land on which lie has a neat residence, situated just outside the corporate limits of Portsmouth. In politics Mr. Huston is a Democrat, and in 1854 was elected by that party to the State Legislature. His first presidential vote was cast for General Jackson. He is now in his eighty-third year, and is an active old gentleman. His father was a native of Virginia, of Irish descent. He came to the Scioto Valley in 1802 and built the fourth cabin in Portsmouth. He was a tailor by trade, but did not work much at that, but fol. lowed keel-boating a number of years. Our subject's mother was born in Maryland and died in 1854. Milton Johnson was born March 28, 1825, near Johnson's Station, Scioto County. He HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 337 was reared on a farm and attended the district schools, but obtained the greater part of his education by private study. At the age of twenty-five he began to study civil engineering under Francis Cleveland, of Portsmouth, with whom he was associated two years. He purchased his present farm of about 400 acres in 1862. In connection with his farm he devotes considerable time to surveying, he having the division of farms ordered by the courts. In May, 1861, he was married to Eliza E. Peters, daughter of Captain E. P. Peters, of Pike County, Ohio. Mr. Johnson belongs to Aurora Lodge, No. 48, A. F. & A. M., of Portsmouth, and also to the Chapter of Cavalry Commandery of Knights Templar. William F. Lawson was born June 2, 183- on the farm where he now resides, and spent his youth in working on the farm and attending the district schools. He was married in 1853 to Abigail, daughter of John S. Burke, one of the early settlers of the county. They have eight children—Alonzo, Della, Addie, Burke, Agnes, Lulu, Ernest and Floyd H. Mr. Lawson's farm contains fifty-one acres of choice land. His grandfather, William Lawson, emigrated from Virginia to Ohio in an early day, and died about 1840. His children were-John, Manasseh, Enoch, William, Madison, Thomas, Polly, Ruth, Tenie, Nancy and Maria. Our subject's father, Manasseh, was born in Scioto County, and died in 1847. His wife died in July, 1870. They reared a family of seven children, of whom four are now living—William F., Thomas B., Benjamin F. and John R., all living in Illinois except William F. William Maple was born in Beaver County, Pa. , June 4, 1838. His father moved with his family to the Scioto Valley in 1857, and settled on section 22, Clay Township, where he was engaged in farming and carpentering. He was married to Nancy Hickman, a native of Pennsylvania, now residing in Saline County, Ill. This union was blessed with eleven children, of whom eight are still living. John Maple died in 1872. Our subject came to Ohio with his parents, and at the age of twenty-three was married to Barbara, daughter of Simon and Barbara Benner, of Clay Township. Of the five children born to them three are living—John S., Jacob J. and William. Henry. Mr: Maple owns a good farm of 150 acres, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Godlob Moritz was born in Wurtenberg, Germany, Jan. 28, 1838, where lie lived till he was fourteen years old. He then went to Baden to learn the tanner's trade, at which he worked eighteen years, after which he spent several years in traveling over different parts of Europe. In 1866 he embarked for America. He landed in New York, and stayed a short time in Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Pa., Portsmouth, and then to Munn's Run, where he purchased a farm of eighty-six acres, where lie still resides. He was married in 1866 to Christina Rienoehl, of Portsmouth, and a native of Germany. They have four children—Charlie, Louie, Louisa and Clara. Aaron Noel was born July 13, 1807, in Adams County, Ohio, and after attaining his majority went to Portsmouth, where he learned the baker's trade, after which he sold goods for his brother, Jacob P., on the Ohio River, and after some time became his brother Isaac's partner in the dry-goods and grocery trade, at Portsmouth. His first wife was Catherine Orm, whom he married June 3, 1832.. She died Feb. 25, 1864, leaving seven children, of whom six are still living. He was again married Dec. 30, 1875, to Rhoda P., daughter of Absalom Severns. They had one child, born March 1, 1877, and died May 19 of the same year. In 1846 he removed to his present farm, now comprising between 500 and 600 acres of fine land, lying three miles north of Portsmouth. Mr. Noel has served as Constable of Portsmouth, and in 1867 he was elected Treasurer of Scioto County, holding 338 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. the office for two years. His father, Philip Noel, was born in 1765, in Pennsylvania, and died at the age of eighty-four years and four months, April 12, 1849. His wife, Susannah Putman, was born in Virginia in 1767, and died Oct. 11, 1851, iu her eighty-fifth year. They came to the Scioto Valley in 1798, where he engaged in farming. He also kept the Noel Hotel for thirty-four years. They reared a family of thirteen children—Peter, John, Philip, Jacob P., Mary, Solomon, Catharine, Isaac, David, Absalom, Margaret, Aaron and Elijah, all deceased but our subject. Michael J. Noel was born Feb. 22,1843, in Scioto County, Ohio, a son of David and Nancy (Morgan) Noel. He lived on the farm till he grew to manhood, when he went to Portsmouth and engaged in the drug trade for two years, and returned in 1875 to the farm on which place his grandfather, Philip Noel, kept hotel a number of years. He was married in 1879 to Alice C. Craine. They have two children—David L. and Clarence F. Mr. Noel has 143 acres of excellent land. He has belonged to the Masonic fraternity since 1868, and was Senior Warden in the lodge three years, after which he was Master for one year. He and wife are members of Valley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. His father, David Noel, was born in 1801 in Moto County, where he grew to manhood. He learned the hatter's trade in Portsmouth, at which he worked seven years, after which he engaged in farming till his death in 1868. Our subject's mother was a native of Morgantown, Va., and when a child came to Ohio. She died in August, 1868. They reared a family of nine children of whom three are living—Mary E., Rachel S. and our subject. P. W. Noel was born in Scioto County, Sept. 16, 1824. His father, Solomon Noel, was born in the same county in 1797, and in 1821 married Mary M. Huston, who died July 31, 1858. Mr. Noel's death occurred June 30, 1842. Our subject was reared on the old homestead, and attended district school about two months during each winter. He was married Jan. 3, 1850, to Harriet, daughter of Judge William Oldfield. She died Feb. 13, 1851, leaving one son—John F. April 3, 1861, he was married to Sophia, daughter of Rev. E. B. Chase, of Delaware County, Ohio. By this union he has had three daughters—Jannette C., Annie S. and Elsie C. Mr. Noel followed farming till 1859, when he was elected Treasurer of Scioto County, and in 1861 was reelected. After retiring from the office he was elected County Auditor, in 1864, and served two terms, after which he engaged in farming. He has thirty-three acres of land one mile from the city of Portsmouth, and is an extensive wbrmt and corn grower on leased lands. Henry Peters was born March 25, 1827, in Switzerland, and in 1849 came to the United States with his father, his mother, Elizabeth Wolschleger, having died while crossing the ocean. Shortly after, they moved to Portsmouth, where the father, Jacob Peters, died in 1863. Our subject learned the trade of a carriage painter in Portsmouth which he followed eight years. He was married in 1856 to Caroline Stauffer, a native of France. This union has been blessed with five boys and three girls. His wife died May 15, 1881. Mr. Peters served as Justice of the Peace three years, and has held the office of Trustee of his township two terms, and was also School Director for twelve years. His farm contains 250 acres of land, and lie has met with much success iu raising strawberries, picking as high as 700 quarts daily, cultivating five acres of plants. His farm contains a vineyard and large orchards of apples and peaches. Charles Plag was born in Germany, Feb. 4, 1843, and, when he was about twenty-six years of age came to the United States. He remained in Cincinnati, Ohio, two years, and in 1869 came to Portsmouth, where he married Katie Gross, who came from Germany HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 339 when seventeen years old. They have two daughters—Ella C. and Katie M. Mr. Plag has five acres of land in Brewery Hollow, Clay Township. Joseph, Rockwell was born near Harrisonyille, Scioto County, Nov. 22, 1847. His parents, Charles and Elizabeth (Norris) Rockwell, were natives of Ohio, and the latter died in 1869. His grandfather, Joseph Rockwell, settled in Madison Township about 1800. At the age of seventeen our subject began to work on the farm of James D. Thomas, with whom he remained till 1870. He was married in 1869 to Mary Field, who has borne him four boys and two girls. In 1870 Mr. Rockwell moved to the farm of James D. Thomas, where he has since been engaged in farming. He has served some time as Trustee of his township. John M. Salladay, son of George and Phoebe (Chafin) Salladay, was born in Scioto County, Jan. 10, 1814. He lived on the farm till twenty years of age, when he started out in the world without a dollar. He was variously engaged till May 10, 1837, when he was married to Martha, daughter of Moses Hayward, of Vermont. They have had three children—Harriet J., who died when nineteen years of age; Lora A., wife of Samuel S. Bierly, and George M. Mr. Salladay now owns 767 acres of land. He belonged to the Whig party at one time, but since the organization of the Republicans has affiliated with that party. He and wife have been members of the Methodist church twenty years, and he has served as Trustee of his township. His father was born in Maryland in 1785, and his mother in Connecticut, Sept. 30, 1794. His parents were married May 17, 1812, in Scioto County, and had a family of ten children, of whom four are living—Obediah, Eunice (wife of James Collins), Lemuel and John M., our subject. His mother died J uly 27, 1855, and his father's death occurred Oct. 5, 1860. Marten Sherer is a native of Germany, and came with his parents to America in 1854, at the age of one and a half years. He is a son of August Sherer. They lived twelve years in Schuylkill County, Pa., where his father worked in the coal mines, and in 1867 moved with his family to Portsmouth, Ohio, and shortly after moved to his present farm on Munn's Run, in Pleasant Valley, which contains 118 acres of choice land. Our subject worked a couple of years in a brick-yard, after which fie built a saw-mill, and from a small affair has built up a good business, and has in connection with his saw-mill a grist-mill. He was married Jan. 9, 1883, to Catherine Hamestine, of Pine Creek, this county, and daughter of Jacob Hamestine. Mr. Sherer is at present holding the office of Township Trustee. Peter Sommer was born in Baden, Germany, Jan. 13, 1834. He received a liberal education in his native country, and at the age of nineteen came to the United States, and a few years later was married to Margaret Brim, of Scioto County. He has a family of three boys and seven girls, all of whom are living. He bought a saw-mill on Long Run about two years after coming to America, which he carried on till it was burnt down in the spring of 1878. He then rebuilt the mill, which he has operated successfully ever since. He has a comfortable residence and good outbuildings on his farm of 240 acres, and owns forty acres in Jefferson. James V. Sturgeon was born Jan. 29, 1830, in Belmont County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Anne V. Sturgeon, the former born in Delaware, Feb. 25, 1783, and the latter in New Jersey, Aug. 16, 1794. They came to Belmont County in an early day, and in 1835 moved to Portsmouth, where they remained five years. They purchased a farm in Sturgeon Hollow containing 160 acres, about the year 1840, where the father died in 1861. The mother died in her eighty-seventh year, March 12, 1881. They reared a family 340 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. of ten children to maturity, six of whom are still living. Our subject has always pursued farming, and at present owns a good farm of 240 acres, and devoted his time principally to raising grain on rented lands. He was married to Susannah Bailey, of this county. They have had eleven children, of whom eight still are living. Mr. Sturgeon has been a member of Lucasville Lodge, No. 465, A. F. & A. M., a number of years. Joseph Wiget was born April 18, p825, in Switzerland, where he lived till he was twenty fight years of age. He then came to America, and in 1854 came to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he worked a short time on the Jackson Railroad, after which he purchased forty acres of land and settled on it. He was married to Lucinda Benner, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he had a family of seven boys and three girls, all living—Susan B.. Franklin J., Anna M., Charles E., John H., Albert J., George J., Jacob W., Caroline M. and Edward S. Mr. Wiget commenced life empty-handed, but by industry and economy has accumulated a considerable amount of property. He has a fine farm of 240 acres, and is the most extensive strawberry-raiser in this part of the county. He has served as Township Trustee three years. His father, John Jacob Wiget, was born in Switzerland, where he died in 1861. His mother, Susan Wiget, was also a native of Switzerland. She died there in 1855. They had a family of eight children, of whom five still survive. Charles E. Wolfe was born in Scioto County, in November, 1844. When he grew to manhood he became manager on the farm of George Davis, of Portsmouth, with whom he continued for twelve years. In 1862 he enlisted as a volunteer in the late war, and served three years. He was wounded at the battle of Winchester, which obliged him to remain in the hospital six months. He was mustered out June 24, 1865, and has ever since pursued farming. He was married in 1866 to Louisa Watson, of this county. They are the parents of four children—Lillian W., Mary A., Louisa C. and Clara Grace. HARRISON TOWNSHIP. OVER ONE—FOURTH CENTURY LATER. This township was organized, March 6, 1832. It includes at this time all of township 3, range 22, and sections 24 and 25 of township 2, range 21. It is bounded on the north by Madison Township, on the east by Bloom, on the south by Porter, and on the west by Clay and a portion of Jefferson. Its assessed area is 22,109 acres, but it covers a surface of 24,320 acres. Coal and iron ore are both found within its limits, and a few years since a furnace was in blast in the township. Its assessed valuation in 1882 was: Real estate, $209,030; personal property, $90,924; total, $299,954. lts whole eastern portion from north to south is watered by the Little Scioto River, and in the southwest by small tributaries of that stream. Long's Run rises in Clay Township and enters Harrison in the northwest, flows through the northern portion of the township, and empties into the Rocky Fork, the west branch of the Little Scioto. The surface is broken and hilly, but there are many good farms in the township and the valley lands of the Little Scioto are rich and productive. There are eight townships assessed at a higher value than Harrison, and six of less value. The township between 1860 and 1870 fell off in population, but in every other decade it increased. Its population since 1840, by decades, is as follows: In 1840, 686; 1850, 1,162; 1860, 1,486; 1870, 1,032; 1880, 1,325. ITS ORGANIZATION. "This day the commissioners met pursuant to the application of sundry inhabitants of Madison, Porter and Greene townships, to alter said townships and make a new township. HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 341 Whereupon, there is a new township established by the name of HARRISON, bounded as follows, to-wit: "Beginning at the northwest corner of section No. 12, in range No. 21, in township No. 2; thence east with the original section lines to the northeast corner of section No. 9, in range No. 20, in township No. 3; thence north to the northwest corner of section No. 3, in range No. 20, in township No. 3; thence east with the original surveyed township line to the northeast corner of township No. 3, in range No. 20; thence south with said township line to the southeast corner of section No. 25, in range No. 20, in township No. 3; thence west with the original section lines to the southwest corner of section No. 25, in range No. 21, in township No. 2; thence north to the beginning. "And the commissioners ordered that the time for the first election of officers in said township shall be on the first Monday of April next, at Daniel White's residence, in said township." March 6, 1832. In June following a slight alteration was made in its boundary as follows: " Alteration of Harrison, Jefferson, Clay and Madison townships, first ordered that the whole of section 13, range 21, township 2, be taken from Harrison and attached to Clay Township, and the whole of section 12, in range 21, in township 2, be taken from Harrison Township and attached to Jefferson. And all of the three sections, to-wit, 4, 5 and 6, in range 20, in township 3, beginning at the northeast corner of section No. 4, in township 3, in range 20; thence west with the original surveyed township line to the north-Test corner of section 6, in the same township and range; thence south with the original township line to the northeast corner of ection No. 24, in township No. 2, in range 21; thence west to the northeast corner of said section, be taken from Madison and attached to Harrison Township." June 7, 1832. OLD PIONEERS. Harrison Township, along the valley of the Little Scioto, was settled as early as 1798. A few years later quite a number of early pioneers had found homes and erected mills along this water-course. There was much good hunting along this stream, and the hills on either side and the eastern part of the township was a famous hunting ground for the pioneer. Deer were plenty, and the range was a good one. There are now several old settlers living whose boyhood days were passed in Harrison and Bloom in the exciting hunt and chase of game. Among the old settlers now living who have nearly closed a long and useful life may be mentioned the names of Simeon Wood, Joseph Bennett, Solomon Monroe, George Bowers, S. T. Shumway, Saul Crull (an early officer of the county), R. T. Collins, Daniel White, John White, Thos. Feurt, Jno. Snyder, and Robt. Bennett. There are others whose names were not given in, but their memory of the labor of their early days will not be soon forgotten. Mr. John Snyder, of the above, and wife, are the oldest couple now living in Harrison Township. Mr. Snyder was born May 23, 1798, and Mrs. Snyder Jan. 14, 1804. They were married Jan. 3, 1821, and have lived in Madison and Harrison townships ever since their marriage. The old couple now reside at their home on the California free turnpike, about three-fourths of a tnile from the Scioto Mills. They are both in the enjoyment of good health. BOUNDARY CHANGES. Another slight change was made in the boundary line, which is recorded below: " This day Jeremiah White, an inhabitant of Madison Township, made application to be attached to the township of Harrison, and the commissioners being satisfied that it would be 342 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. no inconvenience to said Madison Township, but that it would be a great convenience to the applicant, it is, therefore, Ordered, That the southwest quarter of section 35, in township 4 and range 20 be, and the same is, hereby attached to the township of Harrison." March 2, 1840. The following was made of record June 7, 1861: " In the matter of the petition of Samuel Bonser and others asking' that sections 31 and 32, township 2, of range 20, be stricken off of Porter and attached to Harrison Township, the commissioners being satisfied that the public interest demands said change, and that legal notice of said petition had been given, and that the requirements of the law, in every particular, have been complied with, and being no remonstrance, we therefore strike said sections 31 and 32, township 3, of range 50, from Porter Township, and attach them to Harrison Township as prayed for." THE DIXON MILL The first mill in the township was built in 1804 by Emanuel Traxler, a settler of 1796, on the site of Portsmouth. Benjamin Scott, Sr., was the owner of the mill, and in the year 1836 it was remodeled and repaired by his son, Benjamin Scott, Jr. The dam was built by an old settler named Oldfield. There were several owners of the mill up to 1850, when it was purchased by Silas Dixon, he purchasing it of Joseph Smith, of the Scioto Furnace. Mr. Dixon, in 1866, sold it to his sons, George and Noah, who remained in partnership until 1880, when Noah became sole owner, and is still proprietor. A saw-mill has been added. The flouring mill has three run of hairs, with a capacity of thirty barrels of flour per day, of Merchants' brand, besides custom work. The next mill noticed was the one erected by Benj. Jones in 1820. It has changed owners several times and is now the property of Nathan Wheeler, and is located on the Little Scioto River. The Scioto Mill was erected by Bower & Bennett in 1828. It first started as a sawmill, but in 1831 Bower became sole owner and added to it the machinery of a grist-mill. It has since then changed hands quite a number of times, but has been running very steadily since it was first put up, in the year above stated. It finally came into the possession of Levi Miller, who, in 1881, sold it to J. T Miller and W. H. Wheeler. These gentlemen are still the proprietors, conducting their business under the firm name of Miller & Wheeler. Abner Wood built a very good mill on Long Run, in the northern part of the township, in 1820. It is yet standing and used as a mill, ' and is now the property of Caleb Crull. The oldest house standing in Harrison Township, 1883, is owned by Rufus Pool, and was built in 1817 by Solomon Monroe. The Harrison Furnace was erected in 1833 by Boston Effort and Henry Spellman. It went into blast in that year, and continued until 1860. The owners then failed, and it was purchased by Samuel McConnell and Daniel Sommers, who continued in business until 1872. They also failed, the furnace was blown out, and a receiver appointed for the property. John Lodwick as Receiver disposed of the property, the land being sold for farms. At the Scioto Mills, Casins M. Edmunds is the proprietor of the only store, has a general stock, and has also in operation a broom factory. HARRISONVILLE. Harrisonville is a pleasant little hamlet located on the northern line of the township, nearly central from east to west. The town was surveyed May 24, 1859, by Deputy County Surveyor Frank C. Gibbs, and was recorded Aug. 22 of the same year. It is located on section 4, and is laid off with the streets running northwest and southeast, HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 343 which is owing to the nature of the ground. The hamlet sits on a rising plain, and has a handsome view to the distant hills. It is on the California turnpike, and is the business point of a good and healthy trade. Its population is about 200. While the town was not surveyed until 1859, it was a business point as early as 1823, when Peter Laforgy kept a store there. The first Postmaster was Ephraim Roxwell. BUSINESS, ETC. Harrisonville is now a thriving little hamlet. It has two general stores, kept respectively by R. A. Coburn and J. M. Violet; Wm. Montfort has the blacksmith shop; Henry Lanty, cabinet-maker, and the owner of an apiary; Henry Zenne shoe shop, and Henry Brisker and Jos. Spradling have each a broom factory. The physicians are Dr. Jas. B. Ray & Son,. and the Postmistress is Miss Caroline Sontag. The chattel property of Harrison ville was assessed in 1882 at $25,418. OFFICIAL . The township officers in 1832 were: Trustees, Daniel White, Thomas Hatch and Sylvanus Shumway; Clerk, Abijah Batterson; Treasurer, Abner B. Wood; Overseers of Poor, Henry Bower and Simeon Wood; Constables, George Scott and Royal T. Collis; Justices, T. R. Wood and Luther Wheeler. In 1883: Trustees, James Sykes, David A. Slattery and John Q. Shumway; Clerk, N. B. Gillilan ; Treasurer, Casius Edmunds; Justice of the Peace, Casius Edmunds, two vacancies; Constables, Edward Edmunds, two vacancies. CHURCHES. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in May, 1858, by Rev. Jacob Nichols, and the services were held in the Glade Free-Will Baptist Church. The original members were : Charles Hopkins, James Samson, M. W. Brown and wife, Samuel McGee, John Smith and wife, Richard King and wife. The church now standing was built in the spring of 1872; the lot was given to the church by J. Q. Shumway, and the building committee was composed of C. H. Ketter, M. W. Brown, James Samson, and J. Q. Shumway; Wm. Purdy, contractor, and Wm. McKinney, carpenter and builder. The present minister is the,Rev. Wm. Hollinshed; the Trustees are James Samson, J. Q. Sliumway, D. W. Strouse, R. B. Shumway, W. H. W. Jenkins, D. M. Hubbard and M. H. Shumway. Service is held every two weeks, and Sabbath-school every Sunday. The Superintendent of the latter is James Samson; the Secretary, D. W. Strouse. The number of pupils attending number about fifty; the membership of the church is seventy-three. The Harrisonville Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in 1837. In 1856 the old church was sold and a new one built. Rev. Sheldon Parker was the pastor, and James R. Taylor, William Slattery, J. M. Violet, John Crull and Edward Richardson were the Trustees, with a membership of about 100. In 1873 they again sold their church and arranged for the building of a new one, which is the one now standing. The pastor in 1873 was the Rev. Hamilton, and the Trustees: J. M. Violet, John Crull, James R. Taylor, David Slattery and G. M. Hubbard. The present pastor is the Rev. G. W. Ray, and the Trustees are: James Sykes, Nathaniel Crull, J. R. Taylor, Lewis A., Crull and J. M. Violet. Services are conducted every Sunday, and there is a membership of about thirty The Sabbath-school is held every Sunday, and the attendance will average forty. Mr. Lewis A. Crull is the Superintendent, and Miss Julia Crull, Secretary. The Tickridge Catholic Church was erected in 1861, the priest being Father L. Shriver, and the Trustees, Benedict Seidel, Lawrence 344 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. Cordell and Joseph Spitznogel. The congregation numbered about forty. The present priest is the Rev. Father John Ritter, and the Trustees are George Emmett, Peter Rider and James Farley. Service is held every two weeks, and the instruction class in the afternoon of the same days. The membership is now about 150, and the instruction class twenty-five. German Lutheran Church.—The organization of this church was in 1880, through the efforts of Rev. Theodore Yeager and a few earnest spirits, the former becoming the first pastor, whose faithful work has been crowned with success. The original members were: A. Ghamp, Allen Duvendeck, William Wayman, A. Marsh, Mr. Lorcamp, John Reese, Frederic Spring, W. Hockenheimer, John Regrish, Gotleib Weble, George Beiner, George Damn, John Yanetzky, Wm. Clinganberry, William Seiling, Henry Brisker, Henry Knour.John Miller, John Ghamp and their wives. The Trustees elected at the time of the organization were: John Miller and William Wayman, and the present Trustees are: Wm. Seiling, John Regrish and George Beiner. Preaching is had every two weeks, the officiating clergyman being the Rev. Kuhn. The Sunday-school is under the superintendency of William Seiling. The church is 30 x 40 feet in size, and was erected at a cost of $1,200. SCHOOLS. The present school system was organized in 1853, and adopted, and eight sub-school districts were organized in the township. THE SCHOOLS OF 1883. Since then the schools of Harrison Township have grown both in the number of its pupils and in the efficiency of their scholastic a ning. They also go, in a measure, by names as well as number of districts and at this time (1883) the names and numbers a as follows: Bennett School-house, sub-district No. 1.—Directors, Casius Edwards, Wm. Ketter and James Sampson. Pupils enrolled, 41. Glade School, No. 2.—Directors, Charles Frowine, Nathaniel Rogers and John Devers. Pupils enrolled, 41. Mead School, No. 3. —Directors, Alfred Boyer, William Marsh and Noah Dickson. Pupils enrolled, 40. Bonser Run School, No. 4.—Directors, James Goodrich, 0. Chapman an• Thomas Brock. Pupils enrolled, 42. Harrison Mills School, No. 5.—Directors, Hiram Sykes, Lev i Wheeler and George Ern. let. Pupils enrolled, 42. Tickridge School, No. 6.—Directors, James Sykes, Ananias Weeks and Andrew Brooker, Pupils enrolled, 38. Harrison Furnace School, No. 7.—Direetors, Wm. Yeagle, Nicholas Will and Salathiel Elliott. Pupils enrolled, 38. Warner School, No. 8.—Directors, William Corieil, George Gray and Stephen Purdy. Pupils enrolled, 38. In 1878 a special school district was made of Harrisonville, and the Directors elected, viz,: W. J. Crull, C. M. Coburn and J. C. Clark and the first school was taught by W. H. Bradford. The Directors for the year 1883 are: J. B. Ray, W. J. Minford and R. H. Coburn; Mr. Wm. Ray, teacher. The first school-house was erected in Harrison Township in 1$06. It was of logs, greased-paper windows and puncheon sea It was on Robert Bennett's farm, and the first teacher was Robert Finley. BIOGRAPHICAL. Robert H. Coburn, merchant, Harrisonville, Ohio, was born in Madison Township, Scioto County, June 28, 1850, the son of Arthur A. and .Martha M. (Colwell) Coburn, the former born April 27, 1810 in Columbiana County, HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 345 Ohio, and the latter born April 22, 1809, in Mercer County, Pa. They were married in Pittsburg, Pa., April 29, 1834, and were the parents of ten children, of whom six are living—James Harvey, Oscar M., Theodore A., Martha J., wife of George Cook; Mary, wife of Lewis Bracy, and Robert H., our subject. The latter remained on his father's farm in Madison Township until he was married, March 26, 1876, to Isabella, daughter of Peleg and Susan Colegrove, of Madison Township. Their children are—William E., Clarence A., Robert D. and Mabel. In 1881 Mr. Coburn came to Harrisonville, and engaged in the dry-goods and grocery business. He carries a complete line of general merchandise and is one of the solid business men of the place. His father was a hatter by trade, which occupation he followed till 1842, when he engaged in farming. He purchased a farm in Madison Township, Scioto County, in 1847, where he followed agricultural pursuits till his death, which occurred Jan. 19, 1877. His wife survived him till July 8, 1880. John L. Daniels, deceased, was born Nov. 26, 1800, in Westchester County, N. Y., a son of Phillip and Mary (Connell) Daniels. He lived at home till he grew to manhood, and when eighteen years old came to Marietta, Ohio, with his father, and was there engaged as principal of the Marietta College. He was married April 1, 1838, to Camilla Stull, who was born Oct. 12, f813, in McKean County, Pa., a daughter of Joseph and Delinda (Bruer) Stull. They were married in Madison Township, Scioto County, by James Samson, and were the parents of six children—James S., who died in Corinth, Aug. 1, 1862; Le Quincy, Artemesia, Mary, Camilla and Alma D. Mr. Daniels died Aug. 30, 1868. He held certificates in New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia and Kentucky, having taught in each of these States. He was one of the most highly educated men in the country, and followed the profession of teaching for fifty-four years. He was an active Democrat during his life and was prominently identified with the politics of the township and county. His son, James S., was the first volunteer i.t Harrison Township, and participated in the battles of Vienna, Bull Run, Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, where he lost his life. Alma D., the youngest daughter, now resides with her widowed mother. She was born in Madison Township, Scioto County, where she received a good education. She was appointed Postmistress at Scioto in 1878, and held the position till 1881, when she resigned. She is one of the most accomplished ladies in Harrisonville, and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Noah Dixon, son of Silas and Mary (Vandeford) Dixon, was born Jan. 11, 1840, at Eagle, Vinton Co., Ohio, and in 1850 came to Harrison Township and assisted his father on the farm and in the mill till he grew to manhood. April 21, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-second Ohio Infantry, in which regiment he served till he was discharged at Athens, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1861. He remained home nearly two weeks, when he again enlisted in Company B, Twenty-second, Ohio Infantry, and was discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in the fail of 1864. The most important battles in which he participated were Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the two battles of Corinth and Little Rock. He was married Oct. 22, 1865, to Eunice, daughter of Harris and Abigail (Mead) Dodge. They have had six children, four now living—George W., James S., Bertha May, and Tracy N. Mary was accidentally drowned in the Little Scioto River, Jan. 18, 1878, at the age of eleven years, and Gracie E. died Sept. 18, 1882. About 1866 Mr. Dixon, in partnership with his brother George, engaged in milling, and in 1880 he purchased his brother's interest, and has since been operating the mill in connection with his farming pursuits 346 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. He has the best water-power mill in the county, with a capacity of thirty barrels of flour per day. He has a large trade and has the reputation of doing first-class work. He is a member of the Free-Will Baptist church, and in politics is a strong Republican. He is a member of Scioto Post, No. 287, G. A. R., and also belongs to Wheelersburg Lodge, 1. O. O. F. Cassius Edmunds, dealer in general merchandise, at Scioto Mills, was born Sept. 25, 1846, at Boston, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and lived with his parents till he was fifteen years old. Jan. 23, 1862, he enlisted in the First Ohio Battery Light Artillery, and participated in many hard-fought battles, among which were the first battle of Winchester, Port Republic, second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. At the last-named battle he lost his right leg by the bursting of a shell, after which he was in camp hospital about a month, and was then sent to Washington, and discharged Feb. 22, 1864. He then engaged in the mercantile business in Portsmouth, in connection with the manufacturing of brooms, until 1875, when he purchased 100 acres of land on Pine Creek, Scioto County, where he fbllowed farming till 1878. He then sold his farm and engaged in merchandising at Scioto Mills, and is also engaged in manufacturing brooms. He was married Jan. 5, 1868, to Nancy J. Stewert, of Springville, Ky. They have two children living-William and Emma. Elnora died at the age of three years. Mrs. Edmunds died Nov. 1, 1872, and Mr. Edmunds was again married, April 1, 1874, to Susan, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Shaffer, of Portsmouth. This union was blessed with three children -Stephen, Sarah and Urania. He and his wife are members of the Protestant Methodist church, and he is a member of Scioto Post, No. 287, G. A. R. He is a son of Stephen and Paulina ,Edmunds, the former having been born near Rochester, N. Y., and came to Ohio in 1844. They were the parents of eight children, five now living-Cassius, Amasa, Edward, Eunice, Minnie; Zala died at the age of six years; Paulina and Ella died in infancy. Nathan B. Gilliland, son of Jacob and Mary (Baker) Gilliland, was born in Harrison Township, Scioto County, Nov. 7, 1859, He received a good common-school education, and has taken a prominent position as a teacher, in which profession he first engaged in 1880 .in Madison Township, and for the past two years has taught in Harrison Town. ship. He was elected Clerk of Harrison Township in 1882 and still holds that position, having been re-elected in 1883. He owns a fine farm, stocked with blooded cattle, and may be classed among the well-to-do young men of this township. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. His father was born April 28, 1827, at Jackson Furnace, Jackson County, and was first mar. tied April 3, 1851, to Lusetta White, who is now deceased. He was again married Aug. k 31, 1856, to Mary Baker, who bore him two children-Jackson H. and our subject. She was first married Jan. 23, 1844, to Joshua Welch, who died Feb. 1, 1855. To this union were given four children-Elizabeth, Louisa, William and George, all living. Our subject resides with his mother, her husband having died Feb. 27, 1875. Captain, Henry .Lantz was born Feb. 22, 1831, near McArthur, Vinton County, a son of Aaron and Leah (Claypool) Lantz, the former born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1793, and the latter born in Greenbrier County, Va., in 1803. They were married in 1818 and settled in Jackson County, where the father died in 1842. His wife is still residing in McArthur. Our subject was married Dec. 21, 1852, to Lavina H. Bennett, who was born Sept. 27, 1833, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mills) Bennett, natives of New York State. After his marriage Henry Lantz engaged in milling in Vinton County, Ohio, HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 347 till 1860 when he moved to Harrison Township, Scioto County. April 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company G,Twenty-second Ohio Infantry,and was First Duty Sergeant of his company. He was discharged at Athens, Ohio, Aug. 15, 1861, and remained at home till Sept. 16, 1861, when he returned and helped organize Company F, Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry, of which lie was commissioned First Lieutenant, Nov. 21, 1861. He remained with this company till he re-enlisted as a veteran, Feb. 1, 1864, and was discharged at New Orleans, Nov. 21, 1864. He then raised Company K, One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry, and was commissioned Captain, March 14, 1865. He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Holly Springs, Vicksburg, Chickasaw, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, and a number of others, and was discharged Oct. 24, 1865, at Washington, D. C. He was taken prisoner at Brandon,, Miss., and about three months later was exchanged, and returned to his regiment. He participated in the Red River expedition under General Banks, and was on the steamer John A. Warner when. she surrendered. After the war he located at McArthur about three years, and in 1869 he moved to Greenup County, Ky., and since 1873 has resided in Harrisonville, Ohio. He is a member of Scioto Post, No. 287, G. A. R., and of Delta Lodge, No. 207, F. & A. M. He also belongs to McArthur Lodge, I. 0. 0. F. John T. Miller, miller, Harrison Township, was born Aug. 12, 1839, in Fayette County, Penn., a son of George and Margaret (Pearson) Miller. In 1859 he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he was employed on a steamboat till 1860, when he engaged in milling in his native county till the breaking out of the war. He enlisted in Company N, Second Virginia Cavalry, and participated in a number of battles, the most important being Winchester, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, and second Bull Run, at which he received injuries and was sent to the hospital. He was discharged at Washington, D. C., in the spring of 1864. He then returned home and was engaged in milling and lead-mining till the fall of 1880, when he came to Harrison Township, Scioto County, and purchased the Scioto Mills, on the Little Scioto Rivet, which he has since operated. In June, 1864, he married Urania, daughter of Isaac Wheeler, one of the old settlers of this section. They have had nine children—James F., Drusilla, Althea, Amanda and Gracie, and four who died in infancy. Mr. Miller is an active member of the Protestant Methodist church. William J. Minford, blacksmith, Harrisonville, Ohio, was born in County Entrin, Ireland, January, 1829, a son of John and Mary (Awl) Minford. When seventeen years of age he came with his mother, a brother and two sisters to the United States, his father having died in Ireland. They landed in New York City about the 1st of June, 1845. They came to Ohio and settled in Portsmouth, remaining there eight years. He learned the blacksmith's trade of J. L. Ward. In 1853 he went to Iowa and remained there four years. He then traveled through Missouri seeking a better location, but finally returned to Portsmouth and subsequently came to Harrisonville, where he has remained, or resided. He enlisted in 1863, in Company L, First Ohio Heavy Artillery, and served in the Army of the Cumberland under General Thomas; was discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in 1865. Mr. Minford was married in 1853 to Mary Ann Maps, daughter of Thomas and Mary Maps, a great-granddaughter of General Schuyler. Nine children were born to them, but six now living—Mary, now Mrs. Daniel Carroll; Agnes, now Mrs. Robert Dodge; Ellnorie, now Mrs. George Milan ; Sallie, Frank and Carrie at home. Ellie, William and John are deceased. Mrs. Minford died in August, 1876. In 1878 Mr. Minford married Abigail, daughter of Hezekiah and Lydia (Dodge) Mead, 348 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY natives of New York, but residents of Scioto County. Since early childhood Mr. Minford has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his wife of the Missionary Baptist church. He is a member of Scioto Post, No. '287, G. A. R. When he first came to the United States his capital was limited, but by industry and economy he has accumulated a good property, and has won the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Daniel W. Titus, son of Samuel and Clarissa (Coryell) Titus, was born Feb. 11, 1822, in Harrison Township, Scioto County. His father was born in Northumberland County, Pa., in 1798, and was married July 15, 1816, in New York State, to Clarissa Coryell, who was born in 1799 in Tioga County, Pa. They had seven children—Dr. Arthur Titus, Green B., John, Mary, wife of Eli Shope of Scioto County; Jane, wife of Peter Magnet; Rebecca, wife of Gillum Crabtree, and Daniel W. They came to Ohio in 1818 and entered 160 acres of land in Harrison Township, where the father died in December, 1859. His wife s still living with our subject at the age of eighty-four years. Daniel W. was married Aug. 17, 1847, to Eulalia Dodge, born April 28, 1827, and daughter of Lyons and Alma (Stuhl) Dodge, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Titus have five children living—Stephen; Ellen, wife of James Sweet; Matilda, wife of William Scholar; Mary A., residing in Montana Territory, and Samuel. After his marriage Mr. Titus was engaged at different furnaces in Southern Ohio about fifteen years. He lived in Green County, Ind., four years. He.then returned to Ohio in 1862, and has since resided on the old home farm, and during this time has spent considerable time in traveling through different States, spending eighteen months in Montana Territory. He enlisted in the late war in Company F, Ohio National Guards, and was discharged at Gallipolis,Ohio. In politics he is a strong Republican. Mrs. I Titus has been Postmistress at Harrison Mills since April 7, 1881. She belongs to the Methodist church. John M. Violet, general merchant, was born in Seal Township, Pike county, June 14, 1820, and remained with his parents, Samuel and Eunice (Phillips) Violet, until he reached his twenty-fifth year. He worked on a farm until he was twenty-seven years old, after which he engaged in the mercantile business, which he has followed for the past thirty six years, in connection with farming and stock-raising. He began life empty-handed, but by persevering industry he is to day the wealthiest man in his township. He has 327 acres of land, 275 acres being under a high state of cultivation, and his residence is the finest in Harrison Township. He was married March 25, 1845, to Caroline M. Dewey, who was born Dec. 16, 1824. They have two children —Caroline L. and John S. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist chutch, and in politics he is a Democrat. His parents were married in Pike County in 1818, and were the parents of nine children—Mary T., James Q., Rhoda (deceased), Sarah, Rebecca, Mar. tha, Eunice, Orlando (deceased) and John N. CHAPTER XVIII. GREENE, VERNON AND BLOOM TOWNSHIPS. GREENE TOWNSHIP. FRENCH GRANT, VALUATION AND POPULATION. Greene Township is the southeastern township of the county, and is noted for being what is known as the French Grant, its southern boundary being Lawrence County and the Ohio River, and the latter is also its western boundary. Porter Township is on the north, and Vernon Township and Lawrence County bound it on the east. It has an area of 22,236 acres of land, as assessed, and is the fourth township in wealth in the county. The valuation in real estate is $340,350; personal property, $197,732; total, $538,082. Greene Township is sixth in size, though Madison is only 127 acres smaller, but it is the fourth in population, as it is fourth in wealth. The population was in 1840, 973; 1850, 2,344; 1860, 2,501; 1870, 1,882; 1880, 1,935. The changes were great and are attributed to the furnaces going in and out of blast. Ithas both iron and coal and also fire-clay, and has had no less than four furnaces within its borders. It is one of the best agricultural townships in the county as it has the Ohio River bottoms the whole extent of its western and a portion of its southern border. It has also considerable arable land beyond the ranges of hills and high bluffs which overlook the Ohio River. Some small valleys lie on Pine and Gennett's creeks. It is one of the best adapted townships for stock-raising in the county, There are yet immense veins of coal and beds of iron ore, but there is now but one furnace in operation in the township, the Ohio Furnace, in the southern part, something over a mile from the Ohio River and only about three miles from its eastern border. Ohio Furnace has a population of about 400 and was laid out in 1844 by David Sinton and Thos. W. Means. The furnace went into blast in June, 1845, John T. Woodrow being superintendent, and fourteen hands employed that year. It continued in blast for thirty-seven years without a break, except for repairs, and was blown out Feb. 24, 1882. The proprietors are Means, Kyle & Co., who have still an unlimited amount of ore on the land in their possession, which covers several thousand acres. There is one store known as the Ohio Furnace store, a full general stock being kept, covering the wants of the inhabitants. 0. P. Doty is manager. August Weaver runs a blacksmith shop. August Eilert is a carpenter. It is in School District No. 6, and the school-house was erected in 1845. There is one church, a Methodist. The Union Furnace was erected in 1826 by James Rogers, John Sparks, John Means and Valentine Fear. It went into blast in 1827 and continued for several years. The Junior Furnace was built in 1828, was in blast in 1829 and blown out in 1865. This latter furnace is now the property of Charles A. Goddard. The Franklin Furnace is another of those that once had a busy life but has been out of blast since 1860. It went into blast in 1827, - 349 -