298 - History of Preble County, Ohio

SOMERS.

Somers township was one of the original townships of the county, and as established under the jurisdiction of Montgomery county, included the whole of what is now in Monroe, Washington, Gasper and the present township of Somers—in other words the whole of the second range. This township, consisting of four townships of the original survey, was named Somers, after Commodore Somers, of the United States navy. Of the elections held while Somers and the whole territory of Preble was included in Montgomery county, we have no record, but we are able to present the reader with the list of officers elected in 1808, at the first election held after the organization of Preble. It will be seen that most of them were from the vicinity of Eaton, which village was then in Somers. The list was as follows: Daniel Heaton, clerk; Isaac Enoch, John Mills and Abraham Heaton, trustees; John Spacht and James Black, constables; James Brannon, Dennis Pottenger, John Goldsmith and Henry Johnson, supervisors of the highways; William Bruce, treasurer; Moses Dooley and John Ward, overseers of the poor; Joseph C. Hawkins, lister; William Sellers, appraiser; George Harlan and Samuel Holliday, fence viewers.

Somers township was reduced in size May 7, 1809, when the county commissioners established Washington, but not to its present dimensions. Washington township extended south two miles farther than at present, and Somers was left with its northern boundary two miles north of the present line. We have no information in regard to early elections in Somers after the reduction in size by the creation of Washington. On June 5, 1815, Somers territory was diminished to its present extent by the enlargement of Washington, and a few years later the establishment of Gasper made the boundary a permanent one. As now constituted, Somers is township No. 6, in range eleven, and like all of the townships in the county, except Washington and Gasper, contains thirty-six square miles of territory, or twenty-three thousand and forty acres of land.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The township contains a variety of soil, and is well adapted to the production of nearly all classes of crops which can be raised in this latitude. This part of the county presented in its primeval state a very alluring appearance, and it is not strange that the Butler county settlers and the pioneers from the Miamis and from Kentucky should have penetrated the valley of Seven Mile so early as they did, nor that the country should become in a short time the home of so many of them. In nearly all parts of the country, history tells us, and observation shows us, that the pioneers, who were certainly a preeminently practical class of men, had some regard for picturesque and beautiful aspects, as well as richness of soil. We find as a rule that the first settlements were made in localities which had some charm for the eye, and which revealed the largest of nature in subtle beauty of form, as well as in elements of material advantage. Somers presents as varied attractions of scenery as any township in the county. Its surface is an agreeable medium between the flat monotony of the northern part of the county and the roughly broken lands which appear in Gratis township. The valley of Seven Mile, which at Eaton is a shallow basin, becomes in Somers a marked and striking feature in the topography of the country. Extending through the township from north to south it divides it into very nearly equal portions. At either side the table lands sweep away to the boundaries of the township, preserving a surface which approximates the level, though it is often slightly undulating, and there is a gradual rise, almost inappreciable to the eye, from the top of the hills bordering the valley to and beyond the township lines on the east and west. The surface is

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further diversified by Paint creek (which probably derived its name from the Indians), a stream which rises in Gasper township, and flowing southeast through the northwest quarter of Somers, empties into Seven Mile creek a half mile below Camden. A drive of less than a mile westward from this village, reveals upon Paint creek a very singular formation, known locally as the "Devil's Backbone." At this place, which is in the southwest quarter of section number nine, the stream makes a sharp curve, flowing around a long, high, narrow spear, projecting promontory like from the table land. From the roadway which winds down the hill from the neck of this peculiar ridge, the creek can be seen only a few rods distant, at either hand. It flows upon the north side close to the base of the "backbone," which it has evidently cut its way into considerably, and then turning at an acute angle around the spur, the greater part of the current flows away from the promontory and under the high bank upon the other side. Thus one side of the "Devil's Backbone" shows a precipitous rocky wall, washed by the stream, while the other is a steep incline. The greater part of the spur around which the stream flows is the blue limestone which abounds in this part of the county and shows frequent exposures. In early years the beautiful little bottom on the north side of the road was covered with a dense growth of maples, which made an impenetrable shade very gratifying to the picnic parties made up of youths and maidens now grandfathers and grandmothers. Among them this locality obtained the not very alluring name of "the shades of death." The maples are all cut away now, and one of the chief attractions of the place is gone, but the vicinity of the " Devil's Backbone" retains elements of picturesque lovliness, of which the hand of man cannot rob it, and will never cease to be a favorite resort for the admirers of nature and the student of science. Many glimpses of beauty are afforded in the little glen which leads away from the "backbone" to the westward, and the narrow gorge, with its perpendicular, and, sometimes, overhanging walls of rock, surmounted by towering trees, in the dense shade of which the dashing stream of Paint creek runs rippling away to join Seven Mile.

There are a number of small streams or "runs" which flow into Seven Mile, but most of them are dry during a large portion of the year, and serve simply as conduits for the water from the hills during seasons of heavy rainfall. Beasley's branch, so named from an early settler, and Rush run, are the principal of these minor water ways.

SETTLEMENT.

Somers township was settled in the opening years of the century, and filled up very fast when the beginning had been made. There were many among the pioneers who did not long remain in the township, and many others resided in it for years, but have no representatives there now. A third class, and quite a large one, is composed of settlers who lived long lives in the township, died there, and left large families, some members of which, in many cases, hold the original homesteads, the lands on which their fathers and grandfathers built their first log cabins. Of these several classes we give all of the important information attainable, and more as a matter of course, concerning the last mentioned than of the first or second.

The Hendricks family were settlers upon the site of Camden in 1803, but left in the spring of 1806 to locate at Eaton; and hence, but little need here be said of that distinguished pioneer, David E. Hendricks. (An elaborate biography of his life is given elsewhere in this volume). We may mention, however, in this connection, that he had located at Middletown in 1795, and his removal to the site of Camden, then an unbroken forest, was only a pushing forward into the wilderness, which was to be repeated three years later. When he sold his farm it was to a man by the name of Andrew Tharp, who, it is said, was influenced to purchase it by a remarkable dream, in which the appearance of the locality was so strongly and accurately pictured before him that on seeing the farm he immediately recognized it as that of which he had had a sleeping visron.

The Pottengers arrived in the township in 1803, and to-day the family has, in all probability, a larger representation in the locality than that of any other of the pioneers. John, Robert and Dennis Pottenger, brothers, came from Kentucky, to which State they had emigrated from Maryland. The first two located in section ten, and Dennis, in section two. John Pottenger's first wife was Jane Gilkey, and his second, Catharine Railsback, of Culpeper county, Virginia. The descendants of John Pottenger were ten in number, the first three born in Kentucky. Thomas, the eldest, married Eliza, daughter of Daniel Robbins, who was a settler in the neighborhood. William married Jane Ward, who is now living in Camden. John married Nancy Barrett. Dennis, the first born of the family in Ohio, was first married to a Hall, and afterwards to a Fort. All four of the above mentioned are deceased. Anna, the oldest daughter, married David Barnett. Nancy (deceased), married Joseph Nellinor. Cynthia married Alfred Bell, and is living in the township. James was twice married, his first wife being Martha Low, and his second, Isabella Eshelman. Reuben married Susan Findley, and Wilson, who is in Camden, Ellen Reed. John Pottenger, the father, died in 1838, at the age of seventy-four years.

Robert Pottenger married, in Kentucky, Fanny Gee. They reared a large family, viz.: Dennis, Samuel, Anna, Eunice, Harvey, Willett and Sanford—all removed to Indiana in 1825.

Dennis Pottenger married his first wife, Sarah Gray, in Kentucky, and after her death married Elizabeth Lowden, of Butler county. The children of Dennis Pottenger were William, Hetty Ann (Thralls), now in Florida, Dennis R., Louis and John. Hetty Ann and John are the only ones living, and the latter is in Kansas. Dennis R. married, in 1847, Susan, daughter of Bazael Brown, of Wilson county, Kentucky. He died in 1879, and his widow resides in Camden.

Thomas and James Newton were settlers in 1803, or the following year, on the farm where the widow of Thomas Murray now lives. They were from Pennsylvania.

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The Irwins, William and Abram, brothers, came in from Kentucky at an early day, the former settling where James Taylor afterward lived, in section two.

Matthew McClung, from Maryland, settled at an early day at what is now Barnett's station, and raised a large family. McClung engaged in milling. He built a frame house in 1814, where David Barnett's house now stands, which was a remarkably good one for the time, and the especial wonder and admiration of the neighborhood.

Elisha Carter, a man who was generally regarded as one of the most intellectual of the pioneers, came from Kentucky and located on the northwest quarter of section ten. Mary Wilson is the only one of the family remaining in the township.

James Ryan settled near "Fostertown," and the Bogues, three brothers, Quakers, located west of Camden during the early year of the settlement, but removed in 1829.

James More, who may be regarded as the founder of Camden, settled upon its site (section nine) about 1804 or 1805, and brought up a large family, none of whom, however, are now in the township. James More died in Camden in 1833.

In 1805 also came Isaac Sutton, another of the proprietors of Camden, and settled on the southwest quarter of section ten. In 1826 or 1827 he moved to Sugar creek, Montgomery county, Indiana, and with him went all of his family.

John Laman, Sr., was born in North Carolina, from which State he came on foot to Ohio, and in 1805 he settled in section thirty-four of Somers township. His wife, Elizabeth Jones, died in 1877. They have had nine children—Phineas (deceased), Lydia (deceased), Keziah, wife of John Brown, of Gratis; Rebecca; Henry married Miss Cook; Elizabeth, wife of James Hartley; John; Martha, wife of William Taylor; Joseph, married Susan Frazee; John Laman, jr., married Mary Macy, of Somers township—they have three children. Mr. Laman owns a farm of two hundred and eight acres near Somersville. Joseph Laman married Susan Frazee, by whom he has had four children, viz.: John Henry, George Alpheus, Made Elizabeth, and Sarah Ida. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land at the home place, and has bought an additional eighty acres, making two hundred and forty in all.

John Wright was born in Ireland in 1788, and emigrated to this country at an early day, and came from South Carolina to Preble county about 1806, and settled in section thirty-one of Somers township, where he died in 1854. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a Covenanter. He did not vote for many years because of conscientious scruples. His wife, Margaret Cook, was born in Virginia, and came to Ohio in a very early day. They had five children, four sons and one daughter. Three are yet living, viz.: John, William, and Eliza (Jeffers). John married, in 1850, Martha Johnson, and has had eight children. He resides in. Israel township and has been several times elected trustee of this township. William married Mary E. Ramsey, daughter of John and Isaac Ramsey, and has a family of five children. His farm of one hundred and eighty-one acres is

one of the best in the county, and has been in possession of the family for seventy-five years.

James Wright, deceased, left one child, who lives with the family of William Wright.

Robert Runyon and his wife, Elizabeth (Barnes), came to the township in 1806, and two years later removed to the Robert Harris farm, near Sugar valley.

Thomas Murray, was born in Cornwall parish, county of Donegal, Ireland, in 1779. In 1806 he emigrated to Philadelphia. The same year he came to Preble county, Ohio, and settled in section twenty-eight, Somers township. His wife, Martha Lewellen, was born 1788. Her parents, John and Catharine, emigrated from Kentucky in 1806 and settled in this township, where they resided twenty-seven years. They then moved to Dixon township. Thomas Murray died in Somers in 1859. He had ten children, five now living: John resides in Somers, Thomas in Butler county, Ohio; Phillip at Morning Sun, Israel township; William in Somers, and Sarah A., wife of Daniel Peters, in Camden.

John Lewellen and his wife, Kate DeVall, originally from Virginia, came to Somers township in 1809 from Kentucky, and settled on Paint creek on the farm now owned by Mrs. Julia Burson. They reared a family of ten children, of whom three are living, and Mrs. Murray, is the only one in Preble county. 

Phillip Lewellen removed to this township from Kentucky about the year aro. He was born in Bullet county, Kentucky, in 1795, and died in Dixon township, this county, in 1877. His wife (Anna Runyon) was born in 1793 and died in 1874. They had a family of thirteen children, the following of whom are at this writing living: Julia (widow of Jonathan Burson), Martha (wife of Stephen McWhinney), Bafford, John, Sarah (wife of James Skinner), Dennis, Jane (wife of Daniel Ockerman), James Harvey, Isaac and Jehu. Nancy, Wilson and Catharine are deceased. Wilson died In the service during the late civil war. James H. was born in 1830, and married Frances M. Gavin, who was born two years subsequently.

About the same time that Lewellen came into the county, Richard Newport made his settlement. Elisha Hancock came a little later, and after a few years removed to Richmond, Indiana, where his widow still resides.

At later dates than those we have mentioned came many other settlers, among them George Hornaday and Allen Harbard, Quakers, who located on Paint creek; Thomas Lincholn, who settled near Camden and soon afterwards moyed away; John Ledwell, also a resident of the immediate vicinity of Camden, and a son-in-law of More; John Vandever and his brother, Noah, and the Davises, Giles and George, who were from North Carolina. They both located on section twelve, and each raised a large family. David Davis, son of Giles, was a very hard working, industrious man and became a large landholder in the northeast part of the township. 

John K. Steele, a native of South Carolina, settled in Somers township in 1800, and died in 1831. He served six months in the War of 1812. His wife, Margaret

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Wilson, was born in Ireland and died about 1856. Eight children were born to them, three of whom are deceased. Mary, Margaret, James, Samuel and John are living. The home farm, located in section seventeen, is in charge of John and Samuel, who have it in a good state of cul- tivation and well improved.

Richard Stephen and his wife Letty (Bailey) arrived in the township some time during the War of 1812, and the husband was drafted and obliged to leave his wife and children unprotected in their cabin home in the woods. They located southwest from the site of Camden, and one mile from the township line. The Ste- phens were from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and were married there. They had two children when they came to Somers, viz: Rebecca (Hays) now in Dublin, Indiana, and Mary (Peters) a resident of the township. There were born after their settlement five children, four of whom are living, viz: Levi, in Iowa; Isaiah, in Illinois; John R. in Eaton, and B. B. on the old homestead in Somers; Morton is deceased. John R. Stephens is clerk of Washington township and justice of the peace, and has been county auditor and treasurer. Richard Stephens, the pioneer, died at his home in 1841.

William S. Douglas traces his ancestry to Scotland, whence his great-grandfather emigrated many years ago. His father, Joseph Douglas, was born in Pennsylvania, and in 1814, when fifteen years of age, emigrated to Ohio. He was very decided in his political views, and would only use "free labor" goods. His wife, Mary Steele, was the daughter of William Steele, of Kentucky. Of the six children of Joseph and Mary Douglas, four are living. William S. is unmarried and lives on the home farm in Somers township. He has been a member of the board of education for six years, has been road commissioner, etc.

James H. Douglas, the fifth child of William and Eliza Douglas, of Israel township, was born in 1843, and married Mary J. Dewitt, daughter of William Dewitt, of Butler county. They have had two children George Elmer and James Roland Harvey. Mr. Douglas has a fine farm in Somers township, where he resides.

Samuel Fowler and his wife Rachel (Inman) came from New Jersey in 1815, and located on section twenty-four, where they lived all of their lives. Samuel Fowler was born in 1786, and died in 1843, his wife surviving him a number of years. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity. Benjamin I. was five years of age when brought to Ohio, and is still living, and has been since 1862 a resident of Camden; Samuel and Catharine are deceased; Rachel (Hollowell) resides in Indiana; Sarah (Ivin) is deceased; Vashti (Huffman) in Butler county; Matilda (Shaeffer) in the same locality, and Franklin, deceased. Benjamin I. Fowler married for his first wife Jane Tietsort, by whom he has had four sons, all now living, viz: George W., John T., Francis Marion and James M. His second wife was Catharine Hanger. There was one son by this marriage-Scott E. to Preble county at a very early day—about 18̊8. He married Miss Susan Loop, by whom he had four children, Mrs. Fowler being the second child. For his second wife he married Mary Swakenguest, who survives him; she is the mother of five children. Mr. Hanger died on his farm about 1860.

Charles Beall was one of the pioneers of Somers, having come into the township with his parents, Thomas and Fanny Beall, in 1816. They emigrated from Maryland. There were four children, all now deceased. Charles Beall was born in 1794. His wife was Sarah Orme, who was born in 1796, and died in 1864, in Israel township, at the residence of her son, Francis. They had five sons and four daughters. Five are living as follows: Ezra, in Somers; Frances A., in Israel; William C., in Gasper; Mary Ann, widow of William Brown, in Lewisburgh, Harrison township; and Rev. Alfred Beall, minister of the Methodist Episcopal church at Springborough, Ohio.

Mrs. Cynthiana Beall, daughter of John Pottenger, married Alfred Beall. He came from Maryland with his uncle, Thomas Beall, in or about the year 1825. Their children are : Ellen (deceased), William, Susan, wife of Finley Hoffman; Anna, wife of Charlie Kelly; Reuben, who married Miss Llewelyn; and James, not married.

William Bennett, grandfather of John H. and David Bennett, was one of the early settlers of this township. He was born in Virginia about 1766, and came to Ohio from Kentucky. He died in Somers township in the year 1835. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. John Bennett, son of William, came to Somers in '818, and located on section twelve, where he lived all of his life. He was born in 1786, and died in 1866. His wife was Elizabeth Hopper, the daughter of Kentucky pioneers. She passed away in 1871, at the ripe age of eighty-eight years. The following are the names of their descend- ants of the first generation: James Madison, Julia Ann (Frum), Alfred and William, all deceased; John H., a resident of Camden for the past three years; Jane (Loop), in Gratis township; Nancy (Loop), deceased; Sarah (Randolph), in Gratis township; Nimrod, deceased ; and David.

David Bennett is the youngest child of John Bennett. He was born in Somers township, in 1825. He married Martha J. Woods, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1831. She is the daughter of William L. and Mary McKee Woods, who lived in Preble county. To Mr. and Mrs. David Bennett have been born two children: William L. married Amanda E. Raikes, and Oscar M. lives at home. Mr. Bennett owns ninety acres of land in section fourteen, where he resides.

George Hanger, father of Mrs. Benjamin Fowler, came

John Reeve, Sr., was a native of Gloucester county, New Jersey, and in 1816 came to Ohio, stopping for about two years in Warren county, and afterwards remov ing to Somers township, where he died about 1870. His wife was Susan Van Skiver.

John Reeve, jr., is the seventh of twelve children. He married Margaret Brown, the daughter of Robert H. Brown. Her folks came to Preble county about fifty years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Reeve have been born two

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children: Lurton F. and Porter B. Mr. Reeve's farm consists of one hundred and fourteen acres, located on the Camden and Fair Haven pike.

Michael Dillman was born in Virginia in 1784, and settled in Somers township, east of Camden, in 1819. He died in 1834. His wife was Susannah Hypes. They had six children, all of whom are dead except Joseph and John. John lives in Illinois; Joseph married Julia Ann Craiger. To them have been born eleven children, nine of whom are living, viz: Adaline, wife of W. B. Brown; Henry marrred Mary Moon; David F. married Miss Borradaile; L. Milton, the lawyer, married Anna Carson, and lives in Illinois; James M. married Anna Brown; William married Mary Borradaile; Laura, Emma, and Elizabeth are unmarried; Mary E. is dead; and Lerton is a practicing physician in Brookville, Indiana. Mr. Dillman owns a well improved farm of two hundred and forty acres. In earlier life he was an extensive stock dealer, but is now leading a more retired life, and the farming is conducted by his children.

John and Mary Mills, from York county, Pennsylvania, settled in 1818, upon the southeast quarter of section nineteen. John Mills was one of the early justices of the peace, and quite a prominent man. He died in 1835, at the age of seventy-three.

Peter Sheafer, son-in-law of Mills, came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1819, and settled in the same' part of the township. He was a miller by trade, and operated various mills. Among them the Bruce mill at Eaton, Gasper Potterf's in Gasper, Jones' mill in Somers, the McClurg mill north of Camden, and one built by himself on the creek, south of Camden. He was in Illinois from 1838 to 1847. He died in 1861, at the age of sixty-six. J. M. Sheafer, esq., of Camden, is a son- in-law of Peter Mills.

Zechariah Thornberry and his wife, Susan (Jones), located near the site of Barnett's mill in 1820. He died in 1830, and his wife in 1832. Among their children was the first wife of Judge Haines, of Eaton (Nancy Thornberry); Maria, wife of John Brennan, of Camden, and Mary (Bennett).

James Taylor came to Somers about the same time as the above, and located on section two.

Frederick Shaffer was born in Pennsylvania in 1787. In 1827 he emigrated to Somers township. His wife was Elizabeth Copp. Mr. Shaffer was one of the five thousand who volunteered to save Baltimore in the War of 1812. He served till the end of the war, and is now a pensioner of that war. He has had ten children, six of whom are now living.

David Kennedy was born in New Jersey in 1774, and in 1796 came to Cincinnati. He owned the first ferry crossing at Cincinnati when he was accidentally drowned while in the discharge of his duties. His wife, Martha Harden, was born in 1786, and died in Hamilton county in 1865. David Kennedy died in the same county in about ten years prior to the death of his wife.

Benjamin P. Kennedy, the only surviving child, was married first to Anna Baxter, and after her death, he married Sarah Frazee. Mr. Kennedy is the father of six children, all of whom are living, save one: Jane is the wife of John Pottenger; Andrew J. married Sarah Frazee, daughter of Squire Frazee; Eliza is the wife of James White ; Wilson married Anna Frazee; Martha is the fifth child, and Benjamin is dead. B. P. Kennedy has spent his whole life on the farm. He owns a good farm in Somers township, where he resides.

There are more than one hundred descendants of David Kennedy living.

Wilson Kennedy, the fourth child of Benjamin P. Kennedy, was born in 1840. He married Anna Frazee, by whom he has had four children, all of whom are living: Harry, Mazy, Edith and an infant. Mr. Kennedy owns one hundred and fifteen acres of land in Somers township.

John H. Ross located in Somers in 1819, and still resides upon the farm which he originally settled. He was the son of Daniel and Phoebe (Hogalin) Ross, who were early settlers in Butler county, and from New Jersey. Mr. Ross was born May 20, 1797, and two years after coming to the township, January 4, 1821, married in Cincinnati Jane Orsborne, who was born July 1, 1800. She lived until 1872, and was the mother of ten children, viz: Elizabeth, deceased ; Charles, Sarah (Raikes), Phebe (Pierson), Mary Ann (Marsh), deceased; Elizabeth Jane and Joseph, also deceased; Cyrus, who lives on the farm with his father; John Wesley in Idaho, and Cornelius Denny, who was in the army and died from disease contracted there.

David S. Marshall's .ancestors came from Ireland. His father was born there in 1810. About 1820 he came to Preble county and settled in Israel township. His wife, Margery M. Sample, was born in Somers township in 1815. To them were born eight children, six of whom are living, viz: John, David, Mary A., Sarah M., Elizabeth and Rebecca Ellen (known as Ellen). David S. Marshall married Eliza E. Johnston in 1867. They have six children: Viva, Bertie, Eddie, Lida, Charles and Maggie. Mr. Marshall is a large, farmer, and owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in Somers township.

Azel Pierce and his wife Lois Ladd came to Somers in 1820. Pierce died five years later, at the early age of thirty-two, having been born in 1793. His wife survived him many years, and was twice married, the first time to Charles Ross, and then to James Creeson. Pierce was one of the few Adams men in the county, and probably the only one in Somers. He left five children: Azel, deceased in 1847; Charles, in Sacramento, California; Mary Jane (Glasgow) deceased; Marinda (Otis) deceased, and Francis Augustus, a well known citizen of the township.

Augustus Pierce was born shortly after his father's death. He was raised in Preble county. In 1848 he married Nancy Barnett, daughter of David Barnett. She was born in Somers township in 1827. For five years after their marriage they lived in Camden, and prior to 1874, they resided in Gasper township. They moved to their present residence near Camden in 1874. Their seven children are all living, and five are at home.

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James Barnett and his wife Anna (Enoch) came from Pennsylvania to Butler county in 1803; moved to Jefferson township in 1819, and to the spot where Brubaker's mill now is, adjoining Camden, in 1823. James Barnett was born in Pennsylvania in 1771, and died in 1846. He was a miller, a weaver, a distiller and a fine mechanic. During the War of 1812 he was flour inspector. He was the father of eight children, the first three of whom were born in Pennsylvania, and the oth- ers, except the youngest, in Butler county. Ezekiel Barnett, now deceased, had married, before he came to Somers, Eleanor Auspach, of Butler county. They had three children: Louis, now in Camden; Alexander, deceased, and James in Butler county. David Barnett married Anna, daughter of John Pottenger, who is still liv ing with her husband at Barnett's station. They have had eleven children : Louisa (Corson) and Nancy (Pierce), both in Somers; Jane (Orebaugh), deceased; John, deceased; Hannah (Payne) in Somers; Willis, deceased; Catharine, wife of W. C. Barnett, in Butler county; Anna (Edmunds) at Lima, Ohio; Elizabeth, deceased; Eleanor (Potter) and James in Somers. David Barnett was born May 11, 1801. He has been prominently identified with the interests. of Somers township, having been trustee for twenty-three years. He has also been a county commissioner; and in the session of 1844- 1845, was a member of the legislature. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1850-'51, and of the State board of equalization in 1870-'71. He was influential in securing the construction of the Eaton and Hamilton railroad, and was for nine years president of the company. Nancy Barnett, sister of David, married John Pottenger, and lives at Eaton. James married Martha Creeson, reared a large family and, in 1875, removed to Harrison township. John married Jane Creeson and now resides in Indiana. Anna, Abner and William are deceased.

Jonathan and Jane Hewitt, natives of Ireland, came to America in 1814,. to Butler county the same year, and to this township in 1827, locating on the John Murray farm, one mile northwest of Camden, where they lived the balance of their lives. Mr. Hewitt died in. 1842, and his wife, ten years later. They had nine children, of whom the eldest, Hamilton, now living in Iowa, was born in Ireland, and the second, Margaret Ann (Hamilton), also in Iowa, upon the ocean. The other descendants are, John, in Iowa, Robert in Indiana, Thomas, in Camden, Irvin and Susan (Skinner), in Iowa, James, in Nebraska, and Mary Jane, in Illinois. Thomas Hewitt married for his first wife Ann Hazelton, and his present wife was Mrs. Hannah Aukey, nee Devall. It is a remarkable fact that in this family of nine children, the oldest over seventy years of age, there has never occurred a single death. The six brothers have all been seen together in the harvest field at the old homestead— a half dozen as sturdy and strong men as the county could furnish.

Louis Loop was born in Augusta county, Virginia, from which State he emigrated to Ohio, and in 1823 settled in section thirteen, Somers township. His wife was Nancy Wilson. He died in this township about 1850. They had seven children, as follows: Lavina C., Susannah, Wilson, Eliza, Julia, Robert and Anderson. Anderson Loop married Anna Lehman, and has always lived on his farm. During the war of the Rebellion he served in the Seventy-fifth and One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio. He has two children.

Daniel Lamm, born in North Carolina in 1808, moved to Ohio in 1831 and settled in Somers township. His wife, Keziah Elliott, born in 1807, is now living. He has been dead since 1836. They have had three children—Bethena, who married Ellis C. Smith, Benjamin and Daniel. Benjamin Lamm married, first time, Mary, daughter of Samuel Stowe. They had three children— Wilber A., Elmer N. and Charles S. His second wife was Julia A. Loop, daughter of Lewis Loop. Mr. Lamm is a carpenter and farmer. He is the owner of fifty-nine acres of land.

Daniel M. Westfall was born in Preble county in 1837. He was the son of Eli Westfall, a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio more than sixty years ago. Daniel married Martha Posey, daughter of George Posey, of Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Westfall was born one child-Mary S., now fourteen years of age. Mr. Westfall served three years and five months as a private in the Thirty-first Indiana regiment, company E. He received several wounds in the face, which nearly destroyed his eyesight. He was wounded at. Kenesaw Mountain.

Adam Rahn settled in Stark county, Ohio, about 1829. His father was Philip Rahn, a first lieutenant in the army of General Washington. Mr. Rahn was a member of the celebrated Rahn family of Pennsylvania. Adam Rahn married Hannah Keplinger, of Baltimore county, Maryland. Nine children were born to them, all of whom are living. Their son, Samuel K. Rahn, left Canton, Stark county, at the time of the death of his father, which event took place in 1858. He went to Dayton, where he engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements. He afterwards engaged in the dry goods and grocery business. He now owns one hundred and eighty- two acres of land in section twenty-five. He has made large improvements, having put out sixteen hundred acres of tiling, and a large orchard. He deals only in the best stock. S. K. Rahn married Hattie Garlaugh, daughter of David E. Garlaugh, of Dayton. To Mr. and Mrs. Rahn have been born two sons—Charles, attending school at Springfield, and Lewis, who is at home.

William Owens was born in Pennsylvania about 1790, and died in Iowa in 1863. He married Macy Pollock, of Pennsylvania, who died in 1841. They had eleven children. Their son, John B. Owens, was born in 1828 and came to Israel township in 1838. He was married to Nancy Swan. They have one child-Nancy E. Mr. Owens owns a farm of eighty-three acres in section sev enteen of Somers township, where he now resides.

William Swan, sr., was born in Pennsylvania about 1790. He emigrated from that State to Ohio, and settled in section twenty-nine of Somers township, in 1839, where he died in 1845. His wife, Elizabeth Carr, of Pennsylvania, died in 1862. They had four children,

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viz.: William, Robert, who married Mary Ann Parsons, a descendant of Sheriff Parsons, of Massachusetts, who held office under George III; Mary E., wife of John B. Owens, and Maggie E., who married John Marshall, and died in 1879. William married Christina Krama in 1863. The fruits of this union are two children, William and Mary E. He is a prominent church member, and has held important offices in church. He has a fine farm of two hundred acres. Is engaged in fruit raising also.

Samuel Young was born in 1790, in Pennsylvania. From this State he moved to Ohio, and in 1801 settled in Cincinnati. In 1812 he moved to Butler county, where he died in 1875. By his first wife, Miss Baker, he had two children—Josiah, who married Rebecca Greenwood, and Hannah, wife of James Irving. By his second wife, Rohama McCain, he had eight children— James D., Sarah Ann, Maria, Malinda, Julia, Alexander, Samuel Edgar, and Dorcas. James D. Young married Elizabeth E. Armstrong, and has a family of eight children. He owns a stock and grain farm of two hundred and eighty acres, one of the finest in the county.

James B. Duffield's paternal ancestors were from Ireland, and his maternal relatives came from Germany at an early day. His father emigrated from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, to Butler county, Ohio, about 1830. His wife, Elizabeth Bell, the mother of James B. Duffield, was a native Pennsylvanian. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living. James B., the third child, became a resident of Somers township in 1845. He married Jane McLary, daughter of Samuel McLary, of Butler county. Their children are: Mary E., deceased; John, the husband of Ada Stafford; Eliza Jane, wife of Nathaniel Shellenberger; George, husband of Nettie Stubbs; and Sallie, living at home. Mr. Duffield is one of the most enterprising and successful farmers of the county. His farm consists of more than five hundred acres of well improved land. He is a large stock dealer and breeder of fine stock. He does business on a large scale, and is known all over the county as a leading stock man.

William Stubbs was born in Georgia in 1803, and in 1805 came to Preble county with his parents and settled in section thirty-six of Somers township. His wife, Delilah Perham, lives in West Elkton. They had six children, four of whom are living. Their second son, Elihu, who lives on the home place, was born in 1833, and married Susan Gifford. Their three children are: William, Jesse, and Mary. Mr. Stubbs' farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres of land in the southeastern corner of Somers township.

Christian Eby, sr., who was born in York county, Pennsylvania, removed to Ohio and settled in Montgomery county in 1838. He died in Lanier township, near Enterprise, in 1859. He married Susannah McDonald, who was raised in Pennsylvania. His children were Elizabeth, John, Jane, Samuel, Susannah, Christian, Agnes, Catharine, Adam, Wilson, James, Sarah L., and Jacob. Samuel, Agnes, and Susannah are deceased.

Christian Eby, one of the thriftiest farmers of this township, first started for himself in Montgomery county. He had little in the way of cash to begin with, but by industry and frugality afterward accumulated a fine property. He returned from Montgomery county to Hempstead, Maryland, where he married Diana Murray. He has six children living and two deceased. His residence is one of the finest in southwestern Ohio.

John C. Eby, son of Christian Eby, was born in Montgomery county m 1845, and in 1855 came to Preble county with his parents, and stopped in Gratis township until his marriage, which occurred in 1873. He married Mattie A. Silver, who was born in 1853. She is the granddaughter of Major Robertson, who was an early settler of Twin township. Five of their six children are living. Mr. Eby lives a short distance west of his father, and owns a farm of two hundred and thirty-eight acres.

Franklin F. Raikes was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Somers township in 1844. His father died about 1823. His mother's maiden name was Frances Stiner. He is the last of four children. His brother, Wesley, was killed in the battle of Gettysburgh. The wife of Franklin Raikea is the daughter of William Darby, of Washington city, the publisher of Darby Geographical dictionary. He was also surveyor of Louisiana, was a captain in General Jackson's army at New Orleans, and was at one time connected with the treasury department at Washington. Mrs. Raikes is his only child. To Mr. and Mrs. Raikes have been born seven children, only two of whom are living. Mr. Raikes came to Ohio. in 1844, and actively engaged in politics in behalf of Henry Clay. He is a strong advocate of the common school system, and is constantly identified with the interests of schools. He served eighteen months in the army of the Potomac, as lieutenant of company G, Seventy-fifth regiment, and served for two and a half years in the Ohio cavalry. He is a saddler by trade.

Jacob Sterzenbach was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1829. His father was a native of Bavaria, Germany. Jacob Sterzenbach came to Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1831. From there, in 1848, he came to Ohio, and settled in Somers township. His wife was D. Rexy Houk, born in 1828. They have four children—Caroline, Samuel, Margaret, and Renie. Mr. Sterzenbach has been township trustee for eight years, and owns one hundred and ten acres of land.

William Douglass was born in Scotland about the year 1771. In 1805 he settled in Milford township, Butler county. He came to this State from Pennsylvania. His wife was Eliza Coulter. He had nine children— Thomas C., Margaret A., William A., James H., Robert A., Isabella, John C., Benjamin B., and Samuel J. Mr. Douglass died in 1869. James H. Douglass was born in 1843. He married Martha J. Dewitt, daughter of Willis Dewitt, of Butler county, and has two children. at

Ferdinand Grupe was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1814. He moved to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1851, and settled in Somers township. His wife was Elizabeth Spice.

Louis E. Grupe was born in 1843. In 1864 he married Margaret Barnet, who was born in 1844, in Somers township. Mr. Grupe was in the war of the Rebellion

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for two years. He was discharged after the battle of Stone River, Nashville, Tennessee. He served as private in the Twentieth Ohio volunteer infantry, as sergeant in the Thirty-sixth Indiana volunteer infantry, and as commissary in the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio national guard. He was engaged in the battles of Perryville, and Wild Cat Mountain, Cumberland, Maryland. Mr. Grupe now runs a flour and grist-mill in Baltimore, Harrison township.

Dayid Semple was born in Pennsylvania in 1815. His father was born in Ireland in 1785. David Semple mar- ried Sarah Sterrett. They have had eleven children, four of whom are now living.

Lewis Parker was born in New Jersey in 1802. From New Jersey he emigrated to Ohio, and, about 1833, he settled in Butler county, where he is now living. He owns a farm of three hundred acres. His wife was Mary Smith (now deceased). The result of this union was nine children, as follows: Asher; Sarah, who married John Van Skiver; Lucy, who married John Mings; Wil- liam, deceased; Thomas, John, Richard, Charley, and Lewis. Thomas married Maggie McGruen. They have had four children—Alonzo, Mary, Richard, and William. Charles married Charlotte Kimball. Their children are- Annie, Laura (deceased), Cora, William, Jessie, Richard, and Minnie. Mr. Parker owns a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-eight acres, which is in a high state of cultivation. Richard Parker, born in 1842, bought his present place in 1876, and built his residence in 1879. He is a farmer and dealer in live stock. His farm comprises about one hundred and sixty acres.

James White's father was born in Butler county about the year 1804, and died in that county in 1838, when about to remove to Illinois. His wife was Sarah Frazee, by whom he had two children: Lydia, the wife of David Kennedy, and James. The latter was married to Eliza Kennedy, daughter of Benjamin Kennedy. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been born six children: Nellie, Ada, Charles, John, Sadie and Mattie. Mr. White owns one hundred and seventy-four acres just southwest of Cam- den, and on this farm he has his residence.

Moses Whitson was born in Pennsylvania in 1790. He emigrated from that State to Ohio in 1847, and settled in Camden. His wife was widow Frances Raikes. They have three children living: C. S., M. T. and L. W. One died when four years old.

L. W. Whitson married Rachel Swain. Two children were born to them, one of whom is now living.

M. T. Whitson, born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1836, married Eliza J. Loop, daughter of Lewis Loop, of Somers township. Two children.are the result of this marriage.

Thomas Lloyd was born in Pennsylvania in 1814, and emigrated to Ohio in 1851, and settled in Camden. By his wife, Margaret Clarke, he had six children, five of whom are living.

Thomas C. Lloyd married Flora Korner, by whom he has had one child. Mr. Lloyd is a carpenter, builder and contractor.

CHURCHES IN SOMERS TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE OF

CAMDEN.

The Christian church was the pioneer among religious organizations in Somers township, as well as elsewhere in the county. Bank Spring church was organized in the northern part of the township, very soon after the settlement was made, and about 1830 a small house of worship was built on Seven Mile creek, near the locality now known as Barnett's station. During the early years of its existence this was a strong and flourishing organization, and embraced in its membership nearly all of the pioneer families in the neighborhood. This was during the days of Purviance, Dooley Burton W. Stone, Willinn Kincaid and other strong, energetic and self-sacrificing apostles of religion. The church suffered a decline when these men passed away, and was weakened by the preaching of the doctrines of Alexander Campbell, but it remained in organic being until about 1840. The church building passed into the hands of William Bennett, and when he died, his family gave it to the Universalists, from whom it went into the hands of Richard Pottenger about 1868.

MACEDONIA CHAPEL (METHODIST EPISCOPAL)

is located in the eastern part of the township. An organization was affected here at an early day, but up to 1825 or 1826 no regular meetings were held, and there was preaching only occasionally held, generally by local preachers, and at rare intervals by the preacher of Green ville circuit, and later by those appointed to the Eaton circuit. Charles and John DeMoss and Garritt V. Hop- kins were among the active, early supporters of Methodism in the neighborhood of Macedonia. About 1830 the Macedonia society bought a small church building of the Baptists in Gratis township, and moved to the spot which their chapel now occupies. This was replaced in 1868 by the present structure.

LOW'S CHAPEL (UNITED BRETHREN).

William Low, one of the principal followers of the United Brethren faith during his life, may be regarded as the founder of the church which bears his name. Low had preaching in his house about 1840, and his barn was sometimes used for religious gatherings in the summer time. Still later a frame house, which stood upon his farm, was moved to the roadside, and preaching was held in that for a number of years. In 1862 Mr. Low donated a lot, consisting of one acre of land, from-the front of his farm, and upon the lot was erected the house of worship known as Low's chapel, and largely attended by people of the United Brethren church and others in the western part of Somers township. The chapel cost about one thousand two hundred dollars, and is a very pleasant and comfortable house of worship. Rev. P. H. Davis was pastor for the church at the time the house was erected, and the building committe, or trustees, were: Joseph Dillman, John Van Scarver, and Lewis Parker. The present officers are as follows: John Q. Pottenger, John- Dodge, and John Reeve, trustees; John Reeve, class leader ; John Dodge, class steward. Preaching is afforded every two weeks, the pulpit being supplied by the

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Rev. A. K. Albright. The chu,rch membership is thirty-nine.

There are three churches in Camden, the Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, and Universalist. The first and second are old churches, and unfortunately we are unable to give any extended history of either of them, an extended and thorough search for facts revealing very little beside the discovery that the records of both have not been kept.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

was organized early in the existence of Camden, and the first church edifice stood upon the hill just west of town, surrounded by a burying-ground, which was deeded to the trustees at the same time the ground for the church was—about 1830. This church edifice was used at its original location until 1836, and then moved to the site of the present church. Father Zimmerman was one of the most active of the early members, and did much to advance the interests of the church. The present Methodist Episcopal church of Camden was commenced in 1849, and finished in 1850. It is of wood, and was built at a cost of about one thousand two hundred dollars, though half as much more has been expended in making improvements during recent years. A parsonage was built in 1872 at a cost of about one thousand five hundred dollars. The present pastor of the church is the Rev. G. W. Weaver, and the following are the officers: John R. McGriff and G. W. Schultz, stewards; John R. McGriff, G. W. Schultz, J. C. Walls, James Richards, class leaders; G. W. Schultz, J. A. Huffman, J. C. Walls, Peter Foutz, William Orebaugh, trustees; J. A. Huffman, treasurer and clerk.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

like the Methodist Episcopal, is an old organization. It is in a flourishing condition; has about eighty members, and has recently put up a very handsome and amply commodious church building upon North Main street, the cost being a trifle over four thousand five hundred dollars. The church was organized about the time the Methodist Episcopal church came into existence, and some time prior to 1830 a house was erected which, for the time, was a very fine one. It is still standing on South Main street, and is known as the town hall or Fowlees hall The church has now no regular pastor but a stated supply. The following are the officers: Robert Homsher, James Wilson, William Corson, John B. Owens, William Swan and William L. Woods, elders; J. S. Ferguson, Thomas Hewitt, deacorls; Howard Young, John M. Sheafer, Benjamin Fowler, trustees.

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

Rev. T. S. Guthrie, of Eaton, Ohio, commenced preaching occasional sermons in the old "Bank Spring church," about two miles north of Camden, during the summer of 1867. The services were largely attended by the citizens of Camden and vicinity, a portion of whom had never heard a Universalist preacher, and went through curiosity. The interest grew, however, and in a few months there was a feeling manifested to secure a house in town to hold services in and have preaching regularly. Payne's hall was secured and Rev. T. S. Guth- rie was engaged to preach regularly, commencing on the twelfth day of April, 1868. An excellent choir was organized under the supervision of Professor James A. Mitchell, with Mrs. Mary E. Whiteside, as organist.

On the tenth day of October, 0868, a meeting was held at the residence of Mrs. Olivia Carrol, for the pur- pose of effecting a church organization. The following named persons united in church relations upon professions of faith, and organized a church under the name of "The First Universalist church of Camden, Ohio," viz.: D. R. Pottenger, Olivia Carroll, Maria Yost, Martha Barnett, James Barnett, Ira K. Place, Ellen M. Pottenger, Olivia Pottenger, and Susan Pottenger.

A constitution was adopted for their government as a church organization, acknowledging its allegiance to the Universalist church of the United States, and recognizing the ecclesiastical authority of the general convention, and the jurisdiction of the Ohio convention.

After the permanent organization was effected, there was quite a number of accessions to the church, and it was deemed advisable to procure a lot and erect a church. The trustees procured a lot on the northeast corner of Lafayette and Main Cross streets, a beautiful location, being in the central part of the town. A building committee was appointed with James Barnett as chairman. Subscription books were put in circulation for the purpose of raising a fund sufficient to build a church edifice, which were responded to liberally by the members and friends of the church. The building was commenced early in the spring of 1869, and completed about the first of December of the same year. The church is a substantial brick building, thirty-eight by fifty- eight feet, and was erected and furnished at a cost of about five thousand dollars. The church was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on the fifth day of January, 1869.

The Sunday-school was organized, with A. B. King as superintendent, on the second day of January, 1870.

Rev. T. S. Guthrie supplied the pulpit regularly up to October 9, 1870, when Rev. R. T. Polk, of Oxford, Ohio, assumed the duties of regular pastor.

Rev. W. J. Crosley and wife were engaged to supply the pulpit for one year, to preach alternately, commencing in April, 1876. After the expiration of their engagement, the pulpit was supplied by J. W. Tucker, D.D., of this place, until April 28, 1878. J. S. Cantwell, D.D., (editor of The Star in the West, of Cincinnati, Ohio), assumed the duties of pastor.

Peace and harmony have prevailed throughout the entire organization of the church.

THE VILLAGE OF CAMDEN

is situated about two miles from the north line of the township and railway between the eastern and western boundaries, upon the western side of Seven Mile. It is tastefully laid out and presents a neat and attractive appearance. The streets are broad, cleanly and well shaded, and the residences which flank them are generally thrifty, comfortable, home-like looking places. Few

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villages present so little of the unsightly as Camden. It is a community in which good order prevails, and in which the better class of morals form the dominant power. As the center of trade for a large, highly improved section of country in which the farmers are nearly all well- to-do, Camden has a larger share of retail business than generally falls to the lot of villages similar in size. Although it has seen better days, there are many material evidences of prosperity in the Camden of today, and it is a prosperity which flows from the best possible sources-that is the measured success of the many rather than the large gains of a few individuals, companies or corporations. The village is not dependent upon any one, or two, or three manufacturing enterprises, and therefore cannot be bereft of its prosperity by any sudden disaster. It felt, several years ago, the benefit that accrued from heavy mechanical industries and found out how swiftly' financial ruin could sweep away and destroy their usefulness. At present it has the steady, safe, certain sustentation which arises from the patronage of a rich farming country, and as no combination of circumstances can divert this trade which is the chief support of the village, it can make no backward step, but on the contrary, must slowly gain in good condition.

The traveller who views Camden from the window of the railway car, sees only such an aspect of the village as is presented by hundreds of others in Ohio and Indiana, but one who alights from the train, and tarries for a time in the little capital of Somers township, cannot fail to be impressed with its decidedly superior attractions. Camden presents, however, the most attractive appearance to one who approaches it from the east or west by the turnpike. Looking down upon the little cluster of houses, and churches, and stores from the hill top, one may very naturally imagine one's self nearing the ideal village, and fancy that under the shade of the maples and locusts that shade the streets and half conceal the houses, the current of the river of life must flow onward very smoothly and quietly.

The location of Camden was wisely made. It occupies one of those spots which seem intended by nature for the abiding place of .man, and which, in addition to all of the elements of practical and material advantage, has the crowning one of beauty. This lvllage of the valley is a gem in appropriate setting.

Camden was laid out in the year 1818, the town plat being acknowledged before 'Squire Isaac Stephens on July 4th, of that year, under the name of Dover. William Moore, one of the early pioneers of Somers township, may be regarded as the founder of the town. He laid out the greater part of the plat, the lots west of Main street, while Isaac Sutton laid out those on the east side, and James Black the northern portion. Additions have been made by Felix Marsh, esq., Samuel Pottenger, and others.

The name of Dover proving unsatisfactory to the people of the village, it was changed to Newcomb, in honor of George Newcomb, of Montgomery county, who was a State senator from the district which is composed in part by Preble county. His name is uniformly spelled in the records without a final "b," but the name of the village has always been spelled with one. In 1835 the name of Newcomb was exchanged for that of Camden, which was bestowed as a sort of memorial of Camden, South Carolina, where the Revolutionary battle was fought.

CAMDEN STATION.

The agents of the Hamilton, Eaton & Richmond railroad at Camden, have been William Pottenger, N. W. Carroll, V. D. Rees, Abram B. King, and the present incumbent, Henry H. Payne. These five men have together served about twenty-eight years. The telegraph offrce was established in 1862, and during the eighteen years that have elapsed since then, four different operators have had charge of it, viz: E. C. Phillips, J. C. Winters, E. C. King, and the present operator, W. J. King, who has been there since 1873.

PERSONAL MENTION.

Stephen Payne became a resident of Camden about the time that the village was laid out, and his family is still, represented in the town and township. He was from New Jersey and a very early settler in Butler county, where he married Sarah Potter. On coming to Camden he went into the business of tavern keeping, which he followed for many years. He removed from Camden about 1840, and died in Piqua in 1844. Three sons of Stephen Payne became residents of Camden and vicinity, viz: Moses P., Daniel, and Jonathan. The first named was born in Butler county, and moved to Camden from Miami county, and after a number of years (about 1858) moved to Illinois, where he died in 1863. He married Mary Ann Robinson. Henry H. Payne, the station agent at Camden, is a son of theirs. Daniel Payne, born in Butler county, in 1817, came to Camden in 1839, and died there in 1878. During the long term of years that he resided in the village he was one of the most valuable citizens it had. His liberality and public spiritedness secured for the town a great many improvements, and it is very commonly remarked that Daniel Payne did more for Camden than any man who ever resided there. He was a very active, energetic man, and was engaged in many industries, being a tailor, a clock merchant, a teamster (in the ante-railroad days), a hotel keeper, contractor, etc. He was at one time extensively engaged in buying horses, and driving across the country to the seaboard cities, and was one of the first who engaged in the business. Daniel Payne was married in 1841, to Mrs. Elizabeth Young, daughter of John and Dorothy Cummings, who is still living in Camden.

Mrs. Allie Button is the third child and eldest daughter of John and Elizabeth Zimmerman, who emigrated to Ohio from Georgia, in 1805, and settled below Camden, in Somers township. Mrs. Button's parents had eight children: John B. (deceased); Jacob, residing near Sugar valley; Allie, Eli A., residing in Clermont county, Ohio; Maria, wife of John Patterson, of Indiana; William (deceased); Simon Peter, and Elizabeth, wife of Sylvanus Hulse. Allie Zimmerman, born in 1803, was married in 1822, to George Button, who was born in

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Kentucky in 1792, and died in 1863. To Mr. and Mrs. Button were born nine children, five of whom are living. They are: John Z. (deceased); Nancy (deceased); Eliz- abeth, wife of Harmonious Rhea, living in California; Sarah, wife of Isaac Doty, of Nebraska; George L, in Nebraska; William (deceased); Thomas (deceased); Helena, wife of Oscar Silver, of Dixon township; and Mary Esther, wife of Dunham Hart, of Dixon township. Mrs. Button resides on the home place of one hundred and twelve acres.

Jonathan H. Payne, now lilvng near Camden, was born in Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, in 1826. He is the son of Stephen and Sarah B. Payne, who came to Butler county from New Jersey. His father died in Mi- ami county in 1844, after which time Mrs. Payne and her family removed to Camden. Jonathan Payne was married in 1848 to Hannah, daughter of David Barnett. She was born in 1832. To them have been born five children, all living in Preble county. Anna L. and Daniel C. are living at home. Mr. Payne owns seventy acres of land in Somers township, section twenty-three, where he has resided for twenty-six years. In his younger 'days he was a teamster between Camden and Cincinnati.

Howard Young, county commissioner, has been a resident of this county since 1866. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1824. His father, Robert Young, was one of the earliest pioneers of Milford township, having come out from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania in 1801. Shortly after his arrival he married Jane Ogle, who emigrated from the same county the same year. Howard Young resided in Butler county until his removal to this county in 1866, with the exception of two years, during which he lived in Illinois. On removing to this county he located in Camden, where he has since resided. Mr. Young has been trustee of Somers township, and was elected to the office of county commissioner in October, 1879. He was married in 1846 to Jane Steel, of Aurora, Indiana, by whom he had one child-John H., living in Somerville, Butler county. His wife died in 1850, and he was again married in 1852 to Hester Smyers, of Butler county.

Arka Place, his wife and several children, came from New England prior to 1825, and located in the village, where the old gentleman followed the trade of shoemaking. Among the family was Ira K. Place, a grown up son who became quite a prominent man locally. He was the first postmaster, and served several terms as mayor. He died in Camden recently, and there is now no representative of the family there.

In 1829 Eleanor, widow of Robert Jones, came to Camden, with her family, from Maryland. She lived until 1866, and died at the age of ninety. Her children were: Mary A. (Reed), now in Jefferson township; Susan (widow of the late Dr. Dunham) and George W., both in Camden. Mr. George W. Jones, on arriving at proper age, learned the hatter's trade, which was then one of the most remunerative that a man could follow. He was engaged in it until the business was seriously interfered with by the big manufactories in the cities, and then abandoned it, taking up farming.

Isaac Mitchell, who settled, originally, in Jefferson township, was one of the early residents of Camden. A son, James A., died in the village in 1879, and Malinda, widow of Amos W. Yoast, is the only one of the family left.

Robert H. Brown, now a resident of Camden, came to the village in 1828, with his parents, who were from Ireland His brother James died recently, and another brother, David, is in Oregon. Robert H. married Margaret Wright, whose parents were early settlers in Butler county, and who came to Camden with her brother-in-law, Bradbury.

John Brennan, a cooper by trade, came from Baltimore to Camden in 1830, and is still living there, as is also his wife, who was originally a Thornbury, but when he married her, Mrs. Maria Solomon.

There is in Camden a descendant of Job Hall, one of St. Clair's soldiers who was killed at the old garrison in 1792 in an engagement with the Indians (which is fully described in Chapter IV of this work). The person alluded to is Hannah, wife of James F. Morlatt. Hannah, widow of Job Hale, came from Kentucky to Butler county about 1808 or 1810, and settled on Four Mile creek, where she died in 1853, at the great age of one hundred and eight years. Her daughter, Elizabeth, married Peter Titsworth, and about 1832 settled in Somers township, on the farm now owned by Buford Davis. They had several children, of whom Hannah, the wife of Mr. Morlatt, is the only one now in the county. Mr. Morlatt is the son of James and Helena (Francis) Morlatt, who came from New Jersey to Warren county in 1800, and to Gratis township in 1829.

The Fornshells are among the oldest families in the village. Benjamin Fornshell and his wife Sucellia (Frye) came from Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1833, and brought with them a family of seven children, viz: John, now deceased; William, who is a resident of Somers township; Margaret, deceased; Thomas; Matilda (Mikesell); Joseph P. and Arabella (Will), the last four of whom reside in Camden. Benjamin M., also living in Camden, was the only one of the family born in the place. Benjamin Fornshell, the father, was born in 1792, and died February 24, 1878, and was married in 1814. His wife was born in 1793, and died June 28, 1863. Mr. Fornshell was the first tinner in Camden and the only one, until his son, B. M., went into the business, and the Only coppersmith in the county. It is a remarkable fact that he followed his trade actively, until he was eighty-two years of age. Joseph P. Fornshell married Jennette, daughter of Calvin and Sarah Seymour, who came from Chautauqua county, New York, to Butler county, Ohio. When the family was coming down the Ohio river, from Pittsburgh, with lumber rafts, they had a very narrow escape from drowning, by the dashing to pieces of the rafts upon sand-bars.

Clinton Chadwick, son of Samuel R., and Jerusha (Hopping) Chadwick, has been a resident of Camden since 1834, and one of its most active, and influential citizens. He came, originally, from Morris county, New Jersey, where he was born, to Hamilton county, in 1818,

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and from there, in 1826, with his parents, to New Jefferson township. His mother died in 1834, and his father married, for his second wife, Ann Roberts (nee Kinzie), and, in 1838, moved to Winchester, where he died in 1844. He followed merchandizing in both of the villages, which have been mentioned as the places of his residence. Beside Clinton, who was the oldest, Samuel R. Chadwick was the father of Ann Eliza (Erwin), Reuben, (deceased); Marcus, in Indiana; Caius C. (deceased); Samuel, in Dayton ; and R. R., in Chicago.

Nathaniel Wilbur Carroll came to Camden in 1838. He was born in Dudley, Worcester county, Massachusetts, April 13, 1813; married Olivia, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Rees, of Butler county, who emigrated from Delaware in 1827. Mr. Carroll died, November 18, 1862. He was one of the leading citizens of the village, and prominent in many important works. He was a member of the State board of education in 1859, and later of the State board of public works, and also one of the directors of the Hamilton & Eaton railroad.

William J. Lounsbury was in Eaton as early as 1838, in Camden in 1840, and is still a resident of the place. He was born in Connecticut in 1818, and emigrated to Ohio from Morris county, New Jersey.. He has been engaged in various business enterprises in the village, connected with the railroad as paymaster, etc. Is at present a bookkeeper at the Cincinnati stock yards. Mr. Lounsbury, who is one of the oldest residents of the village, was married in New Jersey to Minerva Ulery, who is still living.

John H. Johnson came to Camden during the early years of the village, and died there in 1849 of cholera. He was a shoemaker, and one of the first in the village. He married Eliza Burnett, of Camden, and reared quite a large family, all of whom are living except the eldest, Curran. Their names are Theodore, Maria (Thompson), in Cincinnati; Rebecca, Missouri (Brisbin), and Mary, all in Cincinnati; and Frances (Bennett), in Camden. Theodore Johnson, who is one of the leading business men of Camden, has been engaged in the boot and shoe trade for twenty-six years, and for the past fifteen has been in busineas for himself. He married Eliza Brower, daughter of John and Elizabeth Brewer, of Camden.

J. H. Bohn, born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, emigrated from Lancaster county of the same State to Ohio in 1842, locating at Camden. The following year he entered the drug business, which he carried on as long as he lived, his son, J. H. L. Bohn, being associated with him during the latter part of his business career. Mr. Bohn died November 21, 1875. His wife, Henrietta (George), who was born in 1809, is still living, and makes her home with her son.

Joshua Howard came to Camden in 1844, and has ever since been a resident, engaged in the livery business. He is the son of David and Mary (Gower) Howard, who came from Virginia to Ohio as early as 1810 or 1812, locating in Butler county. Joshua Howard has been twice married, his first wife being Mary Powles and his second Susan Berkhalter.

Jacob Collett, a native of Germany, but since his fourteenth year resident in the United States, has been in Camden since 1854. He has been in his present business—tailoring-for the past sixteen years, for himself, and built the store which he now occupies.

David Morris, a native of Butler county, born in 1827, has been a citizen of Camden since 1856, and one of its leading merchants (shoe dealer). He is descended from an English family who emigrated to America during the war of the Revolution. His grandfather, Robert Morris, was one of the first settlers in the town of Hamilton. Mr. Morris was married in 1849 to Rachel Ann Lamar.

Joseph D. Danner, born in Pennsylvania, in 1808, settled in Montgomery county in 1825. He there married Catharine McClellan, and in 1850 came to Camden, where he died in 1860. His wife is still living, though in advanced years. They have a family of eight children, viz.: Elizabeth and N. J., both deceased; Mary (Paulus), in Indiana; Phebe (Mace), deceased; W. A., a resident of Camden; Margaret and Sarah Wilson, deceased.

W. A. Danner is a butcher, and is following his father's occupation. He was born in Montgomery county in 1840. He, married N. J. McLain, daughter of David and Mary McLain, who were early settlers in the south part of the township.

Stephen Bertsch is a newcomer, but one who has identified himself prominently in the business interests of the town, having opened a wagon shop, from which is turned out a large amount of work. He is a German of twenty years residence in America, and came to Camden in 1876 from Hamilton,

RESIDENTS IN 1834.

The following names are given by Mr. Clinton Chadwick as those of the heads of families in Camden in 1834, when he came to the village to live, viz: Samuel Mitchel, James B. Hackett, Daniel Huffman, Ward Richards, Stephen Ingersoll, Robert Harris, Jacob Webb, Robert White, Clinton Chadwick, Hughey, Susan Jones, Alexander Johnson, Robert H. Brown, Joseph Woodward, Howell Potter, Ezekiel Barnett, Robert Mitchell, Eli Zimmerman, Harrison More, Benjamin Fornshell, Brown, Jared V. Hopkins, David Brown, George Button, Eli Davis, Moses Nelson, William McMechem, C. C. Walker, Jacob Ridenour, John Brennan, Isaac Mitchell, John Runkel, Ira K. Place, Damafius Terrill, David Barnett,. John Robinson, C. C. Bruce, Nathaniel Elliott, Thornton Bennett, Robert Irwin, M. C. Williams, Owen Ingersoll, John H. Johnson, Mitchell, Alfred Lee, George Jones, Lurdum Dunham.

MILLS AND MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF THE VILLAGE

AND TOWNSHIP.

The first mill which was within convenient distance of the early settlers of Somers township was a "corn cracker" on Seven Mile, in Gasper township, owned by Gasper Potterf, and located where Henry Early and M. S. Wear now live. It was built before 1806, and, probably, as early as 1804.

The first mill built in the township of Somers was

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erected where Bamett's mill now is, in 1808. It was a grist-mill, and the grinding stones were gray heads. There was also a saw-mill at the same place which was built between 1808 and 1810. Both were the property of William Irwin. The grist-mill was in use until 1825, and the saw-mill went out of existence earlier and was replaced by another which stood where the present mill is. The second mill was built by Matthew McClung and his sons, Matthew and James, in 1823. They afterward (about 1823) built a grist-mill just south of the present structure. It was a merchant mill and originally had but one "run" of stones, though in later years its capacity was enlarged by the putting in of three or four pairs of good buhrs.

In 1816 a grist- and saw-mill was built at Camden, on the site of the Brubaker mill, by Major Robinson and his son James. It was a small affair and had but one run of stones.

About the same time as the above a grist- and saw-mill was built by John Stubbs, on Paint creek, northwest of Camden. Simultaneously with the above a saw-mill was built upon Seven Mile by John Stubbs, uncle of the man just mentioned. This mill was south of Camden, on the northwest quarter of section fifteen. In 1834 he built a good grist-mill and put into it three run of stones. This mill was burned in 1862, when owned by Burnett (James) Whitesides (William); rebuilt by them in 1866 and again burned in December, 1875. This was a very large three-story frame, slate roofed, and cost about forty-five thousand dollars.

James Barnett and sons, James, jr., and David, built, in 1831, a mill at Camden, where the Brubaker mill now is. It was a merchant and grist-mill and contained three pairs of buhrs. They sold out to Obed Harrell, he to N. W. Carroll, he to Clinton Chadwick,. and he to B. C. Bell & D. R. Pottenger. The firm finally became B. C. Bell, Barnett & Whitesides, and these gentlemen managed the property for some time, but at length became involved and failed. Then John and Henry Brubaker bought the mill at assignee's sale in 1873.

David Barnett finished, in 1835, the mill began by the McClung's, and after running it for a number of years abandoned it and built, in 185̊, the present grist-mill, two miles north of Camden, at Barnett's station. This is a three-story brick structure, standing upon a stone basement, and its dimensions are. fifty-two by sixty-two feet. It is provided with five runs of the best buhrs, and all of its machinery and appliances are of the most approved kinds. The saw-mill was built by the Barnetts in 1834.

A saw-mill and lath and cresting machine, which was built two and a half miles south of Camden, by John Kellough, was in operation for a number of years, but has gone into disuse.

A steam saw-mill was also built and run two and a half miles west of Camden by John Mills and his son Amos.

There are other steam saw-mills in Camden village. The one now owned by David Overhaltz, and operated as a saw-mill and stave factory, was built by him in 1870.

J. B. and D. S. Bostwick, in 1874, put machinery into the large building in the south part of the town, which was built by Barnett & Whitesides for a grain warehouse about 1860, and afterwards enlarged by Benjamin Myers and used by him as a pork-packing house. They operated this saw-mill until 1876, when it was purchased by Will S. Fornshall, who now carries on a general saw-mill business, and manufactures poplar and hardwood lumber, door and window frames, and all kinds of building material.

The third mill is owned by J. B. Bostwick and was started by him in 1877. In connection with it is a brick- yard and tile factory, carried on by Bostwick & Fry (S.L), which was established by them in 1878. They turn out about one hundred and fifty thousand brick per year and about six thousand rods of tile of all sizes.

Carding wool was one of the principal mechanical industries at an early day. John Stubbs, Sr., had a carding-machine in connection with his saw-mill as early as 1810 or 1812, and up to 1832 did a great deal of work. At a later date than the establishment of the Stubbs' mill, carding was carried on with horse-power, at Camden, by Samuel Cornwell. Still later, from about 21340 to 1850, the business was conducted on the main street of Camden by John and Amos Mills, and from about 1854 to 1860 by Samuel Hibbard. The same Mr. Hibbard had a woollen factory in the village as early as 1847.

Stave and 'shingle cutting was carried on by Barnett & Whitesides at the mouth of Paint creek from 1868 to 1873. The building which they used is still standing and is in use as a tobacco house.

In early years, from about 1825 to 1830, a plow factory was carried on in the southeastern part of the township by Stephen Mason.

MERCANTILE MATTERS.

The first store in Camden was undoubtedly that in which James Black kept a small but varied stock of goods such as were commonly found in pioneer settlements. lie opened business in 1818 and followed it until 1824. In 1826 Hezekiah Bradbury opened a store which he con- ducted successfully, though on a small scale, for a number of years. Mitchell & Lee started in 1830, or a little earlier—perhaps in 1828, and Joseph S. Woodward about the same time, the latter continuing until 1839. Judge William Hall was one of the early merchants and was cotemporaneous with the last three mentioned. Stephen Ingersoll had a store and distillery froth 1830 to 1836. George A. Chittenden started in business about the same time that Ingersoll did, but only remained in town about a year. Deem & Achey were also engaged in merchandising for a short time. Jacob Ridenour opened a general store in 1825 and remained in active service as a business man until 1840. Clocks formed a large specialty in Ridenour's store. In 1831, Reuben Chadwick and Ward Richards started a store in partnership. They both died in 1834, and their place in the business of the village was taken by Clinton Chadwick, who continued in trade for many years—until 1862, carrying it on very extensively. The last twelve years, William

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Pottenger was his partner. William McMechem was in business from 1830 to 1850. C. C. Walker was a well known merchant from 1836 to 1842.

N. W. Carroll carried on the clock business in its palmy days, beginning in 1840, and made quite a good sized fortune, a portion of which he afterwards invested in Barnett's mill, which he managed for several years'. He died in 1863.

E. P. Wait, commonly called "the Yankee clock man," came to Camden in 1842 and left in 1846, making a very snug sum from the sale of clocks, groceries and whiskey. He afterwards started a bank in New York, and made two or three hundred thousand dollars, which he lost in a cotton speculation. He now resides at Springfield, Ohio.

Benjamin Myers opened a store and went into the pork packing business in 1850. He made a large fortune and lost it all in one year (1863), but rallied from the severe reverse and re-engaged in the business in 1868, which he is now carrying on.

Gard & Jones went into the dry goods business in 1856 and carried it on for a number of years. Andrew Coffman began business in 1850, and soon after sold to William Hall & Son who conducted the store for one year. Thomas and Reuben Pottenger "took Mr. Myers" store in 1863, after his failure, and carried on the business until 1873, since which time, until 1880, it has been in the hands of Cyrus Pottenger.

All of the foregoing were "general stores." The earliest store which could be called distinctly a grocery was started in 1833 by Robert H. Brown who is still a resident of Camden. He had a grocery and liquor store on the west side of Main street as late as 1842. About the same time Eli Davis had a similar store on the opposite side of the street. From 1840 to 1844, Fowler & Francis were engaged in the same business, and from 1848 to 1854, John Sponable carried on business in the same line. He was bought out by James Babcock, who run the store for two years. Thomas J. Longnecker carried on a grocery and bakery from 1850 to 1856. Joseph McCord was in the grocery line from 1853 to 1863.

BUSINESS HOUSES IN 1880.

The following is a classified list or directory of the business houses of Camden in the fall of 1880:

Dry Goods-M. Earhart, Benjamin Myers, Charles Morlatt.

Groceries-Robert Williams, sr., John Fowler, James Kenworthy, A. L. Borradaille, Henry Neff, William R. Patterson, Henry Coons.

Hardware—John Coons, M. Earhart.

Drugs—J. H. Bohn.

Boots and Shoes-Theodore Johnson, David Morris, P. A. Dearth.

Harness Makers-George W. Will, Joseph E Smith, P. A. Dearth.

Tinners—B. M. Fornshell, J. E. McCord.

Furniture Dealers—Mrs. James A. Mitchell, Lucien Koons..

Meat Markets-W. A. Danner, William Brower, Oscar Pocock.

Millinery-Mrs. Olivia Brown and Miss Lina Harris.

Livery—Will S. Fornshell, George Fowler & Brother, Joshua Howard.

Bakeries, etc.—James Kenworthy, Henry Neff, Henry Coons.

Hotel—Arlington House—J. P. & Will S. Fornshell.

Wagon Makers—J. B. Watt, Stephen Bertsch, Hezekiah Gift.

Blacksmiths-John R. McGriff, McShane & Brown, Alfred McGriff.

Agricultural Implements-F. I. Randall.

TAVERNS.

Among the very earliest tavern keepers were James Black, Stephen Payne, and the father of Ira K. Place. At a later time than the above Ezekiel Barnett (brother of David), kept a tavern where Morris' shoe store now is, in the same house that Place had originally opened for the entertainment of the wayfarer and stranger. In 1829 there were two other taverns beside this one. At the south end of town there was one kept by James More, and at the north end a house of which Reuben Bennett was the proprietor. The latter was succeeded by John Bennett. A man by the name of Stackhouse Huffman, a Virginian, and Jacob Webb, afterwards kept the Ezekiel Barnett hostelry, and when they passed from the scene the house was converted to other uses. From 1834 to 1840 there were a number of landlords in the tavern which stood where Mrs. Susan Pottenger now lives. Among them Patrick Goode and John Elliott. From 1833 to 1836 Eli Zimmerman kept tavern in a building on the west side of Main street. About 1844 the house in which Elliott and Goode had kept entertainment was sold to William Oldom, who kept it until 1864, with the exception of a few years, when William Oldom, jr. and Henry Oldom were its landlords. Christian Moots was in the business for a short time. Chauncey R. Carroll kept hotel about the time the railroad was commenced, in the house now owned by J. A. Huffman. After two years occupancy Mr. Carroll sold out to D. D. Brown. He sold to Ezra Potter, and the house was then used simply as a dwelling.

The Preble house was built in 1846 by Payne & Potter. Dan Payne was its landlord from 1853 to 1868, and sold out to Maurice Doty, who carried it on for two years and then sold to S. J. Dauser, who is at present the owner. He conducted the hotel, and, for short periods, had it leased to others, but it did not prove a successful house, and in 1879 was closed and so remained.

The Arlington hotel, owned by J. P. and Will S. Fornshell, is now the only house of public entertainment in the village, and is a very pleasant place for travellers to tarry, being in all respects well conducted. It was opened by the present proprietors in the summer of 1878, since which time their patronage has been steadily increasing, and has necessitated some enlargements and improvements. The Fornshells did not intend, originally, to go into the hotel business, but beginning by accommodating a few friends, soon found the business growing upon them, and ended by devoting themselves closely to it.

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PHYSICIANS.

In the earliest years of the settlement Dr. Walter Buell, of Eaton, was most frequently engaged when there was need of a physician, and in fact, it was very seldom that any other was seen in the township, though occasionally one would be called from Butler county. Dr. Buell had a very good practice in Somers township for many years, and continued to receive considerable patronage even after Camden had resident physicians.

A Dr. Day was in Somers township very early, and a Dr. Mount later, but neither remained long, or became prominent.

Dr. Ira A. Parker was the first physician in the village of Camden, concerning whom we have definite information. Just when he came to the settlement is unknown, but it must have been at a very early day. He was in practice for many years, and was quite a successful man in his profession. During the greater part of his career he practiced alone. A Dr. Miller was in partnership with him for a time, and afterward Doctors McWilliams and Lurton Dunham were associated with hrm.

Dr. McWilliams came to the town in the late "twenties" or early "thirties," and left in 1847. He was in command of quite a lucrative practice, most of which, after his removal in the year above mentioned, went to Dr. William R. Winton who settled in Camden at that time, and remained until 1851. He was able and prominent.

Dr. Lurton Dunham came to the village in 1832, and was in partnership with Dr. Williams until the removal of the latter in 1847. Afterwards he had as a partner, Dr. A. H. Stephens (for whose biography see Eaton history), and at a later date Dr. J. S. Ferguson. Dr. Dunham was very highly regarded both as man and physician, and he had a very large practice, which he found it difficult to get away from in his old age. He retired as far as possible, from active practice in 1867, and died three, years later (November 28, 1870) at the age of about sixty-five years, having been born July 30, 1805. Dr. Dunham's popularity in a general way is evidenced by the fact that he was called upon to represent the county in the legislature, and was given several other offices of trust and honor. Dr. Dunham studied with Dr. Williams, and attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, from which he graduated. He was married in 1838, to Susan Jones.

Dr. Carroll came to the village in 1846, or the following year, and died not long after. Dr. Garret V. Hopkins and Dr. Connor belonged also to this period. They were what was known as "steamers" or Thompsonian doctors.

Dr. Crews and Dr. Mendenhall came later, but neither of them long remained in the community. After them, and during the years 1859 to 1863, Dr. O. G. Potts and brother, both very good physicians, were in the town.

Previous to this time Dr. Robert Hamsher, now in practice, had located in Camden. He was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1822, and came to Ohio in 1847, locating in Sommerville, Butler county. He began reading medicine soon after, with Dr. R. P. Carnahan, of Darrtown. He got a diploma from the Physio-Medical College of Cincinnati in 1852, and immediately afterward began practice in Camden, and has not since been absent from the town sufficiently to interrupt his practice, except for a short period, when he attended the Jefferson Medical College of Cincinnati, from which he took a diploma in 1870. He was married in 1847, to Hetty Ann Dubois, of Franklin county, Indiana.

Dr. William Gilmore, now at Fair Haven, Preble county, was in practice in Camden in 1863 and 1864, and Dr. John Whittaker was in practice a short time, a few years later, but gave up, and went into the drug business at Cincinnati. Dr. Bruce, now of Eaton, was here a short time, as were also Doctors Brown and S. D. Dillman.

Dr. Zebulon Brown was a physician of ability, and would, doubtless, have been a permanent practitioner, and widely known in Preble county had it not been for his untimely death. He was born in Burlington, Hamilton county, and lived there until about six years of age, when the family was broken up by the death of his mother, and after considerable knocking around, young Brown went with his brother into Montgomery county, Indiana, and there assisted in clearing up a farm. He remained there working, studying and teaching until the. war broke out, when he enlisted. After the close of the war he studied medicine, and graduated in 1868, at the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati. He commenced practice in Indiana, but not liking his location, returned to Ohio in 1869, and located at Sommerville, where he remained until 1870, when he came to Camden. He practiced here until his health entirely failed him in October, 1875, and died on the twenty-first of April; 1876. He was married October 19, 1871, to Olivia E. Pottenger, daughter of Wilson and Ellen Pottenger.

Dr. J. S. Ferguson began practice in Camden in 1865, as a partner of Dr. Dunham, and has been actively engaged in his profession ever since; since the death of Dr. Dunham, having no partner. He was born in Oxford, November 14, 1834, graduated at Miami university in 1857, and from the Ohio Medical college in 1861. In the same year he began practice at Summervlle, where he remained until 1864, when he went into the army as assistant surgeon, attached to the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh regiment Ohio volunteer infantry. He remained in the service until the close of the war, after the regiment (one hundred days' men) was mustered out, going into the hospital service at Madison, Indiana. Upon the close of the war he located at Camden, where he now enjoys a very extensive. practice. He married Sarah Bohn.

Dr. O. E. Francis, the third and youngest of the resident physicians of Camden, like Dr. Ferguson, is of the allopathic school. He was born in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, August 30, 1851. He.attended the medical department of the University of Michigan in the fall of 1873, and afterwards the Ohio Medical college and the College of Medicine and Surgery, from which he received diplomas. Then, after practicing three years at

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Enterprise and Camden, he attended the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, from which he graduated June 28, 1878. He was married in 1873 to Lillian Woodsides.

HISTORY OF THE CAMDEN SCHOOLS.*

As to the early history of this school we can say but little. At quite an early date-in the first part of the present century-a school was organized in Camden. The first, of which we have any definite knowledge, was held in a log building erected on the lot, on which Susan Dunham's house now stands.

At about the same time a school was carried on in what is now known as Fowler's hall-the old Presbyterian church: A building was then erected on East Cross street, near the depot, in which school was conducted by William McMechen, and others, until the year 1853, when a large and commodious building was erected on West Cross street, at a cost of four thousand dollars. This building consists of four large rooms, and two halls of entrance, is located in the central portion of town, and is one of the finest school buildings in the county.

In 1877 it was reseated, at a cost of five hundred dollars, and at different periods, within the past few years, maps, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other books of reference have been added. The following persons have had charge of the schools, as superintendents, since 1853: From 1853 to 1865, Andrew Longnecker, Edward Kinman, John Eastman, James Watt, A. McAdow, J. R. McCleaf, J. M. Wilson, Jehu King, and others; 1865 and 1866, B. F. Van Ausdal; 1866 to 1868, C. F. Reece; 1868 and 1869, A. McAdow; 1869 to 1871, A. F. Eshelman; 1871 and 1872, John Elder; 1872 to 1879, T. A. Pollok; 1879 and 1880, F. M. Davis; 1880 and 0. T. Corson.

Of this list of teachers, Professor T. A. Pollok, now superintendent of the Miamisburgh schools, deserves especial credit for raising the schools to a high standard of excellence. During his administration many boys and girls attended school who are now successful teachers in different, parts of this and adjoining counties, and who owe their success, in a large measure, to his careful and practical training.

Miss I,ina Harris, the present primary teacher, has had charge of that department for the past seven years, and has proven herself to be a necessity in Our community.

The schools have now entered upon another year's work, with fair prospects that it will a successful one. The enrollment is now one hundred and eighty, which will probably be increased during the school year to two hundred. The rooms are all crowded, and the probabilities are that an additional building will be erected next year, and a regular course of study prescribed.

The aim of the teachers is to do practical work, and thus produce practical scholars, capable of thinking and acting for themselves, and judging from the past history and present indications, one may reaaonably predict for the Camden schools a prosperous future.

*Supplied by Professor 0. T. Corson.

POST OFFICE AND POSTMASTER.

Newcomb post office was established May 26, 1824, and as the records at the post office department, at Washington show, its name was changed to Camden, September 9, 1835. Ira K. Place was the first postmaster, and remained in office a long term of years- until 1836. The receipts of the office, for the first quarter year after it was established, amounted to precisely three dollars and seventy-five cents. After the expiration of Mr. Place's term, Boyce Eidson was appointed postmaster, and after him came J. H. Bohn, with Charles C. Walker as deputy. Charles C. Walker afterwards was appointed to the office, and the following gentlemen occupied the position from the expiration of his term down to that of the present incumbent, viz: Amos W. Yoast, John H. Campbell, C. M. Roher, Lurton D. Jones, C. M. Roher. The last named gentleman held it, until his death, in 1878, when Mrs. Olivia Brown received the appointment. She is the present incumbent.

INCORPORATION.

Camden (or rather Newcomb, fox so it was then called), was incorporated, by special act of the legislature, in 1832. The first corporation officers elected were: Ira K. Place, mayor; Philip Rizer, recorder (or clerk); and James Allred, Samuel Cornwell, George Burton, Eli Demoss, and Joseph Mitchell, trustees (or councilmen). At the first meeting of these municipal managers, Wil- liam Rizer was' appointed treasurer, and Jonathan H. Potter, marshall. In 1833 the same mayor was in office, and the councilmen were: J. P. Achey, Samuel Mitchell, J. P. Hendricks, Philip Rizer, and C. C. Bruce. Stephen Ingersoll was chosen clerk, and William McMahon, treasurer.

The successors of mayors from 1832 down to 1880, shows the following names: 1832, Ira K. Place; 1834, Phillip Rizer; 1836, Ira K. Place; 1838, Gassett V. Hopkins; 1840, John Marsh ; 1841, Charles C. Walker; 1843, R. M. Mitchell; 1845, Samuel Mitchell; 1847, Charles Guild; 1848, Ira K. Place; 1850, Dan Payne; 1851, Charles Guild; 1852, James F. Francis; 1853, Amos W. Yoast; 1855, John McCresty; 1856, Amos W. Yoast; 1858, Charles C. Walker; 1859, J. M. Sheafer; 1864, C. M. Roher; 1866, J. M. Sheafer; 1866 (six months), A. M. McAdow; 1867, C. M. Roher; 1869, I. E. Craig; 1872,y. B. Marsh; 1874, Jas. L Thomas (present incumbent).

MASONIC.

Camden Lodge, No. 159, was organized May 18, 1848, with the follgwing constituent members: Jonathan Crowley, Andrew Weist, Andrew Coffman, Charles C. Bruce, Jacob S. Showaster, Perry Hestle, John C. Campbell, Ebenezer P. Justin, John Mower, Daniel B. Corry, Harrison Perham, Isaac G. Eson, Samuel D. Clayton, and Adam C. Dean.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.

Western Star Lodge, No. 109, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted June 8, 1848, its charter having been issued April mt. Its original members were: A. W. Yoast, Jain C. Thomas, Samuel

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Hippard, Samuel M. Yoast, James A. Mitchell, Francis J. Pierce, James N. Boner, Samuel D. Clayton, and Samuel Collins. The fraternity now has a very comfortable, and well furnished lodge room, and the lodge numbers about seventy-five members.

Camden Encampment, No. 177, was instituted July 14th, 1874, with the following charter members: David B. Holmes, Jas. W. Pottenger, H. L Robbins, Samuel W. Pottenger, Benjamin F. Williams, Joseph Sacks, and David Patton. The organization now has about forty members.

Somers Lodge, Daughter of Rebecca, No. 125, was instituted July 27th, 1880, with the following members: 0. P. Brown, S. W. Pottenger, R. T. Acton, F. M. Fowler, D. S. Bostwick, J. B. Watt, J. G. McShane, Frank Randall, J. A. Loop, A. H. Klopp, Wrn. A. Snyder, John T. Fowler, Jas. H. Robinson, Wm. R. Patterson, W. A. Danner, John R. McGriff, J. S. Ferguson, H. S. Robbins, Elizabeth S. Payne, Maggie E. Pottenger, Mary A. Earhart, Lida R. Brown, Elizabeth McGriff, D. Lewellen.