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PALMYRA TOWNSHIP.

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GUSTAVUS P. BACON, farmer, P. O. Palmyra, was born May 29, 1813, in Palmyra Township, this county, on the homestead farm where he now resides, son of William and Polly (Thurber) Bacon, natives of Vermont. William Bacon visited this county in 1800, and after securing his land, returned, as he had come, on foot. In 1802 he came back to Palmyra Township with his family, and was assisted by the Indians in raising a cabin, and here he passed the remainder of his life. Of the ten children born to this pioneer couple but four survive: William R., Gustavus P., Almon T. and Chauncy C. The subject of this sketch was married in Deerfield, October 9, 1836, to Christens Woodward, a native of Pennsylvania. To this union have been born ten children, seven of whom are living: John W., married to Lizzie Burnett, who died leaving four children: John, Charles, Della and Mary (his second marriage was with Mrs. Mary Hornesby); Emeline L., wife of William G. Byers; Hiram G., married to Lizzie Craig (their children are Frank and Nellie); Cozzens, married to Josephine Edsall (they reside in Throckmorton County, Tex., have two children: Blanche and Warren); Mary C.; Martha; and Lodica residing on the homestead. Mr. Bacon is the oldest native-born resident of Palmyra Township, this county.

ALVA BALDWIN, farmer, P. O. Palmyra, Portage Co., Ohio, was born in Warren, Litchfield Co., Conn., July 4, 1795, son of John T. and Catherine (McArthur) Baldwin, natives of Milford, Conn., who came to this county by wagon in 1805, arriving at the farm on July 7. Theirs was the first wagon that crossed the county, there being but two or three families in the southern part of the township. John T. Baldwin took up eighty acres of land, and after paying for his land had $7 left. He and our subject participated in the war of 1812. They went out at Hull's surrender, with the Fourth Division of Ohio Militia under Gen. Wadsworth. Our subject had his father's team, and while at Cleveland they met Gen. Harrison, who employed John T. Baldwin to pick up all the provisions for the army he could find. They were out all winter. Soon after the close of that struggle they went to Detroit, and from thence, in 1815, to Toledo with a party of twelve men. The party consisted of Col. McArthur; Maj. Mansfield, of Atwater; Horatio Day; Lewis Ely and Merrick Ely, of Deerfield; Capt. John T. Baldwin and Alva Baldwin, of Palmyra; Judge King, of Stowe, with some discharged soldiers from Detroit, all on foot, with each a United States knapsack on his back, well stored with provisions and blankets. There was no settlement at Toledo at that time. John T. Baldwin took up land on Bean Creek, and through his landed possessions became wealthy. Three sons accompanied him from Palmyra to Toledo. He subsequently built a vessel on the Cuyahoga. He died at the age of sixty-three years at Toledo, Ohio, where his estimable wife had also departed this life. The youngest son, Marcus, who is a resident of Toledo, and Alva, our subject, are the only survivors of their children. The

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latter returned to the homestead farm in Palmyra Township, this county, where he remained, and is now passing the declining years of his life surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Mr. Baldwin was married in Ravenna, in 1818, to Sally Andrus, daughter of Benjamin Andrus. To this union two children were born: Andrus T., and Lucinda, who died October 4, 1838, at the age of twelve years. Andrus T. was born on the homestead farm in 1820.. He has been engaged in various pursuits, and for twelve years was in the hardware trade at Medina and Ravenna. In 1884 he disposed of his business and removed to the homestead to care for and live wih his respected parent through the latter part of his existence. He was married November 5, 1839, in Palmyra, to Samantha Daniels, a native of Medway, Mass., born August 29, 1821. She died February 23,1861, leaving One son—Alvah V., who was born July 2,1840, was thoroughly educated for a physician and surgeon, and was a graduate of the old and new schools of Cleveland. He was a student of the lamented President Garfield, and was a young man of pronounced ability, and gained a strong hold on the hearts of all who knew him. He was married to Eliza Merwin, who bore him three children, all now living: Ida S., Gustave W. and Clayton R. His widow resides in Palmyra. Andrus T. was married the second time in 1873, the lady being Ella Olmstead, a native of Palmyra. By this union 'are two children, both now living: John B. and Minnie S.

D. D. CARSON, a member of the firm of Carson & Diver, merchants, Palmyra, was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, July 23, 1843, a son of George and Catherine (Gross) Carson, natives of Pennsylvania, who reared a family of ten children, nine of whom are now living: Catherine J., Harriet, Uriah W., David. D., Emily M., Elmer, William F., Clara and Ellen. His father, an early pioneer of Berlin, Mahoning Co., Ohio, where he and his estimable wife still reside, has always followed farming as an occupation. He has served as Justice of the Peace for upward of twenty-seven years and at present is Notary Public. The subject of this sketch was married in 1864 to Miss Sarah A. Buck, who died in Union, Mo., in 1880. He was married on second occasion to Sarah A., daughter of John Gross, of Berlin, Ohio. Mr. Carson in 1864 enlisted in Company G, One Bundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving five months, and participated with his regiment in active service at Martinsburg, Va. Subsequently Mr. Carson removed to Franklin County, Mo. where for sixteen years he engaged in teaching school and farming. After his return to Berlin he taught school for a time. In the spring of 1883 he formed a partnership with E. J. Shively in mercantile trade at Palmyra. In December of the same year Mr. Shively retired from the concern, and our subject carried it on alone until May, 1884, when G. R. Diver was admitted to the firm. The house carries about $5,000 in general stock and drugs, and has a lucrative trade. Mr. Carson served as Justice of the Peace while a resident of Missouri. He is a F. & A. M., and holds a membership in the K. of P. and I. O. 0. F.

SAMUEL A. CHURCH, farmer, P. 0. Palmyra, was born on the homestead farm in Palmyra Township, this county, February 16, 1854, and is a grandson of Samuel and Tryphena (Terrell), who settled in Palmyra Township in 1833. His father, James M. Church, was born in Litchfield County, Conn., December 19, 1815; his mother, Phebe (Olmstead) Church, was also a native of Connecticut. They are among the oldest living pioneers of Palmyra Township, parents of four children, all of whom are now living: Anna, wife of W. D. Edwards; William S. ; Jane, wife of N. K. Goss, and Samuel A. The subject of this sketch, who occupies the homestead, was married in

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1876 to Dassie, daughter of Alexander Scott, and a native of Palmyra Township. One son—James Scott—has blessed this union. Mr. Church is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the I: O. O. F. He is one of the leading farmers of the township. Politically he supports the Democratic platform.

WILLIAM C. DAVIS, proprietor of restaurant and billiard room, Diamond, was born in Paris Township, this county, in August, 1844, son of John D. and Margaret (Jones).Davis, and grandson of William Davis, one of the earliest pioneers of Palmyra Township. His father moved from Paris Township to Palmyra Township in 1847, settling on a farm, where he died in February, 1883, aged seventy-one years. The widow, who subsequently married William Edwards, now resides in Alliance. The subject of this sketch, one of eight children, was brought up on the farm, and served an apprenticeship of three years in Cleveland as a stone-cutter. He worked at his trade until he came to this place in the summer of 1880, and, purchasing a lot, built his present residence and billiard room. This was the second building erected in the place, and Mr. Davis has carried on a large and successful business. He was married at Cleveland, Ohio, in May, 1872, to Mary, daughter of Silas Betts, of Canfield. Three children have been born to bless this union: Roscoe, Daisy and Gracie, latter of whom died in 1881, aged twenty-three days. Mr. Davis is a man of influence in the community, highly respected by all who know him.

GEORGE R. DIVER, a member of the firm of Carson & Diver, Palmyra, was born in Deerfield Township, this county, September 12, 1865. His father, Orison, was also a native of Deerfield Township, born August 20, 1829, the youngest son of John and Christena (Hartzell) Diver. At the death of his father, Orison Diver accepted his responsibilities, became proprietor of the " Diver House," and attended to the transportation of mails between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. He was twice married, first to Samantha Mowen, who died one year after marriage, leaving one child named Minty, who died at the age of five years and seven months. His second marriage was with Sarah Gross, by whom he had one child—George R., our subject. He was a man of sound moral worth, widely and favorably known. He died September 21, 1877, and his widow is now the wife of D. D. Carson. Our subject received school advantages, and, possessing business ability, engaged in the livery business at Deerfield, this county. This he subsequently disposed of and in May, 1884, formed the present copartnership. The firm carry a general stock of goods, and enjoy a lucrative trade.

E. M. EVANS, Postmaster, Palmyra, is a native of Wales, where he was born in 1837. He emigrated to the United States in July, 1866, and came to Chicago, and on his recovering from a three months' sickness he left for Milwaukee, where he worked at his trade as cabinet-maker until the spring of 1868. He then removed to Arena, Iowa Co., Wis., where he conducted a furniture store. In 1869 he was licensed to preach by the Welsh Baptist Church of Ridgeway, Iowa Co., Wis., where he held membership. In the fall of 1871 he was called to supply the Welsh Baptist Church in the settlement near Oshkosh, Wis. In the spring of 1882 he came to Chicago and held a position in the retail department of A. H. Andrews & Co. In the fall of 1882 the Welsh Baptist Church of Frostburg, Md., extended him a call, and he was ordained to the ministry by said church in December, 1883. While in Frostburg he published a volume of his' compositions in the Welsh language, including prose and poetry, which volume had an extensive sale, and has been used by- the Welsh Sabbath-schools of the United States for recitations in their anni-

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versaries and exhibitions. For the sake of arranging his business affairs in the West, Mr. Evans resigned his charge of the church in Frostburg, and when he was about to depart from his people they presented him with a beautiful gold watch valued at $140. After his visit to Wisconsin he returned to Johnstown, Penn , where he had accepted a call from the Welsh Baptist Church. The church being crippled by a strike of seven months, and the panic of 1873 and 1874, Mr. Evans concluded to accept the call of the Baptist Church of Paris, Portage Co., Ohio. He came to Paris in the fall of 1875, and while there he was invited to Palmyra by the Baptist friends there to reorganize the church and to repair an old church building that had been abandoned for many years. He soon found the two charges and preaching once in Palmyra and twice in Paris every Sabbath too much of a task, so he concluded to relinquish his charge of the church in Paris, and in 1877 he opened a drug store in Palmyra and in the same year he was appointed Postmaster at Palmyra, which position he has acceptably filled since that time. He was without means when he came to this country, but by close economy, integrity and perseverance has accumulated a good home and substantial business. Mr. Evans was married in 1879 to Miss Elizabeth V. Evans, a native of Palmyra, Ohio. Their living children are John V. and Alfred D. Mr. Evans devotes all his spare time to his ministerial duties.

THOMAS EVANS, proprietor of saloon and restaurant, came to Palmyra, this county, in June, 1879, and was engaged in the mines about one year, when he struck a coal shaft and opened a bank which he sold to a profit. Subsequently he opened a saloon, in which business he has since been actively engaged. He erected his present structure in 1882, where he carries a large stock of liquors, wines, cigars, etc., and has a pool table in connection with his place. He has been successful in this business. Mr. Evans is a native of Wales, where he was born in 1852, and is a son of George and Ellen Evans. He was married in his native land in 1878, to Miss Eliza Griffith, by whom he has three children: Arthur, David G. and Mary Ellen. He is a member of the K. of P. He numbers among the active business men of this place.

H. H. GILLINGHAM, Superintendent Hutson Coar Company, Diamond, was born in Deerfield Township, this county, November 21, 1856, and is a son of John W. and Mary A. Gillingham, the former a native of Maryland, the latter of Mahoning County, Ohio. They were the parents of six children, all of whom are now living, viz. : Elizabeth, wife of F. J. Powell; Samuel 0.; Reuben; Hiram H.; Delia A. and Charles E. The family settled in Deerfield Township, this county, in 1854, where they have since made their home. The subject of this sketch was married in Deerfield Township in 1880, to Miss May 0. Vaughan, a native of Robinson, Ill. One son—Willie D.-has been born to this union. Mr. Gillingham and Mr. Hutson sunk the shaf t for the coal bank in August, 1883, since which time Mr. Gillingham has assumed the superintendency, and enjoys an interest in the concern. He is a F. & A. M. As a citizen he is highly esteemed.

WILLIAM JENKINS, M. D., Diamond, was born in Treforest, Wales, in 1852, a son of Thomas and Ann (Jones) Jenkins. His father, who was a clergman, came to the United States in 1863, and after locating at various places he settled in Waterville, N. Y., where he presides in the pulpit of the Congregational Church. The Abject of this sketch was married in Delaware County, in 1875, to Mary E. Thomas, by whom he has the following children now living: Mary A. and Thomas S. Mr. Jenkins received his collegiate education in the University at Delaware, where he graduated in the class of 1876. He attended two courses of lectures at the Howard University of Boston, Mass., and grad-

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uated at the Columbus Medical College in 1881. His brother, Dr. Jenkins, of Plain City, Madison Co., Ohio, was his preceptor, from whom he received all the advantages for his studies. He subsequently became assistant to Dr. Hamilton, in the college at Columbus, with whom he was connected until he came to this place in May, 1884. Dr, Jenkins has built up a rapid and increasing practice, and is well established in the hearts of the people and all who know hire. He is a consistent member of the Congregational Church; an honored member of the Masonic fraternity.

0. B. MASON, merchant, Diamond, was born in Marlborough, Stark Co., Ohio, March 14, 1838, son of Otis and Mary Mason, both deceased. Mr. Mason is the founder of Diamond, being the first business man to locate here in 1880, and is deserving of great credit for his labors in building up and improving the place. He erected the first edifice here, now used as a depot and restaurant, and opened a general stock of goods. In December, 1881, he erected his present structure, where he has since continued doing a successful trade; has also for years been engaged in the lumber business, and beginning life as he did, empty-handed, he is worthy of a place in the pages o history. He was appointed Postmaster in 1881, a position he has filled acceptably to all. Mr. Mason is an ardent supporter of the Republican party. He holds the esteem and friendship of all classes who have learned to appreciate his moral worth. Our subject was married in Marlborough, Ohio, in 1863, to Mary A., daughter of Samuel Campbell, of Atwater Township, Ohio, by whom he has two living children: Frank, born in June, 1871, and Dawn, born August 24, 1884.

NOBLE MERWIN, farmer, P. 0. Diamond, was born in Palmyra Township, this county, May 22, 1853, son of Nathaniel R. and Jane (Hitchcock) Merwin, natives of Connecticut. The parents and grandfather, David Merwin, settled on the farm in 1814, purchasing one section of land, a portion of which they lived to clear, and here they passed honored and useful lives. Nathaniel R. Merwin was twice married. By his first wife, nee Mary A. Stilson, two sons were born: George and David. Of the children born to his second marriage four are living: Eliza (wife of L. Thomas), Lucy (wife of R. Whittlesey), Charles A. and Noble. The subject of this sketch was married in Palmyra Township, in 1873, to Helen Brainerd, of Boardman, Mahoning County. Flora M. and Noble H. are the living issue of this union. Mr. Merwin resides on a portion of the homestead farm, consisting of 150 acres. The family is an outgrowth of pioneer stock, and bears the respected and honored characters of worthy and esteemed parents.

JACOB SCOTT, farmer, P. 0. Diamond, one of the oldest native residents of Palmyra Township, was born on the homestead farm in 1834, and is a son of Alexander and Christian (Bean) Scott. His father was a native of Ireland and a son of Robert Scott, who settled in Mifflin County, Penn., in 1800, where he lived to the close of his life. Alex. Scott is the oldest living pioneer of Palmyra Township, having passed his ninety-first birthday. His estimable wife died in September, 1872, the mother of twelve children, eight of whom are now living: John, Nancy, Mary, Alexander, Robert, Jacob, Roswell and Margaret. The subject of this sketch was first married to Miss Sarah J. Malvey, who died, leaving one child—Sarah J.—wife of A. V. Lewis. He was married on second occasion, in 1865, to Miss Mary A., daughter of William Stewart (deceased), who was born in County Down, Ireland, in November, 1802, immigrated to, this country and settled in Palmyra Township, in 1832. In 1837 he married Rebecca Gilbert, and soon after settled on the farm where he and his respected wife passed the remainder of life's journey, and which is still occupied by his children. Mr. Scott's farming lands in Pal-

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myra Township and in Milton cover 147 acres. In the spring of 1884 he erected his present commodious residence at Diamond. He is a member of the Grange.

EDWARD SEEDHOUSE, proprietor of saloon and restaurant, Palmyra, is a native of England, where he was born in 1833. In 1866 he came to America, and was engaged in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. While there he met and married Sarah Lemm, who died in Pennsylvania. His second marriage was with Nora Anna Stone, by whom he has two sons and two daughters: Joseph, Harriet (wife of William Bailey), William, and Mary A. (wife of Richard Davis). Mr. Sebdhouse came to Palmyra in 1882, and opened his present place, where he conducts a prosperous business. As a citizen he sustains a good reputation.

W. G. SMITH, M. D., Palmyra, was born in New Wilmington, Lawrence Co., Penn., July 11, 1854, and is the eldest son of Samuel and Sarah (Banks) Smith, who were the parents of eight children, all of whom are now living: W. G., Robert, Ella S., Maggie E., Eddie, Edith, Ida and Samuel A. His father was a farmer and died at New Wilmington, Penn., in 1875. The subject of this sketch received his primary education in his native place, and there served as clerk in the postoffice, and also secured five years' experience in the drug business. During a greater portion of this time he studied medicine under the direction of Dr. A. C. Pettit. He was sober, industrious and frugal, securing means through his own exertions with which to educate himself. In September, 1875, he entered Miami Medical College, graduating in the class of 1877. In May of the same year he located in Palmyra. Though a stranger without means and in competition with old practitioners, from the first success attended his efforts, and his calls have been continuously increasing, until now he controls the largest practice in and about the township. He is a member of. Portage County, Ohio State Medical Societies. Is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Doctor was married, October 26, 1879, to Mary A. Force, born in Palmyra, this county, March 12, 1862, daughter of David and Abigail' P. Force, latter of whom died of heart and lung trouble at her residence in Palmyra, February 24, 1885. One child—Willieis the living issue of this union.