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WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

JOHN ALLEN, farmer ; P.O. Brandt, Miami Co., was born in Monmouth Co., N. J., Nov. 19, 1797, of parents, William and Sarah (Johnston) Allen, natives of the same county and State, the latter dying when our subject was only four years of age, and ten years later he was an orphan, his father dying in 1811, soon after which he was bound as an apprentice to a blacksmith, until 21 years of age. During the lifetime of his father he received the usual rudimentary training that the schools of

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the period afforded, and in the indenture it was stated that four months schooling should be given him. It was under these circumstances that Mr. Allen began life. After reaching his majority, and having served his time as an apprentice, he left the State of his nativity on foot, in the month of August, bound for Ohio. Arriving at Franklin, Warren County, that same month, he at once found employment, and worked in that village at ironing wagons until the middle of December, when be returned to New Jersey, and on the 15th of the following June, was united in marriage with Margaret Johnes of Middlesex County. On the 4th of June, 1830, he emigrated to Ohio, having then three children, namely: Sarah, Andrew J. and Stephen J. He stopped for a while in the vicinity of Franklin, then removed ( September 15,) to his present farm in Section 18, in the extreme northern part of Montgomery County, (Wayne Township,) near the Miami County line, where he has since resided. There have been added to his family here, William and Alice. Of the five children, Andrew J. and Stephen J. are still living, the latter now serving as County Treasurer. The wife's parents were natives, the father, Stephen Johnes, of New Jersey, and the mother, --Titus, of Berks Co., Pa. The wife of our subject died Dec. 14, 1871. Mr. Allen has served the people of Wayne Township as Trustee for twenty-three years. He is an intelligent and practical man, and one of considerable business tact, which in connection with great industry, has enabled him to amass quite a fortune. He and his sons now possessing in the neighborhood of 1000 acres of land. In politics he is a Democrat, and at one time was nominated on that ticket with Peter P. Lowe, of Dayton, for Representative in the State Legislature, but was defeated. He is genial, kind-hearted, and has been a useful man to the citizens of the township and county, and his home has ever been hospitable, "the latch string ever out."

DAVID BASKINAN, retired farmer; P. O., Osborn, Greene Co., was born Out 6, 1822. He received a common school education. When he attained the age of nine years his father died, and he was thrown out to battle with the cruel world. He was bound out to his uncle, but ran away, after being cruelly treated and overworked for two years He went home to his mother who had previously gone to house-keeping; remained with her, following agricultural pursuits, until he joined his brother in tilling the soil for themselves. His brother sickened and died the same year, and passed over the golden shore to the other side of the Jordan, from whence no traveler returneth. David then rented land, tilled the soil for himself, and boarded with his mother until his marriage in 1849, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Peggy Garber. He continued the occupation of farming, renting land until 1851, when he purchased 100 acres where he now resides, and by untiring industry and close attention to business, temperate and industrious habits, he has obtained a large amount of property. Mr. Baskinan is one of the staunch energetic men that has raised Montgomery County to its present standard. He was elected to the offices of Township Trustee and Supervisor, and discharged the many responsibilities incident to his official duties to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He has never identified himself with any religious organization, but is moral in his deportment, honest, a kind and indulgent parent and husband, kind and hospitable to all that come under his roof. He has won the respect and confidence of all with whom the is brought in contact. He was the father of two children, one of whom is living, John H., born Sept. 15, 1851.

JACOB BEYL, retired farmer; P. O., Osborn Greene Co. The gentleman whose name heads the following sketch, was one of the early settlers of this county, and is now classed among its most prominent citizens. He is one of the staunch, energetic men that have made the Buckeye State what it is to-day. He was born in Northampton Co., Pa., Aug. 6, 1806, and for twenty-one years aided his father in the care of the home place. His education was very limited, being only such as could be obtained in the district schools of the county, which were then not the best. In 1827, at the age of 21 years he married Magdaline, the daughter of Jacob and Aney Hartman. As a result of this union they had born to them seven children,

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of whom four are now living, viz: Elizabeth, Solomon, Catharine and Matilda. After marriage he rented land of his father, and lived near the old homestead until his father's death, when he purchased the home farm. Here he made his home until 1838, when he came to Ohio, locating in Fairfield, Green County, and engaged in the business of grocer. Not making a success of the new business he sold out, went to Indiana, and again became a tiller of the soil on a farm he had previously purchased. Tiring of his new home he disposed of his Indiana farm and returning to the "Buckeye State," opened a grocery in Dayton, where he carried on successfully for nine months, at the expiration of which time he disposed of his stock and made an extended visit to the place of his nativity. In 1846 he returned to Ohio and purchased the farm where he now resides, which contains 147 acres. At the time of his taking possession there were but 30 acres of it under cultivation, but with his usual untiring zeal he commenced the clearing of the balance, and now it is all, with the exception of 15 acres, being tilled by this sturdy farmer's son, who is caring for his father's farm. The improvements on the farm consist of a large two-story brick residence, a large barn, and such other improvements as will be found surrounding the model farmer of to-day. In closing this sketch we will say Mr. Beyl has lived a life of honesty and integrity, and is now reaping the reward in the respect of his fellow men and the happy family that surround him. He and his worthy wife have both been connected with the Lutheran Church for sixty years past, and in the bright hereafter they are sure to receive the merited blessing for their fidelity to the Master's cause.

JESSE F. BOOHER, farmer; P. O., Taylorsville. Among the prominent farmers of this county is Jesse F. Booher, who was born Feb. 24, 1836. He obtained his education in the district schools of the county, and was brought up to farm labor. He was united in marriage with Lovina, daughter of John and Eliza Sintz, in 1860, and rented land and set out with an indomitable will to gain some of the comforts of life. He purchased a farm in Indiana, containing 80 acres, and moved his family on to it. He remained there three years and disposed of it, and returned to this township and purchased the farm where the now resides, containing 80 acres in 1877, about 60 acres is under cultivation and improved. They are the parents of two children, viz : John D. and Clark L.

JAMES CAMPBELL, farmer: P. O., Osborn, Greene Co. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, is a man who deserves a place in the front rank of the old pioneers. He was born Oct. 28, 1811. His father, John D., was a native of Washington Co., Pa., and came to Ohio in 1805, and settled in this township. He was united in marriage with Margaret Grimes. They were the parents of seven children, of whom two are living, viz: Samnel A. and James, the subject of this memoir, was educated in the common schools. He was not permitted to attend school regularly, but by applying himself diligently to his studies he obtained a good understanding of the English language, and assisted his father in tilling the soil. He celebrated his marriage with Ruth, daughter of Daniel and Elanor Kiler, May 11, 1842, and moved on to the farm where he now resides, which he had previously purchased, and by hard labor and industry, has added 51 acres, making in all 101 1/2; acres, of which about 80 acres are under cultivation. Mrs. Campbell was summoned out of this world by the angel of death in 1864. She was a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of five children, of whom four are living at the present time of writing.

CHARLES CROOK, retired farmer; P. O., Taylorsville. The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch is a son of Thomas Crook, and a brother of the distinguished Brig. Gen. George Crook. His father, Thomas, was born in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 30, 1788, and was united in marriage with Elizabeth Matthews, in 1812, with whom the lived thirty-two years. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six are living at the time of writing, viz : Catharine, now Mrs. Thomas Ater; Maria, now Mrs. Samuel Sulivan; Thomas, Capt. Walter, (his sketch appears in the biographies of Butler Township,); Brig. Gen. George and

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Charles. His wife was summoned out of this world in 1844. She was a lady who was esteemed y a large circle of friends, and treated everybody that came under their roof with kindness and respect Mr. Crook celebrated his marriage with his second wife, Anna Galahan, Oct. 14, 1845. He survived his second wife five months. Mr. Crook, by occupation was a morocco dresser, but his health becoming impaired was compelled to seek a more active employment, and in 1814 he made his first journey from Baltimore, Maryland to Ohio on horseback, and purchased the farm where he resided until his death. He returned to Baltimore and emigrated in company with his brothers-in-law, Judge Mathews and John Mathews, to Ohio the same year in wagons. From the time of locating here his principal occupation had been farming. By temperate, industrious habits and close attention to his business, he accumulated a large amount of property, both personal and real. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of terms, and discharged the duties of that office to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He was summoned out of this world by the angel of death in 1874. He was a man of exemplary habits, and was held in high esteem y the citizens of Wayne Township, and all with whom he met, and he was one of the men that raised Montgomery County to its present standard. He never identified himself with any church, yet he was moral in his deportment, and the family have lost in him a kind, indulgent father, and the community a good citizen. Charles Crook, the subject of this sketch, was born Oct. 17, 1830, and obtained his primary education in the district schools of .the county, and received a higher course in the High School at Springfield. He assisted his father with agricultural pursuits until he was united in marriage with Eliza Booher, in 1855. They had three children, viz: Charles W., (deceased,) Laura E. and Thomas T., the cultivated the home farm until his father's death, after which he became owner. Mr. Crook has never sought any office, but was elected to the office of County Commissioner, which he filled for three years, beginning in the fall of 1873, thus showing the confidence and esteem with which he was held in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Crook are both worthy members of the German Reformed Church, and have taken an active interest in the cause of religion since 1872. Mr. Crook is a man of untiring industry, and possesses good business qualities. e is a kind and indulgent parent and husband and is held in high esteem y his many friends.

BIOGRAPHY OF A CENTENARIAN.

John Cuppy was born at Morristown, N. J., March 11, 1761. When an infant twelve months old his father emigrated to Hampshire Co., Va. In 1779 he joined the American army as a private and was placed in Capt. McManus' company and ordered into Eastern Virginia to fight against the numerous bands of Tories that were organizing to join Col. Tarlton for the purpose of raiding and laying waste the settlements in North and South Carolina. He was present at the capture and execution of George Wolf, the leader of a notorious band of outlaws, who carried on a guerilla warfare under the supervision of Tarlton in North Carolina; at which time he received an honorable discharge, and returned to his home in Hampshire County. He entered the service again in 1781, at which time he was attached as a private to a company of volunteers under the command of Capt. Robert Means. Before the company received orders to march, the news of Lord Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown was confirmed.

On the receipt of this intelligence, the company was disbanded and the soldiers returned to their homes, again holding themselves in readiness for a future campaign. In 1788 Mr. Guppy emigrated to Ohio Co., Va., and erected a log cabin on the banks of the Ohio river, near the site of New Cumberland. The government erected a block house and stationed a small body of soldiers near where the town of Wellsburgh now stands, for the purpose of protecting the hardy pioneers from the numerous bands of hostile Indians who frequently crossed the Ohio river to murder and rob the settlers.

Mr. Cuppy and one of his neighbors, after being attacked by the Indians, and

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causing two of them to "bite the dust," by their never-failing rifles, removed his family to Cox's Block House, which was then occupied by Capt. Samuel Brady, who had command of thirty sharp shooters. After removing his family to a place of safety, he entered the service of the United States as a scout. From the spring of 1791 to the autumn of 1794, in company with Capt. Samuel Brady, his mess-mate, he acted as a scout along the banks of the Ohio river. During this eventful period of his life, he endured many privations and made numerous hair breadth escapes. For four consecutive years he never slept on a bed. He was present and took an active part in the bushwhack battle at Cross Creek, between thirty scouts and a large party of Indians. In this battle Lawson Vanbuskirk, George Aidy and William Davis were killed, and Samuel Ricks wounded. The Indians were routed with a loss of fifteen killed and nine wounded.

Shortly after the termination of his active service as a scout, he was appointed by Lieutenant Governor Wood, the then acting Governor of Virginia, on the 17th day of August, 1796, Captain of a company in the 1st Batallion of the 4th Regiment of the 10th Brigade, 3d Division, Virginia Militia. In a short time after receiving this appointment, he was called upon to aid in the suppression of the rebellion caused by the passage of the "Excise Laws." In this expedition he was eminently successful, and won the esteem of his superior officers and comrades in arms.

When the insurrectionary movement was arrested and quiet restored, he retired from the army, and returned with his family to his log cabin home on the banks of the beautiful Ohio river. At that time the country was an almost unbroken forest, and it required strong arms and stout hearts to convert the howling wilderness into the beautiful farms that can be seen at the present time in that locality. He remained in the State of Virginia, devoting himself entirely to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, until the autumn of 1821, at which time, owing to the death of his wife, to whom he was devotedly attached, he disposed of his farm and removed to Lawrenceburg. Ind., where he resided with his son-in-law, Mr. Samuel Bartholomew, who married his eldest daughter, Elizabeth. In the spring of 1823 he came to Southern Ohio, and settled on a farm in Wayne Township, where he resided until the time of his death. He was not only a kind husband but an affectionate father, and greatly beloved by his children.

In his manners he was plain and unaffected; in his habits, strictly temperate. The most disgusting spectacle imaginable in his sight was that of a drunkard. In his dealings with the world there was a dignified generosity, which shunned all low trickery and cunning in trade and everything that had the semblance of meanness and dishonesty. He was a true patriot and loved his country, whose rise, progress and spreading glory he had been permitted to witness. He had a fine constitution, a well wrought, muscular frame, and enjoyed most excellent health until near the close of his pilgrimage. He was fond of manual labor, and when 75 veers of age could use the sickle and lead in the harvest field with ease. He had been a professor of religion for half a century and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty-five years. He loved the church and its ordinances, and his seat was seldom vacant at the house of worship, unless lawfully hindered. When 80 years old he would walk one and a-half miles to meet his brethren in the house of worship. He stood in their midst like the aged forest oak. A new generation of trees had sprung up about him, while those who put forth their young branches when he did, had all been felled by the tempest of death--an ambassador of the past generation. What a privilige to listen to the experiences of a man who had seen the snows of one hundred winters! Many a hill of difficulty had he climbed and trodden many a vale of humiliation. How refreshing to hear him say that he "has never regretted setting forth on his pilgrimage to Zion, and that the pleasures are sweeter and the toils less irksome than in youth."

How sweet the memory of the venerable centenarian who had no fear of death. He was but a short time confined to the house or sick chamber. The noble taber-

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nacle was at last worn out, and the weary wheels of life stood still. He had great peace of mind, strong faith and imperishable hope. Fora long time he seemed conscious of the near approach of death, and freqnently expressed a desire to depart to that beautiful summerland where "sickness, pain and death are felt and feared no more." On the 28th of June, 1861, in the stillness and hush of the early morning twilight, he died without a struggle, aged 100 years, three months and seventeen days. He was the last survivor of the party of scouts who patrolled the banks of the Ohio river during the Indian war, which terminated in 1794. His children, five in number, the fruits of his first marriage, are all long since dead. His grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, to the number of over one hundred, are distributed among eight of the Western States from Indiana to California and Oregon, all living in the West except, three great grandchildren, who reside near Norfolk, Va.

Lydia Oiler Cuppy, second wife of John Cuppy, was born in Monroe County (now Greenbrier), Va., Feb. 8, 1798. She came with her parents to the vicinity of New Carlisle, Clark Connty, who, in 1811, settled on the land now occupied y John Williams. The following year witnessed the commencement of the war between Great Britain and the United States, and the few log cabin settlers who had reared their primitive homes in the Mad River Valley tither volunteered or were drafted, and so there remained at home but here and there a male member of the family. During the absence of her father in the war, she resided in the families of Thomas Stockstill, Henry Williams and Capt. John Williams, all of which men were in the war. In 1816 she was united in marriage with Joseph Russell, and to them were born four children, all of whom are long since deceased. Mr. Russell died in January, 1823, and in October, 1824, his widow married John Cuppy, with whom she bore in common the many trials incident to pioneer life. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Cuppy has resided with her eldest son, Henry. on the old homestead. The second son, Fletcher P., has long resided in Washington City, and is an able and successful practitioner of the law. Mother Cuppy often speaks of the many trials and privations incident to pioneer life. and the unusual amount of hard labor that was required to furnish the means of subsistence for those bearing arms against a hostile and savage foe. The pioneer women of many families were compelled to cultivate the few acres that had been cleared y their husbands, and perform all the labor required of the sterner sex, hut stimulated y a love of liberty, they labored with strong hands and willing hearts. In early life Mrs. Cuppy united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to use her own language, "she has long since outgrown the old Orthodox idea of religion as advocated by the pulpit--round dancers and hot gospelers of the early part of the nineteenth century." To attack these ideas and shake off the superstition inculcated in our early moral training requires an iron will and a determined purpose, and no pioneer woman is more abundantly blessed with these qualifications than her. Speaking of the shock of the earthquake here in 1812, she says that the ministers considered it as evidence of the wrath and displeasure of the Deity, and the cyclone of the same year, they spoke of as the breath of an angry God. She says "she now believes in worshiping a God of love and not a God of hate and anger." "The following stanzas," says Mrs. Cuppy, "were, in my girlhood, sung on funeral occasions:

"Praised he the Lord. I pardoned am,

My spouse good soul, is pardoned too,

We shall he saved, through Christ the Lamb,

In spite of all that we can do.

"Our children, boys and girls. are all.

(By pious parents sanctified,)

Are safe in grace what'er befall.

For who shall Christ's elect divide?

"For others it is nought to me

Who shall be saved, or who be damned.

For grace shall; still exalted be,

And saints rejoice tho' hell be crammed."

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ABRAHAM DARST, farmer, P. O., Fishburg Box, was born in Miami County, Aug. 20, 1817. His father, Isaac Darst, came to Ohio, and settled in this county in 1807. He was married to Jane Morgan in 1812. The result of this union was nine children, of whom five are living, viz: Sarah A., Charles, Abraham, Mary, Isaac. Abraham, the subject of this sketch, obtained his education in the common schools. He was united in marriage to Sarah, daughter of Henry and Snsan Deam, March 21, 1838. He rented land and set out with a will to gain some of the comforts of life. In 1842 he purchased the farm where he now resides, containing 120 acres. He has a large, commodious farm house, and has, with the assistance of his good and industrious wife, made many material improvements to correspond. Mrs. Darst has been a worthy member of the German Reformed Church for a number of years, and is esteemed by a large circle of friends and all who are brought in contact with her. Mr. and Mrs. Darst are the parents of three children, of whom two are living, viz: Warren H. and Alvina. Mr. Darst has arrived at the advanced age of 63 years, and is now reaping the reward of his toil all through life.

ADAM DEAM, farmer, P. O., Sulphur Grove, was born April 12, 1817. His father, Henry, was a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio with his father in 1802, and settled in what is now Warren County, near Springsboro. After Montgomery County was laid out, he moved to Wayne Township. He was united in marriage with Susanna, daughter of Benjamin Kiser, in 1813. They were the parents of seven children, of whom six are living, viz: Adam, Henry H., Hannah A., Sarah A., David W. and Lewis R. He purchased 160 acres that was coveted with a dense growth of timber, and built a cabin, moved into it, and went to work to put it under cultivation and try to gain some of the comforts of life. He has since added, by hard labor and industry, 104 acres, in Shelby County, making in all 264 acres. Mr. Deam was summoned out of this world in 1862. His wife survived him eight years. They were both worthy members of the German Reformed Church, and, aided y their children, had been consistent workers in the advancement of religion. They were held in high esteem y all who knew them. Adam, the subject of this memoir, obtained his education in the common schools, was reared on the farm and assisted his father in agricultural pursuits until he was 21 years of age, and followed various pursuits until 1841, when he was married to Julia A., daughter of John and Eliza Bond. They have one child, viz: Sarah E., (now Mrs. J. S. Booher). Mr. Deam rented land for seven years and accumulated, with the assistance of his good and industrious wife, enough to purchase the house and farm where he now resides, containing 72 acres, nearly all under cultivation and improved. They both have been consistent members of the German Reformed Church for the past thirty-three years. Mr. Deam has never been an aspirant for office, bnt was elected to the office of Township Trustee and Path Master for a number of years. Mr. Deam is now 64 years of age; and by industry has managed to save something to keep them in their declining years.

JESSE GARVER, farmer and stockraiser, P. O., Dayton, is one of the enter-prising men of this township, and was born Dec. 5, 1840. His father was born in Pennsylvania, June 10, 1800, and was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of John Lucas, in 1820. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom twelve are living, viz: Samuel, Mary, David L., George W., Liddy, Margaret, Sarah, Amos L., Jesse A., Catherine, Malinda and John C. Jesse, the 'subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools, and was brought up to agricultural pursuits, and remained with his father until 1862, when he obtained a position as traveling salesman for Baker & Co., of the Geneva Nursery, in New York State, which position he held until 1864, when he engaged in the stock business for himself, which he carried on very extensively, furnishing stock for the Eastern market until 1872. He purchased the place where he now resides, containing 120 acres, of which 100 acres are under a good state of cultivation. He celebrated his marriage with Lucinda, daughter of Israel and Susan Brower, in

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1866. They are the parents of one child--Clara B., born Dec. 20, 1877. Mr. Garver has a large and comfortable farm house, and, with the assistance of his good and industrious wife, has added many material improvements to correspond. He is very industrious and persevering, and is successful in all of his business transactions, and has accumulated enough of this world's goods to enjoy many of the comforts and luxuries of this life.

JOHN M. GREIDER, Bishop, P. O., Osborn, Greene Co., was born in Pennsylvania, Feb. 28, 1823. His grandfather, John Greider, is supposed to be a descendant of Jacob Greider, who was one of the oppressed Menonites, and fled with Jacob Hostator from Switzerland to Wurtemberg, taking nothing with them but a few linens and wearing apparel. Greider remained but a short time, but emigrated to America, and, in company with Hostator, after paying the brethren of their faith a visit at Peoquea, settled on the north side of the Conestoga, about 2 miles south from the present site of Lancaster. Here he entered a tract of land, containing about 800 acres, in 1716 or '17, among the new surveys at Conestoga. Here he erected a temporary shelter, a tent, covered with cloth brought. from Switzerland, which served him and the family until autumn, when the tent gave way to a cabin, built of round, unhewn hickory saplings, and covered with bark. When the weather became cold, his tawny neighbors, the Indians, paid him regular night visits, to obtain shelter with him and sleep by the side of a genial fire. They frequently supplied him with fresh fish and venison, which they gave in exchange for bread. On one of these occasions, Mr. Greider, having that day consulted his almanac, to regulate his clock by the rising and setting sun, noticed that there would be, in a few weeks, an eclipse of the moon. He informed his guests that on a certain evening the moon would hide her face. To hear that the moon would refuse to shine, was nothing new to them, as they had seen eclipses before, but that their white neighbor should possess so much prescience as to know this before-hand, was strange to them. At the time specified for the broad-faced moon to hide her disk, fifty or sixty Indians assembled there. To their utter astonishment the moon's face began to lessen. Profound silence prevailed. Their spokesman expressed the cogitation of their wonder-stricken visitors: "'Tis the white man's God tells him this, else he would not know it." We will now return to our subject. His grandfather, John, was born Feb. 17, 1764, and received his education in the common schools, which he only had the privilege of obtaining at certain times, but by making good nse of his time and being studious in his habits, he acquired a fair understanding, and was well fitted to discharge the many responsibilities incident to his ministerial dnties, and was a regularly ordained Minister of the Menonite Church. Be was united in marriage with Martha Hertzler, and was the father of seven children, viz: Elizabeth, John, Christian, Jacob, Maria, Michael, Martha, of whom three are living, viz: Christian, Maria (now Mrs. Herr), Martha (now Mrs. Funk). His father, Christian, was born Nov. 8, 1799. He obtained his education in the common schools, and was brought up to farm labor. He was united in marriage with Susan, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Coffman) Miller, in 1812, and purchased land of his father to the amount of 134 acres, of which about 90 acres were under a good state of cultivation and improved. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom nine are living, viz: John M., Benjamin M., Jacob M., Amos M., Elizabeth, Susan, Anna, Mary, Barbara. John M., the subject of this sketch, obtained his education in the common schools, which he did not have the opportunity of attending very regularly, but, by close attention and studious habits, he acquired a. fair understanding, and was well fitted to discharge the duties that were laid upon him. He was brought up to farm labor, and assisted his father with the duties incident to a farmer's life, and remained at home until 1847, when he was united in marriage with Anna, daughter of John and Fanny Erb. They rented land and took hold with an indomitable will to snake a bome and try to gain some of the comforts of life. In 1856 they set out to try their fortune in the great West, and followed the

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tide of emigration that was flowing westward at that time, and settled in Clark County, where he remained but a short time, and purchased the farm where he now resides, containing 160 acres and a large and commodious farm house, and has added, with the assistance of his good and noble wife, many other material improvements to correspond. They are the parents of thirteen children, of whom ten are living, viz: Samuel E., Tobias E., Barbara E., Mary E., Susanna E., Christian E., John E., Benjamin E., Jacob E. and Elizabeth. Mr. Greider organized the first Menonite Congregation in this connty, and was ordained as Deacon Dec. 15, 1861, and was regularly ordained as Minister, Dec. 20, 1862, and was well qualified for the responsibilities incident to his ministerial duties. He organized and held meetings in his home and in the school houses in the neighborhood, and finally erected a church in Clark County, where they assemble and are actively working for the conversion of souls, and have succeeded in bringing a large congregation together. The church is now in a prosperous condition. Mr. Greider was ordained as Bishop in 1872, thus showing the confidence and esteem that the congregation held him in, to bestow the highest honors of the church upon him. Mr. Greider is now 58 years old; he furnishes an example for future generations, that is worthy of their imitation.

ABRAM H. KENDIG, farmer; P. O., Osborn Greene Co. The subject of this sketch was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., May 17, 1823, and was reared to agricultural pursuits in his native county, until February 1849, when he emigrated to Ohio and located upon his present farm, where he has lived for a period of thirty-two years. He has a farm of nearly 200 acres, in Montgomery and Clark Counties, nearly all under a high state of cultivation, largely bronght to this condition by his own personal exertions. He has taken a deep interest in religion, having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of twenty years; his wife has also been a member of the same church for forty years. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Maria Rohrer, of Lancaster Co., Pa. She died in 1850, leaving two children, Elizabeth and Mary Ann. The latter is now dead, and the former living in Clark Connty. Feb. 10, 1852, he married Miss Elizabeth Shepherd, born in Lancaster Co., Pa., May 4, 1828, one of six children born to Henry L. and Susan (Sherer) Shepherd, who came west with their family in 1834. Her father emigrated to this conntry with his sister in 1816, and her mother was a daughter of Gottlieb Sherer, a farmer and distiller of Lancaster Co., Pa. By this his second marriage Mr. Kendig had five children, viz: John W., Susan A., and Albert N., now dead, and Henry F., now married and living on the home place, and Susie Emma, aged 16 years, and living at home with her parents. Mr. Kendig is the youngest son of John K., who died in October, previous to our subject's birth, leaving a widow and six children to mourn his loss. The widow, who was one of the best of mothers, and a good Christian woman, raised the family in the fear of God, and had her reward in seeing them all reach the age of discretion, as sober, industrious, Christian men and women. A full history of the Shepherd family will be found in the biography of Robert Sloan, in this work.

THOMAS B. MINNICH, teacher and Justice of the Peace; P. O., Sulphur Grove, was born Jan. 7, 1843, in Clark County. His grandfather, Peter, was a native of York Co., Pa. He was nnited in marriage with Martha Stevenson, about 1814. They were the parents of eight children, of whom four are living at the time of writing, viz: Andrew J., Martin V., Thomas B. and Rosetta M. Mr. Minnich was a patriot of the war of 1812, and by occupation a farmer. He emigrated to Ohio and located in Clark County, about 1822, when it was yet a wilderness, and entered a tract of land containing 200 acres, which was covered with a dense growth of timber. He built a log cabin and went to work with an indomitable will to try and gain some of the comforts of life. He was summoned out of this world by the angel of death in 1842, and his wife survived him thirty years. He never identified himself with any church, but lived a moral life. His father, Arthur, was born in 1820, and was united in marriage with Sarah Flick, in 1841.

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He received his education in the common schools and taught one winter prior to his marriage. He cultivated his father's farm until his decease in 1843, leaving one child, viz: Thomas B., the subject of this sketch, who obtained his primary education in the common schools, and received a scientific course at the Normal School at Lebanon, and followed teaching through the winter until the present, and was engaged in the fruit tree business in the summer for nine years, at which he was very successful, accumulating a fine property. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1879. Mr. Minnich was united in marriage with Clara S., daughter of Frederick and Sophia K. Croft, in 1876. He was the parent of one child, who died in infancy.

JACOB NEFF, farmer: P.O., Osborn, Greene Co., was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., Nov. 20, 1815. He is a son of John Neff, who was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., about the year 1780. He was a farmer and weaver and married Elizabeth Scherer, by whom he had eleven children. Of these, four sons and four daughters are now living, viz: Susan, Henry, Jacob, (our subject,) Elizabeth, Nancy, Daniel, Matthew and David. All live in Ohio except the latter, who is a physician in Kingston, Missouri. Our subject was reared to agricultural pursuits in Lancaster Connty until he was 18 years of age, when, in 1834, he emigrated with his parents and their family to Ohio, and located in Clark County. In the year following, 1835, they came to Montgomery and located on the farm now occupied by .Jacob, where the latter has since lived. In 1852 his father removed to Clark County, where his death occurred May 12, 1873. When his father moved to Clark County, Jacob and his brother David took the Montgomery County farm and worked it on shares for six years. After this Jacob farmed it four years on shares, and then purchased it of his father. He now owns some 350 acres of land in Clark and Montgomery Counties, 300 of which is under a high state of cultivation, and containing three sets of good farm buildings. He married Mary Harnish, who was also a native of Lancaster County, March 9, 1852. They had twelve children, nine of whom are now living, viz: Hefty, Albert, Elizabeth, Frank, Mary, Jacob, Jr., Emma, Henry and Christian. All of these are now living at home, except Betty, who married C. K. Brenner, an estimable farmer of this township.

ROBERT SLOAN, retired farmer; P. O., Osborn, Greene County. The family whose genealogy we here trace, was one of those widely connected pioneer families, which came to this State from Pennsylvania, when our country was yet new and wild. It has been truly said, that these early fathers formed the foundation on which the glorious State of Ohio has since been built. Moved by a spirit of adventure, or stories told concerning the hidden wealth of the New World, they left their comfortable homes in their native land, and came here to subdue a wilderness and lend a helping hand to the works of civilization. Many of them came from the Emerald Isle. Among these was the great-grandfather of the man whose name heads this sketch. He was born in the County Antrim, Ireland, and came to this country about the time William Penn died, in 1718. He was a. member of the seceding branch of the Protestant Church. He settled and commenced his farm labor in Lebanon Co., Pa. Of his wife or marriage we can learn nothing further than that by her he had born to him two sons. One of these emigrated to the great West and was never heard of afterward. The other, who was the grandfather of our subject, settled on a farm eight miles northwest of his father. He married a lady of his neighborhood named Mower. Shortly after marriage he united with the Presbyterian Church, in which he was for a long time ruling elder. He was the father of five sons and two daughters, viz : John, Robert, Alexander, James, William, Isabella and Jane. Be owned three farms, on which he placed John, James and William. Robert and Alexander became cabinet makers. John, the eldest son and father of our subject, was married to Miss Elizabeth French, March 27, 1792, and had by her four sons and nine daughters, as follows: Alexander, John F., James, Robert, Jane, Eliza, Sallie, Mary, Isabella, Margaret, Martha, Nancy and Lucinda. At the time of his marriage, John was

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25 and his wife 16 years of age. He took the farm his father gave him and at once commenced putting it under cultivation, making improvements on it from time to time, as required. He also erected a distillery and established a line of freight teams for hauling merchandise from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. Shortly after this, Alexander left home to take charge of a farm in Lycoming County, John F. left to learn a trade, and death claimed three daughters and one son, James, leaving the father with no help other than that afforded by his youngest son, Robert, our subject, who was at this time but nine years old. Thus matters stood until the spring of 1833, when, having disposed of his property, he procured horses and conveyances, and on April 1st started with his family for Ohio, where he arrived in 21 days, stopping in Wayne Township, Montgomery County, ten miles north of Dayton, on the farm formerly owned y Levi Jennings and afterwards by Samuel Barnett. Not finding any land suiting him better than that on which he first stopped, he bought 220 acres of it, with an unfinished brick house which stood on it. This land was called then well improved, having been partially cleared, and containing a log barn of moderate proportions, and a Virginia worm fence, ten rails high, around the dooryard. Here he found the horse-weed to be the farmer's greatest adversary, as it would soon grow to the height of ten and fifteen feet unless closely watched. Having now arrived at the age of 63 years, Mr. Sloan confided all his business to his son, Robert, as he was getting too old to manage it. On the 11th of Sept., 1847, his wife died, and he followed her on the 3rd of December following. His wife's father was of Scotch-Irish parents, born aboard ship while they were coming to America. Her mother was of Holland Dutch descent and a native of New Jersey. Her ancestors came to this country in 1623, when New Jersey was colonized. Her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. French, were married about 1767, and had one son and two daughters, James, Elizabeth and Jane French. They kept a public house on their farm on the main road from Harrisburg to Jonestown, sixteen miles northeast of Harrisburg. Mr. F. died in early life, and his wife carried on the business until the close of the revolutionary war, when she was married again to a revolutionary veteran named James Dixon. They both lived on the old farm to a ripe old age. Of the other members of the Sloan family, Robert, the second son, (brother of John,) was a citizen of Harrisburg, where he prosecuted a very successful business. He married Sarah McCormick, March 28, 1799, and had by her six children, Alexander, John, William, Eliza, Isabella and Mary Jane. Their first son and danghter are yet living; the rest have gone to that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." Their youngest son, William, died at St. Paul, Minn., March 17, 1880, at, the age of 65 years, 43 of which had been spent in the medical department of the regular army. He was in the Seminole war in Florida, in the Mexican war and the war of the rebellion, in which latter he was made Colonel "for meritorious services at various military posts." Alexander, the third son, married Miss Jane French, and settled in Williamport on the Susquehannah river. He raised a family of six children, Robert, French, Alexander, Maria, Eliza and Mary. James, the fourth son, married Miss Nancy M. Creight, and had also a family of six children, Alexander, James, William, Jennett, Elizabeth and Sarah Mary. He settled on the farm given to him by his father. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, then under the pastoral care of Rey. James Snodgrass. William, the youngest son, was never married. He remained on the home farm with his sister Elizabeth. Of him we greatly regret to say, that he was the only one of this extensive connection that ever became addicted to the use of strong drink. He died in middle life. Jane, the youngest daughter, married Alexander Bell, and had two children, Alexander and Ann. Of the family of John Sloan, Alexander, the eldest son who remained in Pennsylvania, married Elizabeth Crook, and had six children, viz: John, James, William, Mary, Elizabeth and Lucy. John died young and the rest are still living. After his father's removal to Ohio, he also disposed of his property, and following his father, settled on part of the same farm. J. F., the next

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brother, was born Aug. 23, 1802, and at the age of sixteen learned the cabinet making trade. He spent some time in traveling, but finally settled in New York State, where he remained until 1835, when for his health he also came to Ohio. Here he remained until after the death of his father. He then went to Indianapolis, Ind., and shortly afterward turned his property into money, with which he bought horses, cattle and wagons, and in company with others from Indianapolis, started with a wagon train for Oregon Territory. It is said he owned the larger part of the train. In the spring of 1852 they left Indianapolis, and nothing more was heard of J. F., until the latter part July of that year, when a letter was received from one of the company, saying that on the 2nd of July they had camped on the north branch of the river Platt, and that on the morning of the third Mr. Sloan mounted his horse and started driving his cattle through the river, but while doing so the fell from his horse and was drowned. A rather suspicious feature of this case is that Mr. S. had $200, a gold watch and other valuables on his parson, and though they searched for the body it was never recovered, nor has it been heard of to this day. If the above be true, he died on the 3rd of July, 1852, aged 43 years and S months. He was in life a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. James, who was born Dec. 5, 1809, died when only 16 years of age. Robert, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was born in Lebanon Co., Pa., Sept. 7, 1811, and came to Ohio with his father. In religious belief he followed in the footprints of his ancestors. At the age of 21 years he united with the Presbyterian Church of West Hanover Township, Dauphin Co., Pa:, of which he continued a zealous and leading member until his removal to Ohio, when he was obliged to sever his church relationship. He however united with the church of the same denomination in Bath Township, Green County, immediately on his arrival here. He is now, together with the rest of his family, a member of the Osborn Presbyterian Church. During the whole of his father's life the entire management of the farm devolved on Robert, and it could not have fallen into better hands, for the father's care of his own property could not have exceeded the son's care of his father's property. He was married to Miss Mary A. Shepherd, Wayne Township, this County, Dec. 15, 1846, and had born to him by her one son and two daughters, whose names and dares of birth are as follows: Susie E., born June 16, 1848; Henry C., born June 1, 1851, and Mary E., born June 27, 1854. Susie received a liberal education, which enabled her to enter the ranks of school teachers, after which she married H. H. Kneisly, Henry C. married Miss Nancy J. Dille, of Clark Co., Ohio, Feb. 19, 1871. Mary E. married J. H. Barkman, Sept. 28, 1876. He is an enterprising and influential merchant of Osborn. Before leaving this family, we desire to say a word comcerning Mr. Sloan's standing in the neighborhood, and indeed, wherever, he is known, for all who know him bear their testimony of his honesty, integrity and worth. e is one of the very few perfectly honest men of to-day. Speaking of him, one friend says, "His word is as good as his bond, and loss of life would not tempt him to violate either." He is a conscientious and consistent member of the church : an indulgent and loving father; and a thoughtful and devoted husband. He is gladly accorded a place in this work. His wife, Mary A. Sloan, was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., Nov. 8, 1822. Her father, H. L. Shepherd, was a native of the village of Villars, in the Canton Berne, Switzerland, where he was born Dee. 17, 1799. He came to this country in 1816, as company for his sister, who had married a gentleman of this country under the following circumstances: Mr. Flotron, a jeweler, (the gentleman referred to above,) a native of Lancaster, Pa., who was on a traveling tour in Europe, became acquainted with the Shepherd family, who were also jewelers, and took a liking to their daughter, Mary A., the sister referred to above. He asked her hand in marriage, but she being an only daughter, the parents refused to let her leave them, and Mr. Flotron was compelled to return to America without her. He had been here but a short time before he concluded that she was necessary to his happiness, and he accordingly returned to Switzer-

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land to again press his suit. This time he was successful, and they were married. The parents resolved to send her youngest brother with her, to see her safe in her new home and then return to them. They started in 1816, and after a rough voyage landed at New York, and from there went to Lancaster, Pa., the groom's home. During their voyage over they met with frequent storms, and in one instance were wrecked and almost lost. After arriving at their home, the sister, not liking to be left alone, induced her brother to remain with her and not to return home. He therefore entered the employ of Gottlieb Scherer, a fanner and distiller, with whom he remained until 1821. In this year he married Miss Susan Sherer, sister of his employer, find had by her six children, three sons and three daughters, one of the latter afterward becoming Mr. Sloan's wife. In the spring of 1833 he emigrated to Ohio, and died Jan. 4, 1861, being followed y his wife, who died Feb. 4, 1864. Mrs. Flotron (nee Shepherd) having lost her husband, returned to her parents in Switzerland, with one son and one daughter. She lived to a ripe old age. Her grandson, Leo Flotron, emigrated to America in 1866, and engaged in jeweling in the city of Dayton. He was a highly esteemed citizen and had the respect of all. He married Miss Kate Rouzer, and had by her one son, whose name was John R. His biography will be found among the sketches of Dayton, in another part of this work. We have, in the above, mentioned the four brothers of our subject, sons of John Sloan, Sr., and we will now speak of the nine sisters. Jane was born May 10, 1767. She was never married, but resided with her father until his death, when she went to Jay Co., Ind., where she died. Eliza was born Nov. 28, 1795, and died June 27, 1819. Sallie was born July 21, 1797, and was married to John Caldwell, y whom she had two children, J. B. and Sarah. She died while visiting her father, Oct. 27, 1822. Mary was born March 26, 1799, and married John Brown, by whom she had one son, James, the father of the present James Brown, of New Carlisle. Her husband died and she came to Ohio with her father, and married here the second time to John Paul, the first settler of Clark County. Isabella was born June 17, 1801. She married John Gilfilen and had one daughter, who married Isaac Shartel, of Clark County. Mr. Shartel and wife moved to Minnesota, and from there to Florida, where they now live. Margaret was born Jan. 19, 1805. She married William McFarland, and had by him four sons and four daughters. They came to Ohio in 1832, and lived in Wayne Township, this County, a number of years, after which they moved to Jay Co., Ind. Martha was born Dec. 21, 1809, and came to Ohio with her father. Here she married Stewart Forgy, of Clark County, and had three sons and two daughters. Her husband died, leaving her with a young family to care for, but she did not survive him long. Nancy was born July 5, 1813, and came to Wayne Township in 1833, where she resided with her father until June 21, 1841, when she married Rev. Franklin Berryhill, of Green County. She was the mother of two sons and two daughters. She died June 13, 1864, aged 51 years, 1 month and 8 days. Lucinda was born July 5, 1814. She was with her father's family when they came to Ohio, March 5, 1835. She married Caleb Quick, of Clark County, who was born March 16, 1812. They had five children, three sons and two daughters. Mr. Quick was a farmer nntil his father's death, when he became a merchant. He afterward became licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal Church. He also studied medicine and moved to New Waverly, Ind., where he practiced the latter profession a number of years. He died Jan. 16, 1876, leaving two sons practicing medicine in his stead, and a wife and family to mourn the loss of a loving father and devoted husband. This closes a sketch of one of those good old Presbyterian families who have done so much toward making our country what it is to-day. There are pages that might be written of them, but for want of space we forbear.

SAMUEL STRASBURG, wagon maker and farmer; P. O., Sulphur Grove. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is one of the prominent men of this township, and is one that has made Wayne Township what it is to-day. He was

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born in Maryland, July 19, 1819. His father was a native of Germany, and came to America and settled in Maryland at a very early date. He was united in marriage with Miss Fenderberg. They were the parents of five children; but one is living at the time of writing. Mrs. Strasburg was summoned out of this world about 1800. Mr. Strasburg came to Ohio and settled in Clark County in 1801, and entered a tract of land containing about 150 acres, covered with a dense growth of timber, and immediately went to work to clear it up and put it under cultivation. He was united in marriage with his second wife about 1803. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four are living at the time of writing, viz: Jacob, Samuel, Frederick and Nancy. Samuel, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the district schools of the county. He applied all his spare time at night to his studies, and has acquired a fair knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic. He assisted his father on the farm until he was seventeen, when he engaged with his brother to learn the wagon maker's trade and served three years. He took for his wife Mary A., daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Brandenberg, in 1841, and started in business for himself and carried it on successfully until 1854, when he purchased the farm where he now resides, containing 80 acres, which he cultivated in connection with his shop. They are the parents of seven children. Magdaline, Catharine, John W., Naomi and Charles are living. Mr. and Mrs. Strasburg are both members of the German Reformed Church, and their children are laborers with them in the cause of religion. Mr. Strasburg is now 61 years old; he has succeeded in accumulating enough of this world's goods to keep them until the angel of death summon them to their last abode.

JACOB E. ZEDEKER, farmer; P. O., Fishberg Box. Among the early pioneers of this county that are worthy of mention in this work, is Jacob E. Zedeker, born Sept. 20, 1813. His father, John, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1805, when it was yet a wilderness. He was the father of seven children, of whom six are living, viz: Daniel, Catharine, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary and Jacob, the subject of this memoir, who obtained his education in the district schools of the country, when greased paper was used for windows and clapboards for seats. He did not have the privilege of attending school very regularly, but being studious in his habits, he acquired a fair understanding of the English language. He assisted his father with the farm duties until his marriage with Mary, daughter of William and Mary Campbell, in 183 3. They were the parents of nine children, of whom eight are now living, viz : John W., Elizabeth M., Mary M., Sarah J., Martha A., Julia A., Daniel S., Jacob E., and an adopted son, Clemet V. Slanker. He rented land of his father, and at the death of his parents, purchased the interest of the heirs. It contained 142 acres, nearly all in a high state of cultivation and well improved. Mrs. Zedeker is a member of the United Brethren Church, and the children are co-workers with her in the cause of religion. Mr. Zedeker has, with the assistance of his good wife, accumulated enough of this world's goods to keep them in their declining years.