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CLAY TOWNSHIP.

JOSEPH BIDWELL, farmer, P. O. Lock 17, was born in England October 22, 1822, the son of John and Jane Bidwell, who emigrated to America in 1831 with their family, and settled in New York. Six or seven years later they removed to Trenton, this county, and there remained till death. Joseph Bidwell was married in 1852 to Louisa Blower, a native of Ohio, and of Scotch ancestry. She departed this life two years later, and in 1860 Mr. Bidwell was remarried to Harriet Blickensderfer, daughter of Abram Blickensderfer. Their five children were George Wesley, Charles Emmett (who died young), Mary Elizabeth, Hannah Jane (who died at the age of two years) and Joseph Jesse. Mrs. Harriet Bidwell died in 1868, and in 1869 Mr. Bidwell was again married, to Rebecca, Richardson. Her only child is William Richardson. They have, however, an adopted child, Denver Brown, four years of age. Mr. Bidwell is a member of the Moravian Church.

ISAAC BLICKENSDERFER, retired farmer, Gnadenhutten, was born in Warwick Township October 1, 1813. His father, Christian, was born September 16, 1787, and died April 4, 1854; his mother, Sarah (Fredrick), was born in 1786, and died in 1880, aged ninety-four years. They had four children - Abram, Isaac (the subject of this sketch), Christie Ann (wife of Ferdinand Helwig) and Sarah (wife of Lewis Peter), all residents of Gnadenhutten. Christian Blickensderfer was one of eight men who, with their families, emigrated in 1812 from Lancaster County, Penn., to Tuscarawas County. Isaac was raised in Warwick Township, and remained on the farm until his family had grown to maturity. He was married, in 1834, to Elvina Meyer, born in Pennsylvania June 13, 1814. Their children are Josiah F., a resident of Iowa; Louisa, deceased; Annie, deceased; Francis E., who was a member of the Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. and was killed at Atlanta, Ga.; and Sarah, a resident of Pennsylvania. Mr. Blickensderfer has been a resident of Clay Township since 1870. He is a member of the Moravian Church.

EDWARD B. CAMPBELL; hotel proprietor, Gnadenhutten, was born in Guernsey County December 15, 1853, son of Abram and Margaret Campbell, of Scotch and Irish descent. Abram Campbell was a miller, and followed his trade until he lost an arm in a mill at Vinton. He then engaged in stock-dealing. At the age of fourteen, Edward B. went on the Pan Handle Railroad, and successively served as water carrier, brakeman. wiper and fireman. At the close of 1874, he left the railroad, and for nine years was engaged in farming. He then commenced the hotel business, which he has since followed. He built the Gnadenhutten House, corner of Main and Cherry streets. Mr. Campbell was married, flay 31, 1873, to Angie Webb, a native of Kanawha, Va. Her father, Philander Webb, was a native of New York and while serving as boss carpenter on the railroad was killed by a construction train, October 16, 1878,

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Her mother, Caroline Webb, is a native of Richland County, Ohio. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are Carrie Leoti, Edna Luella, Edward W., Ida M. and Cecil Muriel.

JAMES C. FORBES, farmer, P. O. Port Washington, was born in Uhrichsville, Ohio, December 22, 1860, the son of Andrew and Louisa A. (Seaman), Forbes. Andrew Forbes was for many years a leading merchant, of Uhrichsville. and in 1863 and 1864 represented the county in the State Legislature. He died in the prime of life. His wife was the only child of Robert Seaman, who was the largest land owner in Clay Township, acquiring, by his own exertions, over 1.000 acres of land, most of which is bottom land. James C. was married, May 15, 1881, to Ida Bremer, daughter of Peyola and Matilda Bremer, of this township. They have one child-Laura May.

S. S. GINTHER, farmer, P. O. Lock 17, was born in this county June 22, 1832, the son of John A. and Lydia (Demuth) Ginther, who were among the earliest pioneers of the county, and came from Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood on the farm, receiving what education the common schools afforded. He was married in 1858, to Mary Demuth born September 30, 1841. and daughter of Daniel and Maria (Simmers), Demuth, who were also among the foremost settlers of the county. The family of our subject consists of nine children-Ella Cora, born September 30, 1859, the wife of Franklin Peter, of this township; Jesse D., born January 8, 1861; and died at the age of thirteen years; Carrie May, born May 7, 1864; Alice C., born September 22, 1866; Ada Belle, born January 1, 1869; Eva Maria, born June 21, 1871; Charles Wesley, born February 19; 1874; Maud Pearl, born August 22, 1876; and Claud Lester, born March 23, 1880. Mr. Ginther was five months in service as a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio National Guard, which was stationed in Maryland and Virginia, and was at Shenandoah, Staunton, Lexington, Lynchburg, Sweet Sulphur, White Sulphur Springs, June 28,1864; Harpers Ferry, July 2-5; Mary land Heights, July 5-8; Martinsburg and Shepherdstown. Mr. Ginther is a member of the Moravian Church. of which he was Trustee and is Elder at the present time.

DAVID GRAM, SR., farmer, P. O. Gnadenhutten, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., March 1, 1807, son of Henry and Esther (Souder) Gram, who in 1808 emigrated to the Tuscarawas Valley, and settled in Clay Township. David was raised on the farm, and received his education in an old log schoolhouse. He worked on the Ohio Canal in his youth, and in 1830 married Sybilla Colver, of this county. Of their ten children, Louisa (wife of Josiah Blickensderfer), Sarah and Lewis S., and five infants, are deceased; David H. resides in this county, and John T. is salesman in a New York store. David H. enlisted in a California regiment, and served through the war; John T. was a drummer boy, and Lewis was fifer in the 100 days' service. Mrs. Gram died in 1865, and in 1866 Mr. Gram was remarried. By his second marriage he has had six children-Jesse P., Harvey B., Alice R., Franklin W., Ida Pearl and Anna Belle, Mr. Gram received a heritage of 100 acres, and by his industry added to it 400 acres. He has recently erected a residence at Gnadenhutten, and has retired to private life. He has served his township thirty-four years as Justice of the Peace, and is still in office; for two terms be was County Commissioner. He is Republican in politics, and has' been an Elder in the Moravian Church, of which Mrs. Gram is also a member.

WILLIAM HAMILTON, farmer, P. O. Gnadenhutten, was born in this county September 5, 1808, son of Thomas and Mary Ann Hamilton. Thomas Hamilton emigrated to this county in 1804, and was married the year following. William was raised on his father's farm, and received a common school

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education. He was married, December 14, 1834, to Maria James, daughter of Charles and Hannah James. This marriage was blessed with seven children-Mathias Taylor, who served four years in Company I, Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Matilda Jane, wife of Samuel Johnson; Hannah, wife of William F. Rogers; Louisa, deceased; Mary, wife of Elza H. Parrish; Mar. tha, deceased; and Celinda Ann, the wife of Charles B. Cox. Mrs. Hamilton died in February, 1850, and in the following November Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage with Ellen, daughter of John L. and Matilda Kennedy. The children by this marriage are John B., Maria Ellen (wife of J. H. Hill), Joseph A., William McAbee, Sarah Alice, Charles Winfield, James Wesley, Ida Emery and Bessie Luella. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been Trustee for thirty-eight years. and Steward and Class-leader for over forty years, and served as a justice of the Peace twenty-four years in Clay Township. Mr. Hamilton settled on his present farm of 204 acres in 1835.

JACOB HECK, tinner, Lock 17, was born in Sandy Township, this county, January 3, 1842, the son of Godfrey and Catherine (Meyer) Heck, both natives of Germany, who emigrated with their respective parents to America. Jacob was raised on a farm, received a common school education, and also attended school at Oberlin College. During his youth he clerked for a time in a store. He enlisted in the Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served for three years during the war. At Perryville, Ky., he was wounded in the face. In 1866, Mr. Heck was married to Mary Haney, a native of Stark County. Their three children were Godfrey, Lizzie (who died at the ago of eight months) and Eva A. Mrs. Heck died in June, 1877, and in the following November Mr. Heck was again married. By his second wife he has four children-Warren L., Lester, Bertha and Charles. Mr. Heck pursues the avocation of tinner at Lock 17. His wife is a member of the Moravian Church.

SIMON G. KISER, farmer, P. O. Lock 17, is a native of Clay Township. where he was born September 23, 1849. His parents, John and Catherine (Swallie) Kiser, emigrated from Germany, and settled in this township. Simon G. was raised on the farm, and was educated in the common schools. He was married in 1873 to Hattie Sluthour, who is the daughter of John and Angeline Sluthour. They have two children-Julia M. and Minnie Alice. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kiser are members of the Moravian Church.

JACOB LOMNECK, farmer, P. O. Gnadenhutten, was born in Prussia March 4, 1842, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Knapp) Lomneck. He emigrated to America in 1856 and settled at Port Washington, where he followed the carpenter trade until 1876. He was a contractor during this time and operated a force of employes at Port Washington and the neighboring villages. Mr. Lomneck had received an elementary education in Prussia, and took a full course at the Capital City Commercial College. Columbus, Ohio. He was united in wedlock in 1869 with Elizabeth Wolf, daughter of George Wolf. This marriage was blessed with seven children, as follows: Caroline (who died at the age of three months), Flora, Edwin. Ida, Anna Louisa, Albert Sidney and an infant son. Mr. Lomneck is a member of the Evangelical Church, and has served as Township Clerk. During the famous Morgan raid he went to Cincinnati to assist in the capture of the rebel force.

THOMAS MILLIGAN, farmer. P. O. Gnadenhutten, was born in Rush Township January 2, 1843, son of Thomas and Margaret (Edgar) Milligan. who were natives of Pennsylvania, were of Irish extraction, and emigrated to this county in 1837. Thomas was reared on the farm, and received his education in the common schools, In 1862, he enlisted in the Seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and remained in service about three years, receiving

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no injuries during the time. Mr. Milligan was married in 1870 to Mary E. Rank, daughter o€ Levi Rank, of this county, who died at Aurora, Ind., December 17, 1864. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Milligan are Orpha M., Melvin E., Francis W., Maggie A., Charles G. and Austin E. Mrs. Milligan is a member of the Moravian Church. Mr. Milligan has served his township in various capacities.

JACOB B. MILLIGAN, farmer, P. O. Lock 17, is a native of this county. - He was born in Rush Township October 31, 1847. His parents, Thomas and Margaret (Edgar) Milligan, of Pennsylvania, were early settlers of the county. Jacob B. was brought up on the farm, and received his education from the public schools of the neighborhood. He was married in 1871 to Ellen A. Rank, daughter of Levi and Mary Ann (Tschudy) Rank, of this county. Mrs. Milligan is a member of the Moravian Church. Their children, three in number, are Oscar E., Erwin M. and Harry R.

HAMILTON PARRISH, farmer, P. O. Port Washington, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, April 13, 1819; the son of Joshua and Sarah (Roland) Parrish. He came to this township in 1830, was raised on a farm and received the education afforded by the common schools. In 1841, he was married to Isabel McCoy, who was born in Maryland, raised in Pennsylvania, and is of Irish descent. Their five living children are Elza H., of this township, who served for six months in the Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and afterward in the Ninety-eighth to the close of the war; Solomon M., of Iowa; Margaret, married and living in Washington Township; Robert J. L., at home; and Gershon, at home. Samuel R. the eldest child, died at Nashville, Tenn., a member of the Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry; and Alvira died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Parrish has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years, and has been Class Leader and Steward of the society, which was organized in 1841 and disbanded in 1882. When Mr. Parrish first came to this county in 1830, they built a house and settled in the woods.

JOHN G. SCHUPPE, farmer, P. O. Port Washington, was born in Prussia March 14, 1833, the son of George and Mary Elizabeth Schuppe, who, in 1843, emigrated from their native land and settled in a forest home with their family in this county. All was woods except a cleared lot of three acres. John G. had attended the public schools in Prussia, and received' what further education the neighborhood of his backwoods American home afforded. He was raised on the farm, and was married, December 18, 1854, to Philopene Clos. The fruits of this marriage were four children--Charles, Catherine, Mary E. and Philopene. Mrs. Schuppe died March 15, 1861, and Mr. Schuppe was again married, July 6, 1861, to Mary E. Harz. Their six children are George, Jacob (who died at the age of eight years), Frederick, John, Henry Lewis and Jacob E. (who died at the age of four years). Mr. Schuppe is a member of the Lutheran Church. In 1862, he was drafted, but procured a substitute at an expense of 8400. Again he was drafted in 1865, and this time his substitute cost him $600.

SAMUEL SCHWEITZER, farmer, P. O. Look 17, was born in Switzerland July 22, 1817; the son of Samuel and Magdalene Schweitzer. He emigrated to America with his step-father, a carriage-maker, and for a few years lived in various cities. He came to this county in 1834, and for a time read law with J. C. Hance. of New Philadelphia. He commenced life with eight acres of land and an old saw mill, and now owns 305 acres in Clay Township, and a house and lot of eight acres in Goshen. He rebuilt and operated the saw mill for a few years, and has since confined his attention mostly" to farming. In 1837, he was married to Elizabeth Meyer, daughter of Christian Meyer, of German descent. Their eleven children are Mary, who was married to Alex-

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ander Rank and is deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Solomon Everett, of this township; Edward, a resident of Dakota: Samuel, who was killed at Maryland Heights, a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio National Guard; Louisa, wife of Sparks Beals, of Illinois; Louis S., a physician of Akron; Sylvanus, of Dakota; Otto. at home on the farm: Albert, who died at the age of fourteen years; Omer, of Dakota; and Callie, at home. Mr. Schweitzer is a member of the German Reformed Church. Most of his children have united with the Moravian Church. He has served his township as Trustee. was Justice of the Peace twelve years, and County Commissioner for two terms.

ELISHA T. SHAFER. blacksmith. Gnadenhutton. was born in this county December 10, 1846, the son of Henry and Hannah (Romig) Shafer. both natives of this county also. Elisha was reared to the manual labor of the farm. and was afforded opportunity to attend the district schools. He acquired his trade at Lock 17, and in 1863 ho was in the Sixth Ohio Independent Battery. working eight months of the two years he was in service in the Light Artillery. Western Division. At Atlanta, he struck with his foot an old shell on the battle field, which exploded and burned him severely, tearing the flesh from his right leg. Mr. Shafer was married in 1870, to Julia German, who was born in Germany, and crossed the ocean. when a year old. They have had six children-Fannie, Mary (deceased), Nora. Anna, Arthur (deceased), and Harry. Mr. Shafer is a member of the Moravian Church. He is engaged in the general blacksmith business in partnership with John Petry. who is a native of this county, and is the son of Peter Petry, who camp from Germany in 1830.

SAMUEL SHULL, farmer, P. O. Gnadenhutten, wag born in this county October 19, 1837, son of Peter Shull and Anna Corpman Shull, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio about 1811. Samuel was reared on a farm on Stone Creek, and was educated in the common schools of the county. He was a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio National Guards, and remained in service 126 days in Virginia. He was married, November 9, 1868, to Catherine Wolf, daughter of Charles Wolf, a native of Germany. They have six children, namely: Charles William, born July 18, 1869; John Otto, born December 19, 1871; Ira Francis, born October 31, 1874; Joseph, born April 13. 1877; Laura Alwild, born March 7, 1880, and Lily Pearl, born February 17, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Shull are members of the Lutheran Church.

CAPE CHRISTIAN STOCKER, farmer. P. O. Lock 17, was born in Salem Township December 13, 1817. son of Christian and Mary (Stophlet) Stocker, who emigrated from Northampton County. Penn., to Salem Township, this county, in 1816. Christian was there raised on a farm. and received his education in the common schools. He was married, in 1840, to Harriet Houghtling, of Bradford County, Penn. She was born June 9, 1822. They have not been blessed with children, but have raised three boys and three girls, four of where are now married. The two now living at the home of Mr. Stocker are the children of one of the girls be raised. Mr. and Mrs. Stocker were formerly members of a Regular Baptist congregation, until that organization perished, and Mrs. Stocker is at present a member of the Moravian Church. Mr. Stocker has resided in Clay Township since 1841. He has held various township offices, and for sixteen years, from 1851 to 1867. was a captain on the Ohio Canal.