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TROY TOWNSHIP.

ABERNETHY, ALEXANDER, M. D., Lexington; Dr. Abernathy is the oldest resident physician of Troy Township. He was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1810; graduated at Jefferson College in Philadelphia in 1831 ; preached in Ferry Co., Penn., for six years; he then came to Ohio and settled in Lexington in 1836; at that time, Lexington had about fifty dwellings, three churches, two stores, one mill and one hotel; the country was sparsely settled, the roads in a bad condition, and the Doctor visited most of his patients on horseback, riding many weary miles through the country for small compensation. In 1843, he married Katharine Fulton, by whom he had four children. When the gold fever of California struck the Eastern States in 1850, the Doctor, like thousands of others. started for the Pacific coast; he arrived safely, he stayed in California about eighteen months, when he again returned to his home in Lexington. Previous to his trip to California in 1850, he served two terms in the Ohio State Legislature. The Doctor according to his quaint expression, has "seen much, of the dark as well as the light side of life," his medical practice having extended over a period of more than thirty years; he is now living a retired life in the village of Lexington, known and respected by all.

BEVERSTOCK, A. B., retired merchant, P. O. Lexington. Allen B. Beverstock was born in the State of Vermont in the year 1804 ; in 1819, he removed to New York, remained there until 1821, when he turned his face westward and emigrated to Ohio, settling in Monroeville, Huron Co. ; here he clerked for the Hollister Company; trading for furs and pelts from the Indians was a large source of income to this company; he remained in Monroeville until 1832, when he removed to Lexington, Richland Co.; here he engaged in the dry-goods business and also other business enterprises, by which he amassed a goodly fortune. Mr. B. was married in 1828 to Miss Reed of Monroeville, by whom he had one child; his first wife having died, he married Miss Underhill in 1837, by whom he had six children; Mr. B. continued in business until 1864, when he retired. When the late rebellion broke out, two of Mr. B.'s sons, Frank and Barney, went to the war; Frank served the interests of his country faithfully, sharing in all the marches, battles and skirmishes for nearly two years, when he was captured and languished in the rebel prison-pens for fifteen weary months; he escaped once, but was recaptured, and was finally exchanged through the influence and money of his father. Barney's experience was not so

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varied; he enlisted in the three-months service, and died at Fortress Monroe in 1864. Mr. Beverstock lives in his pleasant residence in the village of Lexington.

BOWSER, GEORGE, laborer, Lexngton ; born in Troy Township, May 6, 1833; he is the second son of John Bowser, and was born on his father's farm, in the southeast quarter of Sec. 36; he lived on the old homestead until 1872, when he married Virginia, McWharter, of Marion, Ohio, by whom he has had one child-an interesting little girl, born in the centennial year, and named Ida May Bowser; immediately upon his marriage, Mr. removed to a small piece of land, containing 20 acres, in Sec. 35; remained about three years; from there he again removed to the southwest quarter of same section, where he bought a tract, containing 10 acres, on which he now resides . Mr. Bowser is one of the honest laboring men of Richland Co. A consistent member of the United Brethren Church, of which his wife is also a member.

BULL, EPHRAIM, farmer; P. O. Lexington. Mr. Bull is one of the oldest residents of Richland Co.; he was born near the city of Baltimore, Aid., on the 7th day of April, 1806; his father removed to Pennsylvania, while Ephraim was quite young, and in a few years again returned to Maryland ; in 1817, he turned his face westward, and emigrated to Ohio, settling in Washington Township, Richland Co. Ephraim lived in this township until his marriage to Elizabeth Ridenour. in September of 1829; he then removed to Troy Township; he is the father of seven children, six of whom are living. When the rebellion broke out, two of his sons went to the war as wagonmasters. On the 10th of September 1879, Mr. Bull and his estimable wife, surrounded by children and friends, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedded life. Mr. Bull's home is situated on part of southeast quarter of Sec. 35.

COCKLEY, W. W., merchant, Lexington; dealer in all kinds of staple goods. A full assortment constantly kept on hand.

CUSTER, GEORGE W., hotel keeper, Lexington; born in Allen Co., Ohio, in the year 1842. During his early life, his father made several removals: first to Auglaize Co., then to Morrow Co.; then to Richland Co. While living in this county, the rebellion broke out and George enlisted in Co. D, 26th O. V. L, May 21, 1861, responding to the first call for troops to defend the honor of the nation ; Mr. Custer enlisted for the term of three years, but after thirteen months of active ser. vice, most of which was spent marching from place to place, he took sick at Nashville, was honorably discharged from service and sent home. In 1864, he married Fidelia Worcester, of Morrow Co., where he again became a resident until 1872, when he returned to Richland Co., settling in the village of Lexington, and purchased the old hotel building on the southeast corner of the public square. Mr. Custer is the father of three children. In 1878, he served as Councilman, and in 1879 was elected by his townsmen as Justice of the Peace. He has repaired the old hotel to a great extent where now can be obtained ample accommodations for man and beast.

DAUGHERTY, W. C., dealer in stoves, tinware, etc., Lexington.

DOUGLAS, SAMUEL, farmer; P. O. Livingston ; born in Richland Co., Ohio, Sept. 29, 1821. His father emigrated to Ohio in 1818 and located in Monroe Township, Richland Co., where Samuel was born; he lived with his father until after his marriage to Harriet Finney, Nov. 20, 1845; she was born Aug. 31, 1826, in Richland Co. In 1852, Mr. Douglas and family removed to Troy Township, where he purchased a farm of 210 acres, owned by the heirs of the Hisky estate; he paid about $21 per acre for this valuable farm, situated in Secs. 22 and 27; it is now worth probably three times that amount. Mr. Douglas and family are members of the Congregational Church. He divides his farming operations between raising stock and grain. He is the father of five children, three of whom are dead.

GASS, WILLIAM (deceased), who entered the first land in Troy Township, in A. D. 1811, was born in Franklin Co., Penn., on Feb. 14, 1769; removed with his parents to Western Pennsylvania when a youth; worked there a few years, assisting his father, then returned to his native county, and in 1793 was married to Mrs. Jane McClain; soon after their marriage, they moved to Brooke Co., Va., where he bought a small farm ; sold out there in June, 1800, and emigrated to the Northwest Territory, squatting on land which he bought as soon as opened for sale, near New Lancaster, now Fairfield Co., Ohio; in the spring of 1806, he sold out there and removed to Knox Co., Ohio, entering a quarter-section, one mile east of Mt. Vernon, where he resided until the spring of 1812, when he sold it and removed to his land in what is now Troy Township, Richland Co., where he remained during his life, reaching his log cabin the 23d of April. His family was then four sons, in the following order: Benjamin, James R., John, and William ; their mother died in March of 1817. In July, 1818, he was married to Mrs. Rebecca Meredith, mother of Judge John Meredith, by whom he had one son, Isaac Gass ; Mr. Gass was Representative of Fairfield County in the Legislature of 1803-04, sitting at Chillicothe ; he was also frequently a member, both from Knox and Richland Cos., until he became quite aged; was said to be the oldest man in the Legislature during the last winter that he served, to wit: 1832-33; though of rather limited education, and making but little show, he was quite popular, and esteemed as a good reliable statesman. Religiously he was of the Baptist order, and died in that faith, in March of 1846, a little over 77 years old. A daughter, Elizabeth, was born in September, 1800, while the family resided in Fairfield Co.; she lived to be about 5 years old and lost her life from the effects of the kick of a colt.

GASS, JAMES R., farmer; second son of William and Jane Gass, was born in Brooke Co., Va., on the 8th of August, 1796; was brought by his parents to Fairfield Co., Ohio, in the summer of 1800, and to Knox Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1806, and thence to what is now Troy Township, in the spring of 1812, arriving at their cabin on the 23d of April, where he has resided continuously ever since, never having been absent from the township six weeks at one time, since the family first settled in it. Was married in the fall of 1822, to Miss Jane W. Burns; they raised four sons and three daughters ; have now living, three sons and two daughters; his sons are now all settled on

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farms, in Grundy Co., Mo.; all served awhile in the late rebellion, and escaped uninjured ; his daughters, now living, are Mrs. Samuel Wilcox, of Delaware Co., Ohio, and Mrs. S. A. Walker, of Troy Township, Richland Co., Ohio ; his first companion, and mother of all his children, died on the 28th of August, 1843 ; he was again married to Miss. Mary Ann Coates, on the 5th of June, 1845, who died on the 29th of August, 1857; after living a widower more than eleven years, he was married, the third time, to his present companion, Mrs. O. S. Campbell, on the 3d of November, 1863; James was more slender and weakly than any of his four brothers, but is now the only survivor of the family; he still owns and occupies a part of the land first entered by his father, in Troy Township, in 1812 ; he has resided longer in the township than any other person; taught school a little in his youthful days ; practiced surveying some, and served as Justice of the Peace, in all, thirty years; during all these thirty years he has never had a jury trial.

GASS, WILLIAM (deceased), fourth son of William and Jane Gass) - was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, on the 25th of September, 1803; removed with his parents and their family to Knox Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1806, and thence to Troy Township, Richland Co., Ohio, where they arrived on the 23d day of April, 1812; William was a studious boy, and apt to learn, but had only means and opportunity to acquire a common-school education : labored on the farm with his father until the summer of 1829, when he was married to Miss Violet Davis, and settled on the farm in said township, which he owned and occupied nearly all the time until his decease, which occurred after about five days' sickness, on the 17th of May, 1876; his first companion died in the summer of 1852 ; they had four children, all of whom died in infancy except Benjamin R: Gass, who has been for some years Superintendent of Public Schools in Michigan; in the spring of 1853, William was married to Mrs. Sarah Young, who still survives him ; there were no children of that marriage but R. F. Gass, who still resides on the farm owned by his father; in 1836, William became a preacher of the Disciple, or Campbellite order, and continued to proclaim that Gospel until his death ; he was a pious, zealous man, much respected and esteemed by all his acquaintances.

GASS, JOHN (deceased), third son of William and Jane Gass; he was born in Brooke Co., Va., on the 12th of June, A. D. 1798; was brought by his parents to Fairfield Co., Ohio, in June, 1800; then to Knox Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1806, and to Troy Township, Ohio, on the 23d of April, 1812; he lived and labored hard with his father and family on their farm, until March of 1821, when he was married to Miss Ann McCluer; he built his log cabin, and commenced business on their own farm. Their children were five sons and three daughters, all of whom are living except one son and one daughter; those living are William R., now of Illinois; S. A., of Troy Township; P. P., of Plattsmouth, Neb.; Octavius D., of Arizona; Mrs. Chester Wilcox, of Troy, and Mrs. Dr. McKinly, of Kansas. John was an industrious, sober, honest man, and much respected by his acquaintances; he departed this life on the 30th of January, 1859, at his home in Troy, and in his 61st year.

GAILEY, RICHARD, REV. (deceased). Among the prominent educators of Richland Co., there are none who deserve a more extended notice of their worth and ability than Rev. Richard Gailey ; he was born in Letterkenny, Ireland, Oct. 31, 1806; at the age of 21, he emigrated to the United States ; being a man of some education, he engaged in teaching, for one year near Washington, Penn.; he then came to Mansfield Ohio, and entered the Academy of Father Rowland, taking up the classical studies; one year later, he entered the Sophomore Class of Jefferson College Cannonsburg, Penn., and graduated in 1835; immediately on his graduation, he entered the Theological Seminary of the Associate Reformed Church at Allegheny, Penn., and was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Monongahela Presbytery, April 11, 1838; after serving as Pastor of Mt. Pleasant and Sewickly Churches in Westmoreland Co., Penn., for one year, he was ordained in 1839. On July 17, 1838, he was married to Miss Catharine Thornton, near Savannah, Ohio, and was called to take charge of three congregations in Richland. Co., viz., Troy, Monroe and Pine Run ; he took charge of these congregations in 1849, making his home at Monroe ; he established a male and female seminary, in which he labored in connection with his duties as minister. In 1860, the seminary was removed to Lexington, Ohio, at which place he lived until the time of his death, April 2, 1875, after a very short illness. He was Pastor of Troy congregation nearly twenty-six years, and since his ordination, thirty-six years before, he had missed but three Sabbaths on account of sickness. Mrs. Catharine Gailey, wife of Rev. Galley, survived him about four years; her death occurred Nov. 10, 1879, at the residence of her son, Richard Galley, in Lexington ; she was a most estimable woman, and was widely and most favorably known. After the death of Rev. Gailey, the seminary was conducted by his daughter, Jane Gailey, until her marriage, March 26, 1880; she proved herself fully competent for the position she held.

GEORGE, WILLIAM, stock dealer, Lexington. Mr. George has been a resident of Troy Township for many years, being engaged for a greater part of his life in cattle and stock dealing, and other business.

GRUBB, G. W., painter, Lexington; was born in the village of Lexington, Richland Co., in 1840; learned the trade of painting in the year 1856. Immediately on the breaking-out of the rebellion, Mr. Grubb volunteered his services to sustain the honor of his country, being the first man in Troy Township to respond to the Presidential call for 75,000 troops, and the fifth man in Richland Co.; he enlisted for the term of four months ; was in several skirmishes, and finally took part in the memorable battle of Bull Run ; the night following the final ending of that disastrous battle, when the boys in blue were demoralized and flying in all directions before the victorious rebels, Mr. G. piloted Capt. Mc. Laughlin thirty miles across the country to Camp Upton, sharing his rations and sustaining the old veteran in the long and weary tramp. While he lived, Capt. McLaughlin ever regarded Private Grubb with highes esteem and gratitude, believing he was the means of saving him from capture, and perhaps death. Returning to Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Grubb again enlisted in the

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Sixth Ohio Light Artillery, in which he served until the end of the war, passing through twenty-three heap engagements and a great many skirmishes, sharing all the battles and marches of the Army of the Cumberland, mustered out of service at Columbus, Ohio, September, 1865, serving four years and five months, during which time he never lost n day from sickness, wounds or any other cause. It was a frequent remark of his Captain, that he need never look for Grubb any place else than at his post. Mr. G. was married in the spring of 1866, to Mice Elizabeth Keister, of Ashland, Ohio, and is now the father of a family of four interesting children.

KILGORE, JAMES, farmer; he was born in Greene Co., Penn., May 22, 1824. He came to Ohio in 1846, and first settled in Morrow Co., where he resided until 1863, when he removed to the northwest corner of Troy Township, where he at present resides. He was married in Morrow Co., in 1847, to Hannah Kilgore, by whom he raised a family of four children, all of whom are living-Nehemiah Harvey, Catherine Jane, Andrew Mitchell and John Marshall. Mrs. Hannah Kilgore died Aug. 27, 1858. Mr. Kilgore was married April 7, 1859, to Miss Joanna Larimer, a daughter of James Larimer, one of the early settlers of this county.

MANSFIELD, GILEAD. Mr. Mansfield was born on his father's farm, near Lexington, Dec. 2, 1823; he remained upon the homestead until of age; soon there-after he went to Detroit, Mich., via Massillon and Cleveland; from Detroit he went to Hancock Co., Ohio, to visit an uncle, Mr. Ohio Dally; while there, he went upon his first deer hunt with good success: in company with his uncle he found a deer lick and arranged to meet his game there; an Indian ladder was made by cutting a sapling and trimming off the limbs within eight or ten inches of the trunk ; by means of this the hunters climbed into a large tree, and in a large fork or crotch built a rest by weaving bark across, where they set awaiting their game; about dusk a large deer came to the lick; the hunter fired from his ambush; it fell, rolled over three times, jumped up and disappeared; the hunters, with dog, pursued, and soon came upon the wounded stag; it was soon killed, dressed, and hung up on a sapling; when the chase ended, it was carried to Mr. Dally's cabin with great rejoicing, where ensued feasting and congratulations; soon after, Mr. Mansfield returned to the homestead, where he remained for a term of years; about 1848, be began reading medicine with his brother at Mt. Blanchard, Ohio; soon thereafter lie returned to the farm again with his wife, Miss M. C. Lafferty, of Alt. Blanchard; they were married in 1850. In 1852, Mr. Mansfield opened a photograph gallery in Lexington, where he has resided ever since; he is quite skillful as a hunter; he made several trips to the Western countries in quest of deer and other large game, killing on one occasion seven or eight deer; in his parlor may be seen a large sketch representing one of these scenes in Van Wert Co. Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield have but one child-a son, who is a harness-maker by trade, aged 28. Mrs. Mansfield is a daughter of an early pioneer of Hancock Co., Mr. Lafferty, a man of high standing; he served as Squire thirty-two years in succession ; he bought trees from Johnny Appleseed's nursery.

MEIER, H. GEORGE, farmer; P. O. Lexington; born in Meishausen, county of Shaffhausen, Switzerland, in the year 1849; he is the second child of Martin Meier; at the age of 23, Mr. Meier concluded he would try his fortunes in the New World, and accordingly he set sail from his native land on board the steamer "Montreal," on the 3d day of March, 1872, and landed at Castle Garden, New York, May 12, 1872; started to Toledo, Ohio, but when he got to Mansfield concluded to stop; got employment and worked for about two years : he then went to Crestline, Ohio, and remained there three years; in 1877, removed to Troy Township, to the farm now owned by Martin Warnes. In 1878, Mr. Meier married Lydia Kenser, of Richland Co. Mr. Meier is one of the sturdy emigrants who come from the overcrowded countries of Europe to the United States of America, whose free soil and free institutions continually extend a welcoming hand to all honest men and women of all countries and nations.

McENTRE, J. W., farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Lexington. John W. McEntre was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in the year 1819; removed with his father's family to Troy Township, Richland Co., in 1833 ; settled on the northeast quarter of See. 36; his father built a cabin in the woods, and there John received his first experience in pioneer life; he helped clear the farm on which he now resides. Mr. McEntre married in the year 1854; has had eight children; his life has been spent in agricultural pursuits and raising stock ; he is known far and near as one of the honest yeomanry of Richland Co.

POST, HENRY, farmer; P. O. Ontario; he was born in Washington Co., Penn., Sept. 8, 1805 ; came to Ohio in 1819. Married to Anna Andrews, who was born in Washington Co., Penn., March 26, 1807; they have the following family: William B., born Jan. 9, 1838; Nancy Ann, Sept. 19, 1839; James H., Aug. 22, 1841; Almeda, born Aug. 18, 1846. Mrs. Anna Post died Sept. 24, 1868. Nancy Ann married Wm. Palmer (deceased) ; they had two children. Mr. Post's father, Benjamin Post, was born in New Jersey in 1776; married to Nancy Pool, also born in New Jersey; Mr. Benjamin Post died in August 1830; Mrs. Nancy Post died in 1823 ; they came with their family to this county and located in 1819 in Troy Township; they both died on the home place ; James H. Post now resides with his father, and is engaged in farming the homestead.

ROPP, JACOB, carpenter, Lexington. Jacob Ropp was born in Frederick Co., Md., in the year 1817 ; removed to Stark Co., Ohio, with his father's family, when he was 5 years of age, remained there nine years, and then removed to Richland Co. in 1831 ; he was the first child of Michael Ropp ; in the year 1840, he began the carpenter trade; two years later-1842-he married Mary A. Summers, daughter of James Summers, of Richland Co., a gentleman well known throughout the county, having occupied a position of trust for several years ; Miss Summers was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1819, removed with her father to Richland Co., Ohio, in 1833; Mr. and Mrs. Ropp have had a family of four children, but have been sadly bereaved by losing them all; they have been members of the United Brethren Church for many

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years, and by consistent and orderly lives are preparing to join their children in the house not made with hands; their little home, consisting of 20 acres, is situated on the southwest quarter of Sec. 35. It is hardly necessary to add that this worthy old couple are known and respected by all their neighbors as kind and Christian people.

SCOTT, DANIEL, farmer; P. O. Ontario ; he was born in Sandusky Township Dec. 31, 1837. Married in 1862 to Nancy Jane Lindley, who was born in Troy Township Aug. 10, 1836; they have the following family : Rosa Dell, born July 4, 1863; Maggie Bell, Dec. 24, 1864; Charlie R., Sept. 1, 1866; Ida C., Feb. 5, 1868; Florence E., Dec. 18, 1869; Alice Ions, Dec. 1, 1871 ; William E., July 16, 1873 ; Clarence A., Sept. 21, 1875; Emma A., Aug. 24, 1877.

SCOTT, JOHN, (deceased), was the second child of Thomas Scott, one of Ohio's earliest pioneers he was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Aug. 23, 1809. In the year 1834, he was married to Miss Jane Cantwell, of Richland Co., and two years later (1836), he with his wife removed to Troy Township and bought a tract of land containing 40 acres; to this he added by purchase from time to time, until he owned about 177 acres situated on Sec. 2 ; on this farm, Mr. Scott and wife spent the greater part of their lives and raised a family of nine children, all of whom are still living in different parts of this State. But a few weeks previous to his death, Mr. Scott had a social family reunion, all his children coming home to the old homestead to greet their aged parents and make glad their hearts in their declining years ; this re-union followed so soon by the death of the father seemed almost providential in its character, giving all his children the opportunity of bidding their parent a final farewell. Mr. Scott died Jan. 19, 1880, aged 70 years 4 months and 26 days. He was an affectionate husband, a kind father and a devout Christian, having united with the Methodist Protestant Church in his 21st year.

SOWERS, MOSES (deceased). Among the names of the earliest emigrants who followed in the footsteps of the first pioneers of Ohio is that of Moses Sewers; he was born in York Co., Penn., July 22, 1791. His father emigrated to Ohio in 1811 and located in Fair field Co., remaining there until 1815. Moses removed to Huron Co., and settled near where Monroeville now stands. Here he built the first grist and saw mill ever built in the county, and also hauled the tint load of lumber to Norwalk. While living then, he became acquainted with Miss Susan Bloomer, whose parents had also come to Monroeville from Dorset, Vt. ; he married her Oct. 18, 1829; she was born in Dorset, Vt., Nov. 25, 1802. Mr. and Mrs. Sewers were among the first to locate and may he said to be among the pioneers of the "fire lands;" in 1832, Mr. S. and family removed to Lexington, Richland Co.; he was accompanied to this place by A. B. Beverstock, with whom he formed a business partnership, and engaged in the dry-goods business for twelve years. He continued a resident of Lexington until his death, 16th of February, 1875. He had been a resident of Lexington over forty-two years and was esteemed as one of the county's best citizens ; his aged wife and two sons are still residents of Lexington.

TINKEY, JOHN, farmer; he was born in Washington Co., Penn., May 31, 1834 ; he came to this county with his parents who first settled in Jefferson Township in 1856. He was married in 1858, to Miss Laura Ann Culver, by whom he raised a family of six children, five of whom are living-Monroe, Sarena, Susan Lodena, Mary Ellen, Anna May and Perry Burr. Mrs. Laura Ann Tinkey died Oct. 7, 1870. He was married in June, 1872, to Miss Caroline Davey ; they are the parents 'of five children-Homer E., Rosa Alice, Abner Edwin, Gracie Edna, Lutenoa Edith ; he removed to the north; west corner of Troy Township, in November, 1872, where in addition to farming he is engaged in the mill business. George Tinkey, his father, died Sept. 6, 1875, at the residence of his son in Washington Township. His mother, Elizabeth (Swickart) Tinkey, died July 17, 1872.