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TROY TOWNSHIP

WILLIAM BIXLER, farmer; P. O., Shaucks. The subject of this sketch was born March 25, 1807, in Frederick, now Carroll Co., Md. His father, Benjamin Bixler, was born in Adams Co., Penn., and raised in the State of Maryland, which was the birth-place of his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Stone. His father was a farmer, and a preacher by profession. He traveled on a circuit for several years in early life, and afterward was a local minister; he was a member of the Evangelical Association. He emigrated to Ohio in 1833, and settled on a farm in this township, where he passed the rest of his life, and died in 1863. William commenced for himself when of age, by farming on the homestead, which has been his only residence since coming to this State. Ile was married March 28, 1838, to Julia A., daughter of Francis NV., and Mary (Beckley) Baughman. She was born April 27, 1818, in Richland Co. Her parents were among the first settlers, coming here in 1816; her father was a miller, and ran a mill for fourteen years in Richland Co., when he retired to a farm on which he died in 1838. They had eight children, four now living-Henry, Mary A., Sarah A. and John. The boys are married; the youngest is living

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on the old homestead. Both are members of the Evangelical Association. He owns over 200 acres land with good improvements.

DAVID R. BENDER, farmer; P. O., Steam Corners; was born in what is now Morrow Co., Nov. 13,1841. He is the fifth child of George and Elizabeth (Reath) Bender, and passed his life under the parental roof until the commencement of the war, when he was among the first to respond to his "country's call," enlisting in Company C., 15th Regiment, O. V. I., and was gone near four years, Shiloh, Yazoo Pass and Vicksburg being among the battles in which he was engaged. He was transferred to the Veteran Corps at Indianapolis and guarded prisoners for a short time, when he was placed on General Hovey's escort. Has since been a farmer except for five years he owned a half interest in a saw mill,. doing custom work and dealing in logs and lumber. He was married Sept. 8, 1868, to Anna N., daughter of Jacob and Judith Stull. She was born Feb. 12, 1848, in Richland Co. They have had four children-Minnie M., Wilbur S., Elnora and C. Cookman; both are members of the Evangelical Association.

ELIZABETH BENDER, farmer; P. O., Steam Corners; was born April 12, 1807, in Indiana Co., Penn., and is the second of a family of four children, and the only one now living. Her father, Adam Reath, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to this country in 1801, and was a weaver by trade, and soon after his arrival he was married to Polly Dorr, of Chester Co., Penn. They soon moved to Indiana Co., and then to Pittsburgh, where his wife died in 1814, when he moved to Cumberland Co., where he was married to Peggy Campbell; and in 1840 he. emigrated to this State, where he was killed on the following Christmas by a runaway horse. Elizabeth was married June 14, 1832, to George Bender, son of John and Barbara Bender, who was born Sept. 1, 1799, in Cumberland Co., Penn.; he was a farmer by occupation, and in 1840, moved to Ohio, making a permanent settlement in what is now Morrow Co., where cleared his farm, and lived on it till his death in 1868. They had ten children, seven are now living - Polly, Margaret, Elizabeth, David R., George W., Sarah J. and James. All but the youngest are married. Mr. Bender was a member of the German Reformed Church, and she belongs to the U. P. Church at Lexington.

WILLIAM A. FERGUSON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O., Shaucks; the youngest and only surviving member of a family of seven children, was born July 30, 1858, in Morrow Co., Ohio. His father, William R. Ferguson, familiarly known as "'Squire Ferguson," was born and raised in Cumberland Co., Pa., and his mother, Mary M. (Morrow) Ferguson, was born and raised in Franklin Co., Pa. His father was a farmer, and came to this State in 1845, settling on the farm on which his son now lives; this he cleared and improved as fast as possible, and for some time before his death, was one of the leading men in the county, being a successful wool grower and dealer; he died in the spring of 1874. William received a good education, and when 18, commenced traveling; he visited various places in the East, and went through the Western States and territories to recuperate his failing health. He taught music for some time in Utah, and returned to his native State, substantially benefitted by his travels. He was married Sept. 9, 1879, to Emma J., daughter of Henry L. and Leah Shauck, who was born Jan. 6, 1860, in Richland Co. He owns a large farm, good buildings and improvements, and has as fine grades of sheep as can he found in the county. He basso far been identified with the Republican party.

GEORGE W. HERSHNER, carpenter and farmer; P. O., Steam Corners; is among the most prominent and influential men of this Co., and the second of a family of eight children, and was born Oct. 12, 1833, in what is now Morrow Co. His father, Andrew Hershner, was born in York Co., Penn., and raised in Baltimore Co., Md. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary A. Murray, was born and raised in Maryland. His father emigrated to this State in 1828, and soon after entered eighty acres of Government land, on which he now lives. George went to learn the carpenter trade when seventeen, and has made that his chief occupation since. He owns a good farm, but seems inclined to work at his trade and let the boys tend the farm. The people have unbounded faith in his good judgment. and integrity, which is attested by

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 837

the fact that he is now serving his fourth term as Justice of the Peace, and second as Commissioner of Morrow Co., and has also been Township Clerk for some ten years. He was married, Jan. 1, 1857, to Louisa, daughter of John and Mary (Kunkelman) Fernsler, who was born Oct. 12, 1832, in Lebanon Co., Penn., and came to this State near 1850, and died, June 7, 1862, leaving three children - John L., Andrew F. and Daniel A. The eldest two are living in Oregon-one is a minister, and the other teaching school and attending college. He was again married, May 4, 1865, to Emma C., daughter of Samuel and Mary Markward, who was born Feb. 26,1845, in Cumberland Co., Penn., and came to Richland Co. in 1852. Two children have been born-Samuel Arthur and Mary Cora.

JACOB HALDEMAN, farmer and minister; P. O., Steam Corners; was born July 23, 1816, in Lancaster Co., Penn.; his parents were natives of that county; his father's name was Jacob Haldeman, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Minech. His father was a carpenter, and in 1817 he emigrated to this State, living in Fredericktown, Knox Co., for more than a year, when he moved to what is now Morrow Co., and entered a half section of government land. He worked on the farm when not busy at his trade, and toward the close of his life paid his whole attention to the farm. He died in 1870. Jacob learned the trade with his father, and worked at it most the time for several years; he began for himself when twenty-six years old, by settling on a portion of the old homestead, which he cleared and improved till 1864, When he sold it and moved to where he now lives. He united with the church in early life, and in 1858 he commenced preaching. He traveled on a circuit for three years, and has since been a local preacher in the Evangelical Association, to which all his father's family belonged. He was married Dec. 27, 1841, to Mary A., daughter of George and Magdalene Cook; she was born March 18, 1821, in Lancaster Co., Penn.; by this union nine children were born; four are living-Barbara A., Sarah E., Franklin H. and John W.; the two oldest are married. All the family are members of the Evangelical Association.

J. CHAMBERS HUNTER, farmer; P. O., Corsica; is the fourth of a family of ten children, and was born in Richland Co., Dec. 25, 1828. His father, William Hunter, was born in Center Co., Penn.; and while in his boyhood came to Fairfield Co., O., where he learned the tanner's trade. When twenty years old he came to Richland Co., and entered government land; he was ever after a farmer, and died in 1852. Mr. Hunter commenced for himself when twenty-four years old, and always followed farming. He was married Sept. 25, 1855, to Rebecca J., a daughter of John and Mary Doak; She was born Nov. 16, 1832, in Beaver Co., Penn. He was a Democrat before the war, but has since been identified with the Republican party.

SAMUEL KESLER, farmer; P. O., Steam Corners; was born in Lebanon, Penn., Dec. 5, 1822. His parents were natives of that State. His father's name was Samuel, and his mother's maiden name was Catharine Saunders. His father was a farmer, and emigrated to this State in 1833, locating on the farm on which Samuel now lives. He cleared it with the help of his sons, and lived on it till his death in 1871. Samuel lived under the parental roof, until his marriage, when he commenced for himself. He was married Sept. 18, 18,51, to Mary A., daughter of William and Maria Brockey, who was born April 4, 1826, in Pa., and came to Ohio in 1835. They had two children, but both died in their infancy. Mr. Kesler has always lived on the old farm except ten years, that he owned a saw-mill near by. He owns over one hundred acres of land with good buildings and improvements.

ANDREW MECKLEY, farmer; P. O., Steam Corners; is the second of a family of six children, and was born Nov. 11, 1834, in York Co., Penn. His parents were natives of that county; his father's name was David and his mother's maiden name was Mary Kesler. His father was a farmer, and emigrated to this State in 1848, settling on the far-in on which Andrew now lives; he died in 1868. Andrew farmed at first in this county, and then for five years each in Crawford and Richland counties; when his fattier died, he bought the old homestead; he was married June 26, 1856, to Mary, daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Rone) Hassler, who was born May 21,18:37, in what is now Morrow Co. Her parents

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were early settlers, and entered the farm on which Edward Meckley now lives; they have had five children, three of whom are living - Laura A., Edward D. and Emma O., the eldest of whom is married. He has been Trustee and Assessor four years, and Land Appraiser in 1880. Both are members of tile Evangelical Association.

THOMAS POLAND, farmer; P. O., Lexington; was born Dec. 16, 1816, in Franklin Co., Penn.; his parents were natives of that State-his father, John Poland of Franklin Co., and his mother, Rachel (Cookston) Poland of Adams Co. His father was a farmer by occupation, and in 1832 he moved to Richland Co., where he lived four years. He then bought eighty acres of "school land " in this county, on which he lived for more than thirty years, when he sold it and moved to Indiana. At the age of 17, Thomas commenced working at the carpenter trade which he followed for thirty years. When 19 he walked to the city of Baltimore and returned as far as Pennsylvania, where he worked during the summer, and then came home. He was the first man in this part of the county to pack and ship apples; he was engaged in the produce business several years, and in the lumber trade some five years, during which he owned a portable sawmill a short time. In all these ventures he has been eminently successful, being now worth near twenty-four thousand dollars. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a, charter member of the Patrons of Husbandry, of which he is a lecturer; he also helped organize a Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and is one of tile Directors. He was married in July, 1838, to Mary, daughter of Lewis and Catharine Grimes. She was born Jan. 18, 1815, in Lancaster Co., Pa. To them eight children were born; six are living -Simon, Mary A., Alexander, Hannah J., Thomas J. and W. Scott. All are married, and the oldest three sons served in the late war.

FREDERICK STULL, saw-mill and farmer; P. O., Steam Corners; is the seventh of a family of twelve children, and was born April 27, 1833, in Cambary Co., Pa. His father, George Stull, was born in Bedford Co., and from there he came to Cambary Co., where he lived till 1843, when he removed to Clarian Co., and resided there till his death; he was a farmer. Frederick learned the trade of a mason, when 17, which has been his chief occupation, and in 1866 he removed to where he now lives; he owns a half interest in a sawmill at Buckhorn, beside the one at Steam Corners, and also does custom work, and deals quite extensively in logs and lumber; he also owns forty acres of land, on which he lives at present. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a charter member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and is also a member of the Evangelical Association. He was married in 1855 to Mary A., daughter of George and Barbara Sheakly, by whom he had five children; two are living-Solomon P. and George P. The mother died during the war. Two years after, he was married to Sarah Redinger, who died March 6, 1878, leaving one child-Hetty A., one having died in infancy.

ALBERT K. SHAUCK, merchant; Steam Corners; was born May 17, 1854, in Richland Co., O. His parents, Henry L. and Leah (King) Shauck, were natives of Pennsylvania. They came here during childhood, and passed their youthful days in arduous toil; his father assisted in clearing up the homestead, and afterward a farm of his own, which he has improved and rendered attractive as well as valuable. Albert had a good common school education, and spent several terms at Lexington, before he was twenty years old. At that age he commenced teaching school, and has followed it since with unusual success; he has taught at Lexington and Blooming Grove; he has also given considerable attention to music, having studied at Oberlin, and several terms at Mansfield under that able instructor, Prof. McGennis; he has taught music for several years, to which he is much devoted. In the fall of 1879, he went into mercantile business at Steam Corners, under the firm name of Shaucks & Maxwell. They commenced with an entirely new stock, consisting of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, bats and caps, hardware. notions, etc., which they exchange for country produce; they are doing a good business. Mr. Shauck has been Postmaster since October, 18 79. He was married Dec. 29, 1876, to Jennie D., daughter of George J. and Betsey (Cockley) Maxwell, who was born Dec. 20, 1856, in Richland Co. They have one child, named Eustace. Both are members of the United Brethren Church.