HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 185

GRATIS.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

Gratis township lies in the southeastern corner of the county. In the congressional surveys it is designated "township four, of range three." On the north it is bounded by Lanier township, to the east and south lie Montgomery and Butler counties, and on the western boundary lies Somers township.

In appearance the township is varied. It has none of those long reaches of level country met with in so many of the other townships, until you approach the southern boundary, where, stretching out into Butler county, there is quite an extensive plain, embracing several thousands of acres. By far the greater part of the township is hilly. Numerous streams, some of considerable size, flow through this part of the county, and along their banks is found a limited amount of fine bottom land. In most cases, however, the hills rise from the very banks. These hill-sides are not, by any means, covered with inferior soil, but show, in every direction, their capability for richly repaying the efforts of the husbandman. Bordering, as it does, on the edge of the Miami valley, Gratis partakes largely 'of the characteristics of that region, and, at an early day, attracted the attention of the pioneer settler.

The soil, like that of the rest of the county, is of a clayey nature, with an underlying sub-soil of limestone, except in the bottoms, where a rich loam is found. The forests at the present day are covered with a heavy growth of beech and sugar maple. These are, however, far more numerous now than when the country was first settled. At that time the principal growth was poplar, with a large intersprinkling of walnut. These latter have now almost entirely disappeared and given place to the present varieties. About twenty per cent. of the township is covered with timber, the rest is under an advanced system of cultivation. The buildings show by their size and careful attention, the healthy and progressive ideas of their owners. No mere bare subsistence contents them. Their lands are made to yield their utmost, and, in consequence, these farmers are the wealthiest class in the township. Owing to the fact that many of them belong to the societies of Friends and German Baptists, both of whom discourage extensive display, they are enabled to lay up a large portion of their earnings and are now the moneyed class of the county.

The chief crops grown are the same as those of the other townships in this county. Corn is more extensively grown than the other grains. Wheat raising, also, receives a large share of attention. The culture of tobacco is yet in its infancy in this part of the country. The greater amount of labor required compared with that expended on other crops is an impediment to any extensive cultivation of this plant. This branch of agriculture is, however, occupying a considerable degree of attention, and while the quantity is still small, the quality is in no way inferior to that raised in what may be styled, more strictly, the tobacco-growing country. The soil and climate seem admirably adapted for its culture, and the day approaches whey it will be classed among the chief productions of the township. At present a small patch of from one to six acres is all that is grown on one farm, and even this amount is found to pay handsomely for the labor expended.

There are no streams of any size in the township. The country is well watered but it is by small branches that flow through in large numbers. None of the streams which pass through the other townships do more than touch Gratis. Twin creek, on the northeast, enters sections one and two; on the south, Elk creek passes through the southern parts of sections thirty-five and thirty-six, and, again, in the north, a small creek called Aukerman's branch, for a short distance, enters sections three and four, but the body of the township is untouched. The existence of a water-shed across the middle of the township is doubtless the occasion of this avoidance by the waters. From the very northern and southern boundaries the land ascends until it reaches its highest point in a ridge of land extending nearly due east and west across the township—about a mile north of West Elkton—and from this point the waters flow north to Aukerman's branch, or south to Elk creek. Although these larger bodies of water do not do more than touch the township, they, nevertheless, are, at these points, associated with the earliest events of the county. It was at these points that John Leslie in the south, and Hezekiah Phillips in the north, entered the county and made the first entries of land, and here the first settlements of any size were made.

Gratis township is so unfortunate as to possess no good .means of transportation. There are no railroads in the

186 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

township, nor have the people any prospects at present of ever getting any. Their nearest railroad station is at Camden, Somers township, a distance of some four or five miles. They are fortunate in the possession of good roads, extending in every direction, and connecting the chief points within the township with each other and with the outside world. Most of these roads are free pikes. One, however, passing southeast through Winchester to Middletown is a toll pike. A few years ago, the pike from Winchester to West Elkton was also a toll pike, but it has since been made a free thoroughfare.

There are three towns in this township. Two, Winchester and West Elkton, are regularly incorporated towns, and are places of considerable importance. The third is Greenbush, a small collection of houses clustering at a crossroads, and supplied with a saw-mill, post office and a few shops of no great importance.

THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME

is a matter of dispute as to the particulars, although there is the same idea in each way of explaining it. Some relate that at the first election of officers, the finances of the new township were in such an unsatisfactory condition that the first offrcers volunteered to serve without pay, offering their time and services gratuitously, and that the name arose from that proposal. The objection to this explanation is that it makes the name to have been given some time after the organization of the township, and also to have been given by the citizens of the township, whereas it was the custom for the county commissioners to name the township at the time of organization. To our mind, the following explanation seems, of the two, to be the more worthy of credence: Owing to the fact that the most of the settlers at an early day were located in the extreme southern part of the township, it was troublesome to have to go to the elections in the northern part of the then existing township, which bore the name of Lanier, which was of much greater extent than at present. In consideration of this, a party of Friends went in a body to the county commissioners and petitioned that a new township be made in the southeastern part of the county. The commissioners, thinking the number of settlers in the territory which would be embraced by the new township to be too few to justify their granting this petition, refused to give it their consent. Before leaving, the Friends determined to make one last effort. Samuel Stubbs, who was the spokesman of the party, went over the former arguments, and at the close remarked that he not only thought that they were justified in their petition for a new township, but that he even thought that it should be granted them gratis. His arguments carried his point, and the clerk of the board, Mr. A. C. Lanier, not only advised the granting of the township, but also that it should be called Gratis. His advice was followed, and the Friends went home victorious.

SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement in the county was made in this township in section thirty-six, by John Leslie, who entered land as early as 1802. Leslie and a man by the name of Long entered the section together, Leslie taking the south half and Long the north half. Leslie emigrated from Pennsylvania with his family, consisting of his wife, five sons and three daughters. The sons were Davis, Joseph, John, Stephen and Reese. Long had no family.

The next to enter after Wesley and Long was Alexander Pugh, who entered five quarter sections in the eastern part of the township. The most of his land lay in section thirteen. He made the first settlement in what is called Pleasant valley. He came from Georgia with three thousand dollars, and bought his land and paid for it at time of purchase. The most of the settlers who entered lands took them with the privilege of paying for them in yearly installments. The lands were generally sold to the settlers for about two dollars and fifty cents per acre, they agreeing to pay about eighty dollars a year. At the time of his arrival Mr. Pugh was considered the wealthiest man in the settlement. Soon after Leslie's arrival William Swisher came from Kentucky and settled section one. He built on the north side of Twin creek. He was originally from Pennsylvania, but moved to Kentucky, where he stayed two years before moving to Ohio.

About the same time Hezekiah Phillips came into the settlement from and settled in the northern part of the township. Rebecca Phillips is said to be the first, female white child born in the county. The southern part of the township was settled by a large colony of Friends, who came from the Carolinas and Georgia. The families of Stubbs Jones and Maddocks formed a large part of the number. They were originally from Pennsylvania. From there they moved to North and South Carolina, and from these latter States to Georgia. Their opposition to slavery caused their emigration to the north and northwest. They came in large numbers to Ohio, and a great many settled in Gratis township. The ancestor of the Stubbs had gone from Pennsylvania to keep in sight and sound of his lady love, Miss Ester Maddock. He saw Gen eral Braddock when undertaking his disastrous march. against the combined forces of French and Indians. As many as thirteen brothers of his name came to Ohio together, and of these, twelve settled within thirty miles of each other, in the southern part of Gratis township and the northern part of Butler county. The Stubbs are a remarkably long lived family, their average age approaching eighty years. There is in the possession of Mr. Jesse Stubbs, of West Elkton, a record of events which he has kept for over forty years.

George Kelley settled in Gratis township, and was among the earliest settlers in the county. He came from Virginia, where he was born in 1782. His wife, Elizabeth (Harrell), was born in Kentucky in 1787. They removed finally to Sullivan county, Indiana, where they both died; he in 1868, and she in 1875. James Kelley, son of George Kelley, was born in Gratis township in 1811, December 8th, and was married, in 1838, to Hannah Goodlander, and has had a family of fifteen children, eleven of whom are living.

HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 187

Some of the other early settlers were John Cypole and Levi Kinman, who came from Georgia in the fall of 1804, and settled in Gratis; Abraham Neff, who settled on Twin, and built the first saw and grist-mill ; the two Gifts, Nicholas and Jacob, who settled on section three, and were afterwards among the four proprietors of the town of Winchester; Abraham Wimmer, from Virginia; Daniel Boone, from Kentucky, a relative of the noted pioneer, and who settled on section eleven; William Hixon, from Georgia; and Abner Hall and nephew, Adam, of North Carolina. The above all came before 1809.

John Brown was born about 1795, in Georgia, from which State he emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Gratis township in 1804. His father, Richard, entered a three- quarter section, one hundred and twenty-seven acres of which is now in the possession of his grandson, Joseph Brown. He paid a dollar and fifty cents per acre for the land. John Brown's wife was Mary, daughter of Jonas Randall, who died in 1867. They had seven children born to them: Jonas, (deceased); Sarah, (deceased); John R., residing in Iowa; Jonathan, in Kansas; Richard, (deceased); Joseph and Rebecca, (de ceased). Joseph Brown was married three times. By his first wife, Elizabeth Stanley, he had two children (both deceased). His second wife, Mary Hasley, who died of small-pox in 1875, left two children: Ellie and Milo A. His third wife is Maria Stubbs. They have had one child, Samuel (deceased). Mr. Brown has been a director on the school board for twenty-four years.

John Brown and Mary Randall moved into their log but the day after their marriage, carrying their effects upon a horse. At the time they moved in there was no floor to their dwelling. The house was finished after they had moved in.

Jerid, son of Alexander Pugh, was born in the year 1809. His father moved to Gratis in 1805. He married Catharine Barbara Schwartzwelder, who is still living. They had six children born to them, namely: Hannah, wife of Samuel Harris; John, who married Eliza Ann Gifford; William, who married Ellen Smith; Alexander; Ellen, wife of James Burnett; and Wesley (deceased). John Pugh has three children now living: Hiram C., Charles Wesley, and Samuel J. Mr. Pugh has a farm of about one hundred and twenty-nine acres, all in a fine state of improvement. He has also been a member of the township board of education, but holds no office at present.

Daniel Chrisman emigrated from Rowan county, North Carolina, in 1803, stopping until August, 1805, in Warren county. In that year coming to Preble county he settled in section eleven, of Gratis township. By his wife, Mary Ozias, he had five children, four of whom are living, three of whom are in this county. John, the only one in Gratis township, married Susannah Hall (deceased). He is about the last of the early settlers, and is one of the largest land holders in Preble county.

Lewis Chrisman, son of Jacob Chrisman, was born in 1801. He married Sarah Harshman, by whom he had eight children, three of whom are still living, viz: F. M., Sarah Ann, and Peter; the last two are living in Indiana. Lewis Chrisman died in 1854, and his wife in 1872. F. M. Chrisman was born in Preble county, on the old homestead, in the year 1833, and in 1857, married Esther Russell, daughter of John R. Russell. He has had six children, all of whom are living. His farm contains three hundred and sixty-eight acres. Rev. Jacob Chris- man, the grandfather of John and Daniel, was the first minister of the German Reformed church who crossed the Ohio river.

Benjamin Fall came into Ohio from North Carolina, and settled in Gratis township. His father, Christian, was one of the first men in the county; he came in 1805. His wife was Mary Leslie, who died about 1864. They had four children: Hannah, wife of Joseph Haldeman; Mary Ann, wife of Daniel Snyder; Josiah, who married Susan Smith; and Elizabeth, wife of Oscar Morris. Mrs. Daniel Snyder had six children: Susannah, Benjamin, Samuel, Alice, Margaret, and Libbie.

Samuel Stubbs was born in Georgia in 1766, from which State he emigrated to Ohio, and in 1805 settled on section twenty-nine of Gratis township. He died while on a visit to Indiana in 1846. His wife, Mary Jones, was born in Georgia in 1771, and died in Gratis in 1843. She was a descendant, in the third generation, from Sir Isaac Newton. Sir Isaac's sister Rachel married a Francis Jones.

Mr. and Mrs: Stubbs had ten children: Rebecca, William, Tabitha, Newton, Martha, Sarah Ann, Nathan, Rachel, and Jesse Stubbs. Jesse Stubbs married Mary Jones, and has had nine children, six of whom are living. Mr. Stubbs now resides in the spot where he was born, and is seventy-one years old.

Jonas Randall came to Preble county and settled in Gratis township in 1805. He was born in South Carolina December, 1766. He married Sarah Roberts, who was a native of the same State, born May, 1766. They had nine children, all of whom grew up and raised families, but none are now living. Jonas Randall died in Gratis in 1852, and his wife in 1855. He was a prosperous farmer, owning one thousand acres of land. He gave each of his children a farm.

He was a member of Friends' church, and was a useful citizen. John Randall, his son, was born in South Carolina, in July, 1790, and was married in au, to Elizabeth Conarroe, who was born in Philadelphia, in 1795. They have had nine children, of whom six are living, viz: William C., in Monroe township; Mrs. John Lee in Jefferson; Mrs. Isaac Julian, in Illinois; Mrs. Isaac Wright, in Indiana; Andrew C., in Illinois, and Mrs. John Small, in Kansas. William C. was born in 1816, and has been married four times. He was appointed, in 1837, ensign in the State militia, under Governor Vance, and was afterward made lieutenant, which commission he held four years.

Thomas Stubbs was born in Georgia in the year 1770. From Georgia he emigrated to Ohio, and in the year 1805 he settled in Gratis township. Like a good many of the emigrants from the south, he was obliged to leave on account of his anti-slavery views. His wife was

188 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

Mary, daughter of Charles Hobson. They had ten children born to them: Elisha, Arah, Charles (deceased), John H., Keziah, Lydia, Rebecca, Sarah (deceased), and Lorenzo. The latter, born in 1818, married Sarah Maddock, and has had five children, three of whom survive. Mr. Stubbs has a farm of one hundred and eighty acres. This farm was given him by John Overpeck, as a recognition of a kindness done him by Lorenzo Stubbs. During an illness of Mr. Overpeck's his own children deserted him and left him to Mr. Stubbs' sole care. At Mr. Overpeck's death, at the age of eighty-two years, he left his farm to Mr. Stubbs.

John H. Stubbs, son of Thomas Stubbs, was born in Butler county in 1805. His father moved from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, from there to Georgia, and finally to Ohio. The first wife of J. H. Stubbs, who was Margaret E. Hart, died in 1840. They had ten children: Levi, Zimri, Aaron, Thomas, Isaac, Lydia, Ira, Esta, Elizabeth, and Sarah. His second wife was Lydia M. Eccles, by whom he had eight children: Enoch, Emma, Ezra, Harriet, Eli, Allison B., George H., and Katie.

Levi Stubbs married Mary Thomozin Thayer. By her he had nine children: John E., Lewis E., Ira S., Charles Z., Walter I., Luella, Aaron A., Lizzie Ann, and Sarah Margaret. Ira Stubbs, married Rebecca J. Swain. Nine children were born him, viz: 011ie, Charles S., Russel F., Curtis A., Mary L., Lurton H., Frank C., Orion J., and Helen B. Mr. Stubbs has a farm of forty-four acres. He is a merchant in West Elkton.

John Riner was born near Martinsburgh, Virginia, about 1780. From Virginia he moved to Ohio, and settled in Gratis in the year 1805. He died in Gratis on section fourteen, in 1840. His first wife was a Huffman, of Virginia, by whom he had two children: Sarah and Catharine. His second wife was Mary Osborn, of Sheppardsburgh, Virginia. She died in the year 1873, at the age of eighty-three. John and Mary Riner had seven children, four of whom are now living: Julia Ann, Henry, J. Welsey and Rebecca. Henry Riner married Elizabeth, daughter of John Chrisman. They have three children of their own: Susan, John and Charles, and two adopted ones—Thomas and Mattie.

Simeon Loop was born in Pennsylvania, from which State he moved to Ohio. He died in Gratis township about 1846. His wife, Catharine E., is also dead. Mr. Loop owned a farm of seventy-six acres. Five children were born him: Susanna, Jacob, Mary Ann, Sarah and Lewis C. The latter married Eliza Jane, daughter of George Long. They have had two children: Mary Ellen and Sadie (deceased). Mr. Lewis Loop was born in 1830, and is still living on the farm owned by his father.

In the year 1805 Jesse Kenworthy, sr., came to Ohio, and settled on section thirty-two of Gratis township, where he died in 1858. He moved from North Carolina to South Carolina, where he married Rachel Cook, a native of that State. She was the daughter of Eli Cook, who settled in 1805, on the same section as Kenworthy. This colony came overland to Ohio, driving their own teams, and making the best arrangements possible until they could build their cabins. Jesse and Rachel Kenworthy had a family of five children, viz: William, who married for his first wife, Alice Ballard, and for his second, Ann Townsend; John, who married Lydia Jones; Mary, who married first David Branson, and second, Daniel H. Moon; Sally (deceased), and Jesse, jr. The latter married Mary Langston, and has five children : John R., Susan K., Rachel, Zimri and Alvin L. Mr. Jesse Kenworthy, jr., was born in the year 1817, and has lived all his life on the farm where he now resides. He first started on his father's farm which had been willed him. He made additions to this from time to time until he is now the owner of seven hundred and forty-six acres in Ohio, besides three hundred and sixty acres in Illinois. He has made a specialty of stock raising, particularly the raising of hogs, raising from three to four hundred of the latter a year. His son, Zimri, married Ann E. Lynn. . They have had two children: Francis Elmer and Frank E., both of whom are deceased.

Daniel Kenworthy is one of ten children. He has been married twice—first to Mary Roberts, and then after her death, to Mary J. Lane. He has had four children. Mr. Kenworthy is a member of the board of education of his township, and also a director of the Preble County Agricultural association. He has a farm of one hundred acres.

William Gifford moved to Ohio from North Carolina about 1805, and settled in Gratis township. He was born in 1773, and died in 1813. His son, Jesse Gifford, was born in Gratis township in the year 1812. His wife, Bethena Rix, was born in 1813. They had six children: Anuel, Susanna, Eliza, Henry, Hannah and Linley. Mr Gifford owns seventy-five acres in Preble county.

Anuel Gifford married first Sarah Korres, by whom he had six children. After her decease he married Ellie Owens, and has had one child by this union. Mr. Gifford has been school director for four years, and for several years a member of the board of education. He is part proprietor of a saw-mill.

Nathan Maddock was born in Georgia, in the year 1777. In the spring of 1805 his father, Samuel Maddock, moved from Georgia with a colony of about fifty persons, composed mostly of representatives of the Stubbs and Jones families. The latter of these families is now not represented in this part of the county. Samuel Maddock brought with him his two sons, Nathan and Francis, and his daughter Eleanor. He settled on section thirty- two of Gratis township. Nathan married Sarah Fouts, of North Carolina. Four children were born to them— Joseph, John, Henry, who married Phebe Brown, and Rachel, who married Riley Davis (deceased). After he death of Mrs. Maddock, which occurred in 1815, Nathan married Martha Mendenhall, by whom he had one child, Samuel, who married Martha Cook.

Joseph Maddock married Mary Stubbs. Three children have been born to them, two of whom, Nathan and Martha Ann, are still living. Henry Maddock is living in Lee county, Iowa, and Samuel in Henry county, Iowa.

John Maddock and his wife Martha (Stubbs) had six children, two of whom died in infancy. Mr. Maddock

188A - MR. AND MRS. DANIEL G. PRUGH.

Although distinct traces of the ancestral line of the Prugh family are lost to history ere it is retraced through the eighteenth century, it is undoubtedly the fact that the family tree first took root in the soil of Germany. Tradition has not handed down the name 0f the first of the family who left his native land and settled in this country. However, it is known that Conrad Prugh, the grandfather of Daniel G. Prugh, lived in Frederick county, Maryland during the stirring struggle for National independence. He died in the year 1805, leaving behind him a family 0f sixteen children, equalty divided as to sex. Soon after the death of their father most 0f the children emigrated to Ohio, and settled principally in Montgomery county, about five miles south of Dayton.

Confining this sketch to the family of one of this large circle of relatives, it is found that Peter Prugh, the father 0f Daniel G. Prugh, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, near Westminster, February 12, 1784. The first years of vigorous youth were spent on the farm and in the mitting business. But he soon found that the running 0f mills was less adapted to his taste than the building thereof, and the strong mechanical genius which has ever been characteristic of the Prugh family converted the miller into the millwright. In or about the year an, he emigrated to Ohio, and came to Preble county, in section four of Gratis township, where he purchased one hundred and thirteen acres of rand at seven dollars per acre, to which farm he afterwards added forty-three acres. Although farming was his chief occupation, he frequently turned aside to indulge in his favorite mechanical pursuit. He helped to construct various grist- and saw-mills in the counties of Preble, Montgomery, and Greene. His farm, however, occupied much 0f his attention. The native forest, with its heavy undergrowth, was to be cleared ere he could expect to reap revenue from his investment. Realizing that it is not good for man to be alone, he earty sought a helpmeet in the person of Miss Etizabeth Geniis, a daughter of Daniet Gentis, of Clarke county, who emigrated from Germany at an early day. The young couple commenced house keeping in a log house which Mr. Prugh had erected near where his son's residence now stands. This house was supplanted in 1825 by a comfortable brick, which with its accompanying farm buildings, which stood until after the death of the old people when the buildings gave way to the handsome residence and barn of their son.

Peter Prugh's wife died November 12, 1845, and he followed her t0 the tomb March 23, 1859. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and it was through his efforts that the church at Winchester was founded. He furnished much of the material and helped construct the building. The Prugh family consisted of fourteen children, ten boys and four girls, all of whom lived to be men and women. Two brothers and one sister are deceased. Of this large family Daniel G. Prugh, the fourth son and fourth child, was horn in Gratis township, May 9, 1821. He spent the first years of his life doing farm work. The county being new and work pressing, his educational advantages were limited. However, native talent and perseverance made of him an exceptionally intelligent man. This hard, earnest intelligence ever guiding every outlay of strength, has won for him true success.

In 1840 he left the farm and worked for two years and four months at the blacksmith trade, but disliking the business, he returned to the home place and became sole manager 0f his father's farm on the following conditions, viz.: That he pay the taxes; provide for every want 0f the family ; and advance annually to his father twenty dollars for church purposes. He profited by this arrangement for three years, and on the seventh of August, 1845, was married t0 Sarah Swihart, by whom he had four children. Of these the two girls died in infancy. Reuben Cassius, the 0ldest son, was born June 27, 1847, and Albert Clayton, the second son, was born July, 30, 1849. These sons are now in Kansas, where they are prospering in the stock trade. Reuben went in the fall of 1879, and his brother followed him in the following spring.

Mr. Prugh's first wife died May 2, 1854, and he was again married November 29, 1855, to Anna Swihart, 0f Montgomery county. Mr. and Mrs. Prugh have one son, Chartes Lyman, born March 1, 1857, who, in the fall of 1880, went to Middletown, where he is now engaged in the hardware business

In 1849 Mr. Prugh bought the home place. He now owns in all three hundred and sixteen acres, two hundred and sixty adjoining his residence, and fifty-six acres in section two. After selling the place his father removed t0 Winchester, but disliking town life, spent his last days on a farm just west of Winchester, near the residence 0f his son. The latter continued to live in the old house until the year 1874, when he erected his present commodious residence at an expense 0f three thousand five hundred dollars. The large barn was erected in 1867 at a cash outlay 0f about 0ne thousand eight hundred dollars. For twelve years, between the years 1854-69, Mr. Prugh served as township trustee. In 1869 he was elected county commissioner, which office he hetd for two Consecutive terms 0f three years each. He has served the people in other capacities, as a member of the Preble County Agricultural board, road commissioner, and other minor offices. He is the oldest road commissioner in Preble county.

In political life Mr. Prugh has atways been an active Republican, and to his certain knowledge none of the name has ever been under any 0ther political banner.

Though not a member of the church, he has always liberally contributed for the erection of churches, not confining his benefactions to any particular denomination. He has always honored the Christian religion. He has spent the most of his life on his present farm, which is well improved. Surrounded by hosts of friends, the memory 0f a life well spent and the record of many good deeds is most pleasant.

188B - MR. AND MRS. JESSE GIFFORD

was born in Gratis township, Preble county, Ohio, April 20, 1813. Deprived of his parents before he was a year old, he has only a general knowledge concerning the beginnings of the Gifford family. However, it is known that prior to the Revolutionary war, his grandfather Gifford resided in Pennsylvania, and that in this State his father, William Gifford, was born not far from the year 1770. Belonging to the society 0f Friends and being a man of peace, during the first mutterings of the impending war clouds the elder Mr. Gifford with his family joined a company of Friends, who were about to retire from Pennsylvania to the more peaceful territory 0f North Carolina. Among these emigrants were members of the Stubbs, Jones and other families, wh0 afterward became identified with the Elkton settlement. The colonists settled in Guilford county, North Carolina. White here, William Gifford was married to Keziah Jones, daughter of William Jones, one of the emigrants from Pennsylvania. The people being thrifty, prospered in the South, but fearing the evil influences 0f slavery, which they bitterly opposed, and hearing of a richer agricultural territory in the new State 0f Ohio, quite a large company forthwith emigrated to this State and finally settled in Preble county. Induced by the glowing representations of his wife's brother, George Jones, William Gifford decided to move to Ohio, and in company with several of his brothers- in-law with their families, started for Preble county. The toilsome journey was made by wagon, and the little company was several weeks on the way.

About the year 1805 they came to this county, and made a stop in the vicinity of what is now West Elkton. William Gifford entered a quarter section of land about 0ne-half mile east of this place. All was forest, and there was no roof ready to shelter them save the overhanging boughs of the native forest. For some time the family lived in a canvas tent, in which they had camped out every night since leaving their southern home. All joined together and rolled logs for the construction of 0ne another's cabins. Mr. and Mrs. Gifford were finally ensconced in their new home, a rude, round-log cabin, with chinks daubed with mud, a stick and clay chimney belching forth the flames from the huge fire-place beneath. Mr. Gifford was a cooper by trade, and he did all the coopering for the neighborhood, thus making enough money to support his family. This work in addition to the arduous work of a new farm kept him very busy. By the fall of 1813 he had succeeded in clearing about forty acres, and was beginning in a measure to make his family more comfortable, when both he and his wife fell fatally smitten with the "cold plague," which brought such woe to the settlers rn that neighborhood. The plague baffled the skill of the physicians of that day, the patient being seized with a terrible feeling of coldness and thus falling into the icy embrace of death. Thus almost together died Mr. and Mrs. Gifford, leaving a family of six young children, the eldest of whom was not more than fifteen years of age. The children, were cared for by their maternal relatives, and Jesse, then but six months old, was left without a home. He was taken from place to place, never remaining at 0ne house more than three months at a time. For about three years the kind-hearted matrons of the neighborhood cared for the motherless child. At the expiration 0f this time his uncle and aunt, William and Mary Cox, emigrated from North Carolina, and while en route for a new home in Indiana, stopped to see their old friends in Preble county. Having no children of their own they adopted Jesse, and proceeded on their journey, making a settlement in Wayne county, near Richmond, Indiana.

The little boy, when he became of proper age, was allowed to go to school about two days out of the week during the brief winter season; but during most of the time he had to stay at home and work. The school-house in which he received his limited education was of the true pioneer type, built of round logs, with dirt floor, stick and clay chimney, and huge fire-place extending across one end of the room. The light was admitted through windows made by taking 0ut a section of log on either side of the room, and covering the aperture with greased newspaper.

Mr. Grfford was accustomed to go to market to Richmond on horseback. His load consisted generally of six chickens, a wallet filled with cucumbers, and a little bucket of butter. He got six and a fourth cents apiece for his chickens, the same price for a pound of butter, and three cents per dozen for cucumbers. Richmond at that time consisted of 0ne little store, and hat, shoe and blacksmith shop, and a few dwellings.

When Mr. Gifford was seventeen years of age, his brothers, feeling an interest in his welfare, urged him to come back to Preble county to attend to the securing of his little patrimony. Taking their advice, he forthwith left, although his aunt and uncle opposed his going, and forbade his return if he went. He came to this county carrying only the clothes on his back, and worked out by the month in the vicinity of Elkton. From the time of his arrival until twenty-one years of age, he managed, by rigid economy, to lay by one hundred and seventy-five dollars in cash, besides being the owner of a good team.

Having thus secured the basis of a start in life, from a financial standpoint, he thought to improve his domestic condition by taking a wife, and was accordingly married to Bethena Ricks, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Ricks, who emigrated from Guilford county, North Carolina, in 1830. She was born January 30, 1813. Soon after their arrival in Preble county, Mr. Ricks died very suddenly, leaving a family of four children unprovided for. They had been used to every comfort, and, although it was very hard, the older ones were obliged to seek employment whereby to make their living. Bethena, recognizing that skilled labor was must liberally remunerated, learned the tailor trade, and worked at it in the vicinity of West Elkton, and did so for a time after her marriage.

After the marriage 0f Mr. and Mrs. Gifford, which occurred October 18, 1834, the young couple settled on land about two miles east of Elkton. They lived here put a short time when Mr. Gifford sold the place, and for a few years rented land, in the meantime buying a farm in Indiana. He afterwards sold this and bought a farm of seventy-five acres, adjoining on the east the first farm he ever owned. After living on this seventy-five acre farm for about five years, he purchased one hundred and twenty-three acres of land, located about one mile north of the last farm. He lived 0n this place for about ten years, and sixteen years age Mr. Gifford bought his present farm of seventy-five acres, and removed to his present residence on the day 0f Lincoln's second election to the Presidency. He now owns, besides this farm, ninety acres of land in Wayne county, Indiana, about five miles north 0f Richmond, which farm is now occupied by his son-in-law, John Bennett. Mr. Gifford now lives on the half of the quarter that in early times was said to be not worth entering, and it was prophesied that it would never be worth the taxes paid on it. It was thought to be too wet to be cultivated. It now produces as much corn and grass as any farm in the whole neighborhood, and is not much behind in the production of wheat. Since he moved to the farm he has improved the soil greatly by ditching. He has several times refused seventy-five dollars per acre for the place. Owing to the effects of a severe attack of typhoid fever, which prostrated him just before moving to his pres ent residence, north 0f Elkton, he has been unable to work regularly and has rented his farm. He has been paying considerable attention to the raising of stock, having at one time dealt extensively in hogs. During the past few years he has made sheep raising a specialty.

To Mr. and Mrs. Gifford have been born three boys and three girls, all of whom are living, five residing in this county. Their eldest son, Anuel, married Sarah Koontz, and after her death married Etlen Owens, and has seven children. They reside in Greenbrush. Susannah married Elihu Stubbs, of Somers township, and is the mother of three children. Eliza A. is the wife of John Pugh, of Gratis township. They also have three children. Henry R., living a tittle west of Elkton. married Deborah Geeding, by whom he is the father of four children. Hannah, the wife of John Bennett, has three children, and resides in Wayne county, Indiana. Lindley A. married Sarah A. Ross, and lives just south 0f his father. He has three children.

Mr. and Mrs. Gifford have been fortunate in raising their family. not having had a death. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gifford have long been faithful members of the Friends church at West Elkton.

The Giffords have been first otd tine Whigs and then staunch Republicans. Mr. Gifford has won the esteem of his fellow citizens by his genial manners and fair dealings, and now in his old age he lives secure and happy in the midst of friends who honor him.

Mr. Gifford's father and mother left six children at their death, of whom Jesse was the youngest. Nathan died 0n the old homestead in Preble county, as did Henry ; Andrew is living on Elkhorn, just east of Richmond. William died near the old homestead. Hannah married Jonathan Dix—both deceased.

HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 189

worked at his trade as carpenter for twenty years, after which he became a farmer, and now owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. The Maddocks came from England early in the eighteenth century, and settled in Pennsylvania. From there they moved to North Carolina, and from there to Georgia. They were amongst . the earliest settlers of the latter State, where members of their family have held important offices.

John Stubbs came with his father, Joseph Stubbs, to Ohio in the year 1805, and settled on section thirty-four, of Gratis township. John Stubbs was born in Georgia in the year 1801. His wife, Eleanor Taylor, who was born in New Jersey, in 1809, is still living. Mr. John Stubbs died in Gratis in 1864. Eleven children were born to them, five of whom survive. Mariah married Joseph Brown; Joseph married Esther Cooper; Keziah married Isaac Commons; John F. married Rachel Ken- worthy, and Samuel A., born in 1849, married Lydia Ann Stubbs, daughter of Zimri Stubbs, of Preble county. They have one child, Mabel. Mr. S. A. Stubbs is engaged in the general merchandise business in West Elkton. He belongs to the society of Friends

John F. and Rachel Stubbs have two children, Naomi and Charles. Joseph Stubbs and wife, Esther Cooper, daughter of William Cooper, of Butler county, have two children, William Cooper and Sarah Elizabeth.

Mr. Joseph Stubbs is living on the old homestead, which his grandfather entered when he first settled in Preble county.

Milton Stubbs is the son of Nathan and Ann (Mendenhall) Stubbs. He married Sarah. J. Cooper. They have four children—Jonathar, Elizabeth Ann, Esther E., and Zimri. Milton has a fine farm of two hundred and four acres. Marmaduke Stubbs married Susan Kenworthy. He was born in 1838, and is the father of two children—Zimri A. and Mary L. The first meeting of the Friends' society was held on the farm on which he lives.

William Clevenger was born in New Jersey, about the year 1796. In 1806 he moved to Ohio, and settled in section twenty-four of Gratis township, where he died in the year 1860. His wife-Elizabeth Inman - was born in New Jersey. She died some fifteen years ago. They had eight children—George, deceased; Mary; Jonathan, married Sarah Turner; Jane, deceased; Harriet, deceased; Anna E., and William. William Clevenger, jr., married Catharine Gifford. They have had six children —Mary, Walter, Elizabeth, Effie Jane (deceased), Ida Minerva, and Lilla Myrtle. Mr. Clevenger owns a farm of four hundred and fifty-two acres. His residence and buildings are new. He was township trustee for two terms.

William Hixson was born in Georgia in 1777. From that State he emigrated to Gratis about 1806, and settled on section nine. His wife, Rachel (Stubbs), was a Georgian. She died in Gratis in 1848. Mr. Hixson was a member of the Society of Friends. He left a farm of three hundred acres to his three sons—John (deceased), who married Phebe Randall; William, who married Sarah Pierson; and Samuel, who is unmarried. John had a family of eleven children. His family is in the west. William had six children—Samuel, Rebecca, Mary (deceased), Annie (deceased), Esta, and Milton. He has a farm of two hundred and fifteen acres. Samuel Hixson has a fine brick house, with an iron roof, which he built in 1873. He has lived all his life on his present farm.

Jonathan Roberts, a native of North Carolina, settled in Butler county, near Gratis township, Preble county, in 1805, where he died. Hrs father was Walter Roberts, who also settled in Butler county. James W. Roberts, a grandson of the above, was born in 1847. His father is Samuel Roberts. He rs one of six children, four boys and two girls. To him and his wife, Lucretia (Davis), have been born three children: Freddie C., Curtis S., and Willis. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Society of Friends. He is director of the school district and owns a farm of eighty acres, which he bought from Hiram Stubbs. Zeno Roberts, son of Jonathan Roberts, married Lizzie Borradaile, daughter of Joseph Borradaile. They have two children—Viola Adell and Albert Samuel. Elihu Roberts, a brother of the above, married Sarah Stubbs, and has had eight children—Mary Alma, Otis, Alonzo, Alpheus, Charles, Edwin, Margaret, and Linley. 

William Roberts, born in 1829 is a son of Walter Roberts and Hannah Conarro and grandson of Jonathan Roberts. Five children have been born him-Margaret Jane, Conradin, Walter Scott, Laura Belle and Ida May. He has a farm of fifty acres. John B., brother of the above, married Mary C. Maxwell, by whom he has had one child-Jesse C. He has a farm of seventy acres on the Eaton and Winchester pike. Elisha Roberts son of Walter Roberts, married Sarah E. Gifford, by whom he had twelve children, nine of whom survive. Mr. Roberts has a farm of over sixty-five acres. The first farm which he owned in Ohio is now owned by Joseph Eby in the northwestern part of Gratis township. He then bought the farm he now occupies.

John Roberts was born in the year 1802 in North Carolina. In 1805 he came to Ohio with his parents. His father was Jonathan and his grandfather was Walter Roberts. They moved from Pennsylvania to Carolina in 1783. John owned a farm in the northwestern part of Gratis in section eight. His wife was Rebecca, daughter of Richard Brown, who came to Ohio from Georgia. His children were Mary Ann, who married Charles Ross; Sarah, whose first husband was Elliott Pierson, the second Nimrod Bennett; Phebe Lydia (deceased), Juliette (deceased), Zenith, Eliza Jane, who married William Lautis; Rebecca, who married Obediah Talbert; Susan (deceased). Mr. Roberts left a farm of one hundred and seven acres. His death occurred in 1850. During his life he was a member of the Society of Friends.

Richard Talbert was born in North Carolina in 1797. His father was Thomas Talbert, who came to Gratis in 1807, and who died there about 1844. Richard Talbert died in Gratis in June of 1874. To him and wife, Rachel (Harris) were born twelve children, eight of whom are still living, namely: Solomon, Lydia, Asa, Obediah, Elizabeth, Ruth, Thomas and Isaiah.

190 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

Solomon Talbert was born in 1819. His wife was Helah Blanchard. They have had eleven children born them, eight of whom are now living.

Asa Talbert, born in 1824, married for his first wife Sarah Townsend, by whom he had two children—Melissa Jane and Mary. He has had no children by his second wife—Elvira Stubbs. Asa Talbert owns a farm of one hundred and four acres as part of the old homestead.

Isaiah Talbert married Durinda Conarro, and has five children. He is interested in a large carriage manufactory. A full history of his business will be found under the head of "Industries" in this township.

Elijah Mendenhall, a Georgian, settled in Gratis township in 1806. He located on the southeastern quarter of section thirty-four. His wife's maiden name was Martha Miller. Mr. Mendenhall left Georgia on account of his opposition to slavery. He came to Ohio with a number of persons who were, like himself, members of the Society of Friends. In 1814 he died in Gratis township. His wife survived him twenty-nine years and died near West Elkton in 1843. After the death of her husband she married Nathan Maddock, by whom she had two children. Elijah Mendenhall's children were, James, Alice, Annie, Marmaduke and Joseph. Marmaduke married Elizabeth Johnson and had eight children, six of whom are still living. Marmaduke Mendenhall was born in 1810 on the place where he now lives. His farm contains about ninety acres. Joseph L. Mendenhall, son of the above, married Delilah, daughter of Samuel Roberts. They have two children—Theodore S. and Arthur C. Mr. J. L. Mendenhall has a farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, part of which belonged to the old Mendenhall homestead. He was at one time a member of the township board of education. William H. Mendenhall, brother of the above, was born in 1853. His wife was Sarah Eveline, daughter of Jonathan H. Payne, of Somers township. They have only one child. His farm contains about fifty acres-a part of the old homestead.

William Gifford was born in North Carolina in the year 1800. From that State he moved to Ohio in the year 1808 and settled in Gratis township. His wife was Naomi Farrell, of New Jersey. Their son Henry was married twice, first to Lucy Ann Parham, and then to Sarah Rix. He has had seven children. His son John married Elizabeth Cooper and has two children, Henry and Hattie. He owns a farm of one hundred and thirty acres on the Jacksonsburgh free pike, and is also a director on the school board and district clerk. Seth Gifford married Susan, daughter of George Hanger, of Gratis township. They have two children: Lucy A. and Jennie.

Mr. Seth Gifford owns a farm of eighty-five acres, where he has always lived. He served one term as a school director.

Nathan Hornaday, sr., was born in North Carolina in 1766. In 1806 he moved to Ohio and settled on section eighteen, of Gratis township. His wife was Ruth Pickets. They have had eight children, two of whom are living, John and Nathan. Mr. Nathan Hornaday, sr., died in Gratis in 1819. Nathan Hornaday, jr., married for his first wife Lydia Graig, by whom he had one son, Samuel C. After he1 death he married Elizabeth Frances Connable. The fruits of this union were two sons: Lerton B. and Albert C. His wife dying, he married a third wife, widow Nancy Ann Pigman, of Hamilton, Ohic. Mr. Hornaday was a justice of the peace for most of the time since 1842. For five years he was an assistant internal revenue assessor. He is now a minister of the Methodist church.

David Hoover was born in North Carolina in 1765. From that State he moved to Ohio and settled, in I 800, near Dayton, Montgomery county. In the next year he moved to his home on the Stillwater, where he died in 1841. He came to Ohio in the year of the Marietta settlement, and started off by himself in the woods, where he made a home and was afterwards the owner of two good farms. His wife, Elizabeth Curtis, died in 1852 or 1853. They had eight children, of whom Daniel, James, and Andrew are now living. James married a daughter of Philip Andrews. They have nine children. Mr. Hoover has been a druggist for twenty years. He was in the furniture business in Lewisburgh.

Martin Sayler was born in Frederick county, Maryland. In 1809 he emigrated to Ohio and settled in section three, of Gratis township. He died in Gratis in 1852. The town of Winchester is now standing on the land he entered. His wife, Elizabeth Wilson, died in Gratis in 1843. Mr. Sayler was one of the first trustees of his township. He was a millwright by trade and built most of the mills during the infancy of the township. Eleven children were born him: Catharine (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Christina, Anna, Patty, Sarah, Susan, Sebastian, Rachel, William (deceased), and one who died in infancy.

Dr. Christian Sayler was born in Virginia in 1804. His first wife was Esther Lining, by whom he had three children, two of whom, James and Caroline, are living. His second wife was Catharine Bruce, by whom he had six children, four of whom now survive: William, Elizabeth, Rachel, and W. Scott. Dr. Sayler, sr., has had the principal practice in Gratis for more than fifty years, but has now entirely retired from the practice of his profession. His two sons—both graduates of the Ohio Medical college—succeeded him. He owns one of the finest farms in the country, containing three hundred and forty acres adjoining the town. Dr. Sayler held the office of trustee some forty years ago, but has confined himself too closely to his profession to serve as a public officer for many years.

Dr. William Sayler, son of Dr. Christian Sayler, married Miss Sophia Nicodemus, daughter of Joshua Nicodemus, who came to Preble in 1838. They have two children, Lerton Roscoe and Mary Catharine.

Charles Wilkinson, born in Kentucky, emigrated from that State to Ohio about the year 1810, and settled in this township. He married Elizabeth Evans, and was the father of a family of twelve children. Their son William H. is one of the substantial farmers of Dixon township, which he acquired by hard labor and economy. In 1849 he married Anna Davis, who died in 1878.

HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 191

Peter Prugh was born in Frederick county, Maryland, from which State he moved to Ohio, and in 1811 he settled in section four in Gratis township. His wife was Elizabeth Gentis, of Clarke county, Ohio, who died in 1845. They had fourteen children—Abner, Peter, John, Daniel G., Sarah, Jacob, Joshua, Julia Anna, Izaac, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Abraham, Caroline, and Joseph.

Daniel G. has been married twice. His first wife was Sarah Swihart, by whom he had two children, Reuben Cassius and Albert Clayton. By his second wife, Anna Swihart, he had one child, Charles L. His farm is a fine one of three hundred and fifteen acres, on the Camden and Winchester pike.

Jacob Furey was born in Maryland. In the year 1816 they moved from that State and settled in Ohio, on section nine of Gratis township, where he died in 1838. His wife was Catharine Morningstar, who was born in Augusta county, Virginia. She died in the fall of 1860. Their son John came with them to Ohio. He was born in Maryland, in the year 1808, and died in Gratis township in 1862. His wife, Catharine Brower, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, in 1810. They had eight children. Henry Furey married Arsenath, daughter of David Lautis, an early settler of Gratis township. They have had three children born them. Mr. Furey owns a farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres. He is a director of schools and clerk of the district.

Elias Mackey was born in Pennsylvania, in the year 1790. In 1814 he emigrated to Ohio and settled on section eighteen of Gratis township. He died in Jefferson township in 1873. John Mackey, an ancestor of the Mackeys, was one of those who threw overboard the tea from the English ships in Boston harbor during the excitement preceding the Revolution. He afterwards served during the war and afterward came to Ohio with his children. Elias Mackey married Christina Phillips. Ten children were born to them. Lewis, son of Elias Mackey, married Minerva J. Robins. He has only one child living, Charles W., who is studying medicine with Dr. Sayler, of Winchester. Mr. Mackey has been a teacher in Preble county for thirty-six years

George Hanger was born in Augusta county, Virginia, in 1795. From Virginia he moved to Ohio about the year 1813, and settled on section twenty-six of Gratis township, where he died in the year 1870. His first wife was Susan Loops, by whom he had four children, viz.: Elizabeth, Susan, Nancy Jane, and Katie Ann. His second wife, Mary Ann Krackengast, bore him three children—Sarah Margaret, George W. and Harriet. George W. Hanger married Catharine Judy, and has five children. He owns a farm of two hundred and twenty-six acres. For the past nine years he has heen a member of the school board.

Henry Bowman was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, from which State he moved to Ohio, and in the latter part of 1814 he settled in Stark county. In 1855 he died in Albion, Indiana. His wife was Elizabeth Henning, who died in 1837. Soon after arriving in Ohio he was drafted into the army. He moved to Mansfield, Ohio, and stopped in the block-house. There were only six families in Perry township when he settled there. He had ten children born him. John H. Bowman, his son, moved to Preble county in 1837. He married Mary Ann, daughter of Benjamin Darraugh, of Winchester. Five children have been born him--Rebecca, Henry, Florinda, Benjamin Franklin, and John Winfield. Mr. Bowman came to Gratis as a tailor; but has been in the mercantile business for thirty years. For seventeen years he has been postmaster, also has held the offices of recorder and mayor of corporation. His son John W. Bowman, married Laura A. Gebhart, and has two children, Benjamin and Clotilda. His business is general merchandise.

Thomas Wall, a native of England, emigrated to this State at an early date. He was for many years a member of the Queen's Guards, in the English army. He was crippled in Dublin by the accidental discharge of a gun. After coming to Ohio he settled in Cincinnati, as a brass founder, and while there moulded and cast the first bell ever cast in the city. The castings of the city clock at Hamrlton are his work. Mr. Wall was twice married; first to Catharine Floyed. She was the daughter of John Floyed, of Cincinnati, one of the first settlers there, and who claimed to have made the first keg of beer ever made there. By his first marriage Mr. Wall had nine children, only three of whom survive—William, 'Thomas, and Edward. His second wife was Hannah Waller. The fruit of this. union was three children—Charles P., Solomon, and Lewis. Charles P. married Emma Floyed, by whom he has had three children. His farm comprises about sixty acres, a part of the old Goodwin place. Lewis was born in 1858. He married Mary, daughter of John Skillman, of Hamilton county. His farm comprises sixty-seven acres. There is in Mrs. Wall's possession some antique chinaware bearing the stamp of the year 1572; also two guns brought to America over one hundred and fifty years ago by one of her ancestors.

Abraham Flory was born in Franklin county, Virginia, from which State he emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Gratis township in 1823. His son, Henry, married Marillis P. Egans. They are both living. Their children were: Nancy, wife of Joseph Brubaker; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Brubaker; Joseph, married to Mary A. Eikenberry; Abraham, married to Tennie Frantz; David, married to Leah Frantz; Jacob, deceased; and Daniel, deceased. David and Leah Flory have had ten children, viz.: Minerva (deceased), George, Mary, Joseph (deceased), Ervin, Martha, Willis, Jennie, Jessie, and Addie. Mr. Flory was for a long time a preacher in the German Baptist church. He has a farm of two hundred and forty-five acres. 

David Branson was born in New Jersey about 1812. In 1822 he emigrated from that State to Ohio, and settled in Wayne township, Butler county. His wife was Mary, sister of Jesse Kenworthy, of Gratis. They had two children—Amos and Thomas. Amos was born in 1831. His wife was Priscilla, daughter of Joseph Evans, of Clinton county. They have three children-Mary, William, and Lydia. Mr. Branson owns a farm of one hundred and four acres.

192 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

Daniel Stover, a Virginian, settled in Ohio in 186, in Lanier township. His wife was Susannah Funk, who died in 1870, in Lanier township. They had eight children—Mary (deceased), married Jacob Coffman; Susannah (deceased), married David Coffman; Nancy; Jacob, married Catharine Chrisman; Elizabeth, married Wilson Eby; Sarah, married Joseph Schenk; and Hannah (deceased). Jacob Stover has only one child—John C. Mr. Stover is a farmer, living with Mr. Chrisman. Both he and his wife are members of the German Baptist church.

Job Smith was born in New Jersey in the year 1776. He emigrated from that State, and settled on section seventeen of Gratis township, in 1827, where he died in 1844. His wife was Hannah, daughter of Mahlon Gibbs. They have had nine children, seven of whom survive, viz.: John, William, Charles, Louisa, Ann G., Ellis C., and Mary H. Ellis C. Smith has been married twice-first to Mary Swann, and then to Bathenia Swann. He has had five children, four of whom are now living, viz.: Albert W., Mary A., Charles A., and Kittie. He was born in the year 1818. His farm contains about one hundred and forty-two acres. For two terms he was a member of the board of education, and also supervisor for some length of time.

John Thomas was born in Pennsylvania in 1791. He lived most of his early life in Virginia. His wife, whom he married in Maryland, was Mary Wright. He settled in Winchester about 1827 and kept a tavern. He also was engaged in cabinet making. For twelve years he was a justice of the peace, and during the years 1851 and 1852 he served his State in the legislature. He has had ten children, seven of whom are still living, viz: William W., Moses W., Matilda W. (Kelly), Emily A. (Cazad), James L., John G., and Harriet E. Of these the first four are living—Thomas in Iowa and the remainder in Ohio—John G. being a resident of Winchester, Harriet E. (Bradstreet) of Dayton, and James L of Camden. The latter has resided in Dayton since 1862. His wife was Mary Elizabeth Patton. Mr. James L. Thomas has been a justice of the peace 0f Somers, and has held the office of mayor of Camden since 1874.

Joseph Mullendore was born in Virginia in 1795. From Virginia he moved to Ohio about the year 1805, and settled in Montgomery county. In 1828 he moved to Lather township. He died in Gratis township in 1846. His wife, Elizabeth (Stump), died in 1868. Their children were: Daniel, Jacob, Elizabeth, Catharine, Susanna, George, Joseph, Aaron, and Noah. The latter, after graduating at Miami university, went to California, where he was shot in a difficulty which arose about an editorial in the paper which he was editing.

Jacob Mullendore married Maria Beachler, and has had eleven children. He owns a farm of two hundred and seventy acres.

John Brower was born in Pennsylvania, from which State he moved to Lanier township. During his life he was a member of the German Baptist church, of which he was for thirty years an elder. Noah Brower, a grandson of the above, is one of eight children. His father was a resident of Dayton for fourteen years previous to his death. He owned a farm of three hundred and twenty acres. Noah Brower married Caroline Neff and has one child. He was at one time engaged in the saw-mill business. He is at present a trustee of the township. His farm contains forty acres.

In the year 1808 John Stiver settled in Montgomery county. He was born in Pennsylvania about 1791. From this State he emigrated to Ohio, and died in Jackson township, Montgomery county, in 1821. His wife was Margaret Vance. After the death of Mr. Stiver she married for a second husband Abraham Garrer. John Stiver had four children, two of whom are still living: Mary, who married David Basore, and is now living in Indiana, and Absolom, who married Rachel, daughter of William Sayler. They have had no children born to them, but have adopted two—Esther Bickers and Winfield Freeman. Mr. Stivers is a lawyer, and has practiced for seventeen years. He was justice of the peace from 1852 to 1870, and again from 1874 to 1880. In 1862 and 1863 he was a member of the State legislature. He was a county commissioner from 1854 to 1857.

John E. Thomas was born in Pennsylvania about 1790. He emigrated from Virginia to Ohio in 1829, and settled in Gratis township. He was justice of the peace for sixteen years, and has represented the counties of Prebie and Montgomery in the Ohio legislature. His wife was Mary Wright. They have had ten children, seven of whom are still living.

James L. Thomas was born in Butler county in 1823. He married Mary E. Patten, and has had five children, four of whom are living. Mr. Thomas is by trade a carpenter and millwright. He has been justice of the peace for three terms and mayor of Camden for four terms.

Joseph Fahrney was born in Maryland in the year 1817. In 1840 he came to Ohio and settled on section one of Gratis township. His father, who died in Maryland in 1837, was a physician and a man of considerable wealth. Joseph Fahrney is one of a family of eight children. His first wife was Catharine Neff, by whom he had four children. By his second wife he has had five children. He has a farm of four hundred and seventy-five acres. 

Peter Fahrney, who married Clara, daughter of Adam Stover, had two children—Flora W. and Latin.

John Bookwalter, eldest son of John and Catharine Bookwalter, was born in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in 1812. In 1822 he moved with his parents to Montgomery county, Ohio, and settled five miles southwest of Dayton. His mother died soon after their arrival in this State. She had contracted a trouble in her lungs during the journey which terminated in consumption. At the age of sixteen he learned the wagon-making trade, and in 1833, started his shop in Winchester. In the year 1835 he married Mary Mikesell, by whom he had eleven children, seven of whom are now living. His wife died in 1869, and in 1870 he married Sarah A. Gorsuch. No children were born of this marriage. Mr.

192A - MR. AND MRS. JESSE STUBBS.

Jesse Stubbs is of historic English stock. His ancestry on his father's side runs back to the family of early Quakers of that name in England, and his mother was a lineal descendant 0f a sister of Sir Isaac Newton. Samuel Stubbs, the father of our subject, was born of Quaker parentage in North Carolina, in 1766. He was 0ne of a family of fourteen children, thirteen of whom lived to an average age 0f seventy-seven years. While Samuel was yet in infancy the family moved to Georgia, where, January 5, 1791, he married Mary Jones. The genealogy of this lay is traced from Sir Isaac Newton's sister as follows:

Rachel Newton, sister of Sir Isaac, was married to Francis Jones, father of Henry Jones, who was father of Sarah Jones, who married Francis Jones, who was the father 0f Mary Jones, the wife of Samuel Stubbs.

Samuel was married in Wrightsborough meeting house according to Quaker custom. He first settled near Augusta. In 1805 he moved to Ohio and settled on the farm near the present village of Elkton, on which his son Jesse was born and has always lived. Samuel and Mary had ten children, but all are now dead except Sarah Hayworth, who resides in Clinton county, and Jesse. Mary died in April, 1843; her husband followed her July 28, 1846. Upon the death 0f his father Jesse came into possession of the homestead.

In Georgia Samuel Stubbs suffered in common with his parents the evils of military occupation during the war 0f the Revolution, and was a supporter of the second war with England. His whole early life was spent on the frontier, both in the south and in Ohio, and was therefore n0 stranger to pioneer hardships. His old age was spent in ease and contentment.

Jesse Stubbs, youngest son of Samuel and Mary Stubbs, was born November 13, 1809, 0n the spot where he now resides, near West Elkton, Prebte county, Ohio, and which he has made his home from birth, having lived nearly seventy-one years in the same place, which, perhaps, can be said of very few, if any, of the old settlers of Preble county.

During his minority he received a common school education—such as was common for the time and place.

On the twenty-second day of September, 1830, he was married t0 Mary Jones, daughter of John and Sarah Jones, who resided near West Milton, Miami county, Ohio, and from that union were born the following named children, to-wit: Harriet, Lewis D., Susannah, Dewitt Clinton, Eleanor J., Julia A., Deborah M., Samuel N., and John J. Stubbs.

Soon after arriving at maturity he was elected to various township offices, such as trustee, etc.

In 1833 he was elected justice of the peace, in which capacity he served for nine years. He also held the appointment of administrator and executor 0f various estates from 8234 t0 8280, inclusive, never being without 0ne or more estates on hand to settle during the time.

He was one of the directors of the underground railroad during its existence, but never stole nor employed any one to steal slaves from their masters; but whcn they came of their own accord they were always fed and treated with kindness, and frequently assisted on their way to a land of freedom—always esteeming it a privilege to have the opportunity to show mankind how they should treat each other under trying circumstances.

During the winter of 1858 he went to Kentucky for the purpose of purchasing the family of a colored man by the name of Craig Langford, who had been previously emancipated by his old master, and had come to Ohio leaving his wife and seven children behind him in slavery. The amount required to make the purchase was five thousand and sixty-two dollars, a portion of which was raised by subscription, but the major part he advanced himself.

His friends had many misgivings as to the advisability of his making the trip, and expressed fears that he would fall into the hands of a mob and never return alive.

In due time, however, he returned, having accomplished the object of his visit without molestation. A large portion of the amount he advanced in making the purchase has since been refunded by the said Craig Langford.

During the fall of 1859, he was elected representative from Preble county, to the general assembly 0f the State 0f Ohio, and served during the sessions of 1860-61, and among other things, while there, was instrumental in having the laws regulating the settlement of estates of deceased persons amended, which amendment remains on the statutes of Ohio, with some small additions, to this day.

The Rebellion having broken out, he gave his votes and his influence to prepare the great State 0f Ohio to meet the crisis.

In politics he was first a Whig, and then acted with the Anti-slavery party. He went to the Buffalo Free-soil convention which nominated Van Buren for president, and afterwards assisted in organizing the Republican party, and has remained in that party ever since.

In matters of religion he has always been liberal. His parents having been Friends or Quakers, and having been raised and educated under that influence, so far as home and fireside goes, that society seems the most natural to him, although he is not a member 0f any religious denomination.

In connection with this sketch we will also add that Mr. Stubbs wife is still living, and that the twenty-second of September last was the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding day. They have both enjoyed remarkably good health during the greater part of their journey through life. Mr. Stubbs having been out on the ground every day since he was six years old, and Mrs. Stubbs having enjoyed much better health than the majority of women of the present day.

Jesse Stubbs is a man of large attainments and extensive experience. Although his early training was meagre, he possesses a considerable knowledge of social and natural history and the practical sciences. He has always taken an especial interest in meteorology, and has a very complete meteorological record since 1832. He acted one year as weather reporter for the Smithsonian institute at Washington. There is in his house an interesting and valuable collection of geological specimens, mostly collected by himself. He has visited nearly all the places of interest to the lover of nature and student of science, from the Rocky mountains to the Atlantic. A remarkably accurate knowledge 0f events of his own time testifies that he has been a close observer. His has been a busy and useful life which has been a benefit to his family, his community, his county, his State and his country.

192B - MR. AND MRS. ELIJAH COOPER & MRS. ELIZABETH COOPER

Elijah Cooper, the subject of this biography, was born to Preble county, Ohio. The beginnings 0f the Cooper family are somewhat 0bscured by the mists of time. However, it has been ascertained that the first William Cooper was born in Coleshill, parish of Amersham, Hertfordshire, England, in 1632. Being a Quaker, he received a certificate from the Monthly Meeting, at Coleshill, on the fifth day 0f twelfth month, 1678, for himself and Margaret Cooper, his wife. He came to the coast of New Jersey and bought lands at Pyn Point, between the mouth of Cooper's creek and the Delaware river, in what is now the city of Burlington, New Jersey. He was a man of wealth and great influence. He was a member of the Colonial legislature, and at one time a judge of the superior court. He was constantly associated with William Penn, and obtained the first right to keep a ferry over the Delaware river between Camden, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. He died on the old estate in um. His son Daniel was born at Coleshill, January 27, 1673, and died in New Jersey in 1715, leaving a son, William, who became the father of Jacob Cooper, the father 0f William who was born in Berk's county, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1756, and about 1775 removed to Union district, South Carolina.

He the Whig army during part of the Revolutionary war, though greatly averse to war in general, he being a member of the society of Friends. He lived in Union district, South Carolina, where he owned a large plantation, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He would not own slaves and 0n this account he, with all other Quakers, was sociably ostracized. So strong had this feeling become that in May 1807, after having sold out, he brought his family to Ohio, and settled about one half mile east of Somerville, on the place now 0ccupied by Oliver Beadle. Witliam Cooper was very wealthy and entered hundreds of acres of lands in the counties of Butler and Preble. Of his five children, Lydia, Martha, Jonathan, Jacob and Ralph, tour attained maturity. Elijah Cooper's grandfather, Jonathan Cooper, was born in South Carolina August 31, 1781, and died August 8, 1859. He was eccentric in some things, and during the last forty years of his life never wore hat nor stockings, either in winter or summer. His son William, who was born in 1807, married Elizabeth Kellum, who was born in Preble county in 1812. She is the daughter of Elijah and Sarah Kellum who emigrated from Georgia at an early day. After their marriage they settled in Gratis township, about a mile north of Bennett's mill, or, what is known as the "coal diggins" farm. They had four children. Jonathan was killed by an accident when thirteen years old; Sarah J. is the wife of Milton Stubbs ; Esther Ann is the wife of Joseph Stubbs ; Elijah spent the first years 0f his life in the vicinity of West Florence, on the farm now owned by Robert Bell. In 1850 his father removed to a farm in the southeast corner of section three, Wayne township, Butler county; and here Elijah resided with his father until December 3, 1864, when Mr. Cooper was married to Amy A., daughter of the late John and Harriet Conarroe, of Wayne township, Butler county. She is one of nine children and was born in Wayne township on the last day of the year 1847. To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have been born four children viz ; William, born in 1865 ; Jennie, born in 1868 ; John E., born in 1874 ; and Clarence J., born in 1879.

Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cooper commenced housekeeping on the farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres 0f land located in the southwest corner of section five, of Wayne township, Butler county. This fine farm was presented to Mr. Cooper, by his father as a wedding gift. He continued on this place until the fall of 1870, when he moved to what is known as the old Roberts farm, in the northwest corner 0f Wayne township. After remaining there until the winter of 1875, he removed to Indiana and lived in West Richmond for about eighteen months. Thence he removed to his present residence in section thirty-three, of Gratis township. The farm, known as the Lane farm, consists of one hundred and ninety-three acres of land, than which there is no better in the county. Since Mr. Cooper has taken possession of the place he has greatly improved it, and to-day, with broad acres of good land, thoroughly cultivated, well timbered and neatly fenced, the farm presents an attractive appearance, the beauty 0f which is to be even still more enhanced by the erection of a handsome residence, and the remode ling 0f the farm buildings. Besides this farm worth twenty thousand dollars, Mr. Cooper owns twenty-thousand dollars worth of real estate in Butler county, viz.: the farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres, upon which he commenced life ; and eighty-nine acres on Elk creek, Wayne township ; also seventy acres of the homestead farm upon which he was born.

In addition to his extensive farming operations, Mr. Cooper raises considerable stock, paying much attention to the raising of line hogs and horses. He has fattened over one hundred head of hogs each winter since he came to the county, and always has on hand a fine lot of cattle.

In the years 1877-8 he was engaged in the grocery business with Hiram Stubbs, in West Elkton, but he has always succeeded best at his chosen work, that of the independent farmer. Without unduly eulogizing it may be said that Elijah Cooper is an upright, wholesouled man, and hence a substantial and an esteemed citizen of the community. He is a staunch Republican.

HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 193

Bookwalter died in 1879. G. W. M. Bookwalter married for his first wife, Rebecca Bowman, by whom he had one child, now deceased. His second wife was Sarah, daughter of John Russell, of Winchester. George Bookwalter was engaged in painting for thirty years. He has been mayor of Winchester for eighteen years, and clerk of the township nineteen years, both of which offices he is now holding.

Josiah Bookwalter married first Sarah E. Mitchell. Three children were born them, only one of whom survives. His second wife was Eva McKee, by whom he has had one child. He is a partner in the firm of Bookwalter & Fetherling at Winchester-carriage-makers.

John M. Bookwalter married Louisa Conarroe, daughter of Richard Conarroe, of Butler county, Ohio. Their children are Ivea L. and L. Veturia. One child is dead. Mr. Bookwalter is a carriage-trimmer by trade. He was in the one hundred day service during the Rebellion.

Benjamin F. Bookwalter married Elvira, daughter of John and Catharine Russell. They have six children. He is engaged in the blacksmith shops of Bookwalter & Fetherling.

Jonathan Homer was born in New Jersey about 1798, from which State he moved to Ohio, and settled in Butler county in 1807. His death occurred in Gratis township in 1852. He married Hannah Artrim, by whom he had four children, namely, Rachel (deceased), Sarah, Berziller and Elizabeth (deceased).

Berziller Homer, born in 186, married Elizabeth Kinsey, by whom he had five children: Hannah Ann, Mary Elizabeth, Maria Frances, Elenora and Emma. Mr. Homer owns a farm of about eighty-seven acres.

Jonathan Cooper moved from Georgia in the year 1803, and settled in Wayne township, Butler county. He died in Somersville. During the latter part of his life he never wore a hat or a pair of socks, either in summer or winter. His son, William, was born in Butler county in 1803. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Elijah Kellum. They have three children: Sarah, wife of Milton Stubbs; Esta, wife of Joseph Stubbs, and Elijah, who married Emma Ann Conarroe. The latter has three children: William, Jannie G. and John. He, Elijah Cooper, has about five hundred and forty acres, including land in Butler county. Mr. Cooper was a resident of Butler county until his thirty-fifth year. He is now a dealer in stock.

G. F. Deter Kesling was born in Virginia, from which State he moved to Kentucky, and finally settled in Ohio, in Warren county, in the year 1805, where he died in 1852. He was drafted into the War of 1852, but escaped service by sending a substitute. During his life he was a farmer and distiller. His wife was Margaret Null.

William Kesling was married twice—first, to Martha Lyons, by whom he had eight children, and after her death, to Mary Doley.

Dr. Isaac Kesling is now a resident of Winchester, Gratis township. He is a successful practitioner of the Eclectic school, having graduated at the Cincinnati Eclectic College of Medicine. Dr. Kesling married Eliza Ann, daughter of John Potterf, an old family in Preble. The township of Gasper was named from Gasper Potterf, one of this family.

Jacob Lesh, a Virginian, emigrated at an early date from that State to Ohio, and settled in Lanie1 township. His wife was Mary Lantis. Their son, Henry, married Julia Ann Morning Star, who is now living. Henry died in Lanier township in 5853. Their children are: Jonas, Lydia and Leander S.

Jonas Lesh married Sarah A. Phillips, and has three children. He is a carpenter and builder by trade. Five generations of this family ale buried in Preble county.

Jacob Judy was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1797. From that State he moved to Ohio, and settled in German township, Montgomery county, in 1815. His death occurred in that county in 1877. At his death he was the largest farmer in German township—owning three hundred and eighty acres. His wife, Catharine Hetzler, is still living. He had seven children, six of whom still survive, namely: John, Mary, Samuel, Catharine, Susan and Jacob. Samuel, who was born in the year 1821, married Magdaline Bean, and has six children: Martin, Catharine, Abraham, Mary, Charlie and Lettie. Mr. Judy is a prominent member of the United Brethren church. His farm, located in the southeastern part of the township, contains about three hundred and twenty acres.

Joseph M. Hendrix was born in Pennsylvania in 1816. From this State he came to Ohio in 1842, and settled on a quarter section of section ten, in Gratis township. He and his wife, Agnes (McDonald), made the journey in a wagon the year after their marriage. His father was a wealthy farmer in Pennsylvania, owning a farm of three hundred acres. He had seven children, all of whom are dead excepting John M. and Joseph.

John M. married Rebecca, daughter of John Murry, of Carrol county, Maryland. He has had nine children. His farm contains four hundred and forty acres of fine land, which is under good cultivation.

Jacob Featherling was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, from which place he moved to Ohio. He first settled in Delaware county in 5832, and afterwards, in 1835, moved to Montgomery county. His wife, Parmelia Lewelen, died in 5864. Eight children were born to them, three only of whom are now alive, namely: Cephas C., George and Eliza.

Cephas married Sarah C., daughter of M. G. Hollinger, of Harrison township. They have two children. Mr. Fetherling was a teacher for thirteen years, and was a principal at Winchester from 1870 to 1873. He served three years in the war of the Rebellion in company H, of the Ninety-third regiment. He is extensively engaged in business in Winchester, and is one of the leading business men of that town. He is engaged in the grocery business, besides being partner in Bookwalter & Featherling's carriage manufactory.

James Russell was born in Pennsylvania in 1771, and settled in Montgomery county in 1802, where he died in 1843. John Russell, his son, was born in 1797. He is the father of ten children, seven of whom are living. James M., the fifth child, married Eliza Neff, the daugh-

194 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

ter of Abram Neff They have seven children. Mr. Russell is engaged in the lightning rod business in this county.

Francis L. Raikes is the son of F. F. Raikes, of Somers township. He married Helen E. Bower, of Somers. Having no children born to them, they have adopted a daughter, Mary Ethel. Mr. Raikes is now serving his second term as a trustee of Gratis township. He is postmaster at West Elkton. During the late war he served three months in the Twentieth regiment of the Ohio volunteer infantry.

Jacob S. Weinland was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1819. His father, Jacob Weinland, lived for a time in West Elkton, and from there moved to Union City, where he died. Jacob Weinland, sr's. wife was Elizabeth Singer, who died in Clark county. They had six children, four of whom still survive, viz: John, Maria, Jacob S., and Elizabeth. Jacob S. married Mary Eckert, of Butler county. They have had eight children, four of whom are now alive: Elizabeth A., Jacob A., Daniel C., and Mary H. Dr. Weinlaud began practicing medicine in 1847, at West Elkton, where he has been ever since. For twelve years he was the only physician in the place. Of late years he has belonged to the eclectic branch of medicine, and has met with good success. Dr. Weinland came out to Ohio as a miller, when only seventeen years old. He afterwards taught school and studied medicine.

James Dusky settled at Cincinnati in 1825. He was a native of Virginia, but was compelled to flee the State on account of a threshing he had administered to an overseer, who was abusing a slave. He died on the Ohio river, of yellow fever, in 1836. His wife, Elizabeth Stone, died in 1846. They had eight children, three of whom survive: George Washington, Henry, and Silas; the latter married Elizabeth, daughter of James Robison, of Gratis township. They have had two children born to them: Charles Henry and Richard Randall. Mr. Dusky is the principal blacksmith in West Elkton. He has been in the county for over twenty-five years.

Matthew W. Robertson, a native of Virginia, moved to Ohio in 1866, and settled at College Corner. His wife was Mary E. J. Coffee. They have three children: Dr. William C., Maggie J., and Amanda. Dr. William C. married Clara J. Sparks, and has one child, Howard E. He is a graduate of the Ohio Medical college, at Cincinnati. After a year's practice in Indiana, he removed to West Elkton, Ohio, where he now has the leading practice of that part of the county.

WINCHESTER

is the largest incorporation in the township. It is a quiet village of about five hundred and twenty inhabitants, situated in section three, about a mile south of the line dividing the townships of Lanier and Gratis. The plat of the town was recorded by the late proprietors, Martin Sayler, Abraham Wimmer and Abraham and Jacob Gift, in the year 1817. The original plat contained sixty-four lots. In the year 1829 an additional plat of sixteen lots was added by Martin Sayler. In the same year Abraham Wimmer added twelve lots, and in 1831 sixteen more were laid out and added to the incorporation by Jacob Gift. While the lapse of more than sixty years has not seen any remarkable growth, the town has, nevertheless, grown to be a business center of considerable local importance. The different branches of business are well represented and the town is the seat of a carriage manufactory at one time the largest and most thriving in the county. The limits of the corporation embrace over a hundred lots, lying on streets laid off at right angles.

The lack of ordinary facilities for transportation has had a depressing effect on the town. The nearest railroad station is that of Camden, in Somers township, some six or eight miles west of Winchester. The mail of the town is brought from Middletown, Butler county, every day. The same line serves for the three offices in the township.

The first house ever erected within the limits of Winchester was built by Peter Kulp, who built a cabin in the year 1818, on the site a few rods south of where the Mackey hotel now stands. The first store was that of Benjamin Darragh, who kept a small shop on the spot where Bowman's grocery now stands. His store was a mixture of everything necessary for frontier life, with few of the luxuries. Hardware, dry goods and groceries were alike represented, payment being made with produce as often as with cash. Since the establishment of this store the business has been increasing until at the present more than a score of houses devoted to different branches of business line the streets. The following is a list of some of the most important: drugs, James Hoover; dry goods, Tobey & Son and J. W. Bowman; groceries, J. W. Scott, J. H. Bowman, E. H. Morris and C. C. Fetherling & Co.; boots and shoes, F. Michael & Co. and J. R. Burnett; harness, J. W. Scott and Samuel Miller; tin store, C. E. Darragh; millinery, Miss M. J. Mackey. Messrs. Brookwalter and Fetherling own a large buggy manufactory in active operation. A few years ago a sensible plan was adopted by the several groceries in town. Instead of running an active competition trade in all branches, they agreed to make an arrangement by which each would make a specialty of some branch of the business and retain the exclusive right of sale of that branch. By this arrangement, in addition to their groceries, Fetherling & Co. and Bowman kept hardware, and J. W. Scott the queensware. This plan has been found to act admirably for the business men, but how it suits their customers is a matter of opinion. The storekeepers having a specialty of one department can demand their own prices.

The legal profession is represented by Mr. A. Stiver, who has held many offices, both in the town and in the township.

Winchester is connected with all the other towns around by well kept pikes. A telephone line extends to West Elkton, and from there to Camden, affording easy communication with the outside world.

The church denominations are represented by the Methodist, the Reformed, and the Baptist. These each have houses of worship, and are in a prosperous condition. There was at one time an organization of Presby-

HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 195

terians in the town, but they gradually grew less in numbers, until finally they disbanded, the Reformed church buying their church building. The town itself is quiet and orderly. No liquor saloons are allowed within the corporation limits. This, and the fact that the people are brought daily in contact with the Friends, who were the early settlers, and who are known as peaceable and law- abiding people, has a strong tendency to keep the town orderly. No criminal case has been on docket since July 11, 1878, more than two years ago.

No records of the first elections for corporation officers are now existing. Until 1862, when Mr. George Brookwalter was elected mayor, no care had been taken of the records. Since then there has been an office built, where faithful entries of the town business are kept. The present officers are as follows: G. W. M. Brookwalter, mayor; H. C. Michael, corporation clerk; Lester Shaw, marshall; R. F. Tobey, treasurer; W. H. C. Steele, B. F. Brook- waiter, J. S. Snyder, William Frazee, William Street, and E H. Morris, councilmen; Seth Burnett, street commissioner. The board of education is made up of the following gentlemen; Noah Brower, president; A. G. Prugh, clerk; D. G. Prugh, Levi Furey, J. G. Thomas, and G. W. M. Bookwalter. The town possesses a fine two-story brick school-house of four rooms. The school is divided into four grades. A mayor's building is in process of erection, and is to be ready for occupation before January 1, 1881. The estimated value of the building is eight hundred dollars. The site chosen for the erection of this building was one selected by two men who intended building a saloon. To forestall this design the council bought the property, and are to devote it as a site for the mayor's building.

There are several handsome residences in town, and these, together with the whole town itself, present a neat and pleasing appearance.

WEST ELKTON.

This is the second of the two incorporations in Gratis township, and lies in the southwestern part of the same, about one mile north of the township line. It was laid out in 1847 by J. L. Street, for the following proprietors: J. N. Gift, R. W. Swain, J. H. Stubbs, Jesse Stubbs, Nathan Hornaday, Walter Wheeler, Isaac Wright, P. S. Patton, Stephen Leas, James Smith, Henry Maddock, and J. P. Brown.

West Elkton is a quiet and orderly town of quite considerable local importance. Like Winchester, it lacks railroad communication, and is dependent on Middetown for its daily mail. It is on the line of telephone reaching to Camden, and coming in from the north.

The first man to locate on the spot was David Taylor, a wheelwright. He built a shop and also dug the first well inside the limits of the present town. In the year 1828 or 1829 the first store was opened by a man by the name of Rockhill, on the site where Dr. J. S. Weinland now resides. The house in which he started his store is now owned by Mr. Bennett, of West Elkton. Rockhill sold out to Mr. Townsend, who in turn was bought out by Mr. Dix. The origin of the name of West Elkton is somewhat singular. The Society of Friends had a quarterly meeting near the place which was called the Elk quarterly meeting, from the name of the creek. Mr. Dix, in ordering goods, ordered them shipped to Elk. By some mistake the goods were sent to Elkton, and the name was taken for the town. Afterwards, on finding that there was an Elkton already in the State, the place was called West Elkton, to distinguish the two places.

West Elkton has grown to be a place of about two hundred inhabitants.

The building at present used for educational purposes was built originally under the supervision of the Friends. It was erected during the fall and summer of 1869, at a cost of three thousand three hundred dollars. Two-thirds of this amount was contributed by the Society of Friends, and the rest by outside subscriptions. It was used as an academy for several years, and was known as the West Elkton academy. It was finally thought best to sell the building to the West Elkton special school district, which sale took place in the year 1878, and it has since then been used as a public school-house.

The present officers are Nathan Hornaday, mayor; A. C. Hornaday, corporation clerk; Thomas Stubbs, treasurer; Christopher Pierson, marshal; John Mikesell, street commissioner; Lorenzo Stubbs, J. S. Weinland, W. C. Robertson, S. A. Stubbs, Silas Dusky, and A. Van Trump, councilmen. The board of education is composed of R. W. Randall, chairman; J. S. Weinland, clerk; Isaiah Talbert, A. Van Trump, Nelson Hornaday, and A. T. Maddock.

The town is well kept, and presents a busy and pleasing appearance to the visitor. Although the business houses are not numerous, they each do good business. The following is a list of the principal houses: Dry goods, S. A. Stubbs & Co.; dry goods and groceries, Stubbs & Gifford; grocery, Ira Stubbs. A good hotel is kept by Mr. Maddock. From the fact of the town's being situated in the midst of a Quaker settlement, no disturbances of any size ever occur. Like its neighbor, Winchester, it does not tolerate the sale of liquor within its corporation, which is mainly instrumental in keeping the orderly spirit.

West Elkton is the seat of the establishment of Messrs. Van Trump, Talbert & Co.'s large buggy manufactory, which has doubtless done a great deal towards making the town What it is to-day. .

The first post office in the town was started in the year 1844, and was kept by Rawley Wheeler. This post office was the result of a petition started by Mr. Jesse Stubbs. Owing to the fact that the Democracy was in power, a Democratic. postmaster, Joel G. Hutchins was appointed, but Mr. Wheeler acted as deputy postmaster in his stead.

There are two church buildings in the town, one a frame building, used by the Methodists, United Brethren, and Wesleyan Methodists, and one which is the meeting-house of the Friends.

GREEN BUSH

is a small collection of houses in the eastern part of the township. It is unincorporated and is of no especial importance. The first house built there was built by a man

196 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

by the name of White. He built a small but of slabs, and in consequence the place was for a long time known as Slabtown. White also built a saw-mill at the same time. Some time afterwards some New Englanders came there and gave it its present name. The first post office was opened in the year 1874, by Jacob Poffenberger. There are a few small shops in the place. The only one of any size is the grocery of Mr. Poffenberger, in which the post office is kept. Greenbush has one church building, which is used alike by the United Brethren and the Methodists.

CHURCH HISTORY.

There are ten religious organizations in Gratis township; of these, three are Methodist, two United Brethren, one Reformed, one Baptist, one Wesleyan Methodist, and one each of the German Baptists and of the Friends. The latter comprise by far the larger number of members, and are eminently the denomination of the township. The first church building in the township was a meeting-house erected by the Friends about 1806, of which mention will be made in the sketch of that society.

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

Among the earliest pioneers of the soulhern part of the county was a colony of Friends who emigrated from Georgia and South Carolina on account of the evils of slavery in those States. Nathan Stubbs is generally credited with the honor of being the first of their number who penetrated the Preble wilderness. He came late in the fall of 1804 from Wrightsborough, Columbia county, Georgia, and settled near what is now the Butler and Preble county line. He was followed, in the spring of 1805 by Francis Jones, Samuel Maddock, Samuel Stubbs, Joseph Stubbs, and several others with their families from the same place. They were joined by Eli Cook, Benjamin Hawkins, Jesse Kenworthy, Jonathan Roberts, Jonas Randal, with their families, besides many others from Bush river, in Newberry, and from adjoining districts in South Carolina. Others came about the same time from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, so that there was a large settlement in the southeast part of the county of these devout and earnest people. They brought their bibles and religious principles with them, and it was not long after their arrival until they established religious worship in their midst. The first meeting for divine worship, or conference, was held at the house of Nathan Stubbs, about two miles southeast of West Elkton, and afterwards at Eli Cook's, about two miles to the west, during the succeeding fall and winter.

In the fall of 1806 a lot of three acres was purchased (which is now within the corporate limits of West Elkton), upon which a meeting-house of round logs was soon built and a graveyard laid out. Divine service was instituted by the Miami monthly meeting, according to the discipline of the church, in April of the same year. Their number kept increasing by the arrival of immigrants, and in a few years a larger house was required. This was built of hewed logs, and a monthly meeting established in 1809, by Miami quarterly meeting. It was then a constituent branch of the Baltimore yearly meeting and known as the "Elk monthly meeting." They probably numbered at that time from two hundred and fifty to three hundred members.

In 1817 a brick building, known as the "old brick meeting house," was erected, at a cost of about five hundred dollars. Public worship was held in this house for more than half a century. About the year 1870 the membership was considerably, augmented, and steps were soon afterward taken toward the erection of a more commodious house. Accordingly, in 1872, subscriptions were reported sufficient, with the available material in the old building, and a new house of brick, sixty-five by thirty-five feet, erected on the site of the old building, costing complete about four thousand dollars, which was opened for worship on the twenty-fourth day of November, of the same year, the monthly meetings having convened the day previous. The house is a plain, substantial building, and will seat about five hundred. The membership at present is about three hundred and fifty.

The old graveyard, containing more than. an acre of ground, was filled up several years ago. For many years after the first settlement of the county, it was the only public burying-ground for miles around, and the remains of many worthy pioneers were interred in it. The first person buried in it was Margaret, wife of Nathan Maddock, who died about 1806. The first marriage in the church, as far as can be ascertained, was that of Francis Maddock and Phebe Coon, which was solemnized on the twentieth of November, 1806.

Thus it will be seen that the Friends have had a church organization and regularly held religious worship in the township for seventy-five years. Their first log meeting-house was the first built in the township, if not in the county.

The West Elkton district school was. formerly an academy under the control of the Friends.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

at Winchester, was built in the year 1809, and dedicated on Christmas day of the same year. The present building cost about three thousand five hundred dollars. The first church this denomination possessed was a frame building, built about the year 1832. This was used as a house of worship until the erection of the present building. The site of the new building is about two blocks nearly east of the old site. The old building is now used as a carriage repository. The first pastor of the new church was Rev. M. G. Baker, who was also the one who built the church. He experienced a great deal of trouble in getting his work completed. It required five hundred contributions to make up the necessary sum. A good deal of the carpentering was done by Mr. Baker himself. Messrs. James Manning and John Brookwalter were the building committee. Their present pastor is the Rev. J. C. Ambrose. The membership is about eighty persons. The church building has a seating capacity of four hundred.

THE REFORMED CHURCH

at Winchester was organized in the year 1865, by the Rev. A. Warner, with a membership of about fifteen.

HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 197

They bought a building which had been built by the Presbyterians for a church. These latter became so weak that they concluded to sell their church property. The Reformed church bought it for about one hundred and thirty dollars in the year 1866, and repaired it. The Rev. M. F. Frank is now in charge of the church. The membership is about sixty-five. The Sunday-school has only been in existence since 1879. The church building is of brick.

THE BAPTISTS.

The Baptist denomination in Winchester was organized in 1836. For a year or two they worshipped in the building now owned by the Reformed church. In the year 1838 they built their present church, which is a brick building, costing about seven hundred dollars. The minister in charge of the church at first was the Rev. Mahlon Morris, who had charge for eighteen years. The church has no Sabbath-school. The church has a seating capacity of about three hundred. The present pastor, the Rev. W. H. Hickman, has been in charge since 1878. The number of members is now about twenty.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

in West Elkton was organized about 1850. For three years they used a school-house for worshipping purposes. In the year 1853 a union meeting-house was built, which has been used by the Methodists ever since, in connection with the United Brethren and the Wesleyan Methodists. At the organization the church members numbered about twelve, but they have increased until their present membership is seventy. Their present pastor is the Rev. J. C. Ambrose. A union Sunday-school was started in 1850, and is still in existence. It is estimated that the church building will accommodate three hundred and fifty people. The cost of building it was one thousand five hundred ($1,500) dollars.

WESLEYAN METHODISTS.

This denomination was organized at West Elkton, in the year 1852, with about fourteen members. For some years they worshipped in a school-house. Their first pastor was the Rev. John Harrison. They have had no regular preacher for five or six years, and at present are not in active operation, their membership being only about six.

THE UNITED BRETHREN

of Winchester organized in the year 1849; their first membership was seven persons. The class was composed of Dr. and Mrs. J. T. Weinland, Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Sites, Mr. and Mrs. John Fouts, and Mrs. M. F. Spraggs. There was no meeting-house in the place at the time of their organization, and they were compelled to worship in an old meeting-house which belonged to the Anti- Slavery Friends. They now use the union meetinghouse, erected in 1853. Their present membership is fifty-nine. The Rev. Theodore Rork was their first pastor. The Rev. S. Huddle is now in charge.

THE METHODISTS

at Greenbush organized as early as the year 1816. For a long time they made use of Mr. John Riner's barn for a meeting-house. In 1836 they built their first building, at a cost of about frve hundred ($500) dollars. ''his was sold and moved away in 1863; it now stands on the Germantown pike, and is used as a Wesleyan meetinghouse. In 1850 the present church was built by a party of New Englanders, who were Congregationalists. In 1860 they moved away, and sold the church building to the Methodists and the United Brethren. The present building has a seating capacity of about two hundred and fifty. The first class was composed of Mr. and Mrs. John Riner, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Fall, Mrs. Cooper (now Mrs. Eslinger), Mr. mid Mrs. Thomas Deem, and a few others. The Sunday-school, which is a union one, was organized in the year 1833. The present membership is about thirteen persons. The pastor in charge is the Rev J. C. Ambrose.

GERMAN BAPTISTS

in Gratis township were organized about the year 1820. The district embraces part of Lanier township. It extends north to the Dayton and Eaton pike, east to Johnsville, south to near the southern line of the township, and west to the Indiana State line. The denomination possesses two church buildings in this township. The oldest of these stands west of Winchester. It is known as the Brubaker church, and was built in 1858, during the eldership of John Brower. Their finest building is a large brick structure in the northern part of section one. It was built in 1874, during the eldership of Mr. Abraham Younce, their present elder. The building, known as the Twin Valley church, was built at a cost of over nine thousand dollars. Their present membership is about one hundred and eighty. The Revs. Messrs. Francis Cotterman, Jacob Loman and David Flory are their present ministers.

THE GREENBUSH CHURCH.

Nearly thirty years ago the members of the Congregational denomination living near Greenbush decided to erect a house of worship. Accordingly a neat frame building was put up. About the year 1860, owing to the small membership, it was decided to sell the church building to the United Brethern and Methodists, who had organized societies of their respective denominations a few years before. These two denominations still own the church, and their ministers preach on alternate Sabbaths. At present the United Brethern are the most numerous, although their brethern, the Methodists, are in a flourishing condition. Rev. S. Huddle is the United Brethern minister, and Rev. J. C. Ambrose is the Methodist pastor.

CEMETERIES.

For many years after the settlement of the townships no regular burying places were in existence. The dead were buried on the home farm. Possibly some three or four families would use the same spot. In some cases these small beginnings finally resulted in being regarded as regular burial places, but in the majority of cases, the graves would remain alone on the edge of a field or in the depths of some favorite grove. In 1832 the first cemetery in the township was laid out near Winchester.

198 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

The first burial was that of Richard Housel in that year. This burial place was used until recently, when the town laid out a new one, farther from town on the south side of the Eaton pike. It has been named Fair View, and is as lovely a spot as could have been obtained for the purpose.

Fair Mound cemetery at West Elkton was laid out in 1805. The first person ever buried on the place was Mrs. Nathan Maddock, whose death took place in 1805, and is generally believed to have been the first in the township. The place gradually grew into use until the year 1875, when it was regularly established as a public cemetery, by the township authorities, under whose supervision all of the cemeteries in the township have been placed.

The cemetery at Greenbush has quite a history connected with it. The first burial on the ground now known as Greenbush cemetery was that of Mrs. Betsey Ellis, who was buried there in 1828. John Riner, on his death-bed, wishing to have the place recognized as a public burying-ground, willed a half acre of the land, where the graves stood to the township as a permanent burying place. But in writing out the will the lawyer, instead of writing the southeastern quarter of the section, which was the quarter containing the graves, wrote the deed as alluding to the southwestern quarter. Afterwards the people wishing to have the matter arranged satisfactorily, gave John Chrisman, the owner of the land, a deed to the half acre left by will in the southwestern quarter of the section on condition of his giving them the half acre which was the intention of old Mr. Rifler to leave them, and which was the site of the present graveyard. The deed was made in the year 1875, and since then the place has been a public burying place.

THE MEDICAL STAFF.

The first physician in the township, as far as can be ascertained, was Dr. Samuel Nixon, who was stationed in Winchester. Dr. Christian Sayler who is now the oldest physician in Gratis, studied medicine under him. The latter has now retired from practice. The present members of the medical staff in the township are Drs. William Sayler, of Winchester, allopathic ; Isaac Kesling, of Winchester, eclectic; J. S. Weinland, of West Elkton, eclectic; W. C. Robertson, of West Elkton, allopathic; W. S. Sayler, of Winchester, allopathic, and Daniel Keplinger, eclectic. The two latter are just beginning their practice, having only recently graduated.

INDUSTRIES.

The buggy manufactories in the township are the chief objects of interest; of these, the establishment of Brookwalter & Fetherling is the oldest, being established in 1833, by John Bookwalter (deceased). At the age of sixteen he learned the trade of wagon making, and in the year 1833 he started his shop in Winchester. After following this business for some time, he was obliged to turn to lighter work, on account of rheumatism, brought on by a fall into a creek. He then started a buggy shop, which is still run by Josiah Bookwalter, his son. He afterwards sold out to his sons. During his business life he accumulated a comfortable fortune, more than sufficient for his own needs. While under his management the shops were the most prosperous in the township, but owing to depression of business, only one set of hands are now employed. At the time of their most prosperous condition twenty hands were employed, and the shops had a capacity of turning out one hundred and ten new and one hundred old, or what was repairing jobs. These buildings occupy a conspicuous locality in the western part of Winchester,

The establishment of Van Trump, Talbert & Company, is the most flourishing buggy manufactory in the township. The following is a hasty sketch of the business since its establishment.

In the year 1860 Argerbright & Talbert started a carriage shop. They started in an old cabinet shop, bought from Eli Stubbs for about twelve hundred dollars. They ran the business for three years, having good success. In 1863 Talbert retired, on account of his health, Daniel Argerbright buying out his interest. Mr. Talbert went to Minnesota for several months; after his return he started a carriage shop on the place now owned by Samuel Landis. After two years Mr. Talbert went to Miamisburgh and entered the same business. In the meantime Argerbright had taken into the business in West Elkton, W. S. Maddock. In 1865 he sold out to Maddock, who afterwards took in his father as partner. In 1869, I. Talbert, A. Van Trump, and D. L. Weinland bought the business. In 1871 Van Trump sold his interest, and in 1874 Talbert bought out Weinland's interest, and in the same year consolidated with Vantrump and Stubbs, who are the present firm, under the firm name of Van Trump, Talbert & Company. Their business is in a prosperous condition. Besides a buggy manufactory, the firm runs a saw-mill, an undertaking establishment, and a pump business. In all they employ fourteen hands, ten of whom are employed in the buggy department. The capacity of the shops is fifty new jobs a year, besides repairing, etc. The building is a large four-story brick, is situated in the eastern part of West Elkton.

EDEN LODGE NO. 147, I. O. O. F.,

was organized in the year 1850. It numbers about sixty-eight members. The present officers are as follows: William Gregg, N. G.; John Flora, V. G.; Berry Flora, S. P. G.; H. C. Michael, recording secretary; R. C. Prugh, permanent secretary; J. W. Scott, treasurer. The lodge house of the society is in Winchester.

THE FIRST SCHOOL

was doubtless kept by the Friends in the southern part of the township, but the exact date cannot now be ascertained, nor the name of the teacher of the same. The earliest school of which recollection is had, however, is one which was kept in the northeastern quarter of section thirty-three, by Jesse Hobson, in the year 1806. The land where this school-house stood is now owned by Samuel Hetzler. The building used was a double roomed house which had been used as a dwelling house. The early schools were all taught by subscrip-

HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 199

tion. Schools were held in deserted log cabins for many years. These would be occupied during one winter term, and at the next opening the school would be located elsewhere. There are at present seven schools which are under the supervision of the township. These are all large, roomy buildings, built of brick and located at some convenient point easy of approach, generally at cross roads. The present board of education of the township is composed of the following gentlemen: Henry Glaze, Jacob Mullendore, Josiah Powell, Daniel Kenworthy, E. R. Taylor, Anuel Gifford and Milton Stubbs.

THE FIRST MILL.

The grist-mill of David and John Rohrer stands on the site of the first mill of the kind ever built within the limits of Gratis township. It was built by Abraham Neff, in the year 1812, in section one. The building was a frame one, built of lumber sawed at the saw-mill which was built by Mr. Neff in the year 1806. About the same time a grist-mill was built in the southern part of the township on Elk creek, by a man by the name of Ferry. The third in the township was built in section one, on Twin creek, by Samuel Taylor. It was run by a stream called Chrisman's branch. These three are all that were erected within the limits of Gratis, and of them only one is now in operation. The old Neff's mill was torn down in 1849, and the present building erected in its place. It is of brick and stone, and is five stories high, running three runs of stone. The sawmill at Rohrer's is the only one ever run by water in the township. There are three steam saw-mills now in the township-one at Winchester, one at West Elkton and one at Greenbush.

THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY.

During the war of the Rebellion an institution existed in southern Ohio which was the cause of considerable ill feeling between the opposing factions in that part of the State. This was an organization known as the "Underground Railway," and was organized with a view to rendering assistance to any fugitive slaves who might cross the Ohio river, and were desirous of reaching Canada. The society was splendidly managed, and it is a matter of pride with those who were members, that not a single slave was ever captured when once he had obtained a pass on the "Underground Railway." The modus operandi was somewhat as follows: The organization had members stationed along the banks of the river, and it is even shrewdly surmised that agents were sometimes on the southern side of the stream. As soon as a slave crossed the river he sought protection in the houses of these members, and was immediately sent north to the next station. From this point they were hurried by friendly hands to the next station, provided the road was clear; otherwise they were kept in safe hiding until the "train" could be carried through in safety. One of these stations was near West Elkton, in Gratis township, and was under the charge of one of the leading citizens in that part of the county.. This gentleman, whose name is retained, declared that he had often had as many as five or six fugitives on his hands at one time, waiting for a safe pass northward. The transportation was generally done at night, but urgent cases sometimes occasioned an exception to this rule. The agents ahead were at once instructed if there should be any pursuit, to immediately place the northern bound passenger in hiding for a season. The slave was instructed to watch for a certain sign, and if given him at at any time to follow without questioning. This association often received threatening letters, but pursued their humane work regardless of outside enmities. They claim that the number of fugitives who arrived in Canada in safety, through the assistance of the society, reached into the thousands.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

At the present day this township is strictly temperate. As was remarked before, no dram shops of any kind are tolerated; but in days gone by this was not the case; distilleries could be counted by the score, all through the northern part of Gratis, although, owing to the influence of the Friends, few, if any, ever were erected below the line of West Elkton.

The first distillery of which any record can be obtained was built in the northeastern part of the township, about the year 1811, by Christian Fall. This was only run for a year or two. Daniel Chrisman started one in the same part of the township, in 1824, which was kept in operation for over six years. About the same time one was started in the same neighborhood by Peter Riner. Around Winchester it is stated that as many as fifteen could be counted within a circuit of two miles.

This country was settled by families from the Carolinas and Georgia, all of whom were familiar with the work of distilling, and each man who could afford it had a copper still on his place. The article produced was of the best quality. Each man used his own grain. Those who could not afford a still of their own were accustomed to exchange grain for whiskey. It was regarded as indispensable at every log-rolling or house-raising, and it required a man of strong determination to refuse the liquor to the workmen. It was gradually done, however, until finally any attempt to manufacture the article was frowned down by the majority of the citizens.

The first death in the township was that of Mrs. Nathan Maddock, who died in the year 1805, and was buried in Fair Mound cemetery, near West Elkton. She was the wife of one of the earliest settlers in the township.

The marriage of Walter Roberts, in the year 1806, was the first in Gratis. He is now living in Indiana.

THE FIRST WHITE CHILD

born in the township was Rebecca, daughter of Hezekiah Philips. She afterwards married Jonas Brubaker, and is now living west of Winchester, on the Eaton pike. She has reached the age of seventy-six years, and is the mother of five or six children. Besides being the first white child born in the township, Mrs. Brubaker has the honor of being the first female child born in the county, Mr. George Hendricks, of Somers, being the first male child.

200 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

EARLY INCIDENTS.

No incident of a stirring nature seems to have occurred during the infancy of the township. The settlers were too close to the settlements along the Maimi river to have very great fear of the Indians. These latter were often seen passing through the township, but always in a peaceable manner. They were always stopping to beg food, and seldom failed to express gratitude.

The only event which seems to have impressed itself on the minds of the early pioneers was a severe fall of snow in the winter of 1803-4. It was the heaviest ever witnessed in the country, in many places reaching the depth of thirty-two inches.

THE PRESENT OFFICERS

of Gratis township are: Noah Brower, F. L. Raikes and Daniel Gifford, trustees; G. W. M. Brookwalter, clerk; J. M. Matthews, treasurer; J. G. Thomas and Lewis McKay, assessors; H. C. Michael and James Robinson, constables; A. Stiver and Nathan Hornaday, justices of the peace; P. S. Brower, W. S. Vickers, E. R. Taylor, C. Platt, S. Eckhardt, James Robinson, S. Stonebraker, M. Stubbs and George Hauger, supervisors.

No records of the early elections of the township can be obtained. They have either been lost or else are laid away in some corner among the papers of some early pioneer, as there is no recollection of them now. The first election was probably held at the residence of that settler whose house was easiest of access to all. There is no town house in the township. The elections are held at the offrce of the township clerk in Winchester.

POPULATION AND VALUATION.

The present population of the township, according to the last census, is two thousand three hundred and nine (2,309). The value of property in the township, according to the returns of the assessors, is eight hundred and sixty-six thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight dollars ($866,838). Of this amount, seven hundred and forty- nine thousand six hundred and three dollars ($749,603) is the value of the lands, and the remainder—one hundred and seventeen thousand two hundred and thirty- five dollars ($117,235)— of the buildings etc. The above valuations include those of the three towns in the township, Winchester, West Elkton and Greenbush. The property valuation of Winchester is fifty-seven thousand nine hundred and forty-eight dollars ($57,948); that of West Elkton is thirty-one thousand eight hundred and seventy dollars ($31,870), and of Greenbush, four thousand two hundred and twenty dollars ($4,220).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN CHRISMAN.

This venerable citizen was born September 13, 1797, in Guilford county, North Carolina, and is consequently now in his eighty-fourth year. His grandfather, Jacob Chrisman, was born and reared in Pennsylvania, and afterwards removed to Guilford county, North Carolina, where, in 1775, his son Daniel was born. Subsequently the Chrisman family removed to Rowan county, North Carolina. Daniel Chrisman married about the year 1785, Mary, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Ozias, who had emigrated from Pennsylvania to North Carolina some years ago.

As has been stated, the subject of this sketch was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, where his father, Daniel Chrisman, continued to reside until the year 1803, when, in company with his son and his wife's parents, he decided to remove to Ohio. The little party was six weeks on the tedious journey through the mountains, and they were very weary when at length they arrived at their destination, Warren county, near Spring- borough. Grandfather Jacob Chrisman lived in Warren county during the remainder of his life. The Ozias subsequently removed to this county and settled on Twin creek: The former was an active minister of the Gospel and a life-long member of the old Presbyterian church. He commenced preaching many years before his emigration to Ohio. He travelled extensively, and could speak fluently in both English and German. As early as 1801 he made a trip to Ohio, and was undoubtedly one among the first Presbyterian ministers who preached in Ohio. After his emigration to this State he frequently preached in this county. Being a very heavy and not a very strong man, he was often compelled to sit down while speaking. He died in 1810, aged sixty-six years, six months and six days.

In August, 1805, Daniel Chrisman, having decided to settle in Preble county, removed thither with his family. He had to cut a road part of the way through the dense forest, which on every side surrounded the spot in Gratis township where the new home was to be built. The first three days after their arrival were spent in a tent made of the wagon cover, while the neighbors gathered from all sides and assisted in the building of a rude pole shanty, which served as a house until Mr. Chris- man could find time to build a more substantial log house, in which he lived for some years, and afterwards built the one that is still standing on the old home farm, in which Mr. Chrisman, sr., continued to live during most of his life. He entered the northeast quarter of section eleven, and in the early days of his residence in this county he undertook the manifold hardships and discomforts 'which fall to the lot of the pioneer. He died February 12, 1861, surviving his wife ten years, the latter dying March 2, 1851.

They left a family of five children, of whom John is the oldest. Eliza, the only daughter, is the widow of

HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 201

John Crouse, and lives in Indiana; Solomon married Elizabeth Shuey, and both are dead; Jacob married Julia A. Riner, and Daniel married Eliza Ann Fudge.

John Chrisman has been a farmer all of his life, and in early boyhood commenced to "make his hand" in the field. His school days were brief. He lived on the old home place with his father until the year 180, and on the twentieth of February, of that year, was united in marriage to Mrs. Susan Hall, the widow of Richard D. Hall, who emigrated from Newmarket, Maryland, in 1809, the year of his marriage. Mrs. Chrisman, whose maiden name was Fishbourn, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, February 8, 1791. When a little girl she removed with her parents to Baltimore, and afterwards she became a resident of Newmarket, Maryland, whence she came to Ohio, and settled with her first husband on the farm where John Chrisman afterwards married her, and where they lived until her death, which occurred June 10, 1877, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, four months, and two days.

Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman began life together in the old log house, which for many years occupied the site of the present substantial brick residence, which has stood as it now is for full thirty years.

Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman were blessed with two children—daughters—Elizabeth and Catharine. Elizabeth married Henry Riner and resides near her father. She has three children: Charles W. and Susie, the widow of Edward P. Johnson, and resides in Cheyenne, Wyoming territory. John C. resides near his parents' residence. Mr. Chrisman's second, and youngest daughter, Catharine M., married Jacob F. Stover, by whom she has had one son, John C., who is living with his parents, at Mr. Chrisman's. Although Mr. Chrisman's father and grandfather were Presbyterians, he saw fit to connect himself with the German Baptist or Dunker church, of which for many years he has been a faithful member. He has never engaged in the vexatious turmoils of political strife, and has always lived a quiet and industrious life. Thus he has accumulated not only a large property but has also won the love and respect of the whole community. Although having completed the full measure of his days, his four score years, his bodily and mental powers are still well preserved. While waiting to join loved ones on the other shore, how fitting that in this, the evening of his life, he hand down to his posterity the impress of his features and the record of his life's history, which otherwise would be lost to the many loved ones who may survive him.

CHRISTIAN SAYLER, M. D.

Dr. Christian Sayler, of Winchester, Gratis township, was born in Franklin county, Virginia, January 4, 1804. His father, Martin Sayler, was born in Fredrick county, Maryland, about 1775. He moved to Virginia in 1800, and to Preble county in 1809. He was a millwright by trade, and many of the earliest mills in this part of the county were built by him. He died June 21, 1852. Our sbject began the study of medicine at the age of twenty- three years, having first gained as good an education in the common branches as was possible in the early days of the settlement. He read first with Dr. Samuel Nixon, and afterward attended the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati, from which he graduated, and began the practice of his profession in the year 1830. He has now been in practice fifty-one years, and although not as actively engaged as he was a few years since, obeys all calls for his services. He lives in a house which he built before he was married, and has occupied no other during the long period that has elapsed since that dwelling place was new. He was a captain in the early day militia, and also the surgeon of a regiment. Politically, he is a Republican. He has voted for fifty-five years, and has never missed a single annual election. The following presidential candidates have received his ballot, viz : in 1828, Adams; in 1832, Clay ; in 1836, Harrison; in 1840, Harrison; in 1844, Clay; in 1848, Taylor; in 1852, Scott ; in 1856, Fremont; in 1860, Lincoln; in 1864, Lincoln ; in 1868, Grant; in 1872, Grant; in 1876, Hayes, and in 1880, Garfield. Dr. Sayler has been twice married. His first wife, Esther Lyning, of New Jersey, died August 14, 1834, after the birth of her second daughter. On March 31, 1836, he married his present wife, Catharine Bence. Six children have been the offspring of this union. Dr. Sayler's eldest son, by his first marriage, James Sayler, is a prominent politician of Ohio, having been four years in the assembly, and two in the senate. His oldest son, by his second marriage, William Sayler, studied medicine with his father, graduated from the Ohio Medical college in 1871, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of medicine in Preble county, with his home at Winchester. The youngest son, Winfield Scott Sayler, is also a graduate of the Ohio Medical college, the same institution from which his brother and his father graduated, the latter, more than half a century ago. He graduated in the spring of 1880, and is now located at Winchester.

Dr. Christian Sayler is possessed of a strong constitution; is still vigorous and sturdy, notwithstanding his years and with the exception of one winter, has always enjoyed excellent health. He is a man of remarkable mirthfulness, which quality he inherits from his father. Although his early educational facilities were very meagre, he has, by extensive reading, accumulated a large amount of valuable information, and has brought together, little by little, a large library. He has led a very industrious, active, upright life, and has long been one of the most influential and respected citizens of Preble county.