300 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.   PHILIP J. SHIFF,   son of Michael and Mary M. Shiff, was born in Germany, October 16; 1826. He came to America with his father's family in 1844, and located in New York City, where in May, 1849, he married Miss Anna Mary Bauer, a native of Germany, born August 5, 1829, and who immigrated to New York City in 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Shill settled in New York and remained a few months. In the fall of 1849 they came to Shelby County, and settled on the home farm with his father in Franklin Township. In the spring of 1858 he moved on the farm on which he now resides. They have a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters.   FREDERICK KNASEL,   deceased, a native of Germany, was born in 1802. He married Miss Susannah Fogt, born in Germany in 1808. Mr. and Mrs. Knasel emigrated to America in the spring of 1833, landing in New York City. They continued their journey westward until they reached Shelby County, Ohio, where they passed the remainder of their days. Mr. Knasel died in September, 1865. Mrs. Knasel died in August, 1875. They reared a family of six children, viz., Elizabeth, Sally A., John, William F., Christopher, and Susannah. Only three of the above-named children are living, Elizabeth, Sally A., and John.   PHILIP HAGELBERGER,   deceased, a native of France, was born on the 27th day of March, 1818. He was brought to America by his parents, Philip J. and Julian Hagelberger, in the fall of 1833, who settled on a farm in Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, where young Hagelberger grew to manhood. On the 20th day of September, 1837, he 'married Miss. Eve Bey, daughter of Lewis and Eve Bey. Miss Bey was born in France, April 29, 1822, and emigrated to America with her parents during the summer of 1832, who settled in Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio, on the farm now owned and occupied by John Hagelberger, on which Mr. and Mrs. Bey passed the remainder of their days. Mr. Bey died in June, 1851. II is companion survived him until December 26, 1877, when she died at the age of 90 years. Mrs. Bey's father, John Altermatt, came to America with Mr. and Mrs. Bey in 1832, and died at their residence in Franklin Township in 1837, at the age of 88 years. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Hagelberger settled on the home farm with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bey, on which they lived for many years. He made farming his vocation through life. He died January 15, 1863, leaving Mrs. Hagelberger with nine children, viz., Philip J., Mary, John, Eve, Catharine, Lewis, Juliann, Paulina J., and Ida M. Ida M. is now dead. Mrs. Hagelberger remained on the home farm until August 15, 1877, when she married John G. Mader, and now resides in Bucyrus, Ohio. Their son, Philip J. Hagelberger, enlisted in Battery M, 1st Ohio Light Artillery, in the fall of 1861, and served three years and three months.   JOHN HAGELBERGER,   son of Philip and Eve Hagelberger, was born on the 5th of May, 1844. He has made farming his vocation, and now owns his father's old farm. March 19, 1868, he married Miss Catharine Bohlander, daughter of George P. and Mary Bohlander. Miss Bohlander was born in Germany, August 6, 1844, and came to America with her parents in 1848, who located near Dayton, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hagelberger settled on his father's home farm, where they have since resided. They have three children, one son and two daughters. He served as trustee of Franklin Township four years.7   ANDREW MOOTHART,   deceased, was born in Lehigh County, Pa., November 25, 1795. He was a son of Frederick and Catharine Moothart. He was a tailor by trade. In 1830 he turned his attention to farming, which he conducted successfully until his death. He married Miss Margaret Cashner of Lehigh County, Pa., born January 10, 1801. In 1822 they came to Ohio and located in Fairfield County, and remained ten years. In August, 1832, they came to Shelby County, and settled on the land in Franklin Township now owned by Jacob Billing, on which they lived two and a half years. In February, 1835, he sold his land in section 36, entered, made improvements, and moved his family to section 32, north of boundary line. The farm is now owned by their son, Peter Moothart. Mr. Andrew Moothart died November 29, 1844. Mrs. Moothart is still living, and now resides with her youngest daughter, In Illinois. They reared a family of eight children, viz., Sally, Benjamin, Peter, Leandea, Mary A., Catharine, Lydia, and Andrew. Sally is now dead. Benjamin, Mary A., Lydia, and Andrew are now living in Illinois. Catharine lives in Miami County, Ohio. Peter and Leandea reside in Shelby County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Moothart were members of the Lutheran Church in Franklin Township.   PETER MOOTHART,   second son of Andrew and Margaret Moothart. was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 27, 1825, and came with his parents to Shelby County in August, 1832. His education consists of what could be obtained in the common schools. His boyhood days were spent on the farm with his parents, and he has followed farming through life. In October, 1880, he retired from the business and is now living a retired life. On the 1st day of November, 1846, he married Miss Sarah Fosnight, born in Stark County, Ohio, January 29, 1825, and came to Shelby County with her parents, Martin and Mary Fosnight, in 1835, who settled in Van Buren Township. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Moothart settled on his father's home farm, remained until in October, 1880, when they moved to Anna, where they now reside. They reared a family of six children, Andrew W., John, Mary A., Elizabeth S., William H., and Lydia A. Mr. and Mrs. Moothart are members of the German Lutheran Church at Anna.   JOHN F. MCCLURE,   a native of Greene County, Ohio, was born on the 15th day of July, 1827. He is a son of Andrew and Jane McClure, deceased, who came from Greene County, Ohio, to Shelby County in 1834, and settled on a farm in Turtle Creek Township, where John F. McClure, subject of this sketch, passed his boyhood days working on the farm. h is a carpenter by trade, which he followed six years, and at the expiration of that time he again turned his attention to farming. June 26, 1860, he married Miss Eliza, daughter of James and Mary A. Doyle. Miss Doyle was born in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio, May 15, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. John F. McClure settled on the farm on which they now reside. They have a family of five children, viz., Cashius M., Elmer E., Andrew R., John F., and Olive J.   ANDREW H. MCCLURE,   second son of Andrew and Jane McClure, was born in Greene County, Ohio, March 26, 1829. He came to Shelby County with his parents in 1834, where he grew to manhood on a farm. On the 20th day of December, 1855, he married Miss Mary J., daughter of John and Mary Spence. Miss Spence was born on the farm now owned by J. W. Clancey, in Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio, March 4, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. McClure settled on a farm in the northeast corner of Turtle Creek Township, on which they remained twelve years. March 3, 1868, they moved on the farm in the north half of section 10, Franklin Township, where they now reside. They have a family of four children, viz., Margaret E., William C:, Ina S., and Essa A. Mr. McClure has made farming his vocation, and now owns a farm of 137 acres.   SILAS D. YOUNG   was born in Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio, September 11, 1837. He is a son of Philip and Keziah Young, who were early settlers of Shelby County. On the 19th day of March, 1856, he married Miss Mary J., daughter of Eli and Margaret Munch. Miss Munch was born in Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, October 4, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Young settled on his father's home farm in Franklin Township, and remained one year. March 1, 1857, they moved on the farm near Anna, in Franklin Township, on which they have since resided. They reared a family of four children, daughters. August 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 20th O. V. I., served three years, and was discharged September 21, 1864, and returned home. He was engaged in the battles of Champion Hills, May 16, 1862, battle of Atlanta, and several others. While engaged at Champion Hills, May 16, 1862, he was wounded by a buckshot passing through his nose.   JACOB FOOT,   deceased, son of John and Susan M. Fogt, was born in Germany in 1807. He emigrated to America in 1833, yet a single man, and located in Shelby County, Ohio. In 1834 he married Miss Julian Hagelberger, daughter of Philip and Julian Hagelberger, born in Germany in 1815, and came to America with her parents in 1833, and settled in Dinsmore Township. Mr. and Mrs. Fogt settled in Franklin Township, where they followed farming as their vocation, and passed the remainder of their days. He died May 26, 1860. His widow survived him until in February, 1872. They reared a family of seven children, viz., Catharine, John H. Philip J., Peter, Julian, Samuel, and Sophia B., all of whom are yet living in Shelby County.   JOHN J. SCHILLING,   a native of Baden, Germany, was born on the 29th day of April, 1828. When he attained the age of fourteen years he began as an apprentice at the weaving trade, and followed weaving as his vocation until November 27, 1853, when he left Germany and emigrated to America. It required nearly two months to complete the journey, and he reached Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio, on the 23d day of January, 1854. January- 24, 1854, h married Miss Magdaline Kali, daughter of Godfrey and Sophia D Kah. Miss Kali was born in Baden, Germany, March 13, 1828, and came to America with her parents, in company with Mr. Schilling,   HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO - 301   who settled on a farm in Dinsmore Township. Mr. and Mrs. Schilling settled on the farm in Dinsmore Township with her parents, and remained one year. In February, 1855, they moved to Franklin Township, and have since been residents of Franklin Township. In 1873 he purchased a farm of 120 acres, on which they now reside. They have a family of five children, two sons and three daughters.   WESLEY COLE   was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, November 28, 1808, where he spent his minority on a farm. On the 13th day of September', 1837, he married Miss Mary A. daughter of George W. and Nancy Glaze. Miss Glaze was born in A., September 19, 1816, and came to Pickaway County, Ohio, with her parents in 1827. In November, 1837, Mr. and Mrs. Cole came to Shelby County and settled on a farm in Franklin Township, and remained a number of years. In 1853 they moved on the farm south of their old farm, where they now reside. They reared a family of seven children, viz., Nancy P., Dennith A. and Mary M. (twins), Elizabeth I., Rosa A., George W., and S. Emma. Nancy P. is now dead. His father, Shadrach, was a soldier of the war of 1812.   GEORGE FOGT,   deceased, was a native of Germany, where he was born in 1805. He married Miss Julia A. Holfbearer, born in Germany Feb. 10, 1810. In 1844 they emigrated to America in company with Michael Shiff and family, and located in Shelby County on 160 acres of land, on which he lived many years, and followed farming as his vocation. They reared a family of eight children, Sarah, Jacob, Rachel, Catharine, Julia, George, John, and Frederick. In June, 1868, Mr. BM Mrs. Fogt left their farm and moved to Sidney, where he died May 24, 1873. Mrs. Fogt then moved to Anna in the fall of 1873, where she died Jan. 20, 1878.   JOHN FOOT,   son of George and Julia Fogt, was born in Franklin Township, on the farm where he now resides, October 14, 1846. January 9, 1869, he married Miss Lydia A., daughter of John M. and Leandea Shiff, born in Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio, October 13, 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Fogt settled on part of his father's home farm, where they now reside. They have three children, one son and two daughters. In 1878 he began the erection of his fine brick residence, which he completed in 1879.   PHILIP W. YOUNG, Postmaster at Anna and Dealer in General Hardware, etc. etc.   Mr. Young, a son of Adam and Mary Young, was born in Mercer County, Ohio, December 10, 1842. In the beginning of the year 1843 he was brought to Shelby County by his parents, who located in Dinsmore Township, where his minority was spent on the farm with his parents. He received a common school education. On the 13th day of September, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 20th 0. V. I., served three years, and was discharged from the service Sept. 27, 1864, at the expiration of his term of enlistment. On the 22d day of July, 1864, while engaged in the battle of Atlanta, a musket ball entered his right chest, penetrating the lung, and passing out through the shoulder blade. After returning from the army he attended school two years. In the fall of 1865 he began teaching school, which he followed during the winter season four years. In March, 1869, he came to Anna, where he formed a partnership with Lewis Kah, the firm name being Lewis Kah & Co., dealers in general merchandise. Fn the fall of 1872 he withdrew from the firm, and he, in company with J. D. Elliott, formed a partnership, erected a building 20 by 40 feet, two stories high, in which they engaged in dealing in general hardware, under the firm name of & Young, who have since conducted the business with success. October 30, 1869, Mr. Young married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Wesley and Mary Ann Cole, by whom he has two children, Mary E. and Adonis C. In the fall of 1872 he was appointed postmaster at Anna. In April, 1881, he was elected a justice of the peace of Franklin Township. He has filled the office of mayor of Anna since the fall of 1878.   RUSSEL, B. DILL,     son of James C. and Martha A. Dill, was born in Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Sept. 5, 1852. In 1872 h began as an apprentice at the brick and stone mason trade; also plain and ornamental plastering. After serving three years to learn the trades, he formed a partnership with James Williamson in 1875, to carry on the business of plain and ornamental plastering, bricklaying, and to do stone-mason work, under the firm name of Williamson & Dill. Nov. 3, 1875, he married Miss Emily P., daughter of Robert and Henrietta Brown, by whom he has two sons. Mr. and Mrs. Dill now reside in Anna.   JAMES H. WOODDELL,   son of Lesley and Lucinda Wooddell, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Aug. 5, 1852. He came to Shelby County with his parents in Oct. 1862, and located on a farm near Botkins, where he spent his minority. In September, 1880, he came to Anna, where he engaged in dealing in buggies and wagons, which business he has since been conducting. In June, 1881, he became the successor of Lewis Applegate, in the firm of Mede & Applegate, dealers in agricultural implements, and the firm name was then changed to Mede & Wooddell, who are now conducting the business. In Sept. 1881, Messrs. Mede & Wooddell erected their present building, in which they carry on their business of dealing in agricultural implements they also conduct a livery and feed stable.   RICHARD D. MEDE,   son of Eber F. and Amanda Mede, was born in Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio, Aug. 5, 1851. He remained on the farm with his father until 1871, when he came to Anna, where he engaged as a clerk in the dry goods store of Kah, Stork & Co., with whom he remained two years. On the 23d day of November, 1873, he married Miss Alice Lippincott, daughter of William and Martha Lippincott. Mr. and Mrs. Mede settled on his father's farm in Dinsmore Township, and remained two years. In 1875 they moved on a farm near Anna, where they lived two years. In 1877 they moved to Anna, where they now reside. They have two children, one son and one daughter. In 1877, shortly after his removal to Anna, he engaged in dealing in agricultural implements in company with Lewis Applegate, to which they have added reapers and binders combined, mowers, sulky corn-plows, hay-rakes, etc., also light and heavy wagons, under the firm name of Mede & Applegate, who conducted the business until in June, 1881, when James H. Wooddell became Mr. Applegate's successor, and the firm name has since been known as Mede & Wooddell. In Sept. 1881, they erected their present building, in which, in connection with their other business, they are carrying on the business of livery and feed stable.   JOSEPH D. ELLIOTT, of the firm of Elliott & Young,   dealers in general hardware, Anna, Ohio. Mr. Elliott, son of Samuel and Jane Elliott, was born in Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, 0., Oat. 29, 1839. He received a common school education. In October, 1860, he entered the dry goods store of James H. Thirkield as clerk, with whom he remained three years. In 1863 he began as a clerk in the employ of Mr. Thirkield's brother, with whom he remained five years. In 1868 he formed a partnership with Lewis Kah & Co., under the firm name of Kah, Elliott & Co., dealers in general merchandise. He remained as a partner in the firm until the fall of 1872, when he withdrew from the old firm and formed a partnership with P. W. Young, the firm name being known as Elliott & Young, who erected their present business room, 20 by 40 feet, two stories high, in which they have since been conducting the business of dealing in general hardware. Nov. 13, 1869, he married Miss Sarah J. Baker, daughter of Moses E. and Lucretia Baker, born in Shelby County, Ohio, October 21, 1845, by whom he had two children, Girthie and Charlie ;. Girthie is dead.     LEWIS APPLEGATE, Dealer in all kinds of Lumber, Anna, O.   Mr. Applegate was born in Monmouth County, N. J., Feb. 5, 1832. He was brought to Ohio by his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Applegate, in 1837. They settled in. Shelby County, on a farm one mile west of where Plattsville is located, in Greene Township, where young Applegate grew to manhood. He received a common school education. In June, 1858, he married Miss Ann, daughter of David and Amy Dickensheets. Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis Applegate settled on his father's home farm in Greene Township. In the spring of 1873 he sold the home farm, purchased and moved on a farm in Franklin Township, near Swander's Crossing, remaining three years. In 1876 he sold his farm in Franklin Township and moved to Anna, where he engaged in the undertaking business, which he conducted with success four years. In 1880 h retired from the business and purchased a farm in Franklin Township near Anna, which he owned until in the spring of 1881, when he sold his farm and engaged in dealing in all kinds of building material—lumber, both hard and soft wood, doors, sash, blinds, etc.—of which they keep a good assortment and a lame stock constantly on hand. He and his partner make contracting and building a specialty. He served as justice of the peace of Franklin Township four years. In Oct. 1880, he was elected justice of the peace of Dinsmore Township, which position he is now filling. He served as coroner of Shelby County two terms, or six years. He served as mayor of Anna one year, when he resigned the office. He has live children, three sons and two daughters.   THOMAS C. LEAPLEY   was born in Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio, Sept. 13, 1845. He is a son of Jacob and Louisa Leapley, who were early settlers of Franklin Township. He remained on the farm with his parents until 1860, when he began working at the carpenter trade, which he followed   HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO - 303   one year, until September 16, 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, 20th 0. V. I., and served until Aug. 11, 1862, when he was discharged from the service on account of disability. He returned home, remained until Jan. 10, 1863, when he re-enlisted in same company and regiment, served until March 9, 1864, when he was again discharged on account of disability, and has since then drawn a pension from the government. After his return from the army in 1864 h was unable to perform labor of any kind for several years. In 1868 he again began working at the carpenter trade, which he followed until the spring of 1881, when he formed a partnership with William Johnston—the firm name known as William Johnston & Co.—who at once began the erection of a building in Anna suitable for the manufacturing of spokes and bent wood for wagons and buggies. They completed their building and commenced operations in Aug. 1881, which they have since conducted with success. Aug. 8, 1871, he married Miss Eva, daughter of William N. and Martha Skidmore, by whom he has four children, two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Leapley was born in New York State Dec. 9, 1844, and came to Sidney, Shelby County, with her parents in 1853.   DANIEL CURTNER, Dealer in General Merchandise, Anna, O.   Mr. Curtner was born in Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio, Aug. 7, 1837. He is a son of Peter and Sophia Curtner, who came from Montgomery County, Ohio, to Shelby County in 1833 or '34 and settled in Franklin Township, where Mr. Peter Curtner died in 1844. His companion married a man by the name of Young, and is now living in Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, at the advanced age of seventy-six years. Mr. D. Curtner, the subject of this sketch, is the flfth of a family of six children, viz., Eliza, Silas, Delila, Henry, Daniel, and Sarah J. Eliza Curtner is now dead.   Daniel Curtner is what we can truly call a self-educated man, the greater part of his education being acquired by close application to his books at home on the farm. In the fall of 1860 he began teaching school, which he followed as a profession five years, or until 1865, when he, in company with H. Cargill, engaged in the mercantile business in Port Jefferson, which they conducted successfully until March, 1876, when, by mutual consent., they dissolved partnership, and Mr. C. came to Anna, where he engaged in general merchandising, dealing in dry goods, ready-made clothing, boots, shoes, hats, caps, and groceries. In 1866 he mar- ried Miss Cynthia E., daughter of James Shaw, by whom he has had three children, two of whom are now living, one son and one daughter.   DANIEL STALEY   was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in the year 1816. His father (Joseph. Staley) was born in North Carolina in 1780, emigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1802, when there were only four houses in Dayton. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and fought the British and Indians in northern Indiana. He died in 1867. Daniel, the subject of this sketch, was raised on a farm. His mother died when he was but nine days old. When thirteen years of age he was put out among strangers, and from that time to the present he has fought the battle of life without any aid. He received his education at the common schools of his neighborhood. After arriving at manhood he followed teaching school during the winter, and worked on the farm in the summer. In 1851 h married Miss Margaret J. Jackson. After marriage he continued to work on a farm until 1858, when he went to Dayton and entered the Recorder's office as Deputy Recorder, at which he continued until 1861, when he enlisted in the army in the 74th O. V. I. and served over two years, when he was discharged on account of disability and returned home to Dayton. In 1864 he was elected Treasurer of Montgomery County, and was re-elected in 1866, serving two full terms. Again in 1868 the party to which he belonged nominated him for the third term, but he was defeated at the election. The balance of the ticket was defeated by over one thousand votes, while Mr. Staley only fell short between two and three hundred. In politics Mr. Staley has always been an unflinching Republican. In 1879 his name was brought forward by his friends for Treasurer of the State, and at the Convention had the unanimous support of several counties, but on account of his geographical location—other candidates for other offices being from the same part of the State—he withdrew his name from the Convention. Mr. Staley in 1g69 moved with his family to Shelby County and located two miles N. E. of Sidney, in Franklin Township, where he owns a farm of six hundred acres. On this farm Mr. Staley makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred cattle as well as the oracles. He has among his herd quite a number of registered cattle, whose records are to be found in The American Herd Book. His aim is to improve the stock of cattle through western Ohio. His sales of stock extend for many miles.   Mr. and Mrs. Staley have raised a family of three children, whose names and date of birth are as follows: Joseph P. born 1852; Cerenia J. born 1855 ; and Daniel W. born 1861.   SALEM TOWNSHIP   was organized June 5, 1826. It was ordered by the Commissioners at their meeting of the above date, that all that part of' Perry Township lying on the northwest side of the Miami River be created a new 'township by the name of Salem, and that the qualified electors of Salem Township meet at the house of John Hathaway on Saturday, the 24th day of June, for the purpose of electing officers for said township.   The following addition was made to the township June 5, 1837, viz., all of fractional township No. 1 in range 1.4 which was in Perry Township. This addition was some years later again attached to Perry Township.   Location.   Salem is in the eastern tier of townships. It is bounded on the north by Franklin and Jackson townships; on the east by Logan County; on the south by Perry and Clinton, and on the west by Clinton and Franklin townships.   The surface is generally rolling, and along the streams somewhat broken and hilly.   The soil is varied ; in some parts clay predominates, and the soil is rather thin ; while in other parts it consists of a rich black loam, and is well adapted to the growing of grain and grass..   There is an abundance of gravel for road purposes. The township is well supplied with springs and streams. The south part is bordered by the Great Miami River ; the east is crossed by Rum Creek ; the central part by Counts' Run; along the extreme west is Plumb Creek ; all Of which empty into the Miami. These streams are all fed and supported by springs. The system of gravelled roads is quite complete, there being not less than twenty-five miles of free pikes in the township.   First Settlers.   The first white settlers in Salem Township (by Salem Township is meant the territory now included in the township) was John Hathaway or — Gilbert, who located here in 1814 or 1815. It is claimed by Mr. Dingman that the first white settler in the township was Charles Weeks, on section 20, on what is known as the Bryan farm. This settlement was made in 1810 or 1811. He built the first house and made the first improvement. The land was owned by Daniel V. Dingman. These were followed by Jesse Jackson, Alex. Jackson, Elisha Kirtland, and Caleb Goble, who were all here previous to the spring of 1818. In 1818 Adam Counts and Jacob LeMasters came. From 1818 to 1820 we find that Wm. Roberts, Samuel Taylor, George Morrison, Benj. Beden, Joseph Donaldson, and Wm. Skillen had settled here. The first log cabin was built by John Hathaway at the big spring where Ogden's store now stands. The first hewed log house was built by Alex. Jackson. The first, frame house by John Johnston.   The first road surveyed was the Sidney and Bellefontaine Road, and was surveyed by — Thompson.   The first school-house was built on the land of Elisha Kirtland ; the second was on the land of Wm. Skillen, which was afterward burned; then one was built on the land of Wm. Roberts.   Perhaps it would not 'be out of place here to give a description of a primitive school-house. It will be remembered there was no school fund or tax at that time ; schools were supported by private subscription, When they desired a school-house the neighbors would gather together, select a site, then cut logs and build a house, usually about 12 by 16 ft.; the floor and ceiling were split puncheon; the door was made from split boards hewed with an axe and put together with wooden pins, hung on wooden hinges, with wooden latch, opened by a string. The benches or seats were made from saplings hewed flat on one side, with wooden pins for legs. The desk for the scholars to write on was a puncheon fastened to the wall by pins. The fireplace occupied one end of the house. The chimney. was made of sticks plastered with mud. The roof was of clapboards. held to their place with round poles. To make a window, one log was cut out of each side of the house, a frame was made with sticks crossing each other ; over this frame they pasted paper, and greased it with coon oil, which made it seem transparent. The whole structure was made without a nail or particle of iron in or about it. The youth of today will ask why such houses. were built ? and why they did not use sawed lumber, and nails, and glass ? The answer is, there was not a saw-mill within many miles of them, or a hardware store at which to get the glass and nails. Even if there had been, they had no money to buy them with. The teacher at that day was sometimes just as primitive as the school-house. He received for his wages ten dollars per month and boarded with the scholars. They were only required to teach reading; writing, spelling, and arithmetic. Their text-books were, the New Testament, U. S. Spelling-book, and Dayboll's Arithmetic. Steel pens were unknown; goose-quill pens made by the teacher were all the kinds they used. It was no uncommon thing to see the teacher with a dozen pens sticking in his hair waiting to be mended. The beech rod was u daily use, the teacher always kept a supply on hand ready for any emergency   304 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.   that might arise. The buckskin pants the boys used to wear and the beech rod brought in contact, would make lively music nearly every day. An incident is related by one of the scholars who attended the first school taught in Salem Township ; the teacher was Daniel Goble. It was the custom of the school to read a chapter in the Testament each day. The teacher took the privilege to expound the Scriptures to the school as he understood them. In the lesson one day the word sepulchre occurred ; he asked what it meant ; no one seemed to give the correct definition, so he told the school it was an animal that lived in the sea and upset ships. But this class of schools soon gave way for those of a higher grade, and we find at their head occasionally a man of more than ordinary qualifications. Such was Daniel G. Hull, who taught school here about 1832; he was a superior teacher and instructor, aid also practical surveyor. It was under him that Col. J. Counts received his principal education and knowledge of surveying and civil engineering. Of the scholars who attended the first school in Salem Township only two are left in the county, viz., Col. Jonathan Counts and Wm. Skillen.   List of Justices of the Peace.   A. K. Hathaway, Jan. 26, 1836. S. Gamble, April 28, 1837. A. K. Hathaway, Jan. 11, 1839. Theodore McGinnis (resigned May 20, 1842), April 16, 1840. James Gilfillen, May 9, 1840. Thomas Robbins, Feb. 1, 1842. Elias LeFevre, April 12, 1843. A. Knox (resigned Feb. 22, 1845), Dec. 10, 1844. Silas A. Thompson, April 25, 1845. Vincent Guerin, July 14, 1845. " " July 15, 1848. Joseph Comer, A Aril 10, 1849. Vincent Guerin, Sept. 4, 1851. Reason Butt, April 17, 1852. James Haney, April 17, 1852. George J. Mitchell, April 14, 1853. G. J. Mitchell, April - 1856. Joseph Comer, April 16, 1858. Daniel Ferree, April 16, 1858. H. M. Stout, April 12, 1859. Wm. Shinn, Jr., May 4, 1861. H. M. Stout, April 22, 1862. J. P. Forsythe and William Shinn, April 23, 1864. G. J. Mitchell, April 14, 1865. Robert Simpson, Oct. 17, 1866. J. P. Forsythe, April 5, 1867. G. J. Mitchell, April 13, 1868. Robert Simpson, April 12, 180. Jno. P. Forsythe, April 8, 1870. Jacob LeFevre, April 11, 1871. Wm. Dunlap, Oct. 18, 1871. H. M. Ailes, April 5, 1872. W. H. Mitchell, April 5, 1872. Robert Simpson, April 11, 1873. S. L. Manning, June 6, 1873. H. M. Ailes, April 9, 1875. A. A. Dunson, April 24, 1875. R. B. Conklin, June 26, 1876. S. L. Manning, April 11, 1878. A. A. Dunson, April 11, 1878. R. B. Conklin, April 17, 1879. V. McCormick, April 18, 1881. S. L. Manning, April 18, 1881.   PORT JEFFERSON,   a thriving village in Salem Township, is situated on the northwest bank of the Great Miami River in section 15. It was surveyed and platted Aug. 11, 1836, by Jonathan Counts, deputy surveyor for Ezekiel Thomas and Abner Gerrard, proprietors. The original plat contained 93 lots and fractional lots.   The village is pleasantly situated at the head of the Miami extension canal feeder, and has about 500 inhabitants. It was incorporated in 1842.   The first officers were: E. H. West, Mayor. J. Knox, L. A. Davis, Wm. B. Miller, J. F. Fry, and Saml. Ride, Trustees. S. B. Musselman, Recorder. J. H. Hathaway, Marshal.   The town was named by Col. Jonathan Counts. There being another post-office in the State by the name of Port Jefferson, the P. O. at this place was named Pratt, after Dr. Pratt of Sidney. The first P. M. was Alex. Jackson. The mail was carried on horseback from Sidney to Marysville, Union County.   The first settler on the present town plat of Port Jefferson was John Hathaway, in 1814 or '15, who also was the first in the present limits of the township.   The first store was kept by Albert K. Hathaway on the lot east of the Staley Hotel. He was followed by John Ogden.   The first hotel was kept by Samuel Anderson.   The first physician was Dr. L. A. Davis.   Present Business of Port Jefferson.   Dry Goods and General Merchandise, L. C. Ogden & Son, Henry Cargill, and S. T. Thirkield. Groceries and Provisions, E. B. & E. M". Honnell, J. Apgar, White & Lowe, and J. Staley. Stoves, Hardware, and Tinware, R. J. Deweese. Boots and Shoes, E. L. Kraft & Son. Furniture and Undertaker, Owen Conner. Hotels: Staley House, J. Staley; City Hotel, E. 0. Gump. Livery and Feed Stables, J. Staley and E. O. Gump. Millinery and Dress Makers, Mrs. Putt and Mrs. Dutton. Grain Elevator, E. B. & E. M. Honnell. Port Jefferson Flouring Mills, G. E. Allinger. Saw Mill, J. B. Nettleship. Wagon and Carriage Manufacturer, E. L. Harrison. Blacksmiths, B. C. & N. S. Epler, Geo. Johnston, and S. R. Johnston. Tannery, John Cargill. Cooper Shop, Cargill Bros.   Two churches, M. E. and Disciple. One F. and A. M., and one I. O. O. F. Lodge.   TILETON.   Tileton, Maple Wood Post-Office, is located in town. 2 north, range 8 east, and was laid out for W. H. Mitchell, proprietor. Main Street follows the section line between sections 30 and 31, and is 75 links wide. Ohio Street is located on the quarter section line, runs north and south, and is 75 links wide. East Lane is 50, and West Lane is 582 links wide. All alleys are 1 rod in width. All lots are 5 by 62 rods in width except lots 14 and 32, which are 3 by 6i rods'. Lots numbered 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are off the west half of the southeast quarter of section 30, and contain 1.9 acre. Lots numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are off the east half of southwest quarter of section 30, and contain 1.96 acre. Lots 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 are out of the east half of the northwest quarter of section 31, and contain 4.22 acres. Lots 14, 13, 12, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, and 42 are out of the west half of the northeast quarter of section 31, and contain 5.82 acres.   Certified Aug. 19, 1872, and recorded Nov. 11, 1874.   NORTH SALEM   was laid out on the northwest bank of the Great Miami, in section 10, town. 1, range 7 E., in Salem Township, and was surveyed Aug. 16, 1836, for Abel Roberts, proprietor. It consisted of 36 lots, as shown by original plot, but has faded away except as a matter of record.   Schools.   Port Jefferson was organized as a Special School District in the year 1858, since which time the Board of Education has consisted of six members instead of three, as before. The schools were held in a one-story brick house, which shortly afterward gave place to a two-story brick with two rooms. Prior to the organization of the special school district, the schools were only partly supported by public tax. After the public money was expended, the balance of the tuition was collected from the parents of the children in attendance. The duty of collecting this fund fell upon the teacher, which he had to do or not get pay for his labor. The usual wages were from thirteen to sixteen dollars per month of twenty-six days, and eight hours per day. To show the difference between teaching school in those days and the present, we will insert a resolution found on the school record dated Feb. 2, 1843:-   Mr. G____, we have come to the conclusion that we have fulfilled our part in furnishing the WOOD for the school, and if you cannot, with the help of the large scholars, cut it up or induce the householders so to do, by sending them word by the scholars, we shall disband the school. We have done what we think is our duty to induce them so to do ; further, we want you to be more exact to your appointed hours, as complaints are entered against you in this particular.   In 1876 the Board of Education felt the necessity of more schoolrooms. The question of a new school-house was agitated, but no action was taken until 1877, when the old building was removed and the present fine structure was erected (a view of which is shown in this work). The building is of brick, and is 60 by 54 feet, and 30 feet high. It contains four rooms, furnished with modern furniture and fixtures, and is a model building, both in architecture and finish. The total cost of the building was $7745, exclusive of furniture. The schools are graded into three departments, with one teacher in each. The Board Of Education at the time of the erection of the building were : R. B. Conklin, M. J. Winget, J. B. Nettleship, J. F. Miller, J. C. Ogden,. and Wm. Manning.   CHURCHES.   Methodist Episcopal Church.   The history of Methodism at Port Jefferson antedates the organization of the village ; but when or by whom the first society was organized cannot be definitely ascertained, as there is no record in existence prior to 1845 ; but there is known to have been a society here prior to 1830. This society at that 'time was on the Bellefontaine Circuit. We have no means of knowing when the first church building was erected, but it was a log edifice and stood near the old cemetery east of the village. This structure some years later gave way to a small frame church, which served as a place of worship until 1862, when the present building was completed. It was dedicated June 6, 1862, by the Rev. R. D. Old-field, the pastor of the church. In 1834 Bellefontaine Circuit was divided and Sidney Circuit was formed, which embraced Port Jefferson. In 1843 Sidney was made a Station, and Port Jefferson Circuit was formed.   The following, is a list of the pastors who have been over the charge from its organization to the present time, viz.: Levi White, Geo. Gatch, Thomas Beacham, Joshua Boucher, Jno. W. Clark, James W. Findley, Thomas Simms, Wm. M. Sullivan, Wm. Morrow, John Stewart, Peter Sharp, Daniel D. Davidson, James Smith, W. C. Clark- Geo. W. Walker, David Kempler, Wilson Smith, Silas Chase, L. P. Miller, and David Warnock.   The above were the pastors while this society was included in the Bellefontaine and Sidney Circuits.   The following have been on Port Jefferson Circuit since that time, viz.:   HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO - 305   A. Harmount, C. Coleman, J. S. Kalb, P. R. Roseberry, E. Hook, J. S. Albright, J. M. Barr, P. R. Roseberry, Henry Burns, A. Paster, W. A. Baker, S. D. Shaffer, G. Lease, H. 0. Sheldon, M. B. Hibbert, B. C. Love, P. G. Goode, A. J. Stubbs, J. L. Bates, R. D. Oldfield, J. N. Smith, J. A. Ferguson, B. J. Hoadly, H. L. Spindler, P. A. Drown, W. S. Rea, 0. Palmer, G. Mathews, J. Crooks, M. Markwith, and J. L. Butes.   The present membership of the church is about 130. There is a flourishing Sabbath-school in connection with the church with a membership of about 110 scholars and teachers, under the superintendence of S. T. Thirkield.   The Miami Christian Church.   This church was organized in the year 1849 by the Rev. James Skillen and Joseph Warbleton at the house of John Mulford. The first members were Amos and John Mulford and their wives, Jacob Near and wife, and Samuel Wiles. The first church was a log one, erected in 1852 on the land of Jacob Near, in Logan County. This was burned in 1871 and replaced by a frame in 1872, on the land of Henry Kemp. The present society consists of eighty members. The following are the names of the pastors who have been over the society since its first organization : James Skillen, Daniel Lepley, Snow Richardson, Samuel Feuston, Justice Hunt, Jonathan Rhea, C. W. Davis, Thomas Diltz, and Daniel Lepley.   TILETON.   The business interests of Tileton are as follows : two general stores, by R. D. Earl and M. E. Strayer ; one saw mill, by Epler Bros.; two physicians, J. D. Wise and J. F. Harshbarger ; one tile factory ; one blacksmith shop ; and one wagon shop.   Stokes Lodge No. 305 of F. and A. M.   This lodge was organized March, 1858, under the name of Stokes Lodge, in honor of Horace M. Stokes, who at that time was Grand Master of the State. The lodge worked under dispensation until Oct. 1858, at which time the following officers of the Grand Lodge were present, viz., Wm. Fielding, W. G. M., W. C. Fielding, Dept. G. M., W. W. Skillen, S. G. W., F. A. Pool, J. G. W., Alex. Green, S. G. D., Irwin Nutt, J. G. D., H. 0. Sheldon, W. G. C., T. E. English, G. T., J. S. Read, G. S., and Jacob Young, T. After the opening of the Grand Lodge a procession was formed and marched to the M. E. Church, preceded by the new lodge and other members, where the officers of Stokes Lodge were duly installed by G. M. Wm. Fielding, who afterwards made a brief address. The Grand Marshal then made the following proclamation three times : In the name of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, I proclaim this new lodge, by the name of Stokes Lodge, No. 305, to be legally constituted and consecrated and the officers thereof duly installed. Prayer was offered by G. Chap. II. 0. Sheldon. The lodge then returned to the lodge room and closed in harmony.   The following are the names of the charter members : J. Comer, E. B. Hornell, B. C. Wilkinson, Alex. Buckingham, James M. Roberts, Stephen C. Hussey, Jacob Epler, Wm. Miller, and E. H. Hopkins.   The following were the first list of officers in full: W. M., J. Comer; S. W., E. B. Honnell ; J. W., B. C. Wilkinson ; Treas., Alex. Buckingham ; Sec'y, J. M. Roberts ; S. D., S. C. Hussey ; J. D., Jacob Enter : Tyler, Wm. Miller.   The following persons have filled the three principal offices success,. ively from the organization to the present time   W. M., J. Comer, 1859; E. B. Honnell, 1860 to 1863; J. Comer, 1864; Isaac Strahlem, 1865 ; E. B. Honnell, 1866; T. W. Epler, 1867 and '68 ; E. B. Honnell, 1869 and '70; Wm. Dunlap, 1871; E. B. Honnell, 1872; B: C. Epler, 1873; E. B. Honnell, 1874 and '75; Jacob Epler, 1876; E. B. Honnell, 1877, 1878, and '79; J. F. Rice, 1880; E. M. Honnell, 1881; B. C. Epler, 1882.   S. W., E. B. Honnell, B. C. Wilkinson, two years; Isaac Strahlem, H. M. Stout, John F. Miller, T. W. Epler, Wm. Dunlap, two years; B. C. Epler, two years; G. E. Allinger, two years; John F. Rice, S. Baker, two years; John F. Rice, G. E. Allinger, N. W. Deweese, S. S. Crunbaugh, E. M. Honnell, S. S. Crumbaugh, and G. E. Allenger.   J. W., B. C. Wilkinson, Jacob Epler, Isaac Strahlem, J. M. Roberts, Jefferson Baker, Valentine McCormick, two years ; Wm. Dunlap, J. W. Pettier, G. E. Allinger, N. W. Deweese, H. C. Roberts, S. Baker, E. L. Kraft, J. S. Noland, two years ; H. M. A iles, S. S. Crumbaugh, E. M. Honnell, Chas. Murray, Valentine McCormick, and 0. 0. Murray.   A. J. Stubbs was the first to take the degree of E. A.   The meetings of the lodge are on Wednesday evening on or before each full moon. Present number of members, 33.   I. O. O. F.   A charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio to W. B. Sandoe, J. Corner, E. H. Hopkins, J. F. Black, Wm. Dunlap, and Isaac Strahlem, May 15, 1861, to organize Earl Lodge, No. 365, of I.O.O.F.   The first meeting of the lodge was held at Port Jefferson, July 13, 1861. G. M., W. F. Slater took the chair. The following officers were elected: W. B. Sandoe, N. G.; E. H. Hopkins, V. G.; Wm. Dunlap, R. S.; Joseph Comer, Treasurer. After election they proceeded to the M. E. Church, where Grand Chaplain, I). E. Thomas, delivered an address, and the officers were installed by the Grand Master. After the installation of officers they returned to the lodge room. The lodge opened in due form, and the petition of Win. M. Van Fossen was presented, together with his card from Trinity Centre Lodge of Cal., to become a member of Earl Lodge. The petition was referred and committee reported favorably, and he became the first member by card. The lodge room at this time was over the store of Joseph Corner. Some time later another lodge room was secured, which was afterwards burned, together with nearly all the furniture of the lodge. Meetings for a number of years were held in a room over the store of S. T. Thirkield. In the fall of 1832 the lodge secured the privilege from E. L. Kraft of building the second story on his new store building for a lodge room. This room they have finished and furnished at a cost of about $1600, and now have a very neat and handsome room. The present membership is 53. The time of meeting is every Monday evening.   The following is a complete list of the four principal officers in succession, since the first election:-   N. G., E. H. Hopkins, W. Dunlap, Isaac Strahlem, Enoch Hike, J. P. Forsythe, J. S. Noland, J. P. Forsythe, E. L. Kraft, D. C. Wilkinson, S. Arbigast, Wm. Anderson, C. H. Gearhart, J. S. Noland, Wm. Apgar, G. E. Allinger, B. F. Martin, D. Hike, G. E. Allinger, J. Staley, J. Cargill, I. Wilson, Thos. Hussey, B. C. Epler, 0. C. Staley, L. B. McVay, Wm. Rike, J. A. Edmiston, S. Wons, D. Wagner, J. Redinbaugh, S. C. Burton, J. Apgar, S. Wons, W. E. Rike, J. C. Bede, G. E. Allinger, J. Apgar, N. S. Epler, Wm. Hartman, T. W. Thompson, L. B. Glick, and J. A. Warbington.   V. G., Wm. Dunlap, W. M. Van Fossen, E. Rike J. P. Forsythe, W. A. Skillen, E. Rike, E. L. Kraft, D. C. Wilkinson, Wm. Dunlap, Wm. An- derson, C. H. Gearhart, D. McVay, Wm. Apgar, G. E. Allinger, B. F. Martin, D. Hike, I. Wilson, J. Staley, J. Cargill, T. M. Hussey, B. C. Epler, J. Andrews, O. C. Staley, L. B. McVay, W. E. Rike, J. A. Edmiston, S. Wons, D. Wagner, J. Redinbaugh, S. C. Burton, J. Apgar, N. S. Epler, D. Wagner, J. B. Redinbaugh, L. B. McVay, L. B. Glick, N. S. Epler, Wm. Hartman, T. W. Thompson, E. Bryan, A. Warbington, and G. W. DeBobin.   R. S., W. M. Van Fossen, W. H. Mitchel, J. P. Forsythe, J, N. Martin, Wm. Dunlap, E. L. Kraft, D. C. Wilkinson, W. H. Mitchel, W. H. Man- ning, C. H. Gearhart, W. H. Goble, J. S. Noland, B. F. Martin, D. Rike, I. Wilson, J. Staley, J. Cargill, Thos. Hussey, H. Harshberger, B. C. Epler, J. Andrews, 0. C. Staley, L. B. McVay, W. E. Rike, N. S. Epler, S. Wons, D. Wagner, and B. C. Epler, who has served for the last fifteen terms.   Treasurer. J. Corner, four terms; I. Strahlem, four terms; Wm. Anderson, J. S. Noland, E. Hike, three terms; J. Cargill, two terms; H. Allen, two terms; J. P. Forsythe, four terms; G. E. Allinger, two terms; I. Wilson, two terms ; G. E. Allinger, two terms; and John Cargill has served for the last fifteen terms.   Township Officers   The records of this township are lost to the date given below.   April 4, 1853. Trustees, John G. Knox, James Skillen, and Wilson S. Mitchell. Clerk, James T. Johnston. Treasurer, Armstrong Knox. Assessor, William Baker. Constables, S. B. Musselman, Jacob be Fevre, and Henry Kesler.   1854. Trustees, Jonas Harshbarger, Nimrod Duvauld, and W. S. Mitchell. Clerk, James Haney. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, Isaac Harshbarger. Constables, G. W. Robbins, L. C. Ogden, and A. Dunson. 1855. Trustees, Samuel Armstrong, W. S. Mitchell, Nimrod Duvauld. Clerk, S. T. Thirkield. Treasurer, James Morland. Assessor, J. M. Roberts. Constables, B. F. Michael, Enoch Rike, and Thomas Rea. 1856. Trustees, Nimrod Duvauld, W. S. Mitchell, and John G. Knox. Clerk, John F. Miller. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, Isaac Harshbarger. Constables, Enoch Rike, A. S. Cannon, and Wm. Robinson. 1857. Trustees, N. Duvauld, J. G. Knox, and R. B. Conklin. Clerk, S. T. Thirkield. Treasurer, A. Armstrong. Assessor, Isaac Harshbarger. Constables, A. S. Cannon, H. M. Stout, and Jesse Glick. 1858. Trustees, same. Clerk, John F. Miller. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Constables, Squire Baker, H. M. Stout, and T. B. Hathaway. 1859. Trustees, Isaac Miller, R. B. Conklin, and John G. Knox. Clerk, J. F. Miller. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Constables, Squire Baker, H. I. Stockstill, and U. B. Haney. 1860. All re-elected except for Assessor, Wm. Shinn. 1861. Trustees, Geo. Gillespie, Elbert Cargill, and Nimrod Duvauld. Clerk, J. F. Miller. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Constables, Wm. Skillen, David Arbogast, and R. Hodge. 1862. Trustees, Eli B. Honnell, W. S. Mitchell, and A. A. Dunson. Clerk, Dr. J. F. Miller. Treasurer, A. Knox. Assessor, N. Duvauld. Constables, Squire Baker, David Arbogast, and S. McCormick.   306 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.   1863. Trustees, A. A. Dunson, E. B. Honnell, and David Cargill. Clerk, Dr. J. F. Miller. Treasurer, Isaac Stralheim. Assessor, Isaac Miller. Constables, Samuel Johnson, Benj. Hine, and Ranson Hodge. 1864. Trustees, E: B. Honnell, A. A. Dunson, and David Cargill. Clerk and Treasurer re-elected. 1865. Trustees, same. Clerk, Wm. Dunlap. Treasurer, Isaac Stralheim. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Constables, Squire Baker, W. S. Mitchell, Silas Arbogast. 1866. Trustees, John Cargill, A. A. Dunson, and Price Walker. Clerk, G. E. Allinger. Treasurer, Isaac Stralheim. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Constables, S. Baker, D. Arbogast, and David Taylor. 1867. Trustees, N. Duvauld, John Cargill, and Wm. Apgar. Clerk, Wm. Dunlap. Treasurer, Isaac Stralheim. Constables, S. Baker, D. Arbogast, and D. Taylor. 1868. Trustees, same. Clerk, J. F. Miller. Treasurer, Wm. Dunlap. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Constables, R. D. Pegg, James Dickerson, and Jacob Duvauld. 1869. Trustees, R. B. Conklin, John Cargill, and Wm. Apgar. Clerk, R. D. Pegg. Treasurer, E. B. Honnell. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Con- stables, S. Baker, S. Johnson, and W. Hall. 1870. Trustees, A. Richey, Elias Le Fevre, and G. E. Allinger. Clerk, R. D. Pegg. Treasurer, W. K. Smith. Assessor, T. R. Patterson. Constables, L. B. McVay, George Gump, and F. M. Husser: 1871. Trustees, G. E. Allinger, N. Duvauld, and John W. Lorton. Clerk, R. D. Pegg. Treasurer, John F. Rice. Assessor, H. C. Roberts. Pike Superintendent, T. M. Husser. Constables, S. Baker, G. Gump, and Henry Kemp. 1872. Trustees, same. Clerk, E. H. Cargill. Treasurer, Wm. Manning. Assessor, H. C. Roberts. Pike Superintendent, Nimrod Le Fevre. Constables, D. Cargill, G. Gump, and James Carroll. 1873. Trustees, Enoch Rike, John Cargill, and Win. H. Price. Clerk, Benj. Allenbach. Treasurer, Benj. C. Epler. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Pike Superintendent, N. Le Fevre. Constables, S. Baker, J. W. McDowell, and George Gump. 1874. Trustees, G. J. Mitchell, A. A. Dunson, and Owen Conner. Clerk, B. F. Allenbach. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Constables, L. B. McVay, E. L. Kraft, and Isaac Allen. 1875. Trustees, Nimrod Duvauld, T. M. Hussey, and S. C. Barton. Clerk, 0. C. Staley. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. Constables, L. B. McVay, P. M. Grapp, and M. A. Le Fevre. 1876. Trustees, Simon Worres, T. M. Hussey, and Owen Conner. Clerk, B. F. Allenbach. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, R. B. Conklin. 1877. Trustees, Simon Wones, Owen Conner, and W. H. Price. Clerk, H. C. Roberts. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Con- stables, L. B. McVay, M. A. Le Fevre, and Wm. Hartman. 1878. Trustees, Jacob Duvauld, John Roberts, and E. H. Cargill. Clerk, Joseph W. Warbington. Treasurer B. C. Epler. Assessor, G. J. Mitchell. Pike Superintendent, T. M. 'Treasurer, Constables, L. B. McVay, G. W. Eleatt, and Daniel Hoffman. 1879. Trustees, J. B. Nettleship, Jacob Epler, and D. Ritchey. Clerk, J. W. Warbington. Treasurer, B. C. Epler. Assessor, A. W. Robinson. Pike Superintendent, V. McCormick. Cemetery Director, J. C. Ogden. Constables, Win. Hartman' John Knapp, and M. A. Le Fevre. 1880. Trustees, James Haney, J. W. Lorton, and Elias Le Fevre. Clerk, J. T. Rice. Treasurer, E. L. Kraft. Assessor, M. C. Counts. Pike Superintendent, Wm. Dresback. Constables, G. W. Eleatt, M. Blue, and S. Dunavan. 1881. Trustees, E. B. Honnell, J. M. Le Fevre, and John Cargill. Clerk, H. C. Roberts. Treasurer, G. E. Allinger. Assessor, M. F. Stewart. Pike Superintendent, J. W. McDowell. Constables, Thomas Roberts, S. Baker, and E. O. Gump. 1882. Trustees, O. O. Staley, Simon Wones, and A. Hussey. Clerk, G. W. Bussard. Treasurer, R. J. Dewesse. Assessor, Isaac Harshberger. Pike Superintendent, S. D. Haney. Constables, M. B. Deweese and Thomas Herring. 1883. Trustees, H. C. Tracy, J. W. Lorton, and F. P. McCormick. Clerk, H. C. Roberts. Treasurer, R. J. Deweese. Assessor, S. Wones. Pike Superintendent, Thomas Herring. Constables, Dayton Rike and Isaac Herring.   BIOGRAPHIES.   WILLIAM ROBERTS.   The ancestors of the Roberts of Shelby County originally came from Wales to the 'United States and settled in Pennsylvania; from there they went to Virginia. In 1815 Mr. Roberts moved with his family to Champaign County, Ohio. Mr. Roberts while in Virginia was the owner of slaves. Becoming convinced that owning slaves was wrong, he removed to Ohio with his slaves, thereby giving them their freedom. In 1816 or 1817. he came to Shelby County and located his land—a half section—in section 3 of what is now Salem Township. In the spring of 1819 Mr. Roberts, with two of his sons—James M. and Anderson, and a colored man who had formerly been his slave—came to his lands to build a cabin and clear some land. They cleared about four acres and planted it in corn and potatoes. Some of them remained during the summer and fall to tend and harvest the crop, but all returned in the fall to Champaign and remained there till the spring of 1820, when the whole family, consisting of father, mother, five sons and two daughters, moved to Shelby Co. Of that number James M. is the only one left in the county. There are only two persons now living in the township besides Mr. Roberts who were here at the time he first came, viz., Jonathan Counts and Mrs. Jas. McVay. There was not a road, church, or school in the township. Mr. Roberts has lived to see Salem Township changed from a howling wilderness to a highly cultivated portion of the country. Where the red man hunted the deer since Mr. R. came to the county, now stand the school-house, church, mechanics' shop, store, and farm dwelling. Jas. M. Roberts was born in Bath County, Va., in 1803, and married Theresa Armstrong. By this union they have two children, Melissa and Henry C. In politics Mr. Roberts has always been a Whig and. Republican, never having failed to cast his vote at every election for the party he believed to be nearest his principles. Mr. Roberts was postmaster at Port Jefferson from 1864 to 1878. He says the first wheat he sold he hauled by team to Cincinnati and sold for forty cents per bushel; afterward sold for forty-three cents and took his pay in trade ; sold pork at ninety-three cents per hundred; butter from four to six cents per pound ; paid fifty cents per pound for coffee.   HENRY C. ROBERTS,   only son of James M. Roberts, was born in Shelby County 1844 ; married Miss H. S. Neal in 1867. They have four sons: Fletcher, born 1868 ; Samuel N., born 1870 ; Harry, born 1874 ; Frank, born 1876. Mr. Roberts resides in Pt. Jefferson, and is engaged in buying and shipping grain.   WILLIAM ROBERTS, Jr.,   a brother of James M. Roberts, was born in Virginia in 1808. He was one of the five brothers who came to the county in 1820. He with the other brothers helped to clear the farm ; had the same privileges and advantages that other boys had in the wild woods : about all the education he received was before he was twelve years of age. He lived at home with his father till he was thirty years of age, then married Miss Jane Gilfillen in the year 1838, by whom he had four children. He died in 1852. His widow still lives on the old homestead with her son, Winfield S. The Gilfillens came to the county in 1832; they came from Ireland, Mrs. Roberts being born in Ireland in 1810.   WINFIELD S. ROBERTS   was born in Salem Township in 1852 ; is the youngest son of William Roberts, Jr. He resides on the old homestead of the Roberts', settled in 1820. In 1881 he married Sarah Josephine Baker, a daughter of George C. Baker.   ANDREW ROBERTS, Jr.,   is a son of Andrew Roberts, one of the five Roberts brothers who came to the county in 1820. Andrew, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1848. He married Miss Florence Hartman in 1873. They have two children, Emma J. and Marion A.   SAMUEL L. MANNING   was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1825, and came with his father, Nathaniel Manning,' to Shelby County in 1829. In 1859 he married Margaret J. Brandon. They had two children, John A. born Sept. 27, 18607 and Ulysses G. born Aug. 9, 1864. Esq. Manning resides in Port Jefferson, is serving as justice of the peace on his third term, also is mayor of the town.   JOHN CONRAD BAKER,   when a young man, came to America. He was born in Germany about 1742. The exact date of his coming to the United States is not known, but he married here in about 1782. Some time after he was married he returned to Germany to inherit an estate which had been left; he, being the eldest of the family, became heir to his father's estate. He remained in the fatherland till 1797, when he returned to the United States with his wife and three children. He left the old country on account of being pressed into the army. He had no means with which to pay his passage. He went to the captain of a vessel about to sail for the United States to secure a passage for himself and family, but the captain said he dared not take him, for if it was found out he would have to suffer the penalty; but Mr. Baker, being very anxious to get away from the oppression, insisted on being taken. The captain finally agreed to take him and his family on condition they would suffer themselves to be shipped as ballast in the hold of the vessel, and remain there till the vessel had passed the boundary line of the German dominions. This they agreed to do. After getting his family secretly on board of the ship they were inclosed in large hogsheads or casks, with provisions enough to last them for several days. The casks were then placed in the bottom of the vessel with heavy ballast on top of them, so they could not be readily reached.   HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.- 307   After being in the vessel a day or two they left the dock and started on their perilous journey. After they had sailed about one day they were hailed by a government brig. The officers of the brig came on board to see if they had any contrabands. They were told to search the vessel for themselves, but failed to find any One. They then parted company and the vessels separated ; but the following day the same brig hailed them again and another search was made, with the same result as the day before. They supposed they were now free from further molestation, but thought it best that they should remain where they were until they were past the German jurisdiction ; and well for them that they did, for the following day they were again hailed by the same brig as before. This made the captain of the vessel wrathy ; he told the officers of the brig that they had searched his vessel twice before; now they might search it once more, but that they were within a short distance of his jurisdiction, and if they again attempted to stop him he would blow them out of existence ; but they were not disturbed again. The family were now liberated from their hiding-place and permitted to come on deck after being stowed away five days in their narrow prison in the hold of the vessel. They landed safely in the United States, and here, by an agreement previously made, they were sold for their passage. The father's time was sold for one year the mother's for eighteen months, and each of the children for five years, which time they each served out in full. In 1814 he moved to Greene County, 0., and lived there till 1832, when he came to Shelby County to live with his son, John C. Baker, Jr. Here he died about a year afterward.   John C. Baker, Jr., came to Shelby County in 1830 from Virginia, where he had gone when a young man. He married Margaret Bush in Virginia.   GEORGE C. BAKER,   a son of John C. Baker, was born in Rockingham County, Va., in the year 1811. Came with his father to Shelby County in 1830, and located in the town of Sidney, where he learned the carpenter trade, which occupation he followed for twenty-five years in and about Sidney. In 1838 he married Miss Susannah Hartman. They have two children, viz., Aaron B., who was born July 13, 1846, and Josephine, born Aug. 31, 1856. They lost one son, David Clinton, in the army. He. enlisted in the 20th 0. V. I. Died on a hospital boat June, 1863.   Aaron B. married Miss Clarinda A. Monroe Oct. 1871. By this union they have one child, Walter E., who was born Sept. 1876.   JOHN BAKER,   one of the early settlers of Salem Township, was born in Virginia, near Cumberland Gap, in the year 1815. He came with his father's family to Sidney in 1830. After staying a few months in Sidney they moved to the country, on a rented farm, where they remained two years, then moved to a piece of land in Salem Township, where his father had entered; here he helped his father to clear his new farm. He also followed clearing land for others for a number of years. He says he has cleared at least 200 acres of land with his own hands and axe ; he would get from five to six dollars per acre for clearing. In 1837 he married Elma Shinn, by whom he has had eleven children, eight of whom are still living. When Mr. Baker commenced housekeeping he did not have a dollar in the world ; he worked by day's work at fifty cents per day to get provisions to live on ; would clear land nights, often working till after midnight.; has grubbed many days with nothing to eat but cold corn pone, and was so hard pressed at one time that he sold his only cow to pay for provisions to live on. But few of the early settlers of Shelby County passed through harder times than did Mr. Baker. He in his younger days was one of the most athletic and strong men in the county. He has been known to shoulder five bushels of wheat in one sack; but has now retired from the active duties of labor. In politics is a radical Republican. In religion he is a Methodist, being a local minister in that church.   JACOB L. MCCASHEN   was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1805. The names of his parents were John and Susan Long McCashen. Mr. McCashen came to Shelby County to live in 1833, but had entered his land in the year 1826. In 1839 he married Mary Line, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1821. They have two children, James and Joseph L.; the first was born in 1842, the latter in 1845.   ELISHA KIRTLAND.   Three brothers by the name of Kirkland came from Scotland to the American Colonies prior to the old French war. The name of one was James, those of the other two have been lost. James afterward married, but when or to whom we cannot learn. He raised a family of four children, Elisha, Elias, Deborah, and James. He was killed in the French War on Lake George.   Elisha and Elias were both soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Elisha was taken prisoner by the British, put on board a prison ship off New York Harbor, where he, with the other prisoners, were poisoned by slow poison, from the effects of which many died ; he lived to get home, but died soon afterward. Elias also was taken prisoner, but by the Indians. He being an excellent blacksmith, his life was saved, and he was sent to Canada to work for the British, where he remained until the close of the war, then settled in Blemford, Mass., where h died. . Deborah married William Dee, lived in Saybrook, Conn., and died childless.   James was in the army at N. Y. when Washington retreated from Long Island, and was present at Danbury and saw Gen. Wooster shot. He afterward married Elizabeth Morehouse. It was he who changed the name from Kirkland to that of Kirtland, since which time it has been so written. He lived for a time in Fairfield, then in Cornwall, Conn., after which he moved to Bainbridge, N. Y., where he died. He was the father of Elisha, Elizabeth, James, and William. Elisha was born in Cornwall, Litchfield County, Conn., in 1777. Married Hannah Peck in 1801, and settled in Chenango, N. Y., where he remained until the summer of 1817, when he immigrated with his family to Ohio, and entered land and settled on the bank of the Miami River one mile below Port Jefferson, on what is known as the Pampell farm. Here he made an opening in the forest and erected his cabin. His family at that time consisted of three children, Elias, Anna, and William. Mr. Kirtland was tall, robust, and well built, of light complexion, and well adapted to backwoods life. He was on friendly terms with the red man, who often visited his home. He died on this place in 1840, and was buried in the old cemetery in Sidney. Hannah, his wife, died on the old homestead, January, 1841, and was buried by the side of her husband. Of the three children, Elias was born in Chenango County, N. Y., 1804; died in the spring of 1822. Anna was born Oct. 27, 1806. Married Thomas Wilkinson Nov. 29, 1825, and died March 15, 1852.   WM. KIRTLAND   was born in Chenango County, N. Y., July 18, 1811. Was married to Miss Sarah Bryan, of Shelby County, August 30,1832. She died at the Kirtland homestead, June 17, 1848, aged thirty-two years, and was buried in the cemetery one-half mile west on the Staley farm, where lay four of her daughters, who died young. Mr. Kirtland married for his second wife Miss Frances Jennings, June 21, 1849. In the fall of 1854 he, together with his wife and two sons, Elias and James, moved to Cass County, Ind., where he died in May, 1863.   ELIAS LE FEVRE, ESQ.   Some time during the eighteenth century three brothers of the Le Fevre family came to the United States from France, and located in Frederick County, Md. They were of the Huguenot race. These three brothers remained in Maryland for several years., Finally they separated. One went to New York State. One went south and located in one of the Southern States. Elias, one of the three, and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, died in Maryland. He had seven sons and one daughter, all of whom came to Ohio. Some coming as early as 1802, others not until 1807. They located in Warren County. It was here that Elias was born in the year 1809. In 1832 he married Henrietta L. Ingersoll, a daughter of Benjamin and Laura (Rose) Ingersoll. She was born in the State of New York in 1811.     Mr. and Mrs. Le Fevre, with two children, came to Shelby County in 1835. He entered 160 acres of land in Salem Township. On this land he made his home until he died in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. L. reared a family of seven children, viz., Jacob M., born 1833; Henry J., born 1834; Nimrod D., born 1837; Benjamin F., born 1838; Laura A., born 1842; Mary L., born 1846; and George. M., born 1851, five of whom are still living. Laura A. died in 1878; Jacob M. in 1882.   Esq. Le Fevre gavc his children a fair common school education. Some of them became teachers. Jacob M. entered the ministry in the Reformed Church. Nimrod D. became a practising physician. The Honorable Benjamin F. is now filling his third term as member of Congress from the Fifth Ohio Congressional District.   HENRY J. LE FEVRE   was born in Warren County, Ohio, in the year 1813. He was a brother of Elias Le Fevre, Esq. He married Eleanor Morgan in 1837. The following year they came to Salem Township, and located on a piece of wild land, erected a cabin, and commenced the improvement of his land. After a few years of hard toil, just as he was beginning to get a start in life, and everything looked prosperous and bright, he was called away by the "grim monster death," leaving a wife and four small children. The names and dates of birth of the children are as follows: Mary J., born 1838; Morgan A., born 1841; Jacob M., born 1843; and Henry J., born 1846.   After the death of her husband Mrs. L. rented the farm until the year 1851, when she married Thomas D. Steward, who took charge of the farm until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he entered the army, where b contracted disease, came home, and died in 1862, leaving three children: John M., born 1851; Millard F., born 1856; and Ansel M., born 1858.   308 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.   MORGAN A. LE FEVRE   was born in Salem Township in the year 1841. He is the eldest son of Henry J. Le Fevre. Mr. L. has twice been married. His first wife was Mary C. Harper, who died in 1874, leaving one child, Lizzie A. His second marriage was to Maria M. White, who was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 1846.   JACOB M. LE FEVRE,   the second son of Henry J. Le Fevre, was born in the year 1843. He was reared on a farm, and has made farming his avocation through life. In 1866 he married Dulcennia Line, a daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth Line. They have had born to them six children, viz., Edmund, William 0., James T., Jacob W., Allie, and Minnie D.   HENRY J. LE FEVRE, JR.,   the youngest son of Henry J., was born in 1846. He is a blacksmith by trade, but does not follow it as a business. In 1871 he married Miss Sarah E. Stephens, who only lived until 1875, when she died, leaving two children, Claudee E. and William M.   Mr. L. has a large collection of archaeological implements, mostly gathered on his own farm. Among the collection is the largest stone axe known to be in existence. The collection is worth seeing.   NIMROD DUVALL   was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1815, came to Shelby County, 0., in 1838, married Miss Massa Le Fevre the same year. Mrs. Duvall was born in Warren County also in 1817. They raised a family of six children, viz., Jacob B. born 1838; Mary A., born 1840; Sarah S., born 1842; Melessa C., born 1844; Manford G., born 1846; and Elias L., born 1848. When they moved on to their place they cut the first stick to build their cabin. Mr. Duvall died in 1876.   JACOB B. DUVALL,   the eldest son of the above, was born in this county in 1838; raised on the farm of his father. In 1869 he married Miss Louisa Armstrong, of Logan County. The issue from this marriage is seven children: Mary B., born 1869; Emma M., born 1871; Oliver B., born 1873; Cora C., born 1875; Alvin A., born 1877; John F., born 1879; and Clyde W., born 1880. Mr. D. is located in section 6, and has a fine farm with good improvements.   ELIAS L. DUVALL   was born in Salem Township in 1948, and is the youngest son of Nimrod Duvall. In 1873 he was married to Anna A. Scott. They have but one child, viz., Wallace, born 1875. Elias now owns the old homestead of his father in section 6.   LUTHER STEWART   was born in Logan County in 1839. Came with his father, Thomas D. Steward, to Shelby. County in 1852, when in 1865 he married Miss Melessa C. Duvall. They have had five children : Eliza H., born 1866; John L., born 1868; Lucy I., born 1872 ; Alpha 0., born 1876 ; and Mil-ward F., born 1878. Mr. S. is located in section 6, Salem Township.   JACOB STALEY   was born in Shelby County in 1835. He is a son of John and Elizabeth Boldin Staley. In 1859 he married Rebecca Allen. They have had born to them seven children: Albert E., born 1860; Alonzo E., born 1864; John S., born 1867; Dolly. M., born 1872; Jacob E., born 1874; Katie M., born 1877; Charles F., born 1879. Mr. Staley was raised a farmer, and lived on a farm till 1874, when he bought a hotel in Port Jefferson, and has been the proprietor of the Staley Hotel since that date.   JAMES HILLIARD   was born in Logan County in 1852, but his ancestors were among the early settlers of Perry Township, but the date of their settlement cannot be given. In 1875 Mr. H. married Miss Sarah Le Fevre. They have two children: Edward R., born 1877; and Sadie E., born 1880. They are located on section 5.   THE EPLER FAMILY.   PETER EPLER was born in Northumberland County, Pa., in 1804. His ancestors were of German origin, but the time of their advent into the United States is not known to us. After arriving at his majority he came westward and stopped for a time in Muskingum County, Ohio. It was here in the year 1830 that he married Miss Rachel Ward, who was born in Muskingum County in 1814. Shortly after marriage Mr. Epler came to Shelby County and entered eighty acres of land in Perry Township. In 1831 he brought his wife and one child to this land. They first moved into a house belonging to Mr. Maxwell, until they could clear a spot of ground and erect a cabin. When they landed in Shelby County they did not have five dollars in money left. They worked by day's work to get provisions to live on. Mr. Epler cut and split rails at twenty-five cents per hundred ; Mrs. Epler working out in the clearing, picking brush and helping to roll logs in order to make themselves a home. Their life in the woods was like that of all early settlers who had no means of support but their willing hands. The rifle never had any charms to him ; his time was all spent in clearing his farm. They reared a family of nine children, viz., Jacob, born 1830 ; Elizabeth, born 1833 ; Thompson, born 1834 ; Benjamin C., born 1838 ; Maria, born 1840 ; Newton, born 1842; Lucinda, born 1845; Mary D., born 1847; and Martha, born 1851. After making for himself a comfortable home, Mr. Epler passed away from this life in 1861.   JACOB EPLER, the eldest son of Peter Epler, was born in Muskingum County, 0., Aug. 2, 1830, consequently was only a few months old when brought to Shelby County. He was reared on the farm and made that his business through life until 1875, when he, together with his brother Thompson, bought a steam saw-mill in Tileton, which they have run successfully since that time. In 1864 he entered the military service of the United States and served the time of his enlistment. In 1877 he married Sarah J. Hill, of Logan County, 0.   BENJAMIN C. EPLER, the third son of Peter Epler, was born in Shelby County in 1838. He too, like his brother, was reared on the farm, but after arriving at manhood he learned the blacksmith trade, which he has followed since that time, making for himself and wife a fine home, all hammered out on his anvil. In 1876 he married Miss Nellie Drake. Mr. Epler, by his industrious and honorable life, has the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, who have elected him treasurer of his township seven years.   ROBESON HANEY,   a son of James and Sarah A. (Young) Haney, was born in Port Jefferson in 1848 ; married Lida A. Croy in 1869. They have had born to them four children.   JAMES GILFILLEN   was born in Ireland in 1808. In 1819 he was brought to the United States by his father (John Gilfillen). Shortly after their landing in the United States they located in Clermont County, 0., where he remained until 1832, when he came with his father to Shelby County, but afterward returned to Clermont County, where in 1834 he married Maria Carr. Some two or three years later he moved with his wife to this township, where he resided until the time of his death. They reared a family of eight children, whose names are as follows: Sarah J., John G., Granville M., William, Rachel, Mary E., Charlotte, and Marianne. Mr. G. was one of the hard-working men of the county ; h made a success of farming, and became one of the wealthy farmers of the county. During his life he erected upon his farm fine buildings, but just as he became so as to live with comfort he was called away. He died regretted and respected by all. He died Sept. 1879 ; his wife had died Sept. 1868. The homestead now belongs to Bailey W. (a grandson), who was born 1861, and who is at the present time taking a course at Delaware College preparatory to the study of law.   DR. J. F. MILLER.   The grandfather of Dr. Miller was born in Ireland, came to the American colonies some time prior to the Revolutionary War, for we find that he served as a soldier in the American army during that struggle, and was wounded and taken prisoner at Quebec. He died at Lancaster, Pa., in the year 1836. Alex. Miller, a son of the above, was born in Pennsylvania 1784. He held a captain's commission during the war .of 1812, and was provost marshal at Lancaster, Pa. He married Sarah Lovett in 1820. She was of Quaker parentage, who came from England. They reared a family of six children. John F., one of the six, was born in Lancaster, Pa., in 1833. In 1839 his parents moved to Dayton, 0., where John remained until 1854, when he came to Port Jefferson and commenced the study of medicine under Dr. S. C. Hussey, and attended Starling Medical College in 1857. Immediately afterward he commenced the practice of medicine in Port Jefferson, which he has continued successfully since that time. In 1858 he married Miss Margaret I. Henry, a daughter of David Henry. By this union they have two children, viz., Judson C., born 1865, and John E., born 1870.   DR. SAMUEL S. CRUMBAUGH   was born in Shelby County in 1847. He is a son of John Crumbaugh, an old pioneer of Perry Township. In the year 1868 he commenced the study of medicine, and graduated and received his diploma from The Ohio. Medical College in 1872, and commenced the practice of medicine at Port Jefferson the same year, where he still remains. In 1872 he married Lauretta Barkalow, with whom he lived until March, 1874, when she died, leaving one child, Vernon B. In 1878 he married. Lucy Ward. By this marriage there is one child, Alma, born 1879.   GLENN CEMETERY, PORT JEFFERSON, SHELBY, OHIO HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO - 311   LEVI F. PUTT   was born in Portage County, 0., in 1847. When at a proper age h was apprenticed to learn the harness-making trade. This he followed some fifteen years ; he then engaged in buying produce for several years; he then engaged in the secret service. While on duty in the winter of 1881 on the C. C. C. & L R. B.., the train was wrecked by a broken rail, and he was severely injured, from the effects of which he has not entirely recovered. In 1870 he married Miss Cornelia Ogden, of Port Jefferson. By this marriage there are two children, Harry 0. and Charles W.   ISAAC HARSHBARGER.   The Harshbargers are of German origin. They came to America during the early settlement of the colonies. The first we can learn of them was in the person of Jacob Harshbarger, the grandfather of Isaac, who was born in Virginia. To whom or when he was married we cannot learn. Of his children we only know of Jonas, the father of the subject of this sketch ; he was born in Virginia in the year 1800. He came to Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1810. Here, in 1822, he married Hester A. Jacobs. In 1838 they came to Shelby County and located in Salem Township. They raised a family of eight children. Mr. H. died in 1872. His wife died in 1873.   Isaac Harshbarger was bOrn in Montgomery County, 0., in 1825 ; came with his parents to Shelby County in 1838. In 1846 he married Johana Staley, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Bollin) Staley. They have reared a family of five children, viz., Martha, Wm. A., B. Franklin, Almeda, and Clemia. Mr. Harshbarger is a farmer by occupation, but has filled several offices of trust in both county and township. He was sheriff of the county from 1856 to 1863; was also coroner of the county.   HENRY KEMP   was born in Clarke County, Ohio, in 1828; came with his father's family to Shelby County in 1839. He married Eliza J. Gray in 1852. They have seven children, Phoebe J., born 1852; John H., born 1855; Mary A., born 1857; Levina B., born 1859; George C., born 1861; Emanuel E., born 1863, and Samuel N., born 1865. George Kemp, the father of the above, was a pensioner from the war of 1812, came to Shelby County 1839, and settled on section 1, Salem Township. He died in 1876, in his 89th year; Mrs. Kemp, his wife, died in 1878.   DAYTON BIKE,   the eldest son of Peter Rike, was born in Montgomery County in 1836; came with his father to Shelby County in 1853. In 1858 he married Miss Sarah J. Gilfillen. They have had born to them five children, viz., Wm. E., Helen E., Thornton J., Charles P., and David S. In Feb. 1862, Mr. Rike enlisted as a volunteer in the 57th 0. V. I.; afterward re-enlisted as a veteran in the same regiment, and served until the close of the war.   WM. E. BIKE,   a younger brother of the above, born in Montgomery County, 0., in 1844. He married Charlotte Gilfillan in 1869. By this union they have three children, Ellis, born 1870; Viola, born 1872; and Alvernis, born 1874. James Gilfillan, the father of the two Mrs. Rikes, was born in Ireland, and came to America in the year 1820. He located in Clearmont County, 0., and lived there till the year 1832, when he came to Shelby County and located in Salem Township, where he died in 1879. Mrs. G. died in 1867. The Rikes were originally from Germany. Their first settlement in the United States was in Pennsylvania, from there they went to Maryland. In the year 1812 they removed to Montgomery County, 0., where they remained till their removal to Shelby County,. O., in 1853.   ERNST L. KRAFT   was born in Darmstadt, Germany, in 18,34. His father, Ernst Kraft, came to the United States in 1849 and located in Shelby County the same year. In a few weeks after landing in Sidney he died, leaving a family of four children. Ernst, the son, in the year 1850 went to learn the shoemaking trade. In 1863 he came to Port Jefferson and started a shop, which he still runs in connection with a stock of goods. In 1856 he married Helena Schmidt. They have nine children, viz. John, born April 16, 1857; George, born March 25, 1859; Margaret, viz., July 4, 1861; Clara, born March 7, 1866; Ernst, born Feb. 23, 1868; Charles, born June 26, 1870; Ellie,.born Sept. 1, 1872; Willie, born Oct.30, 18.74 ; and Bernice, born March 7, 1878.   HENRY I. STOCKSTILL,   a son of Elias D. and Elizabeth Stockstill, was born in Shelby County in 1837. In 1859 he married Nancy. Le Fevre, a daughter of David Le Fevre. They have had born 'to them eight children, viz., Thomas H., Charles C., Elizabeth D., E. D. and Benj. F., Alonzo R., Ida. R., and Samuel.   J. C. COUNTS   was born in Madison County, 0., in 1848. He is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Baldwin) Counts. In 1881 he married Miss Margaret Hobby, a daughter of David Hobby of Salem Township.   PARKER LOUTHAIN   was born in Virginia in 1863. Came with his father, John Louthain, to Shelby County in 1831, and located in the northeast corner of Salem Township., They were the first settlers in that part of the township, their nearest neighbor being two and a half miles distant. They had emigrated to Ohio from Virginia in 1812, and lived in Miami County until they came to Shelby County. In 1836 Mr. L. married Lucinda Stafford. From this union they have two children, John M. and Bicy E., the first born in 1840, the latter in 1849. Mr. Louthain died January, 1882.   ROBERT W. STAFFORD   was born in Virginia in 1849. Came to Ohio in 1872, and married Bicy E. Louthain in 1875. By this union they have two children, Parker L., born 1877, and Edward C., born 1879. They are located on the home of Parker Louthain.   VALENTINE MCCORMICK   was born in Greene County, Ohio, in the year 1819. He came with his parents to Shelby County in 1831. Here in 1841 he married Miss Anna Clayton, who was born in the same county the same year that her husband was. They have had born to them eight children, five of whom are still living. Reuben Clayton, the father of Mrs. McCormick, moved to Shelby County in 1835. James McCormick, grandfather of the above, was in the Revolutionary war, and was at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown Oct. 19, 1781; also his grandfather Shearer was in the Revolutionary war, and James McCormick, Jr., the father of Valentine, was in the war of 1812, and was at the building of Fort Meigs. Esq. Valentine McCormick and his son James K. were both in the late Rebellion. James K. was enlisted in the 57th 0. V. I., and it is supposed was killed while foraging in Feb. 1863, as he has never been heard of since that time. The McCormicks came to Ohio as early as 1791, and located near Cincinnati. They floated down the Ohio River from Pittsburg on a flatboat, having to tight their way against hostile Indians along the banks of the river. The father of Esq. McCormick was three years old at this time. From Hamilton County they went to Greene County, but the date of this removal is not known. In 1831 James McCormick, Jr., with his family, moved to Shelby County and settled on sect. 34, Jackson Township, or what was at that time Salem Township, for Jackson was not organized at that time. Mr. McCormick was the first white settler in the territory of what is now Jackson Township. He entered his land in June, built his cabin in August, and moved to his land Dec 1, 1831. He was one of the organizers of the township, and one of the first trustees. Valentine McCormick has held nearly every office in the township. In 1849 he was elected justice of the peace, and served nine years in succession ; he has been trustee, treasurer, and assessor of his township. In 1871 he sold his farm in Jackson and bought 160 acres in Salem, where he now lives. Besides farming, Esq. M. has been quite a contractor in building gravelled roads or pikes.   GOTTLIEB E. ALLINGER   was born in Germany in 1840 ; when six years of age he was brought by his father, Jacob Allinger, to Shelby County. Mr. Allinger is a miller by trade, having commenced that business in 1863. In 1871 he built. the Port Jefferson Flouring Mills for Messrs. Manning, Dunlap & Co. In 1873 he bought the same, and is now running it. He has ground as high as 52;000 bushels in a year ; their average has been 46,000 bushels. of wheat per year, besides 'other grains. In 1861 Mr. Allinger married Miss Mary Conner. They have three children, viz., Jennie, born 1862; Lope C., born 1864; and Minnie, born 1866. Mr. Allinger has been trustee of his township four terms, clerk one term, and is treasurer of the township at the present time.   MILTON J. WINGET.   The ancestors of the Wingets of Shelby County were from England and Scotland. The date of their emigration to the United State's is not. known, but was prior to the Revolutionary war, for we find that both his grandfathers were in that struggle. They first settled in Pennsylvania. About the year 1800 they removed to Ohio and located, or rather stopped at Red. Bank—now Cincinnati—where they remained during the Indian hostilities which were then going on along the borders of the Ohio. From there they removed to Tucker Station, Warren County,, and from there to Greene County, 0. Here the subject of our sketch was born. in. the year 1826. In the year 1829 his father, Wm. Winget, moved with. his family to Champaign County, 0., and remained there till 1831, when they came to Shelby County and located in Perry Township, on a piece of land he had entered in section 18.. Here in April, 1831, he moved   312 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.   with his family into his cabin without a door, window, floor, or chimney, and commenced in the green woods without money or means. They made their start, undergoing all the privations and hardships of the early pioneer. It was here in the woods and in the cabin school-house that young Milton received a few months of school instruction. His father died when Milton was but thirteen years of age. The support of the family fell upon him and an older brother, who cleared the farm and maintained their mother and the younger children. In the year 1851 Mr. W. married Miss Elizabeth A. Thompson, and the following year, 1852, he bought the old Hathaway farm at Port Jefferson, where he now lives. He lived with his wife seventeen years, when she died in 1868. The following year he married Isabel Grossman, who died in 1873. In 1875 he married Elizabeth Middleton. From this marriage there are two children, viz., Minnie A. and Alice M. The mother of Mr. Winget is now living with -him, in her eighty-second year, being born at Red Bank Station in 1800. Mr. Winget is well and favorably known throughout the county. He has filled the offices of County Commissioner and Infirmary Director, and various offices of the township in which he lives.   ELBERT CARGILL,   the subject of this sketch, was born in New York in 1816. In the year 1819 he was taken by his parents to Muskingum County, 0., where he lived till the year 1853, when he moved to Shelby County. In 1838 he married Miss Mary A. Launder, who was born in England in the year 1819. Their family consists of six children, viz., Elbert H., Isabel, Charles, Anna, Alice, and Cora. The Cargills originally are from Scotland, but the date of their emigration to the United States cannot he given. They first settled in the State of New York. The Launders, Mrs. Cargill's parents, came from England to the United States in 1820, and settled in Muskingum County. Mr. Cargill is located on section 3, Salem Township, on what is known as the Samuel Taylor farm, which was entered as early as 1821.   ANDREW CARGILL,   son of David and Mary A. Wyant Cargill, was born in Zanesville, 0., in the year 1836. His father with his family moved to Shelby County in 1849. Mere, in the year 1862, Andrew married Miss Sarah Stout. Their family consists of three children, viz., Ulysses E., born 1863 ; Laura A., born 1866; and Sherman G., born 1868. Abram Stout, the father of Miss Cargill, settled in Shelby County in 1830.   JOHN CARGILL,   also a son of David Cargill, was born in Zanesville, 0., in 1829. When twenty years of age he came to Shelby County. He learned the cooper trade, which he followed for several years; then bought a tannery, and for a number of years has been engaged manufacturing leather. In the year 1852 he married Margaret A. Strahlem. By this union they have five children, Medora J., born 1853; Mary A., born 1855; Ellen E., born 1858; Emma M., born 1866, and Sarah B., born 1868.   JOSEPH WATKINS.   Mr. Watkins and his wife, Sarah (David) Watkins, with their six sons and three daughters, moved to Shelby County in 1841. They at first took a lease of a piece of land on which they located and lived some eight years. During this time they bought eighty acres of land in Salem Township. They cleared their lease and also their own land, and built a brick house and frame barn. They had not a dollar to pay on their land when they bought it; but by industry and economy they paid for this, and have since that time added farm to farm until they now, as a family, have over 900 acres. What is remarkable of this family is, that there has never been a death in the family except the father, who died in 1866. Thomas J. Watkins, one of the sons, was born in Pennsylvania in 1827. He married Miriam Howell in 1852, by whom he had one child (Lucetta E.). Mrs. Watkins died in 1855. In 1864 he married Elizabeth Hull. From this marriage there have been two children, viz., Naomi J., born 1865, and Mary E. A., born 1868.   BENJAMIN R. ROBINSON   was born in Warren County, 0., in 1824. Married Miss Elizabeth Mitchell in 1849, and moved to Salem Township, Shelby County, 0., in 1852. They have had two children, Wm. E. and Adin W. The eldest son, Wm. E., a young man of promise, died very suddenly from hemorrhage while away from home, at the age of twenty-five years. Adin, the youngest son, has his home with his father.   JOHN HORNER,   son of John and Nancy (Consolver) Horner, was born in Salem Township in the year 1843. When he was quite young his father died, and he was bound out to service till he became twenty-one years of age, but only remained in service till he was seventeen. He never had the advantage of an education, always having been kept at work. In 1868 he married Ellen Myers, a daughter of Daniel Myers. By this marriage they have three children, viz., Ida M., born 1869; Orista 0., born 1872 ; and Dilla A., born 1875. Mr. H. is a farmer.   ENOCH RIKE   was born in Greene County, O., in 1819. Married Esther John of Montgomery County in 1841. Came to Shelby County in 1849. Their family consisted of three children, Sarah P., John C., and Benj. F. Mr. Rike's wife died May, 1875. In 1878 he married Mrs. Harriet Strahlem, the widow of David Strahlem, and daughter of George W. and Ellen (Thompson) Burgess.   Mr. Rike spent the greater part of his life on a farm ; but, becoming somewhat enfeebled and broken down by hard labor, he retired from the farm and removed to Port Jefferson and engaged in the grocery and provision trade, and received the appointment of postmaster. In Sept. 1881, h passed away, esteemed and respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Rike was born in Seneca County, 0., in 1835. Married David Strahlem in 1852. Their union was blessed with three children, viz., Ellen E., George W., and Minnie L. Mr. Strahlem died 1866.   DR. ALLEN HUSSEY.   The Husseys are of Irish descent. Came to the United States just after the close of the Revolutionary War, and located in North Carolina, where Christopher Hussey was born in 1781. From North Carolina they went to Tennessee; from thence to Greene County, Ohio, about 1810, where he married and raised a family of seven children. Stephen C. was the third child of this family. He was born in Greene County in 1819. In 1840 he married Miss Ann Wical. About 1843 he commenced the study of medicine, and graduated at Starling Medical College. In 1848 he came to Shelby County, and commenced the practice of medicine at Port Jefferson. He continued the practice of his profession at this place until the time of his death, which occurred in 1871. They raised a family of eleven children. Mrs. Hussey and ten of the children are still living.   Allen Hussey was born in Greene County in 1848, about three months prior to the time his parents settled in Port Jefferson. He was raised in the village, worked on the farm until he was seventeen years of age. From this time he gave his attention to books, and soon commenced to read medicine with his father, teaching school and reading medicine at the same time. He graduated at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati in 1872, and immediately commenced practice in Port Jefferson, where he still continues his profession. In 1871 he married Miss Jane Goble, a daughter of E. D. and Rebecca (Mattox) Goble. Their children are Wirt D., Howard, Weber A., and Ada B.   Dr. Hussey has been a successful practitioner since the time of his commencement. He has filled the office of township clerk, and at the present time is one of the trustees of the township.   GEORGE J. MITCHELL, ESQ.   Samuel Mitchell, the grandfather of the above, was a native of England. Came to the American colonies just prior to the Revolutionary War, and located in Pennsylvania. He and four of his brothers were drafted into the army. Here they became separated, and all trace has been lost of all except Samuel, the ancestor of the Shelby County Mitchells. He served through the war, and was at Yorktown at the surrender of Cornwallis. After the close of the war he settled in Montgomery County, Pa., where he married Melenda Cecil. They raised a family of eleven children. William, the eldest son, was born in Virginia in 1782, married Catharine Stafford, came to Ohio in 1808, and located in Miami County, where he raised a family of eight children. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812. He died in 1869, on the farm on which he first settled, at the age of eighty-seven years. his wife died in 1867.   George J. Mitchell, the subject of this sketch, was born in Miami County in 1816. He lived with his parents until twenty-three years of age, when he married Amanda F. Robinson in 1839. By this union they had three children, viz., Samantha J., William M., and Aden W. They moved to Salem Township in 1849, and located where Tileton is now situated. Here Esq. Mitchell and his estimable wife for fourteen years labored together, and had made for themselves a comfortable home, when she was called away by the hand of death in 1863. In 1870 he married Elizabeth Maxon, and the following year sold his farm, and bought property in Port Jefferson, where h now lives a, retired life, having acquired a competence for his remaining days. He has filled the office of justice of the peace eighteen years, besides other offices of the township. The Maxons came from Virginia to Ohio in 1831, and located in Clarke County. Then came to Jackson Township, Shelby County, in 1839, where Mrs. Mitchell lived until the time of her marriage in 1870.   RANSOM D. EARL   was born in Auglaize County in 1849. His parents had settled there in 1832, they being among the first settlers in the east part of that   HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO - 313   county. Ransom was raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools of the county. In 1868 he married Samantha A. Hammack. By this union they have three children : Jennie E., Leonard E., and Leroy H. In 1869 he bought a farm, which he sold in 1871, and bought another, which he sold in 1881, and bought property in Tileton, Shelby County, to which he moved the same year. Here he started a store of general merchandise, and has established a flourishing trade. Mr. Earl is also postmaster.   PETER TRAPP   was born in Germany in 1801. Married Mary C. Kile in 1827. Came to the United States in 1832. They landed in Baltimore with only thirty-seven cents in money left after paying his expenses. They remained in Baltimore a short time, then went to Little York, where they remained until about 1838, when they came to Port Jefferson, where Mr. T. took a contract on the canal feeder, which he completed. He afterward bought a farm in section 9. They raised a family of three children: Nicholas, born 1828; Peter M., born 1843; and John, born 1845. Mrs. Trapp died 1878, aged seventy-four years. Mr. Trapp died in 1881.   Peter M. Trapp, the second son of the above, married Marianna Gilfillen, a daughter of James and Mariah (Carr) Gilfillen, in 1866. Their children consist of the following: Annetta T., Bailey A., James P., and Fletcher B.   WILLIAM AND OLIVER C. STALEY.   William Staley was born in Montgomery County in 1821, came with his father, John Staley, to Salem Township in 1831. In 1844 he married Barbara Harshbarger, a daughter of Jonas and Hettie (Jacobs) Harshbarger. They had born to them four children, only one of whom is now living, viz., Oliver C., who was born in 1847 and married Miss Anna Cargill in 1869. They have two children, Orrin C. and Roger W. Mr. Staley, although comparatively a young man, has gained the esteem and confidence of the people of his township, which has been evidenced by his election to the offices of township clerk and trustee. He is located on section 20, known as the old John Staley farm.   JOSEPHUS DODDS   was born in Warren County, 0., in 1804. In 1825 he married Miss Matilda Le Fevre. In the year 1833 he entered his land in Salem Township, but did not move on it till the year 1840. By this marriage Mr. Dodds had fourteen children, seven of whom are still living. In the year 1861 Mr. D. enlisted in the 57th 0. V. I. and was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, after which he was discharged. He also had two sons in the army, both of which were wounded at the battle of Atlanta and died from the effects of their wounds. Mr. Dodds' wife died in 1871, and he again married in 1872 ; he married Mary A. Le Fevre, the widow of David Le Fevre. Mrs. Dodds' maiden name was McKee. Thomas A. McKee, her father, settled in Orange Township, Shelby County, in 1809. He hewed the puncheon for the first floor that was laid in the town of Piqua.   FREDERICK BILLING   was born in Baden, Germany, in the year 1828, came to the United States in the year 1853, and flrst located in Fairfleld County, Ohio. In 1856 he married Sarah Knasle. They moved to Shelby County in 1857, and rented land for a number of years. In 1863 he bought a piece of land; had only three hundred dollars to pay on it: he now has 160 acres of good land, well improved. They have raised a family of eight children.   EDMUND LYTLE   was born in Stark County, 0., in 1814. Here he lived till he was past twenty years of age. While in Stark County he learned the tanning and currier trade. In 1834 he came to the town of Sidney and leased a tannery. He followed that business about nine years, then bought a farm in Clinton Township and moved OD his farm. This farm he traded for one in Salem Township in 1875, where he now lives. In 1841 he married Catharine Wilkin, whose parents (Stephen and Sarah Wilkin) came to the- county in 1837.   JOHN M. BRUNER   was brought by his parents to Shelby County in 1833. He was born in Greene County, 0., in 1832. His parents located on a piece of land in Jackson Township, being nearly the first settlers in the township. Two years after their settlement the father (Joseph Bruner) went one day to where Port Jefferson now is; it was the day the lots were sold for the town. He remained all day at the sale. In the evening he started for home. This was the last that was seen of him alive. The country from where he lived to Port Jefferson was all woods, without a road. It was supposed he got lost. The following day the people of the country were aroused and collected together to search for the lost. Although diligent search was made by everybody throughout the whole country, yet they failed to find him. About a month afterward some three or four of the neighbors were passing through the woods when they came upon the bones of a human being. They were identified by some pieces of clothing as the remains of Joseph Bruner. It was supposed he had got lost and was attacked by some wild beast and killed. His remains were found some three miles from home. Mrs. Bruner was now left with four small children, in the woods, with only about three acres of cleared land. Here Mrs. B. and her children remained and worked on their little place to maintain themselves as best they, could. When John was ten years of age his mother died, and he was thrown upon the world to care for himself. After he grew up to manhood, having acquired a fair education, he commenced teaching school, which he followed for a number of years. In 1856 he married Miss Minerva Dunston. In 1866 he moved to Putnam County, lived there till 1875, when his wife died. In the spring of 1876 he returned to Shelby County. In March, 1877, he married Margaret A. Staley, a daughter of Nicholas Staley. kr. B. has had no children by either marriage, but has adopted a brother's son (Albert L. Bruner). He has quite a taste for music, and has made it a study, although he never had the advantage of a musical education except as he learned it himself by study at home. In 1871 he took out a patent for a transposing board, for the transposition of the musical scale, which is quite an ingenious and useful implement, making the transposition of the scale simple and easy for beginners.   DAVID A. HOBBY,   the subject of this sketch, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1819. When only eighteen years of age—in the year 1837—he bought eighty acres of land in Salem Township, all in the woods. He commenced to clear his land, hired his board, but soon got into debt for his board. He then returned to Hamilton County, and borrowed money to pay his board bill. Again returned and worked on his land till the taxes became due. His taxes were only from one to three dollars, yet he says it was harder to raise that amount than it has been since for him to pay four hundred dollars. Money was not to be had for anything. After he began to raise produce on his land for sale, if he wanted a barrel of salt, or any other article, he would have to go to Cincinnati to find a market for it. Mr. Hobby has always been a man of feeble health, and very much of their success in life has depended upon his wife, who has always gone ahead in their labor, and did not only her part of the labor in the house, but that of her husband upon the farm, working out in the clearing both day and night also working at the loom and spinning-wheel in the night time after working hard all the day helping to roll logs and burn brush. In this way they worked along, many times living on bran bread, until they have finally made for themselves a comfortable home. What was once a howling wilderness is now a beautiful farm, returning abundant harvests. Mr. H. has now 240 acres of well-improved land, all the product of his own labor and that of his estimable wife, who has stood by his side thus far through life.   Mr. Hobby married Eliza Slusser, who was born in Dayton in 1818. They were married in the year 1840. They have five children, two sons and three daughters, viz., Mary A., born 1841; Josephus, born 1846; Sarah A., born 1849., Seth, born 1851; and Margaret B., born 1861.   The grandfather of Mr. if. was a pensioner from the Revolutionary War, and his father was in the war of 1812.   WILLIAM LINE   was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1833. Married Louisa Winget in 1855. They settled in Shelby dounty in 1867. They have four children: Mary E., born 1856; Charles W., born 1859; Sarah E., born 1866; and Nancy B., born 1870. Mr. Line is a farmer by occupation; also a minister in the Christian Church.   SHADRACH C. BURTON   was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1824. In 1826 he was brought by his parents to Turtle Creek Township, where he lived till the year. 1856, when he moved to Salem Township, He was married to Miss Sarah Strouse in 1854. Their family consists of five children: Daniel W., Redosar E., Melinda J., William H., and Rebecca D. Mr. Burton is a well-to-do farmer, having 54 acres of valuable land, without an indebt- edness of one dollar.   Bazzel Burton, the father of the move, first came to the county in 1816 with his wife from Pickaway County. He entered land in Turtle Creek Township. They came with all their effects on horseback with two horses. The country was so new and wild that they soon got discouraged. So he gave a lease on a part of his land, and returned to Piqua, where he remained till 1826, when he returned to his land, and remained till he died in 1865. His wife died in 1860.   JONATHAN STOUT   was born in Salem Township in 1848. In 1866 he married Sarah Stock-still. They have but one child, Eddie. The parents of Mrs. Stout (E. D. Stockstill) came to the county in 1834.   314 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.   ROBERT B. CONKLIN, ESQ.,   was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1817. He resided with his parents till they moved to Sidney in 1836. He learned the chair-making trade with his father, which trade he followed for some fifteen years. Then, in 1851, moved on to his farm in Salem Township near Port Jefferson, where he now resides. In 1842 he was married to Ceriah Wagoner. From this union they have only one child living, viz., William H., who was born in 1847. Now resides in Nebraska. Esq. Conklin's wife died in 1881. He has quite a reputation as a hunter. In the fall of 1837 he commenced camping out as a hunter, and has followed hunting every fall from that time to the present, in all forty-four seasons. There is a remarkable circumstance connected with Mr. C.'s hunting experience. In the fall of 1840 Mr. William P. Reed and Esq. Conklin camped together while hunting in Shelby County, and have camped together every fall from that time to the present season, in all forty-one seasons. They have hunted together all over Northwestern Ohio; also in Michigan, and the present season went to the woods of Wisconsin. Esq. Conklin has the esteem and confidence of all who know him. In the year 1876 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he now holds.   WILLIAM SHINN, ESQ.   The Shinns are of English extraction, immigrating to America about the middle of the last century, and located in New Jersey. Here William Shinn, Sen., was born in 1787. He married Jane Peacock, and moved to Warren County, Ohio, in 1815, and remained there until the fall of 1834, when he came with his family of seven children to Shelby County, and located in Orange Township, where he died in 1862, his wife having died in 1834.   William Shinn, Jr., was born in Warren County in 1818. Came with his father, William Shinn, Sen., in 1834. In 1839 he married Denithia Stoker, a daughter of john Stoker. By this union there were five children. Mrs. Shinn died in 1878. The names of their children were Jane, Brendella, Milton R., Welford E., and W. Ross. Esq. Shinn has been unfortunate in the loss of his property, but has had the esteem of his neighbors. He has filled the office of justice of the peace for four terms, besides having filled almost all the other important offices in his township. Such has been the confidence of the people in the county in Esq. Shinn that he has had the nomination of representative twice, commissioner twice, and treasurer once. Although the party to which he belonged was largely in the minority, yet he only failed in being elected by a small minority.   WILLIAM ESTEY   was born in Miami County, 0., in 1828. He is a son of David Estey, who was born in New Brunswick in 1802, came to the United States in 1825, and located in Miami County, 0. It was here that William was born, and lived until twenty-three years of age. In 1850 he married Elizabeth Kerr and emigrated to Iowa, where he remained some thirteen years. In 1854 his wife died, leaving two children, Sarah C. and Simon. In 1862 he returned to Miami County, where in 1863 he married Sarah A. Dixon, who died in 1877. In 1863 Mr. E. moved to Shelby County, on land he had previously purchased in Dinsmore Township. He has been one of the largest landholders of the county. He owned at one time 640 acres of improved land. He has made farming his avocation through life, but has made the most of his money by buying and selling land. He now owns 240 acres of land in Salem Township, 240 acres in Dinsmore Township, and 40 in Franklin. In 1878 he married for his third wife the widow of Franklin Dill, whose maiden name was Nancy A. Baker, a daughter of Moses E. Baker, Esq., of Van Buren Township. By this marriage they have one child, Clyde, born 1880. Mr. Estey has retired from farm labor, having a competence for the balance of his days.   JAMES PEGG.   The parents of Mr. Pegg came to Ohio late in the fall of 1803, and located in Warren County among a colony of the Shakers, and gave all their property to the colony. The father was put into one family, the mother into another, and the four children into a different family. James Pegg was but an infant at the time his parents joined the Shakers. He was born in 1803. He lived in the colony until he was twenty-two years of age. He was given a common school education, but never knew what it was to have a father or mother. After arriving at the age of twenty-two he began to go out among other people. He found that he had been blinded, and he determined to seek more congenial society, where he could be his own man and enjoy the society of his fellows. He now spent five years of his life travelling from place to place, learning the ways of the world, until he finally located in Montgomery County, Ohio. It was here, in the year 1830, that he married Jane Dean. They remained there until 1837, when he removed with his wife and two children to Shelby County. Two years later his wife died, leaving three children, Mary, Elizabeth, and Robert D. In 1841 he married Rebecca Bozarth. By this marriage they had two children, James M. and Henry F.   When we interviewed Mr. Pegg few months ago for the above sketch, we found him hale and hearty fora man of his age ; but he has since passed away ; he died Feb. 1882.   WILLIAM H. COVILL.   John Covill, the father of Wm. H., was born in England in 1789, and married Elizabeth Ann about 1810. He was in the British army under Wellington at the battle of Waterloo. In the year 1831 he immigrated with his family to the United States and located in New York ; remained there until 1840, when they came to Sidney, but soon removed to Indiana, where he remained for a time, then returned to Sidney, where he died in 1865. Wm. H., a son of the above, was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., in 1818, and came with his parents to the United States in 1831. Shortly after his arrival in New York he was indentured to a wealthy sea captain as a waiter about the houSe, but remained with him only two years ; then went to the country and worked on a farm until 1840, when he came to Sidney. Here he worked by the day, at fifty cents per day, sawing and chopping cordwood, and working on the canal. In 1843 he married Alvin Zerbe. In 1847 he made a visit to England, the place of his birth. On his return to Sidney he bought a team, and followed teaming and draying for about six years; then engaged in the dry goods and grocery trade until 1871. In 1873 he bought a farm in Salem Township, where he now resides. They have raised a family of seven children, viz., Mary, Emily, George, Sarah, Jane, John, and Charles. Mr. Covill has retired from active life, having a competence for the remainder of his days.   David Zerbe, the father of Mrs. Covill, was born in Pennsylvania in 1792, and was married to Elizabeth Sellers. Their family consisted of fifteen children. They came to Sidney in 1840, where Mr. Z. died in 1857. His wife died in 1859. Of this large family only two are left in the county.   ELI B. HONNELL,   a son of Wm. Honnell, was born in Greene County, Pa., April 14, 1827; came with his parents to Sidney in 1833 ; lived with them until 1843, when he went to learn the blacksmith trade. In 1850 he, together with his brother and several others, went to California by the overland route, returned home' again in 1851, and located in Port Jefferson, where he resumed his trade of smithing for a time; then engaged in the hardware, tin, and stove business; afterward engaged in the agricultural implement .trade, which he followed until 1878 ; since which time his business has been buying and shipping grain, handling about 100,000 bushels per year. Feb. 16, 1854, he married Sarah M. Mitchell. By this marriage they have had three children born : William B., the eldest, died August, 1855; Elmore M. was born Feb. 15, 1858, and resides in Port Jefferson ; is engaged in the grocery and produce trade: Eureka D. was born Feb. 20, 1862, and resides with her parents.   CLINTON TOWNSHIP.   Clinton Township was originally organized as a part of Miami County, and although it has undergone numerous territorial adjustments, it retains its original name. In 1825, as elsewhere shown, it was newly defined by metes and bounds at the instance of the Commissioners of Shelby County, this being six years after the erection of this county.   The township has an irregular form, owing chiefly to the modifications which obtained in creating other townships. It is bounded north by Franklin, east by Salem, Perry, and Orange, south by Orange and, Washington, and west by Washington and Turtle Creek townships. With Franklin and Turtle Creek it forms the inland area of territorial subdivisions; these three being the only townships which do not border on the county lines.   The Great Miami River enters the township at the northeast corner, and coursing south by west a distance of nearly three miles, it becomes the line between Clinton and Orange townships for another distance of over two miles in a southwest direction. Side by side with the river flows the Miami Feeder with its water supply, which it carries to the canal at Lockington. The territory embraces portions of town. 8, range 6; town. 1, range 7; town. 1, range 13; and town. 7, range 6. This comprises sections and fractional sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25„26, 27, 30, 34, 35, 36, and 3 and 10 repeated, being of different towns or ranges. From the east, crossing section 4, Tawawa Creek enters the Miami opposite Sidney, while from the same direction, through section 10, courses another small stream as it seeks an outlet to the Miami, about a mile south of the mouth of the Tawawa. In the portion of the township west of the Miami three small streams find a source, but are of insignificance as to size.   The township is crossed north and south by the Dayton and Michigan Railroad, and east and west by the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis (old Bellefontaine and Indiana) Railroad. These roads   316 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.   cross at Sidney. This intimates the chief importance of the township, for it is the seat of Sidney, the seat of justice of the county.   The town proper lies on the west side of the Miami, while the canal leaves the river for a certain distance in order to pass through the central portion of the town. East of the river is the site of Dingrnansburg, that old town which carries the memory back to the infancy of both Sidney and the county. The old town may be said to have been absorbed by East Sidney of more recent origin and higher pretensions. The river is here crossed by a splendid iron bridge.   Sidney was selected as a town site in September, 1819, and surveyed in 1820. Dingmansburg was not a regularly surveyed town plat. East Sidney was surveyed June 12,1837, and embraces a portion of fractional section 10, town. 1, range 13, Miami River Survey (M. R. S.).   The land of the township in common with the whole county must be classed as fertile, particularly the lands bordering the Miami, noted as these are for strength and fertility. The surface is broken, rolling away westward, and while not jagged or precipitous, still broken and even hilly along the Miami River. Sidney, located as it originally was, on the river level, has crept back and back until it has clasped several river hills in its extending embrace. The Infirmary farm comprises the extreme southwest quarter of land in this township, being the southwest quarter (160 acres) of section 10, range 6, town. 7.   Matters of Record.   At an election held in the township of Clinton by order of James Wells, Esq., auditor of Shelby County, on the 25th day of October, 1821, agreeably to notice given, the following township officers were elected:—   Trustees, Philip Coleman, Robert McClure, and Rufus Carey. Clerk, Harvey B. Foote. Overseers of the Poor, John Tilbury and James Forsythe. Fence viewers, William Drake and Benjamin Mapes. Treasurer, George Poole.   Thomas Lambert appeared and gave bond, with William Drake and Thomas W. Ruckman, conditioned as the law directs, and was duly qualified to perform the duties of constable for Clinton Township according to law, November 3, 1821.   Monday, March 4, 1822. The trustees met according to law, and agreeably to order of Court of the 4th of February they proceeded to select W. Cecil, Jacob Sclosser, Wm. Johnston, Philip Coleman, Rufus Carey, Nathan Coleman, and Elias Carey as grand jurors (7), and also John Tilbury, Archibald Defrees, Robert Blakeley, John Whitmire, and John Johnston as petit jurors (5), to serve the ensuing year, the list thereof returned to the clerk's office the same day.   The trustees allow B. S. Cox $1.00 for services as clerk of the first township election in this township; order given on treasurer.   John Lenox, supervisor for district No. 6, Turtle Creek township, as appointed by the trustees before the township was divided, made his return, and charges nothing for his services. Return filed.   Ordered, that it (the township) be divided into three districts (road); Sidney, No. 1; Plum Creek, No, 2 ; and Mile Creek, No. 3. No. 1 to work the road from the ford below Ruckman's mill to the Public Square in Sidney, the road leading to Hardin, and the one from Dingmansburg to Sidney. No. 2 to work the road from the Public Square on the road that leads up the river past Wm. Johnston's and Talbert's to the township line, and the Plum Creek road to the township line. No. 3 to work the road that leads from Sidney past Rufus Carey's to the township line, and the road from where it intersects the aforesaid road leading past Mr. Levalley's as far as the township line. John Blake supervisor district No. 1, N. Coleman of district No. 2, and a supervisor to be elected in No. 3.   Ordered that the clerk advertise according to law for an election to be held on the first Monday next to elect one clerk, three trustees, two overseers of the poor, two fence viewers, two appraisers, one of whom shall be lister as well as appraiser, one treasurer, two constables, and three 'supervisors, to serve the ensuing year (1822) for the township of Clinton. A true record.   Attest. HARVEY B. FOOTE, Twp. Clerk.   In 1822 Robert McClure, Philip Coleman, and Rufus Carey were elected trustees ; Wm. Johnston, treasurer; and Harvey B. Foote, clerk.   An election was ordered to be held on the first Monday in April, 1823. At this election Rufus Carey, James H. Coleman, and Robert McClure were elected trustees; Harvey B. Foote, clerk.   In 1824 Thomas W. Ruckman was elected clerk; James H. Coleman, James Forsythe, and Wm. Cecil, trustees; Thomas W. Ruckman, clerk ; John Johnston, treasurer; John Whitmire and Amos Evans, fence viewers; John Lenox and Elisha Williams, overseers of the poor ; Jos. Garver, house appraiser; George Poole, lister; Robert Blakely, constable. Elisha Williams was justice at this time.   At an election held at the court-house, in Sidney, April 4, 1825, the following named persons were elected : Trustees, James Forsythe, Wm. Cecil, and James H. Coleman. Clerk, Dan. Hopkins. Treasurer, John Johnston. Lister, Elisha Williams. Appraiser, James Forsythe. Constables, Benjamin Mapes and Alex. W. McKee. Fence Viewers, James Wells and Jesse Bryan. Overseers, Joseph Garver and Henry Tilbury. John Johnston, Nathan Coleman, and Elias Carey, Supervisors. James H. Coleman's commission as justice of the peace was dated June 18, 1825, and that of John McCreight October 10, 1825. On the 25th of November Robert Stephenson was appointed trustee, vice Wm. Cecil, deceased.   In 1826 Jas. Forsythe, Jas. H. Coleman, and Robert W. Stephenson were elected trustees. Jas. Wells clerk, and John Johnston treasurer.   In 1827 the trustees and treasurer were re-elected. Clerk, Thos. W. Ruckman. Overseers, Joel Frankeberger and Henry Bryan. Viewers, Amos Evans and John Whitmire ; Benjamin Mapes and Stephen Sprague constables,—the latter by appointment.   At the election in 1828 Robert W. Stephenson, Joel Frankeberger, and Robert Blakeley were elected trustees ; Jason Taylor, clerk ; John Johnston, treasurer.   The next year, R. W. Stephenson, Joseph Garver, and J. H. Coleman were elected trustees ; John Blake clerk, and John Johnston treasurer.   1830. Trustees, Jas. H. Coleman, John Whitmire, B. K. Brandon. Clerk, E. Thomas. Treasurer, John Buckland. Overseers, Robert Davidson and David Hinkle. Viewers, Samuel Gamble and Gabriel Hubble. Constables, A. Hathaway and Cornelius Hinkle. 1831. Trustees, John Whitmire, B. K. Brandon, and John Lenox. Justice, James H. Coleman. Treasurer, John Buckland. Clerk, William Murphy. Viewers, G. R. Hubble and Jesse Bryan. 1832. Trustees, John Whitmire, John Lenox, B. K. Brandon. Clerk, Wm. Murphy. Treasurer, John Buckland. Overseers, Moses Porter and Andrew Rodgers. Viewers, William Laughlin, Robert Irwin, and Charles Mault. 1833. Trustees, John Lenox, .Joel Frankeberger, and Archibald De-frees. Clerk, William A. Carey. Treasurer, John Buckland. Viewers, Benj. Beeden, Elijah Montance, and David Carey. Overseers, Jason Taylor and I. H. Bracken. John Lenox was commissioned as justice January 25, 1834. Alexander Stuart same date. 1834. Trustees, Archibald Defrees, John Lenox, and Joel Frankeberger. Clerk, W. A. Carey. Treasurer, John Neal. Viewers, Wm. Fielding, Geo. Moyer, and Jason Taylor. Overseers, Andrew Rodgers and Wash. Evans.   At a special meeting, held in January, 1833, C. B. Woodruff was appointed clerk of the township, vice W. A. Carey removed from the township.   1835. Justice, Elijah McGrew. Trustees, John Whitmire,. Robert W. Stephenson, and Daniel Kelly. Clerk, Thomas Smith. Treasurer, John Neal. Constables, David Hendershott, Abraham Hathaway, and Nathan Bennett. Overseers, Alex. Stuart and John Whitmire. Viewers, Jas. Eaton, J. S. Updegraff, and Ezekiel Thomas. At this time the township consisted of nine road districts. 1836. Trustees, John Shaw, Samuel McCullough, and Samuel Byers. Clerk, Thos. Smith. Treasurer, Wm. Murphy. Constables, J. H. Kirkendall and Charles Bush. Overseers, I. H. Bracken and W. J. Brown. Viewers, W. R. Persinger, P. W. Silver, and James Eaton. Alexander Stuart was justice at this time. 1837. Trustees, Samuel McCullough, John Shaw, 2d, and Samuel Byers. Clerk, Thomas Smith. Treasurer, James A. Wells. School Examiners, James A. Wells and J. S. Updegraff. Constables, J. H. Kirkendall, Samuel Stephenson. and W. M. Watt. Overseers. Elijah McGrew and Benjamin Haggatt. Fence Viewers, James McCullough, John W. Carey, and J. H. Crowell. 1838. Justice, Alex. Stuart. Trustees, John Shaw, 2d, Hugh Thompson, and Daniel V. Dingman. Clerk, Thos. Smith. Treasurer, J. Allen Wells. Constables, Samuel Stephenson, Joseph H. Kirkendall, and J. H. Peebles. Overseers of Poor, J. W. Carey and I. H. Bracken. Viewers, Mark Thompson, Wm. Munch, and 1. H. Bracken. 1839. Trustees, R. W. Stephenson, Hugh Thompson, and John Johnston. Clerk, Thomas Smith. Treasurer, James A. Wells. Constables, Samuel Stephenson, James Golden, and J. R. Francis. Overseers, Jos. Cummins and Alex. Stuart. Viewers, Benj. Fulton, Abraham Stipp, and J. W. Carey. At this election a vote was taken on the question of raising a school fund by taxation, and resulted : " No school tax," 12 ; " school tax," 9. 1840. Trustees, John Shaw, 2d, Andrew Cunningham, Alexander Stuart. Clerk, J. F. Frazer. Treasurer, Joel Frankeberger. At this election the question of a school tax was submitted, and resulted: " No tax," 63 ; " tax," 5. 1841. Justices, Alex. Stuart, J. F. Frazer. Trustees, R. W. Stephenson, Wm. Murphy, and Alex. Stuart. Clerk, J. A. Wells. Treasurer, Samuel Hutton. School tax : No, 103 ; school tax : Yes, 15. 1842. Trustees, Stephen Wilkin, Sam. Mathers, and Hugh McElroy. Clerk, Thomas Smith. Treasurer, Samuel Hutton. Assessor, John Shaw, 2d. 1843. Trustees, Samuel Mathers, R. W. Stephenson, and Hardesty Walker. Clerk, J. A. Wells. Treasurer, Samuel Hutton. Assessor, Irwin .Nutt. 1844. Trustees, R. W. Stephenson, 11. Walker, and Samuel Mathers. Clerk, J. A. Wells. Treasurer, Guy C. Kelsey.     HISTORY OE SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO - 317   1845. Trustees, Samuel Mathers, Irwin Nutt, and Stephen Wilkin. Clerk, J. A. Wells. Treasurer, Guy C. Kelsey. Assessor, John Shaw, 2d.   1846. Trustees, Samuel Mathers, J. C. Coe, and W. H. Gerrard. Clerk, J. A. Wells. Treasurer, Guy C. Kelsey. Vote on school tax question stood : No tax, 2 tax, none.   1847. Trustees, clerk, and treasurer re-elected.   1848. Trustees, Mathers, Coe, and John Shaw. Justice, Irwin Nutt. Treasurer and clerk re-elected. Assessor, Alfred Lenox.   1849. Justice, Frederick Robinson. Trustees, Mathers, Coe, and Thomas Stephenson. Clerk and treasurer the same.   1850. Justice, John F. Frazer. Trustees, Mathers, R. W. Stephenson, and W. H. Gerrard. Clerk and treasurer the same. Assessor, David Carey.   1851. Justice, M. C. Hale. Trustees, Stephenson, Gerrard, and Sam. Hutton. Clerk and treasurer the same. Assessor, Alfred Lenox.   1852. Justice, Frederick Robinson. Trustees, clerk, and treasurer re-elected.   1853. Justice, J. F. Frazer. Trustees and treasurer re-elected. Clerk, S. Alexander Leckey.   1854. Justice, Wm. D. Walker. Trustees and clerk re-elected. Treasurer, Wm. Murphy.   1855. Justices, M. B. Newman and F. Robinson. Trusties, Thomas Stephenson, T. B. Graham, and W. A. Cartwright. Clerk, J. A. Irwin. Treasurer, G. C. Kelsey.   1856. Justice, J. F. Frazer. Trustees, Graham, Robinson, and J. L. Ogden. Clerk and treasurer re-elected.   1857. Justice, M. C. Hale. Trustees, clerk, and treasurer the same. On May 15, 1857, Samuel Mathers was appointed trustee to succeed F. Robinson, deceased.   1858. Trustees, Samuel Mathers, Thomas B. Graham, and John L. Ogden. Clerk, James A. Irwin. Assessor, Abram Clawson.   1859. Justice, J. F. Frazer. Trustees, R. C. Arbuckle, S. Hutton, and Thomas Stephenson. Clerk, James A. Irwin. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough.   1860. Justice, M. C. Hale. Trustees, T. B. Graham, Mathew Ensey, and Irwin Nutt. Clerk, James A. Irwin. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Assessor, James I. Elliott.   1861. Trustees, Mathew Ensey, T. B. Graham, and Irwin Nutt. Clerk, James I. Elliott. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Assessor, Abram Clawson.   1862. Justice, Samuel Mathers. Trustees, Irwin Nutt, R. Joslin, and J. C. Coe. Clerk, J. I. Elliott. Assessor, Benjamin McLean.   1863. Justice, M. C. Hale. Clerk, William Serviss. Assessor, W. F. Lenox. Trustees re-elected.   1864. Justice, A. J. Robertson. Clerk, J. S. Read. Assessor, W. F. Lenox.   1865. Justice, Samuel Mathers. Trustees, Joseph Cummins, R. Joslin, and Sam. Mathers. Clerk, Wm. Serviss. Assessor, Benj. McLean.   1866. Justice, M. C. Hale. Trustees, Irwin Nutt, R. Joslin, and Samuel Mathers. Assessor, E. S. Kilborn.   1867. Justice, J. F. Frazer. Trustees, Irwin Nutt, R. Joslin, and Edmund Lytle.   1868. Justice, S. Alexander Leckey. Trustees, Jason McVay, A. J. Robertson, and John Wagner. Clerk, A. 0. Waucop. Treasurer, James Johnston. Assessor, William Snevely.   1869. Justice, M. C. Hale. Trustees, George Vogel, George Anderson, and John G. Stephenson. Clerk, P. C. Wykoff. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Assessor, G. E. Eddy.   1870. Justice, Irwin Nutt. Trustees, R. Joslin, and G. C. Ander- son, and B. W. Maxwell. Assessor, A. Clawson.   1871. Justice, S. Alexander Leckey. Clerk, John W. Knox. Asses- sor, T. B. Hathaway.   1872. Justice, M. C. Hale. Trustees, B. W. Maxwell, John Wagner, and John Sinks.   1873. Trustees, Samuel McCune, John Wagner, and R. Joslin. Clerk, C. W. Frazer. Assessor, A. Clawson.   1874. Trustees, John Wagner, William C. Wyman, and Henry Johnston. Clerk, A. 0. Waucop. Treasurer, J. M. C. Deweese. Assessor, J. S. Laughlin.   1875. Justices, M. C. Hale and Hubbard Hume. Trustees, John Wagner, William C. Wyman, and Henry Johnston. Clerk, William M. Kingseed. Treasurer, Enoch Anderson. Assessor, Daniel Haines.   1876. Trustees, John Wagner, Hartman Miller, and Henry Johnston. Clerk, John W. Knox. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Assessor, A. Clawson.   1877. Justice, S. J. Hatfield. Trustees, J. C. Haines, G. C. Anderson, and Samuel McCune. Assessor, H. M. Reed.   1878. Justices, M. C. Hale and D. L. Bush. Trustees, Samuel McCune, John Wagner, nd J. C. Haines. Assessor, James Dryden. 1879. Trustees, Harvey Guthrie, Wm. Elliott, and J. C. Haines. 1880. All re-elected.   1881. Trustees, William Elliott, J. C. Haines, and John Sinks.   1882. Trustees, Wm. Elliott, J. C. Haines, Charles Timeus. Clerk, John W. Knox. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Assessor, James C.   Dryden. Pike Superintendent, George Covill. Constables, Sam. Silver and W. A. Nutt. Supervisors, E. A. Schenck, W. G. Carper, C. Tracey, and Charles E. Fielding.   Justices of the Peace.   Elisha Williams, 1823. J. H. Coleman, June 18, 1825. John McCreight, Oct. 10, 1825. James H. Coleman, 1831. John Lenox, Jan. 25, 1834. E. McGrew, April 4, 1835. Alex. Stuart, Jan. 1836. Sam. McCullough, Jan. 21, 1837. Alex. Stuart, April 30, 1838. Sam. McCullough, Jan. 7, 1840. John Shaw, resigned March 1, '41. J. F. Frazer, Stuart, Alex. April 16, 1841. Sam. McCullough, Jan. 18, 1843. J. F. Frazer, April 11, 1844. Stephen Wilkin, April 11, 1844. Never qualified. J. H. Byers, Feb. 14, 1846. Fred. Robinson, April 22, 1846. J. F. Frazer, April 20, 1847. Irwin Nutt, April 17, 1848. F. Robinson, April 10, 1849. J. F. Frazer, April 23, 1850. M. C. Hale, May 1, 1851. F. Robinson, April 17, 1852. J. F. Frazer, April 14, 1853. WM. D. Walker, April 14, 1854. M. B. Newman, April 14, 1855. Resigned March 8, 1857. F. Robinson, 1855. J. F. Frazer, 1856. M. C. Hale, 1857. D. B. Rinehart, Oct. 28, 1857. J. F. Frazer, April 12, 1859. M. C. Hale, April 7, 1860. D. B. Rinehart, Oct. 18, 1860. Samuel Mathers, April 22, 1862. M. C. Hale, April 17, 1863. A. J. Robertson, April 23, 1864. Sam. Mathers, April 14, 1865. M. C. hale, April 11, 1866. J. F. Frazer, April 5, 1867. S. Alex. Leckey, April 13, 1868. M. C. Hale, April 12, 1869. Irwin Nutt, April 8, 1870. Resigned July 2, 1870 A. J. Rebstock, Oct. 11, 1870. S. Alex. Leckey, April 11, 1871. Mathew C. Hale, April 5, 1872. Harvey Guthrie, April 10, 1874. A. J. Rebstock,           "          " M. C. Hale, H. Hume, April 9 1875. S. J. Hatfield, April 17, 1877. M. C. Hale, April 9, 1878. Daniel L. Bush, April 8, 1878. J. G. Stephenson, April 13, 1881. D. L. Bush, April 18, 1881. George H. Bunnelle, Oct. 19, 1881.   SIDNEY,   The seat of justice and principal town in Shelby County, is pleasantly, almost romantically, situated in the valley and among the hills which border the Great Miami River in Clinton township. The Miami Feeder of the canal traces through the town, which is also the crossing of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis and the Dayton and Michigan railroads, the latter being operated by the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railway Company. The town embraces the original site for the seat of justice as selected by Commissioners Van Horne and Steele, in September, 1819. This original plat consisted of seventy acres in fraction 36, town. 8, range 6 east, on the west bank of the Great Miami River, and was donated to the county by Charles Sterrett in consideration of the seat of justice being permanently located here. The proprietor was to receive one-half the proceeds arising from the sale of town lots after the tract should be properly surveyed. It was further provided that one acre be reserved for a public square, two half acres for two religious societies, two acres for cemetery uses of said societies, and one acre for school purposes. In furtherance of the same principal object several other donations of cash, or work, or goods at fixed values. were made by various individuals, the whole amounting to $690, exclusive of "one barrel of whiskey" and one "big bull," the values of which do not appear. In December, 1819, the Court appointed David Henry director of the town, with instructions to have the plat surveyed and laid out in town lots. In compliance with this order Benjamin S. Cox made the required survey, and certified a report of the same to the Court.   Surveyor's Notes.   Lots five by ten rods ; streets six rods; alleys one rod wide. Fractional streets on north and south ends forty-nine and one-half feet; fractional streets on east and west sides forty-one and one-half feet wide. Streets at right angles upon a variation of five degrees west., supposed to be a true meridian. Main Street runs due north and south. Lot number 113 is for a burial ground ; lot number 109 is for a Presbyterian Church ; lot number 101 is for religious societies in general, and the east half of lot number 105 is for the use of schools.   March 13, 1820. B. S. Cox, JR., Surveyor.   Acknowledgment.   The State of Ohio, Shelby County,. ss.   Before me, the undersigned, an acting justice of the peace within and for the county aforesaid, personally appeared David Henry, director, and acknowledged the within plat to be an accurate plat of the town of Sidney in said county.   Given under my hand this 14th day of March, 1820.   JAMES LENOX, J. P.   Recorded April 18, 1820. H. B. FOOTE, Recorder.   318 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.   By this survey the plat was laid off in one hundred and thirteen lots. At the April term of the court a sale of one-third of the lots remaining unsold was ordered to be advertised, which order was executed by the director, who was also authorized to sell at private sale any lots remaining unsold after the date of said public auction. The sale of lots, publicly and privately, covered a period of several years before it was completed. Various papers and orders relating to these sales have already appeared under the head of "The County Seat." The town name was chosen in honor of Sir Philip Sidney, " the great light of chivalry."   Such were the initial steps toward the founding of a town which was yet to be, and following these steps came the work of clearing and building. Destruction ever prepares the way for construction, for the old must be levelled to make way for the new. The location is a cheerful, even charming one as viewed to-day, but it is doubtful whether it presented any charms other than those arising from a pecuniary standpoint to the men who were interested in the founding of the town in 1820. But all this transpired in " the good old times;" those times of simple tastes, modest demands, and low ambitions, and before " the root of all evil" had become the controlling influence in the affairs of men. Perhaps this is all true, but worship of the past is not largely indulged in "these degenerate days." • Let the few worshippers of those days glory in their best features, and they will not glory alone. Beyond this, they must not shut their eyes to the objectionable features, as if all was virtue, honesty, and hospitality. Mankind has always been more or less human, and sometimes planted thistles where flowers should have grown. They must not become such ardent worshippers of yesterday as to assert that "what was good enough for my father is good enough for me and my children," for this is a theory of conservatism which means only stagnation and the death of honorable ambition and manly effort. No day was ever good enough, and no day's effort need be counterfeited, for it can always be improved. Still the past is largely in its grave, and as "noble spirits war not with the dead," it were well to recall the past in kindness and dismiss it with a tear.   But the founders of Sidney, in common with those of the whole county, are in need of no commiseration at our hands, for they did the very- best their circumstances and surroundings would permit. The citizens of to-day do not manifest a different spirit so much as they manifest a deeper intensity of the same spirit on account of its better development and greater strength. New conditions have wrought out a new order of things. It is not the freaks of blind fates, or the "sport of invisible powers" which measures the direction and influence of the efforts of man. It was not fatalism but positivism which enabled the pioneer to grapple successfully with the unfriendly forces which beset him on every hand. It required the best manhood in man to contend with cold and inhospitable conditions. In fact, it called forth a mighty effort to make him master of himself. The community, like the individual, must seize and hold its own destiny in grasp, and sow as it would reap. The man will come into being under adverse conditions, and must take up arms against his surroundings from the very moment of his birth if he would hold his fate in his hands.. If in the war which ensues the man succeeds, he will be called a hero, while if he fails he- will be branded a fool. So with the community. It must take up arms against the adverse conditions which governed the period in which it sprang into existence, or it will become the victim of those conditions. It can no more stand still than the individual, for inaction is stagnation, and stagnation is suicide. Even conservatism, of which we hear so much, has its reprehensible features, for it is generally only an apology for inaction, while idolized consistency is only an apology for conservatism. No apologies are recognized in social economy, for it is either development and growth or decline and death. Look about in this county, and view the fate of Cynthiana, Basinberg, Newbern, and other towns which have become only a memory of the past. Look at old Dingmansburg, clasped in the outstretching arms of a living town, and so rescued from a withering doom! Look at Hardin, living only in sacred memory of the gallant patriot, who on that spot offered up his life in the service of his country, and that other memory that it was once the seat of justice of Shelby County ! Even then it does not serve as an adequate monument to these sacred memories. Yet it is dwelling to-day upon scenes long since enacted, cherishing the memory of a glory long departed, and so living only in the past. It is scarcely .a life deserving of the name, for better one year of the present than a thousand of the past.   Turn, then, and contemplate a living growth, and view the stately results of the better spirit of growth and development. Turn to Sidney, not with a sigh for " what might have been'," but with a noble pride for that which is, and the sacred promise of that which is to be. There is the town located in the valley, creeping up the hillsides and over the summits, dotting its way with buildings of every character, and institutions of every order. Industries, enterprises, and institutions of manifold uses have been called into being to represent the various tastes, desires, and skill of a constantly increasing population. To the original plat have been added more than thirty additions, and the number has never outrun the demand. Neither has that growth ever presented an abnormal aspect, for health of tone has ever marked the extension of the town. Nothing was done, no step taken as the result of intoxicated     ideas of the necessities of the town, but all has been done on a solid and enduring basis. Shocks and disasters have, as a consequence, been strangers here throughout the history of the town.   Let us turn, then, to a review of some of the incidents and accidents of the past, and a contemplation of the institutions and enterprises of the present. The town, as such, dates from the year 1820 for, although two or three cabins may have been erected upon the land which became the town site, they had no more significance than the scores of others scattered throughout the county.   It appears rather certain that John Blake built the first house in the new town, and as considerable interest attaches to the first building and builder, the following article is given space.   "Buildings—Old and New.   " The first building erected in Sidney is being torn down and carted away. Among the several old ones yet standing it is the oldest, and the only one that in all the years remained on its original site. When the ground is cleared and the building season opens, a brick structure, 130 by o42 .ft. and three stories high, will be erected by the owner of the lot, M. Wagner. On the first floor there will be two store-rooms, 100 by 25 feet, to be occupied by Thedieck Brothers, dry goods merchants, and W. H. Wagner, dealer in hardware. The building will be finished in the most approved style, compensating for the public eyesore in process of demolition. So much for the new, and this for the old building :   "It was built in the spring of 1820—sixty-two years ago—by John Blake, who employed Thomas English and Elisha Montaney to do the carpenter work. A log cabin stood on the northwest corner of the lot, built by the father of Richard Cannon, of Turtle Creek township. The Blakes moved into this cabin in March, 1820, coming from Miami County. The lot, No. 49, was bought at a sale of town lots a year after the town was laid out. 'Squire Henry, Director, who lived three and one-half miles east of town, managed the sale. Lot 49 brought $125, while lot 29, where R. L. Fry's residence and business rooms stand, sold for $100. The frame building on lot 49 was completed in the summer of 1820, and the Blake family moved in the then finest house within half 'a day's travel in any direction. In the summer of 1826 John Blake left Sidney for South Carolina, taking fifty head of horses with him. He made the journey safely, sold the horses, got the money, and started for home. At Lexington, Kentucky, he was waylaid, murdered, and robbed. Much of the stock was bought on time, and besides its loss, Mr. Blake was robbed of other funds. The settlement which followed greatly embarrassed the family, and in 1831 lot 49 and building were sold to John W. Carey, who made several improvements in the building, a noteworthy one being an ornamental piece of work from the tinsmith, signifying that the era of reform in the old building occurred in the year 1832. The same year Mr. Carey hung out a shingle which informed the weary traveller that the place was hotel.' Board bills were seldom 'jumped,' as almost anything in trade was acceptable. In cash, $1.25 a week was considered the fair thing. Those who paid the cash realized the grandeur of their position, though there was not much opportunity of displaying one's self before the people of the city.   " The property changed hands so frequently that to trace it through the county records would be an endless task. Mr. Wagner does not remember just what year he made the purchase, nor the price; but it was long before he bought the Burnett House building, which he purchased at sheriff's sale in 1863, paying $5000 for it.   "At Director Henry's sale of town lots, No. 20, whereon Guy C. Kelsey aid James A ustin have built, sold for $70. From this some idea of the appreciation in value of property in Sidney can be obtained.   "In 1831 the buildings from the Citizens' Bank down to the .old frame on lot 49 were built. They were the first brick buildings erected in Sidney. As the county seat was at first in Hardin, afterward being removed to Sidney and the business done in a frame trap, the town considered itself big enough to support a brick court-house, providing the people in the back deestricks' were willing. The question resulted in the erection in 1832 of a brick courthouse No. 2, the one that has just stepped down and out for court-house No. 3, the one in course of construction.   "Although this article treats of buildings, old and new, it is well to draw the line somewhere. The old frame trap, now about to leave us, having long survived its usefulness, will be permitted to take a back seat. In its.youth it sheltered the pioneers of the county, but they, or most of them, have also stepped down and out. The science of the beautiful' declares the old building utterly unfit for further use; so it must go. Its timbers, sixty-two years old, are dry and hard enough to withstand exposure to the elements for years to come. In the solitude of the wood-house or back yard, where the tender recollections of a half century gone by steal through its wooden head, it will find rest and peace."—Shelby County Democrat, Feb. 17, 1882.   In the years 1820 and 1825 inclusive, a number of houses of different kinds were erected, to trace the history of which would be a waste of time and space, as they generally passed away with the period for which they were intended.   HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO - 319   Hotels.   On the 4th of September, 1821, John Blake petitioned the Court for license to keep tavern at his house in Sidney, which petition was granted for one year in consideration of the payment of five dollars.   On the 12th of November, 1822, Francis Kendall was licensed by the Court to keep hotel at his house in Sidney, in consideration of paying five dollars to the county.   On the 24th of May, 1830, Abraham Cannon presented a petition to the Court of Common Pleas, and was granted a license, in consideration of a payment of five dollars, " to keep tavern for one year in his house in Sidney."   Stores.   As early as the 11th of December, 1820, John Blake was licensed by the Court of Common Pleas to " vend merchandise" in Sidney for one year, in consideration of the payment of ten dollars: On the 24th of April, 1823, Jesse Bryan was licensed by the court "to keep store in the town of Sidney." On the 9th of October of the same year license was granted Amos Evans to keep store in Sidney. John Blake, to whom the first license was granted, had it renewed December 11, 1821, for one year,—the fee in each case being ten dollars. He is thus found to figure as one of the very earliest builders, hotel-keepers, and store-keepers of the town.   These are the initial steps taken in different departments, and serve to show the first business men, and the business they established. The cabin was converted into a store, a hotel, or a shop, according to the seeming demand of the public, and the mechanical or financial ability of the individual.   But let us see farther. The town itself was yet unpromising in appearance; in fact it consisted largely of the plat only, and was awaiting the period not only of construction of buildings, but also of streets and walks. The site was likely to be wet, and the timber was as yet only removing, so that log-heaps, stumps, and .mud might be said to hold the town, if not in fee, at least in possession. But lots were regularly, although not rapidly sold ; and improvements were making steadily, which, rude as they were, indicated at least a listing growth, as the result of active energies.   In 1820, or one year after the erection of the county, the sessions of the commissioners and courts convened here, and this was the one dignity for which the town was intended, and toward which the first citizens had looked with something of hopeful pride Still, the " seat of justice won the town," rather than the town the " seat of justice," for this was the express purpose for which the site was chosen by the duly authorized commissioners.   During the first eighteen years of the town's existence its growth was slow, and its energy feeble. It moved along apace with the county, but its development was slow, as is ever the case under similar circumstances. It was a village, a county seat, but it had no commercial facilities ; and in the midst of a new, although fertile district, it found little impetus to rapid growth. The county was improving slowly, but steadily, and the, town was only justified in keeping step. A town may outrun the development of the district upon which it is dependent, and then stagnation ensues, sometimes supplemented by financial crashes and commercial disasters.   In the case of Sidney no such shocks were known, for the conditions were against everything of this nature. If circumstances only warranted a slow growth that growth was adopted, and every step appeared ad= justed to the demands of the hour. From time to time the individual stepped beyond the bounds of prudence, and attempted to create abnormal demands, rather than supply actual needs, and became the victim of bankruptcy.   This, however, is only an incident. in the history of every town and branch of business, and does not argue against our position relative to the normal condition of the general prevailing growth. The man blundered and failed ; the men were prudent and succeeded. The individual became bankrupt, the town as a community prospered and grew. Schools were established, not as existent to-day, but as demanded and justified by their own day. They served the purposes of their being in a certain sense, and, like everything else, went on improving. Churches were. organized ; the adherents of particular creeds, uniting into congregations, and erecting buildings in which might be expounded the peculiar doctrines of each particular denomination. The Methodists came, and, where a few of these met in a new country, the circuit rider sought them, sometimes on foot, but ever determined to organize a class. The Catholic came, and when the missionary priest found a few families of the " mother Church," he instituted the confessional, and visited the little band as often as his missionary labors would permit. Baptists came here to make homes for themselves, and doing this, supplemented their every day duties by the erection of a church and baptismal fount. Here, too, came the Presbyterian with his family, until several families were justified in asking for supplies to preach the mystic word as understood by the adherents to the doctrines of foreordination and election. Some families of United Presbyterians also found themselves banding together and seeking assistance from presbyteries, in order that their infant organization might hear the word as taught under the tenets of this denomination. And they succeeded, too, and to-day the church which holds much in common with the Presbyterians, but finds no solace in open communion, and knows no sacred music except the Psalms of David, is still here in the character of a large and flourishing congregation. Here, then, came and grew the Methodist with the " mercy-seat ;" the Catholic with the confessional ; the Baptist with immersion ; the Presbyterian with predestination, election, infant baptism ; and the United Presbyterian with these doctrines supplemented by close communion and exclusive Psalm singing.   Aside from those which grew into organizations which continue today, all shades of doubt and all colors of belief have been represented in the general make-up or personnel of the community. The Unitarian and Universalist, with their higher conception of man, or more merciful conception of a Deity, have found homes among the people of the town. Here, too, is the humanitarian, with his poetic philosophy of life, which holds man at his best estate, and proclaims each his brother's keeper. He is sometimes really an Agnostic ; he may be an Atheist, or an Infidel,—he is still a humanitarian, at whom is indiscriminately hurled the name of Infidel.   Let us simply admit he may be honest, and honesty with noble deeds may somewhere weigh more than hypocrisy with faith. It is just possible a man can no more force a belief upon himself than he can force it upon others. Somewhere or other a good deed may be accounted a worthy offering, and a kind word an efficacious prayer. Perhaps it is the deed more than the creed which is the index to righteousness in man. Perhaps the man who scatters flowers along the path of a wayfarer, and wreathes in smiles the countenances of those with whom he meets, will hear at last the recognition, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these, ye did it unto me;" and not the .interrogation, " To what creed did you adhere ? or, to what church did you .belong ?"   Aside from these educational and religious institutions, others of an industrial character sprang into being, and were carried along with the general growth. By these the direct and imperative needs of the hour were supplied, and the whole development carried out in uniformity and regularity.   While the canal was constructing, something of an excitement obtained, but it was chiefly abnormal.   During the construction of the Bellefontaine and Indiana Railroad in 1851 and 1852, about twelve hundred laborers headquartered at Sidney, and gave something of a new animation to the town. After the completion of the road a steady growth of both population and industry was experienced, which continued, perhaps, at a nominal rate until a new impetus was furnished in 1854, when steps were taken toward securing the Dayton and Michigan road, which would give a north and south outlet of immense beneficial importance. Stock was subscribed by citizens with something of a startling readiness, and for a time men with that intoxication born of speculation and railroad excitement traded farms, town lets, merchant stock, anything, and in some instances everything, for railroad stock, which was to advance at alarming strides, and leave dividends and margins in which wealth was assured. The road was finally constructed in 1858-59, and while the benefits of a cross outlet were secured to the community as such, the individuals who invested in stock found themselves largely impoverished. Farms were sold, and the owners were thrown out of homes, and stepped from affluence to penury in a day. The eastern portion of the town was largely appropriated by the railway company, and was neither improved by the owners, nor put upon the market at marketable prices. Held at exorbitant prices, it begged in vain for purchasers, or implored unanswered for improvement during a period of several years. To some extent this condition of things retarded general growth, and barred important enterprises.. Finally the property was sold from time to time, and as each purchaser improved immediately upon possession the town grew in symmetry and utility by expansion eastward until the river was reached, and something of a natural limit attained.     During the years 1637-39 inclusive, the canal fever was raging, and served to some extent as an awakener of public sentiment, and a stimulus to public spirit. It was then that   EAST SIDNEY,   Embracing the old site of Dingmansburg, was surveyed, and made 4 part of the town proper. This plat was surveyed June 12, 1837, for Joel Frankeberger and John F. Frazier, and " is situated on the east bank of the Great Miami River in fractional section 10, town. 1, range 13 M. R. S. Lots four by eight rods, except the fractional ones, and their length and width when it varies from the other lots is designated by small figures near the lines (on the plat). Streets are fifty feet wide, except Water Street which is sixty feet in width. All alleys twelve feet wide." The plat was recorded June 15, 1837.   Incorporation.   The village was incorporated under authority of an act entitled " An Act to Incorporate the Town of Sidney," passed March 1; 1834. The enabling provisions of this act are as follows:—   320 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.   SECTION I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio: That so much of the township of Clinton in the county of Shelby as is comprehended in the town plat of Sidney be and the same is hereby created a town corporation and shall hereafter be known and distinguished by the name of the town of Sidney..   SECTION II. That-for the good order. and government of said town and the inhabitants thereof, there shall be elected by. the white male inhabitants having the qualifications of electors of members of the General Assembly, on the first Monday of April next, and on the first Monday of May annually thereafter, at the usual place of holding 'elections in said town, one mayor, one recorder, and five trustees, who shall be freeholders residing in said town ; One treasurer and one town marshal, who shall each hold their respective offices for one year, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified.   As the remainder of the act simply relates to the powers and duties of the several officers, it exhibits nothing peculiar or distinctive, and so is not reproduced. It need scarcely be added that the term " white" as applied to electors in Section II of this act has no force at this time, as it is eliminated from all constitutions and laws both State and national. It is to be regretted that the official records of the town do not cover the whole period from the incorporation to the present. All inquiry and research only discovered such records for the period succeeding the year 1846, thus leaving a gap of twelve years. Such scraps of interest as could be gathered for these years will be found in this volume, but. at best they can only serve as detached links indicating the way backward, and not as constituting a continuous chain connecting us with the origin of the town government. Still they are valuable as guideboards, although they neither shorten the distance nor improve the way. Nearly a half century has elapsed since the incorporation, and so the best memories of the men who were here at that time must, touching details, and dates, be confused and indistinct, if not absolutely defective. So preferring silence to error we sometimes omit all mention where we would be glad to speak with authenticity. These silent points have cost more effort than the most elaborate subjects, for carried along by an ardent desire to be just and complete, search has been instituted wherever hope directed, and hope was sometimes cherished that a dead hope could be revived. So it was that continued efforts proved fruitless as well as laborious. It will be observed the town had been located and platted almost fifteen years before it was incorporated. At the time of the incorporation the population of the whole county could scarcely have exceeded the present population of the town, for in 1830 the inhabitants of the county only numbered 3671, while in 1880 those of the town alone numbered 3823. It is worthy of note that during the first half century of the town's existence, or until 1870, the population only swelled to 2808, while the increase for the decade between 1870 and 1880 was 1015. This shows an increase of nearly one hundred per cent. over the average decennial growth prior to 1870. The city was divided into four wards November 16, 1882, and each ward is entitled to two members of the city council. The population in 1840 was 713; in 1850, 1284 ; in 1860, 1997 ; in 1870, 2808 ; and in 1880, 3823. With the present outlook it will require no intuition of prophecy to predict a growth during the next ten years, which will largely exceed all other corresponding periods. Vitality, energy, and enterprise acknowledge no limitations, and these have sufficiently manifested themselves during the past few years to give a guarantee for the future.   City Officers.   1846 Mayor, James Irwin. Recorder, Geo. W. McGrew. Treasurer, Milton Bailey. Marshal, Thomas Nicholson. Collector, William McCullough. Councilmen, Thomas Stephenson, Samuel McCullough, David Edger, John Mills, J. C. Coe.   1847. Mayor; James Irwin. Clerk, George W. McGrew. Treasurer, Milton Bailey. Marshal, Thomas NicholLn. Councilmen, Samuel McCullough, John Mills, J. C. Coe, J. F. Frazer, Wm. A. Cartright, David Edger.   May 13, 1848. Mayor, James Irwin. Clerk, James A. Wells. Treasurer, Wm. Murphy. Marshal, John Irwin. Councilmen, Wm. M'Cullough, D. McCabe, Samuel A. Bush, Robert Fulton, Wm. H. Gerrard.   1849. Mayor, Joseph Cummins. Clerk, James A. Wells. Councilmen, Robert Fulton, Wm. McCullough, Leonard Werst, Robinson Joslin, Wm. H. Gerrard.   1850. Mayor, Leonard Werst. Clerk, Geo. W. McGrew. Treasurer, William Murphy. Marshal, Philip Smith. Councilmen, John F. Frazer, Franklin Haines, Daniel L. Bush, Joseph H. Kirkendall, Matthias Wagner.   1851. Mayor, David Carey. Clerk, John Neal. Treasurer, William Murphy. Marshal, Daniel Mowery. Councilmen, Joseph Cummins, Matthias Wagner, W. D. Rodgers, William McCullough, J. V. Wilkin.   1852. Mayor, Win. J. Martin. Clerk, Wm. McCullough. Treasurer, Wm. Murphy. Marshal, J. Sharp. Councilmen, Wm. Neal, R. W. Smiley, James Edger, J. Piper, L. C. Barkdull.   1853, Mayor, Wm. J. Martin. Clerk, Win. McCullough. Councilmen, J. W. Carey, Win. A. Cartright, J. F. Frazer, T. B. Graham, L. C. .Barkdull.   1854. Mayor, Wm. J. Martin. Clerk, Wm. McCullough. Councilmen, J. B. Howe, J. F. Frazer, L. C. Barkdull, J. IL Fry, J. Edger.   1855. Mayor, M. B. Newman. Clerk, James A. Irwin. Marshal, Joseph Delap. Councilmen, Samuel Mothers, J. B. Howe, A. D. Rodgers, Park Beeman, Robinson Joslin.   1856. Mayor, Wm. J. Martin. Clerk, James A. Irwin. Councilmen, J. F. Frazer, M. B. Newman, J. McVay, S. I. Gamble, S. Mothers.   1857. Mayor, William Serviss. Recorder, James A. Irwin. Councilmen, W. W. Skillen, A. V. Burrows, S. J. Gamble, J. C. Coe, and S. Mathers. Marshall, B. P. Haggott.   1858. Mayor, D. B. Rinehart. Recorder, James A. Irwin. Marshal, B. P. Haggott. Councilmen, J. C. Coe, Matthew Ensey, John Mills, W. W. Skillen, Samuel Mathers.   1859. Mayor, D. B. Rinehart. Recorder, J. A. Irwin. Treasurer, S. McCullough. Councilmen, C. D. Meyer, W. McCullough, J. C. Frankeberger, J. E. Cummins, and S. H. Mathers.   1860. Mayor, D. B. Rinehart. Recorder, J. A. Irwin. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, John A. Cox. Councilmen, William McCullough, L. D. Abbott, S. IL Matthews, J. C. Frankeberger, and Jacob Piper.   1861. Mayor, Samuel Mathers. Recorder, Wm. Serviss. Treasurer, Sam. McCullough. Marshal, Geo. E. Eddy. Councilmen, Wm. McCullough, J. C. Coe, Robinson Joslin, Thos. Stephenson, Jason McVay.   1862., Mayor, Samuel Mothers. Recorder, Wm. Serviss. Treasurer, James Johnston. Marshal, R. M. Ogan. Councilmen, R. Joslin, J. W. Carey, Jacob Young, Win. McCullough, Thomas L. Robinson.   1863. Mayor, D. B. Rinehart. Recorder, Wm. Serviss. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, Thos. Blake. Councilmen, L. C. Barkdull, David McCabe, A. C. Penniman, M. Coon, Geo. W. Hendershott.   1864. Mayor, Samuel Mathers. Recorder, J. Smyth Read. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, Thomas Blake. Councilmen, L. C. Barkdull, A. C. Penniman, Wm. McCullough, O. J. Taylor, E. A. Ensey.   1865. Mayor, Samuel Mothers. Recorder, Wm. Serviss. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, J. J. Nutt. Councilmen, George Vogle, R. E. Johnston, Charles Manor, Russel Botkin, P. C. Wykoff.   1866. Mayor, J. G. Stephenson. Recorder, Wm. Serviss. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, J. J. Nutt. Councilmen, P. C. Wykoff, George Vogle, Levi Ewing, I. D. Anderson, C. Manor.   1867. Mayor, J. F. Frazer. Recorder, William Serviss. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, Geo. E. Eddy. Councilmen, J. A. Lamb, Geo. Vogle, P. C. Wykoff, Charles Timeus, J. C. Fry.   1868. Mayor, Hugh Thompson. Recorder, E. H. Arbuckle. Treasurer, James Johnston. Marshal, Charles Eisenstein. Councilmen, J. W. Carey, Edw'd Smith, Lewis Nessler, And'w McGuire, Chas. Timeus.   1869. Mayor, J. F. Frazer. Recorder, P. C. Wykoff. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, Wm. A. Skillen. Councilmen, Charles Timeus, J. A. Lamb, Wm. Taylor, Wm. McCullough.   1870. Mayor, M. C. Hale. Recorder, P. C. Wykoff. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, Wm. A. Skillen. Councilmen, Wm. McCullough, J. A. Lamb, George Hendershott, Christian Kingseed, Wm. H. Taylor, E. A. Bennett.   1871. Clerk, John W. Knox. Councilmen, Christian Kingseed, Philip Smith, Andrew :McGuire. Cemetery Director, B. W. Goode.   1872. Mayor, M. C. Hale. Clerk, Jno. W. Knox. Cemetery Director, S. Alex. Leckey. Councilmen, Wm. McCullough, Harvey Guthrie, D. L. Bush. Marshal, T. M. Thompson.   1873. Councilmen, G. G. Haslup, J. C. Haines, H. W. Thompson, J. G. Stephenson. Water-works Trustee, James A. Lamb. Street Comr., T. M. Thompson. .'em. Director, G. C. Anderson.   1874. Mayor, H. Guthrie. Clerk, A. 0. Waucop. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Cem. Director, G. E. Eddy. Water-works Trustees, F. Smith, G. W. Hendershott. Marshal, H. C. Bird. Councilmen, F. Dye, C. Kingseed, Samuel McCune.   1875. Councilmen, J. S. Laughlin, J. B. Robertson, M. Smith. Waterworks Trustees, G. L. Bush, J. G. Stephenson. Cern. Directors, S. A. Leckey, O. O. Mathers.   1876. Mayor, J. G. Stephenson. Clerk, John W. Knox. Water-works Trustee, Geo. W. Hendershott. Cem. Director, Willis P. Stowell. Marshal, H. C. Bird. Councilmen, William McCullough, Fred. E. Hoover, Charles Weaver.   1877. Councilmen, George Hemm, C. W. McKee; Louis Weingartner. Water-works Trustee, J. W. Skillen. Cem. Director, G: C. Anderson.   1878. Mayor, Daniel L. Bush. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Clerk, John W. Knox. Marshal, Wm. Hale. Water-works Trustee, Michael Smith. Cern. Director, Jacob Piper. Councilmen, Louis Rensch, Clay R. Joslin, George Ackerly.   1879. Councilmen, W. P. Metcalf, George Hemm, Jasper N. Nutt. Water-works Trustee, George W. Hendershott. Cem. Director, W. P. Stowell.   1880. Mayor, Charles C. Weaver. Clerk, John W. Knox. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, Samuel Silver. Cem. Director; G. C. Anderson. Water-works Trustee, John W. Skillen. Councilmen, W. H. Goode, H. A. Rhodehamel, S. Alex. Leckey.   1881. Councilmen, George H. Bunnelle, Philip Smith, W. P. Metcalf.   HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO - 321   Water-works Trustee, Jasper N. Nutt. Cemetery Trustee, Jacob Piper. Solicitor, W. D. Davies.   1882. Mayor, D. L. Bush. Clerk, John W. Knox. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, Samuel Silver. Street Commissioner, H. M. Reed. Councilmen, W. B. Metcalf, G. H. Bunnelle, John Hale, Joseph Altenbaugh, Louis Weingartner, Philip Smith. City Solicitor, W. D. Davies.   1883. Present Officers : Mayor, D. L. Bush. Clerk, John W. Knox. Treasurer, Samuel McCullough. Marshal, Samuel Silver. Councilmen, Enoch Anderson, Joseph Altenbaugh, Geo. II. Bunnelle, Eli Davis, W. H. Monroe, Louis Weingartner, T. C. Wilkinson, Hudson Gartley. Solicitor, Joseph Royon. Water-works, James M. Anderson. Street Commissioner, Geo. W. Covill.   Society Directory.   Summit Lodge, No. 50, K. of P., meets in Pythian Hall, Zinn & Hoover's Building, every Wednesday evening. H. McClung, K. of R. and S.   I. 0. 0. F., Sidney Lodge, No. 60, meets in its hall, corner Ohio and Poplar Streets, every Tuesday evening. D. L. Bush, Secretary.   Osceola Encampment meets in Odd Fellows' Hall on the first and third Friday evenings of each month. D. L. Bush, Scribe.   Temperance Lodge No. 73, F. and A. M., meets in its hall in Fry's Building, corner of Main and Poplar Streets, on Thursday evening, on or before full moon of each month. J. S. Read, Secy. D. Oldham, W. M.   Sidney Chapter No. 130, R. A. M., meets in Masonic Hall on Thursday evening after full moon of each month. H. W. Thompson, M. E. H. P. J. S. Read, Secretary.   Sidney Temple, No. 11, Patriarchal Circle, meets on the second and fourth Thursday evenings of each month, in I. 0. 0. F. Hall. J. S. Laughlin, 0. Hudson Gartley, Secretary.   Neal Post, No. 62, G. A. R., meets in Monumental Building on second and-fourth Monday evenings of each month. C. W. McKee, Com. G. S. Harter, Adj.   Churches.   Methodist Episcopal Church, Poplar Street. Services at 11 A. M. and 7 P. M. Sabbath School at 9.30 A. M. Prayer meeting on Wednesday evening at 7. P. P. Pope, Pastor.   United Presbyterian Church, Court Street. Services at 11 A. M. and 7 P. M. Sabbath School at 9.30 A. M. Young people's prayer meeting at 6 o'clock Sabbath evening. Prayer meeting at 7 o'clock Wednesday evening. J. T. Wilson, Pastor.   Mount Vernon Church (Colored Baptist), Miami Street. Meeting at 11 A. M. every Sabbath. Preaching on first and third Sabbath of each month. Prayer meeting on Wednesday evening.   German Lutheran Church, Water Street. Services every Sabbath at 10 A. M. Catechism at 11.30 A. M. Sabbath School at 9 A. M. F. A. troth, Pastor.   German Evangelist Church, Miami and North Lane Streets. Services at half past 10 o'clock every Sunday. Sabbath School at 9 A. M. Jacob Baehr, Pastor.   Church of the Holy Angels (Catholic), South Main Street. Mass at 8 A. M. Catechism at 2 P. M. Vespers 2.30 P. M. High Mass at 10 A. M. Rev. Father Quatman, Pastor.   Baptist Church, corner Miami and North Streets. Services at 11 A. M. and 7 P. M. Sabbath School at 2.30 P. M. Prayer meeting at 7 o'clock Wednesday evening. Perry W. Longfellow, Pastor.   Presbyterian Church, Miami Street. Services at 11 A. M. and 7 P. M. Sabbath School at 9.30 A. M. Young people's prayer meeting at 6 o'clock Sabbath evening. Prayer meeting at 7 o'clock Wednesday evening. R. McCaslin, Pastor.   INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTIONS.   Sidney Agricultural Works.   The oldest building now used by this company was erected in 1866 as a machine shop, by G. G. Haslup. In 1869 it was purchased by Slusser, Miller & Boyer, who operated it as a sulky-plow works until 1872, when it was repurchased by G. G. Haslup & Sons. In 1879 it passed into possession of the Sidney Agricultural Company, consisting of 0. 0. blathers, President; John Hale, Secretary and Treasurer; R. O. Bingham, Superintendent; John Brubaker, J. A. Lamb. W. E. Kilbourn, and estate of S. A. Leckey. This firm at once erected a foundry, and otherwise increased the capacity of the works, and converted the same into an agricultural implement manufactory. Until 1881 a specialty was made of reapers and mowers, but since that time great attention has been given to mill machinery. At the same time the manufactures are not allowed to run to exclusive specialties, but include the Miami Valley Hay Rake, Slusser Excavators, road scrapers, kettles, sash weights, hollow mauls, bob-sleds, and castings and mouldings of all descriptions.   About thirty workmen are constantly employed in the various departments. The buildings are all brick, the main building two story, 82 by 30 feet, and the foundry one story, 80 by 50 feet. This establishment is among the largest and most important in the county.   Loughlin & Scott, Manufacturers of School Furniture, Sidney.   This firm, composed of John Loughlin and T. D. Scott, purchased the site of their present factory, lots 289 and 290 North Ohio Street, in the fall of 1880, and erected thereon their main building, 165 by 60 feet, the north wing 60 by 90 feet, and the office fronting on Ohio Street. During the winter of 1880 and 1881 they put in their engine and machinery, and commenced the manufacture of the celebrated " Fashion" desk about February 1, 1881. The leading feature of this desk is the method of joining the wood of the top, back, and seat to the cast standards or legs by a patent T-head. It dispenses with screws, bolts, etc., and frames the wood and iron directly together, and makes a much firmer and more substantial structure than can be made in any other way.   Beside the " Fashion" desk (for pupils' use) they make recitation seats, teachers' desks, and all sorts of school and offlce desks, and deal in all kinds of school apparatus and supplies.   Their trade for the year 1881 aggregated some $75,000, and so far exceeded their calculations and capacity that they were obliged to build a two-story addition, 50 by 60 feet, and put in additional machinery, and otherwise increase their facilities before the opening of the season of 1882.   The addition of machinery was soon found to overtax their engine, and this necessitated the purchase of a new engine and boiler, and the building of a new engine and boiler house.   After a careful investigation of the various makes, and conferring with P. Smith, Bro. & Co., of Sidney, they contracted with them for a model engine, to be made on an improved plan and from entirely new patterns. The patterns were made by an expert pattern-maker of extensive experience and splendid qualifications, and the engine is second to none, no matter where made.   The contract with P. Smith, Bro. & Co. required them to put in the new engine and boiler without interrupting the work of the factory. And, to their credit be it said, they kept.their contract, causing but one day's stop. To accomplish this the new boiler was first set, and connected with the old engine on Sunday, and thus was the machinery kept in motion till the new engine was set, and connection made and completed.   This was accomplished toward the close of 1882, and a new house erected over the boiler and engine, and the engine, nicely decorated, was splendidly encased in walnut and ash with panels of glass. This case or room inclosed only the engine and fly wheel, and is made dust tight, so that the delicate parts, on which the vitality of the engine depends, are protected from exposure, and the manipulations of "vulgar" hands. The glass casing enables the engineer to see the engine without going inside the case, and likewise allows the curious to satisfy their curiosity at a respectable distance.   Thus have the factory and its appliances been increased to keep pace with the increase of business, till it is now the most completely equipped school furniture factory outside of the largest cities, and is scarcely second to any in facilities and capacity in the Union—in fact is the largest but one engaged exclusively in the manufacture of school furniture.   At the time the business was established in Sidney, their trade was confined almost entirely to Ohio, but has since extended to almost every State in the Union. The second year the business done increased over one-half, and the present year promises to double the sales.   The present capacity of the factory is about three hundred desks per day. The average number of hands employed is about forty, and the net-work of agents, who pour their orders into the hopper daily, extends its meshes wherever Uncle Samuel's numerous family erects the significant school-house, and the prophetic tramp of the pedagogue is heard abroad.   Theirs is the noble task of administering to the convenience and bodily comfort of the pupil, while his mind peruses the illuminated page which lightens up the path that leads to fame.   All this vast machinery of factory and agents could not be kept in intelligent motion without extensive, persistent, and systematic advertising. Thousands of dollars are spent in printers' ink, paper, and postage, and a constant stream of circulars flows out and letters flow in to keep the vital current complete. This requires most active, arduous, and unceasing work in the office, where vacations are not known. In fact, except on legal holidays, the wheels of the factory have scarcely ceased to make their regular revolutions since the day they started.   Notwithstanding the constant improvement and extension of their factory and facilities, in order to keep pace with the increase of trade, the prospect now is that another story will have to be added in the near future.   Sidney "D" Handle Factory. Clark and Benjamin.   This factory was established by Messrs. Clark & Benjamin, old manufacturers in New England and Pennsylvania, and commenced operations in October, 1879. The manufactures consist only of the " D" Handle; but this is made in every style and length for fork, shovel, spade, and toy purposes. The manufacture is a peculiar one, and involves great   322 - HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.   exactness and different styles, according to the market. The leading shipments are to Cleveland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Boston, while a large trade at Beaver Falls is also supplied. The monthly average of manufactures is about 4000 dozen, which involves the use of 300 to 400 cords of ash timber. About three-fourths of this material is received at the factory from the wagons of farmers, while about one-fourth is shipped here by railroad and canal. About eighteen men are kept constantly employed, while all useful machinery has been put in operation. The handles turned out are of three grades, which enable the firm to supply the demands so far as the capacity of the works will permit. Mr. Benjamin is himself a practical mechanic and has full charge of this branch ; while his partner, Mr. Clark, keeps charge of another factory of the same kind in Pennsylvania.   Slusser & McLean, Steel .Scraper Factory.   In 1876 B. Slusser and W. S. Magill established the American Steel Scraper Works, and commenced the manufacture of the Slusser patent, which soon reached enormous proportions. A few months later Goode was admitted to partnership, soon after which Magill retired from the firm, although the firm style remained The American Steel Scraper Co.   In 1880 Mr. Slusser retired from the company and associated with W. F. McLean, under the firm style of Slusser & McLean, for the manufacture of a steel scraper with the McLean device.. Their first step was the erection of buildings, which are constructed entirely of brick and well arranged for light and ventilation purposes. The main building is 107 by 42 feet, two stories high; the blacksmith shop is one story, 60 by 40 feet; the emery-wheel house one story, 18 by 15 feet, and the fuel room 30 by 24 feet. The whole works are suppled with every description of necessary labor-saving machinery, the most of which is the device of Mr. Slusser. Water power obtained from the feeder of the Miami and Erie Canal is used as a motor. The machinery has a capacity of three hundred scrapers per day, and fourteen mechanics are employed. During the first year shipments found their way to twenty six States and Territories, and the market keeps extending from month to month.   American Steel Scraper Company.   This company was organized in 1876 by B. Slusser and W. S. Magill. It was then the only steel scraper factory in the United States. The shops are attached to the Maxwell Flouring Mills, from which the power is derived. Soon after the establishment of the factory it passed into the hands of W. H. C. Goode, who is still the operator and proprietor. The scraper manufactured is of steel, and is known as the Slusser Scraper, being the invention of B. Slusser, now of the Slusser & McLean Scraper Works. The American Factory being the pioneer institution in this line of manufactures, has become the most extensive factory in the world. The products of this company are shipped to all parts of the United States, and the manufacturing capacity is only limited by the market demand.   Crozier Carriage Works, Ohio Street.   This factory was established about the year 1854 by L. Bimel, now of St. Marys, Ohio. In 1860 it passed into the hands of the present proprietor, J. S. Crozier, a practical, experienced carriage-maker. Perhaps no other name has been so long and intimately connected with the carriage business in the Miami Valley as that of Crozier, and the fame of Sidney for the manufacture of first-class work is largely attributable to J. S. Crozier. The Crozier carriage has been known throughout this section for twenty years, and during that time has proved of reliable and substantial manufacture. Skilled and experienced workmen are employed ; well seasoned or well refined materials are used, and these considerations have done much toward building up a large and lucrative trade. The main building is a three story brick, 36 by 80 feet, with a capacious show-room on the first floor. The blacksmith shop is to the rear of the main building and is 25 by 36 feet. Eight workmen are constantly employed ; each department is in special charge of a skilled mechanic, while the whole business is operated and superintended by the proprietor, whose thirty years' experience has enabled him to turn out work which will not suffer if put in competition with any other manufacturers of the State.   Miller Carriage Factory, Court Street.   The main building of this factory was erected about 1857 by Jacob Piper as a farm wagon shop. In 1854 Mr. Miller took charge, and for a time manufactured both light and heavy work ; but as soon as practicable converted the whole establishment into a light work factory. The old building was 40 by 30 feet. In 1874 an addition 52 by 24 feet was erected, and in 1880 a blacksmith shop 60 by 90 feet was attached with an L 22 by 36 feet. From ten to twelve workmen are employed.   Spoke and Wheel Works, on Canal between Ohio and Main Streets.   This establishment was founded in 1870 by J. Dann, the present proprietor, and was the first works of this character in Sidney. The building is 36 by 50 feet, and the machinery is operated by a fifteen-horse-power engine. All grades of patent and common wheels, spokes, hubs, felloes, shafts, and poles are manufactured and sold to the trade, the chief market being Columbus, Ohio. A warehouse 30 feet square is used in connection with the factory. All the buildings are frame except the engine-house. Mr. Dann is a practical workman and personally oversees the business, in which he keeps five skilled tradesmen employed.   Sidney Wheel Works. Anderson, Frazer & Co.   This firm commenced operations in Nov. 1881, the buildings having just been completed. The main building is 110 by 60 feet, with two full stories and a third floor of eight feet. The engine-room is 28 feet square and two stories, the upper apartment being used for drying purposes. Adjoining this room is an independent dry house 35 feet square. Aside from these buildings two floors of another building are used for storage purposes. Forty-four men are employed in the various departments. The manufactures embrace wheels, spokes, hubs, and rims of every description, which are shipped to all parts of the country. The firm consists of E. Anderson, C. W. Frazer, and J. N. Anderson, under the firm style of Anderson, Frazer & Co.   Sidney Flax Mill. 0. 0. Mathers.   This enterprise went into operation in 1881, the building having been erected in 1880. During the first season 1200 tons of straw were used in the manufacture of green tow. The building is 124 by 36 feet, including the engine-room, and is intended for two sets of machinery, although as yet but one set is used. Ten men are required to operate, and the mill product finds a ready market in all the principal cities of the Union.   Sidney Tannery. B. Given & Son.   This establishment was started about 1836 by Mr. Neiswanger, after which it passed through several hands until 1869, when it was purchased from Turney & Evans by R. Given & Co. The building is a three-story brick, 38 by 40 feet, and is supplied with all the appliances necessary to do rapid and satisfactory work. The machinery is driven by an elevenhorse-power engine, and six men are kept constantly employed.   Sidney Planing Mill.   This establishment was started in 1880 by J. E. Wilkinson. In June, 1881, Mr. Wilkinson retired from active connection with the business, retaining one-third interest, while the proprietorship became styled Faris, Birch & Co. On the 1st of January, 1882, Mr. Wilkinson withdrew entirely, and the style became " Sidney Planing-mill Co.," J. S. Faris & P. B. Birch, proprietors. On January 1st, 1883, J. S. Faris sold his interest to W. H. Monroe, who was formerly bookkeeper for the firm. The building is two stories high; the main building 100 by 130 feet, and is supplied with a fifty-horse-power boiler, a twenty-five-horse-power engine, and all necessary machinery. The store-room is 100 by 40 feet. The manufactures embrace sash, doors, blinds, frames, and mouldings, while building material of every description of timber is handled by the firm. Buildings on Walnut Street, near both railroad stations.   Automatic Vise Works.   The manufacture of automatic vises is conducted in Sidney by Bartholomew & Henson, the latter being the patentee of the device. It is claimed for this vise that it possesses several points of superiority over all other devices for a like purpose. These points may be said to be : the saving of twenty-five per cent. of time by the automatic action ; the preservation of the parallel of the jaws at all widths ; the equality of pressure regardless of the shape of the material clasped, and their simplicity, cheapness, and durability. They are made in different sizes, and furnished with either wood or iron screws, the latter being two dollars higher in price.   New York Spoke Works.   These works were started early in 1883 under the firm name of Crane & McMahon, James O'Neil, general manager. Mr. O'Neil has charge of the Sidney branch works, in which about thirty men are employed. The Company labors to make the best spokes in use, of second-growth white-oak. The machinery is of the most perfect and complete patterns, and lumber is taken from the wharf, and after passing through the factory is turned out in first-class finished spokes. About 2500 spokes are daily turned out, being of different kinds according to orders. The Company also ships wagon material to New York in large quantities. Their business in all its branches is rapidly growing, and although among the infant establishments of Sidney, it promises to become an important factor in the future of the town.   Limekiln.   The lime burning industry of W. A. Hall & Co. was started about 1869, and has been in successful operation ever since. The stone is quarried about a mile from the kiln, and transported by canal. The   HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO - 323   quarry is the property of the Lime Company, and comprises about three and a half acres. The capacity of the kiln is about 175 bushels per day, and the quality of the lime is equal to that produced anywhere in the State. The company also owns its own boats for canal transportation of stone to the kiln and lime to the market.   Plow Works.   The plow factory of W. M. Toy was established in 1848 in the shop now occupied by George Robbins as a blacksmith shop. About twelve years later the business was moved to the Kingseed shop, but five years thereafter the proprietor moved to a farm, abandoning his old business. Not finding farming very agreeable, he returned to town and built two shops for the manufacture of plows, on North Main Street, where he worked two years. He then began working for the Slusser Sulky Plow Co., and remained in this position until the company dissolved. He then went into partnership with Mr. Haslup, under the firm name of Haslup & Toy, for the manufacture of plows. An accident, resulting in the crippling 'Mr. Haslup's arm, caused him to retire from the busi- ness. In 1878 Mr. Toy moved to the south end of Main Street, where he continued the manufacture of plows under the firm name of W. M. Toy & Co., his son standing at the head of the firm. In 1881 this son bought the whole business and machinery, and has since conducted the business at a rate of manufacture of from 250 to 300 plows annually.   Collar and Fly-Net Factory.   This establishment was founded in 1.879 by Samuel Chism, and operations commenced in June of the same year. The building is 50 by 36 ft. and two storied. About twenty-three hands are employed in the manufacture of every description of horse-collars and fly-nets, which find a market in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. In February, 1881, Cornelius Bausman entered into partnership with Mr. Chism, when the firm became Chism & Bausman. Factory in West North Street, at crossing of D. & M. Railroad.   SCHOOLS.   Prior to the 2d day of January, 1857, all the schools of Sidney were taught in private houses or churches in different parts of the town, except one that was taught in a log house erected on the school lot given by the proprietor of the town (Mr. Sterrett). They were supported by private subscription, with the exception of a small fund from the State and a fund arising from the rent of a farm donated to the Sidney schools by Wm. Covill in, 1843. There was no system of graded schools until after the erection of the present Union School Building in 1856. In 1855 the Board of Education of the School District determined to take steps toward the erection of a Union School Building. Accordingly it was ordered that the Clerk of the Board should give the requisite notice to the voters of Sidney and the territory thereto annexed for school purposes, to assemble at the court-house and vote upon a proposition to levy a tax of twelve thousand dollars, payable in three annual instalments, commencing in 1856, and to issue corporation bonds therefor, bearing seven per cent. interest, for the purpose of building a schoolhouse in said village and buying the necessary grounds upon which to erect it. It was also stipulated in the notice through the public prints that if the school tax should carry, the qualified voters of the district should have the right of voting on the location of the school building. Accordingly, as per notice, a vote was taken on the 30th day of April, 1855 ; the result of the vote was 134 in favor of school tax and 79 against. There was a great strife in the selection of the site. A number of propositions were made by different persons in different parts of the town, and it was some length of time before a site was selected: finally, lot No. 106 and the west half of lot 105 were selected and purchased from Birch & Peebles at a cost of about $2100. The east half of lot 105 had been given to the town by its proprietor for school purposes. Upon these lots a brick building, 90 by 64 feet and three stories high (beside basement) was erected at a cost of about $18,000. The building was not ready for occupancy until the 1st of January, 1857. At the completion of the building only eight rooms (four in the first and four in the second story) were fitted for school-rooms ; the third story was used as a hall for several years. As soon as necessity demanded, the third story was divided into four rooms, making in all twelve rooms. In the year 1828 Wm. Covill came from England to the United States, and for a few years stopped in the State of New York, but prior to 1840, he came to Shelby County, 0., and bought the northeast quarter of section 26, in Clinton Township. Some time prior to his death (which occurred in July, 1843), he bequeathed to the common schools of the town of Sidney this piece of land, which the Board of Education accepted, and gave a lease of the same for ninety-nine years. The fund arising from the lease of said land has, since that time, been used in the maintenance of the schools in the town of Sidney.   In the fall of 1860 Gideon Wright (an early settler of Shelby County) gave to the Sidney school district (by verbal will) five hundred dollars, with the expressed desire that the principal should be safely invested, and the interest arising from the same should be used by said district     for tuition purposes. The condition of said donation was, that the schools were to grant to the descendants of said Wright one perpetual scholarship in. the Union Schools of said district. This donation was accepted, and the clerk was ordered to issue a certificate of scholarship in favor of the heirs of Gideon Wright. The above five hundred dollars were invested in United States bond No. 9427, bearing six per cent. interest.   The first superintendent employed in the schools was Joseph Shaw, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, at a salary of $800 a year. The schools were opened on the second day of January, 1857. The following are the names of the first corps of teachers: Mathematical Department, J. S. Driscoll. Sixth Department, Miss Harriet H. Chapin. Fifth Department, Miss Louisa Knox. Fourth Department, Miss Mary A. Nettleton. Third Department, Miss Charlotte Swan. Second Department, Miss Martha A. Crowell. Primary Department, Miss Arnett.   Prof. Shaw was superintendent until the beginning of 1859, when he resigned, and Ira W. Allen completed the school year. In 1859 W. H. Schuyler was elected at a salary of $75 per month. He filled the position two years. In 1862 Benjamin S. McFarland filled the position at $65 per month. In 1863 the board secured the services of S. S. Taylor and wife, of Joliet, Ill., at $100 per month. In 1864 they paid S. S. Taylor $720 for his services (his wife not teaching). N. L. Hanson filled the position during 1865, '66, and '67. He received $1000 per year. W. C. Catlin was superintendent in 1868 at $1000 a year. In 1869 J. M. Allen was elected at $1200 per year, but resigned before commencing the school, and H. T. Wheeler, of Springfield, 0., was elected, but resigned rather than go before the local board of examiners. J. D. Critchfield, of Mt. Vernon, was tendered the position, which he accepted. He served but a few weeks, and resigned, when A. S. Moore, of Piqua, filled the vacancy for the remainder of the year. Prof. J. C. Harper was superintendent for 1870 at a salary of $1500 per year. In 1871 George Turner filled the position at $1200. In 1872 R. E. Page was secured at $1200. He also served the following year at $140 per month. He was succeeded by A. B. Cole, who held the position until 1877, when Van B. Baker was elected, and served until 1880, when the present superintendent (J. N. Bearnes) was elected.   At the present time there' are 800 scholars enrolled, with an average attendance of 675. There are sixteen schools in all. Twelve in the High School building, two in the South Main Street Primary, one in the North Main Street Primary, and one colored school. There are seventeen teachers employed, beside the superintendent and teachers in penmanship, drawing, and music. The school year consists of thirty-six weeks.   The Catholics also have a school with 185 scholars enrolled, the history of which will be found incorporated in the history of the Catholic Church.   CHURCHES.   History of the M. E. Church in Sidney.   The history of Methodism in Sidney begins with the year 1825, at which time the first Methodist sermon was preached in the house of Joel Frankenberger, by the Rev. Levi White. Under his pastorate a class was organized, consisting of Joel Frankenberger and wife, George Poole and wife, John Bryan and wife, Mother McVay and Father Defreese.   Sidney was then a part of Bellefontaine circuit, which extended from Sidney to Bellefontaine, thence to West Liberty and Westville, including all the intervening territory. At the time of the organization of the church in Sidney, Rev. David Young, whose name is as sweet incense to the memories of those who knew him, was the presiding elder.   There was no meeting house in Sidney until 1831, and the services during the six years preceding that time were held in the house of. Joel Frankenberger in the winter, and in the summer under the wide spreading branches of a, large elm tree that grew on the river bank just below the present bridge. Here protracted meetings were held, and under the mighty influence of primitive preaching and singing souls were converted and the church strengthened.   At the quarterly conference, held at Bellefontaine November 10, 1827, while James B. Findlay was presiding elder and Joshua Boucher pastor, a committee, consisting of Joel Frankenberger, George Poole, and John Hollingshead, were appointed to inquire into the practicability of building a meeting house in Sidney. This committee did not Make a report until January 31, 1829, when they announced that they had purchased a lot on which to build a church. This lot is the one on which the Baptist church now stands, and cost $16, and was paid for by the commit- tee together with Mr. Persinger, each paying $4. On this 'lot a small church was erected in 1831. This house was built "without money and without price," some furnishing material, while others did the work.   The second Methodist Church edifice in Sidney is the one owned and used by the Baptist congregation of this place. It was erected in 1838, and dedicated by the Rev. Edward Gehon, who has since become prominent in the Church South. Rev. David Warnock and Rev. William Sutton were then preachers on the circuit. In 1834 the Bellefontaine